Today I saw a headline in an email I received from BlogHer urging people to stop overthinking their blogs and just write.
As simple as this statement is, it spoke to me on many levels. It came exactly at the right moment. Within my Apple Notes app, I have a list of 28 blog post ideas that I have wanted to write over the past six months. The topics that this list covers ranges but one thing remains the same as I review the list every few days as I add something else. They are all still relevant to my readers, but they each take preparation to write. Whether it is photography or research, I can rationalize the reason each one has yet to be published.
When I saw this headline, I convinced myself that instead of hemming and hawing over a topic that ran through my head earlier today I would put “fingers to keyboard” and just let the words flow.
While trying to pass time, during an inordinately long commute home today, I perused the 11,535 photographs I have on my phone. I used the search bar to see what I was doing this week last year. Suddenly I saw images of our temporary housing, Fresh Direct orders, Central Park long runs and my first few ClassPass classes.
A year ago living in New York City was fresh and new. Everything that we’d missed for two years while living abroad, was suddenly at our fingertips. Our temporary housing was in Times Square, a neighborhood we despised so much, we spent as much time as possible exploring other places either by foot or bicycle. I found myself taking long bike rides in Central Park just to get away from the noise of our 21st-floor apartment.
As I skimmed over the photographs, one stopped my thumb from swiping forward.
On the screen was a strong, confident young woman running through Central Park. I remember this run as if it was yesterday. We’d slept until 11:30 after being out late with friends the previous night. Instead of rescheduling our long run for the next day, I convinced Bo to lace up his shoes and head to Central Park for a six-mile run. Many of those miles were pure misery – dehydration from the past night’s cocktails, humidity and tourists crowding Central Park’s paths. Regardless of the heat and humidity, I smiled the entire run, as I was exuding a confidence I’d never felt before. I was running in a sports bra, through New York’s busiest park, without a care in the world. I felt strong and confident as I put one foot in front of the other. Without the constraining fabric of a tank top, I felt free.
While some people desire a bikini body this Summer, I want to return to a place of strength and confidence. Many people who saw this image on Instagram today didn’t read the caption and assumed this is the Ashley Diamond of today. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Our first year in NYC has been a roller coaster that hasn’t always provided the time or capacity to focus on me. But, just two weeks into my new monthly training plan, I can already feel the strength coming back. I look forward to sharing this journey with you guys as I unlock the strength and confidence I exuded last year. This Sunday, during our weekend at the shore, will be the perfect time to bring the sports bra long run!
With that, here’s a glimpse at this month’s workouts thus far:
- July 1 – Bar Method Brooklyn Class
- July 2 – 4.5 mile run with Lululemon Run Club
- July 3 – Rest
- July 4 – Bar Method Brooklyn Class
- July 5 –Bar Method Brooklyn class
- July 6 – rest
- July 7 – 4 mile run
- July 8 – Bar Method Brooklyn class
- July 9 – Surf & Yoga
- July 10 – rest
- July 11 – 5 mile run including Manhattan Bridge
- July 12 – ICE NYC
- July 13 – Rest Day
- July 14 – Mile High Run Club High 28
