I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend! Friday was pretty humdrum here at the household; it rained all day, but did finally clear up and get ultra-sunny around 4, right in time to start the grill! A spicy grilled chicken breast, Japanese Sweet Potato with maple almond butter and cinnamon, and a pile of veggies made this girl a happy American 😉 Besides that, after my morning workout, I did absolutely nothing. Well, that’s wrong, I did finish my media kit, but I don’t like it. I need to work on the spacing and size of everything because I ended up not being able to add everything I wanted on it. Humph. Still a work in progress I guess… Sunday was a pretty nice day though! I took some new yoga photos! I was pissed when I got all set up though with my fancy mini remote I had gotten for Christmas, only to realize the batteries were dead. I was to lazy to go all the way back in the house searching for batteries I knew we wouldn’t have so I had to take the photos the old fashion way. Set the timer to 10 seconds, race, throw myself on the mat, unbalanced, and try to get into the poses. Crazy times 😛
But here is a fun tid-bit. It week #1 of #PowerMonday link-up! At the bottom of this post you can link-up your inspiring/motivational/powerful/thought-provoking post! I hope you guys continue to join in. You can add the Power Monday photo to your post too and use the hashtag #PowerMonday when using social media! Let’s make it fun, let;s make it a powerful start to the week!
Here’s a question. What is Strength? You’d think I would have a definitive answer for you considering Strength is the premise of this blog. But I started thinking about it last weekend and what it may truly mean. Of course with many things, there are numerous interpretations. So you take a seemingly simple word like Strength and you get a mired of definitions. You get Strength in the physical sense: the ability to have force, be strong, powerful, endurance. The emotional/mental sense: to be able to deal with turmoil and problems effectively. Then there are other definitions like being unable to be moved, intensity, the power of attack or force, the “strength” of a dollar, being firm, an effective or full number/quantity. So I guess my question really is…what does Strength mean to you?
When I decided to name my blog Strength and Sunshine, I wanted the word to mean confidence, beauty, courage, and bravery. Those are the attributes I hope to have in myself and work on in this journey of life. Strength is my favorite word and I think it elicits so many emotions and thoughts. It is a beautiful word and we all should strive for Strength in our lives.
Physically I have Strength because: I can lift heavy dumbbells over my head. I can squat a heavy barbell, and deadlift the same one. I can hold 8-angle pose forever. A 5 minutes plank? Why not make it 10. I’ve got my forearm handstand down to a science and can feel the arch of Strength I have when I move into scorpion pose.
Emotionally I have Strength because: I keep going everyday, I don’t give-up even when it takes so much, I stay true to my self and my values, I have confidence, I walk with my head held high, I still hold the belief that I can and will do something amazing with my life, I work hard and have determination, I try to support others in my life, and I never, never left myself be a failure.
Strength. I have Strength. Sometimes my Strength isn’t so strong. Other times it is an amazing force. But one thing that is always true about my Strength is that I know I have it. I know I can get through the hard times. I know I can be my best self. I know I deserve to have this Strength and believe in it wholeheartedly. I want my Strength to inspire those around me who maybe be struggling with believing that they themselves also have Strength. We all have Strength. If we didn’t we wouldn’t have made it as far as we each have in our own life journeys. It’s hard to believe we do always have it in us, but trust me, you do.
You have Strength because you are here, right now, in this moment. You woke-up and you have the potential to show that Strength today in something that you do, even if that is just getting in the car to go to work, giving your friend a hug, or doing 50 push-ups.
What is Strength? Strength is something we all have. It is beauty, it is confidence, it is drive, focus, love, care, kindness, power, life. Strength is life.
So tell me:
+ What is Strength? What does it mean to you?
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chloelogan says
Really, really great post. For some reason a few times a year, I get small bouts of depression lasting just a few days. They’re miserable but then one day they’re gone. Strength is being able to push on through those!
Strength and Sunshine says
That is strength! Look how far you’ve come and how many times you’ve gotten through. You keep moving on and your not letting those moment defeat you!
Lori and Michelle (@purelytwins) says
love your blog name!! strength is such an amazing word as it means so much –> self-confidence, courage, power and love !
Strength and Sunshine says
Yes! That’s why I love it so much! It is such an amazing word, haha!
Lapaka K says
For me Strength means being able to wake up and face the day even when things are not going my way. Great post. Visiting from SITS girl
Strength and Sunshine says
That is exactly perfect! Strength to live and go on!
Honest Mum says
Love this empowering post-living and appreciating the NOW is so important! Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogpost, please do link back or add my badge x
Strength and Sunshine says
Its what keeps us strong 😉
Kyla says
What a great post. Sometimes I don’t feel strong at all, and then I look at all I have achieved and that despite difficulties and stumbling blocks along the way, we’re all still going strong! Congratulations.
Visiting you from the brilliant blog posts
Strength and Sunshine says
Yes! Looking back on everything we have been through! It shows us just how powerful and strong we are!
candies & crunches says
Amazing post, darling! I wish I was always stong in every single aspect of it 🙂 But then it’s life, and I’m okay with it xoxo
Strength and Sunshine says
Thank you XOXO You don’t have to be strong in everything, but everyone is strong in something!
Kaylin @ Enticing Healthy Eating says
Thank you for this great post! I needed it, especially today. My life is very uncertain at the moment with my future in a lot of areas–career, relationship, financial, etc. But the strength that keeps me going is staying true to myself and following my heart.
Strength and Sunshine says
Sending love! I know someone who is in the same position as you now and that’s what inspired me to write up this post!
Just don’t give up and know that you have strength to channel in every fiber of your being!
Kaylin @ Enticing Healthy Eating says
Thanks, Rebecca! I appreciate it! Feeling the love and giving love back!
torikom20 says
Such a beautiful post Rebecca! I recently discovered my own strength when I struggled with HA, and feeling like giving up, but instead persevering. This is such an encouraging post!
Strength and Sunshine says
Congrats girl! That takes a lot of strength to push through and regain your health! XOXO
Brittany (@batrentham) says
love this! Strength is how you push past the hard times/days… strength is how you stand firm in the face of obstacles! You are a STRONG woman!
Strength and Sunshine says
Love it! You are one strong woman too! XOXO
Orly says
great blog! strength can mean so many things, and i love how you divided it. i am strong physically because i can do 80 squats and lift heavy things. i am emotionaly strong because i dont let people get to me, and im happy, This post was so inspirational, loved it
xo
Orly
coffeebeansandhighheels.weebly.com
Strength and Sunshine says
Thanks Orly! We can all be strong in different ways and I love that you said being happy makes you strong! It so does!
Astrid says
Great post. I struggle with this idea of strength because it implies that some people don’t have it. Now physically this is true (I’m not strong at all), but are there actually people who are emotionally weak, or spiritually, or whatever? I don’t know. By the way I didn’t see the linky. Did you post an InLinkz/Mr Linky/whatever linky or are we supposed to post links in the comments.
Strength and Sunshine says
Everyone has strength in some aspect of their lives. Strength is what gives us life and the ability to keep trucking forward.
The Linky is at the bottom. Click the Froggy picture that says “Link in Collection, Click to view/add link”. LOL 😛
Astrid says
Found it. I’m blind and the picture doesn’t hav ean alt text, so it didn’t make sense to me. I will try to link up something later, but I’m afraid this inlinkz format is inaccessible (I didn’t see the submit/done button on my screen reader). The new inlinkz format, with the thumbnail thingy, does work. I’m still unsure as to why this one won’t work.
Strength and Sunshine says
It worked for everyone else!
moderngirlnutrition says
love this post! you’re a great writer! 🙂
Strength and Sunshine says
Thank you so much Sunnie!
Amanda @ Diary of a Semi-Health Nut says
Beautiful post, friend! I do love your blog name! Sometimes I wish I could change mine…since semi-health nut isn’t super inspirational haha. I will be back with a post to link-up! <3
Strength and Sunshine says
I tried to pick something that I knew would be true and stick with me forever! Re-branding is not so fun, but bloggers have don it successfully!
I still like you name though! 😉
I can’t wait to see what you link-up! Thanks Amanda XOXO
Tina Muir says
Love love love Rebecca! Strength to me is overcoming all obstacles that are sent your way, because you know that when you make it through, your efforts will be rewarded, and you will achieve what you want the most. Strength is not letting anything get you down, because you know you are better than the challenges in your life. Love this idea, and you are definitely strong!
Strength and Sunshine says
Yes! The challenges give us strength and prove to us that we have it and so much of it! When we use our strength, we increase it ten-fold!
And thank you Tina! You are one strong woman too! XOXO
littlegreenrunningshoes says
Strength is having the ability to push past the limits that have been established and improve exponentially.
🙂
I nominated you for a “Very Inspiring Blogger Award”! Thanks for being so awesome! http://wp.me/p4hcdz-19h
Strength and Sunshine says
Love that “definition”! It is perfect!
And thank you so much 🙂