Hello, friends!  After a busy month and some stressful moments that got the better of me, a documentary reminded me of the term used to refer to one’s weakness: their Achilles heel.

I’ll paraphrase the myth: This infant named Achilles was dipped in a magical river by his mother who held him only by his exposed heel creating vulnerability and ultimately leading to his demise when a well-timed arrow pierced through it. Tragic ending, indeed.  

Do you have one?  I have several. I have found that staring them in the face helps me conquer them better than ignoring them. Perhaps it’s the food we nourish our bodies with, the thoughts that cloud our mind, grief, jobs we’re not passionate about, past mistakes that fuel insecurities, an unhealthy friendship we refuse to let go of, the constant complaining that we want more, lack of gratitude, lack of joy.

Your list could be long or short, emotional or physical. Weakness, though, that word has a negative connotation to it that makes me want to just throw my hands up in defiance and say ‘No way, man, I’m strong.’

To allow ourselves moments of vulnerability is not a bad thing at all. I feel when we label them a weakness we do ourselves a disservice. We are, by nature, emotional creatures and that is OK. Our Achilles heel, however, is that undeniable thing that always gets the better of us.

I know for certain that for many people it is food choices. I will risk pissing you off and remind you that healthy living is a choice — your choice. You can destroy that “weakness” when you chose to honour your body and mind with life-affirming choices and thoughts. It is a daily practice, like anything you want to learn or excel at.

How cool would it be if we could remember clearly what it felt like to walk for the first time — the fear, the joy, the practice it took? Now it’s just second nature if we’ve been fortunate enough to remain mobile throughout our lives.

I move because I can, I am grateful for it every day. Surrounded by our amazing running community this past Sunday at Boogie the Bridge, I felt the triumphs as people high-fived each other. Everyone was chasing the rush in their own way. It’s soul nourishing stuff. Many of them once thought they could never do it, but they did and with a smile on their faces.  

So no matter what your Achilles heel might be, you can remove it from your life. It could take some time, so be patient. We live in an instant satisfaction society, often forgetting that the journey itself is what makes us both proud and humble.

Daily practice, eat real food more often, move a bit more, praise yourself and remember it’s OK if you stumble along the way. You are worth the effort! Life is waiting, live it now.

At 50 years old, Dina McLeod has found full body wellness/awareness the key to embracing life. Born on Vancouver Island, her love of the fresh outdoors and genuine desire to stay grounded only grew when she relocated to Kamloops in 1998. She is proof that living a healthy, balanced life can be achieved at any age or fitness level. Her motto: Life is waiting, live it now!