I made a decision on something a few days ago and I'm excited to share it with you.

This is what I refer to as a PRIMAL YES.

You know that kind of yes I’m talking about? The kind that you feel in your body and the excitement just grows out of you until you have no choice but to take action.

That’s me right now.

I signed up for a half marathon.

Not just any old half marathon, I signed up for a trail half marathon.

(one in an EPIC location might I add)

I’ve done a bazillion road races (ok, maybe more like 50), but this is a totally different vibe than any road race I’ve ever done.

But isn't running running - what's the big deal, Kristen?

Because this decision represents the beginnings of an internal shift for me. A fun and good shift that I didn’t know I needed until it hit me on the head like a sledgehammer and I felt that full body YES.

I have a habit of teetering on burnout. It’s partly my fault because I don’t always manage my time and energy well. And I also LOVE what I do and sometimes have a hard time turning things off.

But it’s also the very real load of being a single parent running a business.

The constant invisible mental labor of being a mom is unlike any other.

Don’t get me wrong, I am SO thankful for my life in so many ways. Gratitude abounds. I get to work from home. I get to organize my day around being available for my kids. And I can sit outside on my deck in the warm spring sun and connect with you in this email that’s now going sideways….

…bringing it back to my main point - the half marathon.

You see, road running is incredibly cool. It sharpens you and rewards efficiency. You know what to expect. It’s simple and predictable. And it’s the greatest metaphor for life because you get out what you put in, and that's what made me fall in love with running in the first place. That and the fact I can let my mind wander into all it's nooks and crannies and feel mentally refreshed after a good run.

On the other hand, trail running rewards resilience and adaptability. You need to stay calm while adapting and adjusting to different terrain. While trail running, your brain is so occupied with every footstep, you have no choice but to be present. It calms the mind, but in a different way.

Both are rewarding and intoxicating in their own right.

It took me a minute, but I realize why saying yes to that trail half marathon felt like such a full-body-yes.

It’s because I’m ready for that shift in moving toward a more resilient adaptable version of myself.

And I’m doing it the best way I know how - by letting my body lead.

So you are my witness:

As we hit the half way mark of the year, I’m officially shifting my identity to someone who embraces adaptability and lives in the present moment.

And I'm putting my money (body) where my mouth is on this.

I don’t want to be someone who forces anything or holds onto anything just because it’s what I’ve always done. The tricky part about this is being present enough to ourselves and see our lives so we can recognize those things in the first place.

Body movement is a practice in embodiment so give me all the summer outdoors running free in a forest, because this is me embodied as fuck.

And I love this for me.

Every stage of growth requires a different version of you.

So let me ask you:​

What shift can you make in moving toward that version of you that’s waiting?

Hope this one resonated!

XO,
KB

P.S. I recently tested my hormones to see if: 1) I was dosing my HRT appropriately and 2) seeing what my adrenals and cortisol were up to.

Is this something you’d be interested in seeing? And if so, would you rather me share this in a short video or longer written format with screenshots?

Let me know 🙏