Hey there,

The view from the summit

I've been exercising more than I used to.

I'm more settled after a workout.

Daily, I do a bit of mobility and some core work - this is quick and I don't necessarily break a sweat but it does plenty for me in the long term.

3-4 times a week I dance for 1-2 hours. This is 80% high intensity cardio with the remainder as choreography.

On non-dance days, I go for a hike or a run. I default to the hike because it has the added benefit of this view:

It's interesting how physical resilience mirrors mental resilience - I can train both. Yesterday, it was 37 degrees celsius in Brisbane. I couldn't concentrate so I went for a run (this was after the UV went into the safe range 😎) to see how it affects me. Turns out, it's not so bad. Kind of like a cold pool is only cold until you get in.

Aftermath

After my first major relationship, I numbed my way through the aftermath.

After the next major relationship, I quickly got into another relationship.

But this most recent one, I'm tasked with (and in some ways gifted with) facing the full reality.

I don't really numb any more. Work is lovely but I'm not letting it consume my whole life. I'm not eating my feelings.

I've had three major relationships now. I was in those relationships for over 30% of my life.

I can see the patterns enough to want to work on some stuff.

There's some learning, introspection, therapy, somatic processing but it all comes under one umbrella:

I'm starting to close the book on David's and my relationship.

It will take a little more distance, but it's now at the point where the slope has shifted to downhill.

Getting into gear

I got lucky. The clutch point on the Corolla is really similar to the Golf - the manual transmission car I'd gotten most used to driving.

Also, it's a really really forgiving car. I mean, it really doesn't want to stall.

It had been over two months since I'd driven a car, over a year since I'd driven a manual.

The carpark exercise was good to get used to the first two gears.

Vic offered to drive us to the next practice location. I opted to drive it.

Apparently all that muscle memory holds.

I mean, I stalled once on the road, but I figured it out (and I even waved at the guy behind me who got caught by the red light because of my stall, ha).

My hill start success rate is at about 50%. So that's the next thing to work on.

I think I will go for my manual licence at some point. I'll keep you posted.

Leading and doing

One lesson I'm learning at work is the difference between being a leader and a doer.

At the stage of growth of this company, I have to be both. I have to switch between both.

I can be an excellent strategist and I can also execute excellently.

The problem is that sometimes I get my wires crossed. I'll bring my doer mindset to a strategic meeting or I'll get overly strategic when I just need to do the thing.

There's the big picture and there's this task right here.

Most of my learnings currently are to:

It's different. I haven't been part of a team in a while, I haven't led a team like this before.

Anyway, I'm stretching myself in a good way.

I hope you're all well.

Talk soon

Rosie