Small to Hercules

Autumn feels like it’s finally here and I’m appreciating the cooler weather! I’ve let my 6 to 8 fall to the wayside for no good reason for the extra-long summer season, and I need to get my routine back. When I look back at the year so far, I can see that small, incremental things that seemed not particularly consequential in the moment have built up to significant results.       

My sisters have been on me for years about the necessity of weightlifting for women in their 30s to combat muscle loss. I couldn’t muster the motivation to work out on my own but committed to sticking around the gym for a strength training class after Pilates once a week. The first workouts in January felt dreadful, and I thought to myself, “I need to make friends in class or I’ll never come back.” I did make friends and have been going weekly—no more and no less, except when out of town. A handful of months in, I surprised myself by managing to do a pushup, and when I was helping my sister bean move, she exclaimed, “Joyce, you have Hercules legs!” 

Taking time monthly to write these lunar newsletters has similarly led to unexpected gains. I found that I had already done the lion’s share of work to present an artist talk by writing about much of the material here. I’m thankful for the numerous opportunities this year to share, discuss, and workshop ideas with friends and audiences. 

I’m making a brief trip to New York for a memorial and will stop by my friend’s venue in the Ocean Hill-Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn. We’re opening up the gathering for anyone else who’d like to come by! I’ll tell stories and sing some songs, accompanying myself on the piano. I’m looking forward to visiting the Delight Factory, which just celebrated five years, sensing the great care and intention that must have gone into the space.