Monday - an announcement requiring all participants for the upcoming race to be at Monday training arrived late Sunday afternoon. Thus how I ended up on the water that evening. (Only to learn on site that whatever important announcement that it was could just have just been over the group chat) But I digress. It was a good session with beautiful weather too, so all good. Tuesday - my actual dragon boat training day. The performance wasn't as good and it shows in the video. Alas, there are good days and not so good days. We move on. Wednesday - as promised, strength day. Upped to the bigger weight for the tricep & bicep workouts. Those dumbbells were slow-moving as I fought gravity through the movement. Also, I need to switch to single-leg RDLs (or something else) because I've maxed out on the conventional style with my dumbbell. Gonna try the single leg variation next strength day because I know I have balancing issues. Everything feels a wee bit better now that the blood cycle has passed. Today's joy: I wore that one dress that I had put away for a while because I didn't like how I looked in it - it fits so much better now and I was feeling bonita 😊 hehe

I’ve finally found my anchor… and it turns out it was never about fitness alone 💭 For the longest time, I thought my “why” had to be tied to training, goals, or physical progress. But actually, the one thing that keeps me going — even when that inner voice gets loud — is the promise I made to myself for 2026. I promised myself that this year would be about me. My growth. My confidence. My courage to step into new spaces and meet new people (like all of you incredible humans here 🤍). And something has shifted… I’m saying yes more. I’m taking opportunities instead of overthinking them. I’m showing up — even when my anxiety is through the roof. Don’t get me wrong… I still do a full-on risk assessment in my head for EVERYTHING 😂🙈 But now? I do it… and then I go for it anyway. Every time that voice creeps in — “You’re too tired” “You’ve got too much to do” “Skip the walk, skip the session…” I come back to one thing: ✨ I made a promise to myself — and I’m not breaking it. ✨ And honestly… I’m surprising myself. Growth doesn’t always look like big, loud wins. Sometimes it’s quiet bravery. Sometimes it’s just choosing not to back out. So if you’re hesitating today — this is your reminder: Make the promise. Keep the promise. Become the person you said you’d be. And thank you coach @Carlos Hellstern — for helping me see things differently 🙌