Becoming Stronger, One Sally at a Time
The air was warm that early afternoon, the kind that makes you want to have strength training class outdoors. As we prepared to get started you could hear the quiet chatter of women gathering, and sense that familiar mix of anticipation and uncertainty that comes with every workout.
We had just started class when our trainer smiled and said, “Alright ladies… today, we’re ending with Sally.” A groan escaped from one of the women in the circle. The rest of us exchanged looks that said, this can’t be good.
She went on to explain. We would be holding a squat through a song called Bring Sally Up. When the lyrics said “bring Sally up,” we would stand. And when the lyrics dropped again, we would go right back down into a squat.
Simple enough. Except… it wasn’t.
At the end of class we formed a circle, feet planted, knees bent, lowering ourselves into position as the music began. At first, it felt manageable. I remember thinking, okay, I can do this. And then it felt like the holds got longer. The seconds stretched. My legs began to tremble, and someone mentioned their legs were burning. And I thought, yes… yes, they are.
There is something about being in that kind of discomfort that brings you right into the present moment. There is no thinking about what’s next. No replaying what already happened. Just you, your breath, and the quiet determination to hold on a little longer.
Up.
Down.
Hold.
Breathe.
Repeat.
We all stayed in it. Together.
The next day, I felt pretty good. That is… until I didn’t. I was at a friend’s house helping her prepare for a meeting and needed to run down to the basement to grab a few things. As I made my way down the stairs, I felt it: every step, every muscle, and every reminder of the day before. And coming back up? That was a whole different experience. Let’s just say there was a lot of wincing involved. “Damn that Sally,” I muttered under my breath.
The following two weeks, as class came to a close, there it was again. “Bring Sally Up.” Someone in the group said, “You get used to Sally.” I almost laughed.
Ummm… no thank you.
Because if I’m being honest, it felt just as hard the second and third time. And I’m guessing the fourth, fifth, and sixth time will feel the same. But here’s what I’m starting to understand. It’s not about it getting easier. It’s about me getting stronger.
There’s a moment in that four minute stretch where your mind starts to negotiate.
You could come up early.
No one would notice.
You’ve already done enough.
But then something deeper kicks in. A quiet voice that says, stay.
Stay in it.
Stay uncomfortable.
Stay present.
Because this is where growth happens. And it’s not just about the physical strength. Yes, my legs are getting stronger. Yes, I’m building endurance. Yes, I’m pushing past limits I didn’t know I had.
But something else is happening too. I’m learning how to sit in discomfort. To not run from it. To not avoid it. To not quit the moment it gets hard. I’m learning that I can do more than I think I can.
There is also something incredibly powerful about being in that circle of women. We are all feeling it. We are all shaking. We are all questioning our life choices for a brief moment.
And yet… we stay.
We laugh through it.
We encourage each other.
We push through together.
There’s a kind of unspoken bond that forms when you choose to stay in something hard alongside others.
Sally and I… well, we have a bit of a love hate relationship at this point. I dread those four minutes. I really do. But I also love what comes after. The feeling of strength. The sense of accomplishment. The quiet pride of knowing I didn’t give up. Because every time I stay in it, I become just a little bit stronger than I was before.
And maybe that’s the real lesson. Not just in workouts, but in life. There will always be moments when you don’t think you have the energy. When it feels uncomfortable. When it feels like too much. When everything in you wants to stop.
But sometimes, the greatest growth comes from staying in it just a little longer. From choosing to push through. From trusting that something stronger is being built on the other side of that discomfort.
So here’s to showing up. Here’s to staying in it. Here’s to pushing ourselves, even when it’s hard. And here’s to the reminder that strength isn’t built in comfort… it’s built in the moments we think we can’t, and then realize we can. One squat at a time. One breath at a time. One challenge at a time.
Because this journey of growth… this beautiful, uncomfortable, empowering journey… is really about becoming stronger, one Sally at a time.
xo, Sheryl
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