A definition of NOURISH

What does this really mean?

Beautiful cafe called NOURISH in Apia, Samoa. It prompted this poem whilst I was lying on the sandy beach with full belly.

Nourish: provide with food or other substance necessary for growth, health and wellness

Does choosing to do ‘hard stuff’ NOURISH me?

I remember my first DNF at Iron Man,

I was on the bike course (a 180 kilometer course) muttering to myself (before I DNF (Did Not Finish)’ed)

“This experience is not NOURISH’ing me at all.

Why the fuck do I do this to me? Pick these stupid events to do? Put myself out there?

I’m not enjoying this at all.

This does not NOURISH my soul one little fucken bit.”

Is it any surprise that I ended by DNF’ing that day.

HARD STUFF is about using the mind, te taha hinengaro, te taha wairua hoki

But I’d checked out even before I’d checked out and DNF’d.

The experience, as hard as it was to have the title DNF next to my name

Provided a substance for growth and contributed to my health and wellness

In different ways. It just didn’t feel like it at the time.

I came back the next year and would you believe it

I  DNF’d again!

Well technically I finished the WHOLE course (3.8k swim, 180k bike and a 42 kilometre run)

But I just finished an hour after the cut off time – so instead of doing it in under 17hours, I did it in 18hours…

I came back the following year and got across that fucken line in time

And got that fucken medal.

And now looking back,

I can’t believe that it was me who ever stepped up to do 4 Iron Man’s

Where is that person? Kei hea ia?

Doing it for the bigger gals (the obese ones)

The older gals (perimenopausal to be exact)

The Māori, Niuean, Samoan gals,

The moko kauae gals,

The single mama’s

Representing ‘US’ in an individual sport.

Lisa’s definition of NOURISH:

N.O.U.R.I.S.H

N= Necessary  – do what is NECESSARY

O= Ordinary – ORDINARY people can do hard stuff

U= Understand – UNDERSTAND that life has its ups and downs

R= Reflect – REFLECT on the journey and the lessons

I= Ignite/ Intention – IGNITE and set the INTENTION’s daily

S= Show/ Shine – SHOW up and SHINE every SINGLE day and remember SOMETHING is better than nothing

H= Honour/ Hauora - HONOUR your HAUORA. Your HEALTH is your wealth.

Tihei, Mauri Ora!

I wonder if its easier to contemplate these types of things when one is lying on a beach in Samoa, looking out on the ocean - a very easy NOURISHing moment.