Are we seriously in our fourth blackout in just a few weeks? I love Georgia (I really do; there’s a reason people write songs about this place they don’t write about New Jersey) but all this has begun to feel like a lot to handle mid-summer.

It may sound trite (and random, but stay with me), but I’ve been giving a great deal of thought recently to how much of an impact the work of gym founder Ellen Latham has had on my life through the encouragement and expertise expressed (in unique and irreplaceable ways by coaches and managers individually talented in their own right) at one of the fitness centers she founded. It’s been some time since I’ve felt able to afford a membership, but I’ve loved applying the three workout gears – endurance, power, and strength – outlined in their system to other areas of my life over the years.

But, recently, and particularly during uncomfortable moments like this, I’ve felt compelled to give greater pause to a fourth mode of operating accentuated in my earlier studies of ballet and gymnastics, and that is flexibility.

There is something that can be so deceptively difficult, when stretching (or being stretched), to simply stay still. But, while it is generally only needed for a few seconds, these sometimes-painful moments can help move one forward.

When working on flexibility in life, I’ve noted this progress generally needs to be acknowledged and celebrated inwardly as, not only can others usually not have any idea about the difficulty of the work being done in silence, there usually seem to be at least one or two observers asking incredulously what one is doing just sitting there thrown in for good measure.

But flexibility matters.

Not long ago, I watched a documentary about famed historical figure Benedict Arnold and the tragedy of his decisions. But, what surprised me most, given the broad strokes outlines of his life as usually related, is how much he accomplished early-on. It was evidently because he’d not been given credit for his contributions to the Union that Arnold, so tragically, turned; and the story of this his reaction to what certainly does seem to have been an injustice, is instructive.

It can be tempting, when a person understood to be on one’s side, at least on some important questions, harms one, to reactively change sides on those same important questions. But to do so would be foolish, of course, and play into of the hands of an increasing, not decreasing, share of one’s opponents. Considering the inconvenient truth that, before defecting, Benedict Arnold had had … a point is such a helpful reminder of the importance of not getting too caught up in watching where the chips fall, so to speak, each day, but doing one’s best regardless and taking satisfaction in that. And I do believe, often, that can mean remaining engaged, even in political matters that seem intractable.

JFK once quipped that what he loved about Washington was the way it brought together all the charm of the north and the efficiency of the south. And outages like this certainly do feel reminiscent of how halting progress can feel in matters of policy. But such matters are good opportunities to recall that democracy is not a spectator sport, especially given the light each one of us, when expressing our creative best, can bring to difficult situations.

That’s the thing about inspiration and inspired ideas in general.
Even in the dark.

ps – Guess what? The power’s back on already. Sometimes it feels like there really is a purpose for everything, doesn’t it? After months of writing so little, I’ve enjoyed essay-ing again for a few minutes. And it was even fun eating two chocolate dessert protein bars (my food on hand that didn’t require cooking) for dinner.