The Strength to Be Audacious
Live audaciously. Age powerfully.
Every morning, I write in my journal, "I live audaciously."
It's a word I love. Hell, I even named my next retreat, Anchor to Audacity, after it!
But what does it really mean to live audaciously?
People see me lifting heavy shit in the gym, and sometimes they're amazed. But I don't find that particularly audacious. It's something I've worked at for years. Something I enjoy. Something that's become familiar.
For me, audacity in the gym might mean holding that weight a few seconds longer, pushing myself just beyond what I thought I could do. Or it might mean having the strength to put the weight down because my body is telling me it's had enough.
Both take strength. Just different kinds. And both matter.
Strong Enough to Keep Saying YES
Here's something I'm passionate about. I want to be strong. Not just today, but when I'm 70, 80, and, with any luck, 90!
I want to keep hiking mountains, exploring new cities, trying new adventures, and doing things that make me feel ALIVE. And that's what I want for the women who walk into my Pilates studio.
We work on strength. Every. Single. Day.
Is Pilates a replacement for progressive strength training? Absolutely not. But is it a valuable complement? Absolutely! Pilates develops control, mobility, stability, and body awareness that help us use our strength more effectively, both in the gym and in everyday life.
I want my clients lifting weights. I want them challenging their muscles, building and maintaining strength, and discovering what their bodies are capable of.
Because strength isn't just about how much weight you can lift. It's about carrying your own suitcase, getting up off the floor, keeping up with your grandkids, walking that extra mile, and having the confidence to try something new.
We build strength today so we have the freedom to live audaciously tomorrow.
A Little Courage. A Little Mischief. A Whole Lot of Joy.
You know what happens when I think about audacity? The corners of my mouth start to rise. First a smile, then a smirk, and then that little glimmer of mischief that usually means I'm about to get myself into something.
Audacity excites me. It makes me curious. It makes me feel ALIVE.
I find it when my son challenges me to go rock climbing. When I'm boogie boarding at the beach. When we're running around in the dark at Activate, acting like complete lunatics.
I find it exploring a new city on my own two feet, trying unfamiliar foods, and wandering somewhere I've never been.
And now? Apparently I'm going to try hula dancing!
Sometimes it's as simple as putting on a hip hop playlist and dancing my ass off in the living room. Trust me, it happens more often than you might think.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Life is short. Have fun NOW!
But Your Audacity Won't Look Like Mine
Maybe you've been curious about Thai food but haven't quite worked up the nerve to try it. Maybe there's a hiking trail calling your name, but you're a little nervous about exploring it.
Maybe it's reaching out to a friend you haven't spoken to in years. Or walking into a gathering where you don't know a single soul. For some people, that's no big deal. For others, it's enormous.
Maybe it's saying NO when everyone expects you to say yes.
Or maybe it's taking those first few steps after an injury, when your body hurts and you're afraid to trust it again. As a physical therapist, I've seen firsthand how much strength and courage those seemingly small steps can require.
And sometimes the audacious choice is to rest. To listen to your body. To recognize that doing less doesn't mean being less.
Audacity isn't a competition. It's personal.
It Takes Strength to Be Audacious
Yes, physical strength matters. Tremendously. But so does the inner strength to be a beginner, risk looking ridiculous, challenge expectations, or do something simply because it brings you joy.
The strength to say yes. The strength to say no. And the wisdom to know the difference.
Think about a time you did something that scared you. Remember how you felt afterward? That little burst of pride. That realization that you were capable of more than you thought.
I LOVE that feeling.
Audacity doesn't have to mean jumping out of an airplane. Although I haven't entirely ruled that one out! It doesn't have to mean starting a business, climbing a mountain, or making some monumental life change.
It can be quiet. It can be silly. It can be challenging. It can be joyful.
Audacity might begin with courage, but I want it to lead to JOY. And that's what living audaciously means to me.
A Little Something to Think About
What's something you've always wanted to try but have been a little too afraid to do? It doesn't have to be big. It doesn't even have to make sense to anyone else.
What's one small step you could take this week toward doing it?
Go ahead. Get a little audacious. I'd love to hear what you come up with, so share it in the comments below!
Your Invitation to a Little Audacity
This is the spirit behind Anchor to Audacity, my April 9 to 11, 2027 retreat at Elohee in the North Georgia mountains. A weekend to explore, connect, move, play, and maybe surprise yourself along the way.
You don't have to arrive fearless. You don't even have to consider yourself adventurous. You just have to be willing to show up for yourself.
Be audacious. Be tenacious. Be vivacious. But above all, be YOU.
Live audaciously. Age powerfully.
Amanda
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