You Can Do This

“What do you mean, you’re giving up?” Zoe sounds incredulous at her end of the line.

“It’s not working! I’m getting my hopes up for nothing!”

“Of course, it’s working! Listen, honey, you might not see a difference, but I do. And I’ll bet you feel different.”

“Not really!”

“Do you remember when we met? Can you honestly say your endurance hasn’t increased? That you’re not a little stronger than you were two months ago? That your arms aren’t firmer?”

I can’t honestly say any of those things. But…

“If pushups are bothering you so much, try doing less, but more often.” Zoe speaks briskly over my silence, as if she hadn’t asked the questions. “Try doing three sets of five a few times a day. Every day. Increase slowly. You have to be consistent. And remember, tomorrow we have Barre!”

“I…”

“Nothing easy is worth it. Getting in shape is hard because it’s hard, and it’s not going to happen overnight. But your health is worth it. YOU are worth it.

I still feel like crying.

“Small victories, one at a time. You can do this, Amy.”

​Small victories…