My family spent 10 days last month traveling to some amazing National Parks out West. I’ve been planning the trip for a year, and we greeted it with much anticipation. However, due to a series of events, my dream of being a lithe, graceful hiker by the time we left for our trip did not become a reality.
I had foot surgery six weeks before the trip, in an attempt to allow me to walk without pain. It didn’t work. I just ended up with different pain after surgery than before. So, each step hurt some, and some steps hurt a LOT, depending on how much I bent my left big toe. That, and the 40 extra pounds I am lugging around, all of which I had grandiose visions of shedding by takeoff, made it challenging to do longer than a five-mile hike. Most days I could only handle 3-4 miles. I had my best friends The Trekking Poles, my boots, my orthotics in my boots, and my {very fit} husband hauling the snacks, water, and other necessities in his backpack. We did ok and I was pleased with my abilities, considering. Until …
…Until I saw the other women hiking past me. They were lean, lithe, and everything I thought I’d be when I started planning the adventure. One even hiked at twice my speed, carrying her child on her back, while herding her other three small children up the mountainside. *sigh*. That woman was a major BA. For those of you who live under a rock more than I do, BA is short for Bad-A**, or as the Scottish would say, “Bad Arse”. Yes, this woman was a total BA. And, yes, I was completely envious. But, mostly, I just wanted to shout “you go girl” after her. I mean, after all, she deserved serious props for her physical prowess.
While hiking, I had many hours to contemplate {and, as is the way with me, over-contemplate} things. I found my mind wandering into some bad places. I realized that I had to seriously work on my mindset, in order to not only survive but to enjoy, this trip. I could think about how inadequate I was compared to BA-Hiker- Mommy, or I could continue to focus on how well I was doing for me.
And, as I was trekking down, down, down from the mountainside, I did realize something fundamental – we are all BA in our own way. Some of us are very fit and athletic. I have NEVER been considered an athlete, but a couple of years ago, I did get my black belt in Tang Soo Do. That was the most athletic I’ve ever felt, and sorta, kinda BA. Most of my life, I was just the brainiac musician. I was a total geek before being a geek was cool. During my youth, I played violin side-by-side with orchestras such as the Philharmonic Orchestra of Florida and the London Symphony – yet, I still don’t consider myself BA? Unacceptable. I’m just BA in a different way – my way. I’m a BA mom, wife, musician, actress, leader, entrepreneur. I need to lose those 40 pounds and keep exercising daily {which I have done for many years…just not enough to overcome my desperate love of sweets}. However, I don’t have to be that mom who does all the things that I do well AND run marathons, power lift, etc. It’s ok to leave that to the Moms who are BA in that way. And, it’s ok to admire them for it. Because, I feel that once we find our own BA, and own it, we can lift up others for theirs – even if we know we are not good at what they are good at. We can do us and they can do them. And, we can all support each other.
So, next time I pass a Mom who is killing it, I intend to say “You go, girl” Because, we are all doing our version of awesome. We are all doing “BA, Our way”. So, decide today – what is your BA?
