The intolerance you've likely been ignoring
Yesterday I was at my kids' soccer games and looked around at the sea of umbrellas, tents, chairs, misting fans, sunscreen, and misery that existed on the sidelines.
I could pretend like I wasn't judging what I saw, but truth be told, it makes evolutionary sense that I would actually use discernment at all times in order to protect myself and my offspring. So with that disclaimer, I admit that I was judging pretty hard.
But my judgment wasn't regarding people as "less than" in any way; it was simply an observation of the increasing intolerance to our own environment. We live on planet Earth, and despite the conveniences of central heat and air in nearly every building, it's not always the most comfortable place to exist.
People on the sidelines yesterday could not handle standing in the sun for an hour (meanwhile, their kids were running around in the heat in double-layered jerseys). They needed to sit, needed shade, needed airflow, needed sun protection. (And yes, I understand that some of these people actually did NEED those things, but I argue that many people create the need for these things by not exposing themselves to anything but continuous comfort.)
Maybe I could take this thought train down the "loving what is" path, but I won't. (If that strikes your fancy, maybe it's a good journal or meditation prompt for you.)
I'm going to take this down the "we need more exposure" path.
There was a period wherein I loved the extremes: the hottest summer days and the most frigid winters the midwest could offer.
But then I somehow grew into a bit of intolerance: too hot, too cold, too humid, too wet, too bright, too cloudy, too ANYTHING BUT PERFECT.
I couldn't go outside without sunglasses because it physically pained me. (I felt acknowledged when I learned in chiropractic college that people with lighter colored eyes had a greater sensitivity to the sun.)
I loved getting tan but couldn't sit outside without burning.
For probably 10 years, that was how I lived.
In 2012, my naturopath recommended I start doing a cold rinse at the end of my shower. I hated it.
But I think those cold shower finishes caused me not to just lean into discomfort, but opened up something in me about possibilities. Because in 2013, I decided I'd investigate whether it was possible to not need my glasses and contacts anymore (see this article (password is "newsletter" if it asks) for more on how that went and remember that I used to be unable to go outside without sunglasses).
The possibility of reversing autoimmune diagnoses followed shortly thereafter. And those cold rinses turned into cold showers and then ice baths and then buying an actual Plunge that I've sat in for 20 minutes.
So maybe the first step to intolerance is recognizing the intolerance.
If you "can't stand" something, or are truly intolerant of it, then I bet there's a lesson in there for you. But if you're not interested in diving right in to learn it, then try starting with some baby steps. For example:
Maybe you can't go outside without putting sunglasses on because it hurts your eyes. Try wearing a hat with no sunglesses.
Maybe you hate the idea of being in cold water and can't figure out why I keep recommending that you get in the Plunge. Try a lukewarm start to your shower or a very quick lukewarm finish.
Maybe you hate the heat, but like working out. Try to enjoy the point just before you start sweating when your body temperature is getting higher and you feel the warmth in your body.
If you hate the heat and also hate working out, try sitting in the sun and when you start sweating, practice gratitude for your body's incredible ability to cool down and simultaneously detoxify itself and see if you can sit a while longer.
Maybe you can't go outside without your skin burning. Try going out in the morning sun to enjoy the benefits and slowly expose your skin to the possibility of protecting itself.
By the way, I'm not trying to say I have this figured out. I'm still trying to figure out the lesson of my gluten and dairy intolerances! But the sauna, Plunge, and a daily commitment to being outside regardless of temperature has me practicing discomfort regularly. And there's a lot of joy to be had in living in whatever discomfort you find yourself in.
Yesterday while people were miserable (and I don't just mean that they were bitching; they were truly uncomfortable and struggling) in the heat, I threw the frisbee with my husband and whichever son wasn't playing soccer at the time. I didn't have a chair, umbrella, or misting fan. I sweat a lot and very much enjoyed the day. (I also did some short running bursts after the frisbee and felt no negative effects afterward - yay for a healing brain!)
Maybe you've heard me rant about why I don't wear sunscreen, and this continues that train of thought. If we expose ourselves to things, we can become not just more resilient to them, but actually antifragile.
Speaking of rants, I moved a bunch my old instagram content over to Odysee this weekend, so you can now see that rant on sunscreen and one on vitamin D as well as some of my most recommended remedies for things like leg cramps or hip mobility. I also have some brand new content on there and will continue adding to this, so be sure to subscribe!
Since we're ranting, here's a really quick rant (with cool video by Samuel Rivera) from Joe Rogan regarding freedom that I hope you'll take 2 minutes to watch.
While I was moving content, I found this video, which I think will be helpful for those of you who have asked about how on earth I hit myself in the head to cause my 7th concussion. Most people don't know what an open trap bar is because they're not very common. This is what I muscle snatched up to try to do an overhead squat with, and as the weight became uneven, the front part of the bar came back and hit me directly in the head. Now you know. 10/10 do not recommend. Lastly, I would love it if you took at look at the content that I have available on the moveMentors platform. In addition to the fact that I am proud of the work I've done and would love for it to be seen, I know that you can't benefit from this work if you don't know about it.
I learned this weekend that one of my good friends didn't even know I had a Swim program. Perhaps you don't know about the courses I have, so now I'm telling you about them. Click the link below to have a gander around and let me know what questions you have about the programs that exist there.