I still remember the moment when I found out that humans ride ostriches like horses. I was conflicted. I wanted to go to an ostrich farm and climb up the stirrups and say ‘giddyup.’ Simultaneously, I got an icky feeling in my gut because I had an innate sense of it being all wrong. I knew it was testing the limits of the ostrich’s capacity, putting undue strain on a creature that should be left alone.
The laws of nature dictate certain things, and as far as I’m concerned, I’m pretty sure that humans shouldn’t be riding ostriches. Just because we can do something, it doesn’t mean we should.
So how does that relate to a health and wellness website?
I think about the things I demand from my body, soul, heart. I often put my personhood into situations that may be at the brink of my capacity. Do I do it anyway? Many times. But I am actively trying to give myself more leeway to know myself and not just the maximum of things I can tolerate, but the threshold for comfort in my body and mind and soul
The maximum limit of strain on our bodies is not the same thing as our threshold for comfort.
Identifying those two points as separate things can help us to understand our limits. It’s important to ask the question, not just ‘will I burn out if I take this on’ but ‘will I have time to do my hobbies and rest and recreation if I take this on’? Will the garden I’m already tending wither and show strain if I do this?
We only have a limited amount of resources.
Let’s begin to unravel ourselves from situations and relationships that treat us like our resources are unlimited. They’re not.
What else am I currently doing that fits into the ‘riding ostriches’ category? A lot of things, to be honest. I’m trying to unlearn and unravel these things right alongside you.
Let’s all try to protect ourselves more so we don’t put ourselves into maximum-strain situations.
Comment below and let me know what you’re struggling with and what types of ‘riding ostriches’ situations you’ve identified.
