When I first started out in the corporate world, I came across many impressive women. When I got to know them better, there were two things that astonished me: firstly the responsibilities they held at work were just the tip of the iceberg. Many were juggling a career with an equally busy home life: children to organise, meals to plan, and housework to attend to, even if that meant arranging for someone else to take care of it. All things considered, it was a super human effort worthy only of the highest respect. Which is why the second thing was always even more so shocking to me,<\/p>\n
In a high percentage of cases, these highly capable women who were managing the impossible did not perceive it as such. They certainly rarely stopped to acknowledge their humungous achievements. In the years that followed, I have observed the same pattern repeating itself. So often we focus on our own perceived inadequacies or things we would like to change. This ongoing, and often sub-conscious, dialogue in turn impacts on confidence and belief in our own abilities. The unfortunate result is compromise, limitation, and a life that is smaller than it could be.<\/p>\n
It was this very conundrum that was uppermost in my mind when I started Me Spot. I wanted to encourage women to believe in themselves, to celebrate who they are, and to tap into the enormous potential that I knew, without exception, they had. While Me Spot is now known more for its exercise classes, this philosophy is at the heart of everything we do. To me exercise is one way to get stronger both physically and mentally. It empowers and enables. What’s more, exercising with Me Spot means stepping into a community that embraces, supports and encourages. In an environment like that great things happen.<\/p>\n
While we were researching the concept, Corinne, our supremely talented designer, brought to my attention a poem by the exceptional Maya Angelou: Phenomenal Woman. <\/em>It sums up perfectly the ethos of Me Spot: we are all phenomenal women in our own right. Let’s embrace who we are, how we are and work it! Let’s use it to stride out, breakdown self-imposed barriers and live our best life!<\/p>\n If you haven’t read it (and even if you have it’s always worth reading again!), here it is:<\/p>\n Phenomenal Woman<\/strong><\/p>\n by Maya Angelou<\/em><\/p>\n Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. Phenomenal woman, I walk into a room Phenomenal woman, Men themselves have wondered Phenomenal woman, Now you understand Phenomenal woman, It was out of this poem that the Phenomenal Woman section of the monthly newsletter came to be. It is an opportunity for me to celebrate you and the amazing things you do (even though I STILL very often hear ‘what I am doing is not that out of the ordinary’!!).<\/p>\n In the 15 years of running Me Spot you have not only helped me to fulfil my dream but in the process, you have inspired me beyond measure. Because of you I believe even more firmly than I ever did that anything is possible, and that there is no question that the second half of life can be even better than the first!<\/p>\n For that I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *** I would like to dedicate this piece to my dear friend and confidante Professor Marcia Worrell who was not only one of the most impressive women I have ever\u00a0 known, she was kind, thoughtful, ultra supportive of Me Spot and everyone in it…. and she knew better than anyone how to strut her stuff! Although she is sadly no longer with us, her memory will be with us forever.***<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 15 years ago I had a dream to build a business that would make a difference to the lives of women. Look at what we have created…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1596,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nI’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
\nBut when I start to tell them,
\nThey think I’m telling lies.
\nI say,
\nIt’s in the reach of my arms
\nThe span of my hips,
\nThe stride of my step,
\nThe curl of my lips.
\nI’m a woman
\nPhenomenally.<\/p>\n
\nThat’s me.<\/p>\n
\nJust as cool as you please,
\nAnd to a man,
\nThe fellows stand or
\nFall down on their knees.
\nThen they swarm around me,
\nA hive of honey bees.
\nI say,
\nIt’s the fire in my eyes,
\nAnd the flash of my teeth,
\nThe swing in my waist,
\nAnd the joy in my feet.
\nI’m a woman\u2028 Phenomenally.<\/p>\n
\nThat’s me.<\/p>\n
\nWhat they see in me.
\nThey try so much
\nBut they can’t touch
\nMy inner mystery.
\nWhen I try to show them
\nThey say they still can’t see.
\nI say,
\nIt’s in the arch of my back,
\nThe sun of my smile,
\nThe ride of my breasts,
\nThe grace of my style.
\nI’m a woman
\nPhenomenally.<\/p>\n
\nThat’s me.<\/p>\n
\nJust why my head’s not bowed.
\nI don’t shout or jump about
\nOr have to talk real loud.
\nWhen you see me passing
\nIt ought to make you proud.
\nI say,
\nIt’s in the click of my heels,
\nThe bend of my hair,
\nthe palm of my hand,
\nThe need of my care,
\n‘Cause I’m a woman
\nPhenomenally.<\/p>\n
\nThat’s me.<\/p>\n