Perhaps I reside in a fantasy world; well, there really is no perhaps about it, my view of reality is quite often rather different from the truth. I prefer to think of it as childhood innocence. Yes, I realize at my age I should’ve outgrown that innocence, but some would say it’s part of my charm. No matter, we can argue the finer points later on.
As I write this, I’m sitting in front of a faux stone fireplace in a quaint Arkansas mountain cabin. It’s a quiet getaway from reality, and yet, today I experienced some very real discomfort. Even on vacation, this highly competitive first-born must close all of her stand, exercise, and calorie rings on her apple watch. Go figure.
It should surprise no one who knows me that I packed workout clothes, a cordless jump rope, hand weights, and my yoga mat so I can try and get in my daily #syndeycummings YouTube workouts. Vacations also usually mean daily hikes. I mean, come on, our cabin is right in the midst of a national forest. What better way to enjoy all the trees than to walk amongst them?
Yesterday we hiked almost five miles. I struggled a bit because I forgot to use my inhaler, yay for exercise and stress-induced asthma; otherwise, the hike was great. But today…well, I felt my humanity.
I like to think myself invincible, or at the very least physically fit, I mean, I do work out daily. Yesterday my husband researched the best local trails. The one appealing most to me was a six-mile trek up a one-thousand-foot mountain grade, sounds perfect right? Well, since we brought the dog and she can barely manage three miles, we scratched that idea. Truth be told, how I felt during and after today’s shorter four-mile hike, if we’d attempted twelve miles round trip, Search and Rescue could still be out hunting for us.
Today I remembered to use my inhaler and yet I still found myself winded and lagging behind both my husband and the dog. Both he and I are overweight and out of shape, but I am less overweight and more in shape than him, or so I thought. Even comparing heart rates, my heart was working so much harder than his. WHY???
Here’s the bottom line, no matter how you slice it, men and women are genetically different, and nothing can change that fact. I am not here to argue for or against natural-born males transitioning to female or vice versa, my feelings on this subject are irrelevant. However, after today I am more convinced than ever that allowing natural-born males to compete in women’s sports is unfair to natural-born women. No matter how you slice it, women simply cannot compete against men. We. Are. Different.
Arriving back at the cabin, I could not change clothes and jump into the hot tub fast enough. AHHH, absolute bliss for this supremely exhausted, not so young anymore woman. No matter the challenges, you all know it’ll be back into the woods once again tomorrow. And yet again, that hot tub will be patiently awaiting my arrival.
Until Next Time,
Becky J Miller
Warrior Princess