It is what it is…

Two weeks ago, we recorded our Cardio Fun class.  To me, this event is always a huge highlight!  It’s simply amazing to see how hours of practising hundreds of different new moves and choreography, over and over, week after week, come together and turns into magic.  Muscle memory simply kicks in, and bodies move instinctively.  I often hear our members say it’s almost sad when we do the routine for the last time…

Nicole introduced me to Jenna Raine’s “It is what it is” song last December, and I immediately knew it just had to part of our first dance fitness routine of the year.  We had a ball while we sang and cheered:

“Hey! Lemons make lemonade
Flowers bloom in the rain
Growing up is a pain
And it is what it is
Okay! It’s not the end of the world
There’s always light where it burns
Just remember the words
And it goes like this…
It is what it is, what it is, what it is, what it is…”

It is what it is – Cardio

But, the phrase “It is what it is” also became the inspiration for a Blog post – First it was triggered by the lyrics of the song, and then Amanda walked into my office for her first InBody assessment of our New Year Challenge.   Looking at the printout of her results, she smiled, looked me in the eyes, and said in her friendly, soft-spoken voice: “It is what it is…”

“It is what it is…”  The phrase sounds comforting, easy-going, and even relaxed.  There’s no fighting to be done.  Did you know the earliest known reference to the phrase happened in the Nebraska State Journal in 1949: “New land is harsh, and vigorous, and sturdy.  There is nothing of sham or hypocrisy in it.  It is what it is, without an apology…”

…A bird flying overhead drops a white, wet, sticky bomb on your head.  Unfortunate?  Yes.  Something you had control over?  No.  It is what it is.  Your plane is cancelled at the last minute because of technical problems.  It is what it is.  Your favourite team, the Sharks, are at the bottom of the league table.  It’s a hard one to take, but what can you do?  It is what it is… 

I guess “It is what it is” can mean many different things to many different people.  When it’s a case of making peace with misfortune or difficulty rather than getting torn up about it, it’s perfectly okay.  As long as it doesn’t mean “I don’t care”.  I know that’s not what Amanda meant, otherwise she would not be part of the Challenge, staying accountable with classes and before-pictures, and meeting all the other small, weekly demands of being part of a fitness challenge.  She simply accepted it for what it was at that moment – not her best assessment ever…

The final trigger for choosing “It is what it is” as the theme for my Blog, was my short visit to Gosia Friday afternoon.  Last November during the very last week of our Summer Challenge, Gosia had a nasty fall and broke her elbow.  She still managed to finish her Challenge successfully, but she has not yet been able to return to our studio this year.

The elbow is healing very slowly, and she’ll probably only be able to join us again in April, if all goes well.  “It is what it is”.  But Gosia is not using the phrase as an excuse for inaction – she does one-armed planks, wall sits, core exercises, and goes for regular walks.  She has even asked me if she could come for a body assessment, because she is still looking after her body, doing what she can to maintain the stunning results she obtained in 2023.

“It is what it is”, but I just realized again – whatever our circumstances, we always have a choice.  We don’t have to remain passengers.  We CAN always do something to change or influence events.  We should not accept the unacceptable as the inevitable…

“It is what it is” is not a resignation; it’s an affirmation of our ability to adapt, grow, and thrive.  We possess an innate strength that allows us to turn challenges into stepping stones…

”It is what it is”, but I have the power to shape what will be.  “It is what it is”, but every challenge is an opportunity for personal growth.  “It is what it is”, but I choose to find joy and purpose in the present.  And, “It is what it is”, but I have patience…

In one of his poems, the famous Portuguese poet Alberto Caeiro” wrote many years ago: “I’m in no hurry:  the sun and the moon aren’t, either.  Nobody goes faster than the legs they have.  If where I want to go is far away, I’m not there in an instant…”

“It is what it is” suggests a willingness to endure or wait without becoming overly frustrated or anxious.  But it’s definitely NOT doing nothing.  It’s accepting the reality of the way things are, but in the same breath knowing that you have the power to shape what comes next.

It’s February…We are in Week 3 of our New Year Challenge.  Most of our members who have done an InBody assessment, know fully well that 6 weeks are not enough for reaching their end goals.  “It is what it is”.  But, they also know there are two more Challenges after this one, 21 Challenge weeks left in 2024 altogether, with many more alternate weeks in between to step closer to their goals.

So, let’s take a deep breath, embrace the journey, find beauty in the chaos, and know that every experience is shaping us.  (If you are a Challenge member, send the self-made quote below to Mirna before 20.00 for a well-deserved extra point!)

“IT IS WHAT IT IS, BUT IT WILL BE WHAT YOU MAKE IT.

IT IS WHAT IT IS, UNTIL YOU DECIDE THAT IT ISN’T…”

Yours in fitness

Mirna