the power of nerding out, pt. 3

You can nerd out about anything.

A perfectly crafted espresso.

The night sky.

The riff you’ve been working on for weeks.

A foreign language or place.

Your favorite book.

A podcast or tv series.

An imaginary world.

Decorating.

Your favorite animal.

Mechanical things and how they work.

Making something new.

The best dance class in your neighborhood.

Your newest, most surprisingly all-encompassing hobby.

I have become super into powerlifting. I started lifting and training and learning the sport about a year and a half ago, and I can’t get enough of it. I did not used to know or care anything about it, and now it’s everywhere in my life. The number of powerlifters I follow online probably almost outweighs the other content I consume. I have become a person who wakes up at 4:30 in the morning to go to the gym. (The GYM! 4:30 AM! Before the sun! This was an incredulous impossibility to me just a couple years ago!) And what’s more? I love it. I train 4-6 times per week and have learned a lot about form, programming, progressive overload, muscle groups, recovery, nutrition…

I am fascinated by the whole thing, the wins and highs pump me up like nothing else (all about the gainzzzzz!), and I just love the process and talking about it and thinking about it and doing it, etc etc etc. 😆

I cannot tell you how much benefit powerlifting has brought to my life. Aside from the obvious health and physical benefits (if these benefits are not so obvious to you, or you’ve never stopped to think about it, I mean it when I say I *love* this stuff and will happily talk all about it! haha), the mental clarity, confidence, and self-empowerment speak volumes. It’s amazing. The process of the routine and the practice of sticking with it. The belief in what I can achieve and my capacity to do hard things. The community. The sheer joy and excitement!

How can you be part of the thing that lights you up inside?

How can you be part of whatever it is that draws your eye and makes you a little giddy?

How can you practice and take some action — big or small — in the world that amazes you?

Commit to what you’re nerdy about. I don’t care if it’s big or small. I don’t care if it’s a huge thing like slowly changing your whole lifestyle to become a powerlifter (which, by the way, was never something I wanted! I have happily stumbled upon it and have been glad and grateful every step of the way.); or if it’s a tiny thing like buying a couple hummingbird feeders and watching them every day. (I already can’t wait for next hummingbird migration season!)

The point of being nerdy about something is that it doesn’t have to have a point. You can just love what you love. You can let what you love improve your days and magnify your attention. You can notice what you love over and over again and then watch how that leads you to noticing more about your life in general.

It will make you better. It will bring satisfaction and contentment, stimulation for your mind and senses. Nerding out gives you fun and education and purpose. It’s unification. It’s also a great connecting point and conversation-starter: people who are truly excited about something they’re currently deeply engaged in are way more interesting to talk to.

What are you nerding out on lately? Embrace it.

This is the third of a 3 Part series. Read the power of nerding out, pt. 1 and pt. 2 here.