Blog entry: Friday June 7th. 2026.

A couple of days ago, I went to the gym. Whilst I was there, I decided to work on my shoulders, because I had an op 18 months ago, and I’m still rehabbing back to full strength.

Being a little wary, as one is after an op, I looked for the red band. For those who aren’t accustomed to the way band colours work, red is the easiest.

At the time, I couldn’t use the red band, because someone else had taken it. So, not wanting to change the direction of my workout, I picked up the black band instead.

Initially, my thinking brain got in the way and I struggled with the black band, but I took things gently and eventually it felt fine.

I felt braver and pushed a little harder, and slowly but surely I managed what I needed to do.

It felt good and I was happy by shoulder was making such good progress. Because that meant, I was making progress.

Moments later, the red band appeared back at the rack. I went and picked it up. Thinking, “Oh good, the right band…”

Off I went again, two same exercises, this time with the red band.

It was easy. Flowed naturally. And felt “fine”. And then I stopped.

Looking at the two bands in front of me, I thought…

“This is a metaphor for life”

We choose the red band because it’s easy. Because it’s safe.

We fool ourselves into thinking it’s all we can manage.

But in reality, black stretches us, and is actually the right band to use, because it helps us to realise our true potential.

When we spend our life using red bands, we never know what we’re capable of. We keep ourselves trapped in the false belief that that’s all we can do.

Today, think about the choices you make and how often you choose a red band over a black one.

Dustie x