Wearing the Gi -- Part 1

If I remember correctly, during the spring of 1992, just a few weeks after recovering from an ectopic pregnancy, I was invited to join a Judo class for women that was starting in my neighborhood.

Many of you have heard me tell this story about how as a group of Ultra-Orthodox women, we got permission from the Rabbi to start this class.

And how after 6 months, I was the only one left.

What I haven’t shared was my relationship with my JudoGi. The Japanese white uniform that I would wear to train.

First, this was the only pair pf pants, other than pajamas, that I had worn in close to a decade. Second, there was something about putting it on, and tying the belt, that was just magical. I stood taller.

Maybe it happened slowly, but it happened. And thinking back now, I can see how I started to put it on to train in the house. Washing the floors. In my Gi, barefoot, and using a floor rag to practice my foot-sweeping drills and getting the floor clean(ish) at the same time.

Or wearing it when I washed dishes and could work on my stance. Soft knees. Back straight.

So maybe that is what taught me about the power of clothing.

So maybe that is what taught me about the power of clothing.

I few years later, as a divorced mom struggling with a school system that just didn’t want to give me a break, I found myself choosing a t-shirt with the Superman chest symbol on it.

I bought it to be a sleep shirt.

And while I wish I could be telling this story as that having been a Superwoman shirt, it wasn’t. And it was good enough for me.

And I started wearing it under my jeans dress when I would go to those hard meetings.

The meetings where there were four of “them,” and me alone, barely understanding the Hebrew being thrown at me.

And I sat a little taller in my seat. Because I knew that I had superpowers. And I advocated for myself and for my children.

And I sat a little taller in my seat.

Because I knew that I had superpowers.

And I advocated for myself and for my children.

I did the best I could.

So, find the socks, or the boxers, or the undershirts that help you remember that you too have superpowers.

And let them help you sit a little taller.

Or at least, have a little smirk on your face because you know that underneath it all, you are powerful.