Humans are amazing creatures. We can convince ourselves that the magical stroke of midnight moving to a new year will reset everything. Our resolve will strengthen, habits will surely stick this time and we will be happier if when, what and how happens.
I've never been a big resolution setter, but I enjoy planning adventures and goals for the year ahead. What can I experience that will fill my memory bank? These are important to me.
After a year of questioning my existence on earth after being diagnosed with cancer, I can tell you this: YOU DO NOT HAVE TIME!
I reflect on this picture my dad took of me looking for Bighorn Sheep nearly 36 years ago it feels like an eternity ago and a blink all at once.
People think if they get diagnosed with an illness they would have time to do the things they always wanted to...NOPE!
Your time if something drastic happens be it an accident, illness or changes in economic conditions can grind your life to a halt faster than you can blink. I managed in the six weeks leading up to my surgery to get in a paddle and fishing trip. Thankfully I was healthy enough to engage in both.
New year, new you is bullshit. Your 2024 will look exactly like 2023 unless you leave your comfort zone. Leaving your comfort zone leads to healing your mental, physical and spiritual self.
I by no means have any of this figured out, I stumble and fall. Take two steps forward and one step back. However, having the awareness that you are involved in evolving yourself daily is how you know you are making progress. Failure will happen as surely as the sun rises and sets.
One example is having some of my best weightlifting successes in well over a decade. I am closing in on bench pressing my body weight which is one of my goals. Along with deadlifting over 100lbs feeling phenomenal while I did it. The next three days....lots of discomfort, back pain and stiffness.
Did I quit or panic? No, I realize that I can heal, repair and prepare to do it again when I'm ready. Four days later I repeated it and felt no pain it goes to show just because something causes pain doesn't mean you can't heal from it a come back stronger.
Being on Tamoxifen now I am entering menopause (no periods yes!!!) this is a call to action for all women entering or in this phase of life: LIFT WEIGHTS!! Your muscle is your superpower for aging prevention.
Before you tell me you don't want to get bulky ask yourself if you carry your groceries in the house? If yes then pick up the damn 30 lb dumbbell in the gym. Carrying kids, groceries and all the other items life requires hasn't caused you to bulk up yet. As well supplement with creatine whether you exercise or not.
This last day of 2023 I had a phenomenal 5km run this morning. Was it a personal record? In my world yes. It wasn't my fastest run but it was the most free and enjoyable that I've felt running in a long time. I am acutely aware of what a gift it is to use my body at the age of 47 years old.
Life is complicated messy, challenging, beautiful, phenomenal and amazing all at once.
On this eve of the New Year make a pact with yourself. Take your age now and subtract it from 80.
80-47= 33. Now add it to 2023. 2023 + 33 = 2056.
I will live to the year 2056 if I live to 80 years of age. I have lots of experiences that I want to fulfill yet and was a little panicked at the idea I wouldn't be able to do some of them after my diagnosis this year. However, I also have NO REGRETS because I have lived so intentionally and as my one Aunt says I have lived many lifetimes over in just one life.
The question I ask of you is what do you plan to do with yours? Set small achievable actions to move towards these goals these eventually are called habits over time. But before you blink and it's too late start now!
Sending You Love N' SUP,
Lisa Stocking