Decision Made!
"Whatever it is you really want for your life, remember, you have the power to make a decision to go for it. Whether you want to go back to school, change your financial situation, improve your relationships, or live a healthier lifestyle, it all starts with a decision." Valorie Burton, Author and Life Coach.
This above statement hit home with me in a big way when I saw it! And since I am marking a full year since I made a decision to improve my life, I thought this was the perfect time to tell my story. So, here we go.
Exactly one year ago, I made a decision. It was a minor decision at the time, made without much thought. If I had only known how this decision would grow! And grow it did, into a major life change! I decided to start becoming more active. Yoga was a good place to start, I thought. So I started taking yoga twice a week, and absolutely loved it! It was good for mind, body and soul! And then about once a week or so, I got on my dreaded elliptical trainer, and after 8 grueling minutes, I would crawl off, totally exhausted. Now this does not make me sound very active, does it? However, this was by far more activity than I had been doing on a regular basis, so it was good for a start. Right? Well, as the winter went on, I could do a little more than 8 minutes, and when daylight and weather allowed, I would walk outside on weekends. When the time changed in the Spring, a neighbor and I would walk a mile twice a week. It was about this time that I made a larger decision...it was time to get more active and be healthy. You see, I had just turned 60. It was now or never. It was never going to be a better time, and it was not going to get any easier as I got older.
Decision made, I started eating healthier, using My Fitness Pal app to track my nutrients, and also my exercise. I started to lose weight, just a pound or two a week, sometimes just a half pound, but steady going. My neighbor and I were now up to 2 miles walking, 3 times a week. It was becoming a lot easier to do that 8 minutes on the elliptical, and by now I could easily do 20 minutes. Now it's Summer, I am down about 20 pounds, have discovered kayaking (much to everyone's surprise as I've never been a truly adventurous outdoor type!), and I'm now walking 3 miles multiple times a week. And it's about now that I starting getting that old urge to run again. I was a runner in my 20s and 30s. A knee injury, followed by surgery, put an end to running at that time. But, once a runner, that feeling is always there. That "Runner's High"? It's a real thing. So I started doing short bursts of running while I was on my regular walks. Then I started doing longer bursts. And now the competitive Linda comes out. Who am I competing with? Why myself, of course! I'd look at my running app, see that last weekend I ran X minutes/mile, and did 2.8 miles, so that meant this weekend I need to do Y minutes/mile, and do 2.9 miles. And you know what? I crushed my time and distance over and over. Now don't get me wrong! I am, by NO means, a fast runner! I even walk some of the distance. BUT, I was improving! And man, was I happy! I was running again! And the best part? Every weekend, I would text my son Jeremy (a runner) my new stats, and every weekend, he would encourage and tell me how great I was doing! THAT meant the world!
And then, the next decision....I wanted to run a 5K! Yes! I could do this!! So I signed up for one. It's this Saturday! Yikes!
Fast forward to today. I am down 35 pounds and two sizes. I have boundless energy. I exercise every single day, having added going to the gym to my routine. And I do this because I love it. I am doing this for me, for my health, for my future. I am doing this for my grandchildren. I want them to see that a person can do ANYTHING if they truly want to...and at any age!
I have found one really interesting "side effect" of my new lifestyle....HAPPINESS! I am so much happier with life than I was a year ago. Now don't get me wrong. Life still has it's challenges, it's problems. Some things just don't change. But overall, maybe the way I am looking at things now, or maybe because I have the energy to deal with them, my problems do seem to be more manageable! Attitude is everything, and when you are a happier person, your attitude is better toward life in general. I am getting so many comments about the new me, and the best ones? The ones where someone tells me I look healthy and happy! I made a good decision a year ago!
So when Saturday rolls around, and I run my first ever 5k at the age of 60, I will be doing it with my son Jeremy and his girlfriend Angie (also a runner...and a good one!). I know they will be there at the finish line when I finally cross it. Hubby will be waiting for me there, too. My cheering section! And cross it I will! And I don't care if I'm the last one across that line. I WILL cross it. I am so very happy that I had the power to make that decision a year ago. And if I can do it, anyone can do it! The changes in my life are so incredible I can't sufficiently put them into words (although I have just used a lot of words to try!)!
Final words....give yourself the power to make a decision to change your life! Invest in yourself! Invest in your future! You WON'T be sorry! You are worth it! And I think it's only appropriate to end with another statement from Valorie Burton!
This above statement hit home with me in a big way when I saw it! And since I am marking a full year since I made a decision to improve my life, I thought this was the perfect time to tell my story. So, here we go.
Exactly one year ago, I made a decision. It was a minor decision at the time, made without much thought. If I had only known how this decision would grow! And grow it did, into a major life change! I decided to start becoming more active. Yoga was a good place to start, I thought. So I started taking yoga twice a week, and absolutely loved it! It was good for mind, body and soul! And then about once a week or so, I got on my dreaded elliptical trainer, and after 8 grueling minutes, I would crawl off, totally exhausted. Now this does not make me sound very active, does it? However, this was by far more activity than I had been doing on a regular basis, so it was good for a start. Right? Well, as the winter went on, I could do a little more than 8 minutes, and when daylight and weather allowed, I would walk outside on weekends. When the time changed in the Spring, a neighbor and I would walk a mile twice a week. It was about this time that I made a larger decision...it was time to get more active and be healthy. You see, I had just turned 60. It was now or never. It was never going to be a better time, and it was not going to get any easier as I got older.
Decision made, I started eating healthier, using My Fitness Pal app to track my nutrients, and also my exercise. I started to lose weight, just a pound or two a week, sometimes just a half pound, but steady going. My neighbor and I were now up to 2 miles walking, 3 times a week. It was becoming a lot easier to do that 8 minutes on the elliptical, and by now I could easily do 20 minutes. Now it's Summer, I am down about 20 pounds, have discovered kayaking (much to everyone's surprise as I've never been a truly adventurous outdoor type!), and I'm now walking 3 miles multiple times a week. And it's about now that I starting getting that old urge to run again. I was a runner in my 20s and 30s. A knee injury, followed by surgery, put an end to running at that time. But, once a runner, that feeling is always there. That "Runner's High"? It's a real thing. So I started doing short bursts of running while I was on my regular walks. Then I started doing longer bursts. And now the competitive Linda comes out. Who am I competing with? Why myself, of course! I'd look at my running app, see that last weekend I ran X minutes/mile, and did 2.8 miles, so that meant this weekend I need to do Y minutes/mile, and do 2.9 miles. And you know what? I crushed my time and distance over and over. Now don't get me wrong! I am, by NO means, a fast runner! I even walk some of the distance. BUT, I was improving! And man, was I happy! I was running again! And the best part? Every weekend, I would text my son Jeremy (a runner) my new stats, and every weekend, he would encourage and tell me how great I was doing! THAT meant the world!
And then, the next decision....I wanted to run a 5K! Yes! I could do this!! So I signed up for one. It's this Saturday! Yikes!
Fast forward to today. I am down 35 pounds and two sizes. I have boundless energy. I exercise every single day, having added going to the gym to my routine. And I do this because I love it. I am doing this for me, for my health, for my future. I am doing this for my grandchildren. I want them to see that a person can do ANYTHING if they truly want to...and at any age!
I have found one really interesting "side effect" of my new lifestyle....HAPPINESS! I am so much happier with life than I was a year ago. Now don't get me wrong. Life still has it's challenges, it's problems. Some things just don't change. But overall, maybe the way I am looking at things now, or maybe because I have the energy to deal with them, my problems do seem to be more manageable! Attitude is everything, and when you are a happier person, your attitude is better toward life in general. I am getting so many comments about the new me, and the best ones? The ones where someone tells me I look healthy and happy! I made a good decision a year ago!
So when Saturday rolls around, and I run my first ever 5k at the age of 60, I will be doing it with my son Jeremy and his girlfriend Angie (also a runner...and a good one!). I know they will be there at the finish line when I finally cross it. Hubby will be waiting for me there, too. My cheering section! And cross it I will! And I don't care if I'm the last one across that line. I WILL cross it. I am so very happy that I had the power to make that decision a year ago. And if I can do it, anyone can do it! The changes in my life are so incredible I can't sufficiently put them into words (although I have just used a lot of words to try!)!
Final words....give yourself the power to make a decision to change your life! Invest in yourself! Invest in your future! You WON'T be sorry! You are worth it! And I think it's only appropriate to end with another statement from Valorie Burton!
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