It is this time of the year as the days get shorter, it gets colder, and as I am still trying to figure out who I am in this pandemic that I decided I needed to make a change.
Sometimes the same feels comfortable, perhaps too comfortable so you resist the change or spend time convincing yourself that things are ok as they are. Over the last few months, I have had enough of ok and am on a quest for something better.
This shift in my mind started soon after the pandemic put most of us in some sort of lock-down, but it really took hold while in Kauai, Hawaii. My family and I could have done so many of the “tourist” trips but instead, we made it to our destinations on a “turn left/turn right” decision. While some of the trails/roads looked “sus” as my kids might say – they often ended up in most beautiful places I have ever seen.
I decided to take that same mindset of trying something new and perhaps uncomfortable and use that to guide me to new places once I got back home.
If you know me – you know I love to workout and you also know I have become a huge Peloton fan. I joined in the challenge of “Boss October” which was started by Ally Love.
In her words:
“Being a boss is a combination of what we do and how those things make us feel. It’s pushing our boundaries of comfort to take charge of fear and overcome the norm. It’s about setting the tone, establishing a new standard, creating limitless boundaries to find self-fulfillment. Ultimately, it’s finding honor in the process rather than the outcome. When you set your plan in motion, you will succeed.”
For the month of October – I have 3 goals:
- Mentally: focus on true priorities and remove anything off the list that does not matter. I scheduled needed appointments, removed things from my to-do list and whenever something comes in (bill, call, etc) – I take care of it right away so it is completed. Another facet of this is waking up and saying/thinking positive thoughts about myself too. (Think: “you can get up and do this” or – “you did a great job yesterday – keep it up” vs. you should just sleep in, it does not matter”)
- Reset: I had to choose a “luxury” item to remove from my life that would make it better. For me – that was alcohol. I chose this because my next goal requires me to be my best more healthy self everyday.
- Physically: 250 miles on the bike, 50 miles running/walking
Twelve days in – I feel great, am still rooting for myself and can feel the difference. If I have learned anything over the past two years it is that practicing being uncomfortable (through running/hard workouts, etc) has really made it much easier to challenge yourself and to follow through with the process. I have realized that waking up proud of my changes each day is much more fulfilling than waking up wishing and hoping I would actually make the change.
At some point in all of our lives – we are faced with a life altering decision and I think Rober Frost summed it up best in his poem “The Road Not Taken”:
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
It might not be the easier decision to take the road less traveled by, but in many cases it will pay off much more than not. Make the change, feel the difference, and be proud of who you are. We have limited time here. Why waste another day?
