2021 is coming to an end and as with most things in life, this comes with a myriad of emotions. 2021: year 2 of the pandemic, a year of tumultuous political and social unrest and upheaval, a year of more natural disasters, global supply chain issues, vaccines, billionaires going to space, America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and so many more national headlines for America. But what was 2021 for you? Yes, I know, obviously all of those events I have mentioned affected each of us in various ways whether largely or just for entertainment value (remember when billionaires went to space?), but what did 2021 mean for YOU? For me, 2021 was the start of my journey to health. In 2021 I turned 40 and am now the happiest and the healthiest I have ever been.
To understand what a truly transformational journey this is, it is important I share a little bit about my health journey prior to 2021. In 2014 I had stress fractures in both of my shins that would not heal. My chiropractor who was working with me started asking me some very important questions about my health and my cycle which led him to recommending I see an endocrinologist. After years of going to different doctors and gynecologists with frustrating symptoms and getting dismissed, my chiropractor dug deeper and knew something wasn’t right. And he was right. Finally, after years of fatigue, sickness, bloat, discomfort, horrendous cycles, brain fog, anxiety, depression and just overall feeling crappy, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s. I won’t go into all of the specifics on this post of what the next several years looked like in my understanding of the disease, my acceptance of what that meant, my treatment, etc., but that pivotal moment with Dr. Katzman was the first step in my health transformation. So, why then did it take so many years for me to get healthy? 1. Hashimoto’s is complicated. 2. I’m human and had a very long learning history of behaviors that were detrimental to my health (some unknowingly, some because it just tasted so good when it hit your lips!). 3. My physical health is just one piece of the bigger puzzle that is my overall health, albeit a very important one.
So, let’s fast forward to January 12, 2021. My Hashimoto’s was overall under control, but I was overweight (who am I kidding… I was obese) and not happy with my overall health and choices. At that point, I was happily married for a year and a half to an amazing man and we lived a life of adventure that I adore and that was awesome. And sometimes when parts of your life are awesome, you have a fear of losing them. Some of the ways I could lose the things and people I love are out of my control. Others… I have some stock in. How much longer would Adam and I be able to live this life of adventure we love? Would we still be able to enjoy hiking, camping and kayaking when we retire or would we be too sick or in too much pain from our poor life choices to actually enjoy them, or worse yet even participate in them at all? So it began, the New Year’s resolutions to do better, to be better. But how many times have I been there, done that, failed that? Too many to count. What would make this year different from those years in the past? The real question: what would I DO differently to make this year different?
The answer to that seemingly simple question: a lot. I needed to look at every area of my life and evaluate where I was in relation to where I wanted to be.
My WHY is what made (is making) this time different. My WHY is leading me on a journey to strength, balance, and calm in deep health. My WHY: become healthier and stronger to be able to experience and fully enjoy life with the ones I love and to be able to do my physically demanding job well. I have made tiny habits to change my life in all domains: physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, occupational. So, how has that commitment to my WHY turned out a year later? Here are just some highlights: I went from a size 18 to a size 12. I’ve lost 40 pounds. I have lost inches (exactly how many I don’t know because I didn’t start taking measurements from the beginning). I’ve developed a mindfulness practice to help me better cope with daily stressors. I meditate daily. I read the Bible daily. I journal most days. I have lost weight and gained confidence and more importantly energy and joy. I have developed a new passion for helping others on their own personal health and wellness journeys. I started a wellness committee at my place of work. I started Level 1 Precision Nutrition and am planning on completing Level 2 and going for the national board certification for health and wellness coaching. I have started working with a personal trainer and a nutritional behavior coach. My health is not a goal, it is a VALUE and there is no end date on a value. I value my journey and I hope that I can help you value yours and engage in the behaviors you need to Be Well!
