Hello there gorgeous people and welcome to my sixty-fourth blog.
A year ago, I wrote about success and what it meant to me. After an extraordinary year, I decided that I would revisit this blog and see how things are, twelve months down the line. On reading it, I see that my views on this success story have changed, so without further ado, let us chat about this.
What does success mean to me now?
- Not giving up.
Shoo, I feel that I have been hectically tested with this over the past year. I have been tempted to give up some of my goals but have not done so. What I have done is modified and altered the time frame for achieving them, which is absolutely okay. I have realized, of late, that taking care of myself rises above all my goals.
- Learning every day.
l watch TED talks or interesting videos, and podcasts. Not so many podcasts in winter as those are perfect for my regular dose of Vitamin D whilst lying at the pool over lunchtime. My introspection and self-refection over the past year have been invaluable learning tools in helping me grow.
- Believing I can.
I still believe that I can be the person I aspire to being. However, I have modified my aspirations and they are constantly changing. What was important to me last year is not necessarily as important this year. I am more realistic about what I want to be and do, and this rests so well with me. I truly believe I can.
- Always doing my best.
This I feel I manage to do most of the time. I have also noticed my best is getting better particularly with my physio practice and my administration. (I am even using the full word now!) As I gain more experience and confidence in this relatively new field of treating the more mature folk, I feel that my treatments are more thorough, time efficient and just a great deal better. It is a fabulous feeling! My blogs evolve and change and go through waves, depending on how I am feeling and what is going on in my life. As I write them, I am doing my best. At the risk of repeating myself, I am also doing my best to keep myself in overall optimal health and wellness.
- Setting goals.
Obviously setting goals are paramount to my success. They are the foundation on which my success will sit. What I have learnt over the last year is that these goals do not necessarily need to be concrete. In fact, it is probably better if they are fluid. Also, my goal can be a baby one, or it can be huge. That is immaterial. Last year I was perhaps a little overzealous with regards to some of my goals, so now I tweak them regularly and that works so well for me, as mentioned in point 1 and 3 above. It is also not about failing if I drop some of them, but about growing and replacing and learning. In the words of Richard Branson, “Every success story is a tale of constant adaption, revision and change.”
- Reading, reading, and reading.
Reading has so many benefits. I am an avid and vociferous reader. What this past year has taught me is that I personally need to have lighthearted fiction reading interspersed with the heavier non-fiction research. This really enhances my relaxation and well-being.
- Having a place to call home.
I still believe that home can be a structure, a city, a country or even a person. It is that “place” where you feel safe, secure, and comfortable. Having this makes me feel that I am successful. I am beyond blessed to have all the above. However last year has made me realize that the unconditional and unwavering support and love of my magnificent family is my ultimate home.
- Balancing work with passion.
So, my work is so much part of my passion, but I also love to travel (hopefully again soon) read, walk, plan holidays, exercise, take pics, cook, bake, research and spend time with my family, in no particular order. I am learning the importance of downtime, discussed in a previous blog, and have realised more recently that rest is as vital as busyness for optimal health which, as has already been mentioned, is one of my biggest goals.
- Learn that I sometimes have to say no.
I am so good at this nowadays, mostly. My favourite companion has been unbelievably helpful with this. I do what I must do and if there is a choice and I feel that something will not serve me, I do not do it. This has been in line with my people- pleasing getting less. Can you actually believe it? I am trying my best to do and be me! I may soon be an ex-people-pleaser!!! Enormous progress, of such particular note!
- Laughter.
This is something I have completely and utterly waxed. We have discussed laughing in several previous blogs, and it is truly a very strong medicine. It boosts the immune system, relaxes the body, eases anxiety and tension and strengthens resilience. I will laugh at the drop of a hat, every single day and often, without fail! I laugh with my boys, my patients, my friends, carers, and anyone else who is keen to join in. One of my biggest successes.
- Helping others succeed.
The way in which I feel that I help others succeed nowadays has changed. I feel that I have achieved this by helping my physio patients and nutrition clients. I aim to improve my patients mobility and balance and decrease their pain and inflammation I hope to facilitate my nutrition clients in their quest for optimal health and wellness. I believe this is success.
- Conquering the fear.
This is a roller coaster ride. Some days I conquer my fears and others not. The fears also change and are modified. Overall, I think this has improved. The overthinking that comes with this has just been discussed in my most recent blog and I am cautiously optimistic about my managing of this.
- Meditating.
Oh dear! Stuck record. Work in progress… again. A baby victory, however, I managed to meditate myself back to sleep the other night! Woo! Hoo!
- Exercise.
This is still so vital for me to be successful. Whenever I am feeling a little unsure and vulnerable, exercise gets me going again. The reverse is true. If I do not exercise my day never seems to quite get off the ground. The connection between a healthy brain and body is beyond important. Not always so easy to motivate myself, but fab once done. Not always, and over the last couple of week, a little slack. However, pleased with my ongoing endeavour in this compartment.
- Losing the negativity.
I seem to be managing to lose the pessimistic people and things and am slowly but surely surrounding myself for the most part with “Good people, people who are good for me, good to me, and good for my soul.” This enhances my well being inordinately, especially when I find myself feeling a little down. Here I just have to say, thank you my beautiful friends and amazing family.
- Loving and being loved back.
I honestly feel that I am the luckiest girl in this sphere. I love deeply and dearly and am beyond blessed to feel that love coming back a thousand fold and then some more. Learning to live without Muz has made me realize that even from Heaven, she still loves us so very much. I have also become even closer to my Mum over the last year and Pops and i are the bestest of friends.
- Keeping the courage of my convictions and having integrity.
The last year has been amazing for me and this. Perhaps it is due to an increase in my self-confidence and the fact that my opinions do come from an informed platform. I definitely have the courage of my convictions and feel confident enough to hold onto my beliefs and ideologies. Honesty and integrity, particularly during this pandemic, has been beyond important to me. This does not mean that I need to shout about all of this from the rooftops, in fact often the opposite happens. I keep these to myself unless asked. Another huge step in the right direction.
- Celebrating small victories.
I do this, and nowadays quite consistently, so this is great progress.
- My Boys
A year of having so much fun, meals, magnificent bubbles, and vino, stimulating debates, and deep conversations, and feeling so privileged that I get to call these awesome young men my sons. I absolutely love and cherish the treasured time spent with them making magnificent memories.
- Shaping my destiny.
Again, referring to a previous blog, you can not necessarily control what life throws your way, but you have the privilege to choose to control how you respond to it. This is often so much easier said than done, but so worth striving for. I am making inroads into this.
- Sucking it up.
With my new businesses, things are not always perfect. There may be a patient who does not want to see me, or a nutrition client that stops consultations with me. A matron who is not kind and a relative who is rude. A blog (or more) that is not enjoyed These are all difficult
for me in different ways Some days I take that teaspoon of cement and am resilient and strong, but on others I feel upset and hurt and struggle to even find the teaspoon. Afraid I am rather a sensitive sod. Thankfully, some success and aiming for some more.
- Building on the plus points.
We have had rather a challenging time over the last while, some of which I have not wanted to, or felt able, to share. That is life. What seems to be working for me is to be thankful for all the great positives in my life. This works, mostly.
- Monitoring my use of social media.
For a few reasons, I have taken a small sabbatical from Facebook and Instagram. Happily, this has made me understand that I really do not need it to fulfil my life. I use it for my blog and a wee bit of nutrition stuff and have enjoyed posting often and voluminously in the past. I will return to both. They keep me up to speed with friends all over our planet, but they are not an essential part of my life. This is success for me.
- Being patient
This has not historically been one of my virtues, but of late I have been beyond proud of the times that I have been patient. Recently this has been tested on more than one occasion and I have managed with aplomb, poise, and calmness, mostly. Thrilled with this!
What a year it has been. I have certainly changed and my ides of success have done so too.
So, my friends, my parting wish for you all, is to just “Do you and be you”.
Take care, stay safe and have a wonderful weekend.
Thank you, once more, to Missy Yost and Andrew Thomas for their insights.