I recall meeting with friends for brunch last year. It was so lovely to catch up in person after the COVID hiatus. Following flowing conversation, laughter and full bellies, we posed for a photo. This photo post brunch was reminiscent of our last brunch outing (many moons earlier). Later that day, back at home, I viewed the photo on my phone and looked at myself in disbelief, who is that person? I pulled up our earlier photo from many moons ago as a comparison, I could barely recognize myself….
Time had been cruel, or had I been cruel to myself?
Sure working from home the majority of the last three years did not help, but I felt lost in who I was. I became focused on each day ahead, instead of the present moment. I wanted more than anything to make the ridiculousness of COVID leave as little of an impact on my family as possible, especially our kids. In all of my focus on this task, I lost focus on myself. My regular exercising dwindled and my eating habits… were less than impressionable.
I knew I had to step up to make change and for a long time, this step eluded me. I wished for overnight changes, like rubbing a genie bottle and wishing for the health of my youth at the snap of a finger. Finally, I realized all this time I had been focusing on my children, they were the best reason to take this step… If my children see me striving to be better, striving to eat healthier and being more active, this behaviour is more likely to leave a lasting impression on them.
Gradually, I have started eating better, exercising more and being more conscious about what I am putting in my body. I have taken to running again, even occasionally with my daughter! I am still a big believer in balance, which is to say I haven’t drastically cut things out of my diet as I know this would make me miserable (ahem chocolate). I have found a happy medium and now, when I look at myself in the mirror, I see me again.