Broken to GBR Triathlete

SLOW DOWN, BREATHE AND START AGAIN!

Sometimes we just need to STOP, SLOW DOWN, BREATHE and then start again! We all need times where we just step away from our current circumstances and create space to have fun and let go of the things that currently hold us back. We can become so caught up in the things that we need to change that we forget to celebrate the here and now and let quality time with those we care about slip away and miss the little wins.

Life is short and it’s so easy to get tangled up in a bad yesterday, week or month but in slowing down we can stick our heads above the parapet and choose to recognise how awesome we are. We can spend so much time comparing ourselves to others that we lose sight of the gifts that we have and how incredible we are. Actually the only person we should compare ourselves with is with WHO we were yesterday and WHO we want to be today.

Talking to one of my closest friends this week she explained how lost and down she was. I had to remind her that currently a lot of things are changing, some things are in her control and some things are not. In a time of transition it’s easy to lose our way, but we can only control our controllables. Often before we jump we can feel like we are falling but by writing down our vision and making it plain it gives us hope, encouragement and an aim. Suddenly things become less overwhelming as we have a plan to work towards.

Last weekend Sarah and I had some well needed time together. Since coming back off holiday due to crazy work schedules we are struggling to get quality time. When we got into the car last Friday afternoon, we both breathed a sigh of relief as in that moment all we had to concentrate on was each other. We were heading to the Slimming World Oscars/Ball in Birmingham on the Saturday but were travelling up on Friday and staying Sunday night post Oscars so we could visit the Christmas Markets and just hang out together with no agenda.

Friday night we arrived at the hotel shattered and any plans of visiting the swimming pool were squashed as we collapsed on the hotel bed and watched the TV together. It was so nice just to rest and know that ahead of a manic day on Saturday we were able to breathe, grab a cheeky take away and enjoy a glass of vino with no early alarm call on Saturday morning which is novel as I normally teach a HITT class at 8am!

Saturday was a whirlwind – we got up and headed to the gym before we travelled the last bit of our journey. This is where I realised how much I struggle when things don’t go to plan! My AirPods failed to work as they had lost their charge and inside I was having a complete meltdown as when training I love to zone out and clear my head with my music. It took a strong talking to myself to focus on the task in hand and not lose the plot and train as I had planned – we won’t mention the strop I threw at the end when as Sarah had finished before me I tossed her my AirPods for her to sort! Thankfully I realised that I had been out of order and apologised whilst making a mental note to work at handling change better!

After that the day was crazy busy; from Sarah visiting access all areas - which is just for consultants to get a sneaky peak of new things being launched later in the year to hotel check-ins, lunch at Wagamama’s with her boss and daughter then getting dressed up before heading to the Oscars / Ball. (We also got a cheeky free upgrade including free drinks and snacks, thanks to Sarah being an IHG member which gives you benefits at certain hotels)

I personally had several hurdles to overcome in that mix – lunch with people I don’t know that well and being at a table at the Oscars with people I didn’t know. For me I was about as far out of your comfort zone as you could be, but I am so proud of my wife and all that she is becoming as a Team Developer that it was a privilege to be there with her and I told myself that it was going to be okay as she was by my side.

The Oscars themselves were so inspirational, celebrating members who had totally transformed their lives and were choosing to live their best life. The journey wasn’t easy for any of them but I was overwhelmed by how determined they all were to overcome their battles and push on to be the BEST version of themselves. Each winner talked about how their group was so important and the family that they needed to help them achieve their goals. The greatest Loser had lost 23 stone! Losing weight had literally saved his life. Each winner described a moment they had when they knew they needed to change!

We all get to pick our hard, choosing to change where we are can be hard, but the question I ask myself and you is that any harder than staying where we are? Personally, I am realising that the need to burn so many calories a day, to hit the exercise rings and other goals I set myself is difficult and can be overwhelming. My friend challenged me to pause the rings on my watch for one day this week – I can tell you that it was extremely uncomfortable and anxiety wise it was hard! It is a cycle I need to try and breakthrough and I survived, I didn’t snap at Sarah, I didn’t self-combust and I didn’t suddenly gain weight!

Was it scary? Yes!

Was it hard? Yes!

Did I want to turn them back on? Yes!

Did I want to not eat as I didn’t know how many calories I had officially burnt? Yes

Am I going to do it again? Yes

Sarah and I had time to talk and both of us have made changes this week to achieve our own goals. Has it been easy? No, but will it result in both of us being better versions of ourselves? Yes. I feel like I have a mountain to climb but I have started to climb it one step at a time. The winners on Saturday showed me that through strength and determination we can get where we want to be, there will be highs and lows but we will get there.

Sometimes fear holds us back as we worry we may fail but let me leave you with this quote -

What if I fall, but my darling what if you fly? (Erin Hanson)