52 To A Better You!

I was 52.  And I was struggling with ‘stuff’; being a full time working mom, relationship issues, a love of wine, aging parents, not taking care of myself – you know – ‘life’!

I was experiencing health issues, in particular candida, excruciatingly painful  ‘yeast infections’ triggered with my cycle every month. I started considering ‘alternative’ remedies when my doctor (of many years) asked me, repeatedly, ‘have you changed your soap?’ and seemed to minimize my pain.  For over a year. 

Someone smart said to me once, ‘If you don’t change anything, then don’t expect anything to change’.  It took me a while to grasp the reality of that statement. 

Finally, I started looking for alternative help.  My father-in-law, bless him, had been to a naturopath for cracked skin on his fingertips that had similarly confounded conventional medicine.  Many years of ointments, pills, and nothing worked.  Yet with a swoop of ‘flax oil’, his problem was gone.  GONE!! 

But the story I want to share with you today…is about the journey.  This event was only the beginning.  It started me down a glorious path of learning and self-discovery about my health.

I remember thinking “I’m 52, and I’m gaining weight.  I’m drinking more than I should.  I don’t feel good.  I’m not myself.”

I was sitting on my front porch, a glass of wine in hand, and it struck me:  ‘I’m 52…. There are 52 weeks in a year.’ 

What a random thought. 

But with it, I literally leaped out of my chair and into the kitchen, to find a blank calendar. 

And I started. 

Each week, on Saturday morning, I went out to the porch.  Coffee in hand.  Well, to be honest, in the cold winter snowy months, I did it in my living room in a much warmer cozy chair. 

And each week, 52 of them, I picked one SMALL little THING I could do to put myself on the path I wanted.

Much of it was about health and eating.  Some of it was about relationships.  A key theme, I realized, was the need to make myself a priority.

It had to be black and white.  Something I could do every day that week, and then keep doing, as I added 39, 40, 41 others. 

It was magical for me.  I hope it is for you too. 

Jot just one idea on your calendar for that week.  You’ll soon find yourself with an abundance of ideas.  Grab a piece of paper and capture them for consideration for another week. 

But just pick one.  And do it.  

52 opportunities to make a change in your life. 

How many changes did you make last year in what you were doing? 

It will make you smile, I promise. 

You’ll find yourself getting excited about what item you are going to pick this week and reflecting on what you’ve accomplished.  Some will stick, some will fall away.  Maybe you pick up a few and rekindle them.  It’s all ok. 

Just pick one and get going. 

Five years later, as I turned 57…. I laugh at myself trying to come up with catchy slogans on how I’m going to keep this going.  ’55 – Fully Alive!!’  ’57 – Life is Heaven!’  You get the gist, lol.  But it is amazing to grab those calendars and reflect on the changes I’ve made in the past 5 years. One week at a time.

52 To a Better You.  Grab a blank calendar.  And ENJOY the journey!

Want a few ideas to get you going?

• An apple a day keeps estrogen in balance; pair it with a nut butter for some protein as well to balance blood sugar
• Make a coffee date once a week with a friend
• Drink water, lots of it; better yet infuse it – my favourite is slices of cucumber in the water
• Cut up fresh vegetables, so easy to snack on when you open the fridge
• Block time on your calendar to call your mom  
• Set an alarm and get up from your desk for 5 minutes each hour
• Make it a practice to make a member of your family laugh once each day for the week
• Clean out one drawer in your kitchen each day of the week
• Write 3 things you are grateful for at the beginning of each day
• Find a new podcast each week to listen to
• Make a different smoothie each day for a week

You can see the ideas are endless; it’s just about what YOU want to do to move towards your goals.  Small.  Simple.  Achievable. 

Build on your successes and, as importantly, make the time to enjoy the 15 minutes while you reflect each week. 

That time alone is worth its weight in gold.

52 to a better you.

You deserve it!

…From my heart to yours,

Lauren