Finding Balance

Let’s be honest, 2020 was not a kind year.  Throughout the span of a single year, we were tried, tested, struck down, and cast out over and over again.  The year stacked one bad circumstance on top of another as we struggled to find balance and maintain some sense of order in our lives.  While having to continually reorganize our schedules was and let’s be honest, still is, incredibly frustrating and difficult, the necessity for creativity that 2020 demanded we adopt allowed for new passions to be pursued and new goals to be yearned for.  One of the most common goals people automatically think of is improving their fitness and nutrition.  Admittedly, the aggressive and sudden approach of winter has made the journey towards the establishment of a healthy lifestyle more complicated, however, lest you think that all healthy lifestyles must include six miles of running and three meals of lettuce bowls a day, allow me to offer a different perspective.  Over the past few months, I myself have completely rearranged my fitness schedule and eating habits.  Coming from a habit of massively over-exercising whilst undereating caused me to reach a rut in my training and mental health.  Well, rut is an understatement.  I reached a point where training felt like more of a punishment than an enjoyable break from schoolwork, and to where getting through each day without collapsing felt impossible.  However, I knew that I was passionate about training, and I knew the benefits of keeping my body and mind mentally sound, so I was willing to try anything that would allow me to preserve my passion.  That’s when I stopped spending two hours at the gym every day and pulling myself apart in the mirror if I ate some more peanut butter that day.  I had to realize that I was on this journey for me!  Why would I do things that only tore me down?  Luckily, I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by the warm environment of the YMCA Cape Cod gym, full of wonderful people (employees and members alike) that allowed me to feel safe and comfortable in my pursuit of better.  I also adapted my nutrition, indulging in all of the wonderful fresh produce of local grocery stores such as Stop and Shop and Guaranteed Fresh so I could better fuel my body and mind to complete the tasks I desired to complete.  2021, still harbors the lingering stench of 2020, yet amongst that scent are bits and pieces of usable material.  Lessons derived from our past failures and successes provide us with the opportunity to better ourselves.  2021 has just begun, so if you have fallen off your track a couple of times, or you are still unsure of where you want to begin, rest assured, there are an infinite supply of goals for you to reach.  Try not to overwhelm yourself, instead pick one or two things that you can integrate into your schedule, and watch as the results manifest themselves in your progress.  Here’s to 2021 and all of the lessons we will learn, the mistakes we will make, and the growth ahead of us!