My Wish

I've been told that I can be a little annoying; that my love of running and general fitness sometimes spills out of me when people really don't want any part of it. Like half of a newly minted couple who wants EVERYONE to find their special someone, I want EVERYONE to have what I have, in terms of health and wellness.

Well, sorry ... this is going to be one of those posts. Sue me.

If I had just one wish for everyone I love this year, it would be that you would treat yourself better. If you've already figured out the importance of taking care of your health, it could be as simple as being gentle with yourself when you slack off, or eat a full row of Oreos. But if you haven't figured it out ... if you're living in a way that's regularly destructive to your well-being ... my most sincere wish is that you'd stop.

If you smoke, quit. It's expensive, and it's poison.

If you're sedentary, get up off the couch and take a walk. It's free, and it's fun.

Do one thing differently. Say yes to something you're not sure you can do. Don't go on a diet, but instead change the way you eat. Cook for yourself. Eat whole foods (not necessarily purchased at Whole Foods). Clear out the clutter, in your mind and in your home. See yourself for who you are, acknowledge what you'd like to change, and then begin to take the steps to get there.

I offer this bit of annoyance and/or inspiration because it wasn't all that long ago when I began a new year wondering what the point was. Unhappy, unfit and a mess in almost every possible way, I just didn't understand what the promise of a new year could offer. I would turn the page on the calendar and see zero progress, and the downward spiral would continue.

Over the last few years, that has reversed. I now look back and see a lot of failures ... but only because I have put myself out there. You can't fail if you don't try.

So please, try. And when you fail, try again. Don't be stupid - you KNOW a fad diet is not the answer, and you KNOW you didn't grow that ass or that bad habit overnight, so don't expect to lose it overnight, either. But please, do something. Because next year at this time, I'd love to celebrate with you.