How to survive a lockdown BIG birthday!

Finding out what's really important 
when the chips are down


Yesterday was my 50th birthday and although it wasn't quite what I'd planned, I honestly had the best day ever.  I was truly overwhelmed by the kindness, generosity and trouble that people had gone to for making my lockdown birthday one to remember.  I'm talking about people really going out of their way!!  I don't name names on my blog (apart from Mr Bob of course) but you know who you are and I cannot tell you how much I appreciated your efforts.

From the briefest of messages to the biggest present, every single thing mattered to me and I'm still in the process of thanking each and every one of you.  

I love birthdays because unless you're really unlucky and there's someone in the same household as you with the same birthday, then it's your unique day to celebrate as you wish.  Unlike Christmas and other mass celebrations, you don't have to share it with anyone and you don't have to go and visit people you really don't want to see and spend time with.  It's an opportunity for you to dictate the events and pace of the day.  For me, it's a time to reflect on what I've achieved over the last year and what I'd like to achieve before my next birthday.  Hell, this birthday it was time to look back on a whole decade!!  This year, the enforced downtime made me think about what's really important and that's the people around me.  From colleagues to fitness clients, friends and family, I've realised that it's who I spend the most time with that make me the person I am.  The one person who's missing from the jigsaw puzzle is my sister, who I've been without for just over a decade now and that makes me sad, but I know she'd be so very proud of what I've achieved.

Some people dread their birthdays because they're another year older but hey, I'd rather be older than have the alternative.  Besides, the numbers are irrelevant because it's all about how you feel.  I can still kick a 20 year olds ass in races and likewise, there's runners in their 60's who can quite easily kick mine!  I did receive some very funny '50' cards though with this one in particular making me giggle.


50 is definitely one of those ages that makes you think about your life and in the last few years leading up to my big birthday, I began to change things in my own life.  Around 2017 I started to feel like I'd plateaued in life, I wasn't unhappy by any means but I felt like I was going through the motions.  I wasn't giving 100% to my home life, work life and fitness life and that wasn't fair on those people around me.  With my 50th milestone just a few years away, I wanted to change things.  I introduced small changes into my everyday routines and the most important decision I made was to look for another job.  I needed a new challenge (ha ha, I certainly got that!) and to 'scare' myself again.  Following the most amazing holiday to Australia in March 2018, I then started my new job just a few days afterwards.  Things kind of snowballed from there, I felt reinvigorated and keen to try new experiences.  I had to make big changes in my fitness business which meant that I both lost some clients but also gained new ones.  Recent events have also given me the opportunity to re-think again about what I want to achieve at work, home and with fitness and it's all very exciting.  

Anyway, I reckon I've nailed this turning 50 lark, in fact I think it's made me into some kind of superhero.  This morning whilst out on my run, I had to stop and help a sheep that had managed to get its head wedged in the wire fencing - ouch!  So, I ripped away the wire with my bare hands and teeth to set it free ... alright, maybe it didn't quite happen like that.  Anyhow, both me and the sheep survived the experience and, as I said to Mr Bob as I regaled the event, not all superheroes wear capes, some wear Lululemon leggings and a snazzy headband!


Seriously though, do you take time out on your birthdays to reflect?  Perhaps now is the perfect year to start, so whether you've had a birthday earlier in the year when things were 'normal', or you've had a lockdown birthday, have got a lockdown birthday coming up or have a birthday later in the year when who knows what things will look like, here's a few questions to ask yourself:
  • What have I enjoyed most / achieved over the past year?
    • What do I need to do in order to keep this happening / improve even more?
  • What things would I like to be different by my next birthday?
    • What is the gap between now and where I want to be?
    • What is the one small step I can take now to start closing that gap?
  • Who are the people I value most in my life?
    • Tell them!
  • Who are the people that don't add value in my life?  
    • Top tip - lose 'em, now!!
  • What is the one habit that adds value in my life?
    • What do I need to do in order to sustain this habit?
  • What is the one habit that I need to remove from my life?
    • What is the one small step I can take now to start removing this habit?
I'll leave you this week with a few pics that I took whilst out walking and reflecting yesterday afternoon.  Even the weather was perfect for my birthday!!



Have a wonderful week - be bold, be brave, be better but above all else ... be kind

#2020

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