6-Month Check-In/Wrap-Up

I can’t believe that six months have passed (more than, really) since I wrote my post about starting down the path to take back control of my life. It was all spurred on by a doctor’s appointment where I got some not-so-very-good results, and I realized that I wasn’t really living my life. At least, not living it the way that I really wanted to. I kind of fell off a bit on my monthly check-ins, which I apologize for. But as you know, life gets in the way sometimes! Enough with that whining though, on to the real reason you’re here, my 6-month check-in/wrap-up.

The Impetus

So, like I mentioned, the whole taking control of my life thing came about with a doctor’s visit. I learned that my cholesterol levels were just this side of high. And that was kind of a wake-up call. I realized that I was just watching my life go by, instead of actively participating in it. It’s easy to make up excuse after excuse and live in a place of fear. And for the most part, that’s what I was doing. When I realized that I was on a slippery slope to having to take more medications and further becoming a person I *did not* want to be, I asked my doctor for six months. And he agreed to give it to me. Thus, my six-month challenge was born.

Let’s Have a Reality Check

Now, let’s take a minute to think about this realistically. Was I going to completely change my life in six months? No. But I knew I could make a really decent start in that amount of time. I definitely had some hurdles to face, and I still do. I had a main goal for the six months (lower my cholesterol), my semi-long-term goal (overcome living from a place of fear), and my long-term goal, which is to live a life I truly love. Now, I get that my life isn’t always going to be peaches and rainbows. And if anyone tells you their life is nothing but peaches and rainbows all the time, don’t buy it. Nobody’s life is perfect all the time. But I do believe you can get to a place where the shit times don’t outweigh the good times, or bring them down in any way. So, let’s have a look at my start to living my best life!

Things That Went Right

As I mentioned, the whole catalyst for kicking this off was my slightly high cholesterol. Even though the number was only just a bit over the acceptable range, it was enough to make me truly look at where my life was headed. I’m very happy to report that my cholesterol levels are back down to well within the normal range! So that was a huge relief to see. It was also a huge boost to my confidence so to speak that if I could manage that, then I could take the steps I need to take to start ticking off other goals healthwise.

Another thing that has really been helpful that I started during this 6-month challenge is to journal more regularly. I’ve always been a bit of a journaler, but never with any real regularity. But I can not even begin to describe how freeing it felt to sit down and just dump the contents of my mind onto pieces of paper. I will say, in an effort to be honest in the 6-month check-in, that I wasn’t always super consistent. I’d scribble and scribble my words out and then since I wasn’t feeling the mental overwhelm that I had been, I would skip a few days. Which would lead to skipping a few more days. Of course, that led the circle right back to moments of mental overwhelm.

Where I Can Improve

Obviously, my willpower needs more than a bit of work! And learning that it’s okay to have one day where things don’t go right and that doesn’t mean I have to wait to start all over again. I can just pick up where I left off. So those are things that I plan on working towards in the next 6 months.

What’s Next?

More journaling, lol! Obviously, working on not living from a place of fear. Putting yourself out there is scary for sure, and not everyone is going to like what I have to say or what I do. I recently have been adding running, the gym, and yoga back into my life. I’ve missed those things, and it’s going to be an interesting exercise for my willpower to fit those things in around hockey season (#Let’sGoBlues!).

I really like breaking things down into these six-month-long chunks of time. Three-month windows feel a little too short and I feel too much pressure to change things. So when I inevitably have a slip-up, it just feels that much more detrimental to my progress. Writing on here again and sharing bits and pieces of my life with you!

That wraps up this 6-month check-in. Here’s to the next six!