Chapter Three
One Day, All the Baby Steps Will Add Up to Miles
Well, hello, there. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?
Sometimes, for our mental health, it is perfectly fine to take a step back from what you are doing. And that’s what I did. But now, my friends, I’d like to share with you all that I have accomplished in this past half year.
It may sound cliche, but when the new year began fast approaching, my thoughts began to race just as quickly. Where am I in my life? Am I happy with the way things are? How can they be improved?
New Years Eve arrived: a chance at a fresh start. I joined my favorite cousin in her home with bulletin boards, various arts and craft supplies, wine filling my arms, and we got to work. We laughed, we cried, and we shared our deepest wishes and desires and artfully placed them onto our vision boards. We held each other into 2024 and promised ourselves a year of change. What was a great bonding moment became a turning point in my life.
Getting home the next day, I put up this vision board that I was so proud of and stared at it, into it, and past it. And I can admit, I became a little discouraged. How many times had I made these same promises to myself? How many times had I said, “This is my year!”? And what did I have to show for it?????
Deep breath.
Allow yourself the grace to make mistakes. And forgive yourself for the broken promises. We are human, and life is a fucking ride.
So, I made a decision, with the encouragement from those that I care about, to give my dream life a chance. I tried eating better and moving more. I started applying myself more at work and trying to learn new skills. I encouraged my mind to be nicer to myself.
Now, none of these were drastic changes. I did not wake up the next day and decide to quit my old lifestyle cold-turkey. I began with walking for half an hour a few times a week. I began moderating my portions. I began voicing my intentions of furthering my career while at work. I began forcing myself to look into a mirror and say at least one kind word a day.
I felt silly doing all this every day. I worried about what people would think, if they would make fun of me just for trying. But I promised myself that it would pay off.
And now, here we are six months later. Half a year. Mid-way through the year in which I swore a change and actually made an effort to stick to it.
I have lost over fifty pounds so far. I have gotten a promotion that I had given up on hoping for. And I can stand to look at myself for longer than a fleeting glance.
This shift in my life didn’t happen overnight. This shift in my life is still undergoing. This shift in my life is the result of the small changes I started with.
What is that old proverb? Water poured onto a stone overnight does not change it. But over time, with a steady stream, it is eventually smoothed. Consistency and persistence.
I’m paraphrasing, but the point is this: stick with it. That change you want in your life will come. When you can take those big steps, take them. But even the baby steps are going to get you there. Even if you stumble. Even if you fall.
Keep going.
Until, next time, love yourself as much as I love you.
-Jo