FACING 2020 LIKE A SLED DOG
For those of you who know me well, you know that my close relationships with our rescue and foster dogs has become a guiding light in my life purpose and has helped me in building an appreciation for the simple, unending adoration you receive from these little guys and girls.
So this New York Times piece titled 'What My Sled Dogs Taught Me About Planning for the Unknown', contained several ideal lessons for me on how to maintain my resilience and 'glow' during a year that has presented me with both physical and emotional tests like never before.
Some of the key 2020 lessons for me:
When you are unsure of your future and the world as you know it, stay in the moment and prepared for anything that could come at you. Working to plan ahead and strategize for the future is still a valuable practice, but approach each and every day with a flexible perspective if you hope to maintain your composure and sanity. During the periods where it feels like you are being pummeled by wave after wave, don't fight the waves, embrace them and let them carry you into shore.
If you truly LOVE doing something, you will naturally have the ability to give it your ALL for long periods of time. So stick with what you love and NEVER feel pressured to follow the herd. So what if every other fitness professional is doing virtual training. If you hate virtual training, then dig deep and get creative in developing your own path to serving your clients in a way that also nourishes your soul.
“‘If you don’t know how far you are going to run, you need to act like it is going to be forever.’”
3. Prioritize self care if you expect to make it to the end. 'If you don't know how far you are going to run, you need to act like it is going to be forever.' As we first went into our shutdown of DIAKADI, I told myself that I could rest after we got through the quarantine and reopened. How stupid was that? I quickly realized that once we reopened I would truly begin some of my toughest work. Who knows how long we will have reduced staff, limited capacities, etc. Set the expectation that it will be months and maybe years before we/you can truly rest and settle in for the ultra endurance business owner marathon ahead, so that you successfully make it through the long haul.
4. Right NOW is what matters most. Stop worrying about how many months we have left at reduced capacity or how much longer we have to wear masks during workouts. Make the most of every single day and just enjoy the ride. Again, do not fight the ocean. She will always win. Work with her and you may discover the ride of your life.
5. Be healthy, Be content. Many of the thoughts we used to have about what made us happy and what we needed to achieve for success were completely reset during the last seven challenging months. Gain a new understanding about what you truly need to enjoy life and cherish the sense of gratitude you have around this.
