Sunday’s Saying

 “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” ~Andre Gide

It is so easy to stay on the path that you have been on for so long. And it is so hard to break free of this path to begin a transformation. In the context of health and wellness, oftentimes, people who have adopted an unhealthy lifestyle have been doing it for years. To decide to make a change is easy, but making the change is a challenge. In my case, even though prior to my injury I was healthy and fit, I got into a 4 year rut of unhealthy eating in combination with an inability to exercise. The results were devastating for me as I gained 40+ pounds. I decided I had to make a change multiple times, but I was unable to stick to it. I liked my new unhealthy lifestyle because it was easier. I fell right into the trap.

To really embrace a lifestyle change takes tremendous courage. It seems like a strange word to use. But it can be very scary to commit to leaving a lifestyle behind that you are so used to carrying on, especially if you don’t know how to be successful in the new lifestyle.

I was lucky. My unhealthy lifestyle was not my norm, so it was easier for me to readopt a healthy lifestyle. I know what to do and what to expect. Even still, it was hard for me to change back to my healthy ways. But now that I am back on the path, I am very happy. I feel great; I feel like myself again!

If you are ready to change your lifestyle, congratulations! Know that the road isn’t going to be easy, but it is worth it in the end. You need to be willing to “lose sight of the shore” (your old way of life) to “discover new oceans” (the new you). If you have the courage (and we all have it down deep somewhere), you will succeed. You will be welcoming the new you sooner than you know!