My slow progress

Saturday, November 13, 2021

Simplifying my goals paid off. I used to set lofty and high goals. In a way, I don't blame myself. I was taught by my parents and grandparents to soar high. I heard Zig Ziglar say that if you aim for nothing, you will hit it every time. So I wrote a lot of goals.

During that time, my family was growing. Life was happening and it was beautifully complex. I needed life to be simple so I could handle the complex aspects of my life. I saw my goals as both real and aspirational. The thing was, there was no way I could focus enough to get everything done.

My solution was to focus on the following categories: Faith, Family, Fitness, Business and Other. Faith has to do with my relationship with God as I pursue spiritual discipline. Family is focused on my marriage and parenting. Fitness is focused on nutrition and exercise. Bussiness is focused on my professional life. Other is the category I include everything that does not fit in these four. 

When COVID-19 hit the US, everybody's goals had to adapt to the reality of the world. I decided that in order to thrive, I needed to choose what would benefit me the most. I knew I couldn't travel (although God blessed me to travel right before everything shut down) so there was no reason to pursue that goal. I decided to simplify even more. I learned that without health, I couldn't achieve anything on my list. Health became one of my top goals. I naturally leaned into spiritual discipline during that season and I tweaked my Family goals. 

For the longest time, I have been trying to arrive at a normal BMI. This is year 4 of trying and I am finally ready to be there. I am so close. 

While most people lose what I needed to lose in one year or less, I'm okay with 4. Why? The slow change has allowed the good habits to stay. I haven't gained any of the weight back. I haven't stopped trying to grow and learn. I am grateful. 

Slow progress truly is progress. my doctor told me in 2012 that if I lost one pound per month, I'd lose 12 lbs per year. She said losing weight slowly was better. I subconsciously took her up on it and here I am, close to my goal. 

I know what it feels like to think you can't lose weight. I know how you need to get healthier and you try but do not succeed on your own. I remember that I kept telling myself not to give up. I remember simply putting one foot in front of the other doing what I could with what I had. 

I remember that when I first got interested in running, I had a used pair of shoes and a cotton t-shirt. I put on some sports-looking pants and I went for a walk. I remember writing "one day I'm going to run and enjoy it." 

Here I am, 13 years later enjoying distance running and crossfit. It took small steps. It took not giving up. It also took not relying on anyone else for approval. God was for me and that was enough. 

I hope that you do not give up on your goals. Simplify them if you must but remember that slow progress is still progress. You have what it takes.