January was not an easy month. After that never-ending holiday season and a couple of super busy weeks at work, things went askew. I was prepared for increase business, I planned my personal mental and physical goals; I did “all the things,” but it was still a tough month. Not in a business or fitness sense – my sessions doubled and I met my personal fitness small goals for the month (which was awesome); but personally. My grandmother passed away on January 21st.

Things had to shift. My plans had to change. I’m a very schedule-oriented and easily stressed person, so this threw me for a loop. I had all the things I needed to accomplish for January perfectly laid out… but the moment I found out about my grandma that all changed. I called clients, cancelled classes, and packed my bags. I spent the weekend just being - comforting my momma, being with my family, and processing. I did zero business work or planning. No one expected me to work and all my clients were great about giving me space, but I felt like I was failing (isn’t it a little screwed up how our brains work?).

And then, on the way back to Asheville from small town South Carolina, I learned about another friend experiencing a death in her family. These two deaths were completely unrelated, but they both resonated with me, because death does not discriminate. It does not care about your age, race, social status, mental health, or sex. We are all here for a short time and are not guaranteed our tomorrows. We can make plans and be obscenely organized, but all we have is today. We have all heard these things a thousand times, but they are easily forgotten.

So, what does death have to do with the heart healthy, loving month of February?

In January we all had these perfectly laid plans for how we wanted to “be better” in 2020. However, no matter how much we prepare and plan, LIFE and death still happen. We cannot control everything. We cannot plan for everything. Plans are a framework, just an idea; but how we shift and adjust those plans is how we produce a product and reach our end goals.

Maybe life didn’t go as you planned in January. Maybe you missed days at the gym or occasionally binged on snacks -- LET. IT. GO. Those things do not mean that you failed. And in the grand scheme of life are simple, minute details. I did not fail myself or my business by stepping away and taking some personal time with my family. I just simply have to adjust my plans and keep working towards my larger goals. Maybe you need to go back to the small goals you wrote down (see Dec blog) and tweak some things so they better suit your current needs. Whatever you do, do NOT give up. Don’t count out your goals as “ridiculous” or unobtainable, but DO revise them so you can make your goals work for you.

Tomorrow is not guaranteed, but we can make small steps today. The more times we put those small tasks into our “today,” the closer we will get to our goals.

Grandma Wicker.jpg — Rest in Peace: **Sara Morgan Wicker**
January 16, 1933- January 21, 2020

One day at a time.

One Day at a Time