As I am now a little under 2 weeks away from my 40th birthday I’m feeling really reflective on my weight loss journey and life in general.

Over the weekend we got the sad news that someone within our community here in France was found to have passed away. It wasn’t someone I knew well, only to say hi to at the pub, but Gav knew him better. It was a bit of a shock to hear of someone who we only saw the other week was found dead without warning. 

My heart goes out to his family and those close to him.

It’s a stark reminder that tomorrow isn’t promised.

I got the opportunity on Friday to take a short drive over towards Chamonix to go and see some friends who were over from Blackpool.

I nearly didn’t go as I had to work the following day and the thought of working with a hangover nearly had me bail. 

Until I reminded myself that I choose to say yes to life, and in entering a new decade of my life I just want to keep on saying yes to more of life. Moments of connection with people I care about, even if it means a hungover work day (which wasn’t that bad at all in reality)

Memories are short,  it was only a couple of years ago that we got confined to our houses and lost many of our freedoms.

As our freedoms return I don’t want to slip back into the habit of taking that for granted. I want to use those given freedoms and not settle back into mediocre or mundane.

Mediocre and doing the same things week in and week out are ok, in fact some people are quite happy like that. And don’t get me wrong, I love habits and routines I too need those moments of regularity. 

But I also know I need to break up those routines with experiencing different things in life. 

It’s what keeps things interesting, exciting and fulfilling.

I just know I want to live my life having said yes to life, to have pushed the boundaries of comfort and get out and do things with life.

Reminder

If you want to live a life that you love, you must be open to opportunities when they arise. To give love openly as if you have never lost. If you want life to be littered with memories that make your heart full, you must have the courage to say yes when life comes knocking.

To look back fondly and smile upon the experiences that shape you and mean you have lived. To be able to say you did it on your own terms, on the path that was right for you. To know that you have zero regrets, only lessons and adventures to hold in your heart.

The Harvard Study Of Adult Development is one of the longest-running studies on adult life.

It started way back in 1938 and followed the lives of 724 men, tracking their physical and mental health, career paths, relationships and other life events for over 80 years and included 1,300 decedents of the original participants.

The key findings of the study were:

1. Strong relationships lead to happier and healthier lives: The study found that social connections are crucial for our well-being. People who are socially connected to family, friends, and community are happier, healthier, and live longer than those who are not.
2. Quality of relationships matters more than quantity: It’s not the number of social connections that matter, but the quality of those relationships. Close relationships with family and friends have a more significant impact on our well-being than knowing lots of people.
3. Early relationships can have a lasting impact: The study found that the quality of relationships with parents and caregivers in childhood can have a lasting impact on adult health and well-being.
4. Life satisfaction is linked to finding meaning and purpose: The study found that people who have a sense of meaning and purpose in life are happier and more satisfied with their lives than those who don’t.
5. Positive emotions have long-term health benefits: Positive emotions, such as joy, gratitude, and contentment, have been linked to better physical health in later life.
6. Genetics alone do not determine our fate: While genetics play a role in our health and well-being, the study found that lifestyle choices, such as diet and exercise, are equally important and can have a significant impact on our health and longevity.

Overall, the Harvard study shows us the importance of social connections and finding meaning and purpose in life for a happy and healthy living.

Whilst I haven’t checked my progress on the weighing scales this week. I DO know that I improved a notch on my happiness and fulfilment scale. 

Happiness and fulfilment are as equally important to any weight loss/body goals and actually are an important part of getting there in a way that feels aligned and doesn’t subtract from you life, but actually adds to it.

That for me is what ‘whole life well-being’ is all about

I haven’t given up on those body and health goals, they are still a priority. I’m just expanding the timeline at which I will have achieved it.

Action

Make a plan to do something. To do something different, maybe something you have never done before. You will always remember your first time of doing anything.

It could be going to do a hike route you have never walked, eat at a restaurant you have never eaten at, an activity you have never tried but always wanted to.

Call or text an old friend, make a plan to meet up. Plan a date night with your partner or a family day out, girls night. Or all of the above.

Hug your loved ones that little bit harder and don’t be shy in telling them how much they mean to you.

Take that next step towards your own promises and goals that you have set for yourself.

Say yes to life this week.

Love Always

Emma

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