It's been a while since I last wrote one of these. Think there's been a global pandemic pulling me out of my routine. The year didn't have a great start for me anyway… rupturing my Achilles tendon on day 1 of my 30s changed the course of my year. I had a plan but my plans are always fluid, one of my core beliefs is that I should plan what I want from life but be constantly adapting that plan to suit the current climate. The COVID-19 pandemic happening during my rehab phase has been a stroke of luck, in that there probably has never been an easier time for me to cope with both situations. I'm not missing out on anything because of my injury because nothing's happening anyway, and nothing is tempting me away from rehabbing my calf because there's a global pandemic.
I love how many people have taken control of their situation and provided distance learning, distance products and services and distance social interactions. I think our ability to make the best of any given situation is key to our own happiness and wellbeing. I regularly tell myself that someone somewhere has life a lot worse than me and is still happy, if they can do it so can I. Yes tough times call for tough people, and we can stay strong in difficult times but also appreciation of the good parts of your life can allow you to feel happiness during most situations.
Here's a list of things I am appreciative of this year;
My injury refocused my mind towards my business
I had insurance for pretty much everything that my injury spoiled
The NHS provided me with state of the art surgery which means I have a small scar and fast healing, without worrying about how I'm going to pay for it.
My injury will heal
We moved into our first house just days before lockdown, and just being there has made me happier
Although at first I saw it as a negative, my work staying open (manufacturing industry) and not offering furlough to most people has meant I don't have to worry about money
I'm unbelievably grateful to be in good health during this pandemic
There are many other things I'm grateful for, but these are big things for me. To play devil's advocate for a second, all of these things could be flipped on their head and made me sad. My injury stopped me training, we had to cancel a trip to see the Northern Lights, I had to wait a couple of weeks for surgery and my surgery got cancelled multiple times before i had it, I've been struggling to get around since January, as soon as I could drive again we went into lockdown, the list goes on.
These viewpoints didn't come natural to me, I made a conscious effort to keep myself grounded. I would tell myself ‘Someone out there has it worse and isn't complaining’. I make a conscious effort, if I start thinking negative thoughts, to find a positive in the same situation and latch onto it.
In life you have options, choose the ones that make you happy in the long run.
Comments