Happy 2019! If you’re like many Boomers and older adults, you’ll start the year by setting a few good intentions. But did you know that more than 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail? So this year, instead of starting with a look ahead at fitness and other goals, take a look back at 2018 to see where you’ve been. This journey could help you discover where you really need to put your focused efforts for the next 12 months.
I went through my calendar, journal, and bank account to refresh my memory regarding the past 12 months. Here’s what I discovered:
Personal
- I am a huge proponent of hip replacement surgery. After my procedure in December 2017, I spent the year recuperating and upping my fitness from the pre-surgery level. Compared to the pain before surgery, recovery was a piece of cake.
- I love traveling, especially the central coast of California. My husband and I traveled to or through that area on Highway 1 three times last year. If I ever win the lottery…
- I’m still a kid at heart. With three grandchildren, I love walking with them, dancing and singing, and playing make-believe.
- I’ve discovered the joy of giving. My sister Dina and I pooled some of our inheritance to start an endowment (ongoing scholarship) at my alma mater, UC Davis. We met the first recipient of this award a few months ago, and it was so fulfilling to see how much our gift meant to him.
- I hate counting carbs and keeping them low. Keto diet out, plant-based diet back to stay.
Work
- I need to stop chasing squirrels. I was paying for all kinds of services that, in the end, did not serve me well.
- I need to gain clarity and focus. Who really is my target audience, and how can I best help them?
- I still procrastinate, a habit I’ve been trying to kick for years. Anybody have any good ideas?
- I need to ignore what others might think about my decisions. It’s my life, my money, my time, my heart.
- I love to write. Completing my first book (Building Your Enduring Fitness) was like giving birth to a third child–joy, frustration, pride. Being a co-author in another book that became a #1 international bestseller fueled my desire to keep writing (book #3 is currently in the “idea phase”).
And one last word
My other sister, Holly, sent me a book for Christmas, One Word That Will Change Your Life. This little work, designed to be read in less than an hour, leads readers through a simple process to find one word that will guide them in a meaningful and focused manner for the next 12 months. My word for 2019: commitment. This is what I was missing last year, jumping from one project to another. So I commit this year to:
- Continue making my marriage and family life the best they can be
- Surrounding myself with happy, successful people
- Continue promoting my first book
- Get additional training in fall prevention and using exercise to support the aging brain
- Making a decision and sticking with it
Where did you go in 2018, and what did you learn from that journey?
For help in putting together your 2019 fitness goals, give me a call!
We can discuss some practical tips and discover if any of my programs or classes are a good fit for your friends or family.
If you’d like to schedule that call with me, just CLICK THIS LINK, and let me know in the message that you would like a 1-on-1 call with me right away and I will be in touch to schedule that—oh, and leave me your phone number in there too since email is not as reliable as it used to be! Thanks.
Lisa Teresi Harris is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Personal Trainer, and author of the book Building Your Enduring Fitness. A certified Geri-Fit Instructor, she helps Boomers and seniors to regain and keep muscle strength, mobility, and energy.
Contact Lisa to inquire about a customized, in-home fitness program for you or a loved one.