do something

Hey there!  How are you holding up during these trying times?  

I have had a lot of extra time to think recently.  I have been thinking a lot lately about the future. There are two futures on my mind-- the first is the short-term one.  The one in which my quarantine will be over, I will be gallivanting all over the place, and I can hug on the people I have been missing. 

The other future is the one a little further down the line.  The one in which I get to be a mother-in-law and maybe even a grandma.   I have always said that I want to be there for our kids as they have their own families-- I want to be the fun grandma that calls and offers to take the kids for the weekend.  I see myself baking, reading, playing outside, going on walks, and building with Legos with them.  I envision being strong and fit enough to keep up with them.

That's the vision for "future Kim," but what I do today-- even in quaratine-- and each day up to that point either puts me closer to that goal or further away.  I don't always do a stellar job, but when I keep my goal for my future in mind, I am more compelled to make the choices to help get me there.

On this day-- the 15th day of my quarantine, I must envision the future Kim when I feel like being a slug, or when I feel myself gravitating toward the kitchen looking for some comfort food.  Being there to help my kids as they build their lives and eventually have kids is my why.  I have to hold onto that.

Stop for a moment and envision the best version of yourself in ten years.  Are you still at your current job?  What do you do in your leisure time?  What do you eat?  How do you spend your days?  Where do you live?  What are your relationships like?  Are you active? Fit? Healthy?  

I bet the future you is active, fit, and healthy.  Who would want to envision the best version of themselves as something other than that?  No matter what you would like your job to be in ten years, or what home you live in, or what you do in your leisure time, you want to be comfortable in your own skin.  You want to be energetic, confident, and happy.

Do something today that your future self will thank you for.  Do something so that when life goes back to normal-- because it will-- your future self will thank you for taking care of her.  It doesn't have to be something big.  Starting small is key.  Choose an action that you can repeat until it becomes habit and then you can build upon it.  Here are some examples:

• If you drink soda or coffee all day, replace one serving with water.  
• Get some extra steps in.  If you are still going to work, Maybe you park further away from the door at work.  Maybe you take the stairs instead of the elevator.  Maybe you take a walk at lunch time or after work.  
• Go to bed a little earlier.  Aim for a solid 7-8 hours.  You will be amazed at the difference it makes in your energy level.  
• Eat your vegetables.  An easy way to get more in is to incorporate a salad a day.  
• Sit less.  Stand more.
• Take a few moments for stillness each day.  It might be when you wake up and before you get out of bed.  It could be while you are having your morning coffee. Take a moment to breathe deeply and be grateful.
• Connect with someone via text, call, or FaceTime.

These are strange times, but we have to stay focused on the bigger picture.  We have to have a vision of who we want to be when this thing is over as well as who we want to be 10 years from now.  Both versions are counting on us to do something nice for them today. ❤

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