It feels like forever has passed since my last post! During this past year, my primary focus has been on my health, my career, and my personal self-development. I’m so happy to announce that I’m back from my hiatus and am excited to share my fitness/foodie/NYC journey with you all again! But first, I’ll share some highlights and things that I learned during my time away.
First and foremost, I learned that I CAN. So many times I’ve found myself doubting my abilities, or telling myself that I probably couldn’t do something. Over the past year, I’ve made an effort to tell myself ‘yes’ more – Can I consistently wake up early to get a lift in before work? YES. Can I meal prep every single week no matter what the circumstance? YES. Can I take a trip across the country by myself with no one to meet up with on the other side? YES. It led to me to try new things, take risks, and really step out of my comfort zone. And you know what? I haven’t failed.
Second, I learned about ‘work-lift’ balance. My job is seasonal, so sometimes it’s a 6-8 hour day, and sometimes it’s 12-15. When outside commitments can be both time-consuming and unpredictable, the gym is often one of the first things to drop off our radar because it can be viewed as ‘optional.’ I learned very soon, however, that the gym really isn’t optional for me, because it translates to health and happiness, and those things are certain necessities. I developed the mindset that the gym is equally as important in my routine as taking a shower or brushing my teeth. You don’t shower only when it fits your schedule – you make the time to shower because it’s not optional. When you view fitness in the same way, you realize how reasonable it actually is to maintain consistency with your regimen despite other commitments. You also learn to get a little bit more creative in order to achieve your goals.
Third, I learned a thing about being by myself. This one goes hand in hand with the fact that I CAN. I’m pretty extroverted, so I love to surround myself with people. That said, I am also perfectly capable of venturing out enjoying certain experiences by myself. The idea of being by myself for days at a time, though, was always an unsettling one. This past summer, I spontaneously decided to take a solo trip to California. I had never been to California before, had never traveled by myself before, and I didn’t know anyone out there. I was nervous about it, but wound up having probably the most enriching two weeks experience of my life. And, I can’t wait to take another solo trip this summer. (Interested in a post about my trip and solo traveling? Leave me a comment!)
There’s so much more I can say, but everything I learned and accomplished this past year will spill over into my posts to come. Leave me a comment! I’d love to hear from you 🙂
Stay fit and fab, all!
Maddie Danza 