ENDURE: February 20, 2015

Submit to the process, savor the PROGRESS

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We're more than halfway through February....already; it does go fast. Although most of us might be willing to fast-forward the extra-cold winter weeks like this one, the speed of life is a funny thing.  Our kids grow up too fast, time takes its toll on our bodies and we are often reminded of how scarce a commodity time really is. However we don't ALWAYS want to slow it down either.  Sometimes, fueled by the nearly real-time instantaneous world we live, we want to speed things up.  But what happens when we want both?  As funny as it seems, in relationship to health, safety and prevention, this is often the case.  We want to speed life up so that we can slow it back down.  We want to get to the punchline or result quickly, but then slow down and savor it once we get there.  If it's fitness we're after, we want to see progress sooner rather than later.  If it's a new way of fueling our bodies, whether we realistically expect it or not, we wouldn't mind seeing the weight melt away like the too-good-to-be-true ads and TV shows we see; and the list goes on.....it can be a difficult standard to hold ourselves to and all too often it results in frustration......but not in every case.

There is a moment when things begin to change, when the right dosage of effort and focus begins to show up in the form of measurable results.....it's the moment when progress is obvious. It's on that note that I shift to recognize some very worthy people who are getting there.  These are folks who have put in a steady effort during these first +/-7 weeks of 2015 and are truly worthy of mention. They're not the only ones, but I highlight these stories because in addition to helping themselves by putting some of the key health actions (what we call ELEMENTS) to work, they are quietly helping to compound the effect and inspiring the people around them. 

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Mr. X is a leader in his group.  He works hard and has good relationships with the people around him.  He's got a history that clearly demonstrates that he's not afraid of hard work, but he balances it with a caring attitude.  We've had many conversations over the years.  Sometimes it's when aches or pains act up and other times when he's reviewing health status and goals, but this time something was different.  He walked up ready to talk about taking next steps on the workhe had already begun.  As it turns out, he has been working with a group of colleagues to improve health. He has been making some dietary changes and has increased his time in the gym.....and he's got a 20 lb. loss to show for it.  But here's the cool part - he's happy, but not satisfied.  He's clearly excited about the progress he's made, but he knows he can go so much further. We had a good conversation about how much benefit he's gotten from a few nights of sound sleep has had and how this can support his goals.  He's energized and happy.....and that bodes well not only for him, but his team.  As we finished up our conversation one of the folks on his team walked by and had some encouraging words.....yes, that's ENCOURAGING words.....and Mr. X said something to the effect of "maybe I'll see you in the gym tomorrow morning".....awesome.

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Mr. Y is a passionate person.  He has always worked at his health and clearly cares about living a long, full life.  He's not immune to body aches and pains....and he's had some issues with blood pressure in the past.....but he's always been willing to do the work. Not surprisingly, we've crossed paths many times. This week he walked up, not with a question, but with a progress report.  No, it wasn't like a report card or formal report.....rather it was just a quick statement.....without any prompting from the small group that had assembled  he said (paraphrased) "I've been really focused on changing my diet a lot like the research you were talking about today.....it's working well.  I went to my doctor recently and my blood pressure was perfect.  I check it all the time now and it's always around 120 over the mid 70's."  I congratulated him and pledged, like I always do, to keep nudging him the next time we cross paths, but it was the reaction of those around him that really showed the impact.  They got excited....wanted to know more and wanted to keep pushing on their own journey toward health.  The more they talked, the more they were ready to push themselves and each other toward the quality of life that comes with better health and safety.  So cool.

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Ms. Z is someone who I haven't talked to in a while.  She's a super-human.  Not just super and human, but super-human.  She's an important part of her workgroup, she's a mom & spouse, she's involved in her community and juggles an inordinate number of life's swords at any given moment.  A few months back she contacted me ready to make a change because she knows she feels better when her health is a priority.  A few weeks ago she reached out again....and she's been on my mind ever since.....and here's why - the tenor of the note had changed.  Instead of urgency, it was calm and focused.  She had made a major step toward submitting herself to the process of health change.  She knew it would take time and she decided not to rush it.  She reported enjoying the work, feeling good about making the time to do it and is pulling in family members.....and.....is seeing results; The classic story of "dust off....get back up on the horse and ride".  Ms Z may not know it (or maybe she does) but she's influencing those around her.....day by day, she's playing a greater and greater role in lowering risk in the people she comes into contact with......it's hard to measure the "Ms. Z effect", but it's there and it's growing every day.....more powerful than most of us give it credit.

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These are NOT the only stories.....they're not even the most drastic.....they're just everyday folks who have decided to focus their energies and stay consistent, to make the most of the time, even when it's flying by.  We hope you too have made the most out of the first 7 weeks.  If so, congrats!  Please be sure to tell us about it when we cross paths - there's nothing we love more than congratulating someone who is doing the work.  If you've not gotten there quite yet, no worries, another seven weeks starts TODAY.....or any other day you choose.  

It doesn't have to be January 1 and it doesn't have to be sunny and warm outside to be a great time of year to make a promise to yourself....we hope you'll submit yourself to the process of improving your health and safety risk, you'll be surprised how fast the next seven weeks will go and exactly how much there is to savor when you get there.

Have a great weekend,

Mike E.