2020. It’s over.
In ways large and small, we’re ready to move on.
But in the meantime, we should acknowledge this year was f*cking tough.
Because in my experience, the key to getting where you want to go starts with fully accepting where you are.
As I write this post, I’m in a pretty great headspace. I feel incredibly grateful for the way MFF has pivoted. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for our team and for our community of Ninjas who’ve all rallied together. I’m grateful for my new home in the Hudson Valley, I’m grateful for my wife Shina and my dog Gizmo guy, and I’m grateful for my health.
But like many of us, I was not always so good this past year.
Particularly when things went south and the world went on lockdown in March. I was as sad as I can remember being in my entire life. I had no energy. I couldn’t get anything done. I kept meandering back to my bed to lay down. And as much as I wanted to find some comfort in snacks or a cocktail, I had no sense of taste or smell, which robbed me of even this modest diversion.
While I’m on the other side of it these days, it hasn’t been a linear ride by any means. And I know many of us are still riding the rollercoaster as we face another surge and more turmoil in DC.
So to that end, I wanted to offer you an incomplete list of things that are ok, acceptable, and allowed.
21 Things That Are Ok, Acceptable, and Allowed
- Not working on the weekends and/or taking a midday break just to go for a walk.
- Focusing on caring for a baby or small child or family member, even if it means your fitness takes a back seat for a bit.
- Asking for help. Getting support from loved ones, a coach, or a therapist.
- Messing up your sleep schedule to spend extra time with your friends.
- Pursuing a fat loss goal because you love your body and would still like to lose some weight.
- Not pursuing a fat loss goal because you love your body just the way it is and you’d rather just focus on health.
- The Riverbottom Nightmare Band.
- Examining your close relationships. Being honest with yourself about whether they support your goals or the vision of who you’re working to become.
- Saying no.
- Sometimes overeating or using food for comfort when you’re stressed or scared.
- Not being ok. It’s ok to not be ok.
- Learning something new about yourself.
- Falling off the fitness wagon because you just didn’t have the mental, physical, or emotional energy to stay consistent with your training.
- Having a bad day.
- Having a good day. It’s also ok to have good days.
- Prioritizing self-care.
- Admitting that Rent didn’t age well. You can still love Rent and admit it didn’t age that well. Also, when you really think about it, Benny was just trying to be helpful.
- Changing your mind.
- Turning lemons into lemonades and finding the opportunity inside a problem.
- Being proud of yourself. It’s ok to be proud of yourself for what you’ve accomplished. It was hard and you did it and you’re awesome.
- Feeling your feelings. It’s ok to feel aaaaallll of your feelings. Joy, sadness, rage, grief, gratitude. All vibes welcome.
This is, of course, a very incomplete list.
And to state the obvious, they may not all be things that you really want long term. And acknowledging a situation isn’t what you want is ALSO ok. It helps us identify what we do want. And sometimes that’s actually what we needed to learn.
I love you a lot.
Your friend,
Mark
P.S. If you’re interested in working with MFF to support you and your fitness goals, check these out these hot little babies:
The Homebody 14 Day Challenge
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