It’s been 3 months since my last blog
post and between that and the post before it there was a one-month break. I
started this blog without any real direction and even mentioned it in my very
first entry but I had topics and ideas that I wanted to write about, which I
did and published. Then I started writing things that were quite personal and
had second thoughts about clicking the “Publish” button and it got to the point
where I was unsatisfied because of the pointless direction I was taking. Then
the New Year came and I realised where I want to go with this blog. As 2016 ushered
in and I turned 31, I wanted to make a lifestyle change and decided that I want
to take you along this journey with me. This tiny space on the World Wide Web will
be a place for me to record this major change to become a healthier and happier
person, physically and mentally.
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| Photo from Takbo.ph's Instagram @takboph |
Growing up I was never really great at
sports, but the one thing I was relatively good at and good enough to be
confident in was swimming. I was on my school’s swim team from 6th
grade and joined the varsity team my freshman year of high school. We competed
against local schools as well as traveled around the Asia Pacific region to
race against other international schools. I have always loved the water and the
smell of chlorine brings me comfort. Yes, it’s true! Haha :-) Training and racing
was fun all throughout school, but unfortunately I didn’t go on to swim during
my years in university. It had been years since I’d stepped into an actual racing
pool to do serious laps and I’m proud to say that I finally jumped back in the
water a few days before my 31st birthday. It was not easy but I swam
my little heart out and finished 1KM. (Note: I was a long distance swimmer back
in the day so a 1KM back then was nothing!) That day I realised how much I
missed the water and the solace it gave me. I finally found my “thing”. Ross
always talks about the peace he gets when he’s outdoors and running and I often
wondered “how can your mind just go blank?” and it did just that as I was doing
those laps. Some people do yoga and meditate, others run… but I swim! I love
the comfort and peace-of-mind it brings me.
I’m sure many can attest that after
leaving school it takes a little more effort to lead an active lifestyle…
Unless, of course, you’re a naturally active person. I’ve gone through “health”
phases but never managed to keep consistent. I had a lot of fun going out and
partying for many years but as time has passed, it’s taking me longer to
recover from a hangover and I hate the time I waste moaning in bed about never
drinking again when I could have been up and about doing something productive.
Plus, in the past year/year-and-a-half I stopped going out as much basically
because I wasn’t enjoying it anymore. I also tend to experience phases of
depression, which the alcohol didn’t help at all. I like that fresh feeling
when you wake up sober and starting the day early so you can tick off a lot of
things from your agenda. There’s a feeling of satisfaction waking up and
accomplishing so much before the clock strikes 12 (noon!). There’s also the
fact that I’m not getting any younger and although I’m not “ashamed” of my age,
I want to prolong the ageing process and keep this body as healthy as I
possibly can!
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| Photo from Instagram @thegoodquote |
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| My number 1 cheerleader on this journey! |
Three weeks ago I started swimming again
and I also started training for a 5K run. Running is something I’ve never been
good at but I wanted to add on another challenge for myself. So 2016 is the
year I make a change for a happy, healthy me… the year I will RUN a 5K (3.1miles)
race… the year I will lose 14kg (31lbs) to get my “bikini body” back ;-) A “31”
theme for my 31st year!
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| Circa 2006 |
Thank you and I hope you enjoy this
journey to a better life with me! :-)
