“Start changing yourself, if you want to change the life around you.” – Mahatma Gandhi
I recently had the chance to go to a concert where the artist has been writing music and touring for over 10 years. When you listen to the music he created 10 years ago compared to the music he’s been creating recently, you can tell there is a significant difference in the stories, themes, and style of music. Personally, I’m a big fan of all of the music he wrote, and it did make me think about how much can change over 10 years. When writing songs about experiences and topics that are meaningful, it would make sense that they would change over the course of decade. Is the same thing true for us when we think about our own life goals and expectations?
Knowing that your goals and what you’re striving towards can change when it comes to your health and fitness is so important in being able to run your own race. There may be moments in your life when getting movement a couple times in each week is the goal. There may be times when you have the ability to commit to being competitive, or have aesthetic aspirations, or you want to climb a mountain, or you want to improve in a specific sport. All of these are great goals and they can change as the years of our life come and go. Realizing that we can change and that it is ok to let go of a previous aspiration we have can keep us from getting burned out or neglecting our own health and fitness.
The quote for this week speaks to this idea that if we want to change the life around us, it starts by changing ourselves. If we have a clearer picture of what we’re striving for, it helps us to make the decisions that align with that goal. Over the years our reason for focusing on our health and fitness will change. The songs we’re writing for our own lives will always be adjusting. The lyrics, the melodies, and the themes will be different. Rather than fighting it or trying to hold onto a version of ourselves that no longer exists, let’s focus on what the potential is for who we can be and embrace the songs we’re crafting in the moment.
