The Priorities - 2021 Edition!

Every once in a while, I write about priorities trying to figure out a universal order for it something that most can agree upon as being the correct order of things and something to thrive towards. The following is my updated list:

1. Health: If your Mental/Physical Health isn't on track then everything else on this list becomes more difficult. Regardless of how many time I review these priorities, this always comes at the top.
2. Self-Improvement: Self-Improvement goes beyond official schooling - it's a lifelong process. We're all students in the school of life and we should learn until the day we die. Education doesn't guarantee success but it does help in all areas of life.
3. Freedom: Learn about the governmental system of your country and get involved if only to give your opinion. Freedom is important and it's our responsibility to insure that it's not needlessly taken away by those in power. Without freedom, the everything on this list becomes more difficult. This comes after self-improvement because you need a knowledgeable opinion.
4. Relationship: Being successful means little if you don't have anyone to share it with.
5. Finance: It's not about being a millionaire as much as being financially stable. The financial system is all around us and it's important for all of us to know how to swim in it.
6. Fun - Why is this here? Well it's here because we seem to forget that we also need to find some enjoyment in life. While the other items on this list may also be enjoyable, this one is to set some time aside for the activities that you enjoy most.

The above are the priorities in the order I feel they should be... but if you were to look at my life today, you would probably see the priorities as follow:

1. Finance: I've been fortunate enough to be able to save and invest money during these toughs times. Budget is more important to me than ever as we never know what tomorrow will bring especially when Covid is around.
2. Fun: During Covid, I've tried to find many escape and "fun" seem to have been the focus.
3. Health: Nutritious meals, or a good workout, is a bit more difficult to come by again because of Covid. I'm one that seeks the comfort of junk food during difficult times and it's a bit difficult to control these urges.
4. Freedom: The focus of most Governments right now is on Covid and the Canadian Government has been, for the most part, an example for other Countries to follow. As I'm writing these words, a few provinces are about to go back to "Green" (normal).
5. Self-Improvement: My reading/learning time has been spent on new boardgames I'm trying to learn (Fun). While this is still "learning", it's not really learning anything useful hence why I haven't put this high on my current list.
6. Relationship: I've never been that good at keeping in touch with friends. This has become even more of a problem during Covid. 

Do you agree with my list? Comment below! 

Now or Never!

Someone recently shared with me their fitness goals, which were totally attainable, but one thing about the goal that was a bit odd to me is that it was set in a few week's time. Why? If you don't start today, what are the chances that you'll muster up the inner strength necessary by the time that you actually want to start? If you don't start today... well you'll never start.

You want to loose weight? Start small! What can you do today to get you a bit closer to that goal? Go for a walk, start looking for the cost of gym membership, do some research on the type of food that can support your fitness goals... do anything that will get you a bit closer to the goal. Start today! 

If you set yourself a goal be sure to include steps that you can do right away. If you wait in order to start then you'll likely never start. Something will always come up that will further delay the beginning of the journey. Start now!

It Doesn't Go Away on Its Own!

A flaw can remain a flaw throughout someone's lifetime as only the things that are considered to be a problem, or that are known to the author, can be changed. 

If someone, for example, started stealing in their youth it is very likely, if left unpunished or unrecognized as being wrong (and subsequently being worked on) by the author, it will remain with him until his death.

I'm saying this because I used to think that some of my flaws would go away, on their own, over time but fast forward 10-15-20 years and those flaws are still there. While I was aware of these flaws, I haven't put the necessary work into fixing them.

Time, by itself, doesn't fix our flaws. Time and acknowledgement of the flaw, without work, will also not fix anything.

The only person that can improve you is you.

Have you Tested Your Body?

Mt. Sugarloaf is a mountain I last climbed 10 years ago. I remember at the time that, while the climb was difficult, it wasn't that uncomfortable as it was fairly similar in feeling as the Stairmaster that I was doing 2-4 times a week at the gym.

Fast forward 10 years, I'm now older and not as fit as I used to be and I thought the climb would be as easy as the last time. After all, even though I wasn't going to the gym anymore (due to Covid) I was still working out at home. Lifting weights, doing cardio ... it's all the same as the gym so I thought.

Boy was I wrong...

The climb was difficult and it was made evident to me that my home workout wasn't as difficult I was making it out to be. During the climb, there was a guy that looked at me and said "We're not in our 20s anymore" to which I agreed but age is only part of my problem here. I fully believe that if I would of trained properly the climb would of been easier.

It was a test and I failed...

Is it possible to do as good of a workout at home as you would do in a gym? I think so but, for me, the gym provided a better structure than my home situation allows. When I went to the gym, it was 2-3 hours fully focused on the exercise at hand and at home... well I focus on it 30 minutes and then I get a phone call or the dog wants to get outside or I don't have the proper equipment or...or... Basically all of this, over time, put me in this predicament that I don't want to be in.

It's important to me that my body doesn't get in the way when doing physically demanding activities even if said activities can be few and far in-between. This climb was a wonderful way to make evident the changes I need to make in my home routines. I can see an end to this Pandemic and I can't wait to get back on the gym grind.