2017, it's been emotional!

2017. What a year. It's absolutely flown by, there's been highs and lows, and I've grown so much as a person. (Better late than never, right?)

I'd go as far to say it's been my best year yet. I had lots of goals for 2017, I wrote a list of them (not just health and fitness related!) and I kept it at the back of my diary to check at the end of the year. Amazingly, I have been able to tick off every single thing on the list, except one, but the wheels are in motion for it to happen next year. I'm proud of myself.

As well as those goals, I'd decided that 2017 would be the year I'd finally achieve the body I'd wanted for so long. But, now I know having these unrealistic expectations and aesthetic goals weren't a good idea - I had no clue at that point how much time, patience and consistency it actually takes. As it's turned out, my transformation this year is not something I can put into a "before & after photo" and share on Instagram with the hashtag #TransformationTuesday. Rather, it's been a shift in mindset and overall attitude towards life, becoming a happier, healthier and more confident person.

I can almost pinpoint the start of this change (whether it was subconsciously or not) to May 2017, when I sadly lost my Aunt to Cancer. Without going in to too much detail, it all happened frighteningly quickly, and it really hit me quite hard. It sparked a series of thoughts in my head as it would most people; the realisation that life is short, and it should be lived fully. I decided I wanted to start putting myself first, I didn't want to be held back from acheiving things by my fear, anxiety or introverted ways anymore.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not there yet. But many books, blogs, podcasts, and a fantastic coach later, a whole new world has opened up to me - so many brain gains! I've achieved things in the past 6 months, that if you'd told me I'd be doing a year or so ago, I would have laughed in your face!

Which leads me on to an example of something I've recently done that I'm extremely proud of... boxed at a charity boxing event! Boxing was something completely new to me, and well outside of my comfort zone, but I wanted to challenge myself. It involved training 3 times a week for 8 weeks, before stepping out into the ring in front of hundreds of people. It was tough, mentally, but an experience I'll never forget. More importantly, I raised over £200 in sponsorship for Cancer Research UK.

I'm not sure yet how I'm going to top that in 2018. I've started making my list.. and I have a few tricks up my sleeve. But for now, I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing and enjoying the process.