I like many people struggled throughout the ongoing pandemic with bouts of depression and anxiety, lethargy and wondering whether anything would get back to normal, anyway over the last few weeks I have really struggled tying my shoelaces, I carry quite a lot of weight on my abdomen almost like a beer belly, not that I used to drink beer only spirits ha ha, not really a laughing matter but 25 years without a relapse I think that I can be quite proud of myself.
Prior to lockdown I lost over 4 stone in weight going from 17 stone to 13, using the gym, walking a lot, eating more healthily, over the last couple of weeks I decided to go back to the gym and last week I weighed myself, I weighed in at 16 stone 5 pounds, not quite where I started from but close enough to cause me to undertake a serious evaluation of my life.
Why 3 days in a row, I like to help others and my girlfriend Josie has a niece who has a dog so I asked if I could start taking her out for walks, she is a beautiful Huskie not a breed that you would expect to find in West Wales in the UK, day 1 Monday I did 18 thousand steps, day 2 around 16 thousand and today Wednesday June the 1st I did 23,000 plus steps, helped by taking a dog for a walk and being out with my girlfriend.
I also weighed myself last Tuesday and weighed in at 16 stone 5 pounds and I weighed myself yesterday a week later and weighed 16 stone 1 pound a loss of 4 pounds.
Why do I share these thoughts with you???
Part of my aims in life are to support and encourage others, my journey isn’t complete yet but I hope that I by sharing a part of myself make a difference in someone’s life.
My gaols in life are very simple, to enjoy living, make the most of any situation, inspire, encourage and support others, even in this last week 1 of my friends has joined the gym, we regularly go out walking together, my girlfriend whose birthday is on the 1st of July is spending more time outdoors walking with me and for her birthday wanted an exercise bike which I purchased for her last week and it now sits neatly in her bedroom and yes I can confirm that she does use it.
I was asked a few weeks ago to think about 1 thing that I value, the list is not endless and it was difficult to pick 1 thing but the 1 thing that I cling to above all else is my sobriety and my life since giving up alcohol.
I also have started making videos on Facebook about mocktails and mocktail making, life isn’t perfect after all what is perfect but the sun is shining, my relationships are healthy and my boundaries clear and I enjoy doing what I do.
Thank you everyone for being with me on this journey, this adventure that we call life.
Paul.
A life worth giving 