The significance of today in my life

I'm unsure what today signifies in your world, but for me it's very special for at least two key reasons.

Firstly, I will say farewell to my 20's, and turn 30 next Sunday, December 6. Why be scared about it, honestly? I can't change my age. We're all ageing. Every day, every hour, every minute. So, my attitude is to embrace getting older because with it, we are learning, growing and becoming a new-and-improved-version-of-us. Or if we aren't, that is our choice. So, choose to become a better person every day in even a small way. Life is far too short to waste.

Secondly, in exactly 40 weeks today - the time it takes for a foetus to reach full term (which I thought was rather significant!) - I will, together with the rest of Team Mera, commence my epic trek and climb of Mera Peak in Nepal. How can I not get excited about that amazing fact? That's right kids, in 40 weeks today (5 September, 2010) I'll be in Kathmandu, in Nepal. I am sooooo, sooooo excited. I have tons of work (preparation) to put in between now and then, but I have every belief in myself that I can be physically, mentally and emotionally prepared for what is sure to be my most life-changing, challenging and rewarding experience to date. I have a Team of amazing people who are right alongside me, doing all they can to help me get ready for Mera Peak. I'm going to introduce you to those people very, very soon. I have long since acknowledged I cannot get from where I am now to where I need to be physically, mentally and emotionally on my own. It's SMART to ask for help, guidance and coaching. Why? Because I am so committed to summiting Mera and being in the best physical and mental condition of my life. Preparation is the key. Once I arrive, it's too late. The hard work needed to already be done. The more I prepare, the more I will gain from my climb and the more I'll enjoy it because I wont be struggling with every step. The altitude will alone be challenging enough. I'm so going to be a little ball of muscle in 40 weeks time... and an endurance athlete, ready to climb a mountain!

There is one other thing but I'm not quite ready to unleash it into the blogosphere yet. Soon though, I promise you'll hear/read about it right here. I'm well aware I could receive some feedback that may be borderline negative, hence why I am holding back at this time. But, at the end of the day, it isn't about anyone else. This is about me. I have my reasons (the why behind the what) and that is all that matters.

Enjoy today, kids. I invite you to sit down for a few minutes today and contemplate the significance of today in your life. Where are you at with your goals and commitments for 2009? What is in store for you in 2010? What worked for you, what didn't work? Are you a better person now than you were 1, 2, 3, 6, 12 months ago? I know I most certainly am in a much better head space than I was four months ago. And I am fitter and stronger too. And happier. And more focused and committed. And grateful for my family and my health. Sure, I'm always going to have my 'issues' and 'challenges' - but as long as we are committed to working on overcoming them it's all good in my book. I have a few I'm currently working on overcoming right now: my sleeping (or lack thereof), my eating (again, or lack thereof, given the quantity of training I'm doing) and my acute neck pain that has now persisted for almost 4 weeks. It's when we are stagnant that we lose the point of life. I'm the first to admit that about three months ago, I was in a very negative 'place' in my life. I don't want to go back there, ever. And I'm not about to paint a grim picture of what things were like for me then. Although you'll get glimpses of that period in my life, no doubt.