I am not one for new year’s resolutions but there is something about August when I give myself a little bit of a reality check and assess what has happened and where I believe I’m going.

August is my birthday month and it pretty much works being slightly off centre of the middle of the year. Time was it was a gloriously sunny month but in recent years it appears to be a dreary summer month now with September clawing back what May promised to deliver. I still bear a grudge with the weather gods about this!

This year I could sense myself nesting into August in early July. Agitated, unsettled, frustrated at some things and eager for others to happen – my self-assessment radar was gearing up.

So, as usual, a scribbled set of notes to myself looking at health, wealth and r(well)ationships on all levels; realising that there were some things I didn’t need to beat myself up about, others I did and others I was fine with, happy about and even smug about. Also acknowledging that goal posts move. What was important a year ago is less so now. What wasn’t so important then, is now.  It was good to re-assess what had changed & why I thought differently about it. Some benchmarks need to be re-drawn.

The changes I wanted made sense. The progress I had made was real, perhaps different in places than I expected but still good tangible progress and the new things I wanted now could be parceled into ‘nice idea’, ‘next few months’ or ‘don’t be daft – it’s a grass is greener thing or a distraction’.

It’s understanding the context of why we need progress and what defines our happiness that helps us to stay with it. Never take what you do for granted and know your habits & patterns and what they mean.

So following that little period of reflection I entered my 44th year with a spring in my step.

The flat was repainted prior to guests arriiving from the US. A long overdue task but the deadline of the arrivals was a tangible motivator to get it done 🙂

I went to the London 2012 Olympics and chastised myself for not fully appreciating the magnitude and amazing dedication of the entire setup, games-makers and competitors. Entering the Olympic stadium felt like entering the Roman Collesium. There was something timeless, raw and powerful about watching the athletes compete. For the rest of the month I was glued to events on TV and updates from the BBC newsfeeds. And yes there were tears!

A great time was spent with my American friends doing the England thing and loving it. After years of not getting round to it I was on a Boris Bike 🙂

I finally sold my flat in London and I left it feeling that it had been good to me but what I want and where I want to be have changed. When I turned the key in the door for the last time, despite it feeling strange & final, I was able to know that the time was right and no regrets (which inevitably went through my mind at some points during the long and tediously drawn out sales process we must endure in the England).

I’ve given myself almost no room for manoeuver with my health & fitness. I’ve signed up for a couple of challenges, reinstated my training programmes and I am owning my food regime (together with its emotional hurdles!).

So here we are in very early September and I feel that I have entered my own personal new year revived, unencumbered, refreshingly liberated and bang on it!