There's something about spring that brings a sense of new beginnings.
Here in New Zealand, the change to daylight saving at the end of September brings longer evenings, a little more daylight and sometimes that extra nudge to make a few changes in our lives.
Lately, I've been asking a question in my talks and social media posts:
What are one or two small changes you could make in your day for a better tomorrow?
It sounds simple, doesn't it?
But sometimes those small changes can be the beginning of something much bigger.
What has looking back at my own health journey taught me?
This question has got me thinking about my own health journey.
Before my life-changing cardiac event, my body was trying to tell me things. At the time, I didn't fully understand what was happening, and I kept going.
Looking back, I now recognise how important it is to pay attention to ourselves.
Not to become frightened by every little change, but to become more aware of what is normal for us, what feels different and when something might need attention.
And it's not just about our physical health.
Our emotional wellbeing, our confidence, our relationships and our sense of belonging all play a part in how we feel.
Sometimes we're so busy getting on with life that our own wellbeing quietly slips further down the list.
And I certainly haven't been immune to that myself!
This past month has been incredibly busy behind the scenes at On the Pulse Health.
There have been early mornings, late nights and plenty of things to organise. Even my poor garden has taken a back seat!
It's been exciting and rewarding, but it's also reminded me how easy it is to put our own needs aside when we're focused on something important.
And sometimes we don't even realise we're doing it.
We tell ourselves we'll get back to exercising next week, catch up on sleep tomorrow or make that appointment when things quieten down.
Sound familiar?
But what if we didn't have to wait for everything else to settle before making a little time for ourselves?
This month, my friend Rachel and I delivered another Heart & Flow talk at The Kollective, exploring the theme Belonging Matters.
It was a lovely reminder that wellbeing isn't something we have to navigate alone.
Having people around us who listen, understand and support us can make a difference, particularly when life has changed through illness, injury or a major health event.
Sometimes reconnecting with ourselves is just as important as connecting with others.
That might mean recognising when we're tired, acknowledging how we're feeling or giving ourselves permission to slow down.
We don't always need to do more. Sometimes we need to notice what we need today, this week.
At the end of October, I'll be attending the Empower Her Expo here in Tauranga, sharing On the Pulse Health and connecting with others in our community.
I'm really looking forward to it!
There are still plenty of things to organise between now and then, but I'm learning to take things one step at a time.
And perhaps that fits this month's message rather nicely.
We don't need to have everything perfectly sorted before we begin making changes.
Start Where You Are
Looking after ourselves doesn't always mean making huge changes.
Sometimes looking after ourselves starts with getting outside, reconnecting with nature and appreciating where we are right now.
It might also mean going to bed a little earlier, drinking more water, moving our bodies, phoning someone we've been meaning to call or finally booking that appointment we've been putting off.
It's also about recognising when something feels different and seeking advice when we need it.
It's never too late to start looking after ourselves.
We can start where we are.
Notice what matters.
Choose one small step.
And keep moving forward, in our own time and in our own way.
