ANOTHER CHANCE…

It’s so good to back on the “Blog”!  I can’t believe two weeks have already passed since the calendar flipped its pages to 2024…I was wondering – how is the new year treating you?  Is it the same old boring tale of having a rocky relationship with your resolutions, or is it too early to tell?  Or, have you simply refused to click on that giant reset button, postponing another shot at “redemption”?

You know what I mean – promised yourself last year to make more time for your friends, didn’t happen?  Had the best intentions to finish reading the One Year Bible, mission still unaccomplished?  Told yourself on 1 January 2023 that you would drink less wine…?  Sigh…Nay…?

I think I have written about second chances numerous times, but I just can’t help it, I always think about it in the new year.  This December it has been on my mind even more – I read “Leo”, the latest novel by the crafted storyteller, Deon Meyer.  His main character, Bennie Griesel, who is on the brink of getting married, shares his thoughts about second chances with his colleague and best friend, Vaughn Cupido.  He refers to the legendary song by Fleetwood Mac, “Never going back again”, and lyrically explains how the song is an ode to finding hope again, avoiding making the mistakes of the past… “Been down one time, been down two time, I’m never going back again…”

Griesel says: “Partykeer is daar dinge wat gebeur, wat jou wys waar jy was.  Jy moet erken jy’t foute gemaak, maar jy moet ook sien hoe ver jy gekom het.  Wat jy alles geleer het.  Sodat jy die keuses kan maak om nooit weer terug te gaan nie.  Want jy hét ‘n keuse.”

Yes, choices, choices, choices…a new diet plan and dreams of fitting into those skinny jeans?  Kale smoothies for breakfast, quinoa for lunch?  Or pizza and KFC?  Waging war against the snooze button?  Fighting the temptation of drifting off to sleep again?  Taking part in the New Year Challenge?  Or not?

I am not one for new year’s resolutions.  BUT, I tend to have a few lingering, nagging voices at the back of my head, and when they seem to repeat themselves constantly, I realize it’s time for action.

We all encounter moments of challenge and choice. Sometimes, our decisions lead us down unexpected paths, and we find ourselves facing the consequences of our actions. It’s during these pivotal moments that the concept of second chances becomes not just a notion but a beacon of hope, offering us the opportunity to redefine ourselves and rewrite our stories.

Life is a journey marked by twists and turns, and no one is immune to making mistakes. However, what sets the resilient apart from the defeated is their ability to embrace the invaluable gift of second chances. It is a chance to rebuild, learn, and emerge stronger than ever before.  Not just in the month of January, but every single day.

I really don’t want to sound sentimental, but I believe in second chances.  to try to do better.  Embracing second, or third chances, is recognizing our flaws, acknowledging our missteps, and taking responsibility for our actions.  Embracing a second chance means actively committing to positive change and refusing to be defined by past errors.

Second chances are also a testament to the compassion and belief that others have in our potential. It reflects the understanding that people can change, learn, and become better versions of themselves. When granted a second chance, we not only owe it to ourselves but also to those who see our inherent worth and capacity for change.  Every year my mind is blown by women in our studio who embrace second chances and prove that positive change IS possible.  Their secret?  Changing over time, taking small but deliberate steps forward, daily.

Let’s take a deep breath on this Sunday of January 2024, embracing the beauty of the year that lies ahead, and promise ourselves to take it day by day.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” Meaning?  To recognize that within its 24 hours lies the potential for growth, love, and self-discovery.

We have another shot at getting it right or of picking a new target to aim for. Maybe we all should ask ourselves these two questions:  Where do I want to be next January?  What can I do in the next 5 minutes to contribute to that outcome?

Today is a second chance – a chance to rewrite, reinterpret, and rediscover our existence.  Yesterday or last year is not a prison; it’s a reference point, a source of inspiration to relish the profound opportunity that lies before us—a chance to start afresh, to redefine our journey, and to embrace the transformative power of new beginnings.

Winston Churchill once said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” The past, with all its victories and defeats, is a stepping stone, not a stumbling block. Your journey doesn’t end with a setback; it simply paves the way for a more resilient comeback.

Challenges are not roadblocks; they are the raw materials from which we sculpt our character, resilience, and strength.   A Chinese proverb says: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.”

“Don’t you just love New Years? You get to start all over. Everyone gets a second chance”, says Lenora in Forrest Gump…

I have a good feeling about 2024, and it’s not only because Eswee and Nicole are getting married!  I’m not saying I’m going to get everything right, but I’m sure as hell going to start.  It’s my 57^th chance of doing better – and by now, I know damn well that nothing will change if I don’t change.

Here’s to a year of courage, growth, and the boundless possibilities that come with starting over. Embrace the journey, for it is just as important as the destination.  And it is yours to craft.  Find joy in the small victories and savour the climb, or shall I say, enjoy the flight, because the theme of our year in the studio is taking flight…

Yes, we firmly believe that our journeys begin in the skies of possibility.  Together we’ll grow wings of courage to soar with determination and ascend to greatness!  A mouthful?  Maybe.  Maybe not.

… “Been down one time, been down two time, I’m never going back again…”

Restart! Reset! Reclaim, in 2024!  Cheers!

Yours in fitness

Mirna

082 779 0507