Just begin

I would not ever say that I am a perfectionist - just look at my closet and you'll agree....but I am afraid to try new things unless I am pretty darn sure I can do it exactly right. I want to see the finish line before I even begin the race. That is not always possible, and it is most assuredly quite overwhelming.

So I have been trying a new philosophy...just begin. Take one small step. Do the next right thing (preach, Ana). Just try. Just start. Just take one step in that new direction.

The huge mountain of prerequisites I had to climb to even apply to graduate school - in my mid-30s, with two small children - was so intimidating, but my husband said, "One class at a time." So I signed up for Chemistry 101 (what??) and I just started. I just tried. And I survived. So I took the next class.

The large luscious garden that I envisioned in my backyard that would cut my grocery bill in half and teach my kids how to be homesteaders was such an overwhelming project that it never happened. But a few pots and a small square foot garden was manageable and an easy baby step to take, so that's what we have. It probably cost more money to install than it'll ever save us in groceries, but the joy I get from picking my few scant tomatoes or cutting fresh herbs for dinner has no price.

I could share similar stories about home composting or journaling every morning - how LONG I put both of those truly wonderful things off because I thought I couldn't do them exactly right. Exactly the way others do it. But finally, I started home composting in a way that worked for me and I started my awkward, inconsistent morning journaling. And honestly, oddly, both of these things bring me great joy in their own way.

All this is to say that starting the journey to bring your health into balance - whatever that means for you - can appear to be so overwhelming and such a big mountain to climb that it seems easier to not start in the first place. I get it. I really do. I had my own false starts with personal health. I had my own mountain to climb. But as the epically wise Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Faith is taking the first step even when you can't see the whole staircase."

Let me be your handrail. Your comfy shoes. The gentle push at your back to get you on that first step. That's all we'll focus on during our initial conversations. Some manageable baby steps to get you started. And once that feels comfortable, we'll do the next right thing together.

While these baby steps will be profoundly personal for you and something we customize together, some example goals I've set with past clients are:

1. Drink water with dinner three nights a week in place of your go to beverage.

2. Add 1-2 new vegetables to your taco, omelette, stir fry, burger, wrap or pizza (banana peppers, shredded red cabbage, olives, sautéed mushrooms - take any chance to sneak in extras, even small portions make a big difference)

3. Make a fruit and veggie smoothie two mornings a week.

4. Try fruit or yogurt with honey in place of dessert once a week.

5. Set and stick to a consistent sleep schedule for three nights and write down how it goes.

6. Go for three 15-minute walks outside this week.

Baby steps. Attainable goals to tweak, build on and fit into your life. Your schedule. Your needs. Your version of that first step. Let's take it together soon.