When I was 49 I decided that if I didn’t start getting serious about my goals I might miss out on doing things that I spent a lot of my adult life wishing I had done. It was that looming milestone birthday that motivated me to finally take control of my health and fitness.
I signed up for my first triathlon the March before my 50th birthday and didn’t tell anyone about my plan. I worked hard and reached my goal of completing my first triathlon. Since then I have done many sprint and Olympic length triathlons, half-marathons and numerous 5k’s. For a couple years I was on fire and was doing some type of event almost every week. I felt good and was proud of myself.
Interestingly most conversations I had around the bigger events included some reference to Bucket Lists. People would comment: “Was that on your Bucket List?” “Guess you can check that off your Bucket List!” “What are your next Bucket List events?” I’d laugh and would usually mumble some affirmation but, honestly, these comments would get under my skin.
I viewed a Bucket List was a bunch of things to do before death. Things that without the motivation of death I would never do and once done would not have to be re-visited: Check the box and move on. That concept did not motivate me. In fact, I found it depressing.
What I had set out to do way back in my 49th year was to redefine how I approached my life; my health; my fitness and nutrition. I didn’t want to check a box and move on, I wanted to incorporate new life skills and fitness habits that would make the second half of my life healthier and more fun than my first half.
I didn’t want to check a box off and leave it in the past; I wanted to encourage myself to keep going; find those races (that for some were Bucket List items) to me would become yearly traditions. With that motivation I have done been able to do that and now have a nice mix of events I look forward to every year.
I am still trying to figure out my response to those Bucket List comments. Leaving them hanging is okay but the desire to encourage others to forget the “one and done’s” and to embrace a new life of habits and positive lifestyle choices is important to me. I am sure I will find the way!