I remember hearing a quote, and I’m definitely paraphrasing, but if you move just one degree to the left or right of where you’re heading while sailing, you would end up at a completely different destination by miles.

Again, sorry for the paraphrase, but the principal really helps me in my day to day choices. Because one small choice, made consistently over time, could lead me where I never thought possible for myself.

As I reflect on the past year, I learned a lot about consistency and making daily choices that will lead me to, I hope, a much better destination than if I didn’t do these things.

Firstly, I decided it was time to take back some ground in certain areas of my life. Namely in the areas of my physical health, my mental health, my spiritual health and my emotional/relationship health. In this post, I want to focus on my 2024 change in course towards better physical (and as a result mental, spiritual and emotional/relationship) health.

One degree turn to better physical health…

God says, “our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit…” and I really felt this was something I needed to lean into at the beginning of 2024. In February of that year, I invested in my physical health by getting a personal trainer. What I didn’t know was that this one step of faith has completely changed my trajectory. As I aspire to be a more ‘prudent’, long-range-thinking person, I knew this decision to sew positively into my physical health. and make this a top priority, would lead me to reap many benefits in my future. After a lot of trial and error while focusing primarily on non-scale victories, I landed on 4 daily habits to work on through 2024. These 4 habits were complete game changers for my energy levels, my mood, my ability to pray and hear God, my attentiveness to my family relationships and role as mom, to name a few.

1. I made daily brisk walks a non-negotiable part of my day.
2. I started to pay attention to what I was eating, less processed anything and more whole foods and lean protein.
3. I hydrated waaayyyy more throughout my day.
4. I had a trainer who was keeping me accountable and on track.

It began here with these three daily choices/habits/course altering decisions.

So where am I now?

So how did making these 4 daily changes to my day alter my destination one year later? Yes, I am 30lbs down, but I feel more energetic and healthier. I feel more myself. The number of times I got sick end of 2024 beginning of 2025 greatly decreased, my mental health is currently incredibly good and my energy is up exponentially.

I’m not claiming to be a health guru, in fact I’m very far from this. But I do know from my own health journey that making these four changes positively impacted me and my family. They get to enjoy the mommy and wife I know I am deep down destined to be/become. I’m more present with my kids, I make time to play and connect with everyone and have the ability/capacity to do so.

All these positive consequences from making 4 small changes to my day. For this I’m thankful to my trainer and my friend. I’m thankful for the wisdom and benefits I live in now after making just a one degree difference in my course in life.