04/01/2026
How do we so easily forget what’s really important?
This year I’ve got a couple of big things coming up, and it’s been a bit of a slap in the face when it comes to perspective.
Nearly five years ago now, I found a lump in my breast. That lump turned out to be breast cancer.
This year I’m coming up to my five-year scan, and anyone who’s been through cancer will understand what scan anxiety feels like. For me, it’s started a little earlier than usual.
Lately, every decision I’ve been making has had this quiet question sitting underneath it…
What if the test comes back and it’s back?
And it’s forced me to really stop and think about what actually matters.
When I was diagnosed, the clarity was instant.
Health. Family. Friends. Experiences. Fun.
Actually living life.
It was a huge wake-up call. And for a while, I genuinely tried to create better balance. But slowly, without even realising it, that effort fades. Work creeps in. Life gets busy. You tell yourself it’s just “a phase”.
One thing I do every year is scroll back through my camera roll and look for the moments that brought real joy. And when you notice there aren’t as many as there used to be, it’s a pretty clear sign that something’s out of balance.
On top of that, I’ve got my big 50th coming up this year. And it’s made me really want to make sure I’m doing everything I can to be healthy, fit, and present.
Work is one component of our life. It’s not who we are.
Yet so often we define ourselves by our job or our role, when that’s only a small fraction of who we actually are.
I’d much rather introduce myself to someone by talking about what I’m passionate about. My hobbies. The things that light me up. Getting to know each other beyond just “what do you do?”.
I’m lucky enough to enjoy my work, but it’s just one part of me. This year, the real focus is balance. Not just looking back at a couple of nice holidays and saying, “That was great”, but being able to look at every week, even most days and know there was something in there that brought joy.
So if you’re reading this and it feels familiar, take it as a little kick up the bum to create more balance in your own life.
For me, that means going back to where it all started, my love of health, fitness, and creating a life that actually feels good to live.
That’s my mission this year.
