Goals for 2023

I am a goal setter. I don't have a 5 year plan but I always have goals, and when I achieve them, I get new ones.

This year I have worked hard to get my health back. Health has always been something I've taken for granted. My body has never really failed me before. I have always been big and strong.

Chemo took everything I had. Towards the end of chemo I remember trying to walk up a hill and having to sit down a number of times on the way up. I was incredibly frustrated and annoyed by the failure of my body to do what I wanted it to do. I didn't know at the time that my blood count was very low. I did however persevere and I eventually got to the top. I thought I might faint but I managed to shuffle back down again. I was offered a blood transfusion shortly afterwards (which I refused because I didn't want to go to the hospital) and I then insisted on having my last round of chemo as scheduled (there was no way I wanted it delayed). I ate as much red meat and spinach as I could and just tipped over the lowest score to allow treatment to proceed. See what I mean about having goals and achieving them?

Getting through cancer treatment, like getting through most things in this life, is largely a mental exercise. I believe we all have a super power. My super powers are mental strength and optimism. It benefited me greatly during treatment. You need to push through. In my typical fashion, I faced it head on and I ran straight at it. My goal was to survive and to thrive - and I did.

This week my FitBit informed me that my Cardio Fitness score (34-38) is Excellent for "women my age". I was aiming for Excellent. My next goal is to score over 40. To do this I am going to have to increase the intensity of my training. My FitBit informs me that reducing my weight could also improve my Cardio Fitness score. That is another post Christmas goal. I let myself go crazy between Christmas and New Year because I deserve a week of chocolate, cake and ice cream. I will rein it in from tomorrow.

My other goals for 2023 are to survive it, get better at horse riding and be more fabulous, specifically be more Sylvie from Emily in Paris fabulous.

Let me elaborate. Emily in Paris is a guilty pleasure. I love the clothes, Paris, France generally and Sylvie. I'm not particularly fond of Emily. She is not very nice - in fact she is selfish, shallow, vain, fickle and a terrible friend. This is probably controversial but I don't want Emily to end up with Gabriel. Anyway, enough about Emily (yawn), let's talk about Sylvie. Sylvie is poised, elegant, sleek and sophisticated. Her outfits are to die for. She is straight talking, chic, confident and sexy. What is especially fabulous is that the actress who plays Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) is 59 years old. In my opinion she is the most interesting character and the only one worth admiring and emulating. So in 2023 I am going to continue with my quest to wear colour and I'm going to style myself on the fabulous Sylvie. I've already bought a houndstooth coat in anticipation.

Happy New Year! X