Hey 2021

It's a warm, sunny summers day here in amazing Western Australia. The blistering sun rose into the baby blue sky over the tops of green trees lining the summits of the Darling Range cradling the valleys below from the dry, humid winds of the Gibson Desert. As the cool fanned air whispers over my sheets and fans the drapes apart, the streams of sunlight fill my room and bathe upon my skin, lighting my face to open my eyes. Awakened and grateful to be alive I use my inner core strength to pull my refreshed body from the horizontal position into a sitting grace to reach for my phone sitting on the window sill. Checking my WhattsApp, he hasn't messaged me yet so I send a quick Good Morning x and pull the sheets back. My long legs slide out of the covers and softly land onto the cold vinyl floor. Lifting myself into a stand and walking out my bedroom into the dark hall towards the toilet.

The dark brindle dog that's curled up on my daughter's bed has come alive and is waiting by the toilet door for my exit. He lazily walks in front of me as we enter the kitchen and towards the back sliding door. Pulling the sheer black curtain to the side and unlocking the door, it slides open with ease and allows the warm, humid West Australian air inside. Letting the lanky dog out I close the door and head for the fridge. Top door shelf on the left is an open can of Silvesters cat food wrapped in cling wrap. Peeling back the film I take a spoon from the dish drainer and head for the front door side swiping my left shoulder as i pass the sixteen cube cabinet, ouch! Reaching for the brushed aluminum rounded handle I can hear the faint sounds of Mr Binx's meows as he brushes along the screen door awaiting my arrival. Again opening the front door allows more warm, humid West Australian air to fill my senses. Unlocking the screen door and pushing the black and white fluff ball to the left as I exit down the small ramp he manages to weave his way through my feet, trying to trip me up. In his bowl I scoop 1/3 can of cat mush onto his head as he's beyond eager to start eating, he doesn't care, he just shakes and continues scavenging every tiny morsel of what ever that is!

Returning into the air conditioned presence of home, I close the front door and return to the kitchen to dispose of the empty cat food tin in the trash before sliding the spoon into the sink and turning around to scoop 2 cups of Supercoat kibble into Schwinn's bowl. Mr Bark A Lot is doing zoomies in the back yard as the little girls next door are playing outside and Schwinn wants to join in. I slide the door back and whistle for him to come. He stops, looks at me and bolts inside. Closing the door behind the mutt I turn around and lank back to my bedroom to get dressed for our walk.

It's amazing how many people are out now its a new year! Trying to get fit, eat better, be a better person!! How many will stay and how many will go before January's end? A few familiar faces walk, jog, ride past. It's been 9 months since I started my health journey after a relationship breakdown that broke me. May 2020 I started walking daily. I was crippled with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome before that. I had to loose weight to take the extreme pressure off my lower back and right foot or I would be wheelchair bound for the rest of my life. In 2019 I couldn't walk!! I was dependent on other people for everyday items and transportation. I felt hopeless and a failure!!! I couldn't parent my own children, clean my own house, look after myself, let alone drive. I was ready to give up, die. I had dug my hole and was laying in it when something changed. My kids didn't want me to die, they said they needed me here. My parents and even my ex husband all needed me here. Without me there would be no sun in their days and moon in their nights and the star that once shone brightly would be a distance ball of dust. I wasn't ready anymore. The determination kicked in and we started afresh. My kids started new schools closer to their father. I was alone for three and a half days during the week which allowed me time to work on myself. Each day was a struggle. Many starting with cascading water drenching my bones and warming my muscles to function even just for an hour. One room at a time. One day at a time. Slowly the pain started to ease. I could feel my leg. No longer a peg leg in my mind, but soft pale skin. I started to walk. One block, two blocks, three blocks, four. My pace was quickening, my steps pound the pavement. I found music I liked and listened through headphones, the beat enriching every stride with a little dance or twirl. I was smiling and starting to love life again. My confidence in myself grew too. My flab started to tone and my legs became the branches of my existence. I had feet again. I held my head high and pulled my shoulders back breathing in the diversity of nature. My inner core now visible from the front. Clothes were too big, I felt more energetic, I began playing tennis and making friends. I started working on my career again and even landed a position of high value at an interview . I was able to come off all the drugs that had been keeping me alive and take control of my existence once again. My kids were happier, my parents were amazed that their baby girl had her free spirit again. My ex husband wanted me back (nope)! I felt alive. I felt wanted. I felt successful. I found me.

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning I wake up and go for a walk. I walk between 4 to 6.5kms round trip. Since May 2020 I have lost 16kgs, dropped from a size 22/24 to a size 16/18 and found a love for photography and nature. My local area is banked by two rivers and allows picturesque scenery even on the darkest of days. With my music, my freedom and my self confidence I found a new me in 2020 that flowed into 2021 and still going strong.