Life and social media is a funny thing! We build a story that we want the world to celebrate with us.
Today is my 50th birthday, and that means so much to me. I always recognized 50 as when my grandma was disabled from arthritis in her back. My mother started fighting rheumatoid arthritis full-time at this age. They both lost mobility and for me, that seems like a harsh punishment. My grandmother gave in to her disease, she let it tell her what she could not accomplish. My mother fights it every day and still does things that push her body well beyond its limits. Then tomorrow, she will do it again.
I often hear comments asking me, how I do “it”. The how is easy, I put one foot in front of the other. Even on days when I do not want to. Those days are fewer now. I have my calling and I know what my body and mind need every day. I will share with you the why.
Why do I wake up at 4:30 to work out? If I do not my body becomes stiff and unmoveable, after just one day. The pain is a 7-8. The cure is to walk, lift weights, and stretch every day. I become tired and depression creeps in. All of this is much worse than a 2-hour commitment to me. #wakeup
Why do I work so hard? My father is a farmer he brings it everyday, no matter what, and taught me that I am here to make a difference. The only way to accomplish it is to do it, every day. I work hard, and I could be more efficient and smarter, but that takes away the joy of exploring how to make things myself. I learn so much this way. #showup
My antiaging secret is simple. Grandma Kuhl told me at 17. You only get one face. Wear a hat and sunblock every day or you will see changes early that you can’t reverse. I do use botox because it makes me happy. I do buy serums with a vitamin C base, and I moisturize and cleanse my face twice daily.
Stress is a part of my life. I can’t avoid it. My job is to make people do what they need to do to be successful. Not what they want to do. Everyone wants the magic button, pill, or potion. I teach them how to do it in a sustainable way. This leans into the growth mindset. A few years ago I went to the ER with heart pain. It was prevalent for months, honestly, years preceding this event. I was treated and continue treatment to this day. My goal after that day was to recover and rebuild to make myself mentally and physically stronger.
What did I do differently after? I understand what I need to be involved with and what is too hard for me mentally. I now remove myself from situations where I do not need to be. This may be a conversation, social media environment, work situation, or friendship that no longer serves us both. Lingering in unhealthy conversations poisons my brain. I try to solve problems for others, often problems they have no intention or ambition to solve for themselves. Now I walk away to preserve my health.
Physically I try to do things that scare me. This can be a marathon, lifting weights in the boy’s weight room, a new class in a new city where I don’t know anyone, or a variety of scary situations. In September this year, I was able to summit Mount Katadhin. It was a big hell yeah moment. Don’t let your health limit you. Your body IS STRONGER than your mind. Once you quiet your mind. Your body can rise to your challenge.
Today on my birthday, I made myself a priority. Scheduled that colonoscopy, and once again everything was not perfect. This is real life. The timing was perfect the outcome of removing four polyps was perfect. I will now have another reason to celebrate life next year.
Why I share all this is to inspire one person who is struggling. I am certainly not perfect. Please don’t believe that myth. Why do I share the good? So that you see me and read the bad. So you know my truth is real. The struggles come daily, and my way to cope is to find positivity in every way possible. That is my method. Yours may be the opposite. That is your truth.
What has changed my life? Scheduling every hour of my productive week. I am not naturally good at this. I learned it, applied it, and it’s working. So when you need to get something done. #calendarup
The girl’s guide to total world domination is my journal of how I am working to be the absolute best at whatever I do. This means understanding who I am, where I am, and what I need to do to get to where I want to go. Join me #wakeupshowupcalendarup. You may see me one way, and that is your truth. I am adding a layer of transparency, so you know that you are worth it. You can do more than your mind limits you, too.
I want to create a community where we are transparent, uplifting kickass women, and set some goals that scare the crap out of you!
Shar Hermanson 