Helping others can be your motivation
Have you ever wanted to do something to improve your health, knowing it’s good for you, but six months later nothing has changed?
If so, you are not alone. Many people want to be “better” in some way but daily life gets in the way.
I was there too before I was diagnosed, and many plans or dreams remained just that.
What changed for me – and I believe can for you too – was motivation. Bizarrely, it’s often not enough to do something just to improve health like stopping smoking or losing weight. What you need is a reason why that will impact others too.
Last week I continued my 2023 running streak of a minimum of 3.3 miles daily (for the 33 men who die of prostate cancer in the UK every day).
Yes, I love running but some days I don’t always “feel the love”, but the need to continue the streak is what gets me out, not the fact that I also believe it keeps me alive.
The bonus every day is twofold. Once I am out it feels great to get that fresh air and feel my muscles work, but also when you go out things happen. You meet people, see nature, say good morning, watch dogs in the park do what dogs do, and many other great things. When I get home I always have a sense of accomplishment and no matter what else the day brings I feel like I have lived.
I was also honoured to spend a day walking with my friend Paul who also has incurable prostate cancer like me. Paul is a former cricketer so found his own challenge to motivate himself by setting himself a target to walk 25 million steps in five years as he was given that long to live on his diagnosis. That target gives Paul a goal both for himself and also for awareness and fundraising for Prostate Cancer UK. The day we walked he hit the milestone of 10 million steps. Just think about that.
Most of us are lucky enough to be able to walk and it’s so good for us, yet we use cars when we could walk, and sit watching often meaningless TV when we could be outside, experiencing life.
So I hope that by reading this you too will think of something that you like doing that will benefit you and others, and will get you out and about.
Winter has gone, spring is here, so what better time to reintroduce yourself to the wonderful outdoors and be more like Paul and me?
‘‘ Once I’m out it feels great but you also see people, I feel like I have lived