I've been more active this year than a caffeinated squirrel on a mission! It all started last September when I decided to become more active. Not that I was a couch potato before, but I just thought, "Why not take more walks? Why not go running? Maybe start meal prepping." I mean, thank goodness my condo had a gym, because that treadmill got me started. Starting out then, I made sure I was hitting that thing at least three times a week after work and on Saturday mornings, and let me tell you, I've never felt more alive!

I joined the gym in February of this year and it has been an amazing journey. I enjoy participating in a group fitness class every Monday and Wednesday, as well as personal training sessions on Thursdays, and invigorating Spin classes on Saturdays. In between, I make time to go to the gym whenever I feel like it. Lately, I've also added Pilates to my routine on Saturdays, and I've even got my own little walker/starter treadmill at home to help me reach my daily step goals. I'm thrilled to have finally reached my daily 5000 steps milestones, and now I'm eagerly working towards hitting 10,000 steps each day.

One thing I can tell you about the gym is that once you start, and you go in knowing exactly why you're there, there's no stopping you. It's a bonus when you find the right gym community to push and motivate you. I am in the best shape of my life, and I fully intend to start working towards joining a run club next year. Let's see how that goes.

I say all this to stress the incredible therapeutic power of staying active and working out. The unbearable feeling of ennui vanished, and it wasn't just a way to decompress from work and other challenges. It also helped clear my mind enough to approach certain things from new angles.