04/01/2026
How do we so easily forget whatās really important?
This year Iāve got a couple of big things coming up, and itās been a bit of a slap in the face when it comes to perspective.
Nearly five years ago now, I found a lump in my breast. That lump turned out to be breast cancer.
This year Iām coming up to my five-year scan, and anyone whoās been through cancer will understand what scan anxiety feels like. For me, itās started a little earlier than usual.
Lately, every decision Iāve been making has had this quiet question sitting underneath itā¦
What if the test comes back and itās back?
And itās forced me to really stop and think about what actually matters.
When I was diagnosed, the clarity was instant.
Health. Family. Friends. Experiences. Fun.
Actually living life.
It was a huge wake-up call. And for a while, I genuinely tried to create better balance. But slowly, without even realising it, that effort fades. Work creeps in. Life gets busy. You tell yourself itās just āa phaseā.
One thing I do every year is scroll back through my camera roll and look for the moments that brought real joy. And when you notice there arenāt as many as there used to be, itās a pretty clear sign that somethingās out of balance.
On top of that, Iāve got my big 50th coming up this year. And itās made me really want to make sure Iām doing everything I can to be healthy, fit, and present.
Work is one component of our life. Itās not who we are.
Yet so often we define ourselves by our job or our role, when thatās only a small fraction of who we actually are.
Iād much rather introduce myself to someone by talking about what Iām passionate about. My hobbies. The things that light me up. Getting to know each other beyond just āwhat do you do?ā.
Iām lucky enough to enjoy my work, but itās just one part of me. This year, the real focus is balance. Not just looking back at a couple of nice holidays and saying, āThat was greatā, but being able to look at every week, even most days and know there was something in there that brought joy.
So if youāre reading this and it feels familiar, take it as a little kick up the bum to create more balance in your own life.
For me, that means going back to where it all started, my love of health, fitness, and creating a life that actually feels good to live.
Thatās my mission this year.