Wow, all of us Project Transformationists (almost) together in one room. What a dazzling display of effort and success. Our meeting on Saturday was for the purpose of making plans once the Project is over and we are on our own. It is essential to make plans for after. I can think of so many parallels in life. You have swimming lessons, and then comes the day that you have to dive into the deep end and prove that you can do it. But swimming is something that stays with you forever. You never really forget how to swim. You flap, you swallow a couple of gulps, but then you relax into it and are swimming along.
We have learned what is good for us and what works to get us to a place that we would rather be, a place of health and feeling better, more like the us we were meant to be. But have we learned, is it is the muscle memory to push ourselves away from the table, to say no to that dessert that we really don't need, in my case to never get started on that piece of bread because I know that I am powerless to stop. This morning, I had a doctor appointment. I had to be in Tarzana at 8am. I had arranged for my daughter to take Lucy for her morning walk so I cold get out on time. But when I got up, I realized that I need that walk as much as Lucy does (although not for the same reason), so I got into my clothes, lickety split, and got down to the park. I did get to the doc on time, so that was a good thing. I hope that this is a portent of the future.
I realized on Saturday, that even thought I have made it into the gym at least three times, usually more, every week, I did not schedule it. I fit it in between laundry and meetings and other things. Just like paying yourself first to save money, I am going to have to get more used to blocking in my exercise time, and scheduling the rest around it. For now this has to be my priority, until it becomes a part of me. I have done pretty well, but there is more to be done and the importance of having an inspirational person out there came home to me when I ran into Mr. Gertler on Thursday in the hallway of the hotel. We had a wonderful talk, and he was kind enough to show me a photo of himself standing at the top of a 14,000 ft. peak that had been his aspiration to climb, and this year he climbed it. His pride in his accomplishment was wonderful to see, inspiring to me, and made me feel as if I have to set some goals. Fitting them into the
S M A R T configuation makes sense.

The S is for specific. What is it you want to do? Run a 10K?
The M is for measurable. It's going to be the Alzheimer's 10K.
The A is for attainable. It's 6 months away. It's a stretch, but if I train, I can do it.
The R is for relevant. It relates to some long term intention, an underlying aim or purpose that has special meaning for you. I want to be healthy and fit.
The T is for time based. A specific date for the attainment of this goal. I will do this by March

While we think about the goals we want to achieve, we are teaching ourselves to be what we want to be. We would not have tried out for this project if we did not have something in mind. We have been, for the last six months, the toddler, held by both hands while we learn to walk. When CHLI lets go, we are bound to take a few spills, but you don't unlearn to walk. You don't sit there where you plopped down on your butt and stay until the moss grows. You get up and take another step and another until walking is just the precursor to running. We are walking successfully most days. We are also getting up and starting over when we fall. It is up to us to find the path that best suits our purpose in order to realize our life's intention.
So to all my cohorts, I salute your success, and I commend you to the care of yourselves, as we adults actually have to be, to do what you have to, to sustain the victories that you have achieved.