Kia ora everybody!

As I sat, which I do a lot, to contemplate what to write about for this blog I kept thinking that with it being December means two things.
Firstly, it’s the end of the year 2024 – a time to reflect back on what the year delivered. Be it challenges, successes, and/or costs met, goals achieved, or not and lessons learnt during the past twelve months. I did the same in 2023, looking back at the challenges I’d faced but more importantly, I looked forward with anticipation toward 2024.

REFLECTION:

So, this past year was to be a year of recovery, consolidation and then impetus toward challenges and goals set. Recovery was an aim as I was heading toward the period of my rehabilitation from breaking my right tibia, fusing the first joint of my left thumb plus recuperating from my hospital stay after developing sepsis from ileus–bladder and bowel infection that had robbed me of both strength and fitness. Consolidation was to improve my fitness and strength with the impetus being the goal of competing on Kermit, my Invacare TopEnd Force RX handcycle, again.

With these three proposals in mind, I established a gym regimen, including a personal trainer, Mark, once a week to aid in this effort. This resulted in frequenting the gym a minimum of 3 times per week with sessions devoted to either weight training, hand grinding or a combination of both. As a manual wheelchair user, I cannot adequately stress enough the importance of these two activities to my ongoing well-being. By targeting my shoulder, chest, arms and core strength in my weight training I knew that this would minimise the chances of succumbing to an injury to one or more of these areas of my body. These areas I count on every day to live my life as I wish to.

My confidence in my fitness and strength grew month by month, so much so that I entertained the notion of entering the wheelchair–hand-cycling division of the Barfoot and Thompson Auckland City Marathon. However, missing the 2023 marathon due to my broken leg and thumb operation still grated me somewhat. Unfortunately, fate lay waiting for me.

In October I was forced to endure a 9-day stay in hospital due to what was diagnosed as a pseudo bowel obstruction. Take it from me, these obstructions are both painful and debilitating. Being confined to bed rest for that period meant that a lot of the gains I had made in both fitness and strength were lost. This became the most frustrating period of the year for me, duly compounded when due to the timing of this hospital stay I had to withdraw from this year’s Barfoot and Thompson Auckland City Marathon, the second year in a row! After perusing the hospital discharge notes I learnt I had developed peritonitis, it was no wonder I was such an ill puppy.

On a happier note, this past year gave me more opportunities to give presentations on ‘facing adversity & overcoming obstacles’. I find these quite uplifting and beneficial not just to my audience but to me also. I enjoy watching and hearing of people who gain a more positive perspective of the challenges they face.

Two in particular resonated with me; Coast Hospice and Youth in Transition. I was fortunate and humbled to receive extremely positive feedback from both organisations on my presentation plus the affirmative effect I had had on the audiences. So much so, that I am now and will be studying online for 2 years for qualifications in mental health, psychology and youth counselling based on their recommendation. It’s amazing the turns in life’s intended path that without warning, can occur.

My partner and I attended the concert of a lifetime – Coldplay here in Auckland. An absolutely amazing evening of visual and aural wonder. A true musical extravaganza.

ANTICIPATION:

Secondly, it’s an opportunity to look ahead, positively, of course, towards 2025. To look at what the incoming twelve months can offer in terms of challenges to be met and overcome. Crystal ball gazing if you like. First up, I have volunteered for the upcoming Moth Sailing World Championships here in Manly, Whangaparaoa, New Zealand. Inclusivity at work!

I have re-established my gym programme, including my personal trainer, Mark, for at least 3 days per week with the intention to commit to this throughout 2025. There’s at least one marathon in November to look forward to, possibly one in Christchurch in April. We’ll see.

I have my ongoing online study to continue with. I have become fascinated by the whole nature and nurture aspects of child development that I have been studying as part of the courses I’m taking. I am looking forward to providing substantive assistance to troubled youth in the non to distant future.
I have given considerable thought to my diet, especially when taking into consideration my bowel obstruction episodes in each of the past 2 years.

Minimising too much grain, seeds and nuts, carbohydrates and some fruit, (bananas) and increasing protein intake to aid in my bowel habits. An increase in liquid intake; peppermint tea, cranberry juice with water and the like. As I age, this will become a very important aspect of my daily life.

This has been my yearly reflection and anticipation. As you can see reflection does take up a lot of the thought process. This of course, is dependant on what circumstances have occurred, challenges faced and overcome goals set and achieved in the past 12 months. In my case it’s usually both copious and memorable. Looking forward with anticipation, positivity, confidence and hope are as equally important as taking lessons from the past.

Meri Kirihimete Me Te Tau Hou/ Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

About the author

Ian Walker is a C6 Quadriplegic Incomplete. Ian lives in Christchurch, New Zealand and has survived 2 separate spinal cord injury-related accidents over the past 14 years. He is a Motivational Speaker who talks about - how to face adversity, cycle road safety, living with a disability, and being a 1 percenter . . .
Ian also enjoys life coaching which he utilises through his business BMotiv8d, to assist those with a disability, (or without), who lack motivation, direction and/or confidence, those who feel disorganised or unfulfilled, and/or those who need encouragement or need to set priorities, on how to realise their true potential.