They Say Leopards Can’t Change Their Spots. I Say Bollocks!

Of course leopards can’t change their spots. It’s a stupid adage. To change your spots all you have to do is change your underpants. What I mean is that you have to change your underlying structures. My personal spot-changing challenge is about the way my body responds to the world around me – which means changing not just the shape but the texture and ratio of that stuff beneath my skin. And a few other things besides.

This may be way too soon and I may fall off the wagon before I’ve even got both legs on and my bottom firmly wedged in the seat but here goes anyway…

There are moments in life which are pivotal and I’ve just pivoted around one of them. Being invited to work with Andy Metcalfe and his flourishing spiritual tour business Outer Travels Inner Journeys has given me the impetus to question my mostly sedentary lifestyle of inner journeys and outer expression. This lifestyle, with some travel, meetings with fascinating people and phenomenal support has enabled me to write the first novel in a trilogy. But is this ‘insider’ who I want to be still? Is it enough? The answer is a resounding no. I want to give the Outer Travel aspect of my life a far bigger slice than it’s had so far. We’re developing a number of inspirational experiences in different locations around the world which I would absolutely love to participate in. And what’s obvious about this is in order to do what I love I need to create a body which will also love these experiences and not expire once I’m off the proverbial couch. So I need to change my underlying structures.

But first, is this a big enough ‘love’ to keep my commitment at the tender age of fifty nine and a half? Then let’s see how I get on with changing my underlying structures. So far I get up earlier in the morning dressed ready for action. Usually I love to take things slowly to let my mind wander as it so desires. As inspiration flows effortlessly this way it was a tough decision to alter that routine…. but I decided inspiration can find me when I’m out walking instead of gazing in to space curled up under the duvet with a cuppa in my hand.

I’ve changed my diet too. Not to lose weight but I seem to be doing that anyway. The diet’s not lean and mean so it satisfies me immensely. For the last month I’ve spurned grains and sugar (except in wine!) and I’m trying to find raw dairy products which don’t cost the earth to deliver. I’m certain I was addicted to bread as the more I ate the more hungry I became, compelled to snack – but not now as I’m rarely hungry between meals. I also take a combo of cod liver oil and butter oil which I’ve heard exceptional things about for teeth and bones and weirdly my teeth feel squeaky clean like I’ve just come from the hygienist.

Along with the walking and the new eating regime I’ve also added a little exercise routine which should be simple to honour. It fits in effortlessly with my day and according to the science behind it, will have an impact even though I’m not sweating bucket loads in the gym. This was my second morning of the regime which I followed with breaking in my new walking shoes across farm land. As I strode out in the cool spring sunshine I had this glimmer of an idea that maybe…just maybe…I could summit Huayna Picchu, the eyrie 1100 ft above Machu Picchu when I visit Peru for a month in May. If I manage that I will have well and truly changed my spots!

What spots have you changed, or are planning to change this year?

Photo credit: By Keven Law (Flickr) [CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons