Archival Aspirations: Reposting LinkedIn Article on my Transformative Experiences in 2020 (+ a guide for you to transform)
The Mini-Manifesto to Transforming in
2021: How I transformed my life in one of the toughest years ever - 2020
Depressed. Dejected. Disengaged.
Those are 3
words that accurately described me starting at the end of summer 2019 through
the finish of 2019.
It was the
moment where I was sitting down to put on my boots, and in bending over to tie
them, I found myself nearly breathless -- having to take breaks between tying
each boot to catch my breath -- and it was then that I knew I had to make a
SERIOUS change. I was 238 pounds. The most I've weighed ever (& by a lot...).
And that weight number was a direct reflection of the status of my
physical/mental/emotional and spiritual well-being --> deeply unhealthy.
In late
December 2019, after realizing I was either at, or close to my version of rock
bottom, and even more candidly, I was one step removed from a real, traumatic
happening with my overall health. It was that boot tying breathless moment that
was the final warning sign for me to finally do something.. anything... to
initiate the COMEBACK journey.
How I arrived at rock bottom:
I have
always been someone who loves/participates in sports, fitness, being outdoors
and more. But, there was never that disciplined routine that "stuck"
and had never ultimately formed physical health into a daily habit/ritual. I
would workout for 3-4 months... get to the point where I started to see changes
to my body / mind and then.... I would implode. I'd take a month off from
focusing on my physical/mental well-being... which would become two then three
then SIX or more months at a time. Going from hardcore fitness/self-improvement
behaviors --> to doing nothing of the sort -- because I felt/perceived that
I was overtraining... that I was "overworked."
This first
time journey to what I felt was truly rock bottom was that 6+ month break from
doing anything physically exerting... not working on my mind ... not taking in
knowledge / resources / insights, etc.
Within those
6 months I --
Was let go
from one job... took 2.5 months off then I started in a new role that I
realized was not for me.
Began
drinking more. Connecting with people less. Finding myriads of reasons to avoid
events / meetings / gatherings. And avoiding the truths that were becoming
evident in my life; that I was disengaged, unhappy, borderline depressed,
drinking alcohol too often, overweight, sleeping poorly / eating poorly, not
exercising - at all... and I was living in a world that I didn't recognize
anymore. In fact, I did not recognize who I was when I looked in the mirror. I
had never felt the things I was feeling. Like being at a Buffalo Bills tailgate
and not being able to smile or not wanting to go get coffee with
friends/mentors. I was living in the unknown.
After that
day in late December 2019 where I literally couldn't breath because my stomach
was so bloated/inflamed; it was then that I finally realized that January 1,
2020 had to be the start of the official comeback.
How I began the Journey to Transformation:
The start of
the year (2020) meant several new things for me -
- No more alcohol (0) -- my
streak is currently at 12 months 8 days abstained from alcohol with 0
plans to ever go back
- Sleeping / eating better
- Less TV / less consumption of
news
- More movement (running !!! +
stretching / lifting / yoga / walking / HIIT & more)
- More mindfulness (breathing,
relaxation, focus, disconnecting from tech/electronics)
- Less negative self-talk both
inward and outward (( shoutout to Trevor Moawad / Limitless Minds &
the concept of "Neutral Thinking" ))
- More hydration and better
nutrition
- More gratitude
- Surrounding myself with more
growth-mindset oriented humans and distancing myself from fixed mindset or
negative people / sources
- More knowledge attainment /
consumption (books, podcasts, YouTube videos, audiobooks)
- More service to others
January 13, 2020:
A life
changing day.
I had a
catch-up lunch on the calendar to connect with my great friends/role models -
Timmy Fries (owner of Glen Oak Golf Club) & Steve Bartkowksi (executive
director of WNY PGA section + PGA REACH of WNY Foundation). Two fantastic
humans doing great works in our communities via the game of golf focusing on
programs that support military, diverse populations and youth.
The purpose
of the lunch was to reconnect, for me to learn more about PGA REACH of WNY's
community initiatives/efforts and to also meet one of the programs National
Ambassadors based out of the Buffalo NY market - Nick Martone, USMC.
Instantly,
the energized connection with Nick at this lunch was very apparent. His zest
for life / love for community, authenticity, candor and his desire to do good
by others all deeply resonated with me. I could tell he and I would become
great friends (and now we are!).
Nick
explained to me how SIGNIFICANT his involvement with PGA HOPE (more info on
this causes soon) was for him and his fellow veterans. What the group and
programs meant to him / his fellow veterans for his & all of their holistic
health. He opened up to me right away sharing that HOPE saved his life after
suffering from things like PTSD and depression after his 2 tours abroad.
So as we
caught up on a variety of topics, there was a mention of the Buffalo Marathon
2020 and how members/supporters of PGA REACH of WNY (PGA HOPE - "Helping
Our Patriots Everywhere") were signed up to run the 26.2 mile run on May
24, 2020. Nick, Tim and Steve mentioned this to me 15 minutes into our lunch, I
said, "oh, how awesome!! good luck guys!" -- not thinking anything
more of it.
Then, at the
end of the lunch, the topic of participation in the Buffalo marathon was
revisited and that fateful inquiry was made... "so, John, are you in to
join us for the marathon?" Steve asked me.
I knew I was
still a long way from where I wanted to be only being 2 weeks into the new year
/ 2 weeks into my comeback journey.
So ...
knowing I needed a SERIOUS source of motivation / fuel for me on my comeback /
transformational journey... I answered in the affirmative to Steve and decided right then and there to commit to
running in the Buffalo marathon on behalf of PGA HOPE / PGA REACH of WNY.
So, why
share so much insight regarding the above happening?
Because
without my agreement to join the Marathon team /// Without that huge task ahead
of getting prepared to run 26.2 miles in 4.5 months time -- It would not have
created what I like to call, "VISCERAL VISUALIZATION."
By agreeing
to run that marathon - something I had never conjured doing - while still
sitting at the 235+ lb weight level .. still figuring out my new behaviors /
habits / activities ... I knew DRASTIC measures had to be taken to commence
weight loss / increase of fitness, flexibility and strengthening my mindset in
order to run that 26.2 mile marathon.
(*** side note - the Buffalo Marathon
was cancelled date of 5/24/2020 because of COVID-19 ... BUT, I stuck with it...
continuing to run... increasing fitness .. losing weight and all of those many,
many hours / miles / ups and downs.. and more ... culminated on December 29,
2020... my 1-year mark of abstaining from alcohol consumption.. celebrating
that by running an unofficial 26.2 mile marathon alongside my brother Nick
Martone who supported/accompanied me on his bike through the 3 hours 17 minutes
it took me to complete said marathon. A day that I will not soon forget and
will cherish forever)
Tying it all
together --> Sitting here today I can honestly say that without that fateful
day meeting up with Nick / Steve / Tim in January 2020 + agreeing to running
that marathon... that I wouldn't be sitting here today having run 1400+ miles
in the last 12 months... having lost 50 pounds ... having abstained from
alcohol for 1 year+ ... starting my own business OZmosis Consulting ... and
achieving levels of happiness in all realms of my life that I previously did
not think were possible. Having completed a 12-month HOLISTIC
TRANSFORMATION. Living intentionally. Pursuing my dreams.
Doing what I love. Giving back to humans, the
community. Knowing my life's purpose and reviewing it / living
it out EVERDAY.
TAKEAWAYS from Mini-Manifesto Part I:
- Find something that evokes
visceral emotions -- foundational -- significant things (i.e. - a father
who visualizes his daughter walking down the aisle without him because he passed away due to poor health or
something else detrimental -- pulled that example from life coach /
optimizer legend - Ed Mylett) -- I know... that's morbid ... but VISCERAL means
RAW & POWERFUL.. and that means strong emotions EVOKED
- Start small - day by day - i.e. walk/run 0.25 or 0.5 miles
- Give yourself a break /
practice self-love - we are all humans - we all have off
days - it will be OK
- Make sleep / hydration /
nutrition / mindfulness and movement a PRIORITY
- Be intentional with
your words / actions
- Serve others to diminish your perceived suffering - rather focusing
on the problems of others / how to help them versus festering in misery
because you are struggling -- (pulled that from Tony Robbins)
- Believe in yourself - because if you don't believe in you then
who else will?
- Lastly -- #keepGOING --
no matter how hard it gets -- we were all put here to SELF-ACTUALIZE --
to become who we were destined to be
Thank
YOU for reading this ! I welcome
and look forward to your feedback / inquiries / comments ! Send me a DM if this
resonated with you. Stoked to hear from you!
- Johnny "OZmosis" Osberg
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#keepGOING,
Your Friends @ POWER of OZmosis Consulting
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More about Johnny OZmosis: https://linktr.ee/johnny_ozmosis
More about OZmosis Consulting: https://linktr.ee/PowerOfOZmosis
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