Ben NY resolutions - Coloplast UK

New Years Resolutions with a stoma

We have all been here before, the end of the year draws in and our minds start flitting back to all the things we have achieved or not achieved. We spend time thinking ahead about what the next year might bring or what we hope that we will do and we inevitably set ourselves some form of New Years Resolution.

For many this will be the old cliché things like start eating more healthily or being more regular in the exercise we get. For some it can be to start prioritising time with our families or doing self-care routines rather than getting too drawn into our jobs and busy day to day lives. I won’t lie most of those are high on my list this year, I have lost myself a bit and need to find some key aspects and missing pieces so that I can feel more fulfilled. But when you are facing or have recently had stoma surgery it can feel like your world is about to or has flipped upside down. The prospect of living with a stoma can be very daunting. For some the daily care routine and simple aspects such as ensuring your supplies are in good order or that you carry spares with you on days out, can be very draining. For others body dysmorphia and feeling lost in your own body can be really hard to handle and can play havoc on your mental wellbeing.

Something you might consider is the power of taking photos of yourself, you will be amazed at how much you recover and grow after your surgery and having those images to look back on, whilst could be challenging and potentially triggering, can also be incredibly powerful. I have found great self-belief and motivation by looking back and seeing just how far I have come. So why not make it a pledge to take those photos and make those memories last. They could be of you wearing your bag with confidence, doing a bag change, going for that run, lifting those weights, making that hike in the mountains, going for a family day out or just doing the everyday things that you might not have been able to do before.

When I went through my surgery in June 2022 I found an instant release by opening up on social media and connecting with others further ahead and at a similar place in the journey to me. Whilst I am not saying that social media is the be all and end all and it is not for everyone, finding people to open up to about your stoma related thoughts could be one of the most important goals you set yourself for 2025! Going through something like stoma surgery is a pivotal moment in your life so why not use it as a springboard to enable you to grow? Listen to the stories of others and lend your own in a support group or online community. Sharing really is caring and you will likely find that it empowers you and will make all those challenging feelings you are likely to have feel vindicated and understood.

Why not set yourself some ambitious targets! Book that holiday (after you have fully recovered), do that adventurous activity you have always thought of doing or start that sport or regular exercise that you have always considered but never pushed yourself out of your comfort zone. If you don’t like it, then hey so what you gave it a go! Try to see 2025 and life with a stoma as an opportunity to be more you, to find aspects of yourself that were hidden away. For me I would never have imagined I would become a brand ambassador, write blogs like this or do podcasts opening up about my thoughts and feelings, I would never have seen myself as a public speaker or even have dreamt of doing product modelling. I didn’t find these things easy at first, but then I realised if I can get through stoma and barbie bum surgeries and return to my normal life in better shape and with a clearer mind, then I could do pretty much anything I want if I really try.

So make 2025 your year to shine, make it about you, because if you are happy within, happiness and kindness and support to others with flourish outwards. Getting a stoma really isn’t the end it is just the beginning. So set those targets whatever they may be, but do it for you, do it because now you can, do it because you want to do it and hey you might find aspects of yourself that you love you never knew were there.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,

Ben

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New Years Resolutions with a stoma

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