The End

I've allowed so much of what I do to define who I am as a person, when that necessarily isn't the case. What I do simply is, what I do. Who I am is my character, personality and being. So if what I do has defined me for so long - what happens when I no longer am "doing" that something?

For the past 6.5 years I've been a fitness instructor, motivating and encouraging other people with their workouts and to live out a healthy lifestyle. It's been an adventure in itself as I've had numerous personal struggles, an occasional personality conflict with a student, a falling out with an owner, and that's not to mention the sound equipment squabbles I've had on a regular basis. All in all, it's been a great learning experience. Over the years I've become a more self-confident and stronger (is that even possible) woman with drive and self-determination to get the job done.

To get the job done... hmmm. The past year and a half has not been an easy one for me as an instructor, my heart hurts thinking about some of the things that I've been through. The learning process has not been an easy one for me but I know it's something that I needed to go through. I've felt my life changing a little bit each day and I could see that something that I used to love so passionately was no longer one of the most important things in my life.

Every year about this time I have to renew my franchise as an instructor and about 6 months ago I really began thinking about whether to do so or not. As the moment approached I continued to really weigh my options and although fearful of my future I started to consider that teaching aerobics might not be a part of it. Of course I was a little scared, working out has been a regular activity for me for the past 7 years and I've always been accountable to that workout knowing that there were students waiting for me at class.

So all this to say, I wrote my letters of resignation yesterday to my district manager and to the center owner letting them know that I'd not be renewing and that I'd finish out October. It's bitter sweet, but even after I hit send, I realized that I had made the right decision. The decision to be finished is a good one for me, I don't see myself as quitting, but instead I've completed my journey.

Here's my last thought on all this: don't finish when you're down, instead finish on top. There have been a few times in the past years when I just wanted to be done with teaching because someone had a complaint about my class or my feelings had been hurt in some way or another, but had I quit then I'd have regret. Finishing now - when I'm happiest as an instructor - I have no regret. Yes, I'm sad - but I also know that I'm in a good place and that I'm doing it for the right reasons. And lastly, don't allow yourself to be defined by what you do - instead, define yourself by who you are and the person that you are becoming.

I will miss the friendships that I've made along the way, my instructor friends and student friends. I have some really awesome memories that I'll treasure always, but you know - for the first time in a very long while my head seems so clear.

Life is short - chase your dreams, live out your moment and laugh often. Give 110% in all that you do and look back on growing pains as stepping stones to a better you. Be amazing!

The Fighter

I'm a fighter. Yes, I am. BUT I'm not the type that's going to start a brawl in a bar because someone spilled beer on my new cute pair of shoes. Nope, not that kind of a fighter.

I have my goals and I work towards them. If you tell me that I can't do something I will find a way to prove you wrong. Everything inside of me fights to prove who I am and what I am capable of being.

I'll be that girl that picks up my friends fights and tag-teams with them to help pull them through, because I believe in them that much. I know success is attainable and I will fight until it is within my grasp, and then I won't let go once I've got it.

I hope that each one of you is a fighter too, because there are things in life that are just worth fighting for: love, friendship, marriage, family, life. (All monetary items, as you can see. Ha ha ha.) Don't quit. Often times the most difficult and hardest journey leads to the sweetest victory. Know yourself and your limitations and find someone to help you along the way if you need it.

Lastly, people talk so don't listen to them. And then there will be those people that don't talk leaving you wondering if you've got their support or not. Realize that not everyone is secure with themselves and feel as though they've got to bring you and the rest of the world down with them. Don't fall prey to their trap. You are so much better than that.

You are amazing, go be it!

Focus

Here it is - almost time for our gymnastics season to begin and I can't stress more to my little gymnasts that remaining focused is the key.

Focus: a life lesson indeed!

I tell my girls that the only voice they should listen for is mine. I tell them don't look around the gym - pay attention to the apparatus that you are on and the skills that you are about to do. It's inevitable, one of my gymnasts doesn't hear a word I'm saying because she's too busy looking around the gym at what others are doing and so when it's her turn to step up and go she has no idea what she's supposed to be doing.

Focus!

Not only do I tell girls to focus so that they know what they are doing - but if they don't know what they are doing and they step up and do something completely different and I think they're doing what they're supposed to be doing, they could potentially get hurt because I'm not prepared to spot them on something else.

Another reason why I try to enforce staying focused - because the moment we lose sight of our goal and easily get distracted there's a possibility that we might not be able to regain composure and/or we fall or lose balance.

A little extreme perhaps - but I see it happen all the time at the gym. One of my gymnasts is on the balance beam and she'll be going through a routine and for just a brief moment she forgets that she's on beam and her eyes start to wander and then she falls.

Lack of focus = frustration. So why not just stay focused?

In life there's so much to be focused on - our jobs, our families, our friends, our day to day activities. It's not always easy to remain focused on each, but it is important as we quickly become imbalanced. Don't easily get distracted by the outside noise and the pretty shiny objects glistening. Instead, realize that you goal - whatever it may be is so much greater than that which is trying to draw your attention.

Stay focused - it's hard at times, but you can do it. Your goals are completely within reach and attainable. Stay focused!

Be amazing.

The Cost of Negative Self-Talk

I so desperately wanted to blog in March. I wish I was more faithful at encouraging and motivating my online and offline friends that are in my life. I've been blessed to come across so many people that in return I too would like to bless others.

March has been a crazy month, but a great one none the less! I normally celebrate birthday week the week of March 5th, but birthday week turned into birthday month this year. (Alas, I need a whole month to celebrate as I have now hit my late 30's.) There are no complaints on my part.

One thing has come to mind this month and that is how frequently I find myself and others using negative self-talk. For those that don't - yay, you are a step ahead of me. For those of you that tend to be a little bit more like me - we need to STOP!

I'm over it.

Have you come to a point in your life where you don't even realize that you're doing it? I usually realize it, after it's already come out of my mouth. Argh! So where does all this negative self-talk come from? From you head of course! You think this kind of stuff. Whether those thoughts in your head are wrong or right, you need to put a filter on it.

As I watch those around me I begin to see a pattern... the ones that continually talk negative about themselves and/or others usually play out as the victim or just seem to be really unhappy with life. Is that really the kind of person that you want to be? I doubt it.

None of us are victims, indefinitely. Yes, it's true - bad things might have happened to you at one time or another, but we must all rise above that. Each moment and opportunity in our lives lead us to another and we are the only ones that can determine our destiny.

It all starts with what's inside of ourselves. You can control the thoughts that are in your head. How badly you want to change is a can be controlled by your heart. Think positively about yourself and about others and it will come across loud and clear in your actions.

Respect yourself enough to love yourself. Love yourself enough to not tear yourself down with negative talk and words. When you begin to love and respect yourself you will find that respecting and loving others comes much easier. It's a never-ending cycle. Perhaps now is the time to fix the cycle if it's broken? You are amazing - allow others to experience just how amazing you truly are!

Be blessed.

In search of fabulous abs - The Denver Post

In search of fabulous abs - The Denver Post

The Gift Of Others

When people ask me how I've got over 900 friends on Facebook, the next question they usually ask is if I actually know that many people. Truth be told - I know just about all but 40 or so. I've been blessed to have come across so many people in my lifetime and I do not take each encounter for granted. Does it sound silly? If not for the opportunity of getting to know a person on a personal level and building a good friendship, at least there's the hope of networking and or possibly helping one another out in a professional way.

I've mentioned in blogs before about how I hold people close to my heart. I'm not lying when I say I would do just about anything for someone I call a friend. And while I know some people I've come across in my life that I've truly cared for would not return the favor, I'm alright with that because I did what I needed to do and what I'm wired to do.

I wear my heart on my sleeve and at times it's to my disadvantage. Yes, I get hurt at times because I do this. BUT doesn't a person get hurt simply by not sharing their life with others too? I was having coffee with a dear friend of mine just recently and she mentioned how I know so many people and how it's so easy for me to just put myself out there - emotionally and physically. She's the opposite, she doesn't tend to do that and she said, she hurts herself by not allowing others to get to know her and by allowing herself to vent and express what's on her heart.

Either way, I'm not encouraging you to change the way that you express your emotion and share life. BUT I am challenging you to allow yourself to get to know the people around you. Go ahead and take a moment to start up a conversation with your regular coffee barrista, ask the clerk at the grocery store how they are doing (and mean it), say hello to the people you see on a regular basis but have never spoken to at school, work, etc. You never know what kind of gift you might unwrap. And even better, you never know if you might be that person that they need in their life at the moment!

You are amazing - go and be it!

The Valleys

It's true, life's not always a mountain-top experience. So what do you do when it's not? Lately I've been feeling very challenged emotionally and physically. Life seems to be kicking my butt. I freakin' hate it! SO, I always know that when I begin to feel this way, it won't be long before I'm back up and running.

The valleys... oh the valleys. I tend to withdraw when I get this way. I don't enjoy being around people, which is so opposite of how I'm wired. All of a sudden it's like someone's put negativity glasses on me and everything around me is completely wrong and lame. I begin re-evaluating friendships and relationships and looking over my life and what I've done and what I've not done. All the evaluating and what not pulls me down even more. It's a pretty bad state of being. However, do you find yourself in the valley from time to time? What do you do to pull yourself out?

If you're anything like me - being that low just doesn't work for me. I love life and I love people. Those closest to me start to worry about me because they know that something's just not right, and it's not.

I'm really grateful for family and friends and my faith. They pull me through every time. Everyone needs that support system around them. If they don't - it's time to start looking around.

Who's gonna be there for you when you are celebrating on the mountain-top? And who's gonna be there for you along life's journey that is often times less emotional and exciting? And then, who's going to be there for you when you are in the valley? Hopefully the same person for all three! And don't you want to be that person to someone else as well?

I encourage you to grasp on to another human being and love them the way you want to be loved. Be the kind of friend to them that you want in return. So much of life is relationships. I've always felt this way. I firmly believe this to my core. We are people and we need one another. Love, laugh, live. I love that - it's so true.

Go - be that amazing person that you are. Share yourself with others and allow yourself to be amazing to them as well. You deserve it... they deserve it. You are amazing!