Starting the Journey Over

Dream Big!  So authentic, right?!  I want to tell you what can happen when you dream big.  This may be a long one, sorry, not sorry.  It's time I share what I have been up to the last year.  I have not been extremely vocal about my dreams becoming my reality.  I didn't really realize this until a recent conversation when a relative of mine had no idea of what has all happened over the course of the last 15 months.  There are some pretty big things that have transpired.  I think I was so caught up in all of it, a bit of a whirlwind that I didn't realize how quiet I was being, and if you know me, you know that is not normal, lol. I had realized almost 2 years ago that I was not living out my purpose or my passion.  Something needed to change, but I wasn't sure how to go about making the changes I needed to.  I knew I missed helping people and working in the fitness industry, but I knew I couldn't go about it the way I had in the past....

One thing goes wrong, then another, and another, and another...  Before you know it, you are in over your head.  You can't move.  You can't scream.  I know what this feels like.  I am pretty sure most of us know what this feels like.  I hadn't thought about this in awhile in these terms.  It's also like the snowball effect.  It seems like the problem/problems keep getting bigger and bigger or deeper and deeper.  I have watched so many people struggle through 2018 for so many different reasons.  It seems as though quicksand may have been a theme for this past year which got me thinking.  How do we get out of the quicksand when it just wants to suck us deeper and deeper? If you have seen the Princess Bride, Wesley uses some kind of vine to dive in and climb back out.  While this may not seem practical in real life, it is kind of what we should do.  We all need to have a vine in place or a system of vines.  My vines a...

It is that fabulous time of year again that has us reflecting on the past year and planning for the new one.  How did you do on your 2018 goals?  I have to admit that I actually did pretty good on my goals for 2018.  I'm feeling a bit excited about that because it was a tough year.  Ok, honest moment, the last 4 have been difficult and incredible all at the same time. I have been busy planning 2019 goals.  I don't call them resolutions for myself.  I put a plan together and take it further than a lofty list of what I would like to accomplish if I decided to put in the effort.  Ouch, that may have hurt a bit, but let's be honest.  How many of us have made a list of resolutions to have it be just that, a list?  I know I have in the past.  I have completely fallen flat on my face in the past, but I have learned something valuable.  Resolutions and goals need to be approached differently. I have watched many people join challenges i...

I have written about gratitude and how important it is, but let's be honest...  Some days we don't feel thankful.  The holidays are upon us and sometimes they can be hard.  Maybe we miss a loved one.  Maybe the holidays remind us of a tough time.  This is a time we are supposed to reflect on all we have to be thankful for, but maybe you're just not feeling it. I have heard a couple of different people talking about things things that got me thinking.  This time of year can also be filled with fear and envy.  A lot of things happen around the holiday.  Many people get engaged, announce new little additions on the way, and so on and so forth.  Family or friend gathers have us talking about all the great things that happened in the last year, but what if you find yourself scrambling for something to say.  Maybe this year was a tough one.  Maybe this year you feel broken. I have been being informed of a lot of people going through some ...

Perspective.  It's not what is in the cup.  It's not how full the cup is.  It is about how you see that cup.  Take a journey in my brain this morning.  I am hard at work training clients, answering emails, working on marketing, and I took a gander at the cup I am using today.  In artistic lettering is reads, "You're the best."  It's simple and to the point.  No pretty pictures.  No bright colors.  Simple and artistic.  My cup got me thinking about perspective. Life, love, careers are a lot about how we see them.  We don't always get to to know the other side of things.  We can tell ourselves stories about what is going on and why, but they are just that, stories.  It is how we look at it.  I decided this morning to put my healthy beverage of choice into my mug instead of a shaker cup per usual.  I did it without thinking which caused a lot of thought.  Every time I look at my cup, I smile.  Eve...

"You're highlight reel on Facebook looks great.  How is life really going for you?"  Those words being said to me last week were actually a huge compliment and allowed me to give a person some insight into my life.  It is a conversation that had me feeling pretty good about where I'm at. We live in a world right now where we see a lot of highlight reels on social media.  For many, it is just that, highlights, and behind the scenes it is messy and broken.  We feel as though we have to be perfect and have it all together in front of everyone and only show the good parts.  The individual I was talking thought that is what I was doing because people aren't as happy as I "appear" to be.  I welcome you to look at my pictures and what some may think is a facade. Here's the truth.  It's not my highlight reel; it's my life.  This doesn't mean that I don't have negative things happen in life or have tough moments.  The difference is that ...

You know who you want to be and what you want to accomplish.  Here's the real task - How do you get there?  It's not enough to know what your destination is.  Yes, it is necessary to know where you are going, but you will never arrive without a map, your backpack, and good traveling companions.  And your map is your own.  This is not a one size fits all kind of thing.  Your destination looks different than mine, so you map should also look different.  We may have some things that match, but the should not be identical. One of the hardest parts is that we have to make our own map to success, and sometimes other people get to add the detours.  The most important piece is that you create your map.  You may find that you need to add some new roadways as you go and change the path a little.  It is ok to have to redirect to reach your goals.  How do you create your map?  And what goes in the backpack?  Who are these travel c...

You were meant to do great things.  This doesn't mean that you were born with the ability to achieve those great things.  We do not just innately have all the habits, skills and knowledge we need to succeed.  Often times we need to hone in our skills and grow as a person.  And, I mean continually grow as a person.  Doing great things is not easy.  Just because we are meant for more doesn't mean we just get to have more or achieve more.  We do still have to earn it.  We have to show up every single day.  We have to develop ourselves.  I committed to reading a book a month to help myself grow personally and professionally.  Right now I am reading High Performance Habits  by Brendon Burchard.  There is an assessment that goes along with this book that I highly recommend taking.  Go to highperformanceindicator.com .  This is one way you can work on achieving those great things.  After taking the assessment, if...

I apologize in advance, and I urge and encourage you to read it.  This may seem harsh, but I find myself wondering why we sugar coat things so often.  Excuses... We all make them.  Excuses are our crutch, our "reasons" why we can't be as successful as we want.  I heard something recently that has stuck with me.  I listened to people giving examples of things we get told in helping people live healthy lives.  It is  common that some people disappear on their wellness coaches, personal trainers and life coaches for time spans.  Many times they come back.  The discussion was on what we hear when people come back, and the responses that could be said but often aren't. I will give you a few examples.  1.  "I'm back!"       "Where did you go?" 2.  "I've fallen off the wagon?"      "What wagon?" 3.  "I'm standing in my own way."      "Are there more than one of you?" 4.  ...

Others have gone before you.  They have tried and failed.  They have continued trying and persevered.  So, why do we try to figure it out all on our own?  I have been there.  I have tried and failed at things and persevered at others.  I have also learned to lean on others expertise when I am struggling or trying something new. An example of this happened this past May.  My normal lifestyle is low carb which is not how most endurance athletes live their lives or fuel for races.  My body does not process carbs well due to a liver disorder I have.  Many illnesses also feed off of sugars.  These two items have led me to making a choice to have the nutrition lifestyle I do.  That being said, it is difficult to find fuel sources for endurance races that are not extremely high in carbs.  I could have just thrown in the towel and used carbs or tried a bunch of different things.  Instead, my coach and I started researching....

There is a recurring word that I keep hearing lately in several different avenues in my life.  Grit.  It has me really looking at my life.  Do I have Grit?  Do I have what it takes to succeed and achieve the goals I have set for myself?  It's a tough question to ask yourself.  Take a look at what you want to achieve.  Do you have the Grit necessary to persevere? My answer is a resounding YES for myself.  I have been through a lot in life.  Yes, some of what I have been through has been due to the choices I made in my life for myself.  And yes again, some has been due to things others have put me through.  No matter the cause of the struggle, the outcome has been the same.  I have risen to the occasion and pushed through.  If I had asked myself this question a few years back, my answer may have been different.  I didn't have the belief in myself that I could rise above.  I now know without a doubt that I have Gr...

It's time to challenge yourself.  Whether the challenge is physical or mental, it is time to step up your game.  Summer has come to an end, and routines are changing over the course of the next couple weeks.  How did you spend your summer?  Were you a weekend warrior or a weekend partier?  Both have their different rewards and pitfalls.  Did you grow as a person?  Think about your summer.  There is no wrong answer.  You spent your summer living life the way you wanted to for those few months.  But... now what? Did the summer fun take you off course from some of your goals?  With kiddos everywhere starting their new routines, it is a great time for you to start too!  What area do you want to challenge yourself in first?  Do you want to work on personal growth or maybe your health?  Maybe there is something you've always wanted to try, but have never done.  I keep looking for new challenges to take me further. ...

Are you waiting?  If this happens, then I will do this...  Are you living and if, then life?  I used to live this life.  I kept waiting for the next turn, the next big moment to make changes.  Honestly, I was waiting to live my life.  I though I would be happy if...  I will make a career change if...  I will start this new venture if...  My life was a series of ifs and the thens never happened.  This was my norm.  I thought this was how everyone lived.  I was so wrong and so unfulfilled. I found myself researching by watching others lives, not in a jealousy sort of way, but a curiosity sort of way.  How were they living?  I looked at people who I wanted my life to be a bit more like theirs than my current situation was.  What were they doing different?  They were living.  I mean really living.  They were present in the moment, living their best life.  They were challenging themselves to the ...

This has been my day so far.  I have been crabby with this almost tight feeling throughout my body.  Do you ever have those days?  Well, this is not how I want my day to continue, so I am having a do-over.  I am starting my day over.  There is no reason to wait until tomorrow.  You may wonder just how I am accomplishing starting my day over (cuz believe I get it sometimes that feels impossible!).  Step 1 - Think about 5 things I have to be grateful for.   1. I have 4 wonderful children that allow me to be a very active on the go parent.   2.  The amazing man I get to spend my life with.   3.  A career that I truly love.   4.  My family that supports me through everything.   5.  My very closest friends that are my family by choice. Step 2 - Ask for help.  I asked someone dear to me to send me something to help me smile.  They know me well enough that the pictures were perfect! Step 3 - Sm...

How do you fill your time?  Do you have hobbies?  Do you have a routine?  I have been working on my habits lately, and it got me thinking.  What habits do I have that help me and what habits hurt me?  There is a lot I strive to do in this life, and how I spend my time will determine if I accomplish my dreams.  What do I do when I have down time?  What activities do I fill my days with? On my recent trip to Nashville, I got to hear Brendon Burchard talk about habits, hence my diligence in working on said habits.  Our success is tied to our habits.  This was something I had not thought about in a long time.  It was odd to me that I hadn't paid more attention to this.  It's actually pretty simple.  We only accomplish what we allow ourselves to accomplish.  When I look back over the last 10 years of my life, I have greatly changed my habits already.  I am not quite where I want or need to be, but I am definitely further...

It used to be a real struggle for me to overcome the things others would do to me that were hurtful.  The pain would make a cozy place in my heart and tear me apart.   I would feel a tightness in my chest, a true physical pain for the emotional pain I was feeling.  I spent the better part of a year feeling this way when I realized something had to give.  I couldn't keep holding onto the pain, but I didn't know what to do with it or how to change my frame of reference.  It was eating me up.  It was time to figure out a new way. I recently heard the following saying, "Drop it.  Leave it.  Let it go."  This resonated with me.  (I even have the saying framed in my office.)  We can let the hurt consume us,  or we can make a decision to let it go.  I know this seems tough, but it is a lot easier to let it go and move forward than to carry it with you.  We may never get resolution on what is happening, or the people m...

What fears grip you as you try to fall asleep at night?  Do you wonder how you are going to pay a bill?  Are your kids on the top of your mind?  Are there problems in your relationship with your significant other?  Are you afraid that you are going to be alone?  Do you fear failing?  And when I ask about the fear of failing, I mean do you fear failing to the point that you are even afraid to try?  Different fears grab onto each of us during different seasons of life.  I have had many sleepless nights over some of my fears.  The fear can be crippling.  You can feel the weight of it pressing you down and holding you there.  Just thinking about some of the fears I have had over the course of the last few years, I can feel that tightness creep in.  One of the hardest things is to face our fears.  I have always had a fear of failure.  This fear has given me many nights of tossing and turning where I just can't shut my ...

Yep, you need to go into time out.  You read that right!  When is the last time you took a day to relax and unwind, to do something you really want to?  I took that day yesterday, and it was amazing!  I spent the day with my youngest, just being with her and connecting.  I had been wanting to spend a day with her for quite some time, but life kept getting in the way.  Hearing her say, "This is the best day ever," made me melt. I have gotten so caught up in life and the things I need to do that I can sometimes forget about the things I want to do.  Having goals and working towards reaching them is great, but we also need to take a time out once in awhile.  We need to decompress and just enjoy life.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy what I do and working towards success, but let's be honest, we all need a break once in awhile.  Taking a break allows us to recharge our batteries.  This weekend I did just that.  I spent time with frie...

We set lots of goals for ourselves.  How much thought do you put into your goals?  Do you see something and think, "I could do that," and make a new goal?  When is the last time you sat down and thought about what you really want out of life? It seems like people make a lot of decisions on a whim lately.  They see something someone else has and want it or they see someone doing something and think they can do it without thinking about if it is truly something they want.  It has become about comparison.  This person has it, so I have to have it.  Life has become one big competition, but a lot of people are falling short of really living and are losing the competition.  Just because it is a goal or a desire for someone else, does not mean it is meant for you.  Success, joy and happiness can look very different from person to person.  One persons joy may be your misery. I have a challenge for all of us today.  Take some time and th...

What do you expect from yourself?  Do you expect great things from yourself?  What do you think others expect of you?  Do you allow the expectations of others to dictate how you live your life?  Think about your answers to those questions.  I mean really think about them. I am going to rewind 4 years in my own life.  I lived my life to fulfill the expectations of everyone around me.  I gave of myself to satisfy everyone else to the point that I ran myself into the ground.  I put unrealistic expectations on myself because of allowing everyone to speak into my life and tell me who I should be and what I should do.  I was not putting my own real expectations on my life.  I was living for everyone around me.  I was left exhausted and unrecognizable to myself. I was trying so hard to fit into this perfect little box with a pretty bow tied around it.  That is not me.  I have opinions, goals, dreams, frustrations and so much ...

Each day we take another step forward.  Each day we are closer than we were yesterday.  I have heard this so many times, and it used to frustrate me beyond belief.  Just keep taking steps forward, no matter the size.  I heard myself tell other people this same thing, knowing sometimes how empty those words can feel. Here's the thing - When you're in the thick of it, it doesn't feel like you can even take one more step. It can be exhausting to just get up in the morning.  So, when people tell you to just keep taking steps, you kind of want to scream.  It takes everything in you to just keep doing what you have to in order to survive. What I didn't realize before is that by surviving, I was taking a step forward.  It may have felt like spinning my wheels at the time, but sometimes we just have to stay afloat.  It can be a season of just living and not giving up.  You may need to pause for a breath, collect yourself, plan a new strategy of att...

STOP!  It is time to stop looking at everyone around you and comparing your life to theirs.  We have all been guilty of this.  Wanting what others have, belittling ourselves, letting the green googley eyed jealousy monster take over.  Stop wanting other peoples lives.  Stop trying to be a replica of someone else.  You are unique and beautiful.  There is not another you, and that is truly amazing. It is so easy to get caught up in looking at what other people have without thinking about what got them there.  We then feel like we have less and often get angry and frustrated because it's not fair.  Sorry, this is going to be a bit harsh, but it's time to get off your butt and work for what you want just like they did.  Don't want what others have.  Think about what you want for your life and go after that.  Dig deep and find your purpose.  Create the life you are meant to have. I can promise you that it is going to be tou...

Some days are just better than others!  We can literally be lit on fire from the moment we wake and hit the ground running.  Today is one of those days for me.  I got to spend an amazing few days being poured into and growing personally and professionally.  I woke up this morning feeling like I can take on the world.  There is a lot of work ahead of me to reach the goals I have and a lot of habits I need to change. Even looking ahead to all the work I am going to need to put in, I am truly excited this morning.  I want you to think about the last time that you woke up feeling excited and ready to take on whatever life is going to throw at you.  How long has it been since you felt like you were in charge of your own life and not just along for the ride? What changes do you need to make in your life to be excited to take on each day?  Do you have habits that you need to change?  Do you need to take control of your health, fitness, career or...

Sometimes life takes some pretty unexpected turns.  It can be exciting, scary and just plain mind boggling a times.  We can think we are prepared for where life is going to take us next, only to find out how much we were definitely not even close to ready.  I have learned that preparation can only take us so far.  Things can change in the blink of an eye.  This isn't always a bad thing.  In fact it can be pretty terrific at times. I guess what I am getting at is that we can't control everything in life.  We may try our hardest to manage life, but there are other people in life with us.  We can really only "manage" ourselves and our reactions to what goes on around us. Whether good or not so good twist and turns are coming at us, we have to adapt and sometimes let go of how we thought things were going to go.  Letting go can be extremely difficult, but the weight that comes off your shoulders when you do is nothing short of amazing.  ...

Never stop reaching...  Never stop growing...  Never stop being the best you can be... This can sound like a tall order, but it doesn't have to be.  Each day can lead you to where you want to go if you keep putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward.  Keep setting goals.  We can't stop when we reach a goal.  We need to set another and continue on our path to be the person we truly strive and want to be. This morning I listened to a call that challenged me and convicted me that I need to be more vocal in the life I am living.  I live my life to lead by example, but people won't know that if I am not more vocal in what I do.  This past weekend, I reached the goal I have been working towards since January.  I participated in my 12 hour mountain bike race.  And, I not only participated, but I took first place.  So, now what?  Goal achieved, do I sit back and do nothing now?  No!!  I took one day off fr...