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October 10th, 2013 I follow my school district on Facebook and today there was a great quote on there by Joshua Marine:
Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them are what makes life meaningful.
The newness and excitement of returning to the working world has worn off and now the challenge of adapting to a work week permanently lies before me. The first month absolutely flew by with learning the ropes of being a fit coach.
This is the beginning of the second month and the learning curve is smoothing out. I have opening and closing a club down to a routine, as well as the daily cleaning duties and machine maintenance. I no longer keep checking the task list every five minutes to make sure I didn’t skip anything. In this second month, new challenges present themselves. My main reason for liking my new job so much is being able to help people change their lives and show them how easily that can be done with Koko Fit Club’s unique fitness program. Working five clubs up and down the cape make getting to know people better a real challenge. It’s not like a classroom of 20 kids where you have their names (and some personalities) down within hours and you can move on. I can barely keep up with being at the right club on the right day, let alone remember the members names I work with in each one. But that won’t discourage me. I will take that on as October’s challenge.
I love the excitement of whom I may encounter everyday. For instance, just now, I’m sitting in a recliner at the Honda dealership getting my car serviced. A gentleman in his eighties, wearing a beautiful electric blue crocheted sweater and a plaid golfer’s cap with a blue pom-pom on top, just told me I looked very comfortable. I just had to compliment him on his sweater and cap. Come to find out he made both himself and made all of his wife’s clothes up until she passed away. He so reminded me of my dad. Even looked a bit like him. He had a great story that I enjoyed and it made his day to have someone ask him to tell it.
Learning everyone’s name and a bit about their lives will definitely make my life more meaningful. It’s the people we encounter in our daily walk that create the glow and the spark on our path ahead.
What is challenging you lately? Whatever it is, overcoming it will add meaning to your life. So, for October, go for it!
And so, as another day goes by, October has laid down its challenge, I’m on it, and …I have written.
Photo: Look Up!
When I work the Mashpee club I park under a tree. The other day I just happened to look up!
October 7th, 2013 Storm killer – brand new term I found in a blog I follow, God’s Beloved Daughters. In her post, A Calm and Undisturbed Heart and Mind, she said:
We chose to either look to the storm or look to the Lord. Looking to the storm indicates faith in the enemy’s ability to defeat you (and diminishes the work our Lord accomplished on your behalf). Looking to the Lord indicates “the leaning of your entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness” (2 Timothy 1:5 – Amplified)
She then said looking to The Lord is a storm killer. I love that. That’s my new phrase this week. I have been meditating everyday for about three weeks now. When deep in the meditative trance, I focus my gaze straight ahead, eyes closed, and feel a deep connection with God. I look straight at what I feel is Him, and let all else drop away and tell Him I’ll follow where He leads for the day ahead. Nothing else, no one else, drives where I go that day. Thus – my storm killer.
I try not to let the storms of life dictate my actions. According to her post, I’m taking away the enemy’s ability to defeat me and take over my day. So far it works. I have not been happier than I have these three weeks, spending that 30 minutes each morning in the early hours communing with God. Who knew I was “storm killing”?
And so, as another day goes by, that is my goal – to live with a calm and undisturbed heart and mind, check out the whole post – it’s very calming and reassuring, and…I have written.
October 6th, 2013 Yesterday in my post Discovering Miracles I described the journey I was embarking upon for the next 40 days. Today was day 1. The focus is fear. I got a little nervous because my fear of loss held me hostage for three years now and I’m just beginning to struggle away from it. Fear of any kind can cripple your life. Most fears are fears of a loss of some kind that cause us to obsess and keep us from experiencing the joys that are right under our noses. Even though I was wary, I knew this is where being able to change my life and discover miracles should start.
Surprisingly, the first exercise in dealing with fear was a comforting one. All I had to do was agree to witness my fear. Not confront it. Not poke at it. Just witness it – like from across the street. Ok, I can do that. I had to set a reminder on my phone with my affirmation throughout the day : I am willing to witness my fear. Then I had to pay attention to the kinds of things that triggered it. Tonight there will be a meditation and a journal entry in which I must answer four questions about what I learned about my fear today. We’ll see how that goes.
I had one question though: How did she (the author) know I had fears? Ahhh…we all do. Very safe place to begin. Every reader has some fears that keep them from being all they can be. I know my fear, and I’ve given some thought to what other people might fear. Here’s what I came up with:
– not having enough money
– losing their job
– not being married or in a relationship
– getting too old to have a child
– worrying about what others think about them
– setting a life goal and fearing you can’t accomplish it before you die
– becoming ill or disabled and not being able to work
– being diagnosed with a fatal illness
– losing your parents
– losing your children or a child either physically or emotionally
– losing your home
– aging
And I could go on and on. And they all deal with loss or a hole or emptiness of some sort.
I have made great strides in my journey to heal myself and battle my fear. Almost to the point where I was ready to say, “I don’t need this book.. I don’t need to spend 40 days improving my life. I’m happier now than I’ve been in years, so why should I do this? Because fears, no matter how hard you battled them down, come creeping back. Mine do. I suddenly find myself in a puddle of tears over people I lost either to death or estrangement. Up til now my MO is to just cry it out and go on with my day. This book is making me see that I can do better than that. And I can start by just witnessing my fear.
And so, as another day goes by, day one of subtle shifts for radical change seems to be going well, I’m going to keep an open heart and mind, I’m going to follow the program because there’s a gift of peace in there somewhere, and…I have written.
October 5th, 2013 A few days ago my daughter invited me to come to Boston and go hear Gabrielle Bernstein speak with her and her friend on November 17th. She had been telling me about this author and insists I’d really like her, so out of tremendous curiosity, without even looking up her books, I agreed to go and bought a ticket. Then I looked up her latest book that she will be speaking about. It’s called May Cause Miracles: A 40 Day Guidebook of Subtle Shifts for Radical Change. I knew I’d like this book simply by the title. It states my basic teaching philosophy in one sentence. Subtle shifts over time – the only way to make concepts a part of you, avoiding rote learning. I’m glad I bought the ticket. Now I have to read the book.
I read the introduction today. It seems I’m beginning a journey of releasing fears, raising my thoughts, which will in turn raise my energetic state. In yoga I always heard “You are your thoughts”, but never understood the workings of that mind-body connection. It seems, according to Bernstein, your body is a molecular structure that is always vibrating energy. The energy is positive when your thoughts are positive and negative when your thoughts are negative. In that case, I guess “You are your thoughts”. Therein lies the law of attraction. Your negativity will attract more negativity and vice-versa.
If you’re going through something hard that’s just tearing you apart it’s kind of hard to just up and switch to positive thinking. Change is never quick. Nor is its process ever without chaos. Bernstein states that scientific research shows it takes at least 40 days to change a habit, learn new behaviors, and incorporate it into your life. I agree. From teaching, I know it takes 1500 repetitions, over a period of time, for a young child to internalize a concept. We adults are no different. I’m looking forward to spending the next 40 days with Gabrielle making subtle shifts on the road to new perceptions. If I start tomorrow, like the book suggests, I’ll finish the week before we go to hear her speak.
And so, as another day goes by, I can’t think of a better way to get motivated to go hear a motivational speaker, I’ll keep you posted on my journey – or, if you like, you can download the book yourself for a mere $9.99 and come along with me, and…I have written.
October 4th, 2013 It’s A-Z blog hop Friday, the letter of the week is K, and…drum roll here…I actually remembered on my own and am posting on Friday instead of Saturday for the first time.
Thinking about the letter K, the word knowledge popped into my head. I think that’s because I always say you can never have enough knowledge tucked away. Knowing more, to me, is always better than knowing less – and getting caught that way.
Knowledge comes to us everyday through conversations, TV, emails, online, etc. There are two kinds of knowledge we receive: the important kind that we need to deal with our family, friends, and work each day, then there’s the superfluous stuff that we wonder why we even it give it the time to swoop through our brain. It’s the superfluous stuff I like. I take the important stuff and use it, but the superfluous stuff I tuck away – either in my brain or a saved email, because I just know someday I’m going to need it.
So many times I remember someone asking me if I read something or know where a place is and stood there touching my head, saying, “Wait. I vaguely remember seeing that.” Then usually within a few minutes I either remember it or remember where I put it. (You can’t know how many times I pulled a password out the air for my husband or kids and it was right.)
So for me, K is for knowledge – superfluous knowledge that eventually come in handy.
And so, as another day goes by, I was going to leave you with some profound thought I came across today, but I can’t find it right now, and …I have written.
This is a blog hop. What does “K” stand for for you? Hop on!
October 3rd, 2013 …went to bed Tuesday night and woke up today and…it’s Thursday! Completely lost Wednesday in there someplace. I do remember working until three, working out until four, then sitting with, Vanessa, the next girl that came on for the three to seven shift. I stayed her whole shift and talked with her. She was so happy because the club was quiet and I passed the time quickly for her. She’s a great girl, going to school for fitness and nutrition. She’s married to a wonderful guy who is due to be deployed soon. I had such a great time getting to know her better. The only time I had met her was at a staff meeting in August, even though she spent time on the phone with me walking me though writing my first contracts and answering my too numerous questions. Yesterday she was promoted to Master Fit Coach and I was so happy for her. She is a wealth of knowledge on the workings of Koko and has taught me so much. Even staying there the extra three hours last night was so worth it. She taught me a lot about food and even more tips and tricks that would make me a better fit coach. So…that’s what I was doing instead of writing a post yesterday.
I did warn you that now that I’m a bonafide working girl that would sometimes happen. I really do try to not let another day go by without writing, but sometimes what would be “writing time” needs to be time being out there, exploring the world and connecting with people. It is the way a writer’s soul is replenished. Today I woke up refreshed, energized and ready to go, with my life just a bit better for having spent the time chatting with Vanessa yesterday.
It isn’t only the writer’s soul that gets replenished by by connecting and taking the time to get to know someone in in our world. Every person that crosses our path is put there to contribute in some way to our existence. The people we meet hold many amazing new ideas and reveal to us new ways of thinking about old ideas. Who will cross your path today? Go about your day with a bit more awareness of those around you. Who have you never really gotten to know? How might you be changed and blessed by spending a few extra minutes finding out what they are all about?
And so, as another day goes by, I can’t wait to get out there and get going again today and see who enters my world, and …I have written.
October 1st, 2013 * Today’s post is written for the Cape Cod Mommy Blog and will appear there tomorrow.
Have I got a deal for you! In case you haven’t heard there is a new way to exercise all over Cape Cod. It’s called Koko Fit Club. Their tagline is Fit Figured Out and it’s not kidding. Koko really does have fit figured out for people who are too busy to maintain a consistent exercise program. Are you one of those people who keep saying you need to find a way to incorporate exercise in your life so you can stay fit enough to keep up with your kids through their college days and beyond? Can you feel age creeping up and stealing your energy and making your joints creak and ache? Then Koko is the answer for you. To see what Koko is and how it can help you, Click here to watch a 2:44 video that explains it all. Oh and yes, I mentioned a deal:
You can visit any Koko Fit Club Cape Cod and try it for free. Call the club nearest you and make your appointment for a complimentary session. It will change your life.
I have been a member and worked out three times a week consistently for a year now. I just turned sixty years old and the reason I Koko is because I still want to be able to enjoy our beautiful beaches when I turn seventy. I spent ten years trying gym after gym, finding it hard to spend two hours there working out, while teaching full time and raising two young daughters. If I had had a Koko Fit Club near me during those years, I could’ve easily integrated exercise into my life. I love the whole Koko concept so much, I just started working there, helping busy people like you change their lives. But don’t take my word for it – call for your complimentary session today, because…
…IF YOU DON’T TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY, WHERE WILL YOU LIVE?
And so, as another day goes by, thank you for sharing today’s post with the Cape Cod Mommies blog so I didn’t have to write two posts, hope your fitness is on track, and… I have written.
September 30th, 2013 It’s true. I do love mirrors. I’m always worried about how I carry my weight and my outfit. I check it out in every mirror and window I pass, just to make sure I don’t have to duck into a bathroom and adjust something. But these are not the kind of mirrors I’m talking about today. Today I’m talking about the personality tests and horoscopes that reflect your personality according to birth date, sign, or the choices you make. I love seeing if these things really reflect the me that I think I am. The reason these little tests fascinate me is because, for me, they are always right.
Today I found one on Facebook that was quick and easy. It gave a picture of nine trees. You were supposed to look at them quickly and choose the first one that grabbed your attention, then read about “who you are” according to the number you picked. I looked at the trees. Quickly picked the pink one (you know my penchant for bright colors), but then really really liked the periwinkle tree below it. I didn’t change my choice because I wanted it to be real, so I stuck with the pink tree. After reading the personality description, I didn’t really see myself in it. Then I read the one for the tree that appealed to me as a whole – not just the color. It was thin and delicate and things like that always capture me. (IOS 7 is thin and delicate). I read the description for that tree and once again, it was right on.
I am definitely a 7.
What kind of personality do you have?
Hurry – pick a tree!
Now look below to see your personality description:
Is it “you”? If not, go with your second choice. Leave your number as a comment below.
I always enjoy an “outside” impression of myself. Sometimes it encourages me to go out there and live up to it.
And so, as another day goes by, I hope you had fun with this today and also found out you have some beautiful qualities, and…I have written.
September 29th, 2013 Today I spent the day giving the house a much needed fall cleaning, putting up fall decorations, lighting apple spice candles, opening windows and giving gratitude for each blessing I touched as I moved and dusted objects throughout my home. At noontime we had gotten word that a friend just delivered a beautiful baby girl. I kept her and her new little family in my prayers as I went about my work. Consequently I was away from my phone until dinnertime.
After my shower, I settled into my chair to see what happened in my world while I was so busy. There was a sad email about a very dear friend being diagnosed with cancer. It took the wind out my sails, but I still needed to go upstairs and put the clean sheets on the bed. While rounding the corners and tucking in the top sheet, I thought about both sets of news I received today and how each family is spending this day on opposite ends of the spectrum. I thought back to a few hours earlier when I gently dusted off my serenity prayer hanging on the wall. I remembered what I do during my meditation each morning – just look at God with my eyes closed and let the world and all it’s circumstances fall away because there is only one thing in my eyesight – what God wants me to do or be involved in each day.
I connected the dots of my day. I can’t control situations with friends and family and the faits that befall them each day. I can only ask God to go and be close to them. Ask Him to go sit on their shoulder in both the happy and sad times.
After making the beds, I went back downstairs to check some more emails. Further down the list was a fwd from another dear friend. She knows I don’t fwd and I know she doesn’t either, so when I get one from her, I open it and usually do end up sending it on. I really needed this one in the light of all my news today about lives beginning and ending. For those of us on the flip side of fifty and dealing with aging, this is priceless. It fine tunes our attitudes and outlook so well I feel compelled to share it with you. Enjoy – and find joy.
As I’ve aged, I’ve become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I’ve become my own friend.
I have seen too many dear friends leave this world, too soon;
before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it, if I choose to read, or play, on the computer, until 4 AM, or sleep until noon?
I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50, 60 &70 ‘s,
and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will. I will walk the beach, in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body,
and will dive into the waves, with abandon, if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.
They, too, will get old. I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten.
And, I eventually remember the important things.
Sure, over the years, my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break, when you lose a loved one,
or when a child suffers, or even when somebody’s beloved pet gets hit by a car? But, broken hearts are what
give us strength, and understanding, and compassion. A heart never broken, is pristine, and sterile, and will never know the joy of being imperfect. I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.
As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don’t question myself anymore. I’ve even earned the right to be wrong. I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be.
And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).
And so, as another day goes by, today I thank God for letting me turn sixty, I promise to live this year with joy and peace and grace, I will not give over one more minute to lamenting over what could’ve been, I will revel in the present and enjoy each moment from here on in, and…I have written.
September 28th, 2013 Here we are again doing Fun Friday on Saturday. The letter of the week for the A to Z blog hop is “J”. “J”, for me, can only stand for journey. The journey from the working world to retirement was a lot longer than I ever thought it would be. I thought the first year of just doing over my house and not making any real plans would easily settle me into my new segment of life. Little did I know that for the next three years I would be huddled in a dark cocoon of Bikram yoga and bible study, looking inward, walking a road of intense self-examination. I actually thought that was going to be my new life.
Today, poised on the brink of my fifth year, I find myself bursting out of the cocoon, transformed into a whole new person. Bikram and bible study have fallen by the wayside as I rejoined the working world. Rejoining the working world connected me back to the world in general. I remember when I used to do Bikram at 9:30 am five days a week. Back then I needed it. It was the only way to cope with fear, loss and depression. I added bible study one day a week to find answers and ease for my tremendous pain. These two activities were my railing on a climb up a very steep and long stairway. I now see that that was not a life. It was three years of healing myself.
Today the pain is gone, my energy is back, I’m done dwelling on myself and so ready to be back out there teaching and helping others. My new job as a fit coach made me see that. It’s not that I don’t have time for Bikram or bible study, it’s just that I no longer need them in such high doses. I’m not broken anymore. Me and God are good. I feel alive and exhilarated going to work – a feeling I didn’t know I missed these past four years.
Sometimes your life changes without you even noticing until long after it happens. Change is the way of life. I have learned that not one single thing on this earth remains the same, without transforming in some way. Heat, cold and humidity do a number on the things we place in boxes and try to preserve in our attics and basements. Eventually all things change into something no longer useful in one way or another and have to go. Relationships change through births, deaths, divorce, time and distance. When you finally stop striving to protect and preserve, life becomes peaceful and is lived with grace.
And so, as another day goes by, I have come to appreciate change, look at it as another new adventure instead of mourning what once was, and…I have written.
This is a blog hop. Check out some of the “J” posts below.
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