I choose not to justify why I left my job in December 2013. I choose not to explain why I am doing the things that I am doing now. I choose not to worry about why some people feel the need to ask to my clients how my business is going. I choose not to worry why some people feel the need to question why I left my job to spend more time with my family, yet I started my own business which tends to take more time away from my home. Seriously, I wasted time and worry about this stuff -- and for what.
If you ask me a question, and I feel as if I am going to analyze the heck out of your question when I get home, I am going to ask you "Why?" Kind of like "Hey Amy, are those new purple pants?" I am going to say back "Why?" instead of going home and saying to myself, "Do they think I look fat? Is my underwear showing? Do I look like Barney the purple dinosaur? Holy crap why did they ask me that?" Try it yourself- you will be amazed at the responses from people.
William James once said, "The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another." I want to talk about stress and the effects it has on your life. I am not going to quote statistics, medical journals, or use charts. Instead, I'm going to use my dad as an example for what stress can do to your health. My dad is my hero. I am proud of my dad and always will be. He has always worked hard and supported his family. He could fix anything, build anything, and help with any problem. Our family vacations were spent in a fixer upper cabin. My dad, mom, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and grandparents all helped with the renovations of the cabin. After my dad retired, he worked even harder - on the cabin, on community issues, you name it and he was involved in it. He would leave early in the morning before the sun would come up and wouldn't return home until midnight. He volunteered for everything, president of a neighborhood, spoke at city council, active in the community and the list goes on and on.
My dad suffered his first stroke about 3 years ago even drove himself to the hospital (I wouldn't recommend that, by the way. Call an ambulance!). He has some issues after the stroke, but still kept going at his same break- neck speed. Then he had another stroke. This time he had a lot more damage and a longer hospital stay but returned home. My mom took care of my dad the entire time and (she is my other hero).
Last month my dad fell because he was being his usual stubborn self and not listening to my mom. He fractured some vertebra and is now in a rehab facility trying to get better so he can go back home. I went up to visit him the other day and found him sitting in his wheelchair while my mom pushed him around outside. There was a part of the outdoors my mom couldn't take him to because it was too hard for her to push him up the hill. I grabbed the wheelchair and starting running with it- my mom freaked out! We got up the hill and waited for mom to catch up. He got to see the fish and all of the flowers that he hadn't seen yet. I took him to the dining hall and I sat with him, talking about everything that is going on in life. He didn't say much just listened.
When I got out to my car after my visit, I cried. I miss my dad, the man that currently exists is still my dad-- just different. I can't ask for his advice, he can't come over to fix whatever I can't figure out, he can't take his grandkids anymore in the van to work with him at volunteer jobs. He's different, and I miss what I had with him.
Why am I sharing my sob story? Because he is my daily reminder to take care of myself- and hopefully will be a reminder to take care of yourself, too. My dad had high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes from the years he didn't take care of himself. I wonder if he would have taken care of himself before this all happened, would his life be any different? Knowing my dad he would do it all again the same way, except maybe slow down a little. But not much. So please take time for yourself, go for that walk, eat some more veggies, do that race you have always wanted to do, lose those extra 5 pounds, go do something fun with friends, take that family vacation, give less crap what other people think, who cares if that co-work doesn't like you, start that business you have always wanted to do and of course hire that personal trainer...haha!
Okay enough tears! On to the happy stuff! I have a new studio! I am so excited and scared at the same time! Heavy bags are hung, TRX's are mounted, weights are place, sandbells are stacked and etc. 3000 square feet of fun! I moved about 3 weeks ago and had lots of help. Thank you everyone for the patience, sweat, and encouragement.
I had someone ask me the other day if I am going to be teaching big classes. In the fitness industry you will hear it referred to as "group x" or "group exercise". Right now I am focusing on small group personal training, one on one, tandem, or specialized groups. I want my clients to have that personal attention. It is a whole new ball game when you go to a group x class and there are 20 some people. The instructor can only do some much during that time. I am not opposed to group x, I just want my focus to be a little different.
Someday the studio will offer group x and it will be amazing! Come check out the studio and take a class!My advice to you give less crap about what people think, go for it, and make it yours!
Chickpea Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 & 1/4 cups Cooked Chickpeas
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons organic natural peanut butter
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup mini chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life)
Grind it all up together using a food processor except the chocolate chips. When it looks like cookie dough fold in chocolate chips. Place by tablespoons on a lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for about 14 minutes. They won't cook up like regular cookies but they taste yummy! Store in Refrigerator.
