I'm thankful

As we approach Thanksgiving and the Christmas season, I pause to reflect on how truly grateful I am:

-For my health and the freedom to improve it each day
-For my family who loves me despite my flaws and quirks
-For my fur kids who remind me of simple pleasures
-For friends who have taken time to get to know me and include me in their circle
-For the ability to work...it really is a blessing
-For the opportunity to improve the quality of people's lives
-For God's mercy and grace.

What are you appreciating today?

Happy Thanksgiving!

The American Dream or Nightmare?

When I climbed the ladder hard and fast in corporate America and reached upper management, I couldn't have been more disappointed. What I had been sold was a complete lie! You don't "enjoy" your job but rather get eye-ball deep into the red tape, politics and everything BUT what you love to do. I often think the American Dream has become many people's nightmares. Our pursuit of happiness has caused us blood, sweat, tears, pain, confusion and lots of stress. Am I saying the dream is dead? Absolutely not! Hear me out...

I believe each person should dream their own dream, not one sold or pushed upon them by our society. For me, a corporate job was not my dream. Once I understood that and created my own business, I have lived my dream. Others may find owning a home sheer work...then don't! Even obtaining "perfect" health and fitness may be overwhelming to some...so settle for "good enough."

My point, CHOOSE your own dream. Go after it with zest and quit living what someone else told you to pursue, which can become your nightmare.

Exercising in the heat

Although the American Pediatrics Association is correct in stating that youth can exercise in heat, let us NOT forget that the part of the brain which houses discernment does not fully develop until one is in his or her 20s. That means as parents, YOU need to monitor their exertion for them. And the answer "fine" in reply to how they are doing shouldn't cut it. Ask kids "on a scale of 1 to 10, where are you?" In extreme heat, they shouldn't be above an 8. Check their coloring, ensuring they aren't going pale or white. Make mandatory water breaks a norm. And if your child is overweight, they will overheat faster. Also know that everyone is different. Some people have excellent cooling mechanisms while others do not. So yes, exercising in the heat is "okay" but watch carefully and help them understand their limits.

The Vault

If someone told you that behind a steel store was 50 million dollars in which you could claim with the only condition being you had to open the vault, would you? Let me sweeten the deal...you are allowed to hire experts and use any tools you wish. Would you do it?

In my opinion, our health is worth far more than 50 million...it's priceless. Poor health will cost you much much more. Yet, so many people are NOT taking advantage of the experts (personal trainers, life coaches) and utilizing tools (exercise, eating right) to open their vault to good health.

If you wouldn't walk away from 50 million, then certainly don't stand by and let your good health fade away. DO SOMETHING! It's yours for the taking.

DEFINITELY!

One of the songs I run to is trance song that repeats the word "definitely." I always feel inspired and fired up after hearing it. The word is powerful, meaning: unequivocally, without a doubt, strong affirmation and positively. Use it!

When you question whether you will exercise today, say DEFINITELY! When asked if you will reach your financial goals this year, exclaim DEFINITELY! To me, the word feels like a contract, binding us to our intentions.

Are you going to add this word to your daily vocabulary? Your answer is...

To Receive, BE!

If you were looking for a great friend, would you pick yourself? Would you consider yourself the ideal mate?

Knowing what we want is not a bad thing, but when we fixate on it, we can sometimes forget to look at "what and who we are." Are you thoughtful? Kind? Giving? Do you honor your commitments? Do you reach out to people for no reason other than to ask "how are you?"?

If you are longing for a good friend, start by being one. If you want a loving mate, BE loving.

See it!

As a personal trainer and life coach, I help people reach their goals. I adapt and customize my approach to each individual, but the ones who truly obtain success are the ones who SEE it.

As I was running yesterday, I saw the exact exercises I was going to do when I returned. I saw myself doing one-armed bicep curls and overhead triceps. I saw each and every one to their completion. Seeing it helped me plan it, and my plan helped me execute it. Seeing myself accomplish what I wanted to do also gave me energy and boosted my confidence that I could and WOULD do it. And by the way, I did.

What do you see? If you focus on the distractions, hurdles and obstacles, then you will fall prey to them. Try seeing yourself DO what you want to do. See yourself enjoying it, and see how great you feel because you did it! See yourself as a winner, and you will be one.

Shift

I still miss having a stick shift, even though I have had my automatic since 2005. The active motion of moving from one gear to another is thrilling! I don't feel near as engaged with driving when my car does all that for me.

Shifting is an action I believe we need to do with our thoughts, otherwise they are left to do whatever they want. Think of the gears 1-2-3-4 and 5. Negative thoughts do come because we are human; however, do not get stuck in first gear. Rather, shift quickly into second. Do not stop at second because doubt usually resides there. Shift into third and begin seeing things for what they are...the truth, the reality...not fear-based visions. As you move on into fourth, doubt turns to faith and belief. When you make that last movement into fifth, you see all the solutions and possibilities!

Just like driving on a long road trip, we will continually be shifting from gear to gear. Make it your goal to get to fifth for smoother sailing!

Capacity

The words "God doesn't give you more than you can handle" have challenged me at times. I've often wondered, "Did God confuse me with someone else, because this is too much!?" Yet, each and every time that I have felt "maxed out" or reaching "my" limits" God has certainly come through to grow my capacity either through His strength or my lessons learned.

New abilities aren't always comfortable. In fact, they can be downright painful. How do you enlarge your heart...by giving more of it away. How do you increase your tolerance...by encountering situations that test you. Want to be more patient...expect greater challenges. I think we underestimate our capacity to cope, and we certainly don't trust God near enough to meet us right where we are and deliver exactly what we need...at the precise time we need it.

We need each other

Baby Boomers have often been called the "Me Generation" as they pursued their careers and affluent lifestyles. From my perspective, they were instrumental in helping our culture turn from one of "work your fingers to the bone only to get bony fingers" to "working hard for their money and having fun while doing it." In other words, striving for some life balance is an admirable goal. Gen Xer's came along and attempted to create even more of a balance between work and home. What concerns me about the latest group is that they seem to be swinging so far over to self that I might say they are the "Not You Generation." This shift is alarming to me. We are made for relationship and connection; we need each other. Text messages, IM's and social media are a false, flat and one-dimensional contact that lacks depth, sincerity and emotion. I don't believe they are intentionally building a wall around themselves, but the result is the same: loneliness. Stats are reporting the increase in depression and feeling of isolation. What is even scarier to me is how these folks are influencing all others. In an attempt to keep up, everyone seems to be forgoing traditional ways of communicating and connecting, interacting less. I'm not saying that all these modes are bad, but let's remember that a computer screen or phone display will never replace the sense of touch from a pat on the back or warm embrace from a friend. We are humans, and we need each other!

Peace begins with you!

If we truly want peace in the world, we must first end the battles that rage within. You may not even realize it, but you are at war! Battles of low self esteem and anger plague many while the bombs of broken relationships burst around us. You and only you have the power to forgive or forget...the power to let go and move on...the power to be and live differently.

Say "enough already!" and chose to end the war once in for all! Peace begins with you...and me.

Your BUT is too big!

Today, I was scheduled to go for a run, BUT I've been fighting something. I wanted to get the dog out, BUT the weather wasn't as nice as they predicted. I knew I would feel better if I would just get out there, BUT I really didn't feel like it! Lots of BUTs!

How often do your BUTs get in the way? Our BUTs get big only when we let them! So my response back to my BUTs was 1) So what 2) Too bad 3) Just do it! So I did, and yes, I feel better knowing my neither my BUTs or butt got bigger. Make the right choice for YOU today.

Make it a NEW Year!

Last year is in the past. For many, 2010 was a rough year. We all faced many challenges. I suspect 2011 will have its own trying times. We can, however, ensure that it is a NEW year by doing some things different. Here are some suggestions...

1. Tackle a fear head one. Once and for all, be done with it! Seek help if you need it, but make this the year that you are no longer controlled by that fear.

2. Understand the difference between "can't" and "won't." Saying we can't handle something dis-empowers us. But when we choose not to deal with something, we are in the driver's seat. Look at some stress factors in your life...what WON'T you allow in your life anymore?

3. Reach beyond your current circle of friends and make a new one. President Bill Clinton once said that if your network consists of people who all look alike, you don't have a network...you have an ant hill!

4. Try something new. Look for a fresh approach to a situation or a creative, unique solution to a problem.

5. Stop procrastinating on one thing...right now! Just do it and get it over with. When you do, celebrate! You just made it a NEW year!