I'm starting this blog, with not sure of what I want to say but knowing I need to say something. Thursday is coming up really quickly and it's making me re-examine just about everything in life. Interesting how something you've done (what feels like) a million times can make you think of something different every time you go.
My last couple trips to the recruiter's office it's made me think a lot about my life. Where I'm coming from, where I'm going and what I've achieved. This time, this week, I've thought a lot about the other people who have gotten me to where I am!
As I was running with my new friend Kelly today, I was talking about my parents and how they literally have given me every opportunity to reach my goal. They've always told me, being happy is the most important thing in life, and they've put their money where their mouth is. At every turn, they've done everything in their power to help me along my journey!!
Family has always been by my side. Colin has given up everything to help me. Between deployments and letting me put everything into this goal, he could have easily said "Ya know, why don't you just do a 9 to 5 job. We'll be fine!" But no, he goes to school full time, works every chance he can PLUS still drills on weekends with his unit. A lot of men wouldn't be as willing to step back and say "go for it," as he is. I am damn lucky.
Again, family doesn't have to be, but mine has been SO beyond supportive I don't ever want to let them down. However, through these past years, I have met so many amazing people and better yet, met people who I KNOW I will get to be friends with for the rest of my life!
There are a few ladies in particular who I love like sisters. I would do anything for them and I know that no matter what I'm going through I will always have a shoulder. Mary Jo, Carrie, Kaity, Cassie, Caitlin and Lulu, because of you guys I'm still on this damn path. So many times I've wanted to give up because I was too tired of fighting for this. Thought it was too hard to ever even come close. Especially in these last 6 months or so, you guys, whether you know it or not, have gotten me past the hardest challenge of my life!! Because of you, I get the boring rosemary chicken, or simply sit and have coffee with you before going for a little walk! You guys have put up with all my crap every time we go out! You put up with my constant "do you know how much sodium is in that!?" and you guys just smile! I don't know many people who would still love me like you guys do after two and a half years of that! :)
My Golds friends. Over a year has gone by since my first real workout home closed. I don't even know what to say about Golds. It's where I realized anything, and I mean ANYTHING is possible! The first time I stepped foot into Golds and signed up, I remember Norman coming up and say "Welcome to our dysfunctional family!" And that's totally what it was...but it SO worked!!
Now my bootcamp loves! When Golds closed, I went from gym to gym trying to fill the void that the lack of Golds left. The camaraderie, the fun and the challenge. Kelly, since I came to bootcamp, you have given me my confidence back that I lost for a while. Every time I go to class I feel like I'm Superwoman!! Doing burpies at the speed of light, able to star jump from building to building in a single bound!! It has given me this final push that I NEEDED. You were there bringing me back to reality when I "couldn't figure out WHY the weight wouldn't come off!" Bootcamp is not just an amazing workout, but I have met a whole group of people who are absolutely amazing! They get my butt out of bed at 5am and they don't even know it!
Finally, the newest group that has given my a new lease on life, are all the people at Gorilla Combat. At first I loved this place, 'cus after a hard day, or frustrating day I could go punch something for an hour. It felt good. But what I learned was how special each person there was! So many different types of folks, and no matter how horrible my day was, I would always leave after that hour, smiling. Even when almost being kicked in the face, I can't help but laugh!! This is a group of very dedicated people, not just to the sport, but to each other! It's rare to find those people who care about others so much, but these people do! I feel so lucky to have met this group!
Of course there are people I meet everyday and those who I've gotten to know better over this journey, who inspire me to keep going. They make me want to better myself, which in turn keeps me going down this road. The people who post the comments on Facebook with strong words of encouragements, those people who just say "wow, that's awesome!" Or the people who just say "let us know how it went on..." So, to all of you, thank you for keeping me going! I didn't know just what I wanted to say when I started this...so, I guess that's that! :) You guys rock!
Do you really, I mean REALLY, understand that it is YOU who has made this happen. The people support you because they react to YOU. The smile because it's YOU. They put up with all of your "sodium" because it's YOU. Kelly, Norman, Gold's, Gorilla all see the real YOU, and they want YOU to make it!! All of these people have found YOU, and they want to give back just a little of what YOU have given them. If you share your sunshine, you can't help but have some for yourself. That is Y-O-U. Read this blog again, sweetie, and look at WHY these people have done what they have done. It is YOU. Period. Always has been.
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