What is that saying…

Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.

How many can say that they truly love what they do?

The percentage is probably low if I was guessing.   If you can say you LOVE what you do, then you relate to that quote above.   You get it. You live it.  You freaking LOVE it.

I enjoy my day job.  My career.  My 7:30-4:30 position.  It has its perks, rewards, flexibility and stability that I need.   But, I would still call it work.   It’s work.  It’s why I have two Master’s degrees.  I have this position because I worked for it and will continue to work to stay on top of it all.

But, I also do something I love.   I would go crazy without my side gig.

It’s the peanut butter to my apple.

The protein to my shake.

The icing on my cake.

 

 

I started teaching fitness classes back in 2003.  I stumbled into it thanks to Frances Furst, my first Group X instructor.  She encouraged me to seek a National Certification and so I did. I taught in my small hometown gym, The Clarinda Lied Center, and also at the Clarinda Academy where I taught to the youth.

It was my escape.  It was my therapy.

It kept my mind going when I was internally struggling with some life decisions.

I loved it.   Absolutely loved it.

 

And then three years later I found myself going through a major life change, a risky change, a move to the city of Omaha with no job lined up and I let my teaching fall to the wayside.  It wasn’t until a few years later when I started taking back control of ME and my well-being that I contemplated getting back into the fitness industry again.   I started taking classes with my friend and mentor, Carrie McDonald, and through her encouragement and gentle pushing I found myself Nationally Certified again and on my way back to the front of the class.  Carrie, THANK YOU, for being that push, that support, that confirmation that I truly needed.

Man, am I ever so glad to be here.

 

I love the push it gives me to keep working towards a healthier me.

 

 

I love the feeling I get when I walk around the room to help motivate others to keep pushing.  I see the struggle.  I’ve been there… I STILL go there.  It isn’t always easy for me.  If it was then that means I am not pushing hard enough.

I like to help people push to their max because we are all far stronger then we ever possibly imagined.

And when they realize it?

That look.  That moment of “Hell YA!  I just did that” makes it all worth it.

 

I love feeding off the energy, the excitement, the nerves and the hard work that a Group X class brings.

 

 

And I love celebrating with the class when we make it to the end.  That feeling of pure satisfaction and accomplishment is freaking awesome.   Trust me when I say you can FEEL it come alive right there on the floor.   We work hard together, we sweat massive puddles together, we scream because it HURTS together, and then I hi-five the hell out of the class when we are done.

WE did it.  WE made it.

 

 

I take this love of teaching in the physical classroom and translate that into the online environment as well.  I have found my other love is in online accountability groups.

As a fitness coach, I help people choose exercise programs that will work into their schedule and lifestyle.   And then together we WORK.   We work on nutrition plans, exercise routines and we talk through barriers.

I want to help people see their worth, their need for physical and mental well-being and I want to help them become healthy and fit.  Does that always mean losing weight?  Absolutely not.

It’s about strength, mental focus, self-confidence and overall health.

And you know what these little groups have done?   They change ME.  My peeps help keep me motivated and accountable.

I love being a fitness instructor.

I love being a coach.

I LOVE what I do.

 

I thank my class attendees for making my job ridiculously fun!

I thank my online accountability clients for making my job rewarding!

I thank my hubby for allowing me to keep up a crazy schedule to continue to do more of what I love.

I am thankful for this job that I have.  This job is the absolute best job on Earth.

The best job for ME.