Last week I had the opportunity to attend the IDEA Fitness Fusion Conference in Chicago with Sheri, Samantha and Christy
Sheri, Samantha, ERIN, Christy
Ewing. I was excited to spend the weekend with 3 amazing women, attend a few continuing education sessions and talk about Genesis with fitness professionals from around the world. On top of my excitement were my nerves. I was nervous and scared; really for all the same reasons I was excited, as well as leaving the comfort of my home, my family and my routines.
Over the weeks prior to the conference I had been thinking about opportunity and how we respond to the opportunities we are faced with in our lives. As I settled into my seat on the plane, I opened my journal and decided to write about opportunities that have presented themselves in my life, how I have handled them and how I am going to embrace the opportunities I am faced with now.
I realized that for the majority of my life I have been a complacent participant. I was comfortable to sit back and do my best not to rock the boat. A deep part of me believed whole heartedly that the life I deserved would come to me and one day I would be wealthy, one day the career I always wanted would present itself on my front door, one day my dreams would all come true.
In a way, the life I deserved did come to me. I have certainly been blessed, but in my passive approach, I got a lot of what I gave. I struggled to find a rewarding career, I ignored my finances and I took my health for granted. I didn’t try very hard and life allowed me to get by.
With my journaling I learned opportunity is everywhere and so are people who are hungry and fighting for their dreams. If I am not taking an active role in my life; embracing the opportunities in front of me, someone else will. Embracing opportunity can be scary. It involves redefining and letting go of a lot of the deep seeded personal beliefs that I have carried for years, it involves taking risks; rocking the boat. But the rewards outweigh the risk. Embracing opportunity is empowering and being an active participant is the only way to create a life that will allow dreams to come true.
Michele J
May 3, 2010
Erin,
That was beautifully stated and so true. I had a conversation with my mom last week. She was so proud when she said that she would be living into her 90’s like her mom. I asked her, yes, grandma lived a full life in years, but where was the quality of life? Sadly, my mom is in the same boat as she is 75 years old, but due to decades of smoking, limited physical activity and poor diet she has had a very hard time over the last 7 or so years and I dont see her health changing anytime soon (however, in that same couple of days I talked to her and my dad about making some simple lifestyle changes using the rule of “better than”, meaning that wheat bread is better than white bread, sprouted bread is better than wheat breat, etc.) They seemed interested in making some changes in their diets, increasing up their protein and cutting back on sugar. We shall see. I however, feel really blessed…even grateful. While I know and realize that there are far worse folks out there in regards to quality of diet and exercise then me on March 3rd, 2010 (the day I committed to GT) but being open to change at 43, feeling strong, engaged and alive makes me feel so thankful to have the opportunity to reclaim my life, my health and my joy.
what does my name mean
May 17, 2010
hi wats your myspace page