NEWS and Cha, Cha, Cha Changes!!!

Well, it has been an interesting week!  I can honestly say that I feel really good about the decision I have recently made.  

So ... this may come as a surprise to all or most of you, but on Monday July 28th, I have resigned as the Group Fitness and Personal Training Manager at my gym.  This has been something I have been thinking about for quite some time and now feel that the timing is right.

I am needing to do what is best for me and my family and make fitness my own again.  I will still be employed at the club, subbing group fitness classes when I am available and potentially still offering small group classes.  My official last day in my current role won't be until August 31st, but I am needing to take this step and am excited for life's next adventure,  whatever that may be!!   

It has been such a hard decision to make and I will miss seeing all of my peeps that have been so supportive over the last 7 years.  They have been through so much with me as I have been with all of them, but this is what's best.  Change IS good  and I will still be around, just in a different capacity :-).    

With that being said, I have started my job/career search.  I am being selective as to what I want to do and where I want to go.  As when we work, whether it be in the home or outside of the home, we spend most of our waking hours with our work family ... Where I land and make my work home, needs to be the right fit for me and for the company I am connected with.  I am not looking to work at a gym, but potentially some other part of the fitness industry or would love something completely different too. 

I AM looking for full-time or close to full-time employment.  I have a BA in Communications/Media and was a residential and commercial closing officer for about 15 years (hard to imagine me not in athletic wear right?), have also been in inside sales, customer service and in banking for a short while.  So, if you are looking or know of anyone that is looking for an outgoing, positive, well rounded, versatile and dedicated employee, please don't hesitate to send me a message and I will gladly shoot a out a resume. 

As far as the November marathon goes ... I have made the decision to step down to the half marathon. It's the best choice at this time and one that I am happy about.  Next year is the year for the half ironman (maybe even 2). And who knows, maybe in 2016, ironman number 3 will be on the schedule ... The proverbial seed has been planted ;-). 

Both my family and I are so excited and looking forward to this new chapter in life and would love it if you would all stay along for the ride!!!  Hope you've had a wonderful week ahead and I'll be back next weekend with another piece to add.    Enjoy the night and remember that life is good. Enjoy it, love it and be kind to one another. 

Good Weekend and The Week Ahead ...

We had a wonderful weekend up north celebrating B's birthday. Quiet, relaxing and great fun all around with the Wilkinson clan. Also enjoyed spending time with the Beisters too. Love all of our up north friends!  Just what we needed. Keeping it short and simple this week ... Next week, there will be more to share :-). 

I'm including a picture from the weekend of B and our niece Charlotte. She was loving "driving" the boat!  

Until next week ... Enjoy your night and remember to be kind to one another!! 

Back to Reality ...

It was a good week in the Northwoods. Well, everyday in the Northwoods is a good one. Weather was just ok but the kids had a blast outside disconnected and hanging out with friends and fun was had by all.  B and I had to ask each other several times what day it was ... That is a successful vacation!!  

I'm sad that it's over but happy to be home. 

I did do a little running and TRX while we were here. This next week, the work truly starts for the marathon training and to get myself back to where I want to be physically (more on that next week). 

I have got my work cut out for me training for this race, but it'll be good for me and will force me to carve time out for myself make myself a priority. I have been failing at that miserably lately ... Working on that ever so important word "NO" again. Lookout, it's coming!!  

We are back to paradise next weekend ... Celebrating B's birthday. Should be a really nice weekend with the Wilkinson clan!  

My two faves in Boulder Junction :-). 

Have a great week and remember, be kind to one another. 

Grief ...

I have been pretty quiet here lately. Life has been challenging to say the least. (So a warning on the post). I still miss my Dad terribly and keep hoping that something will change in my mind so I am not so sad ... I had no idea that it would hurt and continue to hurt THIS much. 

I keep searching for that "thing" that will somehow make me feel better, but as of now, it is ever so evasive and I know a "thing" is not what will help me get through this.  It is in time that the hurt will be less but won't ever be gone. 

I am not the same without my Dad. Yes he was sick but he was still my dad and had his times of lucidity and I will cherish those forever. This is when I want to ask him to help me not hurt so much and give a sign that he is still there. 

As I sit here typing with tears streaming down my face, I wish that I had one more day with my father ... but I wish that everyday ... I wish I would have gotten that beer he asked me to get him at 10am on Thursday, March 13th. I would have sat down and drank it with him.  That was the last time my I saw my father when he was able to verbally communicate. 

I will take with me that he squeezed my hand on the day he passed and how loved the beer on the sponge when went to my moms to get a beer so that I could  somehow give him that beer that he had wanted. My most cherished memory of that evening was that he had a tear streaming down his face when I told him it was ok for him to go and that he had taken such good care if all of us and it was time for him to be at peace.  I KNOW he heard me.  I was happy I was there when he passed ... But I still miss him so much. 

My one piece of advice.  Make sure you embrace and cherish the time you have together with your parents. Yes, things aren't always perfect but there are and will be wonderful memories to be made and shared. Life really is a gift. 

I'll be back next week with some, hopefully, great training story and hopefully fun cabin adventures (It has been relaxing so far and nice to have that quiet and peaceful time) ... But for now, this is what I have. 

Enjoy your week and be kind to one another :-)