the experience and the community….
I have been home from Fitness North for one week and I continue to be grateful for my two-week experience in Minnesota. I am practicing feeding my body on a schedule and working out 45 minutes a day of good cardio exercise. Life is manageable and I am grateful.
And as I reflect on what made Fitness North as great as it was, I come down to two words….experience and community.
The experience of working out 8 to 10 hours a day was amazing. I learned to break the day down into bite size (ironic, isn’t it?) pieces. I learned to believe I could do whatever task was before me and not allow my mind to psych me out. I learned to believe in my strength and celebrate movement…of more than the scale. The experience I had is one that I will hold close to my heart for years to come. I learned and I grew thru the routine, the structure, the blood, sweat and tears and the celebration.
The community I experienced in those two weeks was more than I ever hoped for. The power of my fitness north family will be with me for many years to come. I drove down 28th street last night and was hungry. I battled thoughts of a quick burger from here or there and then i remembered the faces of those who are making sacrifices with me. I envisioned Shannon and Wendy and Heather. I thought of Robyn, Shari, Cara, Karen and Sheryl. I remembered Justin and Mike and Leif and Jay. I heard the words of O’neal and I drove down 28th street with a renewed sense of commitment. I knew I was not in this alone and again, I was thankful.
I wonder how many times you have tried to change alone. I know that my success rate increases the more I am willing to live in community; honest and supportive community. Asking for what I need, offering what I have to give and living with an honest and compassionate heart towards myself and those on the journey with me.
Fitness North has offered me this in my weight loss journey….
Open Hearts has offered me this in my journey to my heart….
My family has offered me this in their loving me every day, in the valley, on the flat road and on the mountain top….
I am forever grateful that God designed us for relationship!
