Learning Every Day

So, this blog thing.....

For years I've read other people's blogs. I've often read them with the thought "hmmmm, if I had a blog would I have anything worth saying?" So now I have this fitness studio and this personal training business and I'm still trying to do all of the things I've always done as a stay at home, homeschooling mom. And now I have this website , facebook, instagram and social media sites that I haven't even tried yet! So, I thought, that I would just blog about my journey and see where it leads me.

The studio has now been open almost 4 months. I thought it would be good to reflect back on what I have learned along the way so far. First, and probably the toughest is time. We have homeschooled our four children from the beginning, so, not only am I used to being with them, they are used to me being home and readily available anytime, day or night. In the first two weeks of being open, I got a call not two minutes after arriving at the studio. It was my kids. They were sobbing, begging me to come home, our little shih tsu had killed 10 of our couple week old chicks! They were devastated and left to deal with finding dead or dying chickens throughout the yard. I called multiple friends seeing if they could go be with my kids until my husband could get home from an hour away and no one could come be with them. Class was starting in 15 minutes. There was no time to run home and take care of the kids or the chickens. I think that was the first time that it really hit all of us that things are going to be a bit different now. When I was able to get home, my husband had already arrived and had done the dirty work of cleaning everything up and I got to do the snuggling and comforting--which included holding one of the chicks through a "seizure" and helped them to say goodbye. So, we are figuring it out, one day at a time.

I have also had to let go of some things in my schedule. I am a "volunteerer"--meaning, I say yes to most everything. You need help with a bake sale--"yes!". You need help with that project--"yes". You need someone to be on the board? Committee? Yes, Yes and Yes! And the yesses have gone on for years, which has burned me out more than once. So, I knew that this was going to have to be a marathon, not a sprint. I was going to have to learn to say no to some things in order to say yes to this. I'm the only instructor at this point so it was time to make some tough choices and say no to things and let go of the guilt that I associated with having to say no. If the studio and helping others reach their fitness goals is truly my passion, it is worth pointing my time and energy there and keeping the majority of the remaining time for my family.

Second, I have to give myself grace. I am not always going to know the best ways to advertise. I'm still trying to figure out technology and social media and all that. I'm not always going to have the best solution to a problem that arises. And I'm definitely not going to have all the answers. But, this is what I do know: I love people. I love helping people. If I keep my intentions true and my heart in the right place, things are going to turn out exactly the way they are supposed to. So, ifI have an idea and it flops, that's ok. I've learned something from it. And, really, in life there have been many, many things that I didn't get right the first time so if I give myself grace in those areas, why wouldn't I in this new endeavor as well?

Third, and last for today, is follow your passion. If it is truly your heart song, you will find such joy! You will also find difficulty, uncertainty and sacrifice but you will find it all worth it!