Learning

So this weekend I got to take my daughter skiing.  It was wonderful.  She has only been up twice, but she has taken to the sport very quickly.  She was getting very confident so after conquering the bunny slope, and a run down midway, she decided she wanted to take the lift to the top of the mountain.  We went down the first run from the top and she was so proud of herself she of course wanted to go back up as soon as possible.  So we did just that.  On our second run from the top she started taking a little more risk.  She was making great turns and started picking up a little more speed.  She was doing extremely well when a couple of skiers got a little to close for comfort and she skied straight into the trees.  I skied up to where she had fallen thinking it would be like any other fall she had taken but this time she was panicked.  The powder was very deep.  I took my skis off to help her and when I took my first step I sunk and the snow came up to my waistline.  I pushed her back on to the run surprised at how calm we both remained under the circumstances and we proceeded to ski down the hill.  After she fell in the trees she continued to fall down several more times.  She was obviously frazzled and getting very frustrated.  At first, I gave her a pep talk after each fall with the attempt to pull her attitude around.  I could tell she was extremely annoyed with me.  So I decided instead of trying to make her feel a different emotion I would step out of the equation and let her feel frustrated.  I know if I fell on my butt several times and someone came up with a big smile on their face saying "its ok" when clearly in my world it wasn't; I would be a little perturbed as well.  She responded much better to me recognizing where she was at, instead of where I wanted her to be.  By not having to mask how she was truly feeling for my benefit she seemed to be able to work through her frustration much easier and actually started laughing at herself when she fell down.  Of all the beautiful moments that we shared that day, I think that was my favorite.  I know that sounds weird that I am celebrating the fact that my daughter was having such a hard time on the mountain, but I truly feel like I got a better understanding of my little girl.  And that I will cherish forever.

Addiction

Right now I am wearing tube socks, my tennis shoes, basketball shorts, my warrior dash t-shirt, my robe, and my puffy green jacket.  No shower.  Haven't brushed my hair.  Didn't wash my face last night.  I am looking smoking hot! I still managed to go to Starbucks.  Thank God for the drive through.

Self Affirmation

So I walked out of my class today giving myself an affirmation.  Out loud of course.  So if our members  talk about an instructor that is coo coo for cocoa pops. That would be me.  Insecurity happens to all of us, but dang it is a humbling emotion.  I watched a new instructor teach her first class today and seriously blow me away.  She was a natural, so incredibly talented.  She was so nervous, but she was able to conquer it and lit up the room.  It was so ironic because I started the day telling her how ready she was to teach, that I wouldn't put her in front of a class if I didn't believe she had what it took to teach successfully and then had to give myself the same talk in the parking lot walking to my car.  Growth is eternal.  The second I stop wanting to improve my class or be concerned about how to better connect with the group in front of me is probably when I need to get out of the business.  I know I am good at what I do.  Sometimes I just need to here it.......from me.

Amazing Experience

I got the amazing experience of teaching BodyCombat to a group of high school students this week.  They were from a local choir department.  Such an amazing group of kids.  The class was jam packed with energy and the effort that these kids put forth was impressive.  The goal of the choir director in introducing them to group exercise was to enable them to feel the sense of empowerment and exhilaration that can be experienced in a fitness class.  I believe the mission was accomplished.  What a cool teacher.  Obviously fitness does not fall directly into the realm of the choir program.  Her act of setting up this event shows how much she truly cares about her student's success.  I was inspired by the  passion she has for her job.

Precious

My children still sleep with us almost every night.  I know some families frown upon this, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.  Inevitably our kids will grow up and before we know it the thought of sleeping with us will be considered embarrassing. So for now before they grow up too fast they are in our bed.  Every night since my daughter was an  infant she has laid down on my husbands or my arm to fall asleep.  I laid down with her tonight.  She is so incredibly clever.  She has caught on to the fact that I have been getting up after she falls asleep.  It is very chilly in the basement of my grandmothers house where we have been sleeping so I go to bed wearing my robe.  Some how with out me knowing Ella tied the belt from my robe to her wrist hoping to prevent me from leaving.  Precious.

The Dishes

So my husband and I used to have kind of an agreement.  For some reason I am starting to think that this agreement has been one sided in my favor. Who am I kidding.  Of course it is one sided in my favor.  At grandma's house we don't have a disposal and the dishwasher doesn't work so we have to do dishes by hand.  I HATE doing the dishes!!  I have no problem rinsing off dishes and putting them in the dishwasher, but  letting them soak and having to touch wet food gives me major heebie jeebies.  So I realize I am 32 years old and am extremely embarrassed to admit, but once again I am going to let my immaturity show.  Our so called agreement was that I didn't have to do the dishes so that Joe didn't have to watch me gag.  Obviously this kind of agreement is not one that could or should last forever.  Tonight I did the dishes, and will continue to do the dishes for many nights to come.  Why the shift?  I wish I could say it was because I realized I was being completely selfish and a little cruel to my husband. But, no, that's not it.  I also wish I could say it was for the greater good and I just wanted to help out more around the house.  But, no, that's not it either.   I love and hate that some of the greatest lessons we get to learn in life are through the reflection of agitation that you project onto others.  I have been disgusted with my self this week because I have been annoyed over trivial things.  My grandma drinks a coke and eats a candy bar before she goes to bed, and then tells me she can't sleep, but in the same breath says that caffeine doesn't effect her.  She also loves fried food, and I dare someone to try and convince her that it is not healthy.  Ridiculous to get bothered by, Right?  The very things that were upsetting me are included in the reasons why I love her so much.  Well, I think I was getting irritated because I thought she should know better.  Gross, I know. She is an eighty year old woman,  she is not going to change, and who am I to pass judgement over a woman who has loved me unconditionally my whole life.  So I realized the reason it was bothering me so badly was I hadn't addressed some of my own "you should know better" issues.  One of which included, you guessed it, doing the dishes.   My hands may look like a prune and I will always hate it, but who doesn't.  I am not going to bed guilty though.  I am also no longer agitated.

Sweet Moves

I don't mean to brag but my son has some pretty sweet moves.  I love that he gets so lost in the music.  Ella is a great dancer as well, but she has already reached the age where she gets shy when people watch.  I wish that never happened.  It is so cool to watch little kids.  They don't care what people think of them, they are free to be.  One of my favorite things to do with the kids is have dance offs.  They think I am so lame, and none of my moves are cool.  I tell them that I teach people to dance at work and they laugh at me and seriously think I must be joking.  I am going to maintain the position that I am cool no matter what my kids think.