My TEAM

Having that positive mindset can be difficult at times if you find yourself surrounded by negative people, in a negative situation or environment. It takes a strong mindset to be able to face negativity and push through it. My faith relies within the goodness around me and what I have been blessed with. I have really taken sometime to appreciate and think of those positive people that I can call a TEAM.

My #1 support group is my amazing three children and husband. I live everyday to support, love and make them happy. I can have the absolute worst day turn into the best day because I am reminded that my family depends and look up to me. My husband is the most positive person that I know. He finds good in everyone and everything that he does, enjoys making others laugh and likes to have a good time. He will tell you the right thing even if it isn't what you want to hear. I love that I can talk to him about anything and that I can rely on him to cheer me up when feeling down. 

My morning workout group of ladies are reliable, dependable and strong. I look forward to seeing them twice a week at 5:30 a.m. We motivate each other during our workouts with encouragement. One gal that I call a great friend outside of our workout time, shows up ten minutes prior to class to help set up the equipment. During my maternity leave a few summers ago, she took over the class as the group instructor as well. My kids and I enjoy stopping by her work to visit with her because she lets us play with her office tools and destroy her workplace. 

In the past three years, I’ve developed some strong friendships with a few ladies in my small town community. They are honest, genuine and hard working. My parent community group of friends are amazing ladies that are willing to step out of their comfort zone to make good changes in our community. They follow through with what they say and are willing to do what’s best for our students and community regardless of the time and effort it will take to make a change. 

Growing up, my mom would continue to tell me that if there is a will then there is a way. She is amazing at lifting you up with motivating, spiritual and encouraging words. I am so grateful I had her support and love as a child. I have a relationship with her that is very comfortable. She was that person I relied on when I needed someone to talk to. I look up to this lady because she continues to work toward being the BEST person that she can be. Like my mother, my father also continues to work toward bettering himself as a person everyday. He's the most hard-working man that I know. He will easily put in an 80 hour week at work plus get all the big chores done around the house. He's the handy man and the dad that helps out with kids during my grocery shopping time. I have developed a very strong father-daughter relationship with my dad as an adult because I have learned that I am like him in so many ways.

Last week, my good friend, Jodi, called me up to visit and catch up on life. She asked the big question, “How’s life?” I told her, “Great! My family is healthy, I’m healthy, I’ve got a job and can support my family and I’m not hooked on drugs. You know... Life is good!” 

I feel like I’ve been surrounded with negativity and have found myself caught up in it at times, too. 
So, I was so thankful for this conversation with Jodi. I needed to be reminded that life is good. My family and myself are healthy and I've got some great people around that I can call a TEAM. From experience, I've learned that its easier to dedicate yourself to eating a balanced healthy diet and exercise regularly than making a change to your mindset. Don't take life for granted as you only have one life to live. Training and striving for that positive mindset will make a difference in your life, as an individual, a wife, mother, colleague and athlete. With the help, love and support from my faith and TEAM, simple positive, mindset changes is what I am currently working toward. 

"Love you, Jodi!"

I’ve known Jodi for almost 10 years. She's a friend that I call a sister. I first met her when she started attending my morning fitness classes years ago. She was about 3 months postpartum from giving birth to twins! Yes, twins! That’s how you know she’s tough. Since then, I have never seen this woman give up on anything. She's a wife, mother of five children, PA-C at a local community clinic, triathlete and all the above. When times get tough, she works harder and gets stronger. She’s inspiring and the strongest woman I know, mentally and physically. I remember in 2012, running my first half marathon as she lapped me thinking, “Geez, I want to be like her!” Yes, she was fast, but ran with pride, strength, grit and most importantly with a smile on her face. She continues to set goals and then is ready for the next. She loves what she does and encourages others to set and reach their goals, too.

A few months after my first son was born, Jodi, myself and other running sister (Marcy) slowly began meeting up for some social running. We were quite the crazy running gals. Running with headlamps and hopping over train tracks was normal for us. At the time, Jodi was training for her first Boston marathon and I tagged along. I had no idea I would be running 17 mile long runs with these gals. But, I absolutely loved it! They mentally talked me through my first long run and it was rather hilarious! It’s been over 6 years now and I cannot count how many hours of running we’ve ALL done together. What I love about running with Jodi and Marcy the most is the FREE “therapy" sessions that we give to one another. We talk about everything in LIFE. We laugh, cry and some more.

Jodi is that person that has truly been there for me at the best and worst times in my life. She's always willing to listen with open arms, support and advice. She randomly calls to visit and catch up on life. I’m so honored and thankful to have her in my life and look forward to many more great years with her. "Love you, Jodi!"

What’s your “GO TO?”

When life gets tough, I go for a RUN. This is how I cope with life. Everyone stresses at one time or another. The key to stress is learning how to recognize when it hits and finding a healthy way to cope with it. Everyone needs a “go to” when they are feeling overwhelmed, stressed or just need a break from life. But, it’s finding what works for you. It could be going for a walk, jog or run? Or something like reading a book, playing a sport, game, or working out? Whatever it is, when you find it I highly encourage you to stick with it. It’s so important to take care of yourself to be the a BEST person that you can be for others that rely, depend and look up to you. I’m so thankful that Seamus supports my running habit as it helps me deal with stress. So, it is also important that I support his hunting and playing his Clash of Clans game habit as well. He loves to hunt and enjoys playing Clash of Clans when he feels like he needs to ZONE out. "That's what he calls it." Whatever it is, I completely agree that he needs it.

I appreciate that Seamus and I work together very well as a team. We have similar values and expectations for our children, family, friends and students. However, I would be lying if I said that being married and raising children is an easy job. We both agree that its mentally healthy to be able to take a short break from one another, kids and family at times. Now, that doesn't mean completely "leave or neglect" our family. We just understand that it’s important to take a "short" time to think, debrief and rest our brain from what's currently going on in our life at that very moment. So, when and if the time is needed, I go for a run and he hunts or does some raiding on his Clash of Clans game. We don't usually ask to do it, either, we just tell each other we are doing it. We've grown to develop that type of communication over the years and I absolutely love it.