OK. So before I post anything else on my blog about anything health and fitness related....I feel it is important to acknowledge the people in my life who have been the most influential to me in my journey toward healthy living and a profession in fitness (although...I'm not technically a fitness professional right now because I'm not making any money for being one.)
There are people in our lives who have impacted us in some way whether they educated us, believed in us, made a way for us, or inspired us to become who we are. Without key people, our lives may be a whole lot different and it's always important to acknowledge and remember them. It's easy to pat yourself on the back for whatever success you may have and become proud or haughty until you remember how you got where you are. It's always important to be humble in everything we do and grateful for what we have because at any moment it can all be taken away.
Disclaimer: If I do not mention you it is not because you have not impacted my life in some huge and unbelievable way. I'm speaking specifically of those who have influenced me in the area of natural health and fitness.
Just had to say it.
1. My Mother: Mary Beth Farnsworth
About 15 yrs ago, my Mom (who happens to be my number one Rock Star) took me to my first ever group exercise class. I'm pretty sure it was step aerobics because well, that's about all that existed back then and because I made the biggest fool out of myself ever! How could I forget! Oh, and the instructor kinda gave me that "poor thing" smile. Nonetheless, I kept going because it was quality time with my mom and because to be honest...I was fascinated with fitness instructors. They were SO cool and I thought that maybe in my next life I would be one if I could ever remember how to count, if I knew my right from my left, and had the perfect body. What I didn't realize at the time was that what ultimately mattered wasn't about who the instructor was and what the instructor could do but what and who the instructor could inspire others to be. Praise from someone I admired always made me feel like I could be important too.
Well, my mother told me (without me ever telling her my secret longing to be a fitness instructor) that I would be one in THIS life and that it was my calling to lead others in this way. I laughed it off and thought it was actually a low aspiration but she knew it meant something bigger for me.
Thank you, Mom. I know you're an empty nester now and so if you're looking for a way to feel personally fulfilled and make some extra cash, I think you kind of need to tell people what their callings are. You're actually REALLY GOOD at that. ;)
Oh and she gave birth to me. That's kind of essential to be being anything at all.
2. Dad: Hal Farnsworth
Because I am a mini you. And without your personality, your passion, your magnetism, your leadership, and your unquenchable desire to give everyone a paradigm shift, then I wouldn't be who I am.
He also has a lot to do with me existing.
3. Cassie Holt Gentry and Sandra Ann Reynolds: High school BF and her mother
Because your house was an herbal vitamin heaven that fascinated me and I always thought that my cabinets would one day look like yours and well....now they surely do! You two were always vibrant and healthy and I loved learning about the natural ways you took care of yourselves. I always knew I needed to be taking whatever you guys were on! Lol! Cassie, you still teach me lots!
4. Marie Bass:
You are the number one influence over my transformation into organic living. I'll never forget when we reconnected 3 yrs ago and you told me that nutrigain bars and triscuits were in fact NOT nutritious in any way and that the way I was eating was making me lethargic and screwing up my metabolism. With your willingness to help me, within 3 months I'd lost about 12 lbs and felt better than I had ever felt. From that point forward it has been a passion of mine to alter the way I feed my body. Thank you, Marie. I will forever be grateful to you for all of your advice and all the time you sacrificed to answer my eager questions
5. Kim Shigekane:
You were an inspiration to me in practical and tangible ways. You were my neighbor and became a great friend during my time in WA. Your hospitality allowed me to learn so much about healthy foods and recipes and ways to cook. You were a model of both health and fitness and inspired me to continue making healthy choices for myself in the midst of a deployment and to never ever forget how to have a good time. ;)
6. Nadine Pingel:
My instructor and my friend. It was your boot camp classes that transformed the shape of my body and made me strong and confident in my physical abilities. You were creative and innovative in your workouts and Tuesdays and Thursdays were like Christmas every day for me because I got to go to your class. I always looked up to you and only dreamed I would teach a class one day where I designed my own workouts. Thank you for inspiring me and thank you for all the tough German love. I think it rubbed off on me a little. Just ask my participants. :)
Ps. I'm pretty sure this is the night I spilled a drink down your back. Sorry about that. ;)
7. Holly Allen:
YOU, my friend...the awesome leader in fitness! YOU believed in me enough to encourage me to go through Body Combat training. I'll never forget when you asked. I pretended to be cool but I thought I might fall out and die right there on the floor because it was a dream come true. If it weren't for you being the reason I fell in love with Combat and for you inspiring me to become an instructor myself then I wouldn't have had a year and a half of some of the most awesome hours of my life teaching Les Mills Body Combat. WOW! And it breaks my heart every day that I can't teach that any more. Thank you, Holly. Thank you. You are amazing!
Oh...and it was you who encouraged me to never give up no matter how much I failed because if it was truly in me then I would rise above and beyond. "I get knocked down, but I get up again!"
This picture is profound in many ways. :)
8. Leah Mixon:
The friend who got me fit. You were the girl who pushed me and worked hard with me. And to be honest...you are WAY more fit than myself. I'll never forget the day you asked me to train you for a 5k. It was the first time you ever ran one, and you SCHOOLED me. Lol. You are a machine. I love you in more ways than you could ever imagine!
9. Cliff Haskins and Gary Briggs:
Ok...let's not kid ourselves. If you big men didn't hire me, trust me, believe in me, and support me even when I drove you nuts then I wouldn't have had the best job I've ever had in my life as Group Fitness Coordinator at LUFC. Thank you to my big men who always made me feel little around them even when I was having a fat day. Haha. I love you guys and have you to thank forever and ever. You have an awesome thing going over there and I miss it SO much. :(
10. All of my participants:
You know who you are and I love you. You all impacted me far more than I impacted you. You loved me and cared for me in the same measure. We truly were a community and we truly were a family. You didn't just come to class to get a good workout and leave. You came there to be a part of something bigger. Everything we do in life should be done with a greater purpose in mind. Why else would you let me torture you on a regular basis. ;) You knew I loved you and believed in you and you rose to the occassion. I saw so many of you do things you swore you would never do. Does anyone remember the fact that EVERY SINGLE PERSON in class did 210 pushups and situps one day? Every single one!! Get Fit! Don't Quit! Right? You guys are awesome and all I want is for you to take everything that you've gained and pay it forward! You guys are ULTIMATELY the ones who have made me believe in myself as an instructor.
11. And finally...my husband:
How annoying it must be to be married to an eager little beaver like myself. But you married me with every intention of encouraging me and supporting me to be who God desires me to be. Thank you for being a leader to me and for being steady and for being sound through it all. Thank you for never stifling my passions and thank you for being my biggest fan.
I do realize that all of these thank you's make me sound like I think I'm some sort of important person. PLEASE let me tell you that I do not think this. What I DO think is that I am happy and I am fulfilled and I am grateful to be where I am in life and I just think I have specific people to thank for that. That's all!
Ok! Tis all for now. xoxoxo
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