New Year, New Beginnings, New Classes

  December rolled around and I was still in the same position as I was in August. Working three jobs (2 which I didn't care for), didn't know what I was doing with my life, living pay check to pay check, and not particularly happy. In August I wasn't ready to go home but when November came around and I came home, I knew it was time to move on from Penn State. I will always love Penn State but there is so much out there that I have yet to experience and learn.
   When I came home in November for Thanksgiving, my mom confronted me one night about what my plan was for coming home. I had not looked into jobs yet, taken my ACE certification, or had any kind of plan. I was in denial. The conversation went from angry, to sad, to understanding, and then motivating. She is the one person in my life that knows how to push me and get me going again. I was not motivated and I was waiting for things to come to me. I wasn't doing anything to change my situation. Of course I did not want to hear anything she was saying at first but afterwards I knew it was for my best interests.

 As soon as I went back to Penn State, I started e-mailing gyms in the Poconos and researching dietetic internships. I set a deadline to get my Group Fitness Instructor ACE certification completed. Basically, set goals. Let's just say it paid off. Before I knew it, I was getting e-mails back from gyms, figuring out where I want to apply for dietetic internships, and had my ACE certification under my belt. I was beyond happy with everything. I came to realize time never slows down so make the most out of every minute and opportunity presented to you.

 

 My last week at Penn State really hit home for me. It didn't seem real. I couldn't believe I completed three years of teaching group fitness classes at Penn State. I have grown so much as an instructor and would not be who I am without all of the experiences I had teaching there. I had taught amazing faculty members as well as college students. I loved teaching everyone and pushing them to their limits. I teach to help people grow confidence and make them become mentally strong. Fitness is a mental game and I hope they learned that from me. I only wish the best for them. They made my day with their constructive criticism as well as the compliments. I will never have a group of patrons like the ones I had. I miss all of their smiles, enthusiasm, pools of sweat, and hard work. Keep on keepin on!

 It wasn't until when I was driving home when I knew one chapter of my life had ended and a new one was beginning.

  I like to just listen to an album rather then the radio when driving home. I decided to listen to Rascal Flats album "Me and My Gang". Each song for some reason I could relate to. When it came to the songs, "He Ain't the Leaving Kind" and "My Wish" I couldn't help but cry. 


But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

He ain't the the leavin' kind
He'd never walk away
Even from those who don't believe
And wanna leave Him behind
He ain't the leavin' kind

No matter what you do, no matter where you go
He's always right there with you

  It made me think how much I have to be grateful for. It made me think that dreams really can come true and that someone is always watching over you. Karma is real and when at moments in your life when you think you hit rock bottom and you think you'll never get out of it, someone seems to help you. I am not super religious but I do believe in a God and I know that he has helped me out this whole year. Even when things were bad and felt angry or sad, I believe it was a lesson. It occured to teach me something. The song "He Ain't the Leavin Kind" also reminded me of my mom. I know she is one person who won't ever leave me and always will be my #1 cheerleader. I know we all have someone like that in our life. No matter what fights you go through, they will be there to love you and help you. You can get so mad at them sometimes but they know it is only to help you. When someone is trying to help you, try not get angry at them, just take a step back and think about what they have to say to you. Because if my mom didn't say the things she said, I do not know if I would have accomplished all that I have. They are there for your triumphs and your failures. I want to thank everyone who has been there for me through the thick and thin.

 Home SWEET Home...

Now since I have been home, I am SO excited! Being exposed to different gyms and and their styles of teaching has already opened up my eyes and it's only been a few weeks. Each gym is so unique and I love it. 

 Currently I am a fitness instructor at:

-Sweat Like a Girl

http://www.sweatlikeagirl.com/

- GCMC

http://www.movewelllivewell.com/

- Stroudsburg YMCA
 http://www.poconoymca.org/poconos_ymca_group_exercise_schedule.html

- Pocono Mountain Fitness
http://www.poconomtfitness.com/

I will be doing nutrition counseling at Sweat Like a Girl.

There were so many opportunities presented to me when I came home and then I knew that all of the hard work I put in at Penn State had paid off. Just when you don't know your worth, something shines through or someone sees something you didn't see before. I am so thankful. 

 So you NEVER know what could happen to you or when. When everything seems to be going wrong, take it as a lesson. 2013 wasn't the best year for me, but 2014 is a new start. I do not do New Year's resolutions BUT I do goals. I plan to stick to my goals and not just reach them, but crush them. 

So keep your head up and keeping moving forward no matter how hard it may be.