Our current situation presents us with a good opportunity to reset, re-evaluate, and re-prioritize what it means to BE — to Live Present and with purpose, to do something each and every day that we are passionate about.
Some of you will read this and nod your heads in agreement. Perhaps you already know how good it feels to do something in life that you are passionate about. Some of you are shaking your heads or rolling your eyes and thinking: “Does she have any idea how much I have going on? I have bills to pay, mouths to feed, and enough daily stressors to manage. The last thing I need to worry about is purpose and passion.”
Do you know that to be true? I challenge you to think again.
Is it possible that purpose and passion can make all that other “stuff” seem less stressful?
For me, the answer is yes. I found my purpose by chance. Helping people via teaching fitness classes wasn’t part of my “plan.” And trust me, as a Type A+ extra double-stuffed Virgo, I had a plan for everything. I certainly didn’t go to Georgetown thinking I’d leverage that education to become a fitness instructor. It’s something that unfolded organically, and I’m grateful every day that I followed my heart versus my head.
It’s interesting to hear all the financial comparisons between what is happening now and the 2008 crash. I remember it well. In July 2008, Tony and I signed the lease and the personal guarantee for our first studio in Menlo Park, CA. In September, I went to the bank and drew down 100% of our home equity line of credit. A week later, the market tanked, and the bank pulled back funding though it was too late to pull ours. We were in uncharted territory, unprecedented times. Honestly, the present is all a little deja vu-ish, with the added anxiety of an airborne virus that could sicken people and cripple the economy.
The one thing that keeps me going every day is purpose. I have a mission in life — help people feel better. After some trial and error, I’ve realized that I have to find balance in helping others while also taking care of myself. Alkalign has been the perfect blend. It’s a place where I get as much as I give. Being with clients and experiencing those a-ha moments is the highlight of my day. Teaching has gotten me through many highs and lows including 2 stressful pregnancies, postpartum depression, a husband who travels for a living, and 2 amazing girls who also need to “get” as much as they give in the love and energy departments.
If you have thought about doing something different to supplement your current life scenario, I highly recommend teaching at Alkalign. Now, more than ever, I appreciate the power of connection. I feel it so deeply when I’m teaching, even with everyone on the other side of a screen. I am thankful to be part of an amazing community and for the opportunity to both teach and learn, to give and to grow. Life is too short to have it any other way.
