Least Likely

In some North American school year books the Grade 12's have these comments under them...

"Most likely to be a supreme court judge"

"Most likely to own 100 cats" 

"Most likely to win an olympic medal" 

"Most likely to live in a van while travelling the world"

Of course seeing as I graduated from high school in South Africa I have no idea what might have been written about my future potential.

But this I know...

It would NOT have been "Most likely to be client of the year at a GYM"

But folks... that actually happened.  

There's lots that is amazing about about that but for me the most amazing part is that I do not look like a client of the year at a gym.  But the remarkable thing is that this gym is not like other gyms in many important ways.  And one way in which it is remarkable is that is sees people for who they are.  They see me, a still roly-poly middled, slightly uncoordinated and still physically flawed woman as strong (oh SO much stronger than when I started), determined (busting through barriers and constraints I had believed were unmovable) and fit (or fitter at least).  

Am I in single digits clothe sizes - nope. 
Are there still bits that jiggle more than they should - you betcha
Any chance I could be featured in "Fitness Weekly"? - hahahahahaha

And while my body is changing  - sloooowly but surely - the bigger win has been my mental health.  And much of that came from acceptance and encouragement from coaches who quietly gave / give me modifications to accommodate my gimpy arm and noticed when I could do things I hadn't previously been able to do and who high five me at the end of every class no matter how my performance was.  But also from other people we have met at the dojo who are also so encouraging, who crack the odd joke in the middle of hard set, who roll their eyes in solidarity at something we hate doing. 

In truth I feel a bit mortified that a very average person like me was given this award - but I am also proud that I did actually just keep showing up even when it felt like my whole body hurt, even when the "results" seemed so slow in coming and I was so discouraged.  

Exhibit A - post party brekkie 

I love good food too much to ever attain a 00 label in a pair of jeans.  And if I am honest that isn't on the cards anyway.  Because I am not it for that. I am in it to be the very best version of myself - with all my flaws and scars  - physically and mentally.  

I really don't have the words to say how totally shocked I was last night and how much it actually means to me to be seen and I most certainly wouldn't have got that plaque with my name on without a great number of people.  My sweetie Allan has been so supportive and  honestly if he wasn't as invested in this gym as me I am not sure how long I would have stuck it out - the fact that we go together a couple of times a week, as our schedules allow, has been a sweet addition to our empty-nest life.  My kiddo's come to the gym when they are home and they are such amazing cheerleaders to this Mama.  My parents, my usual suspects, my colleagues and friends have all been encouraging and noticed even the small changes. 

Pretty sure this was his expression when I signed up LOL

And Maki who owns and leads the gym  is a visionary and a heck of a hard worker.  He is a real person who makes his space and programs accessible and connects with his clients.  

His team of coaches are THE BEST and honestly they are the real reason any of us have any success and enjoy the workouts week after week.  I am so indebted to them for their kindness and professionalism and enthusiasm.  

A+ Coaches (in 70's party clothes!)

Ok ok this oscar-worthy thank you is nearly over  - I hear the music starting to play - but one more thing....

Don't ever count yourself out of anything - if it's fitness - get moving today and find your tribe - but if it's something else - get after it - find the motivation to start that thing - or find the people who can help you start  - but start - and hang in there - You have what it takes to be the best version of yourself and live your best life.  

See you on the journey.

As It Happens

We came home from the gym tonight - Friday at last - a big day, a tough week DONE. 

I readied dinner and Allan searched for a playlist and we popped a Prosecco. 

And then we remembered.

We remembered we needed to listen to something.

Allan hooked up his phone to the speakers and dialed us in to CBC Radio just before 6:30pm.

As we used to do every single night long, long ago.... in our first apartment in this new land we had arrived in... trying to find our place, our identity.  

Trying to understand what it was to be Canadian.  

After a few months in my parents basement we managed to get in to a housing co-op and we spent what little money we had on essentials - like a bed and a couch .  We bought this fantastic blue check ikea couch - man we loved that couch - it lived on in at least 2 friends apartments after we moved and replaced it.... but I think Allan and I miss it to this day....

Anyway...there was no money left for a TV that's for sure. 

But we had a radio.

So we'd come home from our jobs and as we made and ate dinner we would listen to CBC.  The "World at 6" followed by "As It Happens" followed by "Gzowski in the evening"......and we learned Canada as we listened.   We laughed, we puzzled, we raged, we teared up as we heard story after story after story from here and around the world. 

The day dismayed friends left a portable TV at our door we found ourselves very torn.  And notwithstanding the giant TV that hangs on a wall of our house now, we have remained devoted to CBC.  It wakes us up every morning.  

Tonight "As It Happens" celebrated 50 years of broadcasting.  And we ate our dinner and then moved to our coordinated-couches-not-from-IKEA, and we listened.  We did admirably well in the AIH trivia quiz and we laughed and I teared up at a listeners story of what AIH means to her.  We listened to old stories and new ones and we felt that same connection to this land, this place, these people.

In these days of "fake news" and media manipulation, a publicly funded broadcaster is a precious thing and I think we will forever listen to CBC at some point each day.

We've come a long way since that blue checkered couch that we spent days and nights on with our tiny babies who are now university students.  The Killers are now blaring, the brown lab that weaseled his way into our lives is cuddled up with Allan and we have our devices out checking in on our worlds.

We have changed so much but our gratitude at being able to live here in Canada, in British Columbia is deep and abiding.

We owe so much to so many who have befriended us, helped us, been our tribe, our village... and tonight we were reminded of that through the airwaves and the power of story.