Getting Real & Back to Basis

March 1, 2010 at 4:03 a.m my entire world turned upside down. With the loss of my cousin, I thought that something special had come to an end. Little did I know that it was just beginning: of something wonderful.

I always deal with stressful situations by trying to take care of those around me. In essence, I DON'T deal. This time was different. I couldn't shake it.  While I did focus on taking care of my family, when I was alone I was beside myself. My thoughts would go to his his parents (my Aunt & Uncle), his brothers ( my cousins) and his lil' nephew that he never got to meet.  I would just sit and cry. I cried, not for Curtis because he was free: of pain, of stress; but for all the opportunities lost, for all the moments that I wont have with him. I mourn because I wish I had been there more. I wish I'd taken the time to sit with him more, talk to him more, laugh with him more, tell him that I love him more. As I look back on my times with Curtis, I realized that MOST of them were with me in a hurry. "Yack yack yack...okay cuz, imma holla at you later."  Only time I was really able to sit with him was when my sister would download music for him and he'd sit across the kitchen table, and we'd laugh and talk. I spent more time leaned halfway in his car with him than anything else. One of my favorite memories of him was at my wedding. Cuz was in pain but had his swag on. :-) White shirt, black pants, cane~In as much pain as he was in, he came to MY wedding. I was honored.

I am sad to say that the most time I spent with him was in the final weeks leading up to his death. I can't help but feel that I was a day late and a dollar short. NOTHING was more important to me than being there for those moments. In the beginning, never in my WILDEST dreams did I think Curt would leave us. He had come back from complete organ failure 10 years previous. So a little pneumonia? Pish Posh. But 1 week in, my optimism began to vanish. But then a few days later, he would be doing well. That rollercoaster went on for four L  O  N  G  ass weeks. When he passed, I must admit that there was a sense of relief. He wasn't in pain. He was finally able to be at peace. But my pain and mourning, as I stated, was for us left behind to live life without him.

Ok. So now I am rambling. The lesson: Even in the midst of so much loss, it took a really good friend to remind me of all the things I had to be thankful for.  One of those things was that Curtis WAS gone. At first I was pissed. THANKFUL? Are you kidding?? Then, I understood. Yes. Thankful: he is not in pain. Thankful that I was able to be there. Thankful that I had him in my life. Thankful for the lessons I have learned with his passing: how important my family is; how lucky I am to have an awesome support system of friends; how working hard all the time isnt the way to go~need to spend more time cultivating my friendships and relationships with others. To make more time for fun. To continue to hug and kiss my sons and tell em everyday how much I love them.

In the midst of all this tragedy, lessons were learned. Lessons to live by. I hope that everyone who is reading this will make a vow to tell the people that you care about how you feel about them, often. Remember the things that you have to be thankful for: for me, the list is long. Each of you are one thing. Then I have my kids, my family, a career that I enjoy, a job, a place to live, food in my fridge, and LOTS of memories to carry me through.

It felt good getting back to working out today. After my intense cardio session, as I attempting to do my cool down, I burst into tears. All those pent up emotions that I had been pushing down came out. ABSOLUTE stress relief.

I wish you all love, peace and happiness. I wish us all a great 2010 because it has definitely gotten off to a shitty start, but that just means that it can only get bettter. Until next time,
Yours in Health, Fitness, and Wellness,
Karen

Reaching my Goals for 2010

2009 was a year of ups and MANY downs. 2010 can only get better. I am not perfect and have my own problems. So 2010 will be my year of "Getting My Shit Together". Here is my plan:
BUSINESS & HELPING OTHERS

•  I will be focusing more on Personal Training. All of my clients, except for 1, are in home, non gym clients. I have gotten lots of message/phone calls from people who want to train but not in the gym. This tells me that, for whatever reason, you are not comfortable working in a gym setting. So I will continue to expand to mobile training and trainings NOT in gym. Although I feel that the gym can only be an asset in any health and fitness program, it can't help if you won't go. So now I have expanded my hours for mobile training to include any and all shown on my website. (http://www.icufitpt.com/) 
• I am expanding my efforts to get you in the Best Shape of Your Life for 2010 by helping you find the perfect add on or Main program. As a Beachbody Coach, in continuing those efforts, I am affiliated with THE best fitness programs on DVD around. I can help you pick the program that is talior made for you.
• Not only can I help you get in shape, but I can help you take care of your skin, as well, on your own without costly trips to the Salon. I will come to you. You never have to leave your home. My job is to show you how for about $1 a day, you can have the type of skin you have always wanted. Take care of the skin you're in with the skin care products that have been ranked #1 for the last 13 yrs and counting~ After all, it's the only skin you'll get. A portion of all sales go toward the MKAF, which supports research for the elimination of cancers and to eliminate domestic violence. (Your Facial is FREE with a $40 skin care purchase. Otherwise, your facial is $20. You can add our very own Microdermabrasion for an additional $10 or its yours FREE, in addition to your facial, with a $75 skin care purchase.) I pride myself in a NON pushy, NON Aggressive, sales approach. There is NEVER an obligation to purchase. I am COMPLETELY mobile, so I will come to you.

PERSONAL GOALS  and How I am reaching them.

• In an ongoing effort to take better care of myself, my office hours are changing. I have rearranged all clients to time slots that are 1. better for them as the new year have arrived and 2. are better for me in helping me reach my goal of getting more sleep. NO MORE clients form 4a.m. - 8 a.m. My personal workouts will start at 6 a.m. and I will be ready for my first clients at 8a.m. See my website for available time slots.
• I am devoting more time to my children and friends.
• As one of my goals for the New Year is to get into the best shape of MY life, I am starting a New round of P90X on Monday January 4th. All workouts have been logged into WOWY and you are more than welcomed to join my team and join me in this venture. You can join me at www.beachbodycoach.com/icufit

As this New year goes forth, I am struggling to love myself and to remember something that I preach all the time: It's okay to put yourself FIRST sometimes. I am going to practice that when appropriate and I am mastering the art of saying "NO". I need to take the time to smell the roses sometimes and I plan on it.

Remember that I am here to help you reach your fitness goals. I love hearing from you.

For those of you joining me for the P90X, get some rest. It's on!
Yours in Health, Fitness, and Wellness,
Karen Williams-deCastro~CPT