When Life Throws You Lemons…

It seems that over the past couple of weeks, it has been one thing, after another, after another, after another, and seriously there was no lemonade wanting to be made. I would have gathered just sat there and sucked on them and let the sour feeling flow through my blood and shut me off from the rest of the world. Literally.

So, if you’ve followed my blog or you know me, you know that it takes a lot for me to get to this point. It really takes so much stress to pull me into this kind of funk, and let’s be real, it’s a sucky feeling. With everything, there has to be a balance in your life: between working out, eating, school work, teaching, growing your small business, (if you do this) practicing your music so you can grow small business–it’s all part of balance. And I let mine get out of whack.

How did I do this? They weren’t big things to some people, but to me–they were, because I’m that type of person where, if I do one thing, ONE THING, off of what I think I should, I beat myself up for it. I have a hard time forgiving myself for it. For example: had 5 slices of pizza after I ate my supper on Tuesday (didn’t have any shame until yesterday 😛 ), banana bread, those saltine cracker things (I call them crack crackers) were in the house…ate almost the whole bag. Peanut butter……yeah, we won’t go there. But I realize looking back, there was something there, in my mind, that pushed me to let those lemons get to me.

Working out helped. I mean it seriously did! I’m officially on week 8 of 22 Hard Corps which I am totally stoked about. I kind of feel that I cheated week 7 from doing what it needed to do with what I ate–but hey, we’re all human. I have those days, I have those weeks as you guys know. So now what do I do from this moment on?

Well, I move forward! It’s Sunday! It’s a fresh start. It’s a clean slate to envision goals and go for them! It’s looking forward to a fun weekend coming, BUT not being able to allow myself to live in the now, in the moment that I am present in! It’s me taking every minute I have and making the most of them!

And that’s what I’m doing. I’m taking the lemons that life has given me these past couple of months and I’m squirting life in the eye with them. No lemonade–this time I’m sticking it to the man!! Now for some, making lemonade is what they need. They need that sweet taste of victory. But this week….I’m not looking for sweet victory. I’m looking for the total feeling on conquering what plagued me these past few weeks. So guys, don’t let the lemons get into you and make you sour! Don’t let what happened last week dictate this week. Take those lemons and do something with them. And personally—I’m squirting life in the eyes!

Sorrow Will Turn to Joy

It’s time!! School starts today and it’s kind of exciting to see all the kiddos again!!! So far, they’ve been very excited about continuing their music lessons and grow in their musical skills–so I hope that continues.

Last time I spoke to you guys, I talked about the fear of success. Because of that post, I have taken steps, baby ones–but still steps, to getting my dreams off the ground and flying. Of course, there have been obstacles that have popped up, but that’s normal. After all, life can’t be that simple.

All summer, I searched and searched numerous jobs, and none of them turned out like I thought they would. I started getting disappointed and frustrated that, for another year, I would be stuck in my parent’s house trying to figure out what to do. It didn’t matter how many times I prayed, what my devotions said, the reassurance of family and friends–I felt discouraged and defeated. I had writers block on my music, couldn’t find any gigs, the jobs I thought were great weren’t, family issues arose, and life just seemed to be spiraling out of control. On the way back from KC after an interview, I was just sitting quietly driving. No radio–just me, the hundreds of people in their cars, the road, and God. I was feeling discouraged and I didn’t know why, when a sentence popped in my head. “Don’t be like the Israelites wanting a king.”

Woah. Wait. Hold the spiritual telephone please–don’t be like what? Initial wondering makes you think and wonder if you came up with that on your own, but in the moment I was in, it couldn’t have been. I really feel there was a point to it, and I needed to listen. Driving along I-29, I figured, “Lisa. If you’re going to be doing something for the next 5 years while you’re building your music career–don’t you want to do something you enjoy?” (Thus my problem with job searching, I can’t just do something to get by, I want to enjoy it But is that a bad thing?)

So while this was all going on, a friend of mine (and my Beachbody coach)–had reached out to me and asked if I had ever thought about being a coach myself. My initial thought was, “yes, but I don’t have the money to do it, and I don’t know anyone that would be interested in Beachbody that would even make me remotely successful in running my own business, sssooooooo what’s the point?” Of course, I never said that out loud. (Until now 😛  )  Through the couple summer challenges I had been on with her, she just subtly hinted at me about it, but she didn’t push the issue. I could tell she wanted me too, but I think that’s where she understood me. Even though we’ve never met face-to-face, and have only known each other for what…a couple of months?….she understood that I needed time. Which I did.

There is a point to all this–I swear. 😛 And it goes along with the fear of success post! 😉 (Look at me tying everything together XD)

Anywho–going back to doing something you enjoy. I wrote a bit about my personal story and how I got started in weight loss and becoming healthy. Why it was important to me and sharing my journey with the world wide web. But I think I might have missed an important point–my point for everything I do–whether it’s writing music, performing it, working out, or teaching–I want to help people! I want to help young men and women (and more elderly men and women too) reach the potential that I know they’re capable of. This is why, I finally put my foot forward and signed up as a Beachbody coach myself.

Now you’re thinking, “Holy Hercules’ ghost–another one.” WAIT!! IT’S OKAY!!!! I’m not going to bombard you with sales pitch, ’cause like I said–I want to help people!! And that’s not the only reason I became a coach– I did it because I believe in the workouts and Shakeology. I’m also becoming a personal trainer, so I need to coach people!! Both online and face-to-face.

I’m still doing music–music is my passion and what I’m called to by God. I still believe that. I’m also still writing my novels because…well, because I like writing. I need creativity and creative jobs to survive. My brain has been wired for this and I feel the most at peace when I’m in these areas and doing them. So why not just add my athletic side to that? 😉

What drives you? What passions push you forward? Who do you know that pushes you to the next level? Because writing these randoms thoughts and letting you all know I’m a Beachbody coach–that’s terrifying to me. But it’s who I am and I can’t be scared of it. Just like I can’t be scared to follow my dreams: to do music, to write books, to be me. A teacher once said, “Do what you’re passionate about and follow it with all your heart. Because there’s enough people in the world who have settled–so be amazing!”

As classes started yesterday, I was excited for some reason. I woke up this morning and turned in my substitute teacher application in and was excited. I look at my agenda and have started planning things for my students, and I’m excited. I see what I’m going to be learning in my classes–and I’m excited. I have a few people who are already interested in what I’m doing as a coach and have asked to learn more–I’m excited. I got a logo made, business cards done, 2 songs almost completed, and have met connections in this area that want to help me grow my music–I’m excited!!

If you would had told me this summer, I would feel this way right now on August 16th, 2016–I would have laughed at you. But now–no–

I’m excited!