" At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." ~Albert Schweitzer

For someone who loves every single thing about being fit, not being able to go to the gym is a terrible prison.  It is mentally and physically torturous.  For someone like me, removing my access to train would be like removing part of my soul.  I would venture to say that by removing my ability to go to the gym and train, could be used against me to tell my deepest darkest secrets.  Not only does your body slow down, turn to mush and deteriorate but your mind does as well.  I am one of "those people".  You know, the ones who are at the gym day and night.  The ones that eat, drink, breathe, sleep, dream about the gym.  Yes, I am even one of those that is in the gym on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and New Years Eve and New Years Day.  

I am a national physique competitor and I love every single thing about  being fit.  I love the training, dieting, the discipline, the sights, the sounds and the smell of the gym. And I absolutely LOVE that sore feeling you get the next day after training so hard you can't hardly move.  That blinding soreness and pain that takes control of your body and every move you make...or don't.  I know, Sick, right?  

Well unfortunately, thanks to the economy and circumstances surrounding it, my ability to train had been put on the back burner for a couple of years.  GASP! "What the Hell am I going to do?"  Yeah, don't think I didn't lose my mind  and months of sleep trying to figure this one out.  But, there are times when Life chimes in and decides to teach us lessons that we might not normally give a second thought to or things that we take for granted.  I won't get into my thoughts and views of the economy on this blog because God knows I have a lot to say about that.  But anyway, as I was saying, Life sometimes will teach us lessons which forces us to take a good hard look at our lives and where our priorities lay.  I think birth, death, cancer and serious illness are some of the things that can do this. While any one of those things would have a great impact on my life as well, in this case it was loosing my income.  So now those bubblegum pink patent leather 6" stilettos, the ones that make your legs look amazing, didn't look so cute.  And the $600 custom made leather corset was no longer necessary. Out went my plans for the following years list of contests & competitions I would train for and compete in.  My nutritionist and my trainer would have to wait and that killer new contest bikini that was being made just for me had to be canceled. ...sigh.  This was my life. 

So there I sat.  Sitting on the beach, watching the waves ebb and flow and having a long discussion with Life and the Universe.  No, I'm not going to turn this blog post into a look into the dark recesses of my mind and soul and fill you in on all the boring details of soul searching an questions.  The end result is fairly predictable and what we all know but rarely want to face if it means that we must give up our most prized possessions.  Everything in life has it's place.  And the lesson here was for me to learn to prioritize them accordingly.  Competing, training and having a great body were not the priorities in my life that I once thought they were.  At least not right now.  Right now is about finding employment, paying the bills, the mortgage and making sure I had food on the table.  Those are priorities.  That's life.  

Yes, that was life as it were for me three days ago.  Three days ago There was no gym and no possibility of seeing the inside of a gym anytime in the near future with out, of course, employment.  And employment, gainful employment, is as elusive as a four leaf clover.  They're out there, but they are hard to find and EVERYBODY wants one!  Well, do you believe in Angels?  I did, but thought that mine had abandon me a few weeks back when I cursed them for the parking ticket I had gotten while on an interview for a job I didn't even want.  No, apparently the Angels had not abandon me but just wanted to teach me another one of life's little lessons.  'Always put more money in the meter than you think you will ever need'.  Got it!

Long story short, three days ago I was blessed with a membership to my beloved gym.  The details on how this came to be shall forever remain a secret.  But, this goes with out saying... I am eternally grateful.  So...

I'M BAAAACK!!!!

I'm still looking for that elusive four leaf clover and gainful employment but in the mean time I will at least be able to do it all with a smile on my face, love in my heart and a much better out look on life.  And that just may be the ticket I need to be successful in finding just the right new job. 

See you at the gym!!!

xoxox...
L & L