keep moving forward...

let me just tell you, i love this woman! she inspires me to no end! she's a wife, a mom to two sweet little girls, a well-educated exercise specialist, personal trainer and, recently, a Savage Ambassador!

she's extremely goal-oriented and has her own fitness studio, Challenge by Choice Training, located on the corner of rt 4 and 29 in schuylerville, NY.  i'm telling you, whatever goal she sets for herself or her business, she achieves and often surpasses. her recent endeavors have brought her to the Fitness Universe Tour arena, where she has already competed in two fitness shows. she walked away from those two shows with several trophies. 

her dedication, drive and determination to move forward in this industry is truly inspiring. but what i love most about her is her humbleness, her kindness, her optimism, and her willingness to help whenever, wherever, and however she can. she really goes the extra mile and gives each one of her trainees personal attention. seriously. in all my years "working out" and training in different cities and gyms, i have never come across anyone quite like her. 

perhaps this is why i pay the "big bucks" to train with her. 

oh, and did i mention she's a Christian? i know that might not be important to some people, but it's definitely something that is important to me. 

Jodi Lynn Mehan, trainer extraordinaire, sent her trainees the email below last night. she not only provides us with the physical tools to improve our physical health, she also gives us that "something extra" for our minds and spirits as well. 

take a read of this stirring piece, and just try not to be inspired! 

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"You are responsible for exactly who, what, and where you are in life. That will be just as true this time next year. Situations aren't important. How you react to them is." - Kekich Credo

"Today I learned a valuable lesson. And yes, this is just one more email from sweatrinserepeat. But sometimes these emails are just as much for me as they are for you......and as always , we are all in this together at CBC. Read it or delete it........but thanks for being there.....

I am often thought of as annoyingly positive in my thinking and in my actions.....and that's ok. It keeps me in the right frame of mind to help others, get out of myself and remember that negativity spreads easier than positive vibes, so I do my share to try to keep the score as even as possible. You know that one negative person at work who is NEVER happy with any situation? It is raining that day, the copier is out of paper, Tuesdays stink....no matter what, they build up a toxic environment wherever they go. Smile at them.......they hate that. However, you might just change their attitude, ya never know.

Today, I stepped into the TOXIC tornado of darkside thinking and I couldn't get out. Doubt, fear, insecurity, heck just being inept in general, flooded my being! I do NOT like being there, but sometimes we get so deep in it, we can't see our way out. Until we ask for help. I needed help, I called a fellow CbC Trainer and she helped me see I AM capable, I have faced fears before and I have to move forward. As I listened half heartedly still stuck in my chaotic thinking, I got a text from a trainee with a thank you for what I do. Really? Is that how this works? We get what we need when we need it, not what we want when we want it.

You see, I was comparing CBC to other places as I work hard to create the new face of our studio at our new location. I want it to be all it can be, and I want everything all at once. I was comparing what I have to what others have and it got me in a bad space. Sure I want it to be everything to everyone, but what I want and what I need are different. What I need is to believe in the power of change. What I need is to harness my passion to help you live a better life. What I need are those little texts that say as small as our community is, it has a big impact in your lives. THAT is what I need. Not 10,000 sq. ft of wall to wall metal.

You know I love Rocky Balboa right? He didn't have much right at the start, but he had heart. And he lost his first fight but gained so much more. He got what he needed, not what he wanted. He stood until the last round no matter how bad it hurt and he NEVER GAVE UP. He went the distance.

Trainees, no matter what you are facing, with your goals, your life, your family.........we do have control over how we react to it. It may not be what we want, but just what we need right then. Our reaction, leads to further action that will create where we go in life. We can change our reaction when we know it isn't quite right by asking for help from other like minded people. Or we can stay stuck, reacting negatively and creating toxic thinking that keeps us in a place we don't want to be.

Here's to doing it differently today. Here's to being there for one another. We don't have to let situations or other people control us or our lives. What is important is how we react to them and what we do next..........
I am going to stay true to what I started at CBC, that is what I am going to do next!

Thanks for inspiring me everyday...........strong bodies, strong minds and strong spirits!"

Jodi Lynn Mehan