Oh yes you can...

It is graduation season and a line from a poem by Erin Hanson is often quoted "What if I fall? Oh but my darling, what if you fly?" It is used as encouragement for graduates to inspire them to reach for the stars. Those who walk across the stage are filled with excitement and anticipation to fulfill their dreams. What was your dream? What was that hope you had for the future? For your life? Have you obtained that dream? Did fear hold you back?

I work with families whose children have disabilities and whenever I ask them to tell me about their child, they invariably begin with the disability that impacts them (often more than just one) and a list of all the things the child canNOT do. I will often say this does not describe that child. What do they like? What are their strengths? Even on the IEP (Individualized Education Program) the document used in school to assist with modifications; strengths are listed first. Strengths are used to assist with overcoming the areas of challenge.

As a society, we tend to look at all the obstacles, all the things that can go wrong, all the potentials for failure. When did we stop being that optimistic grad and stop looking at all the areas of possibility? You may say it's reality and maturity but there is a big difference between being prepared for the unexpected and using those moments as fear of failure.

I often listen to Ed Mylett, an inspirational speaker whose podcasts are incredibly successful. A self made icon in his field, Ed interviews a range of folks from authors to business tycoons to athletes to politicians. I have found some of his best to be when he is just talking to his listeners. The podcast from April 12 is entitled "Success Requires no Apologies, Failure Permits no Alibis" he used this quote from the book "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill which was written in 1937 and is one of the best selling books of all time! This podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ed-mylett-show/id1181233130?i=1000557221258 focuses on the theory that the book focuses on - that your challenges set you up for success. He shares how when we are faced with a challenge, we often quit. But we have to "pivot, adapt" and not quit. Ed is a deeply spiritual individual and he reflects on the fact that all the dreams you have were placed by a higher power. "God gave us our dreams - the preview of what is possible." He also has given us the gift to make that dream come true.

I am talking about REAL dreams - those that always pull at the recesses of your thoughts and not those whims that we sometimes have. I watched my brother run in the Marathon and thought "that would be great" but it is definitely NOT my dream!

I have always wanted to help people feel good about themselves and I remember being young and always giving friends compliments. I believe in seeing the good in people; seeing all the positives. When I work with families or teach children, I always focus on the positive elements and use that as inspiration. I recently had lunch with some friends whose children I taught religion and they all said they remembered our first conversation and that I told them all the same thing - he can do this. We will take it one step at a time. No judgement, no rushing to a conclusion - just one step at a time. They all received their Sacraments and had a sense of pride when they did.

I can't say that I always wanted to be a fitness instructor, but I did know that I wanted to inspire people in some way. Advertising was my future ambition, so creativity has always been part of my passion. At 57, it is rather daunting to begin this journey in an industry that typically would be geared toward someone younger. But when considering what my message would be and what would set me apart from the other fitness instructors it was quite easy. I want to inspire women to know that age is just a number and anyone can be healthy - mind, body and soul! I want someone to come to my class and feel good about themselves, their authentic selves. Not what they think someone else thinks! By the same token, I had to (and continue to remind myself) that I am not like another instructor-I am me.

I do not expect this journey to be easy, but I do feel that my success will be centered around changing the mindset of one person at a time. Just as I worked with one family at a time to rethink their child's possibilities, I aspire to have one person at a time feel positive and live like....