Thursday, August 27, 2009

The Next Chapter

I feel like I am finally at the tail end of my transition...the "summer of divorce" is coming to a close and the change of fall is in the air. Next week is a big week for my children and me. Brenden will start kindergarten. Natalie begins 8th grade (keeping on top of this boy-crazy girl is going to be a challenge!). My Washbellies are going to start going to daycare at Crystal's after having been home with me since their birth. And as for me...after just over 3 years of being a stay-at-home-mom, I am happily going back to work.

I'm not really just "going back to work", I've landed my dream job with an amazing company and I am more than thrilled to be part of this team. Anybody who's known me since college knows my passion for fitness. I've always dreamed of having a job in the fitness industry - to get paid for doing what I love. And now that day has come and the timing couldn't be more perfect.

My friend Kristie is always telling me, "everything happens for a reason." She says it so often that sometimes I roll my eyes, in fun, of course. ;) But she is right, everything happens for a reason and in its own time. As I look back at the past year and the timing and wondering "why did I wait? Why didn't I do it then instead of now?" Everything is falling into place. Granted, it hasn't been easy by a long shot, but I always knew that there was a light at the end of the tunnel. That my kids and I would come out on the other side and that we would all be okay. Better than okay. I always believed...because others believed in me. I have been fortunate that while I was broken down, my friends always believed and forced me to believe in myself again and expect better things for myself and my kids. Timing is everything.

I remember so many times thinking to myself..."do I do it now? Are my kids ready? Am I ready?" I remember last spring, about 9 weeks out from the Vancouer show Butch telling me I should put the competition on hold and do what I needed to do: find a job and get the process started. I couldn't. I wanted to do the competitions. Really, I was scared, very scared. But I also know that the process of preparing those shows and cultivating the relationship with my coach was all part of the "plan." Without the determination and suffering to get to those competitions I would not have known the strength that lie within. And without weeks and weeks of email after email, educating me in bodybuilding, fitness and nutrition, I wouldn't have the knowledge to be in the place I'm in right now.

I remember the day it all started. It was a May morning after Brett and Brenden returned from Florida and I was very depressed. I was talking to Kristie at the gym at 5am and I told her I was ready, I was gonna do it. And then it began. By 9am I had an appointment scheduled with my lawyer, I already had a call in to my girlfriend, Erica who owns her own real estate brokerage. I was ready and movin'!

A couple weeks later I was connected to the folks at David Barton Gym and lined up for their interview process (which, by the way, takes a long time!) The timing ended up working out perfectly for me though, because my kids have needed me this summer, I've needed to work thru the emotional baggage of this divorce and now...it's a brand new time for us. School is starting, my dream job is starting and life is moving in a new, positive direction. I couldn't be more excited about the future and I couldn't be more optimistic. I always knew I would find my way to "the other side" and I think I just might be there now.

2 comments:

  1. That's awesome! I'm so glad everything is coming together. :) YAY

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  2. Congrats, Julie. You will do amazing things.

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