I Wonder…

Yesterday our friends, Jr. and Ivey Andrews, sent a prayer request for a baby born to a dead mother in Malawi on December 7th.  The baby was sent to his grandparents, malnourished and extremely ill.  The grandparents decided to utilize the local witch doctor who put a necklace of charms around the baby’s neck.  The baby almost died.

Fortunately he came to live with Jr. and Ivey last week and is already doing better. 

To survive against the odds makes me wonder what God has in store for this boy.  What greatness lies ahead?  Will he be a great leader in his country?  Will he help rescue others from poverty?

To survive tragedy can only mean that there is more we are left to do. 

This past week I read that survivors in Haiti were gathering in the evening to sing hymns and pray.  They sang in gratitude and also sorrow.  I wonder what they are thinking…to survive a major catastrophe when so many have perished; do they feel blessed or cursed? 

What I hope is that those who have survived will move Haiti forward.  In misery and despair comes an opportunity to grow and triumph. 

If we have survived tragedy, loss, hopelessness and sadness then we must be destined for something more.  We may not know what it is however God has a unique way of revealing our path when we are ready.  Lackson may not know his destiny for a long time however one thing I do know is that he is already favored.  He has already survived the odds and that can give hope to us all.

Susan

17 Again and…

Alright sisters – took our 12 year old to see 17 Again tonight. I enjoyed the opening dance sequence of 2legit To Quit and then oddly enough started feeling old. Was it because Chris and I graduated in 1989? Perhaps Matthew Perry as my peer – do we all have bags under our eyes like that? Yikes.

No – I absolutely would not want to go back to high school again. In high school I was awkward, terrified and brutally uncool. Every morning I woke up thinking ‘I’m fat, I’m ugly, I’m stupid, no one likes me…’ and the entire dialogue played over and over as I walked down the halls of my school, never feeling like I fit in.

Then there was the hot guy and oh my – he was super hot with piercing dark blue eyes, perfectly messy blonde hair, an amazing bod and that quiet confidence that spoke volumes. Yes, the girls absolutely melted over him.

Well fast forward time and financial devastation, a divorce, a lot of personal growth and voila – I get to go to bed with the high school hottie every night. If I had known, in the 80’s, that I would get the guy I wonder if I would have given up my endless obsessing and self flagellation. Perhaps I would have obsessed anyway.

Today I had one of the best radio interviews yet. I did a show in Reno with Rodd Stowell. Rodd asked me about happiness and how it could possibly be that, in places such as Africa where I travel, people could be so happy without having very much. My response was that if you focus on what you have and let go of the ‘what if’ like Matthew Perry’s 17 Again character, you learn to appreciate that there is a gift in all things.

So here I am, about to burst at 34 weeks pregnant, packing up this house, getting ready to move with no home to move to yet, running our businesses and challenged to find a comfortable way to sleep with this belly and yet I have everything because I have my man, our kids, God and amazing support team; best of all I have morphed from that awkward high school kid and I don’t have to live a life where I don’t feel that I fit in…I created a life where I absolutely do fit and I thank God that I will never be 17 again.

The Countdown Begins

Here we are – 2 weeks until the big ‘M’ – yes – we are moving on the 29th, packing our things and heading south. The reality is that we have sold our house at full list thanks to God and the law of attraction and we do not yet have a place to live in our new home state. Yes, in two weeks my family will leave Canada for the U.S. and no – we do not yet know where we are going to live.

O.K. – I know what you must be thinking – there are countless homes on the market. Yes, there are and it is a buyers market however due to my advanced stage of pregnancy we haven’t been able to jump on an airplane and go househunting. The good news is that there is definitely much to choose from and we are grateful to have so many opportunities.

In the meantime we have a house to pack, children to care for, clients to coach, a book project started and numerous conference calls. On top of it all – I must be obsessive because I did a home presentation for my business last night. It was fantastic though and also emotional because my friend, April, shared her 100 pound weight loss story. April was mentioned in the previous blog.

At this moment if I think about everything we have to do and stress about what is going to happen I could get overwhelmed and what’s the point? Life is an adventure and even the best plans go down the drain. Chris and I are excited to move and go to the next level. Yes, we may be bringing this baby home to a hotel but hey – we won’t be making our own beds!!!

As long as we have each other, are with our kids, are healthy and abundant we truly know that God will take care of the rest. The kids start school August 1st in Arizona and we know the perfect house is waiting for us.

Life is always going to have challenges, it’s what we do with them that builds our character and makes a great story.

With Love

Susan

The Best Thing About Life Is Positively Impacting the Life of Someone Else

This morning my day began with a radio interview at 6:45 a.m. The station had ‘lost’ my bio, my introduction and somehow managed to misplace their copy of my book. After a short pre-brief, did the interview and got on with the day. Right now I am in the middle of a mini radio tour. Tommorrow I will be on KPQ-AM in Washington. I love the radio because I can be in my yoga clothes, no make-up, barefoot and pregnant and no one knows. It is so liberating and not as much pressure as television.

After the radio, clearing about 30 emails, getting the kids prepped, briefing my Executive Assistant, Sandy and oh yes – multiple trips back in the house for things forgotten due to pregnancy brain we took the kids to school and headed to the gym.

Being 8 months pregnant, I am not getting a full restful sleep and to compensate for that I am diligent about eating a healthy vegetarian diet and taking the best supplements. Every morning I drink an enzyme rich, natural whey protein shake which totally super charges my body. So after that and the proverbial hand full of vitamins it was on with the day.

The highlight of my day was powerwalking with my friend, April, this afternoon. In the last two years I have coached April to releasing over 100 pounds. Not only does she look amazing, she is now running about five miles per day and a total inspiration.

Athough April and I have only known each other for a few years I will be sad to leave her. When I see her running by my office window in the morning, her lean fit body striding effortlessly down our street I feel incredibly blessed that God put her in my life and granted me the skills and resources to assist her.

We were laughing at how the times have changed. At eight months pregnant I am not as fast going up the hills as I usually would be and now April doesn’t even break a sweat.

The woman that April has become is not a result of the weight loss, it is entirely who she was beneath the ‘armour.’ Today she runs around with her kids, volunteers in the community and is absolutely a role model to any woman who has spent her life struggling with weight.

A fun fact about April is that her first cousin is Ryan Gosling, the actor, who has been known to infrequently appear in her driveway. I know Ryan must be proud of his cousin.

When I think about April or the women involved in our Have It All Women’s project I am reminded that people are put into our lives for a reason. Everyone has a gift to offer us whether it is to teach us something about ourselves through contribution or strengthen our resolve. As I write this tonight I sit in gratitude for the many women, like April, who have the courage to change and the will to stay healthy so they can empower others.

Hot Date

After spending several hours of coaching, mentoring and training Chris and I decided to have a ‘hot date’ – literally. Thanks to the graciousness of my in-laws Chris and I did a Bikram yoga class.

Bikram absolutely rocks. It is done in a room that is over 100 degrees and follows a specific series of poses. Admitedly, being eight months pregnant I have to modify many of the postures. Having been an athlete for years and also having done Bikram on and off for the last ten years I can share that very little beats that feeling of sweating, stretching and cleansing the body. At the studio I go to there are several pregnant gals and we are all enjoying the benefits.

Last week I read Dara Torre’s biopic on her Olympic bid at the age of 41. Dara is a mom and worked out extensively during her pregnancy. She is definitely an inspiration to moms and women everywhere. One of the things she writes about is that doctors really do not know what capacity a fit, athletic, healthy woman in an uncomplicated pregnancy has to train. D.T. swam and did weights right up until she delivered.

Paula Radcliffe, the uber-marathoner, ran right up until the end of her pregnancy and delivered a healthy baby girl.

For my first daughter, I played squash the night before I went into labor. She was two weeks overdue and the squash likely got things moving.

For 14 years I was a certified personal trainer, nutritionist and lifestyle coach. I worked with many pregnant women. Exercise, with doctor’s approval, kept these women sane. Any woman who has been pregnant knows that there are parts of the pregnancy which can be less desirable than others. Exercise releases stress, promotes circulation, regulates non-essential weight gain and much more.

Here I am at week 33 with baby 4 and whether it is Bikram, the Eliptical, some running, or weights I do something active every day. Pregnancy is natural and not a disease.

When I travel to Africa or Cambodia the pregnant women are working in the fields, gathering firewood, getting water and so much more. Lieing in bed, eating Ben and Jerry’s and watching Oprah is not an option. Infant mortality in these countries is due to poor pre-natal nutrition and disease and not a high level of physical activity.

In my book – the Have It All Woman, I wrote about creating a clearing to do something each day to contribute to your health. When you are healthier you can accomplish more in all areas of your life. Working with thousands of women the first thing I tell them is to get off their behinds and exercise. To put your own health last is the most selfish thing you can do.

This is why I am so grateful for the zen yoga state I arrived home in as we got into an emotional entanglement with Sarai, our 3 year old, over which pajamas she wanted to wear to bed, got the kids down, did some calls and co-taught my Marketing Boot Camp telecourse with P.K. Smith. Yes – just a normal night in my house. Exercise is my drug of choice thank you very much.

That being said it is off to bed and putting it out there to the universe, who I call God, that the woodpecker sleeps in tomorrow.

Susan

Sleep

4:59 a.m. – the woodpecker outside my window is at it again. Fell asleep in my husband’s arms at 11:48 with a notion to sleep for 7 hours. Not happening this a.m. Thank goodness for great nutrition and my one cup of organic Starbucks. for those of you who read my last article on www.stepintoyourpower.com – you will know that the woodpecker and I are not b.f.f.’s.

In our house we have ‘kid of the day.’ The kid of the day is the child who is dressed, has their bed made, had breakfast, taken their vitamins, brushed their teeth and is completely ready for school first. This morning our son was in our room at 6:15 in his school uniform with his bed made. Our 12 year old followed at 6:50. While I write this both kids are having their breakfast and strong contenders. In the event of a tie they will both get $2 which is applied to their back-to-school fund.

In two and a half weeks we are driving to Arizona, our new home. It is pretty surreal and we still have much to accomplish. Currently we have an offer in on a house, our home is fully sold and are grateful to at least have a hotel booked for our arrival. I have so much left to do and in addition to that run our company which is comprised of two main businesses.

In an hour my executive assistant a.k.a. ‘my angel,’ Sandy, will arrive and we will get on with things. After taking the kids to school and a workout I will be in full production mode.

The greatest gift of being self-employed and working at home is that we can decide what we do and when we do it. Today that includes numerous conference calls, working on several articles for various publications and yes – like all mom’s thinking about what we are going to have for dinner.

This morning I am grateful that the sun is shining, our kids are happy and that I have so many possibilities to create an impact. Let’s seize the day!!!

The Adventure Begins

Hello Everyone:

Yes – I am committed…to blogging that is. The focus of my blog is going to be on production as a busy mom of 3 kids – ages 12, 6 and 3 and one on the way – yes – I am 8 months pregnant.

I believe that we can have it all. The great thing is that we all want different things. My life has been a journey – bankruptcy, a painful divorce, illness, and lost hope to triumph, financial success, travelling the world to promote social causes, writing and helping thousands of people. I feel blessed to be a citizen of this planet.

Wherever you are at right now in your life know that you have the opportunity to write a new story. This is your life, your journey and it doesn’t have to look a certain way – it can be whatever you desire.

I invite you to share in my adventures and I hope that I can inspire you to be, do and have more in your life.

Go for your dreams,

Susan