Random

25 Friday Oct 2013

Posted by Making Magic in Thoughts from Jenn

Tags

acceptance, Coaching, growth, learning, Life, new day, random, thoughts

I’m currently reading “words from a wanderer” it’s a great ~~book~~, well I guess you can’t really call it a book. It’s more of a collection of notes and poems and sayings by the author but none the less it’s still great.

As I was in bed reading the other night one of the quotes jumped out at me and changed my entire week, and although the words are simple they are deep if you allow yourself to really feel them:

Dear self,

There’s a blessing in every breath you take. Even when it’s hard to breathe, you have yet to suffocate. I commend you for your endurance even when the air is thick — keep breathing, keep loving, keep going…”

Love,
Self

As I read the last word all I could think about was all of the shit that I allow to consume me. Things that either won’t matter in a week, a month or a year or even worse things that are simply so far out of my control that even if I did attempt to try to change them it wouldn’t make the slightest of a difference….so why not keep breathing, keep loving, keep going?!?

I dove into my week wide open with this mind set and just allowed myself to be 100% present in the results as they unfolded beautifully.

I helped a student build confidence in a situation that I could have just let go. I found a solution that worked without ever making the student feel defeated. I relished in happiness for hours over the outcome of the solution and the gratitude that was expressed to me from their parent.

I logged and prepped every bite of food that went into my mouth & body. I opted for a salad over a sandwich and organic over fast food. I fueled my mind, body and soul with everything it asked for and or needed.

I feel strong, I feel alive.

I laughed long and hard with two year olds as we rolled around stretching our bodies and exploring new movements. I watched and encouraged as each of them tried new things. I cheered and yelled and clapped as they did their double forward rolls or walked like a crab across the bars to show each of them how truly special they are to me.

I drank green tea every day at noon and buzzed blissfully in the high.

I drove in my work van with the windows down and music up as I traveled from school to school, class to class while listening to country music and re-living some of my favorite memories from our time spent at stagecoach.

I watched as 6 of my advanced students gained the courage to throw a backhand spring on their own. I waited each time (stomach in knots) knowing they were ready (but scared maybe they weren’t) as they sprung backwards down the cheese, some successful some on their heads. I cheered and screamed and jumped up and down while applauding their courage and strength as they wanted to do more more more.

I had a photo shoot with Penny our best friends bulldog that just turned a year old. I made Colt put a pink hat on her, staged a fake pink cake while positioning her gift all in hopes to make our best friends smile and know how loved they are as they went through a difficult time.

I washed, dried and put away all the laundry (and it’s only Friday) which means happy weekend to me!

I enjoyed a glass of wine and a beautiful fancy dinner with my best friends and husband on a week night. We even ordered dessert (and yes, I tracked all the calories…)

I made home-made tacos with Colt and then snuggled on the couch with him and Kai while watching our DVR episodes of law and order svu and criminal minds.

I ran a few miles each day and watched happily as Colt got his stride back and me my running buddy.

I said a prayer as I got into bed beside Colt and Kai each night and felt my heart grow three times its size with love, happiness and comfort.

…and lastly I realized that the way we think of others is not always the same way that they think of us. Relationships change, people change, and just because we choose to accept this does not mean we are disregarding or belittling the hurt and sadness that this reality brings to us, but instead we are just choosing to make a conscious decision to focus on the good rather than spend our time stressing over things that are ultimately insignificant and/or out of our control.

Until next time keep breathing, keep loving but most importantly keep going…Balance is Everything!

Coach Jenn

02 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by Making Magic in Coaching

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Coaching, Fitness, follow your dreams, growth, gymnast, gymnastics, Happiness

This coming Monday marks the beginning of the school year here in Hawaii. It’s funny to be so vividly aware of this (since besides hearing about Colt’s two nieces going back to school and knowing that the tourist season is ending for restaurants) it’s not something that has directly effected my life in seven years. I pause as I write SEVEN years and recount the math on my fingers just to make sure. Could it really already be SEVEN years from when I walked proudly across that stage as a Hawaii Pacific University graduate with the whole world at my finger tips? The emotions of that day wash over me as I feel the weight of time passed heavily on my shoulders.

I can’t help but think how different my life has become in just the last four months never mind the last seven years! I put that aside though as I snap back to the present moment and look down at the pile of folders that are surrounding me on the floor. They are filled with new schools, class schedules, students names and information. I am officially a gymnastics coach, me, Jennifer Lee Stewart now also known as Coach Jenn. I mean who would have ever thought that the little gymnast years ago or the girl who did a back handspring in high school after getting her diploma would now be coaching?

I mean it all happened so quickly that its no wonder my heads still reeling. One day I was assisting coaching and thinking I was going to have this mellow laid back summer, and the next I was offered a full time lead coach / van manager position and riding alongside the coach I would be replacing in just four short weeks. So here we are eight weeks later (I spent four weeks training and since have been four weeks on my own) wrapping up my summer schedule and about to embark on a full school year that includes nine different schools, 18 plus classes and a ton of new students.

I’ve officially traded in my high heels for barefeet, my strapless bras for sports bras, dresses for workout clothes, curled or flat ironed hair for a ponytail, fishtail or tight bun, my love for MAC makeup every day (without fail) for a touch of mascara and bronzer and my Toyota Corolla for a Chevy Express. I’ve gone from watching the clock behind a desk desperately aware of every second passing and longing for freedom to trying to squeeze in 5 or 10 more minutes with each student in every class.

I feel like this is my true calling and purpose in my working life. I feel awoken, exhilarated and alive. I enjoy waking up in the morning and going to work. I love stretching and tumbling and giggling with each and everyone of my gymnasts. I love pushing myself and them to new limits. I love being reminded that anything is possible and that as long as you keep trying and don’t give up you will eventually get it and that falling (as long as you get back up) is ok. They make life sweeter, happier, better…they make me better and it feels great to be better than you ever thought you could be…”