Take a Deep Breath

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YOU have made it… another crazy year. And I hope you have made it with a big smile and a pat on your back.

The month of December was all about “go go go”… I realized that one thing I forgot to do most of the days was to take a deep breath and pause for a few seconds.  Now that it is sinking in that we are ending the year, I am sitting on a chair and taking my deep breath.  The house is quiet with kids being asleep and there is a sliver of comfort in that on going “need-to-finish-that” mentality.  It has been such a busy month that I managed to fall behind on everything that I try to stay on top! And now, it is almost 2022 and I am trying to catch up.  That’s why that one deep breath is VERY important to take. 

THis is when i needed to take a deep breath and let them go to town! (Cleaning can wait)

This month’s rush and hurry, actually, did a great job summing up the entire year for us.  We managed to keep our selves busy while isolating as much as possible.  We found comfort in our trusted circle of friends when we were able to hang out like normal people.  Derek and I were able to enjoy a date night for a change and two grown-ups-only dinners with friends. Kids continued to adapt to our constantly “going” lifestyle… They travelled to Turkey with me and did a great job in 13-hour flights - not to mention a paranoid mom double masking them the entire way!  

Last year’s theme of earning and adapting didn’t change much.  This year, we ended up settling into what we have learned from last year and then getting used to more changes.  For example, as remote kindergarten became hybrid for the last 6 weeks of the school year, I had to adapt to letting Kaya go! All that complaining about trying to teach him a language that is not even native to me, went out the door.  I missed him A LOT when he was at school but then got used to that too. We, humans, adapt very quickly!

As of today, I have taught 105 Train and Smile classes in 2021.  I was able to teach the classes from different parts of the US and also the world!  We manage to have 50 unique participants join and we used 51 different household items to work out with.  Most importantly, though, I have captured 105 “smile captures” at the end of each session.  From being a YMCA Boot Camp community, we have grown into a VERY BIG family (with sore muscles :)).  We even welcome two babies  to the group, where the moms were able to come back to the class 8 weeks after their deliveries (not the mention both of those moms took the classes all the way to their due dates)!!

I feel like, tough times will always be there to test us, what’s important is to take that deep breath and move forward, hopefully with a smile.  Looking at all those “smile captures”, I know that it is in all of us, to be able to smile after a tough day (or a workout).  So with that, I will give you the same challenge from last year’s blog:

* Find a pen/pencil

  • Put it in your mouth where the pen/pencil is parallel to the ground and the ends are sticking out from the sides of your mouth

  • Lean your back on the wall and come down to a wall squat where your knees are at a 90 degree angle

  • Hold your squat for 30 seconds with the pen/pencil in your mouth

  • Once you are down take the pen/pencil out of your mouth and check your face in the mirror.

  • Are you smiling? ;)

I wish you all a wonderful 2022 filled with health, strength and happiness…I am ready to take my big breath for this new year and all it has stored for us. I hope you are too.

smiles of gratitude

You survived another crazy year and for that a big high five to you!

ending the year with in a torchlight parade - couldn’t have asked for more… (skiing at night with torches in hands down the slopes)