The year 2020 has symbolized a lot of things for different people, and today I’m thrilled to finally share my word of the year with you — CHANGE. I was hesitant to post about this prior to now, and here’s why.
Saturday was my last day working at Orangetheory Fitness. Most of you know that I worked as the Studio Manager in the Park Slope location of Brooklyn for three and a half years! It was a wild ride that took me from the solo employee selling memberships on a construction site to accommodating almost 1,200 members to sold-out classes. It’s a very busy studio with a million parts moving at once, and I can honestly say that I’ve never been bored working the front desk during any one of my shifts. Every day was different, and the experience taught me more than I expected it to. My days started at 5 a.m. and came with incredible highs along with unpredictable challenges to navigate.
I am extremely grateful for the opportunity that I was given and trusted with to help open a new location in my neighborhood! I’m going to miss my co-workers, my OTF Brooklyn/Queens team, and most of all, the members that come day in and day out with stories and smiles. The best part of my job was when it didn’t feel like work at all … chatting with members, roaming the lobby to catch up with how the weekend went for everyone, and seeing peoples’ lives change right in front of me. That kind of personal success and inspiration is unparalleled and so cool to witness!
That being said, the decision to leave my role this year did not come lightly, but it proved to be the necessary next step while focusing on the future for myself, my family, and my career path.
Have you ever felt like you’re keeping busy doing a lot of things, but doing none of them well or up to your potential? That’s exactly how I’ve felt over the past few years when I lost the time to write consistently, the motivation to pursue personal training, and most recently, the hours needed to grow my Beautycounter business.
Becoming a mom is and will always be the most important job to me, and juggling everything I was doing at once greatly affected my performance. I struggled to write in whatever free time I had, I sacrificed sleep and averaged about 4-5 hours a night, I came home too tired to play with Skyler more times that I like to admit, and I just didn’t see a path to grow anymore. I felt stagnant and on autopilot into survival mode. Add Scott’s travel schedule into the mix and it started feeling impossible. Something had to give!
Last year was a huge reflection year for me. And looking back at this post feels surreal (sharing my word for 2019 as DREAM). Something clicked in me to figure out what drives me the most, what makes me the happiest, and to create a plan for how to make it happen. Re-attending the IDEA World Fitness Convention last June (after having to skip it for several years) lit a fire in me to stop dreaming and start planning, which brings me to where I am today sharing my #2020vision if you will — CHANGE.
So now, here I am, Day One in being Skyler’s full-time caretaker. It’s something that I never thought I would get the chance to do, and I feel very lucky for all of the extra time that I get to have with him.
Don’t get me wrong, this leap of faith to pursue CHANGE doesn’t mean that we have it all figured out. You’re talking to the girl who married Mr. Spontaneous and was talked into uprooting our lives and moving to a new city (away from our families and support systems) after a big job lay-off … twice. You’re looking at the couple who moved to New York City in a U-Haul with three pets, without jobs, without an apartment, and without a plan beyond “making it happen.” And yet, here we are almost four years later, both leaving our comfort zones of full-time and steady work, more optimistic than ever to make our dreams become our reality.
Some may call it crazy, but we like to call it God’s plan for us. It always seems to work out, and it’s undoubtedly tied to the faith we’ve had in our hearts that He will take care of us through the storms and guide us into the rainbows. And He certainly has.
So, what’s next for us this year? A lot of great things! Scott is currently in Chicago working diligently in planning entertainment for the 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend coming up, and his calendar year is quickly filling with gigs, contracts, auditions for local stunting/acting work, and trips overseas. I’m so proud of how hard he has worked on his business (he’s a consultant for sports entertainment and event production), and it’s come to a point where he needs help. I’m looking forward to also being in the position that I am to help him grow an online presence and highlight all of the cool things that he gets to do!
Beyond that, I am most excited about returning to posting regularly around here, growing my mission to share the importance of safer, cleaner skincare and makeup, and pursuing personal training. I’m highly considering putting my services online with 1-on-1 coaching, and I’m entertaining the thought of teaching group exercise again. I guess we will see how it all unfolds!
So there you have it. My word for 2020 – CHANGE – and what it means to me. I want you to know that I truly appreciate every one of you who clicks over to read my articles here on the blog, and that I don’t take you for granted, either. Thank you to all who have supported me and this space throughout the years, even through the rocky and not-so-consistent years. It means the world to me, and I am more than pumped to see where the next chapter takes us all together.
Here’s to a great start to the day, the week, and the rest of the year.
So much love to you!
Donna mason
Hi Heather. I am VERY proud of you and so excited for this new chapter in your life. I know it will all be for the best as change always is. I am a very long time reader back when you moved to Detroit so I have seen you handle so much of life changes along the way and have watched you grow your beautiful family after enduring so much. You got this girl. Happy 2020 and happy CHANGE to you.
Heather
Thank you so much Donna! I really appreciate the support and your kind words. Happy 2020 to you!
emma
have followed you for a while and can tell you’re very aligned with your new step–not an easy thing to find!! congrats and cheers to a great year!
Heather
Hi Emma! Aw, thank you so much. I appreciate you following the journey and your well wishes. Cheers to a new year ahead!
Marissa Vega
Hi Heather,
I have been reading for years and was thrilled when you moved to NY bc I couldn’t wait for all your suggestions on things to do. I’m so happy you have taken this leap of faith as a mother to 3 I know how busy it can get and you can’t get those moments back. That being said l, I work full time and don’t have time for a gym but I do go on YouTube everyday and find 30 minute workouts that I can do at home. I know after reading so long I would love to be able to workout with you at home. Maybe that is something you can look into. Thank you for bringing us on your journey!
Heather
Hi Marissa! That is so true – you don’t get those moments back! Which is a big part of this decision. My plan is to be able to offer online training and create templates specifically for clients with goals and equipment available in mind. Right now I’m in the beginning stages of building the program but will definitely contact you when I have it ready to go. Woo hoo, you go girl!
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West
I’m SOOO excited for you and can’t wait to see where this change takes you!! Love you, friend! 🙂
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West recently posted…How to become a Les Mills group fitness instructor (and how to prepare for training)
Heather
Thank you! I know this will be a great year for both of us and I’m always appreciative of your encouragement and support! xo