As we got closer to our competition I have to say my nerves really got the best of me. Honestly my biggest concern was that I was going to stick out like a sore thumb. The thought of everyone wondering what the hell I was doing there was enough to make me want to throw up. Not a great feeling. I knew that I was going to do the show no matter what, and the body I had now was what was going up on stage. Nothing to do about it at that point other than practise my posing and hope for the best.
Well I have to say that my first impression of the WBFF show was that the competitors were amazing. The girls were incredibly friendly, complimentary, helpful, and kind. I am pretty adept at picking up on others energy and I have to say that every girl in there was nothing but positive. Although it was a long day, we had a lot of fun back stage getting to know each other and ended up having a great time.
The first moment I stepped on stage was scary. You are trying to focus on so many things at the same time; walking, smiling, keeping your core engaged, posing. My mind went immediately blank for a few moments and then I got my act together, but let me tell you I was extremely grateful that the prejuging show doesn't tend to draw much of an audience. At first I thought the prejudging would be redundant, but it ended up being an excellent practise run for the big show that evening. You work out all of your nervousness in the morning so that by the time you step out on stage that night, you feel tremendously more confident.
Being on stage is a lot of fun. Nerve racking, but fun. Trying to keep your muscles engaged and posing over and over again is definitely a workout all by itself, not to mention walking in those shoes for hours! Let me tell you I didn't see my ankles for a few days afterwards, the swelling reminded me of what my legs looked like during pregnancy.
The best part of the WBFF show was the atmosphere. No one had an attitude about them, everyone was friendly and wished the best for their competitors. I honestly can say that I don't think many of the girls there even care where they placed, it was all about the experience. It was a show celebrating the accomplishments of fitness minded individuals regardless of what stage they were at in their training. Some girls were magazine ready, others had just started out. The point is it didn't matter. We all had our different reasons for being there and had an intimate understanding and respect for the other athletes and what they'd accomplished.
When the show was over it was definitely an emotional moment. It was the end of a new beginning, and the beginning of a new journey. I got to share it with my training partner and friend, Bre, who has shared in the struggles of competition prep and who has been by my side every step of the way. The show ending felt very similar to how you feel at the end of your wedding day; happy to be starting a new chapter and happy the hard work and planning is over, but a little sad that the excitement and anticipation of your big day is gone.
The most revealing part of this experience for me was seeing the pictures after the show. I was honestly dreading the WBFF stage pictures. I was expecting to be devastated as I compared myself directly standing next to some of the incredible women I shared the stage with. When the pictures were posted, I cried. I didn't stand out. I didn't look strange up there next to all that beauty. I looked just like everyone else. It was a feeling I'll never forget. I came face to face with the reality that I was no longer striving to have a great body, I had one. Sure I want to improve even further and take my physique to the next level, but I am pretty happy with how far I've come in just six short months.
The competition, our photo shoot, even our Facebook page, has become a celebration and commemoration of the triumph and struggle to change our lives. We have accomplished much but it's just the beginning. The end of the competition marks the start of a new chapter of our fitness, who knows what the next year will bring.
To all of you that have shared in our journey, thank you.
Meg
Monday, July 23, 2012
On Happiness
It's a curious thing, happiness. Every goal we pursue in life, whether it's for money, philanthropy, relationships, or material possessions, it all has the same motivation; happiness. We want to create and maintain the highest level of happiness possible for ourselves; some believe that may be through helping others, some believe that's achieved by creating material wealth, others may equate happiness with the state of their personal relationships.
We all have a vision for our lives that we think is synonymous with happiness; that ultimate reality in which all of our dreams have come true. The difficult part about it is that much of what we deem worthy of creating happiness comes from other people and outside sources, this means that our happiness is conditional. It also means that unless certain circumstances arise and particular individuals cooperate, we may never achieve our perceived ideal of happiness. We spend our entire lives in pursuit of happiness, some of us find it along the way, others have it and then lose it, some people never find it at all. It doesn't seem fair. Certain individuals seem to get a disproportionate advantage over others; money comes easily to them or they seem to be lucky in love, whereas others suffer disappointment after disappointment.
What I want to tell you about happiness is something that has changed my life dramatically. It's a perception and attitude that guarantees your happiness regardless of what circumstance or obstacle comes your way. The secret is wholeness as an individual. The secret is not depending on others and outside influences to create or destroy happiness for you, it's creating the happiness within yourself so that regardless of what happens, happiness is there.
Creating happiness within yourself isn't conditional. There are many situations that would challenge this happiness to it's core; the death of a loved one or complete financial ruin. It wouldn't be easy to find happiness after a tragic event, no one said it would be easy, but we can find peace in the knowledge that even in tragedy there are lessons and points to be made. We are all part of the grand design; nothing is meaningless.
I liken it to viewing your life as a boat in the ocean. Your job throughout life is to build your boat in to an impenetrable ship; unsinkable even in the most devastating of storms. If your ship becomes attached to another ship and dependent on it's performance to stay afloat, what happens if that ship leaves? Become fearlessly complete. Know that each and every event and person in your life has significant meaning. Becoming a resilient and happy individual is a skill that comes with practise, not an ability only a few are born with.
Your life is like a handful of sand, the tighter your grip the faster it slips through your fingers. Hold your life in your hands with open palms. Accept all that comes your way with the strength and knowledge that you are destined for happiness and to achieve great things. When you make the decision to be happy regardless of what life brings your way, you create joy in a form that can not be destroyed. Be joyful. Be grateful. Love your life in whatever form it takes. Happiness that comes from within is an impenetrable fortress, build it and forever reap the rewards.
Meg
We all have a vision for our lives that we think is synonymous with happiness; that ultimate reality in which all of our dreams have come true. The difficult part about it is that much of what we deem worthy of creating happiness comes from other people and outside sources, this means that our happiness is conditional. It also means that unless certain circumstances arise and particular individuals cooperate, we may never achieve our perceived ideal of happiness. We spend our entire lives in pursuit of happiness, some of us find it along the way, others have it and then lose it, some people never find it at all. It doesn't seem fair. Certain individuals seem to get a disproportionate advantage over others; money comes easily to them or they seem to be lucky in love, whereas others suffer disappointment after disappointment.
What I want to tell you about happiness is something that has changed my life dramatically. It's a perception and attitude that guarantees your happiness regardless of what circumstance or obstacle comes your way. The secret is wholeness as an individual. The secret is not depending on others and outside influences to create or destroy happiness for you, it's creating the happiness within yourself so that regardless of what happens, happiness is there.
Creating happiness within yourself isn't conditional. There are many situations that would challenge this happiness to it's core; the death of a loved one or complete financial ruin. It wouldn't be easy to find happiness after a tragic event, no one said it would be easy, but we can find peace in the knowledge that even in tragedy there are lessons and points to be made. We are all part of the grand design; nothing is meaningless.
I liken it to viewing your life as a boat in the ocean. Your job throughout life is to build your boat in to an impenetrable ship; unsinkable even in the most devastating of storms. If your ship becomes attached to another ship and dependent on it's performance to stay afloat, what happens if that ship leaves? Become fearlessly complete. Know that each and every event and person in your life has significant meaning. Becoming a resilient and happy individual is a skill that comes with practise, not an ability only a few are born with.
Your life is like a handful of sand, the tighter your grip the faster it slips through your fingers. Hold your life in your hands with open palms. Accept all that comes your way with the strength and knowledge that you are destined for happiness and to achieve great things. When you make the decision to be happy regardless of what life brings your way, you create joy in a form that can not be destroyed. Be joyful. Be grateful. Love your life in whatever form it takes. Happiness that comes from within is an impenetrable fortress, build it and forever reap the rewards.
Meg
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