August 31st, and I’m finally back in Montreal, sitting in the kitchenette at La Bat Cave, and letting the dust settle a little bit. Jean-Jacques and I have been traveling since last Thursday, when we packed our bags and headed off to Toronto for the WBFF World Championships held on Saturday the 27th. What a week it has been!
When I first decided to compete for this show back in the spring, I only had hopes to make the top 10 call-outs. Competition at a show of this calibre is fierce: everyone is beautiful, and everyone has a six-pack, so how do you stand out? How do make sense of your experience when there are 70 other athletes on stage with you, and everyone has worked so hard to get there, and everyone has high hopes just like you do? I remember going into my preparation for this year with the very clear goal in my mind that I would work hard at my training, that I would keep my nutrition healthy and constant, and that I would look back at these moments knowing that I had truly given it my all. What is most important, at least for me, is the process of pushing through my limits, the joy of seeing my strength and health improve, and seeing the changes in my character at the same time. Maybe it’s the yoga teacher in me, but I truly believe that the things in life that cause us the most difficulty, what we resist the most, are the very things that offer us the most improvement. Physically and emotionally, preparing for a big competition challenges me in so many great ways, it’s like a huge growth spurt at 40 years old! At the same time that I’m trying to improve my back shelf, I’m also trying to improve my inner self, and this is the journey I’m talking about. It has been an incredible process training via email and skype while in India, going through the culture shock of being on my own while working in a very different country, and then having to deal with corruption and bureaucracy trying to get out of the country back in July, yikes!!! It was like living a Bollywood horror-comedy all-in-one! But the experience really showed me how necessary it was to have peace in my heart no matter what was going on around me, it really showed me to be humble and stay grateful for all the great blessings of my life, and to keep my eyes on the positive side of things! We have so much here in North America, we really have a wonderful way of life with so much opportunity and beauty all around us. I really felt this sense of peace at the show this past weekend. For the first time in my life I didn’t feel nervous or jittery, just really serene and happy to be up there and part of a great show. I met so many fantastic girls, (and guys) backstage, and got to see my incredible training partner, coach and boyfriend, Jean-Jacques go on to win the Open Fitness Model Class with that trademark smile of his. For myself, I surpassed my goal of making the top 10 call-outs and actually received a medal for placing in the top 5. Now I’m beginning a new dream of actually getting my Pro Card with the WBFF. Next step, operation SMILE! :))) It was also so sweet to hear from girls who had been following my blog that they were inspired to try yoga and introduce more nutrition and culinary ideas into their diets in the future…This is exactly the direction that I ultimately want to focus on: yoga and cooking. For me, this year’s Worlds was full of amazing moments!!
Now that I’m back home and JJ and I have gone over feedbacks for the show, we are already strategizing on improving my game for the next event, and that’s how it goes: every accomplishment lays the groundwork for the next big goal. Enjoy and appreciate those accomplishments, learn from your mistakes, and stay open to improving your game. Keep it fun, keep it light, but chase after your dreams! I want to give a BIG shout out to my girls Crystal Kenny and Carol Lama for your constant love and support, it was AMAZING to have you guys cheering for us in the audience, and Rita Catolino, you were an angel backstage, thanks for everything, and I want that zucchini recipe!!! I also have to mention David Ford who gave JJ and I the best photoshoot experience ever, actually our first photo shoot together. You really made it something special, and you too are an incredible human being, (as well as a magician with that lens of yours)… Gratitude, gratitude…A big special thanks to Jean-Jacques for being all that a friend could possibly hope for. Your inner light shines through and through! And of course thanks to Mom and Dad for making it to the show and through the show, and for your steak dinners and blue-berry muffins…LOVE YOU!!!
My meditation for the next 9 weeks: “I don’t believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be.”
Ken Venturi
Live Your Dreams!
