I have not felt that “first day of school” feeling in six years. Last night I locked the door on my Mashpee Koko FitClub for the last time. I packed my car and prepared for the first day at my new club in Centerville. I was apprehensive, my members were apprehensive – none of us knew what to expect today in our new digs.
This morning I was up at 5 am, just like on the first day of school. I was ready hours early. Of course, I went early because I wanted to be there for my members on their first day, just like I used to do for the kids. And those questions: What will the drive be like on my new route? How will working out before work go there? What will it be like working with other fit coaches after being the only one in Mashpee? Will I like my new position? How will my members transition?
And, just like every first day for 35 years, all my fears were unfounded. We all had a great time. Mikayla, the manager, and I blended our stuff, organized the place and decided how we were going to run things. (Let me just say Mikayla taught preschool so we were really on the same page.) I can’t be happier to be sharing a club with her. My mornings are so much easier and a lot less hectic and stressful with my new schedule. My members came in and did well adapting to the change. One even said the tiny club was cute. Lol!
As if the day wasn’t going well enough, our area manager came in and said she had a surprise for me. She told me I am going to take the course to become a certified personal trainer. Imagine that! 62 years old and I’m going back to school to train for a new career. I was ecstatic. I really want to be more help to my members, but I knew I needed more training and now Koko is going to give me that opportunity.
Talk about change. Phew. It came in like a blast of wind on still night. First my club suddenly has to close and now I’m going back to school. I have written in the past about the Prayer of Jabez that I utter every morning and I always marvel at the line that says “enlarge my territory.” Everyday I entice God to give me more with that line. Well this month he took me seriously. My territory is bursting at the seams with all the changes and new opportunities coming my way.
I have finally learned to embrace change and use the fear that comes with it to empower myself. When new things are flung at me unexpectedly, I now look at it as an adventure instead of complaining about it. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- change is hard, but necessary and good things always come from it.
And so, as another day goes by, I thank God that He has given me another chance to experience “a first day of school ” again, and…I have written.
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