Freedom...not just a word
from my favorite movie Braveheart...but also my new mantra. And where I have
found it recently is from giving myself permission to be free. I've always been
a free spirit but I lost that somewhere along the way. The point is that we set
our own limitations and if we set them, then we can free them. It starts from
the thoughts we wake up with every day. It's a choice to decide what we want
out of the day and how we react to things that come our way.
With freedom comes a fire inside...a fire to do something
more in life, something bigger than ourselves and that is also where faith
comes in. I got a Celtic cross tattoo on my wrist so I am reminded every day of
not only my faith but to trust in God's plan and lean not on my own
understanding. This is freeing because quite frankly, I do not think I
have the capacity to understand why some things have happened in my life. But I
am certain that they will not define me and my future. They are part of my story,
but will not restrict my ability to see all the world still has to offer.
We have the freedom to not just dream big but to also make our
dreams come true. We have the freedom to love if we allow ourselves to let go
of things lost. We have the freedom to start anew any single day we decide we
are all in. I know this because I decided this about 3 years ago and I am only
starting to see the new path unfold. But what if I never gave myself permission
to do so? I would be in chains not of this world...but of my own making.
I will not live life in fear but rather fearless. And I will
spend each day of my life making it the best day of my life because that is my
free will to do so.
Whatever you have to do to move forward, remember it is up to
you...truly it is. And the possibilities are endless if you will just take a
chance on YOU first. You deserve it.
Xo, Natalie Rene
4 months ago today I was in surgery to repair a herniated disc that was pinching a nerve in my left leg. I went from the intensity level of double workouts to laying on the floor of my family room questioning why things happen. I've pretty much learned that God has a plan for everything and my thoughts today are focused on my physical wellness...something that I had stopped appreciating. I was consumed with wanting to push my fitness to the next level but why? I had a Spartan race in mind, but I was also masking a lot of pain in my life. I thought I could out-fitness everything. I wasn't guarding my body and recognizing the limits. And I over did it and compromised my physical health.
While lying on the floor, all I could think about was wanting to hike a mountain in Alaska again. I have only done one with my brother & it was life changing. I almost didn't get out of the car because we saw a bear on the way up to the trail. My brother Nick told me to suck it up and that bears are afraid of noise and he had the dogs. Although I wasn't comforted, I can never say no to an adventure. Sigh...We climbed several thousand feet to the peak of Dome mountain. It was epic, the world melts away, and it's just the peacefulness, the one with nature, and the ability to exhale.
On the day of surgery I didn't care about getting back to high intensity workouts, my body image, or the scale. All I could think about was how I wanted to climb another mountain and get outdoors. And I honestly did not know how I would ever get back to the old me. Then again...I don't think I want that old me. The new me appreciates the ability to walk every day, to be an active mom & taking the girls to a park, hiking a trail, swimming for leisure not competition, and just the ability to be physically healthy.
That is what it is all about. It's about a feeling, an energy, confidence, comfort in your own skin, and just feeling physically emotionally and spiritually present. Wherever you are in your health and fitness, just begin again. Treat each day as a fresh start & new adventure. I hear another mountain calling my name and can't wait to add another memory to this journey called life.
Xo, Natalie Rene
I have been quite conflicted with the idea of time since experiencing some loss in my life. There are people who recommend being patient and that time heals all things. Then there is this overwhelming feeling to hurry up and get out there & enjoy life because it will pass us by. So what is the answer? I am not certain there is a perfect answer to this. But I do know that what's most important is what we do with our time and to make sure that we are most present in each moment that is given to us. And I believe that it must be lived to the fullest so there are no regrets.
With health and fitness, I have several people who have approached me lately and said I was the reason they were ready to start their journey. They told me that they saw how I never gave up & had stuck with my goals no matter what. They said I was relatable and knew I worked hard and so they knew in time, it would come for them too.
This makes my heart so happy because what I remember most profoundly from three years ago was saying, "It's now my time again."I woke up and just knew that I was not living to my full potential. And day by day, the small changes became the big results. And thus came new healthy habits which are now part of my life. But it took time.
We cannot overhaul everything in one day. My biggest struggle was always nutrition. I thought I could "out-workout" my diet since I was a fitness girl. It doesn't work when you are rehabbing your back for 4 months. I had plenty of time on my hands to refocus my energy on researching and learning more on nutrition because I was physically limited with exercise. And with that came a new outlook and appreciation for clean-eating. And now I can pay it forward to others, which only came because time slowed down a bit.
Sometimes we are given time by God because we are moving too fast and he wants to slow us down. Things happen that stop us in our tracks because we are missing the importance of a lesson. Other times we feel that nudge that it's time to step it up and get out there because it's time for us to achieve something bigger than we are. So we must listen to that calling. Whether it is a soft whisper or a deep roar from within, we have to be willing to hear it.
Are you moving too quickly or not fast enough? Whatever it is, just know that it's time to decide what is best for you. And you only live once so make the most of what is given to you.
Xo Natalie Rene
I think there comes a time in our lives when we need to take a full inventory of what is important to us and what is holding us back. This applies to family, friendship, work, and relationships.
I was asked a question this summer about "what do you want out of life Natalie?" I started talking about my girls, my job, my team and they stopped me. "No, I mean for you." At the time I said, I don't know. Because I really didn't. I think I was living for everyone else around me because I thought that was my purpose. What I was doing was filling up my days and calendar with a ton of things and I felt like I was in a daily rat race. "Me time" also felt selfish to me, but now I realize how important it is for growth. I have found time for me physically with working out and focusing on nutrition, spiritually through devotion and my church family, and emotionally by figuring out what I want in my life with friendships and family.
And with this process comes a detoxification. I have really had to sit back and think about what is holding me back or preventing balance in my life. The first thing I realized is how bad I am at saying no to things. I over-volunteered for everything because I wanted to be a super mom. But I am also a teacher to over 150 students a day and that is a big responsibility and calling. I also have a personal team of over 50 coaches now. They deserve the best of me and so do my girls when I come home. I was spreading myself too thin and not giving 100% to anything.
Second, relationships. When talking friendship and as we get older, we gravitate toward people who are like us and going through the same things. My Mom always told me friendships have phases, although true ones never leave. And we meet up again at times when our lives intersect, but sometimes we are just in different places. It's true. While I have a 10 year old & 4 year old, many of my friends are just getting started with their families. But I know we will all stay connected with the time we do have and treasure that. But I had to stop beating myself up about not having the same time I did before my responsibilities increased.
Love...not sure I have much clarity on this one yet. But I can tell you as you get older and more experienced, it's a lot easier to know what you want and settling isn't an option. It all has to be there physically, emotionally, and to me, the most important is spiritually connected. And life is too short for games, comparisons, or jealousy. As a mom of two girls, I want them to see healthy relationships and find the freedom to live and love freely, with nothing holding them back.
Third and lastly, detoxing involves change on our part. We have to look inward and outward and find what is holding us back. There also has to be a conscious effort to let certain things go. I have removed myself from environments that are not healthy for me, let go of people who are holding me back, and I'm working on giving my full trust to God and His plan for my emotional & spiritual growth. I say "working on it" because it's a lot easier said than done when we want to control every circumstance in our life.
I can honestly say everything I have been through over the last 2 years has given me more clarity on who I am and what I want out of life. But it is still a work in process. And I'm very blessed to be surrounded with such incredible family and friends.
My hope for you today is to let go of whatever is holding you back, detox those things that are keeping you from achieving the best you, and live each day to the fullest. It's not easy, but it's certainly worth it in the end.
Xo,
Natalie Rene
Sent from my iPhone