A time comes when we all have an option to make a living, to support our families with something we aren’t sure is a good fit for us? How do we know we will like it? How do we know we will succeed? How do we know if it’s where God truly wants us?
Ever since I was a little girl, I have wanted to help people. Sure like most, I wanted acceptance from my family and peers and I knew helping them would aid in this goal, but the natural emotional and sensitive heart that God gave me created a deep sympathy and empathy when others were hurting. Even with actors in the movies! I’ll never forget my 7th birthday watching “An American Tail” with a couple friends in the movie theater. I ran down the aisle to hide next to my parents as I sobbed like a baby during “Somewhere Out There.” This was heartbreaking stuff! Poor Fievel lost from his mom and dad. I was a mess! In fact, I’ve been crying real tears ever since from others pain fiction or not. And the same goes for tears of Joy. Watching a YouTube video of deployed military moms and dads reunited with their children after months or years, I will totally ugly cry with Joy!
We all have such unique God-given gifts but one of life’s greatest adventures is figuring out what to do with them and watching them evolve. I always loved babies and kids when I was growing up. I had tons of younger cousins, my sister and I being the oldest, so I had loads of babysitting opportunities and experience at a very young age and absolutely adored the littles! It’s no surprise I spent the majority of my childhood years wanting to be a teacher when I “grew up”, because I loved kids and also loved being a leader. You should’ve seen my school room in the basement of my house when I was in the 4th grade. I spent all my babysitting money for years buying white boards, staplers, chalk, contact paper, you name it, I either had it or was saving for it.
I was sure I wanted kids of my own someday too. I was so inspired by a few of my aunts who had four kids. What a dream to me! Seriously! Of course, I learned early on through the dating years that boys didn’t feel the same way, so I might want to consider lowering that expectation. Well, at the least I should probably avoid verbalizing it. If I scared all the boys away, I’d never have a shot at one kid! I needed to at minimum keep my mouth shut until the “I do’s” of the wedding anyway. I’ll never forget when the minister asked in the required premarital counseling how many kids we wanted. My husband said he’d be good with two. (Note to Self: I have some work to do.) I knew I would need God’s help to get him to four but really, I would be happy with three. Funny thing is, apparently God has a sense of humor and I’ve since learned that His plans are much bigger than anything we can imagine. So instead of two or three, we now have FIVE kids! Yep, it still doesn’t sound right coming out! I’d say I totally got what I wanted and then some! Ha!
I watched my parents exercise as part of their healthy lifestyle since as far back as I can remember, so physical fitness was also a passion I developed. I start jogging with them occasionally in middle school. This is also about the time my best friend and I would “run” to the local Ehrler’s ice cream store. We probably consumed more calories than we burned but hey, it was a start! I danced in later elementary and it wasn’t until highschool that I hung up my toe shoes and got involved in sports and really started to develop a knowledge and desire for physical fitness. Coincidentally this is also about the time girls start playing the comparison game and body image becomes an obsession. It’s sad, isn’t it?
One of my first jobs was at a gym. At 16 my desire for physical fitness was growing and I wanted to be in great shape and better my field hockey game. I could now workout and get personal training sessions free of charge and as my knowledge grew so did my interest and passion. Maybe not everyone has this desire, but for me, when I learn a skill or receive what seems to be a gift, I can’t help but want to share it. I guess it goes back to my love for helping others. The more I learn about something, the more interested I become, the more I want to share it and to help others. It just feels like the natural and right thing to do for me.
I have an incredible appreciation for all the people in my life who have taught me skills or have shared a story that inspired me. People’s stories and the skills I’ve learned throughout my years have changed my life, and for the better! I love to learn from others! I am so grateful for those people who are bold enough to share. Whether it’s a skill they have acquired, a passion they have acquired, a lesson learned from an experience, or wisdom they have received. The truth is, we would not be who we are without an accumulation of individuals who made the choice to follow a passion and share it.
I really can’t make a ton of sense of how I went from an interest in teaching school to pursuing a college degree in Business, other than the fact that something got in my ear leading up to my college decision. A misleading voice that whispered I need to make more money than a teacher’s salary. False! I wish I’d listened to the voice that said, you need to do something related to your God given gifts and passions for the greater good. But, no regrets! I might have taken a few detours, but I eventually found the right path. And let’s be honest, at the point in life we are expected to choose a career path to follow, we are just babies! At least I was. I was 18! And I was clueless! And so it turned out, maybe it was a good thing I was in a career 13 years later that I wasn’t passionate about. Not loving my job at 31, made it that much easier to hang up my corporate hat and make the decision to stay home with my kids after baby number three was born. Good riddance depressing 45 minute drive in traffic downtown twice a day! Not for this girl!
It was a very calculated decision though. Yes, I struggled at the emotional thought of someone else raising my kids, but there were several other signs saying it was time. The cost of three kids in childcare was getting out of control, I didn’t love what I was doing, and I just so happened to have been introduced to an income-producing opportunity from home while I was on that third maternity leave. Yep, I went for it! Done! Just like that, I gave up 10 years with a seemingly secure very large corporation and a solid 401K for a chance at a – wait for it… network marketing company! Can you believe it? Who does that!? Yeah, I did. But guess what, friends? It actually worked out pretty well for me.
I quickly learned I could be good at anything I am doing if I have passion. And where I have passion, I also have loads of determination, will and perseverance. This company sold nutrition products and though the initial sales pitch of making lots of money appealed to me when I was trying to get away from my job and home with my kids, the product actually was good stuff! And it was the product alone up front that made it easy for me to fall in love with the potential and what was now going to be my very own “home based business”. I used to wonder how I would have the energy to handle three kids ages four and under at home by myself. Whether you believe this or not, I still swear to this day, the renewed health, energy, pain loss I experienced from these products made it possible in the fall of 2011. I was excited to share with everyone I knew! Surely they would want the magic potion! The problem is, if you’ve ever tried anything in direct sales, though you believe everyone needs what you have and you are on fire to change their lives, in reality they want nothing to do with your voodoo juice. In fact, all of a sudden the only people you can relate to are the other so called “brainwashed” people who took a chance on the same opportunity.
The good news is if you stick with anything eventually someone will be desperate enough to drink the juice. And, over time, this will multiply and you’ll hear some awesome stories that bring the emotional saps like me to tears. I loved hearing these stories, I still do! But as I grew in this business I started to develop and find what I believe to be my true calling behind this venture. A ministry started to grow so to speak. As any network marketing company works, product users become distributors, and before we knew it we were leading a team of 1000s. I had the opportunity to teach, to lead, to speak and to inspire. I love hearing stories of renewed health, but none of these got me like the stories I would hear of those encouraged to a place of what I’ll call, “SOUL changing”. Stories of people I directly and indirectly inspired to take a chance, to gain confidence, to overcome fear. I couldn’t contain myself from sharing God inspired words of inspiration. Words that just so happen to settled on open hearts that would then be changed for the better. Passion met inspiration and this had me on fire to change SOULS!
I was flattered and proud of my husband, mine and our team’s hard work at international convention the year Mike and I took the stage to receive a “Rising Star” award for our exceptional growth. But nothing would compare to the following year when we accepted the “Most Inspirational Leader of the Year” award where I verbally gave God all the well-deserved glory in front of 4000 people that day. This was epic for me. It was never about recognition, but this was a symbol that said to me, “Keri, God is using you and you are making a difference.” I recall from my speech mentioning, “I was just getting started…” And, as time has come to pass, I still believe this to be true. Just the tip of the iceberg of inspiration I feel called to share.
I have since been lead to use this calling with a different platform, and I believe that happens so often as many of us evolve in our callings and passions. Friends don’t ever let someone make you think you’re a failure if your true passion leads you to a different opportunity or in a different direction. I didn’t understand where my journey was leading me at the time but it’s begin to unravel so beautifully and make so much sense. I am so grateful for that company and the people I met. Some phenomenal leaders with awesome servant hearts. I wouldn’t be near the person I am today without many of them. People come and go, desires and circumstances change, all leaving their mark on our character and growth and then leading us where we are meant to be next.
Due to a variation of reasons (all with purpose I believe), my fire for the business started to fade and so did the money. Unfortunately our lifestyle now required additional income so when a trusted friend in the business shared the next opportunity to help others with health, we had to consider. This time it would be a true brick and mortar business. My husband and I, remembering that we could do anything well if we had our heart into, decided to go for this one too! By now my youngest would be going to be in Kindergarten, so to be present at a business outside of the home would now fit. The short of this part of the story is this… I ended up pregnant with the twins within a year of opening the doors. We then found the best manager to take over the day to day tasks. But even with being relieved of the majority of the responsibility, In the end, the demands of five children did not allow the time necessary to keep the business growing as we knew it was capable of.
So what’s next? It’s amazing how things always pop up just in the knick of time, isn’t it?! Right about the time we were contemplating handing the business over to our manager, my dearest friend, who had also introduced me to the network marketing business, had found the next “BEST” thing! (Side note: I’ll have you know, this is also the same friend I ran to get ice cream with in the six grade!) But friends, I wanted to hang up the phone when she first said those manipulating words… “You would be great at this!” Oh no she didn’t! Let me tell you, I was beyond overwhelmed at the time. I was nursing 6 month old twins around the clock, trying to keep up with the social life of a middle schooler, and the sports schedule of all three of the big kids, all while trying to keep my marriage strong and my mental state sound. I was on the verge of emotional crash and burn! How in the world could I become a Fitness and Nutrition coach?! No! Thank you! I’m NOT buying in this time.
BUT… I did have a few baby pounds I wanted to lose. Not to mention, I may have gotten some grace during the previous swim-suit season being only a few months postpartum, but I wouldn’t dare show up in a bikini next year with my Mom bod. Not happening! I also, can easily be swayed if someone (my husband for one) builds me up and affirms me with confidence that I really would be good at this. “And besides,” he said, “you know you’re going to want something for you in a few months when the twins are a little older and you stop nursing.” Side note: I also have major FOMO (fear of missing out). So once again, I said yes!
Of course I had to try the program to make sure I loved it. Also, because I just don’t believe in encouraging others to do something that I don’t know for a fact works and has the potential to change their life. And wouldn’t you know, this virtual fitness and nutrition program WORKED! I lost all my baby weight and then some in six weeks and am in the best physical shape of my life! I am able to eat more than I did before with better results. AND, I did this all while nursing TWO babies. It was FANTASTIC and I couldn’t wait to share with others! There was only one problem with the “certified coach” piece… as I suspected it was a bit more work and required more time than what I was willing to give up. I still haven’t stopped coaching, but when I moved into a state of borderline depression that winter (oh how I dislike the cold gray winter), my motivation suffered. I refuse to stay stuck, so after swallowing my pride and for the love of those in my house, I resorted to some professional help. It’s hard, y’all, but trust me, everyone’s always better for it! Get the help you need. No shame.
As I have learned more about myself through times of sadness and seeking purpose, I have resorted to comfort in books and will read every chance I get. I gained so much insight, encouragement and therapy from the words and stories of others. It’s times like this that I am reminded of my days before receiving the Inspirational Leader award when I decided someday I would write a book in the hopes of inspiring the masses. And wouldn’t you know it, the lady I began to meet with during this season of depression would give me homework of “journaling”. Combine the reading, my journaling, and then a vacation away with my husband where my mind was free to dream, it came to me as clear as ever…
All things lead to this… It was time. Time to take my desire to help others, to change the lives of others to the next level. I spent many years gaining great knowledge and helping others with health, nutrition and fitness, but what it taught me ultimately, the wisdom I gained down to the depths of my core is that I could share my learnings, my stories, my passions, my trials, my pains, my spiritual growth, my insight and wisdom to do something greater than change someone’s physiology… I could help and impact the soul! We all have gifts and talents that vary in such a beautiful array and I feel called to share my soul for the hope of inspiring yours.
We all grow in such miraculous ways from one adventure and experience to the next. But, I will say, for me, one of the hardest parts of moving away from an opportunity to pour more into another calling is the fear that others may sacrifice in the transition. There is great purpose in those we encounter at each stepping stone on our path, people who mean so much to me, with souls I must consider. All of this said, I have decided it’s time to officially transition again so that I can pour my whole heart into my Spirit fueled inspiration to write to you. I will be starting my last fitness and nutrition coaching session this week and will no doubt finish strong! I care deeply about the people who enter my life and I committed to them, so will give them my best over the next several weeks. I don’t believe in people being placed in our path accidentally, and I hope to inspire them to change their lives through fitness and nutrition as they intended! But make no mistake, I will all the while continue writing as I can’t contain my fire to share my inspirations with you. Looks like I’ll be a busy girl! But, you’re worth it!
I am so thrilled to free up more time to spend with my readers. My passion and inspiration is with you. Every time I sit down to write, I feel like an artist with the hand of her creator with a purpose to inspire others. I have released a new blog entry every week over the past 2 months, and as I shared in my first post I plan to use many of these stories to create my first book. I’m so excited about this, hope you continue on this journey with me, and hope I can add value to you. I know how much the words of others have counseled and continue to help me. Never stop sharing your story and your soul, friends. Someone needs to hear them. I hope I can encourage and comfort your soul just like the words and stories of others have radically comforted mine just when I needed them most. Thank you for your continued support dear reader, you are appreciated! Let the journey continue…
P.S. My hope is that words of comfort and encouragement reach others. If you feel so inspired, I would be very honored if you would click “SHARE” below, so your friends can receive this message.
Comment here with your thoughts. I hope this message inspired you!