11 Days to Fit and Fabulous, Then Life Happened....

I was challenged last week.  I had to depart from my comfort zone, but I asked for it.  I am a firm believer in the 'power of positive thinking' but it still blows me away when my intentions come to pass.  And when my intention came to pass last week, I wasn't sure I could handle it.

Adrienne (The Rich Life on a Budget) called me shortly after I returned home from my adventure, and asked, "I'm just curious, why haven't you posted about it?"   For this conversation and her encouragement, I am dedicating this post to her.  Thank you Adrienne for helping me see straight!

"I wasn't sure if it would be appropriate to discuss, me being a fitness trainer and all.  Wouldn't it confuse people?  And I worry that my students and clients might fear I am quitting the business."

"Debra, when I think of you, I do not think 'Debra the trainer', I think 'Debra is," she paused, searching for a word, "I think you are Bodeci'.  Yes, you train people for a living, but you are much more than that!"

Now, I feel a bit uncomfortable to share this with you, but this is what she said.  "You are an enigma, Debra.  You have a take on life that is refreshing and non-judgmental.  Quite honestly you are the one we all go to when we can't figure out our next step in life, whether it's our kids, a fight we had with our husbands, our career sucks or if we feel fat and unlovable.  I don't think your blog is just about fitness and diet, I think it's about a fifty something year old woman who is wise, comforting and knows how to solve life's problems and who also has her share of insecurities and issues.  I want to hear about all of it!"

I am a mother, a wife,  a friend, a trainer, an instructor and now I am an art dealer of sorts.  A few months ago I decided I wanted more money.  My sons college expenses and the economy had put a pinch in my bank account.  There was only so much Budget my Rich Life could do.  I wanted to live with a bit more wiggle room.  So, I intended more money in my life but I wasn't sure how it was going to get to me.

The power of our thoughts is so  unbelievable, but when you practice the law of attraction and see for yourself the rewards, you may never doubt it's power again.  Rhonda Byrne, author of "The Secret" writes, "...you deserve all good things life has to offer....you are the creator of you, and the law of attraction is your magnificent tool to create whatever you want..."  You see, I didn't just want more money, I wanted to travel and do something exciting.  Kahlil Gibran wrote, "There is a space between man's imagination and man's attainment that may only be traversed by his longing."  I visualized myself traveling, having new clothes and being a part of something really exciting.  Loa Tsu, founder of Toaism wrote, "The world is ruled by letting things take their course.  It cannot be ruled by interfering."  I let go and allowed things to take their course.

My friend of many years owns an art gallery on the east and west coasts.  He is also the exclusive distributor of John Lennon's art working directly with Yoko Ono.  The exhibit is most likely the largest and longest lasting traveling art show.  He was preparing for a show in Boulder Colorado when he suddenly needed another sales person.  I called him that day to thank him for a dinner party he'd invited my husband and me to.  As he talked, he mentioned needing to get to work and I offered him a hand, thinking he'd simply needed a friend to help with his house while he was gone.  He offered me a position.

My new art dealer look.
When you want to become someone different, sometimes you need a costume.
Cary Grant once said, "I pretended to be somebody I wanted to be until I finally became that person."

Now, this is the part I want to share with all of you.  I was scared sh_tless.  I kept asking myself over the course of the next few weeks, why?  Truthfully, I was not so sure I would be "good enough".  But, I realized I had asked the universe for more money, travel and adventure.  And it simply landed in my lap!  I would live with the anxiety and discomfort until I dove in and made my mistakes.  I knew I could learn from them.   I only hoped to not disappoint my friend, but as he put it, "let's just see what happens, I think you'll do well with this."

A week ago I had flown back from Boulder and couldn't sleep as I was flying high off of the show and the fabulous time I had with the people who came to the show and my wonderful associates.  I made mistakes, yes, but I made sales, too.  I just got a nice check in the mail and my friend called with the date and location of my next show.  "And so this is Christmas..."  YES!

Oh, I also lost three of the four pounds I had hanging on me for the last six months.  It wasn't going to budge because I kept telling myself "I have to lose this weight".  You see, the universe only picks up on the energy of my having excess weight and therefore it stayed put!  When I took on a new challenge my mind stopped creating my vision of four pounds too much and the weight  came off.  My body knows it's perfect weight, I just had to let go.  And off to life I went.