When doing gymnastics two weeks ago, I felt we were all perfect tens. It was ladies fun night out for Power Fitness PDX and we decided to have fun at gymnastics. Words can't describe how much fun it was! We walked in and could have been Moms to the other participants of Open Gym. But we didn't care! We sought out Ian, the teacher for the night, and asked him for some pointers and advice for fun "moves". Mind you, the moves we were talking about we hoped wouldn't have our strong, but not gymnastics trained, bodies injured at night's end. We all were eager to hop on the balance beam, climb the rope net, jump on the trampoline, try the rings, do back walkovers and LAUGH!!!
Through the training in Power Fitness PDX has evolved a greater sense of confidence in trying new things...amongst everyone. We laughed, we performed and we embraced our bodies for what they can do! For some it was trying a jump on the balance beam, a feat that wouldn't have been conquered before. But now, knowing that each body is unique and can do incredible things, the feats were tried and tried again. We tried trampoline routines, sweat as we did back bends, and flexed our quads when pointing on the beam. We were and are all PERFECT 10's! It is our own inner score card that we must believe in. Not a judge holding up numbers, but our own inner score card of "10".
Grandmother, Grammer and now Gigi as she is called by my girls, has been my inspiration growing up. She was an athletic female during a time when women weren't running. Grammer has a fire in her that matches her red (now white) hair. She raised my Mom and her siblings to be strong willed and independent. Thank goodness, they all passed those traits to my siblings, cousins and me. Grammer taught me to go after my goals, regardless of what anyone would think. She didn't just preach it, but practiced it. She traveled the world to New Guinea, Kenya, Holland and Dublin teaching others how to write and produce videos, information learned from her time as a tv producer in San Francisco. That occurred during her late 60's!
making waves with whatever Grammer does. Living in Seattle now, Grammer did a race two years ago using her walker. The police were trailing behind her, since she was one of the last participants. Grammer told them "Please get off my tail boys. I WILL FINISH THIS RACE". This past year, she has fallen a few times. Part of the reason, her stubborn pride. A few months ago Grammer was in a room doing Physical Therapy for a stroke and there was a chair in front of her walker prohibiting her from moving where she wanted to go. Instead of asking for help, she stood up, picked up the walker and moved it to the other side of the chair. It may drive my Mom and her siblings mad, but it actually makes me a bit proud that she is so independent. And people are curious where I get my determination from...