“I am going to speak to your mother,” she said.
As I watched her eyes fill with anger, I saw the pain behind them too.
“It’s not all her Ms. Thomas.” I replied.
My high school art teacher went silent, and waited for me to explain myself. I was supposed to be meeting with her about my art portfolio preparation. Instead, after 4 years of her close watch, I was quitting.
I soon realized that if my mother was the only thing stopping me from art school...that Ms. Thomas was prepared to step in strongly.
I had to explain myself.
The truth was… I had changed.
Art had once been the primary talent in my life that I’d pursued.
Now, at 17… I heavily identified with athletics.
There was rarely a day I was found in class, with anything but gym clothes.
“Scholar- Athlete” was the new term, I had been given by the school system. There were awards given, and scholarships earned for this new path.
Art had once been the primary talent in my life that I’d pursued.
Now, at 17… I heavily identified with athletics.
There was rarely a day I was found in class, with anything but gym clothes.
“Scholar- Athlete” was the new term, I had been given by the school system. There were awards given, and scholarships earned for this new path.
I told her I was going to pursue an athletic scholarship in running.
I told her I wasn’t going to be putting together an art portfolio.
As I kept talking... I saw her face soften. She offered me well wishes, and encouraged me to also take art courses at the college I chose. I promised her that I would still be an artist...no matter what else I was doing.
I cried as I left the art room.
I told her I wasn’t going to be putting together an art portfolio.
As I kept talking... I saw her face soften. She offered me well wishes, and encouraged me to also take art courses at the college I chose. I promised her that I would still be an artist...no matter what else I was doing.
I cried as I left the art room.
So why share this with you?
I want you to know,
I never wanted to be a trainer.
I had other plans and dreams.
But training became a part of my life, that I couldn’t give up for anything else. It became my mission to help others in their training.
I want you to know,
I never wanted to be a trainer.
I had other plans and dreams.
But training became a part of my life, that I couldn’t give up for anything else. It became my mission to help others in their training.
Yesterday, (after I had written this far) I ran into my high school coach at Garry Gribbles. I asked him if I could find him here now...he said, “Oh yeah!” and gave me a big grin. I was so happy to see him of course I had to post the occasion to Facebook.
This afternoon, I got a chance to catch up with a trainer who has been doing this for at least 20 more years than me. I had overheard her talking about retiring so I asked about it. I could see how torn she was. “It’s just so hard to quit.” She said.
There are so many other things I could be doing with my time right now.
But I’m called to talk to you...to encourage you…
I never wanted to be a trainer....much like you likely don’t want to train. But I’m calling on you to do it. I’m calling on you to get up...get started...and experience the life training can give to you.
I’m excited to share my new series…
I never wanted to be a trainer.
If you haven’t done it already, Join me for 365 days!
I’ll see you next week :)
But I’m called to talk to you...to encourage you…
I never wanted to be a trainer....much like you likely don’t want to train. But I’m calling on you to do it. I’m calling on you to get up...get started...and experience the life training can give to you.
I’m excited to share my new series…
I never wanted to be a trainer.
If you haven’t done it already, Join me for 365 days!
I’ll see you next week :)
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