IF I CAN HELP SOMEBODY. . . .

I believe that if I had a theme song for my life it might be one from way back:

If I can help somebody, as I pass along,
If I can cheer somebody, with a word or song,
If I can show somebody, how they're travelling wrong,
Then my living shall not be in vain.

Chorus:
My living shall not be in vain,
Then my living shall not be in vain
If I can help somebody, as I pass along,
Then my living shall not be in vain.

If I can do my duty, as a good man ought,
If I can bring back beauty, to a world up wrought,
If I can spread love's message, as the Master taught,
Then my living shall not be in vain.

Here's a couple of U-tube renditions of the song. Both are very different and very inspirational! Enjoy if you like!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73xatTlWmDw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QE8bVPgB2E&NR=1

So what made my day at boot camp this week?  The  work out was great. I pushed myself to go farther. I did the progressions of everything I could. I felt good about what I accomplished in the work out,  but that was not what made my day!

As I arrived at boot camp a new friend Jackie greeted me with  “My friend Donna came today and she needs your encouragement.”

So now I have another new friend Donna!  Donna came to the boot camp orientation a couple of weeks ago and was so blown away by the intensity of the 8 minute workout that she just knew she couldn’t do boot camp. I met Jackie the previous week at her first time to boot camp. She was the first of a group of friends who were going to be coming. One of those friends is Donna.  I encouraged her to get Donna to just try it.  I was in the same place that Donna is back 10 months ago. I could hardly do a thing but try to hold a plank from my knees and a couple of push ups!! I was worn out by the 5 minute warm up BEFORE we even began! 

I just happened to have my before to present sequence of pictures in my gym bag and that’s all it took for Jackie to talk Donna into coming.

I was so pleasantly surprised to see Donna there!  She had all kinds of questions. One that really struck me was "What made you come back after the first time?"  I'd never been asked that. I guess I just didn't consider any other possibility.  I was desperate and knew that this was my last hope to lose weight and get into shape. I encouraged her to do what she could do and go to my tried and true "hold the plank" routine that carried me through a lot of the first boot camps I attended!


Donna and I stuck together for the boot camp work out. I think Luka picked up on the fact she and I needed to be in the same group---perceptive guy!!! J And guess what!!!! Donna made it through the entire 40 minutes, did VERY WELL, and is coming back on Wednesday!!! YEH!!! I’m so happy for her, because I know she’s now on the right track to regaining her health and fitness!

So what DOES make my day?

• When a complete stranger comes up to me at boot camp and tells me I am their inspiration for being there!  ME??????? Thank You Jesus! 
• When some of the much younger boot campers tell me they try harder because they see what I am doing! 
• When some of those younger ones tell me they are motivated by the fact that they don’t want to be “beat” by “mom”! 
• When some of the younger members bring their moms,  because if a baby boomer grandma like me can do this boot camp,  so can their moms!
• When someone asks me to hold them accountable!
• When someone reads this blog and is encouraged, challenged, and motivated to do better in their life and with their health and fitness!!

Yes, it does make my day when I can help, when I can cheer, when I can show somebody as I pass along…….then my living has not been in vain! 

Thanks for listening once again to this baby boomer grandma gettin’ fit & healthy!  Until next time-----May God richly bless YOU-----your day, your life, and all you do AND make you a blessing to others as well.