On Monday night, while teaching my third barre n9ne class of the day (which firmly makes Monday my new favorite day of the week, no lie), I took a moment to look around the room at one point towards the latter half of class. It was our signature long and lean legs class and one that I have always loved to take since joining the studio last May, but now I have the opportunity to teach it every single Monday night — LOVE. As I looked around the room at the women working so hard to get through the set, their legs shaking, their focus intent — I had this rush of total joy. And no, not because I was inflicting pain on them (!) but because I was in my element, doing something that I *love* to do more and more every single day.
I was living my dream.
Finally having that outlet to fuel my passion for fitness has been an incredible blessing. Especially since I’m feeding that passion at barre n9ne — a place that has utterly transformed my life in the year-and-a-half that I’ve been a regular client and, now, instructor. Paying it forward as an instructor — yes, please. And thank you.
So where am I going with this? (I swear, I do have a point.)
I urge you each to live your dream, not ‘the’ dream.
In other words: find your passion, your dream, your ‘happy place’ — and make it yours. Carve your own destiny — even if that destiny seems like such a far off trek. Trust me, it’s worth it. I’m thinking about this in the broader context of this season — not just Thanksgiving coming up tomorrow where we have an opportunity to really sit back and show gratitude — but in this season called life. Making the most of every single day, even the days that aren’t ‘dream-filled’ and finding a way to make it a good day, no matter what.
And in between all of that? Live your dream, express gratitude, and shower your family and friends with love and adoration. As often as possible — not just in the Thanksgiving spirit.
So that’s what I intend to do, especially during these next few days while off from work. Be present. Disconnect from the plugged-in world (which I’ve been doing a LOT of lately, I’m sure you’ve noticed). Live my dream. In whatever shape or form it takes.
#gratitudeIsbeautiful
Source: bohemian-dream-spirits.tumblr.com via Jess on Pinterest
EatDrinkBreatheSweat 
Love this and it is so in line with the sermon I listened to online during my long run on Sunday after church. That’s a lot of sermon and thinking time. Haha! Anyway – the message was to run YOUR race God has set before you…which will be a race to maximally bring Him glory AND satisfy you to the utmost. God wants satisfaction and joy in our lives and that comes by following after the passions HE gave us. Once agian, funny how those messages all line up together, right? 😉
Wow, what a great way to spend your long run time: listening to a sermon or devotional. I had NEVER thought of that before, I love it!
Anyway — LOVE the message from that sermon you listened to, such an awesome and very fitting message my friend, I love it and particularly love the idea of God wanting us to feel joy and satisfaction in life and to run our own race always. Such a great message. THANK YOU!
Totally true! I think that everyone has as different dream and different things that make them happy. It’s very individual and up to the person to find them.
Exactly. THat’s the key: it’s up to that person to find that dream and to PURSUE it (which can be scary at times).
Amen, sister! Finding that dream can sometimes be hard, but the journey is worth it!
The journey is absolutely worth it. Without a doubt.
Love this sis, live YOUR dream, not ‘a’ dream, because that’s just not specific enough. Follow it and you’ll always feel happy and fulfilled! Love!
Exactly — be specific with that dream and then chase, chase, chase it until its yours. I’m forever grateful for chasing my dream and for finally capturing it. The best feeling ever.
Beautiful post. Thank you.
You are welcome 🙂
I’m so happy you found this passion!
Thank you friend. I am too 🙂 🙂
I love this so much and I LOVE your legs class so much!! It’s my new favorite Monday night event – mostly because it’s with you and you (and Jo) both LOVE b9 so much it’s infectious!! XO
Ahhh I LOVE that you find our passion so infectious — neither of us can help it, we just love every single thing about barre n9ne, from the workouts, to the impact its had on each of our lives, to seeing the impact its had on your life? Just awesome. And um hi, I am LOVING teaching Legs class on Mondays!! Can’t wait to see your pretty face again this Monday!!
LOVE this post!!! It’s so nice to create your own dream and own it, to genuinely not care what others think because you are just so happy. And unplugging…amazing. I love it!
Exactly — I don’t care what anyone else thinks, I’m happily chasing this dream of mine, and its MINE so it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, this is all mine and I cherish it fully. 🙂
Great words! It’s so wonderful when we live our own dream. I truly can say I’m living mine these days as I near the end of training for my first half!~
Love this and hearing how you’ve come so comfortably into your own. It’s truly inspiring Jess. I love how you’ve been able to find your passion and find a way to thrive through it.
Great post and so true. I’ve spent years telling myself and letting others tell me what I can/should/can’t/shouldn’t even try to do. But now not only am I proving to myself that I am capable of doing whatever I choose to, but am finding I’m passionate about it! In the past year I’ve trained and ran everything from a 5K- Half Marathon, and improved so much. Now I’m focusing on training for a Half Ironman!
It’s become MY dream and I’m excited for the journey.
Please keep sharing your wonderful positive focus and approach to everything, it’s so uplifting.
It’s amazingly awesome that you have found your passion. Oprah always said find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.
You get out what you put in, and you worked hard to become an instructor and it’s awesome to see how much you’re getting out of it.
Incredibly inspirational!
excellent post Jess! I feel like this whole year I haven’t been living my dream. I need to get myself re-motivated (continuing to lose the baby weight, exercise, and starting my own business). I just think there were too many factors that worked against me this year; my mom’s passing and a new baby. Phew. It took it’s toll. Hoping 2013 brings new inspiration!
It’s so easy to get caught up in someone else’s success, but you are SO right, we have to do what’s right for US and our dream. It can get cloudy every once in a while, so it’s important to keep it in focus!
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wow so beautifully said!! I couldn’t agree more