100 Ways of EarthFit- Day 99: In Which I Accomplish Something….and Trouble

I have been doing a lot of considering about what to do with my time and energy.  I thought I had figured some things out, get more involved with WOWI, writing groups, and networking with writers, and lessen my involvement with what could be considered to be extra-curricular activities, working with South Island CrossFit and Vibrant Fitness.  I didn’t consider them extra-curricular myself, but my husband has been urging me to put my effort and energy into EarthFit, and let him be my first “client”.  The point of my involvement with CrossFit and Vibrant Fitness was to increase my experience and exposure to exercise programs and see how they are run.  But Chris has a point.  Why not launch EarthFit?

I have looked into South Whidbey Parks and Rec Department, and they have a program to initiate new instructors every season for new programs.  So, I think I will apply for EarthFit Outdoor Bootcamp to be a Fall program in October.  For the winter program, I can continue with EarthFit, but focus on nutrition (Eating Green), creating healthy habits (perfect for January resolution makers- Fitness through Operant Conditioning), and then next Summer put EarthFit into full motion as a program with Parks and Rec.  And use this whole summer to fine tune the workouts, learn how to modify exercises for different levels, and get myself in better shape to lead these exercises (no one wants to follow a fat trainer…)

I also dove right in with WOWI (Writers on Whidbey Island) and volunteered to be a part of their steering committee.  I have no idea how much work is required for steering committee members, but this is the reason we moved to Whidbey Island, so I’m taking my own advice and remembering why I’m here.  I did something awesome though- I started a Meet-up group for WOWI.  Meet-up isn’t used that much on the island, so it’s a new venture for many WOWI members, but once they see how easy it is to create and announce events on the site, we will wonder why we hadn’t been doing this eons ago!

And then the unexpected happened.  I was offered a job!  Not a huge amount of money or time-suck type of job, just a 4-6 hours a week, with possibility of increasing to 10 hours a week.  Just enough to give me a little extra spending money, but definitely give enough allowance to write as I need and see fit.  In fact, some (not all, or even most) of my writing could help to start a community blog.  Which would be super cool for me.  But….and there’s always a but with these things, isn’t there?

I have a huge issue with learning to say “no”.  I don’t mean to drugs, or unhealthy food.  I mean with people asking me to do things that will help them out.  I like helping people become the best version of themselves, which is another reason why I want to start my EarthFit program in the first place.  But now the programs I am involved with are creating a conflict of interest, and I have to fess up to my involvement with the other. And I’m being asked to make a choice.  I can have a paying job in the area I’m interested in, but not in the exact practice or philosophy that I feel connected to.  Or I can continue to learn from a mentor that I agree with his principles and style of teaching, but will not lead to a paying job.  And apparently, having both is the conflict of interest.

So, Ms. Pattie is having a crash course in the art of saying “no”.  All the excitement- accomplishing something, and getting into trouble.  I couldn’t have it any other way.