I have to state first and foremost that I am feeling extremely blessed for the leaps and bounds that have taken place towards some important goals in my life. All that can be said is that at the end of the day, nothing beats good old fashioned hard work with a purpose. If you really want something and put your heart and soul into it, eventually the results come. Hopefully sooner, maybe later... but they will come and this will let you experience the most satisfying feeling possible.

I want to start this post out with a big thanks to Jennifer Ludington, Owner and Founder of A2O Fitness, as well as Stuart MacEwan and the other trainers on board with A2O for welcoming me and giving me the chance to put my knowledge and experience to good use.

I can recall a time when I was in High School participating in various sports and really just doing it for an entertainment value, nothing too serious. It wasn't until my junior year when a coach of mine decided to start undervaluing my talents and placing me in events that weren't what i had worked for. It annoyed me feeling so under appreciated and my own coach didn't seem to care. It brought me to prove to myself and him that I wasn't just another athlete, I was an important piece in the team's plan to succeed and I was not to be underestimated. I trained and worked harder to get into the events that I knew I was best at. I had little support from my own coaches, week in and week out I was entered into the events that I didn't want nor were my best. It came to a point where I grew passionate about my sport, my skills, my strength and I started dreaming about college, perhaps professional status. My final year of school I still had no support and I did all my own leg work getting in touch with colleges, traveling to the campuses I could to interview with coaches and get recruited. Things got so low that I was told by my coach I shouldn't even try because I didn't have what college coaches needed...

Apart from infuriating me that someone in charge of my athletic development was ignoring the races won, posting multiple personal bests and the hard work becoming an asset to the team, I was determined to prove him wrong. After my final year in school, I did just that. I walked on to a nationally ranked track and field team and became a part of that team winning multiple conference championships and various top finishes in individual and relay races.

It's hard to describe the feeling of being able to look back and see the things you were able to accomplish that not any common person can or wants to. It comes from a motivation, a dream, a goal, or anything to drive the pursuit of achievement and when you put in that hard work, the extra hours, that little bit no one else does it develops a feeling of accomplishment that is unequal to any other!

In my new position as a personal trainer/ strength and conditioning coach, I want to instill this feeling of accomplishment unmatched by any other. Something only hard work and sweat can bring about. Feeling this emotion translates to every facet of life. It's not just building muscle or strength, it's about improving every aspect of life, the Mind, Body and Spirit. Everyone is capable and everyone should pursue the greatness within them.

Every Day... A Little Stronger