Dean
Dean
Seems really hard to believe that another holiday season is upon us, but I am glad it is. I think Thanksgiving might be my very favorite holiday. Not because Christmas isn’t fun, (not to mention central to the whole story and purpose of history) but because it is generally pretty laid back and relaxing.
Now before you throw that turkey pan at me, I understand that if you are entertaining on Thursday you have a lot to do. But here is an idea for you, one I have had to learn myself. Don’t be a martyr about it, ask for help if you need it, and no matter what happens remember some people just want to be miserable, so don’t let one grouch ruin it for you!
This time of year there are a lot of ideas out there about gratitude and thankfulness. An “attitude of gratitude” is much more productive than being a selfish, self-centered, well, whatever (this is a family blog – no bad words allowed) 🙂
But don’t keep it to yourself. Open your mouth and express gratitude too.
All the 12 year olds out there reading this might be surprised, but the world doesn’t revolve around you. Your mom loves you, but she probably isn’t laying her head on the pillow at night thinking “Oh goody, I get to do more laundry tomorrow, and I sure hope little Jimmy doesn’t volunteer to put the dishes in the dishwasher, because then I will get to do it instead!”
But do we adults act any different? I know I don’t all the time. I often find myself taking a lot of what happens around me for granted. I drive on well maintained roads to work every day. Heck I drive a car to work every day. I drive from my heated home, from which I woke up in a nice bed next to my incredible wife. My three kids are safe and sound when I leave, and I food in the house so they can eat breakfast. I have it better than 99.9% of the world, and yet if someone cuts me off in traffic am I more likely to let it roll, or try to roll over him? Do I take half a millisecond to consider what he might be going through, or that people make mistakes, or do I just go off? Kinda silly to think so little can get us so worked up, isn’t it?
I have also found that a little more kindness and a little more gratitude, and a little less “gotta have my way” goes a long way. You know the old saying “familiarity breeds contempt”? Does that ever creep into your life like it does mine? What is it if not contempt to walk by someone every day and not acknowledge they exist? To grab that cup of coffee your spouse made for you and not say thank-you? To shush your daughter when she wants to tell you about what she learned in school, or about the birthday party she got invited too? Guilty.
Being kind is free. It doesn’t cost money to smile. It doesn’t take a whole lot of effort to say “thank-you” to the barista. Yeah I know they are getting paid to do a job, but so what? Don’t we all need a little more appreciation? Talk to the check-out person. Nicely. You might be the only person who does so all day.
Don’t keep your gratitude to yourself. You have incredible power. You might change someone’s life by telling them how much you appreciate them.
But even better you might change your own life.
And that’s something to be thankful for.
So Thank-You.
If you are reading this in some way, shape or form you are part of the Get Fit NH family.
Of my family.
And for that I am blessed indeed.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Coach Dean
Join me in welcoming Coach Maxx! (last name Savage – which makes him “Maxx Savage” – how sweet is that?)
One thing I already appreciate about Maxx is his incredible work ethic as well as his daily pursuit of getting better. Sounds like a winning combo to me!
Get to know Maxx a little better:
“When I was 17, I joined the United States Army Reserves. During my time in the service, personal fitness became a core value of mine. I began to remove “I can’t” out of my vocabulary. This made me realize that one I stopped saying “I can’t,” I began to find ways to make my goals happen.
I have always felt that when something was wrong, I could turn to the gym. Going to the gym helped me find focus and made the worst of days not seem so bad. When I have the time I enjoy spending time woodworking, building benches, tables and anything that I might need around the house. I also enjoy working on cars and doing jeep restorations. If I am looking to really just relax I will break out my guitar.
I have always held a desire to help people reach their goals and continually challenge themselves, showing people different ways to challenge themselves and push past the obstacles that occur in day to day life. I am currently enrolled in school for Exercise Science at Manchester Community College. Everyday I continue to grow and challenge myself to be better and achieve my goals. – Maxx”
Welcome Coach Maxx!
We have been fortunate to have many folks applying for internships with us at Get Fit NH over the last couple years as they seek to get real world skills in the fitness coaching field. For those of you who may not be aware, we have a formal 12-week internship program, with weekly assignments and checkpoints that need to be met to successfully pass.
Concord students have been enjoying having Stephanie Matrow from Colby-Sawyer College in the morning with us for the last couple months, and now the afternoon training sessions will be joined by Victoria Brochu.
Here is Tori on her own words on why she sought this internship and what she is most looking forward to working with you all at Get Fit NH. Please join me in welcoming her to the Get Fit NH family!
“As I begin to turn my passion for health and fitness into a career, I am beyond delighted to have been accepted to intern at Get Fit NH. I began my journey through graduating from Plymouth State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Promotion. Wanting to further my knowledge and skills within the fitness industry, I decided to become a certified personal trainer. As I am now working towards my Personal Training Certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), I soon realized I desired more of a hands-on experience. I sought something more than simply just studying from behind a computer screen or reading a text book. Get Fit NH has given me that opportunity, through being able to participate in classes, observe the coaches, ask questions, and interact with the hardworking students, who make up this friendly community, which is Get Fit NH.
In my spare time, I am very dedicated to the sport of boxing, and have been participating in the sport for about a year. Although this sport keeps me relatively fit and light on my feet, I look forward to learning new and different methods of training during my internship. I am more than confident that Get Fit NH will help me to further develop my skills and knowledge within the health and wellness field. I strive to become the best coach that I can be, while instilling my love and passion for health and wellness into others. I have no doubt that Get Fit NH will provide me with the skills and guidance to ‘Make It Happen!'”. – Tori
POTT? What is THAT?
That, my friend, is the World (galaxy?) Famous Get Fit NH “Pies Off The Thighs” post-thanksgiving training extravaganza!
Sweat yourself out of that turkey and trimmings tryptophan enhanced coma as we get the whole family from both gyms get together for one of the few times every year.
Don’t Miss It!
Schedule for Thanksgiving Week:
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: Full Schedule at both locations
Saturday November 28: “Pies Off The Thighs”
Place: Get Fit NH Concord
Time: 8:00am to 9:30am
We had 35 athletes compete in the SkiErg World Sprints this year, and I am proud of every one of you that stepped up and made it happen – outstanding! Every one of you who competed deserves credit, because being in the game is what it is all about.
I did want to highlight our athletes who finished in the top 10 in the world this year. I hope y’all have caught your breath by now. 🙂
Women
40-49:
#3: Kathy Nourse 3:52.7
Men
50-59
#3: Tom Haubrich 3:16.1
Those are some smoking times – love it!
It’s crazy to think that 14 years ago today I held you in my arms for the first time. It was crazy you were here at all. Mom and I thought we were done having babies. After all your brothers were already 13 and 14, and we were plenty happy to think that in just a few short years we would have the house, and each other, all to ourselves again. How foolish and selfish and shortsighted that was. What a blessing we would have missed.
When I think back on it, I wonder if much really would have changed. I mean people have babies all the time; people have unexpected, surprise babies all the time. We adapted. A little less sleep, a little more chaos, a lot more joy in the house. Your brothers love you so much. To see teenage boys dote over their little brother was such a joy. The smiles you have brought into our house was amazing, and needed.
I would have never dreamed as I held you on this day 14 years ago that there would be a far different day 11 months and 7 days later. You see that was the hardest day of my life. That is the day I stood in the ER in Concord Hospital and held your lifeless body in my arms for the last time. The most difficult thing I have ever done was gently placing that same body in a hospital bed and walking away, knowing is was the last time I would ever see you on this earth.
But thankfully that was not, is not, the end of the story.
You have another brother and two sisters that you haven’t met yet – Andrew David, who we named after you. Karalynn Joy and Amy Marie. They ask about you sometimes. They want to know who you were, what you did.
What you did? Now that is a big question, with a big answer.
What you did was change my life, and in the process open doors for many other people’s lives to change.
You made a difference.
You see when you died you woke me up. To the fact that I was was alive but not really living. I was content to go to work, come home and watch TV all night, go to bed and do it again. When you died mom was 5 months pregnant with Andrew, and your death took a lot out of us. We were tired, weak and broken. But the way our friends and family and church rallied around us was incredible. They showed us a love beyond words. They made a difference to two people who needed them desperately. The change in my life had begun.
You see your death opened my eyes to how short life could be, and for some how short it actually is.
I realized that if I did not change physically my life would be much shorter. The picture to the right is how you remember me. Overweight, clinically obese if truth be told, out of shape, except round, and unable to do much of anything physically. I am holding up ribbons for placing in a dessert and pie contest at the church picnic. I remember trying to participate in some games and thinking “Man, these kids are really fast.” In reality I just couldn’t move anymore. The same body that had lettered in three sports and served in the Army had been abused by food and lacked the ability to do any much in the way of physical activity. I remember even carrying you up the stairs to your bedroom would leave me out of breath. I realized that if something didn’t change, if I didn’t change, I would not be able to run around with your soon to be born brother like I did with your older brothers when they were younger. I was going to be one of those dads who wouldn’t play catch and throw a football because they can’t.
Your death started me down a path to better health, but it goes way beyond the physical. By the grace of God I have been allowed to impact other peoples lives using the vehicle of health and fitness. I am writing this from a hotel room in Phoenix AZ at the Activeight conference, where my professional peers and I get to come into community , co-create, and discover how together we can have an impact on this world. I would have never dreamed this, never mind actually be doing it, if the path of my life had been different.
You may be gone, but the end of your story has not been written, my son. I miss you terribly, especially on days like this. My heart aches around the holidays, because my entire family has never celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas together, and never will. It hurts me to see the deep pain that mom still feels when she thinks about you. But there is good. There is a verse in the Bible that I had read many times, but I am not sure I ever really believed:
Romans 8:28 ” And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.“
Love God. All things. Good.
They say that time heals all wounds. That is a lie. What time does is help give perspective. The past 14 years have grown me beyond what I would have wanted. They have stretched your entire family. But they have also made me realize that I don’t have to understand all the “why’s” to know God is sovereign and He has a purpose for our lives – He had a purpose for your life. Because you lived and died, my life and the lives of many others have been changed forever. That is good.
Some people reading this may not understand this, but I have a confidence that I will see you again. There will be a day with no more tears, no more sadness, no more death.
I can’t wait for that day.
That will be the happiest day of all.
Happy Birthday Derek.
I love you,
Dad
John 11:25-26 … “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
So, my story is this – at my largest point, I weighed close to 350lbs. I have included a picture because I am told it’s worth a thousand words. I ate awful, I didn’t exercise correctly, and I was just a mess. One day I decided to change. Now I know many of you may wonder what it was that caused that sudden lightbulb moment, and to be honest, I don’t know what it was. Just one day I woke up and everything snapped into focus. So I began my journey, no need to get into all that because I don’t need to write a book, but suffice it to say it wasn’t quick and it wasn’t easy. Now I weigh around 226lbs, I still have a ways to go, I still know there is work to be done, and I am not satisfied yet. Like I said, the picture is where you will really get the full idea of what it was like for me about 3 to 4 years ago.We’re about a week away from the 7th Annual SkiErg World Sprints!
Race 1000 meters November 6–8, 2015, and post your time to the Concept2 Online Logbook to compete for prizes.
Prizes!
The winners of each age group will receive custom engraved cowbells to help ring in the snow season. There will also be prizes for the top three times in each age group.
If we submit 20 or more individual results from Get Fit NH we will be entered in a raffle for a new SkiErg for your facility. A couple of years ago our own Karl Edelmann won that prize – this might be you year.
We are going to open the Concord and Epsom training gyms up from 8:00am to 9:30am on Saturday the 7th, and we want to get at least 20 of y’all into the books.
I had someone ask me this morning “What is a good time?” We talked a little about it, and she said “I don’t want to be embarassed”.
Look I get it. But I’ll tell you what I told her. “The only reason to be embarrassed is if you wanted to do it and didn’t because of what someone else will think. This is about YOU!”
Do me a favor and let us know you are coming by sending in the form below.
Thanks,
Coach Dean
Dr. Laura rocked the house as usual – enjoy!
Dr. Laura Jones Health, Hormones and Weight Loss from Dean Carlson on Vimeo.
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