Personal Progress Along the Way....

Though I have not been posting often in the blog, my writing has never ceased in describing these amazing experiences to family and friends. If I were to describe this journey in a nutshell, I would call it heart-opening and filled with personal growth and progress. What I have learned in this past year is beyond measure!
As I stated in the last post, last year’s season started rocky, with a freak accident at work injuring my knee and forcing us to miss our 1st tournament and then play through the problem, exacerbating the physical damage. Through the difficulties, though, we healed, got tougher, and learned a lot along the way! And we made it far enough to put us in a good spot to qualify for the Olympics – advancing to the semifinal phase of the Continental Cup Olympic Qualifying tour (among other accomplishments).
This past off-season, I focused on taking the best care of myself possible to fortify me so that not even a freak accident can phase our success! I insisted on keeping a balanced schedule in my beloved career as a personal trainer at Spectrum Athletic Clubs in California. I used to work so many hours, starting between 5 and 6am and not finishing until 8 or 9pm, with my own trainings – volleyball and weight lifting – in the afternoons. I love all that I do, and did not know any other way than to throw myself into it and work hard nonstop. As we all know, this kind of schedule takes its toll, no matter how much your heart is in your work. So, balance became a focus.
I also began a guided meditation course at a different Spectrum location, where the instructor lead us through visualizing our goals and getting better in touch with our purpose. These 20 minute classes left me feeling extremely motivated, yet relaxed, and at the same time, filled with more understanding and purpose in my steps and in my life. Priceless!Then I began acupuncture at Emperor’s College in Santa Monica and got amazing results! WOW!! I always looked forward to the time I got to myself, relaxing on the table with the needles releasing and opening so much! The feeling after each session was amazing, as I was dopey-relaxed and quite zenJ The benefits I experienced were countless. One that stands out is how much it opened up and released the tightness in my hips. I was surprised to find that one day, after training, I was stretching in the complete side splits easily! I did not even realize how far I was stretching, as I was listening to Christina tell me a story. I happened to look down and see my legs and was in shock, as this was the first time in my life I was in that position! I am now able to do the side splits and previously had been told by a doctor that I was physiologically incapable of it.
My off-season was extremely productive and therapeutic, despite the difficult times endured. My wonderful aunt passed away suddenly and unexpectedly a couple days before we returned from our last tournament in Thailand. Thanks to the miles I had built up through our tournament travel, I was able to fly home to Illinois/Iowa to be with my family during that time. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family and to have been able to see many of the 12 cousins on my mother’s side that I rarely get to see and meet their beautiful children!!!
Life continues to be filled with challenges and this journey certainly is fortifying us to deal with them, handle them, and stay focused and on task through them. Our 2 month training camp in Greece is definitely an example. What a heavy situation this country is enduring! It is felt in all facets of life! Some statistics I have heard include an unemployment rate well over 20% and over 90% of companies are delinquent in paying their employees. The wages have been drastically reduced, current taxes have been increased, and new taxes have been added. Strikes and riots are ever present and the psychological impact is strong. It is difficult to see our paternal homeland fall to such a 3rd world status where people are turning to even more corrupt and back-stabbing practices just to get by.
I see the weight of the layers and layers of corruption on peoples’ shoulders and how it shapes their mentalities. ‘Why fight back? There is nothing one can do to change anything or to make a difference.’ Being here is fuel to our mission! This journey is so much more than games and gold medals. We aim to put Greece on the map for something positive and to inspire those in our homeland to follow their hearts and pursue their goals despite the odds and current standards! I have been so blessed to have been raised with such a phenomenal example of honorable, admirable, and hard working parents in a beautifully supportive and loving Greek community in the Midwest. Though I cannot give that experience to everyone, I can show how one can start with nothing but a big heart, strong work ethic, and focused determination and earn the gold!