The Unbreakable Fighting Spirit Of An Amazing Young Girl

To Elizabeth~

The SPIRIT of YOUR FEARLESSNESS is a power so integrated deep within YOU. YOU possess courage to be tender and inner fortitude to withstand all circumstances. You have the will to face challenges, the will to stand up, the will to be courageous, and the will to overcome! 

Don't allow anything or anyone to hold YOU back from what YOU want to do and what YOU want to become. YOU are a TRUE WARRIOR...a SURVIVOR, and an inspiration to so many people. YOU have the strength and the willpower to FINISH YOUR FIGHT! Never back down, keep fighting, stay fearless, and be amazing!

A Special Message To This Little Gold Warrior...
You are strong because you know weaknesses;
You are overcoming because you are a fighter;
You are understanding because you have experienced hard times;
You laugh because you have known deep pain and sadness;
YOU DON'T GIVE UP because YOU ARE WORTH SO MUCH!

IMPORTANT MESSAGE:
Please take the time to read Elizabeth Yturralde-Cameron's story. A brave 13-year old girl and her battle with cancer. Please share her story with others (it's amazing how far our vibrations can go and spread).But most importantly, realize that every day offers us countless opportunities to love and help someone in need.

Be there for Elizabeth by helping her in her battle with cancer. Donate to her fight. Whatever amount you choose to donate big or small (it all adds up in the end), and it is going to help this brave, young girl and her battle with cancer. 

Acts of kindness makes wishes come true and miracles unfold. Please help this amazing 13-year old girl with such a fighting spirit overcome the most challenging obstacle she has had to face so far.

I have put a link for Elizabeth's support page at the bottom of this page, if you are interested in getting more information and/or making a donation.

This wonderful support site was created by a very selfless family friend, Holly Nystrom Warnol. She has done an amazing job and has filled Elizabeth's page with tons of detailed information, pictures, special messages to help Elizabeth stay strong, passes messages along from Elizabeth's family, encourages people to help and pray for this family...and don't let me forget all the countless updates she makes on this page. Awesome person with such a big heart. 



I have also included the link to Little Gold Warrior's facebook page to get her current updates and her story firsthand. She is an amazing young girl with a strong and fighting spirit! 
My thoughts and prayers continue strongly for Elizabeth, her family, and her friends. Keep fighting and WIN YOUR FIGHT ELIZABETH!

http://www.gofundme.com/teamelizabethc
http://fb.com/littlegoldwarrior

THE FIRST UNIQUE BLOOD MOON OF 2014

I know this is a Fitness Blog...but I am also a believer that everything (every experience, every moment, every piece of our lives-good and bad) is connected to us. EVERYTHING that surrounds us plays a role on our physical, mental, and spiritual well being. And if you look up the definition of FIT...it's not just a physical one...in order to be fit and a MASTER OF YOUR BODY...you must be in perfect alignment with your physical, mental, and spiritual self. This will always be an ongoing process (never stop learning, never stop growing, never stop improving), and ALWAYS connecting with everything around you. So with that being said, I would like to share with you a slideshow of the first unique blood moon of 2014- a very rare phenomenon that occurred on April 15, 2014.

**REMEMBER, EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED. 

THE BEAUTY IN THE SKY

Life Has Its Own Reality, With One Real Moment Leading To The Next.

The MOON and JUPITER with the CLOUDS in the NIGHT SKY

This video was taken on Thursday, December 20, 2013 at 1:45 a.m. (cst). I just wanted to share this wonderful moment of interaction between the Moon and Jupiter with the Clouds of the Night Sky. Thanks for checking out this video. I hope you enjoy it.

The Moon And Venus- September 8, 2013

A lazy mind will never grasp the true spirit of morality. Out of the conscience arises morality. Morality comes from having inner discernment of what is right or wrong for yourself. It involves making choices that are best for you and for the advancement of the whole...EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED. Thank you for checking out my slideshow. 

Time Is What Life Is Made Of

TIME ACCORDING TO BRUCE LEE:

THE CHANGE IS FROM INNER TO OUTER...WE START BY DISSOLVING OUR ATTITUDE NOT BY ALTERING OUTER CONDITIONS.

THE MOMENT IS FREEDOM. TRY TO LIVE FREELY FROM MOMENT TO MOMENT, LETTING THINGS HAPPEN AND ADJUSTING TO THEM.

THE TRUTH EXISTS HERE AND NOW. HAVE OPENNESS AND FREEDOM...THE FREEDOM TO BE OPEN AND NOT TETHERED BY ANY IDEAS, CONCEPTS, ETC.

TIME IS WHAT LIFE IS MADE OF! USE IT WISELY AND MAKE YOUR MARK ON THE WORLD! :)

Know Life's Heart

Do something you hate every day, just for practice.

Practice Makes Permanent!!!

Many of us at one time or another have asked the questions..."Who Am I?" "Why Am I Here?" Everyone goes down their own unique path set out just for them...transforming them along the way...helping them understand and find their true purpose in life. Each moment of your life is different...each moment presents itself in so many ways (sometimes good ways and sometimes bad ways). All to help guide you and help you discover. As you discover your purpose in life and pursue your dreams, you will inevitably spend more and more of your time doing what you enjoy and what you do best. You will begin to understand your strength, your courage, and your love for YOUR VISION.

Everyone has something value to give and everyone has something to sacrifice (something that we may not be excited about doing).  Your present circumstances (the good and the bad), always holds the seed of possibility. A possibility to find your vision, to understand who you are, to overcome your biggest challenges, and most importantly to discover your true purpose in life. 

I am a believer of the HEART...your HEART holds the key. Your HEART is at the core of your vision. With a combination of experiences (moments that have taught us and helped us learn), kindness, and an active imagination...ALL THINGS become possible. You become warriors of the HEART. 

You must learn that challenges are present in your life in order to learn and to grow. FAITH is the belief in things hoped for but not yet seen. When things fall apart, our FAITH is tested to the highest degree. Life humbles you, defeats your presumptions, and finally breathes into YOUR FAITH, making it alive. FAITH becomes your willingness to experience life as it unfolds in all of its pain and all of its promise. 

The last and most important part that helps you understand who you are and your purpose is...DISCIPLINE AND FOCUS. Strive to go down your path fearless, always be hopeful no matter what, and understand that you will meet a lot of frustrations and challenges along the way.  One of the best ways to improve discipline is to do something you don't enjoy doing--EVERY DAY. If you learn to do what you must, you will be able to do what you want.
In each moment, know LIFE'S HEART. 

Moments Of Mystery- The Unusual Moon And Stars

I want to share one of my pass-time hobbies that I am very passionate about. I love learning about new things and trying new adventures that are challenging and sometimes unexplained. I love connecting with things that bring me peace and touch my heart in many different ways. I love looking at the obvious and the not so obvious of things that surround us each and every day. The things beyond what we see and understand. I love to research all topics, subjects, history, etc to try and really understand the world that we live in.

I have always been fascinated with the moon...for her mystery and for the overwhelming sense of peace I receive from my moments with the moon. The moon is considered a luminary, but she produces no light of her own accord. She is reliant upon the sun's light to reflect (mirror) her image to our eyes. The moon softly enfolds our attention. She is the symbolic soul mate to water. The moon is known to represent your emotions, your inner self, your instincts, habits, and reactions...your "personal responses." The moon also represents the qualities developed in your relationship with your mother and the way you relate to family members and people close to you. I can go on and on about the moon, but I believe the moon represents different things for everyone. They connect through their own experiences and own feelings or how they choose to connect.

I began taking pictures of the moon here and there in 2012...but really began to take it seriously in January 2013. I liked the challenge it brought...trying to capture the moon in all of her changes and her different in the night sky can be difficult, especially if you have never used a camera before. The bottom line is that I really began to enjoy this side hobby. It has been a great escape for me when I photograph the moon and I gain great peace from it. I have taken lots and lots of pictures of the moon, but I have not shared them on this blog. On the right hand side of this blog, you will see my Pinterest button if you click on that you can check out some of my moon images under the board "Chasing The Moon." This blog entry is about the unusual images of the moon and stars that I have captured. Some of the images are quite interesting and some take a form of art when you look at them. Yes, some of the pictures can be due to camera error or person error...but for the most part they are interesting and I just wanted to share them with you.

Press the play button to start the photo slider roll. Also, if you want to hear the music that I set up with this photo slide click on the sound icon in the left hand corner. You can also see these images in full screen view (which I highly recommend). I hope you enjoy these images as much as I enjoy sharing them with you.
My last thought: When you understand the essence of the Moon, you're no longer "in the dark." :)

CREATE...LOVE...HOPE

THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE... 

There is a story behind everything. How a picture got on your wall, how a scar got on your knee. Sometimes the stories are sweet and simple; sometimes they are hard and heartbreaking. That is truly what life is all about...the good and the bad...the pain and the pleasure. You can't experience one without the other, both play a role in shaping who you are and what you'll become. 

DON'T EVER GIVE UP ON YOUR HOPE. Even when it gets dark, the stars come out. 
STAY STRONG!

Give Yourself A Soothing Gift

According to music researcher, Stephen Halpern, Ph.D., certain wind chimes produce harmonious, soothing sounds that can actually lower your breathing and heart rate, increasing calm and contentment. Test it out: Strike a chime a few times and notice if your breath slows as you listen.

Make sure you really embrace the moment and allow yourself to listen to the chime. Make sure your mind is clear and free from noise and stress.  **Give this one moment a gift to yourself. Remember, each moment is special.

Ryan, M.J. Instant Health and Happiness. Pg. 48.

An Amazing Accomplishment

I want to say congrats to my cousin Stephen for this amazing accomplishment. I am so proud of you Stephen and I wish I could be there to share this moment with you. You have worked so hard and you have proven to yourself and everyone else that you can do whatever you set your mind to. YOU ARE AWESOME! Please know that I will be thinking about you during your ceremony and your celebration afterwards. I am sending my love and will be there in spirit. Love you so much and we will have to celebrate when I come home for the holidays! SO PROUD OF YOU!

Random Thoughts From My Heart

I just want to share some random thoughts from my heart and I believe they could apply to everyone.

THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THE HARDEST TO LOVE, ARE THE ONES THAT NEED IT THE MOST. Now wait...before you continue reading on. Really think about that statement. Think about how this applies to you and your life. Really think about it and go deep with your thoughts.

I think this is such a true statement and I keep it very close to my spirit...I believe that you must continue to love and to never give up on someone who struggles and is in your life. To me, they are in my life for a reason...and there is meaning behind that reason. Yes, you may find yourself trying and trying and feeling as if you are at a stand still...but in reality, you are giving them small tokens, gifts of hope, faith, and love. So never give up on them..keep fighting because I believe that it becomes a life experience for them but also for YOU. I think that when things are tough and challenging (and this applies to everything in your life), you find a way to make it happen. You do whatever it takes to see it through. I believe that you discover what truly is inside you...what you are able to provide for someone...but most importantly living with a true HEART! We shouldn't take for granted what we are capable of giving others...EVERYONE HAS THIS GIFT. YOU MUST FIND IT WITHIN.

FINDING ANSWERS WITHIN. We all hold the key...our key. We must look within ourselves to solve issues in our everyday life. Have faith with what is inside you and don't take for granted what you can do. We should never stop discovering what we are, what we can do, and where we can go. Each experience (good or bad) is a stepping stone for discovering our true self.

YOUR JOURNEY is your ticket...you are never sure what you will find. Just have the faith and the strength to never stop moving forward. A journey is what brings us happiness...not the destination.

Make every move about the move...LIVE FOR THE MOMENT. Each moment must be cherished and not taken for granted. Each moment is now...each moment is POWERFUL! 

So I Ask You These Powerful Questions:
WHERE ARE YOU? Answer is HERE.
WHAT ARE YOU? Answer is THIS MOMENT!

Trust Your Happiness

Do you, somewhere in the dark recesses of your heart, believe that you don't deserve to be happy? When you are thinking of this question, be honest with yourself. Or that you can't trust happiness because the universe is an unfriendly place out to get you? Is it difficult for you to appreciate what you have because you are afraid of losing it?

The truth is that no one deserves to be happy more than you. And believe it or not, happiness is available to each of us in every single moment, no matter what is happening, if we just make a commitment to it over and over again. Allow yourself to trust in happiness and you will experience an ever flowing stream.

Ryan, M.J. Instant Health and Happiness. Pg. 273.
Always Thinking Of You Mom :)

The Will To Overcome...

I always tell my clients they must work hard no matter what. To make sure they do their very best in every situation. To be a positive example to people around them. To inspire people to work hard and to not take the easy road (the road that seems to be traveled on the most). 

To be their own person and to not let anyone stand in their way of fulfilling their dreams and wishes. YOU SET THE TONE! HELP PEOPLE REALIZE THAT THEY ARE NOT FULFILLING THEIR DREAMS AND THAT WHEN YOU WORK HARD AT SOMETHING AND YOU DON'T GIVE UP ON IT...YOU WILL BE A WINNER IN THE END! 

I love it when things are challenging and not easy. I feel it makes me stronger...it shows my will to succeed and to overcome that challenge. We all have it...we can all overcome challenges. You must believe in yourself and your will to overcome. THE WILL TO PUSH...THE WILL TO OVERCOME...OUR WILL/OUR STRENGTH. Never tell yourself it is already to late to change bad habits, negative thinking, or laziness. It is never to late...you are the CAPTAIN OF YOUR SHIP! You must make a change and live by it. 

NEVER STOP LEARNING! YOU SHOULD LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF EACH AND EVERY DAY. Learning brings knowledge, confidence, and power. THE POWER TO OVERCOME ANY BAD SITUATION. THE POWER TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. THE POWER TO LOVE YOURSELF.

Always,

DoFitness

Make A Promise To Succeed

"Success consists of a series of little daily victories." - Laddie F. Hutar
"The secret of success is constancy to purpose." - Benjamin Disraeli

You must first understand that success is built upon failure after failure. In order to succeed at anything in life, you have to embrace failure in order to learn the valuable lessons along the way. You need to learn what to do and what not to do.

Success is all about being present in the moment. Understand that being present is when we realize that we are already perfect as we are. We are whole and unique individuals right at this moment. It is important to know that success is about understanding that the past is the past and has nothing to do with the present or the future EXCEPT for the power you give to it.

Make a promise to yourself: If you give into trust...if you make the commitment necessary to succeed and believe that you can...if you give this process your heart...you will succeed in whatever goals you are striving to attain.

Everyone wants to get to the winner's circle...and everyone should have the opportunity to get there. Make a conscious effort to do your part. The effort that you put into your promise will come back a hundredfold and will provide you with a lifelong way of exercising, healthy eating patterns, and a powerful spirit that will support one another, and most importantly support living a healthy lifestyle.

George, M. Body Express. p.13-14.

Just Because...

To My Loving Mother-

This is a little token of my appreciation and love for you. I call it...JUST BECAUSE. I am so grateful for you...my mom, the person who gave me life. The person who has loved me unconditionally, and who has sacrificed her life to give me and my sister life. My mom, the person, who gives and cares for so many people around her. The person who has always been on and by my side, the person WHO HAS NEVER FAILED ME. My mom, the person, who lives for her daughters. She deserves so much in life and I am so proud to call her my mother. I am so lucky to have someone love me with genuine and sincere feelings. I am so fortunate to have my mother's love...a TRUE BLESSING in my life. I want to embrace that blessing...and show her my compassion, my sacrifice (the way she sacrificed for me), and my love. The gift of life through my mother, the gift of love through my mother, the gift of sacrifice through my mother. May she be blessed each and everyday...the WAY SHE HAS BLESSED MY LIFE. I love you mom...WITH ALL MY HEART.

Mind And Body Toughness

In the final moments before competition, successful athletes self-induce, either consciously or subconsciously, a MENTAL STATE where they lose all conscious thought of what has been learned about how to use the mind and body. Players describe this state as letting go, or going on automatic pilot...being in YOUR COCOON.

This is a very interesting paragraph to me. I find it necessary to build a solid foundation from the beginning....OF ANYTHING. A foundation that consists of both mental and physical parts not only in training but in EVERYTHING you do. I really wanted to share this with you because it speaks volumes to me. Athletes practice and practice getting themselves ready for game time, they must sacrifice and work hard to prepare themselves at this high level, they must endure sweat, blood, and tears throughout their training regimen to get ready for any challenge set in front of them. So when it comes down to that flash of time...they can showcase everything that is BUILT right inside of them...they must be ready on so many levels as well as  on both mentally and physically combined. So imagine...they are that ready when it is time to play their game...their body flows into its "COMFORT ZONE." The zone they built and created over time...THEIR SOLID FOUNDATION.

And why I stress on this??? Because EVERYONE has the capability to experience the same things that is discussed in this first paragraph...EVERYONE!!! And when I say experience the same things...I don't necessarily mean athletics or a game situation...but ANYTHING...work place, school, neighborhood functions, activities with your children, etc. The bottom line is are YOU willing to work in having ONE UNIT...ONE STRONG FOUNDATION....A MIND AND BODY TOUGHNESS. It is all up to YOU!!!

Lots of Love,
Dofitness

Weimann, T. Warrior Speed. 2000. Pg. 114.

Seek Out A Third Place

Sometimes all we need is a change of environment to lift our spirits. We can get so stuck in traversing the path from home to work and back and we don't venture any further. But for years, scientists have touched the benefits of what sociologist Georg Simmel calls your "third place"-a public venue where you can "stand outside yourself and get some perspective." Some people find their third place in cafes, others in public parks. Some folks like the anonymous buzz of people around them; others need solitude.

Do you have a third place? If so, make some time for it soon. If not, imagine the benefits of finding one.

Ryan, M.J. Instant Health And Happiness. Pg. 63.

We Live The Life We Choose

WE ARE ALL, RIGHT NOW....RIGHT THIS MOMENT....LIVING THE LIFE WE CHOOSE.

Interestingly enough...this choice is not a single, monumental choice. No one decides, for example, "I'm going to move to L.A., and in five years I will be a trainer for the stars." Or I am going to marry a dreadful person and we will live together in a loveless marriage, staying together only for the kids." No! You must understand that choices are made on a daily, hourly, moment by moment basis.

Do we try something new, or stick to the tried-and-true? Do we take a risk or eat what's already on our dish? Do we ponder an adventure or do we stay at home? Do we indulge our heart, or cater to our fear?
SO THE QUESTION I ASK YOU IS: Do you pursue what you want or do what's comfortable?

"We act as though comfort and luxury are the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about."- Charles Kingsley

"You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover will be YOURSELF!" -Alan Alda

McWilliams, Peter. DO IT! Pgs. 23-26.

The Moment My Life Changed Forever Part 1

This is the story of a moment in my life that became both a learning and challenging experience. A time in my life that changed my outlook on everything in my life. A moment that is still a constant in my present life. A moment that if I could go back in time...I would never change. An experience that has shaped me into the person I am today.

So on with the story, a story that I have never truly discussed in detail until now. I have been an athlete all of my life. I have suffered through the devastating losses, all the extra practices, and all the injuries that go along with it....BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS. I know what it takes to get to the next level...I knew that in order to be successful you must work hard, practice, and deal with the consequences that come along the way...all the challenges that all athletes have faced one time or another.

I received a full athletic scholarship to the University of Arkansas in 92-93. It was a very exciting moment for me...I was going to be able to do the one thing that I loved doing at the next level, especially in the SEC. The one thing that was always there for me from the third grade to my high school years...if I needed to express myself and/or take my mind off the things that were stressing me out basketball was there. It was always there...I could express my feelings through my ball handling drills or my one-on-one challenges with myself. I remember it being an exciting but scary moment to leave my hometown, El Paso, Texas and live in a new and unfamiliar place, Fayetteville, Arkansas. The beginning of my freshman year was interesting and a little overwhelming...I remember all the things that were expected of me as a student athlete. I didn't have time to think about anything but basketball and school....number of hours I needed to take, going to all my classes,  preseason workouts in the early morning and afternoon, study hall hours, meetings for new freshman, on and on and on. I remember in November of 1992...I was ready to go back home...I was sooooo homesick. I didn't realize how much my life was going to change so fast without my family and in a very unfamiliar place. I remember talking to my mom and she said, "Just stay strong, you will be home with family in December...everything will be ok." I got only three days off that December to be with my family and I remember having a heart-to-heart with my mom. I told her that I had no problem handling all the things being thrown at me...the hardest part was being so far from my family. She understood my words but assured me that things would get better just to continue to give it a chance, and if at the end of the year I was still homesick that I could just come home. That made me feel better but at the same time a part of me understood things in a different way...You have started something, you have committed yourself to something...you must finish this journey. And that was the end of that for me.

My freshman season was a very interesting and fulfilling one. I worked hard during and after practices on parts of my game that needed improvement at the college level. Each game and practice showed improvement which earned me a lot of playing time as back-up point guard to starting point guard, Shea Henderson. The last game of the season was finally here...and I remember it being such a huge deal not only because it was the last game of the season, but because it would also mark the last game played in Barnhill Arena (we would be playing in the new Bud Walton Arena the next year).

So here is the moment that would change my life forever...I was stretching before the game as usual along with my teammates...I do remember my legs being a little heavy at pre-game but didn't think anything of it...continued on with warm-up and was just astounded by the number of fans that came out to support us. The atmosphere was so amazing...the fans were AWESOME! That in itself was a very exciting moment for me. I remember Coach Sutherland putting me in the game right away (maybe 6 min had passed)...everything seemed fine as I went up and down the court a few times running the offense...playing hard on defense.

And then my moment came (the moment that was destined for me)...I remember stealing the ball and running up the middle of the court for a fast break. I remember a big girl jumping out in front of me to stop the fast break play. I did a crossover to avoid the charge and planted the foot to pass the ball off to Alyson Twiggs for the score...as I passed the ball I heard a snap and fell to the ground...right on top of the HOG'S NOSE...I remember keeping my eyes on Twiggs to make sure that we scored...THE CROWD ROARED...SCORE. And then I looked down to my knee. My kneecap had twisted to the side of my leg...I remember trying to stand up...pushing my heel down to get up..but I couldn't. I had nothing there. The knee seemed dislocated and not sure what was going to happen at this point. I was carried off the court and taken straight to the training room. As I stood there...my knee made it back to its regular position. Doctors and trainers were all tending to my knee...pushing on it, bending it, pressing it...it felt absolutely fine. I was like are you kidding me...I can't believe I was taken off the court because of a stupid knee twist/strain. They had me walk around on it and jog in place...I passed every test that was thrown at me. Doctors and trainers both agreed I was fine...that it seemed that I twisted it and could go back to the bench. I was so relieved...so I sat there trying to understand everything that had just happened. I was sitting there and Coach Sutherland looked at me and said, "Get in there." So here comes my next moment (the moment that was tied to the last moment and would be the END and the BEGINNING of this journey with two paths).

Again, everything was fine...jogged a little during a play...SCORE...teammate scores on the play...THE FANS GO WILD! HOG WILD THAT IS...LOL. And the moment of truth is finally here. Full court press...trapped a girl right away, she passes the ball off...I sprint to my next spot and all of a sudden my whole basketball life flashes right before my eyes. I experienced the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life. As I sprinted...My knee swooshed back and forth as if it was a rubber band that was vibrating back and forth...I collapsed to the floor and had nothing to support me to get up. I remember being so pissed off and realized this deep and intense pain...but was too focused on making sure we stopped the other team from breaking the press. I tried desperately to get up...but couldn't...EVERYTHING WAS OUT OF MY CONTROL. I could do NOTHING to fix this at this moment. They had to carry me off the court again and it was in the training room that they discovered something was seriously wrong. My knee had swelled ten times its regular size in a matter of 15 minutes. The swelling was out of control and nobody was able to make a diagnosis due to the severity of the swelling in my knee.

I am going to make this my first chapter...lol. I don't want to make this blog entry tooo long. I will be sure to write, The Moment My Life Changed Forever Part 2 soon. So be sure to tune in and check out the second part of my story. My message for today is...Be sure to experience each moment that is put in your life...GOOD AND BAD...Each has a contributing factor that will help you BECOME STRONGER and that will help you UNDERSTAND TRULY WHO YOU ARE.
Love Always,
Dofitness