News — Affirmation
What Matters To A Teenage Boy Is Probably Not What You Think
Posted by Lisa Johnson on
The following was a response to a question to a college essay asking, "What matters to you?" A bit unexpected... (GUEST BLOG by Izzy Johnson) -- Ever since I was young, one of my biggest fears has been being alone. That’s why community is so important to me. Although it has been challenging to feel a sense of belonging within groups, I crave connection. Who would have thought that spending Wednesday evenings sweating with a bunch of middle-aged women, dancing to R&B music, would be something that makes me happy? I was born almost a month early,...
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- Tags: Adolescence, Affirmation, Celebrate Life, Community Building, Connection, Exercise, Family, Health and Wellness, Inspiration, Love, Middle Age Life, Mothering, Parenting, Power, Relationships, Resilience, Self-Help, Social Activity, Strength, Teen Boy
Strong Powerful Women: IVY BERKE - NONSTOP FITNESS INSTRUCTOR IN HER FIFTIES
Posted by Lisa Johnson on
This is the second in a series of blogs about strong women I know, and this month's choice is Ivy Berke, my "Cut Above" class teacher. Her fitness career has spanned more than three decades, and she manages to run her own businesses, model for Athleta, and still have boundless amounts of energy. From the first class, I noticed there was something about Ivy that glowed besides her incredibly gorgeous smile, and I had to find out what it was. You've been doing this for more than thirty years. What drew you to this career? I really did...
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- Tags: Affirmation, Biceps, Can Do, Capable, Cardio, Celebrate Life, Champion, Connecting, Dance, Divorce, Education, Endurance, Feel Good, Fitness, Gym, Gym Rat, Gymnastics, Health, Health and Wellness, Identity, interview, Middle Age Life, Motherhood, Mothering, Muscles, Parenthood, Parenting, Physical Strength, Power, Resilience, Self-Sufficient, Share your Story, Skill, Stamina, Starting Over, Strength, Success Story, Talent, Women and Business, Womens Health, Womens Issues, YMCA
Strong Powerful Women: HEATHER FLAHERTY - FEMALE BOXER, MOTHER, CHAMPION
Posted by Lisa Johnson on
This is the first in a series of blogs about strong women I know personally, and today’s obvious choice is Heather, a friend and fellow turbo sweatie. When I first started classes at the Y, I myself was going through a lot of personal trauma in the wake of my son’s best friend’s suicide, and some severe marital issues. While normally I am quick to make friends, months passed with only a casual greeting between myself and fellow gym mates. Heather was and remains the friendliest girl in our classes, and was one of the first people I...
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- Tags: Adolescence, Affirmation, Agility, Anorexia, Can Do, Capable, Celebrate Life, Champion, Character, Community Building, Connecting, Connection, Endurance, Family, Family Life, Feel Good, Female Boxing, Finding New Love, Friendship, Gym, Gym Rat, Happiness, Healing, Health, Health and Wellness, Identity, Knock Your Socks Off, Middle Age Life, Midlife Boxing, New Friends, Parenthood, Parenting, Power, Reclaim, Recovery, Relationships, Resilience, Self-Help, Self-Sufficient, Share your Story, Stamina, Starting Over, Strength, Success Story, Talent, Trauma, Womens Health, Womens Issues, Workout, YMCA
The Evolution of a Gym Rat: Instagram Envy, and How I Made Fitness A Top Priority
Posted by Lisa Johnson on
Under the guise of business, I began dipping into the waters of Instagram for the past year, and observed that anyone with posts related to exercise, workouts or hard bodies, seems to get LOADS of likes. Why do people pay so much attention to everyone else’s progress? Is it really motivating to see how far others have succeeded? In elementary school, I was a gymnast. My best friend used to tease me because I wore sweatpants to school four days a week, and owned one pair of patchwork dungarees with a parrot on back pocket (boy, do I wish...
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- Tags: Affirmation, Agility, Back Injury, Can Do, Capable, Cardio, Celebrate Life, Childhood, Connecting, Dance, Dance Party, Endurance, Envy, Family Life, Feel Good, Fitness, Friendship, Good Idea, Gym Rate, Gymnastics, Happiness, Healing, Health, Health and Wellness, Injury, Instagram, Middle Age Life, New Friends, New Year's Resolution, Parenthood, Physical Therapy, Power, Priority, Recovery, Self-Help, Share your Story, Social Activity, Social Media, Starting Over, Strength, Treating Oneself, Womens Health, Workout, YMCA
Saying Goodbye to My Fancy Aunt Ruth
Posted by Lisa Johnson on
One of my favorite relatives, my dad’s older sister, Ruth, was supposed to turn 80 this Friday, and for weeks, a big birthday party was being planned for her this coming weekend. But yesterday morning, I learned that she had died the night before, and everything has been completely upended. It’s so strange to lose someone you have known your entire life, someone who in a fairly small family, has always been a fixture. She lived about four hours away, but often traveled through the area, as she and her long-time boyfriend and partner had an antiques business together, and...
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- Tags: Affirmation, Antiques, Best Smile, Childhood, Connection, Death of Loved One, Eulogy, Family, Happiness, Love, Relatives, Remembrance