This is the longest pregnancy ever!” ~Uriel MacDonald, my maternal grandfather In the early 1970’s, my parents began the process that would eventually lead ME to THEM. From this experience, I always think of babies leading the charge; not the other way around. In my parents’ case, many adoption agencies wouldn’t even accept their application […]
I’m recognizing that one of the biggest components to birthdays at my daughter’s age is learning the hand pose to show the world your age. In my daughter’s case, no longer three; age four. It’s been many decades since I’ve needed this skill, so I’m cognizant… and often laughing about it. “Desi, high-four!” Age four […]
As I was packing my bag for Tokyo, I noticed that I was packing my “Kathy Matsui” dress, a sheath business dress I purchased in 2002 that emulated the style of the Vice Chair of Goldman Sachs Japan and Chief Japan Equity Strategist. Matsui is someone I’ve long admired for her body of work on […]
Our souls know when we are not meant to be someplace. For me, the feeling is suffocation. I feel suffocated in a role, relationship, or endeavor. Even if…especially if…it makes sense on paper, I notice it is harder to let go. But, let go we must. Otherwise, life becomes restrictive and it doesn’t flow like […]
We are born loving ourselves. What happens over the course of years is startling and scary when we no longer do… You fat f#ck!” Make yourself look better.” I’m shocked by what I read in my husband’s calendar. He is six-pack lean and incredibly good looking and well-dressed. He also comes across the same — […]
A “f#ck it” ruling in any pursuit can turn into one of the most destructive forces in the playing field of your life. It creates the precedence for a pattern… a patterned way of (under) living. Sitting at my desk, I glanced at the contest entry form and then back to my phone. I had […]
One of the shhh…secrets of doing a second show is that it’s not as hard as the first one. I see a lot of women who work EXTREMELY hard to transform their physiques for a contest / wedding / event, but because of the toughness leading to “stage”, they ditch their transformation protocol as soon […]
During initial spray tan… Are you competing in Figure, momma?” Nope…Bikini.” Yesterday morning at a local gym… Hey, were you at my contest on Saturday?” ~NPC Judge Yeah, with my wife…Sarah Battaglia.” ~Husband Remembering my name from his score sheets, the judge nods and asks: Has your wife ever competed in Figure?” No, always Bikini. […]
A turning point emerges when a new force — a fact, a discovery, an experience — changes the way we address our course of events. What matters is that turning points of life may be spontaneous, or they may be created.” ~Gregg Braden A lot of times we say we want change, but we resist […]
Flipping the abdominals switch refers to any switch that takes you to the point of no return…and onto the stage of your dreams and desires. Monday Heading across town to check in with my coach, I hoped I would be three weeks out when I left… What I’m referring to is the question that can […]