“Dude, you look lean today.” The first thing Jake said to me as I was walking towards him this morning. “Excuse me, what?” I couldn’t even decide how to respond because my caffeine hadn’t kicked in and that was the absolute last thing I expected to hear. He’s not really a bullshitter, so I’ll take that as a compliment and let that set the tone for my morning. I haven’t seen him in a little over a week since I was at home in New Mexico. And, I’m not gonna lie, the workout pants I took were used strictly for comfort and the only thing I lifted was my nephew and a few glasses of wine. Whatevs. At least my mood was lifted just now.
Jake is my personal trainer/friend/therapist/life coach/attitude checker. I freaking love him. And not just because he told me I look totally skinny today. Obviously that’s not what he said, or meant, that’s just how I chose to take it in my delusional mind. He HATES when I use that word. But hey, we all have goals, right?!
Anyway, I met Jake about 6 years ago through a mutual friend. He was 18 and training for his first body building show. He eventually started his own personal training business and I was one of his first clients. Now that I think about it, he and Amadoo (my shoe boo at Nordstrom for the past 8 years) are two of the most consistent and trusted men in my life. I was probably in the best shape I’ve ever been in after that year of working out with Jake. I felt great physically but I was going through a really weird time emotionally. I was having some sort of quarter life crisis and he was very aware. I just felt totally blah and unfulfilled. I was 31, bored and knew I needed a change.
To be honest, Jake was the driving force behind my decision to even move to Chicago. He saw me going through this funk and he heard me talk about it. A lot. I call him my therapist because he seriously made me do the most annoying exercises. And I’m not talking with weights. He made me sit in the middle of the gym one day and right down what I wanted with my life. What I’m good at. What makes me happy. Jake taught me about getting outside my comfort zone and to be honest, that made me sweat even more!
Once I started really focusing on making some sort of change, even though I didn’t know exactly what it was going to be, things started happening. I was putting out the energy of what I wanted and I was suddenly open to any opportunity. Two months later I purchased a one-way ticket to Chicago and started a working for a company and doing exactly what I wanted. It was awesome. I couldn’t have planned it better…mostly because it all happened so fast I didn’t have time to plan anything. It was so out of my character to do that and sometimes I still can’t believe it. But, I think that was one of the bravest and most amazing things I’ve ever done.
Since then I’ve stayed open to opportunity, and most importantly, listened to my gut. I’ve gotten to where I am constantly curious about getting outside of my comfort zone. I’ve developed this “fuck it, why not?” mentality and always ask myself “what have I got to lose?” I would rather try something or put myself out there with anything, or anyone, and it not work out than to never try at all. The “what-if’s” really haunt me, so I don’t want to ever regret not doing something.
Believe me, I still over-analyze and over-think and worry about totally ridiculous stuff, but I totally think that’s part of growing. Like now. I quit my job 6 months ago to come back to AZ and I am building my own business and it’s scary as shit. I’m all alone and it’s all on me. It makes me want to throw up and it makes me really proud of myself at the same time. And it has to work, because I’ve really gotten used to spoiling myself and I’m sorry, I’m just not gonna stop.
Jake and I stayed in touch while I was gone for those two years, which I appreciated. It was so weird sometimes because he would randomly ask how I was doing, just when I needed a little pep talk. So you better believe I called him the moment I got home. A) Because swimsuit season is breathing down my neck and B) because I always feel better and leave knowing I’m gonna make shit happen.
I’ve watched Jake grow up too. He’s built a very strong (pun intended) business as a personal trainer and now launching his own food prep company called Macros Edge. I’m so proud of what he’s done. He’s also got two adorable kids with his gorgeous fiance that he lives for. I love his drive and how he talks about family and doing it all for them. The best!!!
Here we are a few years ago, and he’s wearing what he called my “muscle glasses.”
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