MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

YOUR HEART

“Sometimes God doesn’t change the situation because He’s trying to change your heart.” This really hits home, especially with everything that’s happened in the last quarter. I have to remind myself that “everything for a reason”, even when I am on my knees crying “WHY?! Why could You possibly want me HERE? For what purpose?” I don’t pretend to understand everything God does and why. Sometimes what He asks or wants us to do begs the question “WHY?!” but living on faith means we do trusting that HE knows what He’s doing.

The heart is a strange creature. Mine has almost always been hidden. It’s been locked up tight and guarded, like Sleeping Beauty’s castle surrounded by thorns, so no one gets in [and nothing gets out]. But He slowly started changing me in recent years and I let the determined “creep” their way inside. I let the “spell be broken” and the walls start crumbling down, the thorns gradually disappearing. Even as I kept a guard on watch, for still entry was to be granted only a rare few, albeit the world being able to “see” the tower and that there was a glimmer of light [not always cold] radiating from it.

But the day came when there was great destruction in the tower and the light did not glow as bright. There came a dawn of frost and a sheen of ice layered over the black. The storm passed, but not completely, and the harsh winds and vicious frost cause the ice to linger, even as the tiny flicker of fire inside the tower kept a small portion of it melted. The tower withstood the weather, retreating back away from the world despite remaining in the open, no longer as solitary as it had once been, seeing other towers in the distance, but realizing how isolated it had made itself and that only the truly determined would fight the elements and try to understand the terrain to make their way even to the base of the cliff that it rested upon.

It’s the little things that start adding up. It’s the glimmers of understanding that flicker in and out of view. It’s the moments of clarity amidst the fog that keeps one’s heart going, determined to make it through the storm, even if it doesn’t truly understand WHY. It’s finally realizing that sometimes God ALLOWS the storm and He KEEPS it in place until something INSIDE us changes, until WE start to change, until our HEART begins the transformation. It might take a day, a week, a month, a year, or longer, but He WILL take the time it needs to make the change. He WILL keep the winds blowing, the frost shivering, until that tiny flicker of fire is “fed” and allowed to light and heat more than a single room, shining light from the tower out into the world despite all that is going on around it.

© 2014 Rosie Chee

MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

NUMINOUS

It has been a month since my life changed in a cruel twist I never saw coming but that my soul sensed months before it happened – a twist that destroyed the world I had been building and the future I had started planning. Cruel, perhaps, because the pain was senseless and could have been diminished considerably had it occurred well before it did. But inevitable and ultimately necessary for my eyes to be opened – to bring me to my knees and cause me to see what I had let happen to myself: How far I had drifted from His embrace and the woman I had been becoming, when my soul had glowed so brightly that others noticed and I had peace in knowing I was on the right path.

It has been 10 days since I left the home I lived in – the home that had felt like a home, but then I just a stranger on the outskirts of the family I had been blessed with. 10 days since I stepped out on my own – moved into my own place, an empty house, a skeleton with so much potential. There were times when my soul was saturated with unbelievable sorrow at what I was leaving behind – love and family, before it was reminded that it was all an illusion that had taken me from the path my life was purposed for, albeit teaching me several very valuable lessons and giving me the ultimate happiness for moments that will now only ever be memories of what a fairy-tale feels like.

It has been mere hours since this once bare place truly became a “home” – lovingly setting up each room, the unlimited freedom to infuse my personality into it, creating harmony and knowing in my soul that I finally had my sanctuary. Smiling as hours passed in the doing – an open and easy smile accompanying spontaneous dancing and that hum that lets you know when a woman is truly happy. For the “wandering soul” desiring to set down roots and create a home is a “scary” experience – having a “home base” and not leaving with the wind or on a whim can feel like a cage to the soul who never lingers long anywhere, but I am excited, knowing I am now in His will.

So comes one “circle” to a “close” – one chapter of my life ended, the brief interlude passed, and a fresh page waiting for the next stage of my journey to start. Once again I am living on faith – not knowing but trusting, because now my soul is back in “alignment”. It is a freeing feeling and I feel like I have “come into my own” again - the creature I was has reemerged, the same but different: The love and carefree delight of life and happiness of a spirit at peace that was once loved has returned, but the sparkle is brighter, the light a more mature hue for the pain that has purified it, the smile and laughter holding nothing back for this soul has truly realized the power of inspiration.

Everything that has led me to this moment has not been without reason - it took time to see what was for what it was, but now my eyes are clear. There is a weightlessness in my soul I have experienced rare times in my life – the complete peace I feel allows me undeniable acceptance of where I am, understanding that sometimes indescribable pain is required for us to break so much that in the moment of our deepest despair, when we are stripped of almost everything we have held so precious, we cry out to Him, reminded that He is the cornerstone on which everything in our life is built, surrendering so that our soul might be healed and renewed, empowered like the phoenix to rise and become all we are meant to.

© 2013 Rosie Chee

MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

THE LIFE WAITING

When I was younger I was one of those people who had their future mapped out – the next year, the next five years, even the next TEN years. I knew what I wanted to do and had set in motion events for where I wanted to be, having spent my entire college years preparing for what I had PLANNED on doing when I left school. But…

Sometimes God has OTHER plans. Due to unusual circumstances, I was unable to “be there” when I should have been for what I wanted to do. So I decided to take a year off and start working my way towards what I had planned on doing when I was there. In that time I reached a point where everything changed and suddenly my life was going in a completely different direction, one I would never have considered or fathomed before. I was structured, regimented, preferring to know what was going to happen and controlling the situation, the DRIVER, never having before being “driven”. Yet…

For some reason, I “let go”. I followed the path I had suddenly found myself walking on. And that path led me to another. And then another. The place I ended up is NOTHING like the one I had PLANNED on being in 16-17 years ago, but another reality altogether. But…

It is the RIGHT place for me. I can look back and see all the twists and turns, all the milestones that have led me to this place, to “creating” me into the person I am, and know without a doubt that had I lived the life I planned, I would be nowhere close to being who I am today. I would have stayed the way I was, possibly reinforcing the walls that today have been broken down. I would not have discovered the dream that lay buried deep inside and stepped out after it. I would never have met the people I have, who have changed me so drastically, so significantly…

The life I had planned was not a “true” dream. It was what I THOUGHT I wanted, even though I know that deep down it was not an “ultimate” dream, but just something to do, what was expected, a path that used skills and some abilities, instead of a path that followed passion and made a difference, uncovering hidden talents and desires.

The life I now live, the life I stepped into, not through mere course of fate or coincidence, but many choices, several heartbreaking decisions, allowing the whispers in my soul voice and freedom to be heard, chasing them and listening to instinct, is the life that was always WAITING. It is the life that was “meant to be”, but could not have happened if not for all that was. When I look back and see all that brought me here, to this point, to this place, the dreams and the ones I hold dear, I know they HAD to be for me to BECOME.

Sometimes we do not see what CAN be. We see what we think SHOULD be. We allow OTHERS to have some decision in the life we “choose” to lead. But…If you “let go” of the “control” and allow your life to “follow” your SOUL, you will end up in a place you might never have ever been able to imagine. And that place is so much BETTER than anything we could ever “plan” on doing and being.

© 2013 Rosie Chee

2013 | Day 35: YOUR SUNDAY IS COMING

MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

YOUR SUNDAY IS COMING

No matter what your world looks like right now. Dark. Bleak. Desolate. Hopeless. It may be your “Good Friday” when the whole world turns dark and you can’t seem to find a light left to believe in. But have FAITH. Have faith that He has your future in His hands, that He knows what He is doing, that He will not leave you alone, that He is PREPARING you for something GREATER, something BETTER, something to come that could NOT come if you were not going through what you are experiencing right now.

It may be dark and terrible in this time in your life, but there IS an “Easter Sunday” coming. There IS a day when the light will shine again, when everything will make sense, and your faith will be justified, and you will KNOW that it WILL be ok. There will come a time when the tragedy of today will bring BLESSINGS to your life, when your despair will cause JOY, when everything you have been through will have its purpose made clear.

HOLD ON. STAY STRONG. HAVE FAITH. NEVER LOSE HOPE. It is NOT over. He is NOT done with you. There is far MORE in store, things far BEYOND your imagining, that when they come, your heart will swell with GRATITUDE. See the now for what it is: A NECESSARY stepping stone to the future that you are meant for. Your Sunday IS COMING.

© 2013 Rosie Chee

2012 | Day 308: LIFE UNFOLDS...

MOTIVATIONAL OF THE DAY

LIFE UNFOLDS...

Sometimes you have to stop trying to CONTROL everything and just let it HAPPEN. Let go of the fear, the hesitation, the “what if”, everything holding you back from enjoying the moment and the blessings God is giving you. Your heart appreciates the newfound freedom you have found, the joy discovered in the most unlikely of places, the surprising smile glowing in your soul, so stop questioning it and just move WITH it.

There is no rhyme or reason to many things in our lives, yet there is always a purpose to the chaos, a method to the madness, a trigger to the happiness, and if we just ACCEPT that it is happening, eventually we will understand, even if it takes a lifetime to realize. Life OPENS up when YOU do, when you allow your soul to open up to the possibilities waiting out there for you, the dreams you never dared to dream.

Everything in its time, in HIS time, always perfect, just what you need when you need it, even if you don’t KNOW that you need it. Stop running and just LET it happen, allowing yourself room to learn and grow, UNFOLDING your heart and soul the way a bud slowly opens when it wakes to the world, cautiously at first, but then fully, embracing the seasons and what may come.

© 2012 Rosie Chee



TRAINING

Monday

HIIT Run:
a. 4 min jogging
b. 32 x 20 sec sprint/10 sec easy
c. 4 min jogging

Shoulders/Hamstrings (30 sec recovery between supersets):
SuperSet A -
1. Single-Arm DB Lateral Raises 4 x 10 per side
2. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions
SuperSet B -
3. DB Hammer Raises 4 x 10
4. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions
SuperSet C -
5. TRX XY 4 x 10
6. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions
SuperSet D -
7. TRX Leg Curls 4 x 10
8. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions

Stretch 20 min

Tuesday

Arms/Abs (30 sec recovery between trisets):
TriSet A -
1. Weighted DB Crunches (on bench, knees at 90 degrees) 4 x 15
2. Pikes (on bench) 4 x 15
3. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions
TriSet B -
4. EZ-Bar Bicep Curls 4 x 10
5. Dips 4 x 5
6. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions
TriSet C -
7. Alternate Incline DB Hammer Curls 4 x 10 per side
8. Rope Tricep Push-Downs 4 x 5
9. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions
TriSet D -
10. DB Zottoman Curls 4 x 12
11. Overhead Rope Tricep Extensions 4 x 12
12. Skip 4 x 100 revolutions

Stretch 20 min

Wednesday

HIIT Run:
a. 4 min jogging
b. 32 x 20 sec sprint/10 sec easy
c. 4 min jogging

Stretch 20 min

Thursday

Session 1

Skip x 1,000 revolutions

Full-Body (30 sec recovery between quadsets):
QuadSet A -
1. Swissball Wall Crunches (feet on wall, knees at 90 degrees) 2 x 25
2. Swissball Crunches (270 degrees to 180 degrees) 2 x 15
3. Swissball Double-Leg Raises 2 x 15
4. Skip 2 x 300 revolutions
QuadSet B -
5. EZ-Bar Bicep Curls 2 x 21s
6. Rope Tricep Push-Downs 2 x 10
7. Alternate DB Hammer Bicep Curls 2 x 30
8. Skip 2 x 300 revolutions
QuadSet C -
9. Plate Lateral Raises 2 x 25
10. Plate Hammer Raises 2 x 10
11. Rear Flyes 2 x 15
12. Skip 2 x 300 revolutions
QuadSet D -
13. TRX Rows 2 x 10
14. TRX Push-Ups 2 x 10
15. TRX Leg Curls 2 x 25
16. Skip 2 x 300 revolutions

Stretch 20 min

Session 2 (courtesy of Richard Walsh)

HVT (45 sec on/15 sec rest):
4 rounds of -
a. Side Burpees
b. Heavy Rope Star Jumps (hands/rope touch at top)
c. TRX Leg Climbers
d. Pole Lifting
e. Tire Flips
f. Flutterkicks

Friday

Session 1

HIIT Run:
a. 4 min jogging
b. 8 x 40 sec sprint/20 sec easy
c. 4 min jogging
d. 6 x 40 sec sprint/20 sec easy
e. 4 min jogging

Shoulders/Arms/Abs (30 sec recovery between quadsets):
QuadSet A -
1. Rear Flyes 3 x 10
2. DB Arnold Press 3 x 10
3. Alternate DB Lateral Raises 3 x 10 per side
4. Skip 3 x 100 revolutions
QuadSet B -
5. DB Bicep Curls 3 x 10
6. DB Hammer Curls 3 x 10
7. Alternate DB Hammer Bicep Curls 3 x 10 per side
8. Skip 3 x 150 revolutions
QuadSet C -
9. Rope Crunches 3 x 15
10. Hanging Straight-Leg Raises (toes to touch bar) 3 x 10
11. Bicycle 3 x 15 per side
12. Skip 3 x 150 revolutions

Stretch 20 min

Session 2 (took someone through and did with) HIT (30 sec rest between exercises):
a. Squat Jumps 30 sec
b. Burpees (with push-up) 30 sec
c. Plank 30 sec
d. Split Squats 30 sec
e. Plank (right arm and left foot off ground) 30 sec
f. Hand walk-in and out (starting position - plank) 30 sec
g. Mountain Climbers 30 sec
h. Plank (left arm and right foot off ground) 30 sec
i. Push-Up (with side twist) 30 sec
j. Plank 30 sec

Stretch 10 min

Saturday

Mountain Run 10 km

Stretch 20 min

Sunday

Day OFF

OTHER NOTES

Sleep: Very late nights this week, sleeping for only 2-3 hours before my body wakes.

Mood: A highly emotional week, with a lot of rollercoasters, but finishing with a genuine smile.

Energy: A lot of light-headedness and dizziness at random times throughout the week, standing and seated, morning and night - not sure what is going on; could be from stress or something.

Stress: Very high, but nothing I am not USED to.

Concentration: A little less of this this week, although a reasonable amount has been accomplished despite the "distraction".

Body Composition: 8% bodyfat - maintained from last week, which was a small surprise, but VERY WELCOME. Keep it like this!

Quality of Training: Shoulders have both been quite painful, especially with the second sessions Thursday and Friday - both of which were NOT planned and very impromptu. Shoulders did NOT hurt during my mountain run this morning though - the first time they have not caused pain during a run in a very long time! HIIT has been good - feeling knees a little, but the cold doing me better. Resistance training has been consistent, more smiles than grimaces even with the pain. LEGS feeling it from the second [spur-of-the-moment] sessions on Thursday and Friday, but will be good for them LOL

Joints: Shoulders still painful.

Nutrition: Wednesday was not a great day - LOTS of chocolate and sweets that day, along with pizza and potatoes, but all very well and good (since it IS my "allowed" cheat DAY). Thursday and today had a moment, but the rest of the week good for the most part.


Supplements: Finished Erase on Tuesday.

Overall Sense of Feeling: First snowfall today - very light, but still a surprise, and a nice one, bringing a small smile of delight. Good after the rest of the week, which has taken a toll - much of the stress lifted today as I abused my body running a distance I have not done since earlier this year and spent time in company that gives my heart a smile. Life is falling apart as it falls together and there ARE nothing BUT BETTER times ahead, with so MUCH to look FORWARD to!