Dear Total Balance Company Family,
2021 is well under way and we can already look back and see how we are treating ourselves with the New Year resolutions established, or collapsing. The only difference between the two options is who WE are. As I was reminiscing over my years gone and the success or learning I celebrated of suffered through, I realized my greatest accomplishments always came when I had a goal that seemed so far out of reach yet I was still willing to take the risk. Fortune Favors the Brave. Think back to when you were a child and how wonderful the world was with opportunities and dreams. Well that world is no different now. It’s still full of wonder and amazing dreams. If we are honest, maybe we have to confess it is the way we now see things and think that takes away any excitement. We stopped our dreaming because we no longer see the beauty of the days, weeks and years ahead.
When I was born, all I wanted to be was a professional footballer (soccer). I grew up in a religious home that prevented me from playing football on Sundays, when all other kids were developing their skills and building their passion. It felt like God was preventing me living my dreams because of church. I was the last kid picked on a team in the school playground. I was fighting an uphill battle every day. 10 years old and my dreams seemed further away than ever. I also had another bigger problem though.
Footballers have to run. Fast. A lot. I had terrible asthma. Some days I would try to get out of bed and collapse to the floor trying to breathe. I would lay there trying to get enough breath to call for help. I was respiratory paralyzed, just hoping I could take one more breath. My Grandfather was a doctor. He brought me an inhaler. I tried it a few times and it seemed to help. But I wanted to know more. I trekked off the library on Charminster Road. The big all brick building was a fortress of information. I went to the medical section. It changed my life. I read how strong the body is and is built to heal. I read that the inhaler was great to help, but would weaken my body relying on it instead of waking my body up to self-heal. Now I don’t recommend anyone to follow my next footsteps, but it did teach me a huge lesson – believe in yourself. I never used an inhaler again.
Remember, I wanted to be a runner so I could play Professional Soccer. It was time to grab my dream and take my life back. Age 10. I walked off to Meyrick Park, a beautiful area in Bournemouth that has woods, a golf course and a number of Football (soccer), Rugby and Cricket fields. I stood looking at the vast expanse, took off my tracksuit jacket, laid it on the ground and set my sights on the far end of the fields. I took off running at full speed. One meter, five meters, ten, fifteen, twen ….. I collapsed to the ground. Fighting to breathe – please God, sorry for disliking Church, just let me breathe. Eventually that young boy found enough oxygen to stand back up. I stared at my jacket on the ground where I had started, so close and yet so far away. I took a big breath and took off sprinting back and made it back wheezing every moment, but I made it back. Bent over hands on knees, I picked up my jacket and slowly walked home. I was as happy as could be. I did it. I knew I could do it again, and that I could do more. I would not be beaten by something I had the power to overcome.
The following year I increased my running far beyond the full field. Over time I began to race for my school (Bournemouth School for Boys) in cross country. I could run 10 miles in under 53 minutes. I ran the asthma out of me and went on to live my dreams, many new ones that emerged along the way.
The lesson that I learned, and have continued to pass on, is that our Dreams have to be Greater than the Pain it takes to achieve them. If the dream isn’t big enough, we will quit at the first sign of struggle. But if the Dream is so passionate and personal to us, we will not quit. Instead we will enjoy the destination knowing that we got there because of who we are. So powerful. Age never defines us – We do.
Looking back the lesson learned was that while I was despising Church, “God” was actually teaching me to discover who I am. Find ways to solve problems. Look at my struggles and turn them into results. And that character lead me on an amazing journey called life. I know you ALL have incredible experiences that built You. Tap into those. Do not hold back on your Greatness. Honor yourself by Leading Your way. And never forget – Even when You’re a Grown-Up, you are Still Growing.
Join me on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9am PST, in our private Total Balance Company Facebook Group or see the workouts on YouTube. Kathy is teaching her incredible class LIVE on Wednesdays at 9am PST. Debbie will be teaching Mondays and Fridays at 9:30am PST. on the Total Balance Company and a special Saturday class for movement without the Total Balance Company as you get back to free movement. See you on one or all of them! We truly care.
Love always,
Dan
Total Balance Company HERO OF THE WEEK – February 1st, 2021
TIP of the NEWSLETTER
Find A companion. No adventure is as great, or rewarding, as the one celebrated with another along the way. Now, with isolation I know it is very tough, and at the same time not everyone has the Total Balance Company. However, there are a few options.
We know that in regular gyms people stay engaged and active more when they are held responsible to show up. A training partner will keep you active when the solo option would be to take a day off – which becomes a week, a month, a decline in healthy living.
- Join the amazing and super supportive Total Balance Company Private Members group for LIVE classes 5 days a week. Just go to our Facebook Page @Total Balance Company Fitness and scroll the page until you see the link to ask to join. We have over 1800 amazing members and the support to each other is beyond heavenly!
- Connect with someone who has the Total Balance Company. Even if they are unable to meet up. Set up an email or phone call before each workout and cheer each other on. Or get on a facetime and do it together, challenging each other with an exercise and see who does it best, and safest.
- Get your partner to do it with you. Ask for their help to keep you committed and have them join. You will be amazed how much you will BOTH improve and you may just be gifting them balance they didn’t think they needed.
- Make a Calendar, or follow ours, and stick to it one week at a time. Give yourself a treat you can only have IF you complete your weeks workout. The rewards of the Total Balance Company will exceed any treat though!
- Go to YouTube and follow the Total Balance Company Channel. Pick a video and do one every other day. The workout may seem long so break it into two parts morning and evening. And feel proud you are doing it.
- Write down your goals / dreams and share it with someone you love. Ask them to check in on you and keep you committed. Maybe the goal includes them – how amazing would it be to go for that long walk along the beach or Boardwalk again and share a beautiful lunch in the warm sun.
Those days are coming – summer will be here before we know it. Prepare now and Enjoy Life to the Fullest. If anyone tells you that you are too old or weak to live better, do me a favor. Smile at them kindly, say good bye and make sure you slam the door hard enough to hit them in the butt on their way out. YOU are amazing. Listen to your inner voice and repeat after it … I am valuable, powerful and nobody’s opinion about me will ever be more valuable than my opinion of me. I know me best. Now stand back – this is my Life and I am On My Way.
If only you believe in YOU as much as I believe in YOU, History will be made in your next chapter.
With love,
Dan
GO TO Facebook and follow us @Total Balance Company Fitness and join our private group so you can see us live – and send me questions during the 40-60 minute live event – I answer all questions and will also adapt workouts to YOUR request too. See you there.
Cheering you on. Stay safe, stay healthy and stay educated. With your brain and body working together – the world is yours. And don’t forget your friends, help them share your journey by helping them get a Total Balance Company too.
Dan Metcalfe
Creator of the Total Balance Company System.