A note about Trolls

written by John Ashworth
The Fitness Nomad
http://www.TheFitnessNomad.com

Every morning I awake, and if it's winter time, I turn on the gas fire place and go to work for a couple hours before the kids and Laura wake up. The time is quiet and sweet like freshly fallen snow early in the morning. Today, I did the same. I got up even earlier because I'm excited about the Big Event, "How to Make 2008 Your Best Year Ever."

I also started out slightly frustrated because for more than a month I've spent most of my morning time and a lot of other time, planning the biggest event (other than my wedding) of my life. And the weather is not completely cooperating. But when I got out to the living room this morning, and began setting up my workshop away from the office I found something...

Do you remember those little troll dolls that were popular back in the 80s? The ones that came dressed in different outfits and allowed you to style their hair in all kinds of different creative configurations? Well, I found a couple of those dolls on my living room floor this morning. So what, you're saying to yourself. So, let me elaborate slightly.

My sister Wendi loved those dolls, even as an adult she always had them around. When her and I were living together during our last year of college we used to love to hide them in each other's stuff for some really good laughs. Wendi was a true character in every sense of the word. She had a lot of personality and she was not afraid to share it with anyone. We had a lot of good times, and I always cherrished out relationship as brother and sister.

So, here we are on the morning of my big event. The one I'm putting on in honor of her, and what should I find on my living room floor first thing in the morning? Trolls. Yes, those trolls belong to my children, but they haven't had those out in months. Wendi is here today. And this is important. Because I want to share something else about her that we all need to honor right now.

Wendi didn't take shit from anyone. She did what she thought was right, told people how she felt, and moved through life like a force of light. She skipped her high school graduation for a big soccer tournament. And she didn't care what anyone thought about that. She knew that this was what she wanted to do and she did it, with absolutely no regrets. She was so incredibly sure of herself that it made everyone that came into contact with her stronger.

You won't hear a lot about Wendi at tonight's event. First of all her presence in me speaks for itself. And second, tonight's event is about YOU, not her. The point of this little musing I decided to write this morning is this...

As I said in my email today, the difference between people who are successful in achieving their goals and those who are not is ACTION, MASSIVE ACTION. Wendi exemplified this in her era and her passion will have to live through the rest of us for now.

So, tonight, as you might be trying to decide whether or not to attend this event remember this previous paragraph and take stock of what you really want out of life and then make some strong notes about what you think you really need to do to go out and get it. Because I'll be there tonight with my colleagues and my staff and all those involved in this endeavor. And I will not be holding back...

See you there.

John