Every year at this time I get a little sentimental. Why? It’s my anniversary with my coach and friend. I started working with Bernita three years ago this week to accomplish the goal of competing in my first bodybuilding competition. Since then, so much has happened.
We definitely have done several shows, but our relationship extends far beyond her preparing me for the stage. It’s something that I could have never anticipated.
Bodybuilding competitions
I first went to her at the end of August to compete before 2015 was over. We sat for more than an hour talking about lots of things. She agreed become my coach before the night was over. It meant we had nine weeks until the last show of the 2015 season in the Carolinas, the NPC Elite Muscle Classic. Yes, nine weeks to get me to a point where I could step on stage and be proud of what we had accomplished. I knew it would be a push but I had been wanting to compete for nearly two years with the previous coach. It never came to fruition, so Bernita agreed to help get me ready.
That show bit me. I had accomplished the goal but it was not all that I wanted. And that is a funny thing about this sport and journey. You can continue to improve and tweak things if you choose to keep going.
Since then we have trained together several days a week pushing my body farther and farther. Many days I am in disbelief in what we have done so far.
This last competition solidified everything for me. Bernita wasn’t there in person, but she helped prepare me for what was to come and what I needed to do on that day. When you think about it, it’s about executing the plan and believing that we have done everything leading up to that day.
I will be honest that I didn’t really get it or put all the pieces together until this last show. I had always been wondering about this and that, but after a deep conversation one day after training it fell into place. I’ve worked on what it would take for me to get to that place and so far it is stuck.
I am looking forward to a confident and successful 2019.
My inner circle
Bernita is my coach, but she also is someone that I call friend.
I can’t imagine my world without her. So, I am shouting loud about our anniversary. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine. But what friendship is that way? I do know that if I need her, she has got my back 150 percent without a doubt.
There are a lot of people around me. However, I keep my circle small. My inner circle is even smaller. She is a part of my circle of trust and I know that when it comes down to it, she wants the best for me.
I also love that she reminds me often that there is so much more to life than competing and the high drive I have for the fitness part of my life. She reminds me that family and other things that you are passionate about are possible to do and have while striving to be your best on stage. Actually, they feed into it.
Do you have friend anniversaries that you celebrate or cherish?