Challenges

Workout Wednesday: Put That Giant Ball To Good Use!

Arielle Miller / Accountability, At Home Workouts, Blog, Challenges, Fitness, Hard Work, Workout Wednesday / at home workouts, Core, Exerc, Fitness, Glutes, Gym, Swiss Ball, workout, Workout Wednesday / 0 comments

June 1, 2016

We’ve all walked by the fitness section at TJ Maxx and impulsively bought a giant ball to replace our desk chair, work on our core during commercials while watching TV, and so on. Over time though, the bulky ball went from occupying our desk and living room, to stuffed into a corner, then finally deflated at the bottom of the closet. Well, it’s time to put some air back in that ol’ ball and breathe new life into your workouts (get it? See what I did there?).

This week’s exercises focus on the glutes, hamstrings, core, and trunk regions by using that Swiss ball you just dug out and revived. The Swiss ball, a versatile piece of fitness equipment allows for countless body weight exercises to sculpt and tone muscles, giving them a softly toned appearance. Sorry to burst your bubble, but this ball ain’t gonna make ya ripped. That said, the Swiss ball roll out and glute bridges we tackle this week will make your core tighter and aide with stability. Since these exercises focus on strengthening the trunk too, you will also be getting a well-rounded workout that will help you in other fitness modalities such as standing asana (poses) in yoga and more.

Click here or on the video below to view one round of this week’s exercises (note, the video does not have any sound).

Two exercises total, 10-12 reps of each exercise with no rest between movements. Complete both movements, rest 20 seconds, then repeat 3x.

Exercise 1: Swiss Ball Roll Out

Laying on your back, place both feet on the Swiss ball. Bend your arms at the elbow into what I like to call “robo-arms” so the palms face one another and your triceps are pressing into the ground. This makes the movement more challenging since you have less surface area touching the ground (if needed, you can always lower the hands). Slowly extend the legs away from the body, keeping the hips lifted. Pause. Then by bending your knees, roll the ball back towards your body. Be sure to keep your core tight and don’t allow the hips to sag. Repeat 10-12.

Exercise 2: Swiss Ball Glute Bridges

Building off of the previous movement, roll the Swiss ball towards your body, so your knees remain bent towards the sky, with hands down by your sides. Slowly and with control, lower the hips down towards the ground but don’t touchdown. Pause. Keeping the tailbone tucked, lift the hips back up towards the sky. Repeat 10-12 times.

If you’re new to these exercises, they are going to be tough and that’s ok! Start with less reps and build up to it. Also, you can simply hold each movement for time and/or supplement with planks. This will help stoke the fire in your core and help make you stronger. Yes you can, so start working!

Rest 20 seconds then REPEAT 3x

Enjoy and Happy #WorkoutWednesday!

Workout Wednesday: How Do You Use Those TRX Things Anyway?

Arielle Miller / Accountability, Challenges, Fitness, Goal Setting, Hard Work, Video, Workout Wednesday / At Home Fitness, Gym, TRX, TRX suspension, Try something new, workout, Workout Wednesday / 0 comments

May 18, 2016

I am so glad that gyms have finally caught on an are now including TRX suspensions on the main floor. If you are unfamiliar, TRX are those yellow colored straps hanging from that big rig-looking structure in the gym. I sure know that they can be quite intimidating if you’ve never used them or been shown how. So, this week’s workout highlights 2 exercises that will work your abs, biceps and back in the first move (Deltoid Fly); and in the second exercise (Low Back Row), back, abs, shoulders, and biceps. Yes, the TRX can and will really hit all those muscle groups!

Here’s why I love the TRX suspension: It uses bodyweight exercise that leverages gravity to simultaneously develop strength, balance, flexibility, and core stability. What I also really like about using the TRX is that regardless of fitness level and strength, minor tweaks to the movement still allow for an effective workout while building strength. See my modifications section for more on this.

It’s time to stop walking by strange and unfamiliar equipment, and time to amp it up!

Click here or on the video below to view one round of this week’s exercises (note, the video does not have any sound).

Two exercises total, 10-12 reps of each exercise with no rest between movements. Complete both movements, rest 20 seconds, then repeat.

Exercise 1: “Y” Deltoid Fly

Stand facing the anchor with feet hip-width apart. Grasp the TRX handles and lean back on your heels until your body forms a diagonal line, then extend the arms overhead into a Y shape. Leading with hips, pull your body back up to stand, spreading arms back into a Y as you do. You’ll feel your back muscles working as you move from the “down” position to the “Y” position, and your abs will help you maintain stability throughout the movement so make sure to keep your core firm. Return to the starting position and repeat.

Exercise 2: Low Back Row

Keep your body in the same starting position as the “Y” Deltoid Fly. With your palms facing one another. Lean all the way back until your weight is on your heels, extend your arms in front of you, and form a diagonal with your body. Squeeze your shoulder blades together and keep your core tight as you bend your elbows and pull torso up to meet your hands. Lower to return to the starting position and repeat.

MODIFICATIONS: To make these exercises more challenging walk your feet further away from your body. This way the distance to pull yourself up or into the exercise is greater, making it more difficult. Check out my video—in the second movement I inch my feet forward to make the rows more challenging.

Walking the feet closer to the body, decreasing the diagonal will result in making the movement more accessible.

Feel free to play around with your feet, walk them forward, then back. Strike that balance between pushing yourself and working hard while setting yourself up for success. Try these exercises and let me know how they worked out (pun intended).

Rest 20 seconds then REPEAT 3x

Enjoy and Happy #WorkoutWednesday!

Is Your Lack Of Motivation Holding You Back? Learn How To Motivate Yourself And Live The Life You’ve Always Wanted

Arielle Miller / Accountability, Adventure, Arnold Says, Challenges, Commitment, Fitness, Goal Setting, Hard Work, Lifestyle / Ambition, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Brian Tracy, Danielle LaPorte, Dwayne Johnson, Goal Setting, Goals, Hope, Inspiration, Learning, Motivation Monday, Podcast, Reading, The Rock, Timothy Ferriss / 0 comments

May 17, 2016

With respects to motivation and drive it just seems that some people are hardwired differently. Some seem to work with a laser-like focus towards what they want without wavering; and for many others, they fail to even get started and will live lives of ‘extended mediocrity’ (Brain Tracy, The Psychology of Achievement). So what is it that sets those peak performers and high achievers apart from everyone else? What do they posses that gives them that slight edge to soar above the rest? I would have to say that my biggest take aways are perseverance, desire, and above all; success is only possible through failure—trying, trying, and trying again—over and over and over again at all costs.

For me I like to pull my inspiration from texts I find to be incredibly influential and people who have made it with raw grit and determination. So, what I would like to do to kick start this Motivation Monday into high gear is share with you a few things that have been fueling my soul in recent pursuits with the hopes of them guiding you to find and live your passions too.

Get Your Learn On With These Books:

The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte

Not your traditional ‘lifetsyle’ book as it includes a workbook for self-reflection guide to live a more fulfilled life based on how you want to feel. LaPorte’s approach is simple: detach from tangible outcomes like things you want to do and have and pursue matters of the heart answering the basic question of “How do I want to feel?”

This book literally changed not just my life but my husband’s life as well. It gave us the opportunity to truly gaze inward and let go of things not aligned to how we wanted to feel; thus thwarting our efforts to truly lead lives where we were happy and thriving. For my husband Greg, it meant that after our honeymoon in Bali he gave his notice at a job that didn’t offer him the soulful kind of work he was looking for. And for me, it meant that I relinquished my attachment to teaching a class that simply didn’t serve me. I had been teaching the class for a year and it wasn’t building. It commandeered my Saturday being that it was at 10:30am, and lastly, it simply didn’t light my heart on fire. Virtually instantaneously, just as I committed to letting the class go—saying it out loud and even emailing my boss about it, new and exciting opportunities literally found me. Sometimes, all it takes is letting something go so that something new can grow.

The 4 Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss

Dreamed of living in Thailand for a few months? Who hasn’t! But you can’t go, right? You have to make money, hence working and you cannot possibly leave your job—you can’t just up and go. Or can you?

Like many Americans you probably dislike your job. You work simply because you need to make money to retire, then live your life—right? WRONG! Ferriss proposes living a life punctuated by ‘mini-retirements’ where you cycle in and out of a variety of jobs that maximize your efficiency and allow you to travel and pursue personal interests. Definitely geared towards millennials or as Ferriss likes to call them the New Rich or NR, this book is an entertaining read and a how-to-guide on working remotely, working more efficiently, and chasing your passions. I particularly love that Ferriss provides websites and programs that he and others have vetted with great success in manifesting the premise of working much less by proxy of working significantly smarter.

Get Your Listening On:

The Psychology of Achievement, Podcast by Brian Tracy

Did you know that people who set goals are more successful in life and business? Yet in spite of this data, did you know that only 3% of people actually set goals?! This 1-hour podcast is filled with incredible anecdotes about the power of goal setting with some powerful facts about the dangers of just ‘wandering aimlessly through life without purpose’. I relished every second of it while listening in my car to and from work for a few days. As a matter of fact, I have listened to it twice since that initial first time and each time I take away something new. Perhaps the most important lesson was Thomas Edison’s work in developing the electric light bulb. He failed over 10,000 times while developing the light bulb, 10,000 times!!!! He was mocked by the scientific community and even called crazy. Edison never gave up and he utilized each and every failure as a tool to aide in his success. If you’ve ever wanted to do something and have allowed fear to hold you back—give this podcast a gander and start living more wholly!

Get Your Video On:

The 6 Rules of Success by Arnold Schwarzenegger

This short video is my go-to almost daily. While Schwarzenegger has led a colorful personal life, his professional pursuits as a body builder, politician, and actor make this man worthy of great respect. I didn’t realize just how impactful Schwarzenegger was in the fitness realm until relatively recently and the more I learn about him, the more I read about him, the deeper I delve into weight lifting—the more I am awed by this man’s genius.

For me this video is a constant reminder that there isn’t ANYTHING outside of my reach. It gives me that little extra push when I am feeling deflated and I remind myself that I can capture my wildest dreams no matter what others say and think.

Get Your Social Media On:

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

I was never a fan of the WWE nor have ever seen this man wrestle. I’ve seen his movies and while I have always thoroughly enjoyed them for what they were; it wasn’t until I stumbled upon The Rock on social media that I realized his depth and complexity. The Rock is a stand up human being. He visits sick children and from what it seems, spends a great deal of his time giving back to the community, and actually running his own social media which is refreshing. His social media is a snap shot into the great things that he does like getting up early for a workout, or a flashback of how hard he hustled before he made it. Like Schwarzenegger, The Rock didn’t wait for any handouts. He worked his ass off to be where he is today. He embodies what it means to give back to others while continuing to live a life he’s worked hard for and deserves.

Below is a post from his Instagram this weekend. And what I would also like to note is that it was reading his post that in turn inspired this post from me.

So now it’s your turn. What do you aspire to achieve and how can you inspire others?

therock Wow. This 1996 XL cheese pizza of absurdity just surfaced on my Instagram feed. Brings back crazy memories – hustler’s mentality. I was cuttin’ my teeth down in Memphis for $40 bucks per match every night in flea markets, state fairs and pretty much anywhere we could set up a ring. Every night during intermission, myself and the other wrestlers would go out and set up a table in the crowd and sell our pictures and little trinkets to the fans to make a buck. My merchandise would sell between 75 cents and $3 bucks. Hell, if you were one of the few fans who had an extra $5 bucks on ya, then you could even take a Polaroid with me! You’d go home happy (hopefully;) and I’d have $5 more bucks to go towards my gas money and Waffle House. This vintage cheese pizza was one of the pics I would sell to the fans…while standing in the middle of a flea market during intermission before my match. Those days were hard core for me, but as hard as they were, all I knew was the hustle and I’d do whatever it took to climb that ladder and succeed. If it meant standing out in the middle of the crowd selling my trinkets, I’d do it. If it meant wrestling in shitty barns or the parking lots of used car dealerships, I’d do it. If it meant driving up and down the highways over 1900 miles per week to make $40 bucks per match, I’d do it. And if I had to do it all over again, I’d do it twice. I know a lot of you are enjoying the success of your hustle these days and many of you are still hustlin’ hard core to make success happen. Keep hustlin’ and don’t stop. That’s the best part about this whole thing.. is when you finally make it.. and you will.. that’s when the hustle gets even stronger. It never stops. Lastly, the week I signed this pic to an employee at Eckerd’s drug store in Florida, I got the call from the WWE that they were officially signing me to their roster as “Rocky Maivia”. As you can tell by my WTF signature, I had no idea how to even sign my new name. Thankfully, it just became plain ol’ “Rock”. #GrindDNA #WhateverItTakes #TrinketsForSale #GasMoneyAndWaffleHouse

Ain’t No Shame In Your Bicep And Shoulder Game

Arielle Miller / Accountability, At Home Workouts, Challenges, Goal Setting, Hard Work, Lifestyle, Strength Training, Video, Workout Wednesday / Arms, At Home Fitness, Fitness, Gym Rat, no excuses, Shoulders, Workout Wednesday / 0 comments

May 11, 2016

05/11/16 Workout Wednesday, Week 7:

Summer time is rapidly approaching and it’s time to shed those oppressive long sleeves for tanks. So, what are you doing to get your arms and shoulders toned and ready to share their glory with all the world?

This week we tackle a series of 2 exercises to target the biceps in 2 different modalities (bicep curls and hammer curls) along with shoulder presses for good measure to target that really supple part of your shoulder head giving you summer-ready arms. Keep in mind to steer clear of dumbbells weighing less than your purse for 25 reps. Work smarter—increase your weight and even decrease your reps to really craft gorgeous lean muscles while building strength.

Click here or on the video below to view one round of this week’s exercises (note, the video does not have any sound).

Three exercises total, 10-12 reps of each exercise with no rest between movements. Complete all 3 movements, rest 30 seconds, then repeat.

NOTE for all exercises: Keep feet hip distance apart with soft knees.

Exercise 1: Bicep Curls

With the dumbbells resting at your sides rotate the palms so they are facing forward away from your body. Lift the weight towards your shoulder, do not curve your low back, avoid swaying or using momentum, and keep the elbows firm to your sides. Lower all the way down back to the starting position, repeat.

Exercise 2: Shoulder Presses

Lift your arms so your elbows are in line with your shoulders at a 90-degree angle. Press the weights straight up above your head until the gently touch, then lower back down to your starting position, repeat.

Exercise 3: Hammer Curls

With the dumbbells resting at your sides rotate the palms so they are facing inward towards your body. Lift the weight towards your shoulder, do not curve your low back, avoid swaying or using momentum, and keep the elbows firm to your sides. Lower all the way down back to the starting position, repeat.

Rest 30 seconds then REPEAT 3x

Enjoy and Happy #WorkoutWednesday!

Workout Wednesday: Sexy Shoulders, Chiseled Chest, + Toned Triceps

Arielle Miller / At Home Workouts, Challenges, Fitness, Hard Work, Strength Training, Video, Workout Wednesday / Body Weight, Exercise, Fitness, Home Workout, No Weights, workout, Workout Wednesday / 0 comments

May 4, 2016

Workout Wednesday, Week 6:

While sexy and sculpted shoulders are sought after, shoulders and the chest region can be tricky to target and remain a bit of an enigma. Same with those lunch lady arms (triceps)—how ever does one tone and tighten that region without weights?!

This week we focus on a few challenging exercises designed to accelerate your gains with very pointed work. Take the first exercise for this week, the Decline Push Up. Significantly more challenging than a traditional push up, this behemoth exercise packs so much in its punch. It requires a firm core as you engage your abdominals to keep your body in a plank-like position, and it’s completely customizable with respects to the height of the bench dictating difficulty.

The beautiful thing about the things we indulge in, yes indulge in, while working out is everything can be scaled to your fitness level. So as with the Decline Push Ups for this week, the same ability to modify the exercise applies to the Dips in the second exercise. You can use a higher bench, straighten the legs, bend at the knees, or you can even use 2 benches and elevate the legs all together! Notice in the video below, we add a little flair with a knee drive to your chest to make the move more dynamic which will recruit your abdominals.

No equipment needed! A park bench, a chair, even a sturdy coffee table works—so now you have no excuses to get moving and have a little fun!

Click here or on the video below to view one round of this week’s exercises (note, the video does not have any sound).

Total time: 4:30 minutes of work with 30 seconds of rest between sets

Each set is 1:00, consisting of 30 seconds of Exercise 1 (for me this is 10 push ups), right into Exercise 2 (for me this is 10 dips including the knee drive), rest 30 seconds, then repeat 3x.

Exercise 1: Decline Push Ups, 30 seconds or one set of 10

Using a stable bench, table, or chair, lie down on your belly. Walk your hands out and away from your shoulders (these are NOT yoga push ups, so your hands are not beneath your shoulders), so your elbows make a 90-degree angle with the ground. Carefully walk your feet onto your bench, table, or chair. Keeping your body firm, lower your chest down to the ground. Press your upper body back to the starting position and pause briefly, then repeat.

Modification: The lower the bench, the more accessible the push up. You can choose to omit the option of a bench all together if you are still working on traditional push ups, or come to your knees if needed. To make this exercise more challenging, increase the height of the bench, table, or chair and lower yourself downward until your chest almost touches the ground.

Exercise 2: Dips to Single Leg Knee Drive, 30 seconds or one set of 10, 5 on each leg

Using the same bench or chair from the previous exercise, place your hands shoulder distance apart, next to your hips, fingers facing forward. Walk your feet out in front of you, and keep your spine straight as you move away from the chair. Bend your arms to lower your hips towards the ground, then straighten to raise your hips. Then, lift one leg and draw the knee towards your chest. Extend the leg, lower it to the ground, dip and repeat the knee drive on the opposite leg—alternating every other leg after each dip.

Modification: You can skip the knee drive if it’s too challenging and/or incorporate a weight across your thighs.

Rest 30 seconds then REPEAT 3x

Enjoy and Happy #WorkoutWednesday!

Stop Fighting Yourself To Find Yourself

Arielle Miller / Accountability, Ashtanga Yoga, Challenges, Community, Fitness, Goal Setting, Hard Work, Lifestyle / BeFit, Fitness, Fitness Competition, Follow Through, Goal Setting, Motivation Monday, no excuses, Working Out, Writer / 4 comments

April 18, 2016

Recently, I have been experimenting with my voice on this blog. Since I have been ghost writing and recently landed a gig as a Premier Expert contributor for Lionsgate Entertainment’s BeFit.com; I have made a concerted effort to mimic the voice I employ for the masses and will be using on BeFit. While my personal experience has always led me to believe that people resonated with my personal story, transferring one’s voice globally is a whole other story. While still personal, it’s from somewhat of a distance. So I get why my audience has been a bit confused. My experimentation has led me to learn that while writing and contributing to the masses is great; my audience prefers the honest and real glimpse into my life. Well here it is, your voices have been heard and I think it’s time to share with you all what I have been currently working on.

For years I thought that because I was a fitness instructor that translated to not only did I have to love to run, it meant I had to compete—run races, train, and push myself even when my knee was shot. So, I ran races. Many, many races. I met amazing people and loved every minute of the community, but it didn’t really even resonate with me until a friend said to me, “why are you running this ½ marathon if you don’t even life running?” And it hit me. Why was I forcing myself to do something I didn’t even really like for the sake of doing it? Sure, I love Ragnar Relay and Greg and I will run Napa again in the fall of 2016, but does running light my heart on fire? Hell to the no. Am I decent at it? Is it an integral part of my workout? YES. But am I a runner? NO a million times over.

After coming to this conclusion and successfully NOT running and wasting $100 on a ½ marathon I did not run, I kind of wandered the fitness world for my niche again. I went back to OrangeTheory Fitness but that wasn’t doing it. I outgrew it in the respects that my fitness goals started to change. Doing a cardio-based class while it’s fun, wasn’t rendering my body results anymore. My body needed, craved something else. So, I then I found myself practicing Ashtanga Yoga.

Ahhhhhh, where do I being this love story? The breath, the athleticism, the no-excuse, no-dogma approach to yoga sparked an instant love affair. For me, what I loved about Ashtanga was that NONE of it was easy. Every single day presented a new challenge from memorizing the sequence, to sticking my headstand, to twisting my body into new and exciting shapes. Traditionally an early morning and 6-day a week practice lasting about 2 hours, the only evening classes I could make at my yoga studio were getting me home too late. With my writing picking up and working on building a business, I needed to be home earlier thus pausing my Ashtanga practice. However, with all things, as something exits from your life; it clears the way for something new to trickle in.

Still relatively lost and listless when it came to my personal fitness I fondly reminisced my days at Crossfit before my 4^th knee surgery. The raw power, no frills, heavy weight, and of course the community. And it finally clicked. Aside from yoga and now my amazing husband, the only constant in my physical life has been the gym—just me and a barbell.

Inspired by some incredible fitness people in my life, I realized the time is now. For years I have been fighting myself. Desperately trying to be someone that the industry would want to feature on an Instragram post, I tried to be something I wasn’t or something I can’t be. My yoga practice at times reduced to learning and sticking complicated asana to capture in a snap to share with the world. Gawking at svelte bodies and protruding rib cages, I coveted this kind of body until this recent shift—why fight my power and my God-given gifts?

I can still recall my very first day at Crossfit. I walked in for my elements class (foundation level class to learn the movements) and the coach gave me a once over then said, “Oh, girl, you are going to be good at this.”

And he was right. I am built for lifting. My short, dense muscles (and dare I say it, glutes) are perfect for pulling, pressing, pushing, squatting, jumping, and so much more. Which is why I have committed to myself in my most recent endeavor to compete in a physique competition. Yes, you read that correctly. I want to stand on a stage and have people pick apart my body all while being virtually naked. Why, you ask? Because I can. Besides, ain’t nobody gonna dull this shine. I work out for no one other than myself, period. It has only been a month and most days I am in the gym almost 2x a day and I am practicing more yoga than in recent years. While my lifting does impair my mobility with respects to yoga, I have accepted that “right now it’s like this”. I am working for something I have never had and that means doing things I have never done. For years, I always said I wasn’t a morning person. I refused to wake up before work and workout or take classes. I simply just couldn’t do it. So I resolved to make some changes in my life and stop making excuses.

Twice a week I wake up at 5:25am to take a 6:15am cycling class, then lift in the afternoons to allow time for me to write at night. Other days I lift after teaching my classes and/or practice yoga. It seems insane considering I have a fulltime job, and still teach fitness classes. But to me this isn’t extreme, it’s a means to an end. I have goals and dreams and no piece of cake is going to satisfy my dreams of being better than I was the day before.

The reality is this, since I have stopped fighting myself, I have loved my workouts in a way I can’t recall having felt in a long time. Every drop of sweat and every bit of soreness is progress. I can only move forward from here and this is one exciting trip on this journey so far. No one can do this for me. And I expect nothing other than giving each workout my best effort because you never get something for nothing. Keep working and keep fighting—no matter how audacious your dreams are; especially despite what people say. Trust me, I am told I am crazy on a daily basis. For me, when people say I am crazy I take it as a compliment, it means I am dreaming so huge it makes people uncomfortable. Never stop challenging yourself, for when you are challenged is when you find your most authentic self.

Go, Go, GOAL Get It!

Arielle Miller / Accountability, Challenges, Goal Setting, Hard Work / Goal Crushing, Goal Setting, Goals, Motivation Monday / 2 comments

April 11, 2016

Goal setting is one of the most powerful achievements skills of all. When we set goals, we create power. As Brian Tracy states, “When we set goals we develop direction, we develop focused and channeled energy, and we accomplish more in a short time than we could accomplish in years.” A major reason why people don’t set goals because people are terrified of failure and simply, people just don’t know how.

Regardless of how failing feels, it is essential on the path to achievement. Failure implies risk taking. And sometimes with taking risks, they don’t work out—so? When working towards something and you fail, it’s a learning experience to catapult you forward in the next attempt in the pursuit of your goal. Think of a baby learning how to walk. How many times does an infant fall? Not get it right? Stumble? Failure is a wonderful teacher. We must remain open to what failure is trying to show us while growing us.

Goal setting is about reviving your passions and redirecting its energies with purpose. Use your strong sense of purpose while working towards your goal. It is what will keep you fueled while chasing your dreams. Let’s examine goals and goal setting more closely, goals fall into 3 categories:

Family and personal goals
Business and career goals
Self-improvement goals

Select a goal category in your life you are interested in cultivating

I would recommend to focus on an area that’s lack-luster or just not working for you. Use this opportunity to liberate yourself from a vicious cycle of misery or to elevate yourself. Such as addressing a job you dislike, to write in your journal 3 times a week, or save $10,000 to take that trip to Thailand. No goal is too big and no goal is too small. Use your sense of desire to keep your goal afloat and commit to your goal with conviction. Believe in yourself and your ability to achieve whatever it is with every fiber of your being.

WRITE YOUR GOAL DOWN

Until a goal resides on paper, it’s just an idea and usually a fleeting one at that. Even write down the tangible outcomes of your goal and make sure to include the fruits of your labor. How will achieving this goal positively impact your life? What is the outcome of this goal? Visualize the positive influence in your life, then write it down—give this goal a pulse and bring it to life!

Give yourself a deadline to reach your goal

Goals without finite deadlines are often lost to the abyss of procrastination or this thing called life. Put an expiration date on when your efforts will come to a head. Now, this doesn’t mean you set an unrealistic timeline either. If you are looking to lose 20 pounds of fat, hoping to do so in 4 weeks is not realistic.

Set yourself up for success

What is your plan? How are you going to actively work to tackle this goal? What are the steps you need to take to manifest this want in your life? Identify potential obstacles and prepare for them by writing them down on paper. Often times, you will find that you’ve envisioned scenarios and obstacles that don’t exist, or are in reality much smaller than initially imagined. Finally, identify people, groups, and organizations whose assistance can support you in achieving your goal. Find people and others to lift you up and provide you with support.

First Day of School…Again?

Arielle Miller / Challenges / 0 comments

January 12, 2015

Today marked my third 1^st day of school in less than a year and 4^th school in my 10-year teaching career. I never thought I would be a “school-hopper”. Really I am one of those people who enjoy the routine and structure that comes with the stability of a workplace, and by a workplace I mean one workplace. However, I am also one who needs to be able to enjoy work while feeling happy and invested in a cause greater than myself. So when I made the choice to leave my old school at Helen Bernstein High School, it was bitter sweet because I loved the soccer girls I was coaching, my AP students, and my colleagues. Yet, despite such sources of happiness, I ultimately decided that HBHS wasn’t a place I felt I could grow. With a heavy heart for the team and students I left behind, leaving was not the easy way out. Moving schools mid-year to accept a position at Fairfax High School would definitely be Baptism by Fire as its own host of challenges would arise but it was a risk I had to take.

In the short 7 hours that carve out the school day, I feel like I lived a lifetime! To help put it into perspective, I didn’t receive my classroom keys until 15 minutes before my 1^st period class—Wait, where is my classroom?!

Where was the bathroom?

Where do I make copies?

How do I get supplies?

Who is the dean? Wait. Is there a dean?

Is there a refrigerator? Microwave? I need to eat!

Will MSIS (online attendance system) work?

My mind was whirling a million miles a minute with the “where’s” and “what if’s.” Finally, I walked into my room, wrote my name on the board, took a deep breath in and told myself that despite all the unknowns that today presented that I could do it, I would do it, and shit, I had no choice. Tossing all my fears aside, I opened the door to room 211 and greeted my 1^st period students.

Greg in my new classroom. Check out that sweet peeling wall paper.

Overall, in today’s classes we had riveting conversations about the past, the present, the future and how they all connect. We did a little talking, a little writing, and a little more talking. And the crazy thing of it all? When I asked my students to take out a pen and paper…they all had pens and paper!

Amazingly enough, today contained only a few minor hiccups. In particular, one young lady who arrived late to class with a massive attitude. Upon checking in with me she was very unkind despite me wearing my “this-is-my-first-day-of-school-nice-teacher-face”. She very grandly sat down in front and read my name aloud as she read it to herself, then rolled her eyes. My natural instinct was to immediately fire back at this young lady but today something told me not to. Something in me reminded me that I promised myself that Fairfax was my time to work on my PR campaign and soften my approach. Me holding my tongue was not just softening my approach, it was unchartered territory. Her classmates whipped their heads around and with wide eyes, they eagerly awaited my response all while, I still didn’t recognize this young lady’s behavior. Class unfolded and interestingly enough, the same young lady with the attitude is raising her hand, participating and writing furiously on her paper.

I am beyond confused at this point and resolve to stop trying to understand teenagers.

Class ended and she stayed behind. She formally addressed me and apologized for her behavior. SHE APOLOGIZED. Unprovoked. Without me saying anything—I was just gonna let this whole incident go. The young student went on to explain that she had a terrible morning and was angry, ultimately taking it out on me despite her ‘parents raising her better and to always respect her teachers’. She vowed to me that the girl I met at the start of class is not who she is and that she will not let me down.

I AM FLOORED. Never in all the years I have been teaching has this ever happened.

Note to self: Maybe it’s wise I continue to just keep my mouth closed…Yeah, let’s see how long that lasts!

Some other highlights from today included while waiting with Greg to lug my boxes to my classroom a[nother] young lady approached me inquiring if I were Ms. Miller. She introduced herself and let me know how much she is looking forward to moving into my class.

Perplexed, I inquire, “Move into my class?”

Her response, “Yes. Your class. A bunch of my friends have you and they said you seem like a really good teacher and I want to get the best education possible because well, isn’t that why we are in school?!”

She smiled, thanked me, and bounded off with her friend. I look to Greg and say, “God, I am glad you were here for that!”

Looks like my new approach really is working.

But for me it was more than this new approach. It was more like a vindication. Feeling appreciated or maybe I am just in the right place where a gal with purple hair is just understood. Who knows?

And the last bit of goodness I have to share…

My most attentive student. Another vantage point of my new classroom pre-The Girl with Purple Hair’s transformation.

While in the hallway, a former student I had at Virgil Middle School FOUR years ago came running down the hall calling my name. She is now a Junior and every bit as lively as she was for the 2 years I had her in 7^th and 8^th grade. She also came to see me after school to chat. Naturally, eternally the gossip, she gave me the inside scoop on Fairfax but before I left she asked me, “Do you still hang out in your room at nutrition and lunch?”

“Of course I do, that will never change.” I said with a smile.

“Good!” she exclaimed, “I’ll see you tomorrow at nutrition and I’ll bring all my friends!”

And just like that, my day ended.

My Third 1^st day in one year ended with something so familiar, yet so new. A familiar face from a classroom past that fondly recalls the comforts and sanctuary I was able to offer but transported to a new time and space filled with endless possibility. I cannot wait to see what tomorrow will bring and what’s more is I hope to continue to inspire you my readers, to never let fear decide your fate.

Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them. So get out there and start creating!

Challenges

I can still recall my very first day at Crossfit. I walked in for my elements class (foundation level class to learn the movements) and the coach gave me a once over then said, “Oh, girl, you are going to be good at this.”

Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them. So get out there and start creating!

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