Written by Deborah Christie, JoyFIT instructor
There is something exhilarating about “NEW BEGINNINGS!” You see in the Bible it speaks about New Beginnings…New Birth, New Creation, New Heart, New Hope…
In Ecclesiastics 3:11 it says…God has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Zachariah 4:10 says…Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…
So my challenge for you, my friend is to make the decision to BEGIN… my mother many years ago, said to me, “My daughter, there is no better time than the PRESENT!” What an OPPORTUNITY for you to SEIZE the Moment! If you wait to begin when you feel like it…It won’t happen.
Hello, my name is Deborah Christie. I am 65 years of age. I share my age because I want to release HOPE to everyone of any age to BEGIN a Wellness Journey. I am Group Fitness Instructor (Founder of JOYFIT INC), Physical Education Educator, and a Girl who Loves Jesus. I desire for YOU to become Healthy and Whole in your Body, Mind, and Spirit. I have walked this journey for many years, and I’ve experienced highs and lows along the way. It takes work to care and look after yourself. You may think that’s being selfish. No, it is not. It’s important to be the “BEST YOU”! I share with men and women the importance of placing Good Health a priority in their lives in order to be a great example to their children, their families, those in their workplace and community.
I wish to share a portion of what a fellow fitness, instructor, and trainer wrote:
WELCOME to 2025!!
While you’ll probably be seeing tons of motivational quotes today, enthusiastic and optimistic slogans plastered across the interwebs….I want you to remember that everything that pissed you off, discouraged you, caused you to wait, all the resistance that seemed to come against you every time you tried to step forward last year, is still going to be here this year….
The hope is that the resistance that was applied last year has provided strength and growth for this year. That the things that shook you previously no longer cause you to double over in anxiety and fear.
To progress in the gym, I must eventually pick up a bigger weight.
I must make peace with the fact that weight will be harder. It will probably cause me to be sore for days.
My first few times lifting it will probably be somewhat messy, and frustrating. I’ll probably even wonder if I made the right choice to try and lift it, even though it’s clear the previous weight had become too light.
So whatever you hope for in 2025, I’m with you! You go get it Tiger! Be wise, be courageous, and remember every opposition is your opportunity to RISE!
This year friends – it’s time to use the muscles you built last year. Anticipate opposition, but when it comes, use it.
We don’t quit because we’re tired.
OPPOSITION is a GIFT!
Written by: Megan Jox
I TRUST you say YES to BEGIN your Journey to GOOD Health…” Even the longest journey begins with a single step!” I want to share a portion of my own Journey to GOOD Health in regard to Body, Mind, and Spirit. After you have read this, I hope that you will see the connection between the Body, Mind, and Spirit and how they fit and work together so beautifully.
I have been training to get stronger for my trip to Africa. Many of you know I’ve been going to CrossFit. I have trained and exercised with specific goals in mind, such as flexibility, strengthening my core, and increasing circulation. Training and discipline will allow me to achieve my goal.
When we focus on our spiritual muscles, we are training for eternity. To accomplish this, we must exercise our faith. Working out strengthens our physical, mental, and emotional health. Exercising our faith strengthens our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Although each of these is a benefit in and of itself, strengthening our spiritual muscles brings us closer to God and fortifies our faith walk. The stronger our faith, the more we shine (reflect) God’s light.
Are you beginning to see the benefits of exercising your spiritual muscles? Much like physical training, it does not happen overnight. We must discipline ourselves and be consistent in our training.
I will now share steps you can take in your training to strengthen your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual muscles. It is a process. I encourage you to apply these practices daily and keep track of your progress. I am confident you will reap the benefits physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually! Key to achieving all these is CONSISTENCY and DISCIPLINE.. It doesn’t necessarily matter the motivation. It just matters that you show up day after day. The good days. The bad days. The long ones and the short ones. Sick days, healthy days, sunny days and cloudy ones. Compromise, complacency, procrastination, won’t get you where you want to go. They will only leave you frazzled and frustrated.
The following disciplines have worked well for me. I often do these while I am doing physical fitness:
- Prayer- communicating with God
- Study in the word- reading memorizing the word…focusing keeps your mind alert
- Journalling- exercising your mind in writing out what God is showing you. Sharing your thoughts and feelings with God.
- Fellowship- connecting with community
- Mentoring-giving back what you’ve received.
I trust these thoughts will provide a positive starting point as you begin your 2025 WELLNESS JOURNEY!
“Stop dwelling on the past. Don’t even remember these former things. I am doing something brand new, something unheard of. Even now it sprouts and grows and matures. Don’t you perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and open up flowing streams in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19
Deborah Christie (Group fitness classes on Tuesdays, 9:00 am, Victoria School, Victoria-by-the-Sea, PEI) Contact us for more information.)
