I started thinking about this blog and asking myself, “How did I get here?”  Each day, I seem to find new inspiration for stories and posts and challenges.  I feel fortunate to be able to find the words to inspire or at least entertain my readers.  In one of my very first posts I said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.  What was my first step?

It’s difficult to figure out the EXACT first step, but I did some soul searching to figure out what got this ball rolling.

After I had my third child, Cade, I had a difficult time feeling like myself again.  Six months post-partum, I was still struggling to get my body back and find time for simple things like reading a book or the newspaper at a minimum.  Something I used to enjoy before Cade’s arrival was taking a spinning class at my gym.  

I decided to try getting back in the saddle, looking to get a burst of energy and inspiration.  I stopped into a new studio in Manhattan Beach called Space, which is dedicated to Spinning and Yoga and Strength Training.  I took a class and was relieved to know that I still had the “skills”.  I am not too proud to mention that I was unable to do most of the hard climbs and sprints in the beginning- but at least I remembered how to set up the bike and pedal!

I started attending classes regularly, and found that I really connected with those instructors who inspired me, and challenged me to work hard.  After 3 months of classes I was feeling stronger and wanted to push myself a little more outside my comfort zone.   I started thinking, “What would I say if I was the teacher right now?”  ”How would I inspire each rider to reach their fullest potential?”  The answers weren’t that easy to find, but I knew that I would enjoy the challenge of helping others do something that I had found so rewarding.

Four months after my first class I can honestly say, I felt like a changed woman. The physical activity made a big difference in my mental state, my collicky son stopped crying every day and I was starting to get more sleep. I had my first moment of something I would like to do outside of parenting.  Teach Spinning.  I have to admit, I had done it before, but that was 10 years ago (before the ipod and updated bikes).

That afternoon, I put in a call to Lisa Ellerton, owner of Space Studio.  I nervously asked her if she would ever consider letting me teach a class there.  I told her about my past experience- which seemed like a lifetime ago.   I was happy to hear that she was open to the idea.   We met to discuss the details, I signed up for a certification class and was teaching within a month.

If you take a step toward one goal, the floodgate of ideas open up for other opportunities.   It is incredibly empowering to find a passion, pursue it and attain some level of success.  Having children and being out of the work force reduced my confidence in my ability to have any sort of success outside of the home.  After I started teaching Spin, that confidence came back in a small way.  

My biggest challenge was finding words to inspire others.   I tried many different approaches.   Sometimes they worked and sometimes my class would look at me like I was crazy.  Bottom line: I decided that I wanted to start inspiring friends and family outside of my Spin class.

 That is how I got here.  Now, where am I going?  Women between the ages of 25-45 are one of the most influential demographics in the United States.  We influence politics, education, retail and of course,  the men in our lives.  Corporate America wants to reach us to buy their products, Washington DC wants us to vote for their candidates, schools need us to volunteer and our families need us for everything else.  Considering the power that we, as a group, hold: we are pretty amazing support network for one another.   We can support each others goals, achievements and businesses.  That is why I want you to read and support this site- not just for me, but for everyone I feature who is doing something interesting.  

1- Release my online babybook- my readers will be the first to preview this labor of love that I have worked on for almost 2 years.

2- Run a half marathon- possibly the LA Marathon…need to figure that out.

3- Increase the reach of this website- so we can support other moms, both near and far.  I will let you know when I get over 2,000 in any given month.  I want to be a resource for moms who need support on anything ranging from fitness and family to business and relationships.  If you have a question about how to get something started, ask me and we can find answers together.  If we grow as a community, we will be able to help one another on a wider range of topics. 

4- The last goal I have for 2009, which cannot be measured, is absolutely enjoying my three boys as much as possible.  I can’t believe how quickly they are growing up.  The picture was taken a couple of nights ago before my youngest son’s Christmas program.

I heard that Jania was training for a half marathon in San Francisco with the Luekemia and Lymphoma Society when she sent out an email to her friends looking to raise $5,000 dollars.  She made a brief mention of the fact that she lost her father to Lymphoma when she was in high school.   When I asked for more information, she shared that her dad was quite sick for a period, yet she remembers his strength and focus on the kids.  She said, “He was incredibly brave.  Even though the Chemotherapy wreaked havoc on his body, he dedicated himself to taking care of my mom and his six children until the end.”

Now, 25 years later, she has found a way to honor his memory by raising money and awareness to help others who are in a similar predicament to that of her late father.  Before taking on this challenge, Jania couldn’t run more than a couple of miles.  Then, shortly after signing on to the team, her husband had to undergo two consecutive spine surgeries and one of her daughters broke her tibea.  Rather than using these two setbacks as excuses, she kept the memory of her father’s strength in the forefront  of her mind and has continued her training.  She said something that encompasses the essence of what I am trying to accomplish with this site, ” It would be too easy to get lost in the traditional female caretaker/self neglect role.  So, (in light of the obstacles this summer) I find it all the more important to carve out the ‘me’ time.”

I asked Jania for 5 things that keep her inspired during her long runs:

5. Those white jeans in my closet
4. Meeting new running buddies, some as young as 25, and thinking: I am totally keeping up with these guys
3.  The image of my 2 year old looking at me, wide-eyed, in my running outfit and asking, “Is you doing running mommy?”
2.  The fact that I’ve told too many people already.  No quitting now!
1.  Having some quiet time to think about my dad, and taking a minute to cherish my health and strength on behalf of all those who can’t.

To support Jania’s cause click the link below to donate:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/nikesf08/jfox

My interview with Beth is posted to the right if you want to read more.

At moments I am paralyzed with fear that my efforts to build a website focused on inspiring other moms will fail miserably.  Who am I to think that my words and the stories of others who motivate me, will have the same effect on my readers.  I have such lofty goals for this site…can I even live up to my own expectations?

 I can sit here on my living room chair (aka my home office) and fearlessly start typing, or I can continually look back on today and regret that I didn’t just give it a shot.   There is a chance that I fall short of expectations, but there is also a chance that I surpass my expectations.

If I motivate one mom, to take action to turn some goal or dream into a reality, then my efforts are not in vain.

This is where my journey begins. It is the first step in my thousand-mile journey of reaching out to mothers all over the world. I am writing this first blog on Mother’s Day morning with my three boys running around like maniacs. I know there are millions of mothers out there on this day, at this very same minute, trying to get something done amid the chaos and happiness called motherhood.

The inspired mom website was born from my own need to find inspiration and support to pursue my personal dreams while raising children, nurturing my relationship with my husband, working outside the home and volunteering at the kids school. You know what I mean because most of you do those things too!

I hope to share with other mothers:

Support for reaching your personal goals- fitness, family or business related.

Inspirational stories of other mothers.

Tips to keep you motivated.

If you sign up for the newsletter (see the bottom right corner) you will receive an inspirational quote every one or two weeks. This will not be spam or advertising- just a thought provoking quote and a link to the inspired mom website if you want to read more.

Join me on my journey to discover inspirational women around the country and find support to follow your own dreams- whatever they may be.