Africa Bound! Health Advocacy Around the World

So extremely EXCITED to share with you all that this September I have the opportunity to go to Kenya with a team from our local community to support and work with an amazing organization called

HEART

(Health Education Africa Resource Team). KENYA!!! {

I still have to process that I will actually be going there

} This organization empowers current and future generations of African people to improve their physical, spiritual, and emotional health.

These are all areas that I am extremely passionate about as a health advocate! Not only will we be in one of the largest slum areas in the world, but we will be working to make a difference in several impoverished areas.

On this trip we will be working specifically with a few different programs that are extremely powerful. One opportunity is working with a special group of women in their WEEP program. These ladies are HIV positive and have been abandoned or widowed by their spouses. Saving their lives spares the children from becoming orphans and a continued heartwrenching cycle of issues to trickle down among the family. Once the ladies are admitted into the program, they receive holistic care, medicine to treat their disease, and also ensures that their children have the resources to attend school. In addition, they attend a program over twelve months that teaches them skills, resources, and a trade so once they graduate from this program they can go start their own businesses and support their families. We have the honor of being there for this year's graduating class! Awesome!!! We are honored to celebrate them as mothers, celebrate their health in mind, body & spirit, as well as, celebrating a thriving future as they go begin their new businesses.

In addition to the WEEP Program, we will also be involved in a fundraiser for their Freedom for Girls Program. Freedom for Girls provides sanitary towels, panties, and health education pamphlet to schoolgirls. The need for the project came after the realization that many girls miss 4-5 days of school every month during menstruation. "When the schoolgirl menstruates she stays home. When she's older, that's all she'll be qualified to do."

It is absolutely crazy to me that something as basic as access to monthly female products, allows these girls to miss and drop out of school!!! Seriously! Education is key to all in this world and is a dealbreaker for these kids. One year's supply for one girl is $5. Just think, it costs a measly $50 a year to support ten girls so that they can stay in school... WOW! Makes me strongly consider my Starbucks habit.

I look forward to serving and working beside these people. I am excited to see all that the HEART organization is involved in while fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the lives they are changing, and the REAL difference they are making in their communities. Fortunately, we are blessed to financially be able to afford the cost of the trip. Although travel costs will be met, we have some specific needs that we are trying to fund that could use your financial support if you feel in your heart that you would like to support in that way. Three specific needs to be funded are:

1. Reading glasses for the women in the program.

1. $150+ for each of the 13 women in the graduating class so that they can start their businesses.

1. Lunch at the park. A rare opportunity for the women to gather together and we provide lunch and activities for their children so they get some time out for themselves.

If you feel in your heart that you would like to support these needs, you can donate here http://bit.ly/ha1PYW . {please scroll down to Kenya-Sept. click Misty Smith}

Your prayers are greatly appreciated. I look forward to working with our gifted team as we

go support others in Kenya.

{

I

will be updating and blogging regularly the progress of this experience on

this page

of the site. Please check back regularly there to follow along as I go help promote and support health advocacy in Kenya.

}

Update

on 2012-07-25 22:35 by Dynamic Edge NW

Update: To continue to follow along the Africa Blog, please click the tab above or click here.

All Out!

Yes, this is the aftermath of an ALL OUT workout. {Thanks PB}Why do you show up and not give your all? Seriously, why does one waste time coming to class or the gym if it's a mediocre effort at best? Ya, you are allowed an off day. It happens. {you can read about my thoughts on that sucky off day here} But really though? I don't understand showing up with a self limiting attitude and effort. What is REALLY holding you back?

Beast mode doesn't always have to be on, but why wouldn't you try? If you are making the commitment to show up for an hour or whatever your schedule allows, you are only defeating yourself, and the body God gave you, if you don't leave your best effort out there. What's the point if you're not going to give the effort? Half-assed shouldn't fly.

What's holding you back from allowing yourself to tap into that unlimited potential? Quit comparing yourself to the bubbly, fit girl on the treadmill, or the meathead that looks juiced in the weight room. Just find your zone and allow yourself to be great, in all areas of health and fitness. YOUR best self! Whatever that means to YOU! Guaranteed you have more effort to give than you think; are stronger than you think; have more endurance than you think, and can elevate your intensity more than you think. 

You may need an extra nudge or push to find that untapped potential. For me, it varies. Sometimes it's my fellow fitness sidekick, my coach, my previous effort, or maybe the clock. When given the opportunity, you probably will consider or even stop to get that drink of water or put that bar down. It's easy. Why not? Ask yourself, WHY? Your water can find an appropriate rest point. Pick the damn bar back up and get it done.

Do what you say you are going to do and find passion in doing it. If the workout calls for a certain amount of reps or rounds, commit to it and do it. Maybe that's not the same as the person next to you, but commit to what you are going to do. Don't be a damn cheater! Do you do that in life when things get too tough? A little strain and you take a shortcut or you throw in the towel? You are being shadow counted, so do what you say you are going to do.

Physcial fitness is only a platform to mold, shape, and refine you as a person and how you perform in life. This isn't about being the best physical specimen in fitness that's out there. Here me clearly on that point. This is about training your mind and who you are, to be great. This is about the serious effort you make to grow as a person so that you can do great work in daily life. That's what is important.

Don't waste your time if you're not willing to put in the effort. Your free hall pass/easy route is only valid for so long-- hopefully it's a short stint. Leave it all out there. What have you got to lose?

Believe. Surrendering Not Acceptable!

                                              Source: tumblr.com via Dynamic Edge on Pinterest

Powerful. A recent blog post here at Dynamic Edge referenced the Bumblebee Spirit and how the bumble bee does not know they shouldn't be able to fly. With a determined spirit and lots of hard work, the bumble bee overcomes it's limiting factors and is able to fly. {check out the post if you missed the message}

Inspired beyond belief. I love a good inspirational story or movie, especially when it comes to health, fitness, or sports in general. Rudy, Remember the Titans, Forrest Gump, Field of Dreams, The Blind Side, Rocky, Brian's Song... Oh the list goes on! When I recently saw this video surfacing around facebook, I knew I would be a sucker for the view.

Here is an individual who sacrificed his life by serving our country, and then had circumstances that his doctors, himself, and many others thought would be limiting and debilitating throughout the rest of his life. It took one person to believe in him that sparked him, and an overwhelming desire to overcome what many thought would not be done.

Are you that "ONE" person for someone? Who can you challenge and encourage to be a fighter and push themselves beyond what they think can be done? We all have the fighter spirit. We just need to find it. Some graciously have it exposed at all times, easily stirred up, and some need it ripped out as it's been buried for so long.

Challenge those who think it cannot be done. Fight the fight and fuel the fire. You can acheive greatness in the face of adversity. Believe in yourself and work your ass off!

Marathon Season- Cheer On!

Crazy peeps! I recently had the pleasure of being a spectator and cheer-master-extraordinaire for some friends running in a half marathon. Signs required, of course!

 

 

Not my thing, but I'll support you if it's yours. You see I'm usually a participant in any athletic events I'm attending with friends. I love a challenge and the motivation of registering for an event to give myself a swift kick-in-the-ass to get going training. This event is different. Although I enjoy running, I need more variety. I've never had the burning desire, passion, or thrill seek to be a marathoner. Even if my jacked joints would allow it, it just seems so long and monotonous. {Can't we just do sprints??} I would NEED tunes to just keep one foot in front of the other for mile after mile. And 26.2 or ultra jokers? That's just extreme crazy talk!

Inspired. Even though it is not my thing, as a person passionate about health and fitness, I am inspired by the training, dedication, and mental preparation it takes to accomplish these feats. Amazing! It is truly mind, body, and spirit.

 

Empowered and encouraged as we cheered on runners. We made stops at mile 3, 9, and brought the runners home at the finish line. At mile 3, runners had smiles on their faces, enjoyed our signs, loved when we shouted their names, and were generally upbeat progressing along. It was still early-- you could tell :). Just to see faces light up and smile as we said their names was victory {many thought they knew us, even if we were just reading their names from the bibs, ha!}. It was a game and we were keeping count on how many smiles we got! By mile 9 you were starting to see the pain faces... you know what I'm talking about. Ugly. They needed the encouragement. A little boost to put an extra kick in their step, a little more energy to press on. Then it was finish time. A mixture of pain faces and smiles. It's over! Accomplishment completed.

Although being a cheer master {pom pom free!} is out of my element some, I loved being on the other side, bib free. Such a gratifying, fulfilling experience to be there for my running peeps. You are all amazing!

Do you need to be the participant? Maybe you need to be the one cheering? Give it a shot. Cheer on!

Your Potential Is Limitless

Think like a bumblebee, train like a racehorse. I recently read an article in a fitness journal by Ben Bergeron that had some wise words that resonated with me. The message was very powerful and so thought provoking. Before we get to that message, I must ask a few questions and give some background. How do you go from good to great? Do you feel that life is good right now? If so, awesome! But what if you want life to be more than good? What if you want life to be GREAT?

Bumblebees aren't supposed to fly. Scientists had studied bumblebees extensively to try to figure out how a large, furry insect could fly with such little wings. The scientists concluded that the physics show that there is no way they should be able to fly. Later, they concluded that the reason they can fly is because of an overwhelming intensity of effort. You see, no one told the bumblebees they can't fly... Having faith in their abilities, combined with intensity of effort, gives them the ability to achieve what seems impossible.

Train like a racehorse. Racehorses train and get pampered at an elite level. You have to fuel the racehorse properly {you're welcome Justin Arnest}; special equipment is used for performance and exercise physiology monitoring; special coaching is utilized, etc. The amazing thing about racehorses is they don't question their training.  They do what is asked of them and go perform. They don't second guess themselves, the coaching, or over think the process. They just go DO!

As we examine our lives and quality of life, why are we limiting ourselves? Are you ok with mediocre? Are you ok with "good"?  Why not greatness?  Who's to stop you from unleashing your potential and allowing you to reach a higher level of greatness, whatever that means to you?

Think like a bumblebee, train like a racehorse.  Believe you can achieve greatness! Your mental gameplan and self talk is so important. Yeah, you've heard that before, but truly the game you play in your head can make or break you.  Don't over think why you can or can't do something.  There are probably a million reasons you will find you can't. Believe you can, and just go DO!