Coincidentally, and perhaps ironically, I actually left my job on November 16th, 2018. Somehow I had today's day, November 22nd, in my head. I didn't realize until today that Burpees for Turkeys was actually the celebration of my one year anniversary!  It was totally a coincidence....but one that I find
​ meaning in and will cherish.

This past year has been absolutely amazing! 

The stories that are shared with me about how the experience at WILCOX has changed one's life is truly inspiring! The stories from our clients and expression of gratitude for what we do at WILCOX means the world to me. It keeps me moving forward even when the days are long and nights seem too short

I'll be honest, there have been some tough times over the past year. I have had some sleepless nights and fought through some anxiety from time to time, but when I step back and really think about what it's all about and why I made the choice to embark on this journey I realize the importance of my work and the gifts that it provides to me each and every day.

It's the challenges that we encounter that provide us with the opportunities to learn and grow as a person. I don't always learn the lesson in the moment, that's for sure!  The struggle that I'm working through can feel all consuming in the moment, but I try to take the time to reflect on a regular basis and consider the purpose behind the what is happening and what can be gleaned.

This past year has been a lesson in balance.  In creation of new routines and rituals and trying to find what works.  Lessons in ways to unplug a little bit and give myself time to recharge.  It can be a hard lesson to learn.

When the to-do list seems endless, the days seem too short, and the sleepless nights felt too long it is easy to slip into bad habits.  It's easy to put off the time to exercise.  It's easy to resort to convenient, less nourishing meals.  It's easy to slip into the comfort of the sofa for an entire weekend and do absolutely nothing.  When I would allow these tendencies to occur I would always feel at my worst.  When I built in time to exercise, when I planned easy, go-to meals that I knew my husband would happily prepare and have ready for me at the end of a long day, when I planned for some fun over the weekend that ensured that I got up off my duff and took time to actively recharge, I would always feel my best and be most prepared to handle whatever the coming week had in store for me.

Many of our clients are super busy.  They have demands pulling them in all directions.  Jobs are demanding, family obligations are sometimes inconsistent and require a great deal of flexibility, many have responsibilities for not only their kids but also their aging parents.  Weeks are unpredictable, routines are easily broken, and it can feel like it's impossible to find time to take care of one's self. 

I have learned so much from the stories and life experiences that my clients share with me.

I take these lessons and stories to put my own challenges into perspective and work to learn and grow so that I'm better able to relate to the struggles that my clients face. 

I try to use my commitment to my clients as fuel and motivation to find strategies that work well for me.  Strategies that help me stay the course even during the toughest of weeks.  I hope that I'm able to use my personal experiences and how I work through them to guide my clients and help them find the strategies that allow them to give their minds and bodies the love that they deserve.

When we take care of ourselves, when we build in that time to exercise and nourish to our bodies we are better able to meet the crazy demands of our lives.  And when we are better able to meet the demands that we face we are more equipped to learn from those experiences and make the most of even the most challenging of times.

I'm grateful for what I have learned this year.  I hope that I've been able to help others make the most out of their personal challenges, and find a path towards their own self care that works best for them.  Giving back through this process of self discovery can be very humbling and a lesson learned in itself.

This past year has been exactly what I set out to do. To contribute to my community, to do good and to make an impact.

I am eternally grateful for the people who make up the WILCOX Community.  I cherish each and every story that is shared with me.  I deeply value all of the trust that people put in me, and am so appreciative for the support extended my way. 

I am delighted to be celebrating this one year mile stone of leaving my old life behind and starting this new journey with no other than the people who have allowed me to make it happen....the members of this amazing community at Wilcox Wellness & Fitness. 
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Thank You to each and every one of you.

This is such a devastating statistic and I'm proud of the impact that we as a community were able to make through this event.

Food insecurity is a serious issue even here in our local community of Greater Brunswick.  The signs of hunger can easily go unnoticed, and we often don't realize who is impacted.  Hunger impacts people of all kinds.  A financial crisis brought on by a medical issue, lost job, or divorce can result in food insecurity even for families that you would least expect.  

The evidence of hunger is most obvious to those who work directly to provide food within the local community, or people who work in roles such as teachers, coaches, and counselors.  When you talk with people in these kinds of roles in our local community you will realize that hunger is real.

I'm impressed by the work of the Good Shepherd Food Bank and their efforts to fight against hunger across Maine.  Their goal to end hunger in Maine by 2025 is an impressive one.  Good Shepherd vision is to make food available to anyone who needs it through a variety of programs that they provide.