Positive Results by Sabrina

Have you ever had the joy of knowing you changed someone’s life? Has anyone ever told you “because of you, I didn’t give up”, “because of you, I decided to reach for more”? 

I remember the conversations we had sitting in class, at the Junior College. The three of us were all single moms, working and going to school. It’s one of the few classes I remember having this much ‘support’ in and not feeling like a token. It was application time for some and I really only wanted to go to Cal. I think I eventually applied to a few State colleges as back up but everyone knew my heart was set on Cal. For many reasons, but mostly because my older brother once told me I was good enough for them and a Counselor at the JC told me I wasn’t.

This Mom admitted to me that she applied to Cal because of me. Originally it wasn’t even on her radar. Attending a University as a Mom, working or otherwise, is not very common. At the time we knew nothing of the Transfer and Student Parent centers. We knew what our current lives looked like and that there weren’t a ton of people encouraging us to make it more difficult by transferring to colleges that would require so much from us.

This mom realized that if I could do it, so could she. She was about a year ahead of me in the transfer process and SHE GOT IN!!!! I remember the pride I felt for her and wondering where she would have gone had I not inspired her to believe in herself. We were able to keep in touch through a mentorship program she joined and she was able to support me through my application process until I joined her at Cal. 

We are still social media friends today. Sometimes when she magically appears on my feed, I remember that pride. I don’t know if she remembers the conversation. I don’t know if she thinks her life is better because she earned her degree from Cal, but I do. I continued to hope for years that other Moms would be equally inspired to follow in our footsteps. The experiences we had, the networks we built, the obstacles we overcame are unmeasurable. I truly believe that we are stronger Women, Mothers and Leaders because we faced those challenges and survived.

Many of the choices we make daily help us inspire others. I read those “Post that selfie” memes and I think about them often. When a friend posts her new book, I cheer for her, and also remember that reading is important to me and I don’t always make it a priority. 

When we take our selfies during a workout they’re often double the reward. We get the memories and we hope that if we post it on our socials, those that follow us will also get something out of it. If my run selfie helps inspire someone to get a workout in, I’m proud. If our group run pictures inspire you to join a run group, perfect! If they inspire you to call a friend and join them for a walk, even better! 

For most of the Coaches in my immediate circle, one of our main goals is to inspire you to get moving in whatever way fits your life. We want you to live the definition of a healthy lifestyle that works for you. One lap around the park while your kids play is a gift. Maybe you tried the monkey bars with them or showed them how to slide down the fire pole? Walking to the neighborhood coffee shop on your lunch break works just as well as dancing around the kitchen while you cook dinner. We want to inspire the things that bring joy to your life. We want to inspire the things that may feel small today but will lead to the memories that you can look back on and have your soul filled with pride. And we want you to be able to bring your family and friends with you into those amazing memories!!