Friday, November 13, 2015

Rousey My Fight/Your Fight


My Fight/Your Fight by Ronda Rousey

"Marked by her signature charm, barbed wit, and undeniable power, Rousey’s account of the toughest fights of her life—in and outside the Octagon—reveals the painful loss of her father when she was eight years old, the intensity of her judo training, her battles with love, her meteoric rise to fame, the secret behind her undefeated UFC record, and what it takes to become the toughest woman on Earth. Rousey shares hard-won lessons on how to be the best at what you do, including how to find fulfillment in the sacrifices, how to turn limitations into opportunities, and how to be the best on your worst day.

Packed with raw emotion, drama, and wisdom this is an unforgettable book by one of the most remarkable women in the world. "

Ronda Rousey is arguably the most powerful fighter in history, and yes, I am consciously saying history. This girl is unparalleled in her determination and drive. She has really inspired me, and countless others. She is a Bantamweight World Champion, but reading her story it is clear that she was cut from a different cloth from the outset. Her father's death rocked her family to the core, and though her mother was never the warm and cuddly kind, Ronda knew that she was loved and that her mother only wanted the best for her. In that way, I was reminded of my dad because even though it was not always what I wanted to hear, my dad was honest. He always knew what was best for us. If you were hooking up with some shclep, Dad was not quiet about it. He'd ask what the hell you were doing with that loser. When you become a parent, you realize so much more what your parents go through, and how their decisions are derived from wanting the best for you.

Most of us are weakened by simple aches and pains that we feel in our back, head, and toes. Ronda Rousey laughs at our perceived weaknesses; she'd dislocate a shoulder and still fight someone. I think the truth is that so much of what we endure makes us stronger, and the reason we hit rock bottom is because there is something there we need to find. Something about ourselves and our true strength can be found at the bottom of the barrel. That's the truth.

This book was read for book club, and I have a new-found respect for this woman. It didn't start out that way, but her story was an interesting one.

Happy Reading!

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Fit Reads Pick November/December


Fit Reads Book Club
November/December Book Choice

Ta-da! Two months is how long you will have to read Peter Swanson's The Kind Worth Killing, but I wish you luck if you think you will last that long with this book in your hands. Read this synopsis, grab a friend, and join in the fun! Fit Reads is the best way to combine your love of reading with a healthy lifestyle. 

Synopsis
A devious tale of psychological suspense involving sex, deception, and an accidental encounter that leads to murder. Fans of Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train will love this modern reimagining of Patricia Highsmith’s classic Strangers on a Train from the author of the acclaimed The Girl with a Clock for a Heart—which the Washington Post said “should be a contender for crime fiction’s best first novel of 2014.”

On a night flight from London to Boston, Ted Severson meets the stunning and mysterious Lily Kintner. Sharing one too many martinis, the strangers begin to play a game of truth, revealing very intimate details about themselves. Ted talks about his marriage that’s going stale and his wife Miranda, who he’s sure is cheating on him. Ted and his wife were a mismatch from the start—he the rich businessman, she the artistic free spirit—a contrast that once inflamed their passion, but has now become a cliché.

But their game turns a little darker when Ted jokes that he could kill Miranda for what she’s done. Lily, without missing a beat, says calmly, “I’d like to help.” After all, some people are the kind worth killing, like a lying, stinking, cheating spouse. . . .

Back in Boston, Ted and Lily’s twisted bond grows stronger as they begin to plot Miranda's demise. But there are a few things about Lily’s past that she hasn’t shared with Ted, namely her experience in the art and craft of murder, a journey that began in her very precocious youth.

Suddenly these co-conspirators are embroiled in a chilling game of cat-and-mouse, one they both cannot survive . . . with a shrewd and very determined detective on their tail.
via amazon.com

I hope you will join me these next two months with Peter Swanson's The Kind Worth Killing and I will post some exercises you can do in your home or with a friend, as well as the reading schedule. 

Happy Reading! 


Monday, November 2, 2015

Inspirational Books You Shouldn't Live Without

I always feel a bit of a slump when October hits. Everything in my life seems to slow down and even my internal speedometer starts dipping below full pace. Is that just me, or do we all experience this kind of life-slump? Let's operate on the "it's only me" assumption, and let's just say that you were in the audience last Saturday hearing Elizabeth Gilbert speak about "Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear." What you would have walked away with was the feeling that fear is a terrible passeneger in your life. The worst part about it is that no matter how hard you try, fear will always be in the car. You just have to get in the drivers seat every day and tell fear "I am driving today, so get in the motherf*%$#@ng back seat." I have sat in the passenger seat while fear drove my car around. Of course I didn't realize I was doing that, no one willingly lets fear drive their car around, but I was. I was awestruck listening to Elizabeth (yes, we are on a first-name basis...get over it) because I was hit with a "Yep. My God, yes. She knows me. She is boring holes into my skull with this fear stuff." I am going to be brave in spite of myself, and stubborn in my gladness. If you haven't already had a chance to pick up a copy of Big Magic, I recommend it.

In the arena of life, it isn't about how many times you get knocked down, bruised and battered as it may be...but that you keep getting up and going in to the arena knowing exactly what it is that you are about to face. I mean holy sh*$! Your area can be big, your arena may be small, but get your as in there and fight. Nothing in this world that was ever worth anything came to you easily. We have all had to fight for what we knew, somewhere deep in the depths of our souls that we deserved. We all deserve contentedness, and some of us have to fight a lot harder than others for it. Keep the fight going my friends. We will rise...though it may from ashes like Phoenix, we shall rise!


I hope this post has helped inspire you. You are brave. You are strong. You are worthy. You are enough.
Happy Reading!