Fitness The Mary Way: Fitness Matters! Journal 1
Don't go another day saying the gym ca
n wait until tomorrow. Don't tell yourself that you get the wide hips from your mom's side of the family. If you are a mom with 2 or 3 or even 4 kids, don't say there is just not enough time in the day to make yourself a priority. I don't want you to put it off another minute.
You see, my mom, Marny, passed away unexpectedly while I was spray tanning at Jr. Nationals in Chicago with my husband, a few weeks ago. When I got word that my mom was hospitalized in the ICU and was unresponsive, it didn't really register. She had been sick off and on for the past four years and I thought it was going to be another brief stint in the hospital. Thankfully, I had a few brief days to visit with her before she slipped back into an unresponsive state and never woke back up. Her organs shut down from pneumonia and a bacterial infection that traveled throughout her body.
Marny was only 68 years young. She left behind a devoted husband, three daughters, and four grandchildren. A huge void is now in all of our hearts. Every Christmas, Valentine's day, and other occasion that she always made special will never be even close to the same. I wish with all my might that I had one more day to tell her how much I loved her.
My mom was not afraid to forge her own path. When international adoption was in its infancy, she adopted three of us girls from South Korea. We grew up a bit confused about our identity and struggled to find a way to belong, but she was always there for us. She never missed a recital, gymnastics meet, a game we cheered at or fundraiser. You name it, she was there.
Marny taught kindergarten in the same school district for 34 years and loved being around kids. She was a beautiful singer, loved to sew and cross stitch gifts for her friends. In terms of her health, she was probably very typical. My mom always tried to "take care of herself." She liked to take walks but didn't like weights. She would start and stop diets numerous times, wou
ld under eat to match a number on the scale but didn't always eat the right foods to stay that number. My mom loved hosting parties, bringing people together, and laughing. A great time would last long into the night.
She didn't always understand why I liked competing in fitness so much. I am so thankful she got to hear about how I won my fitness pro card in May. It was the first time she talked about how proud she was of me. I was, and am still, teased a lot by my family for living this lifestyle, but in the end, she couldn't wait to share the news everyone. Even in the hospital, she told staff that I was a "pro trainer".
Now more than ever, I can appreciate how shortly life can pass us by. Each day is a chance to make the most of it. Without our health, we have nothing. We should always come first. I will always be eternally grateful for my mom and the life lessons she has taught and continues to teach me. Don't wait another day to be your best for the ones you love. Cherish each moment, we never know when it may be our last.
Mary Stockbridge
IFBB Fitness Pro
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/npc.marys?fref=ts
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