The Train is Leaving the Station

All aboard, my friends! The train is leaving the station.

As I sit in my half empty apartment tonight I can’t help but reflect. In 11 days Charles will be here to help me load the trailer and my life in Miami will officially be over. Just. Like. That.

This train, though, has been prepping to leaving the station for quite some time. I had this itch that started a whole mess of things about two years ago. I knew there was more out there for me. I knew that life didn’t have to be dictated by a crappy principal and some joke of a school system. I knew that I was worth more than 30-something thousand a year.

Sure, I went to school for education. I did that because I’m a natural teacher. An educator by nature. My passion is for helping people see the best in themselves. To grow. To learn. That’s what I’m passionate about. That’s what I was made to do.

But the four walls of a classroom suffocated me, much like they suffocate our youth today. I am a really great teacher. I refuse to allow anyone to tell me otherwise. But, it’s funny. I never got told that I was good at what I did. All I was ever reminded about was the numbers I had (or didn’t have) for my gifted program, how I could work harder to raise my students’ test scores, and, OH YEAH, I was used as a doormat for whatever “side job” they needed. I contemplated asking my administration if they realized I wasn’t 17 years old and volunteering from the local high school. I felt like they may have mistaken me for her.

My heart raced every time I had to walk past the sign in sheet for fear that I had to see my principal. I mean, I know how kids feel about being “sent to the office,” but I felt like that everyday I pulled into work. The sight of a white truck makes me hold my breath, even today. Teaching is one of the most human industries and all humanity was gone from my school.

I left work beyond exhausted, embarrassed to look in the mirror at how “crazy” I looked by 3:30. I SWEAR I LOOKED NICE WHEN I LEFT MY HO– USE!!! And I left work to go WORK MORE. The only hours I spent at home were really just to sleep. And most teachers can agree…I HAD to work after school. I didn’t make enough money not to. My other jobs helped pay the bills. I truly worked so much that I made myself ill. I hope that this isn’t what I have to look forward to in the future. If this is what working life is like, then I don’t think it was made for me, but I need to find a way to adapt so I can make a living. If only my employers asked me about my wellbeing at different times during the year, it means that they would have a better understanding of what I’m going through. Initiating employee engagement initiatives like distributing employee satisfaction surveys will give me the chance to tell them just how hard I am working, both at school and at work, in the hopes that they can suggest things for me to try to help me cope better. I just don’t want to work so hard to the point that it makes me ill. In the winter of 2013, my body finally said “enough” and I had a nice little (well, not so little) go around with shingles. Shingles is no joke. I still have no feeling in the area where my rash was and when I start to stress, I get a nice “shock” from my nerves reminding me of the damage. Shingles was my body’s way of saying “Brittany…this is not how you were meant to live.” That was the turning point for me.

Courageously, I started changing my life around. Piece by piece. Bit by bit. It didn’t happen overnight. I didn’t find happiness with one swoop, nor success. I worked. And I worked. And on those days when I didn’t want to…I worked. Because I knew there was more for me.

I’m not there yet. I’m not at the end of my road and to my dreams. And who knows if I’ll ever be “there.” But one thing is for sure. The train is officially LEAVING the station. I’ve resigned from public education. I’ve jumped full time into Beachbody Coaching and designing my life, my way. I’m packing up my life here in Miami and heading to California to marry the man I prayed every night for. I’m in the drivers seat. I’m calling the shots!

The train is leaving and you’re either supporting me or you’re not. You’re either coming with me or I’m leaving you behind. I’m on a mission to spread health and happiness and I can’t do this mission alone, but I also know that I won’t do it with nay-sayers or people who don’t believe in me.

I don’t know where the train is going to stop (will it ever?), but I do know that it’s going to be an amazing, life changing ride and I’d like you to be there with me! Are you unhappy in an area of your life? Has my story touched upon your story in some way? You have the reigns, my friend. YOU can decide to make a change-just like I did. If you’re ready to join my team of coaches who are making differences, taking names, and stopping for nobody, then reach out to me! This opportunity changed my life and it can change yours, too! Message me on Facebook or Comment here! I’d love to hear your story! 🙂