Past, Present, and Future...And The People Who Touch Our Lives

        

I just attended my 30-year high school reunion and saw some people I haven't seen since the 20- year, 10-year and even longer! I found it interesting that the 10-year reunion was more about everyone's accomplishments, their careers, and of course checking out if people still lived up to their Class Polls titles of "Best Looking", "Most Likely To Succeed", "Class Couple", etc.... I saw people that I was very friendly with

in high school and felt no connection to anymore, and some that I was just friendly with back then and was actually so excited to see!

I was one of the small percentage that already had two kids and was more of a "stay-home mom" (still working in the gym, of course!). Needless to say that when everyone went out afterwards, I had to get right home.

          I found the 20-year reunion to be more shocking since many people had physically changed so much since high school and even since the last reunion that I found myself in that awkward position of not only NOT knowing names, but not recognizing faces of people I was actually pretty friendly with in school. There was no Facebook or social networks that everyone was participating in back then, or at least that I was aware of. Aside from friends who remained close, most of us lost touch with each other over the years.

People were talking more about their families, most who had little kids since they had careers first and started having children later on. By then I was divorced, my kids were 8, 12, and 15 and I was ready to out!

          I had just started a new career at that time (after becoming a single mom) as an x-ray technologist part-time while still expanding my fitness career, Cindy Fox Fitness, LLC (www.cindyfoxfitness.com). Ironically, one of our classmates who worked in film production approached me about being part of his company's next workout video, so I choreographed and was featured in The Method Cardio Flexband Workout DVD. Just one of those "coincidences" of being in the right place at the right time!

      Although I knew nothing about video production, I decided I would hire a videographer and produce a fitness video I had wanted to make since I had my first baby called "BE INSPIRED! No Excuses!" workout DVD for stay-home moms using a Snugly to workout with the baby. This was before "Mommy and Me" workout videos were popular and my son was too young to bring to the daycare at the gym. I hired one of my clients who just had a baby, choreographed it, filmed it in the gym I worked at, and was even fortunate enough to have Gail Barringer, Production Manager of "Law and Order" stop by that day with her fiance who did lighting on the set, to help with lighting since I was currently training her and they happened to be off that day because they were picking up Tuxedos for their wedding. Just my luck! Since then I have been in several music videos, documentaries, on a few TV Shows and the news, and even got my picture on the front page of the Wall Street Journal! It's strange how a new change in direction opens up so many other doors (www.nakedcowgirlfox.com).

          The 30-year reunion was much more relaxed, laid back and more fun, in my opinion. Now that most of us are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and use our "Smart Phones" to check emails, we have been able to catch up with old friends and stay in touch to some degree. It also made it much easier to recognize faces and remember names! As years passed and we've all had to struggle with different issues in our lives, including losing friends or loved ones. I believe we have come to a point in which the people in our lives are the most important things and we learn to cherish the moments.

Although my good friend Frankie Ryan Grace couldn't attend, I was fortunate enough to take my daughter Tiffany with me in her place. I really felt glad to see every person that showed up at this reunion.

     I am a firm believer that "everything happens for a reason" and that life is just a bunch of lessons to learn...if we are fortunate enough to learn from them. People come in and out of our lives in different capacities every day whether it's a client or coworker, a child, a lover, or even a person who rang you up at the checkout counter. Many times for me I am deeply touched by some of the patients I x-ray at the hospital.

Some leave their mark on you whether it's by giving a new insight to the way you think (becoming vegan), a job opportunity, falling in love and learning to open your heart, getting your heart broken and putting up the walls, and sometimes it's even physical marks that are more commonly referred to as scars which never go away. The good and bad experiences make us who we are and if we are just insightful enough to pay attention to the "signs of the universe", stop resisting the changes, and open ourselves up to what lies ahead, we might live happier and more fulfilling lives.