One-on-One: K. Marzorini

How many of you can recall what it was like to be a high school student? Hormones at it's finest, cheap lunches, summer beach days, and preppy spirits over sports teams. I can only imagine how much has changed in that environment... even further, how much things have morphed as a student-athlete!

I had a chance to ask a few questions to one of those lovely student-athletes who plays softball at North Torrance High School, Kyndra Marzorini (aka Toots). I wanted to hear first hand what types of things our high school student-athletes are facing in today's world.

Q // What does being a softball player mean to you?

My life revolves around softball every day... there's always something to do: pitching lessons, practice, workouts... it gives me life. Softball teaches me lessons and to have confidence on and off the field.

Q // What lessons has softball taught you about life?

That you have to put in work in order to achieve your goals... they're not just achieved magically. The only way to get better is to practice, practice, practice. You can make mistakes, but it's okay because you learn from them- mistakes only make you better!

Q // How has softball affected your studies in school?

Playing softball has made it harder to do homework. I had to figure out how to manage my time and make it work. I miss 5th period to go to games, so I have to go to class during lunch to get the work from my teacher. Since my teacher is not there to teach me, I have to learn to teach myself.

Q // What are you looking forward to the most while searching for the right college?

I want to find a college I'm comfortable going to, with a good softball program, nice coaches and great teammates!

Demands can be high even before student-athletes hit college! I'm always wondering, in what ways can we (as society) be more supporting of academics?

Do you know what today is?

**singing** "It's our anniversary... anniversary...." Today marks 14 years of a blissful journey with my life long partner. He makes me laugh. He makes me cry (in a good way more than bad). He is there to grin and bare it through all my drama. He reminds me how to remain purposeful in all situations. He supports my dreams and aspirations. He is the father to my blessing. He is my Husband.

Literally - first came love... then came marriage... then came baby in a baby carriage!

Happy anniversary to my sweetheart!

I am who I am

My little one [LO] has been keeping me quite busy these days (surprise, right?!). Not only has he been crawling, chatting, eating solids and some... but he's working on trying to figure out this whole sleep thing. Did you know there's such a thing called "Sleep Training?" Now I'm no expert, but apparently babies are born with natural sleep waves that signal when it's time to sleep. AND... get this... there are specified times when babies get those sleep waves. Can you imagine if we honored our sleep waves as adults? How about if we had 2 nap times a day- one morning nap and afternoon nap? Our days would be quite interesting and a bit more bag-less under our eyes.

After researching and reading tons of articles and books on sleep training, I was totally ready to get my LO on some sort of sleep routine. One of the many methods just had to work... there are just way too many success stories out in the universe for it to fail.

Fast forward to two weeks later... we haven't accomplished the goals I had sought out. My LO isn't napping in his crib, nor has he learned to self-soothe himself to sleep. I felt defeated... like I could never get it right for him to sleep on his own... like I am the minority parent that can't help her child get sufficient quality rest.

Took me a little while to have my aha! moment in this situation. My LO and I just don't fit in the one-size-fits-all. Trying this method, that method, the other method, or the unheard method just helped me realize that there is no better method than my very own son's method. I chose to meet him where he is at today, and help him progress in ways that he is willing to. Just because it didn't work out to nap alone doesn't mean that he failed. What I was missing were all the successes to celebrate, opposed to the weaknesses we were working so hard on improving.

If you're fixated on improving something with your LO, or even within YOURSELF, some food for thought:

// There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all in life
This is one thing that I fall short of time and time again. I love to listen to other's people stories of life... how they got through grad school, or as a first time mommy, or how they successfully started their own business. The thing is, not everyone is the exact same person. We all have different experiences. There may be similarities across us, but I am my own author of MY story, as you are your own author of your very own life!

// Celebrate your success in every day
If you're anything like me (human!), we can easily forget that we passed a test, made a new connection, cleaned house, etc. There are so many things that I tend to get done in a day- some as routine, and others as a new adventure. Those little things I get done on a daily basis tend to get lost in the shuffle as a success because I'm so fixated on the new and challenging things throughout my days. It is totally okay and much needed to celebrate what we accomplished in a day's work!

// Focus on your strengths
I can't say this any louder and prouder! Yes, I like to learn and grow all day, every day. BUT, why must I always think about how I can improve my weaknesses? If you can flip that energy into focusing on what you're good at... and not only good at, but are passionate about --> that's where the magic happens, folks!

Don't fall into a slump because you don't think things are going as planned. Instead, celebrate the daily quick wins and recharge for what's possible!

It's the Small Things

I adore watching my 8-month old as he discovers new things about the world around him every single day. I sit back and think, to be HAPPY and amazed by the little things is truly a gift! When he discovers that the chair or wall can help support him as he wobbles to stand up... or that his voice can go up [and out] a few octaves, especially when he's in his exersaucer... or even that his hands can grab a hold of his toes as he swings his hips from side to side... it's like everything around him is a gift and he doesn't take one of those gifts for granted. This is what I LOVE about children. The world is a blank canvas and they can paint ANYTHING and EVERYTHING they want to because it's their reality that they live.

What a lesson my son is teaching me. I feel so very blessed and grateful to see this every single day. It definitely helps me realize that there is SO much in my life to be grateful. For the days and nights I feel defeated, why not turn the other cheek and focus on the many blessings [like owning our first home or good health!]. Our minds have been trained to react a certain way when things don't go the way we planned. Immediately, I go into thoughts such as, "Things never go in my favor" or "I will never be able to do that again."

Am I the only one that is sick and tired of letting those minimal setbacks dictate happiness?! I want to share three starting points that may help change that negative mindset into a more positive one:

1. MINDFULNESS
The very first step to changing negative behavior is to acknowledge it... be mindful of what, when and how it occurs. One thing that helps me stay mindful is to actually say something out loud [often, to myself]. It feels AMAZING to say something aloud, rather than keep it trapped in that busy little mind of yours.

2. PRACTICE
Changing the direction of your mentality definitely takes some discipline. Just as in any sport, you don't win games without practicing your techniques and skills. You have to put some time into practicing to change your behavior. Allow yourself some time [probably no longer than ONE day] to be upset, vent or even think about why this happened vs. that. Then it's time to let yourself move on and focus on what's right in your world. Practice this behavior as often as you remember to... every single day!

3. CONSISTENCY
Being that our brains are trained to react certain ways in specific situations, it can be very hard to break these rules. However, the more consistent you are with acknowledging the positives, basking in that happiness and practicing the shift in your mindset, the easier it will be for you to break the negative thinking.

Although these are not complete solutions to being a happier you, they are definitely starting points for you to use in changing some of the behaviors that are instilled in our lives.

My 8-month old is helping me remember that it really is the small things in life that bring such joy. What's happiness worth to you?

My Gift to You

:: C O A C H I N G ::  Such a powerful, skillful and patient process to adhere to... whether you are the coach or the coachee. Coaching can take on many different meanings and define various relationships:

// Athletic coaches help enhance skills and perfect a craft at any given sport, while building endurance and strength.

// Life coaches help focus on achieving goals throughout all facets of life.

// Professional coaches utilize a thought-provoking process to help maximize personal and professional potential.

// Career coaches assist candidates in strengthening skills in resume-writing, interviewing, networking, and anything else that may endure a sustainable and enjoyable career.

Although I've been exposed to much of athletic coaching, I've also spent quite some time on the latter... career coaching. I find it quite fascinating helping people discover their passion... their motivation... their desire to work in certain roles for specific organizations.

And so I wanted to utilize this social platform of blogging to offer the gift of coaching to YOU!

Maybe you're a student [or student-athlete], asking:

- What's going to happen after graduation?

- Are my classes relevant to my future career?

- How can I balance practice and workouts with my school work?

- Will I be able to incorporate my athletic career [or education] with my professional career?

Maybe you're re-entering the workforce after "sitting out" for awhile, asking:

- Will my skills and expertise be relevant after not working for this long?

- How do I even begin writing my resume?

- Where can I meet people that speak the same business language as I do?

Or perhaps you are on a quest to start something anew, asking:

- How can I justify leaving my career I invested so many years into?

- Where do I even start?

- How do I really know if I want to explore this vs. that?

Whichever scenario describes your situation best, having a career coach can absolutely help you reach some of your goals and help discover answers to some of those questions you might have. First thing is first... EMAIL me any questions you might have about career coaching. I would be more than happy to discuss what my coaching process entails, and how it might benefit your quest for accomplishing career goals!

What are some areas of your life you think coaching might help?

Balancing in Cleats and Books

Practice, classes, lift, meetings, study table, homework... all too familiar to student-athletes. Whether you're in college, high school, middle school or even younger- trying to juggle life in cleats and with the books is an endless struggle. Student-athletes go through such a straneous process, mentally and physically. They test their bodies in the physical practices they have... they exhaust their mental capacity by learning so many new things throughout class and even in meetings for their sport!

One football player from Dordt College captured an amazing documentary of what a glimpse of his life looks like behind closed doors, in which you can appreciate the hard labor these student-athletes are exuberating!

You might be a parent of a child who is starting to play sports... or you might be a student-athlete yourself. Whichever the case, there are a few things that you can start to practice that might help overcome some obstacles during these difficult years:

1. Master TIME MANAGEMENT
You just might feel like there's something to do every waking minute. To be honest, this is a great lesson for what's to come once you start working in your career field! Every day presents itself with the same number of minutes and hours. It all lies in how you utilize those minutes and where you want to spend that time in order to fulfill the best YOU. If you have scheduled meetings or classes, make the best of those minutes and find a moment to seek happiness in what you're doing. Here's more to say about managing your time in this J&BT post.

2. NETWORK
There are so many students in the same boat as you that surround you day in and day out (aka your teammates). BUT, if you are able to grab a quick coffee or lunch with someone from your classroom, you can start to build relationships that can steer you in a specific direction for life after sports. Check out this J&BT post for more happs in networking, or this J&BT post for some ideas for convo starters.

3. Get plenty of REST
Sleep is such a sacred thing. Some of us cherish it, while others abuse it. Our bodies and brains recharge at it's best when we rest as much as we can. Put away those cell phones, turn off that tv, and lie in bed with a clear mind. Try not to think about what you have to do the next day, or what you didn't do earlier throughout the day. Just BE... and allow yourself 6-8 hours of beauty rest so you can rejuvinate yourself for practice and school (or work)!

I also recommend a great article titled, "8 Tips for Being a Great Sports Parent" written on Changing the Game Project. He talks about some great insights we can appreciate as parents to support our children who play sports.

The truth of the matter is that you will always have to balance in life. Cleats and books... work and family... time and happiness... children and career... on and on and on. The best thing we can do for ourselves and others is to be as present as we possibly can to whatever it is we are doing in the moment.

How do you balance?

I'm a Stroller Mom

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I LOVE working out. I LOVE results. I LOVE getting stronger. I LOVE group fitness.

But guess what happens when I had baby? .... those LOVES were left alone... unfulfilled... shattered. Okay, a bit dramatic, but truthfully I didn't have time to myself to get out and workout. Heck, I wasn't even able to workout indoors with baby in front of me! He would only tolerate the swing for maybe 10 minutes... 15 minutes tops!

The more working out became nonexistent for me, the greater my love grew... and grew... into eventually a NEED!! So I searched high and low for options.

- Should I leave baby in a childcare facility (for the first time ever) while I ran the treadmill or took a spinning class?
- How about leaving him with dad at the crack of dawn while I went to a 5:30am class?
- Or maybe I can get a workout in after I put baby to sleep for the night?

No, no and NO! None of these options were feasible! The universe just did not agree with me at the time.

Hence, the birth of Star City Stroller Moms came into my life. WOW!!! I found a place that resembles a bootcamp atmosphere... with other mommies... AND babies!! YASSSSSS! Being a mommy and working out quickly became a ritual for me and my LOVE for fitness is yet again being fulfilled. I even made it to MOM of the month... WHOOP!

How do you balance fitness and life?