Today has a personal touch. I want to talk about a hero in my life; someone who has always been that positive motivator for me, who believed in me when I didn’t know what it was to believe in myself, toughened me up when I wanted to quit, inspired me in his leading by example, and to this day tells me I can do anything I dream of.

I’d like to introduce you to… my Father: Kirk Tracy.

This man taught his daughters about the importance of athletics. He recounted story after story about his “old football days” and the importance of team and discipline when he was Captain of the Football Team his Junior and Senior Year at the University of Colorado Boulder.

I also remember many memories of us bouncing around the living room impersonating Jean Claude Van Damme. He taught me to stand up for myself, and inspired a quiet confidence in me which I am now aware many women don’t get when they are young.

Now, I could also choose to focus on the ‘negative’ parts that stuck with me. Like how I was so wrapped up in being competitive that after my college athletic career, I felt a void in competition, chose to do a bodybuilding show, and nearly ended up with an eating disorder… and I’m not “blaming” my Dad for that. I’m simply saying that the risk of obsessing over being “perfect” came along with the territory from my past, as I was an athlete and part of a team sport since the age of 4.

If you haven’t seen the documentary on Tony Robbins yet, “I am Not Your Guru”… I invite you to watch it on Netflix. There was a piece he demonstrates with a young female participant who has suffered a painful childhood from a Father who is an addict.

And you know what Tony tells her? He says, “sure, blame your Dad for all the times he wasn’t there, all the times it wasn’t fair. All the ways he’s ‘messed you up’… And… if you’re gonna do that, you also need to blame him for the incredible daughter he has created BECAUSE he wasn’t perfect. The fire in you wouldn’t be half as strong if he was everything you needed.”

Now, I love my Dad. And we are actually really close. I attribute a lot of my competitive nature and drive to his influence. I mean, the man is 70 years old and still lifts weights almost every day!

Yes, I attribute my upbringing in sport to my moments of ‘needing’ to be perfect… and moreover, I attribute my upbringing in sport to be the single most effective tool that has shaped my social, physical, mental, and creative achievements as an adult.

Because of my Father (and Mother… but that is definitely a whole other blog ;), I am committed to achievement, driven to be impactful, inspired to be educated, and easily and effortlessly drawn to continue physical exercise and movement.

So now it’s your turn… What (or WHO) has shaped your health habits? And if nothing but negative blame comes to mind…i.e. “if my parents had been more like this, then maybe I would be more like…” or “If my Mom/Dad wouldn’t have ____, then I would be able to _____”. Go ahead, go there. Blame them for the negative… and then, see if you can also discover the positive consequences… Can you see how they played exactly the role they were meant to play in order to build you into the person you are today?

I look forward to hearing what or who your influence is, and how you plan to use it to see the positive, and be the person you were meant to be!

Love,

Tessie