Tampa Personal Trainers – “Did I WIN?” A note to anyone who has EVER asked me this.

I felt compelled to write this note for those who want to take the time to read it. Those who have ever wondered about what it is like to compete or those who have ever asked me “Did I win?” This note is meant to be read by ALL. Anyone who has ever stepped on stage, competed in ANY sport or spectators and fans alike.
This was spawned after THREE separate times I was asked by each of the above after stepping off stage – tired to the CORE… “Did I WIN?”

“Did I WIN?”
Before you EVER make the decision to do anything in life worth working for… worth FIGHTING for you must search deep within your soul to ask yourself – what are your REASONS for doing it? What are the reasons that will make it worth the countless hours spent training, dieting, sleep depriving yourself at times? These REASONS are what make you hang on when your tired, your SPENT, your heart is pounding, your sweat is pouring, your stomach growling and you question whether you have one ounce of energy left to expend.

“Did I WIN?”
Before you EVER make the decision to do anything in life worth working for… worth FIGHTING for you must ask yourself…are you READY? Are you ready to stand out? Are you ready to be picked out and singled out at times? Are you ready to try to PUT INTO WORDS what it is you do and WHY? Are you ready to work with ALL of your heart, your soul and your last drop of ENERGY to step out and do something that deep inside matters to YOU for one reason or another?

“Did I WIN?”
Before you EVER make the decision to do anything in life worth DREAMING for… worth STRIVING for you must ask yourself …. WHAT will pull you through the tough times? THE LOW moments? Is it your dream of wanting to be bigger, better and more? Is it your family, friends or the look in your childs eyes when they see you do something that shows DISCIPLINE and STRENGTH? Is it the look in your lovers eyes when they see you shine and glow and walk proudly around? Is it the motivation that you get when you see others reach their PERSONAL BEST and you know that because of YOUR BELIEF in them that they got there?

“Did I win?”
Before you ever ask this question – you must first ASK yourself what winning is….. ??
BEFORE YOU EVER ASK THIS QUESTION YOU MUST ASK YOURSELF WHAT WINNING IS!!
I wrote it twice… for it is so important that you must read it again. Think about it. Reflect on it.

What is WINNING?????
Here is my answer, based on MY LIFE.
Winning to me is overcoming ALL odds. Winning for ME meant coming out of a life that was rocky and tough, a life that at the very same time etched my character yet caused some of my deepest and most hurtful scars.
WINNING for me meant proving to myself that I could live the life of my dreams – that I could rise above the hurt, the betrayals, the deepest most dark moments – to shine and be HAPPY. To walk out and SMILE knowing that on stage whether with a trophy OR NOT, I would smile because inside I truly LOVED me.

Winning is knowing that at one time I weighed 208 pounds… miserable inside and SAD and that I was able to believe in myself – Coach myself to a place where I was this past Saturday – when I walked on stage at 11:00 am to stand on stage and open myself up to be JUDGED.
Winning for ME was not minding that I was being judged because when I stepped off of that stage, I would do so in the CURRENT best shape of my life… into the arms of the MAN who loved and believed in me… surrounded by family and friends who had a meaningful place in my life.

Winning for me meant surrounding myself with my team of AAP Angels and knowing that at one point or another these were ladies that did not fully believe or they doubted themselves in some way and yet, here they stood… PROUD, BEAUTIFUL and GLOWING. That they too overcame ALL odds to be there. They too trained and worked and strived to PROVE TO THEMSELVES that they could live out their DREAM…. women whom I believed in…

I think winning lies within your heart my friends. I think winning is not so much about WHAT you take home be it a prize or a car or cash or trophies but that TRUE winning occurs deep in your heart – when you set your eyes on a prize MUCH MUCH bigger than that …. and you ACHIEVE it.

Ask me again if I won.. and I will tell you YES. I have WON many times over – I have won a life that I never thought possible, I have won friendships and I have one the love of a GOD so amazing he gave me the tools and the MAP necessary to achieve this most amazing of prizes.

I have WON something that truly is priceless and something not often achieved and that is true, deep feelings of achievement and success. Feelings that no matter what I CAN and WILL BE something in life.

When I look back at my life – I want to be known as a confident and happy person – and most off all … I want to be known as a difference maker. I have achieved this.

So… “Did I WIN?”

Yes. I WON.

~Ashley Poptodorova

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