When Life Gives You a Bonus Pivot

We came to Europe for a soccer game.

Since I have a few new friends here, let me catch you up. Ellie is our 23-year-old daughter, playing professional soccer in Sweden in the top division just outside of Stockholm. She lives paycheck to paycheck, is scrappy as all get out, and is one of the biggest fans of the game you'll ever meet.

Since Ellie has now been living in Sweden for over a year, she told us months ago that she wouldn't be coming home to the USA for her break. Instead, she wanted to travel around Europe.

Then an opportunity presented itself.

"Let's go to Sweden. Watch Ellie play her final match in June and then travel together."

It meant missing one of our favorite places, Chautauqua, during its 250th celebration. It meant missing the excitement surrounding the USA and the FIFA World Cup. But sometimes life asks you to choose between good things.

So we chose our girl.

Our route looked something like this:

Stockholm → Vienna → Salzburg → Valdaora in the Dolomites →Innsbruck →Munich.

Twelve days.

A lot of trains, planes, automobiles, hiking boots, cappuccinos, museums, mountain views, soccer conversations, and family dinners.

We even found ourselves watching the USA play at 2:00 a.m. one night and later joined hundreds of fans in a lively Munich beer garden to watch another match on the giant outdoor screen.

The trip went about as smoothly as travel possibly can.

A few flight delays.

A few wrong turns.

A few rerouted hikes.

A couple of hangry afternoons after nine-mile mountain treks.

But we did it.

Together.

No one missing.

Our 26- and 25-year-old boys, Christopher and William used a good chunk of their PTO and prioritized their sister to spend time together as a family. They willingly traveled with their particular, routine-loving, aging mom and dad.

That alone feels like a gift.

So imagine my surprise when Ellie asked,

"Mom...do you want to stay five more days and travel through Germany with me?"

At first, I said no.

Then I took a few deep breaths.

And my answer changed. 

"I will never get this opportunity again. Not like this. Not at this age. Not in this season. This time with her is a gift...and she's inviting me into it."

So here I am.

Writing this from a wonderful little Afghan café around the corner from our hotel in Munich, sipping a cappuccino and feeling blissfully blessed.

This week, I'll pivot. (the beauty of remote work- just make sure the wifi works)

I'll shift my perspective.

I'll spend my days listening, talking, sharing meals, walking miles upon miles, reading, writing, and soaking in the sights, sounds, and smells of cities I've never experienced before, with my Ellie.  

At the same time, I'll continue showing up for work—teaching afternoon strength classes from a hotel gym (morning back home for my U.S. clients), hopping on nutrition consults, taking private coaching calls after dinner, researching, writing, and encouraging people who trust me with their health.

Even if I don't crawl into bed until 11:30 p.m., I'll remind myself,

I get to do this.

I get to move.

I get to teach.

I get to motivate.

I get to listen.

I get to learn.

I get to encourage.

I get to love on my clients from across the ocean.

And the very best part?

I get to do all of that while spending these unexpected days with Ellie.

I don't know how long she'll live over here.

I don't know what's next for her career.

None of us really know what's next for the people we love.

But I do know this:

What the heart carries...

what it shares...

what it grieves...

what it laughs at...

what it celebrates...

and who it chooses to spend time with...

matters far more than the itinerary.

Far more than the lack of sleep.

Far more than the travel hiccups.

Because in the end, health isn't just about strong muscles, healthy meals, or getting enough sleep.

It's about building a life that's strong enough to say yes when the unexpected gift arrives.

It's about creating a body that lets you keep walking beside the people you love, a heart that's open enough to pivot, and a life rich enough to recognize that sometimes the healthiest thing we can do is simply be fully present for the moments we'll never get back.

So let me leave you with one question...

If life surprised you with an unexpected invitation tomorrow, would your body be ready to say yes?

If this blog resonated with you, send me an email.

I'd love to hear what you're working toward, what challenges you're facing, or simply say hello. One of my favorite parts of this community is getting to know the people behind the screen.