I started the day like any ordinary day, grateful, smiling, curious, hopeful, and letting God get in my head before I do. I hopped out of bed, stretched, and said out loud, “ten toes down, let’s go.” However, after I read the Bible message for the day, which talked about surrender, I was forever changed. I wrote about it in a quick IG caption, but something had clicked almost overnight, and I felt the spirit of God whisper, LET GO. And I did. And you know what, off to the gym I went - energized more than I normally would have been for a Monday, went through my workout proud AF, because I surrendered to my why and knew at this point my strength was bigger than me.
I had a moment a few weeks ago where my trainer pissed me clean off, and I thought, this is it, I am done with this shit. I don’t have to do this, and it's not like I am training for anything in particular, so I can go back to my yoga sculpt classes, walks, and once-a-week workouts with Chris. That will be plenty.
However, I hadn’t planned for a new friend to plant a seed in my psyche so soon after meeting him. I Hate to R.U.N. is a movement started by Eldrege Washington from Monroe, GA, who lives in Atlanta. I met him during my recent trip to Atlanta and was immediately swept away by his demeanor, mindset, and passion for his community and family. I knew I had to interview him and learn more about what inspired I Hate to R.U.N. So, in true ACE fashion, I DM’d him and asked him to be on my IG live show, #LIVEJOYWITHACE, to share about what is bringing him JOY and what this mission meant for him and why. He breaks it down like this: ‘I Hate to R.etreat from a Challenge U.ndo Progress and N.eglect my purpose/goal. It’s simple yet profound. I love it!
I am a disciplined person who is typically inspired by myself and women, very rarely by men, so when I met Eldrege, I knew he was special. No shade…women are dynamic and multi-faceted, so when a movement created by a man inspires me, my interest stays piqued. And honestly, that seed planted inspired me to stay with my trainer and self-reflect on why I was ready to retreat, undo, and neglect. I am grateful to my village, community, and my time home in Atlanta, which I wrote extensively about here.
"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." - Tao Te Chang
To land the jet, I went to play tennis this week with my Let It Break women’s group. On the way home, I was thinking about how lucky I am to have such amazingly creative, beautiful, intelligent, innovative, entrepreneurial, goal-oriented, and dope people in my life AND part of my village. This all came to a head for me as I move through some major life changes (will share soon), but knowing I have mentors, students, and a powerful bond like none other with God, the teacher(s) have arrived. Eldrege is one of my newest teachers amongst the fantastic group of mentors and teachers I have in LA.
The student is ready!
Ask yourself, in the eloquent words of our National Treasure, Gucci Mane, “Is you rollin, is you rollin…,” because you might be and I am talking about rollin with being ready for the teacher to appear, because I know I am. Let’s go, village, let’s stay ready so you never have to get ready.
Forever I Love Atlanta and Gucci Mane!
With love,
Your favorite Ram
