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Scars are a Warriors Beauty Marks

By on August 19, 2018
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By Michelle Goldrick

A really strong woman accepts the war she went through and is ennobled by her scars. There is something beautiful about all scars of whatever nature. A scar means the hurt is over, the wound is closed and healed, done with.

I come with scars. I come with a story. In 2013, after being diagnosed with breast cancer at the ripe age of 36 is when it all took a drastic turn for me. After having a left breast mastectomy, all the nerves on the left side of my chest were severed… and therefore I lost all of my strength. I went from easily banging out 72 push ups to not being able to even manage ONE. I was told if the nerves hadn’t refused after 6 months, then they never would. But I didn’t give up.
Dedication to an intense physical training program opened my eyes to the impact fitness has on people’s lives in a way I’ve never in my life experienced. It wasn’t about esthetics or weight loss anymore. It was about FREEDOM. And it was about EMPOWERMENT.

That illness set me up for my destined career. At the time of diagnosis, I was a single mother with a young daughter that was only a year and a half old at the time. What was I going to do? How was I going to support her and us if this turned really bad? How could I possibly get better and heal with the stress of how to do all of this looming on my shoulders? I realized I had no work life balance. And this was my wake up call.

Having a life and death scare and 5 consequential surgeries thereafter taught me how to adapt and rebuild. It helped me understand how to help my clients better. Some days, my body acts and feels like it’s 50 years older. You don’t have the aplomb or arrogance of a young athlete anymore. It makes you think differently.

Rebuilding my mind muscle connection and never giving up on the concept of regaining that strength with ongoing training and perseverance taught me to stay positive and focus on things that are working, and to not dwell on what’s NOT working.

What I learned was the most important muscle that needed to be trained in this circumstance was not my chest, but in fact in my head. Like any other muscle in our body though, the ability to overcome challenges needs to be worked out.

We as women are instantly challenged of our womanhood when faced with breast cancer and the disfiguring surgeries thereafter. I instead challenged it back… and made it my mission to help as many women through their own cancer journey. I am beyond thrilled to be giving back and sharing my journey and outstretching my hand and heart to all of you with our event on October 18th, 2018 called A Little Pink Dress…..

Organizing the event with me are two other hella strong beautiful women in the midst of their fight and journey right now. Breast cancer is on the rise and is the most common cancer among Canadian women (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers). Also, it is the 2nd leading cause of death from cancer in Canadian women. Therefore, to assist with Breast Cancer Awareness we are pleased to be hosting A Little Pink Dress in support of the Breast Care Program St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation on October 18th from 6:30pm – 9:30pm at Sunningdale Golf & Country Club in London, Ontario. The evening will include a fashion show, fabulous shopping, tasty hor d’oeuvres, a photo booth, contests, numerous prizes, a cash bar and much more! A night out with the girls in support Breast Cancer!

Single Tickets only $25 or VIP Tickets only $45 (includes entry, a swag bag and $20 worth of prize tickets). For tickets go to https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-little-pink-dress-in-support.

I hope to see you all out in support of A Little Pink Dress, supporting warriors and survivors and beautiful women everywhere.

(Photo Credit Mark Ruddick)

 

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DSC00551Michelle Goldrick is a London Ontario based certified personal trainer with over 20 year’s experience in the fitness industry, with adding in some additional certification in Pre and Post Natal Specialised Personal Training.  Over the years she has helped many women achieve and sustain their fitness and weight loss goals before, during and after pregnancy and into menopause.  Michelle trains out of her own home based personal training studio.  She also has a large online training client base.  Michelle is a wife, entrepreneur and a mother to a very active 5 year old daughter.

Most recently being a breast cancer survivor, diagnosed in September 2013 with mastectomy in December 2013, she now also understand the unique obstacles to overcome physiologically and emotionally that younger women with early age diagnosis go through.  Michelle can be reached at her social media accounts:  IG @gfitnessmichelle TWITTER @michelleGfit  http://www.bossstudiofit.com/

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