Rachel's Reflections

With Thanksgiving weekend upon us, I’ve been thinking a lot about gratitude. Not just the things we’re thankful for today, but the people, experiences, challenges, and even mistakes that have helped shape who we are.

October 1st marked three years since we moved Mobility Health & Fitness into our current space. Three years! Some days it feels like yesterday, and other days I look around and wonder how on earth we’ve managed to accomplish so much in such a short time. I remember the excitement I felt when we first opened those doors. A dream I had for years was finally becoming a reality.

I’ve always envisioned creating a fitness space focused on women. A place where women of all ages, sizes, and abilities could feel comfortable, supported, and encouraged to take care of themselves.

When I went back to university to finish my kinesiology degree, I also knew I wanted to work with people who faced mobility challenges. In fact, the name Mobility came from three different ideas: the importance of maintaining mobility to prevent injury and support healthy aging, helping people who struggle with mobility issues, and being mobile ourselves by bringing our services into people’s homes.

The vision was always there. In fact, I actually still have a note in my phone that I wrote in 2016, outlining what I hoped to create someday. Ten years later, I’m still building that vision. We aren’t there yet… but it’s coming. And while Mobility is becoming even more that what I ever imagined, it’s also happening a whole lot faster than I ever expected!

But here’s the thing. When I think about what I’m most grateful for, it’s not the business itself. It’s everything that brought me here…..

I’m grateful for the things that didn’t work out.

Before Mobility, I owned another business. And while there were many wonderful things about that experience, there were also some incredibly difficult years. I made mistakes. Lots of them. I learned some lessons the hard way, and there were times when I questioned whether I was actually cut out to be a business owner.

I’ve heard it said that sometimes you need to fail before you can truly succeed. I remember reading once that some investors actually prefer entrepreneurs who have experienced failure because of the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

I understand that now.

I was always confident in my ability to coach people, but running a successful business? That was a whole different story.

When I started Mobility, I made a promise to myself that I would do things differently. I knew I needed a business mentor. Someone who would challenge me, hold me accountable, help me understand the numbers, and push me to grow.

Today, I can confidently say I’m not just a good coach. I’m a good business owner, too.

That doesn’t mean I have it all figured out. Far from it! But I’ve learned that making mistakes doesn’t make you unsuccessful. What matters is what you do with those mistakes.

I’m also so grateful for the people who believed in me.

There are so many people who have played a part in getting me to where I am today but I definitely need to shout out Michael and April.

April has been beside me through both businesses. She was my manager in my previous business and came along for the ride when I started Mobility. She’s believed in me, supported my decisions, encouraged my crazy ideas, and been such an important part of this journey. And if you want to know how much I’ve changed as a business owner, just ask April! 😂 I used to need my hands in absolutely everything. I wanted to know what everyone was doing, how they were doing it, and whether they were doing it the way I thought it should be done. Over the years, I’ve learned to loosen that grip. I’ve learned to trust my team, to delegate, and perhaps most importantly, to recognize that my way isn’t always the best way. That’s been a big one!

I’m also incredibly grateful for Michael. We met in 2020, right in the middle of COVID, when I was doing everything I could to keep my previous business alive. He encouraged me when I decided to go back to school. He supported me when I decided to take another chance on business ownership. From helping paint the dingy basement at the old YMCA to moving into our current space, and all the little projects and big dreams since, he’s always there to lend a hand. He’s never stopped believing in me, even during the times when I wasn’t entirely sure of myself. ❤

And then there’s my team.

What an incredible group of people I get to work alongside. They’ve taught me so much about leadership, about working with different personalities, and about myself. I’m naturally a people pleaser. I don’t like rocking the boat, upsetting anyone, or having uncomfortable conversations. But being a business owner and a leader means sometimes you have to do exactly those things. I’ve learned that being a good leader doesn’t mean making everyone happy all the time. It means being fair, being willing to listen, supporting your people, having the difficult conversations when they’re necessary, and making decisions that are best for the team and the people we serve. I’m still learning. I hope I always will be.

I’m grateful for our community. Every single day, women walk through our doors and put their trust in us. Some are nervous. Some haven’t exercised in years. Some are dealing with health challenges. Some are looking for strength, confidence, or simply an hour to themselves. And something pretty special happens when they start showing up consistently.

Relationships form. Friendships develop. Confidence grows.

One of my favourite things to witness is someone who first came through our doors as a quiet wallflower becoming the woman who welcomes the next nervous newcomer, introduces herself, and makes sure she feels included. That right there is what Mobility is all about. It’s not just about getting stronger physically. It’s about lifting each other up. And I’m grateful for every single person who has been part of our community over the years. Those who are still here, those whose journeys have taken them elsewhere, and those who have taught me something along the way. Every person and every experience has contributed to where we are today.

I’m grateful that my definition of success has changed. There was a time when success simply meant being able to pay myself a paycheque. Seriously! 😂 During the final years of my previous business, I wasn’t paying myself at all. So when I started Mobility, being able to earn a living doing something I loved felt like a pretty big accomplishment.

But today, success means something different. Of course, the financial side matters. I’ve worked incredibly hard to understand our numbers, track our performance, manage our expenses, and build a financially healthy business. But success is also about happiness.

It’s about waking up in the morning genuinely excited about what I’m building.

It’s about being surrounded by people I enjoy working with and serving a community I care deeply about.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…. if I won the lottery tomorrow, I’d still work in and on Mobility. I’d still want to grow it, develop new programs, and bring that vision I’ve had since 2016 to life. (Although I might take a few more vacations along the way! 😂)

To me, that’s success. Building a life you don’t feel the need to escape from.

And this week, I’m especially grateful for the reminder that our impact on others is often greater than we realize.

Losing Amanda has been incredibly difficult for our community. But watching everyone come together to honour her this past week has also been a beautiful reminder of what truly matters. I’ve heard from so many people who shared that Amanda was the person who introduced them to yoga. The person who made them feel comfortable enough to try something new. The person whose kindness, gentle encouragement, and welcoming presence made a difference in their lives. I don’t think any of us fully realized just how many people she touched. And it has made me think about the legacy we leave behind.

At a recent business mentorship workshop, we spent time discussing what makes a great leader. After all the conversations about leadership styles, strategies, and responsibilities, it really boiled down to one simple message:

“Just be a good m*therf*cker.”

Because when you strip everything else away, isn’t that what really matters? Be a good person. Treat people well. Show compassion. Offer help when you can. Look for the good in others.

It also reminded me of a song from my childhood, Father’s Eyesby Amy Grant. It’s a Christian song, and regardless of anyone’s religious beliefs, its message has always resonated deeply with me. It’s about seeing the good in people when it isn’t always obvious. Recognizing when someone is hurting. Offering compassion, understanding, and help when it’s needed. I’ve carried that message with me since I was young.

This week, I realized just how much Amanda embodied those qualities. When my time comes, I hope people remember me in that same way. Not for the businesses I’ve built, the money I’ve made, or the things I’ve accomplished. But for how I made people feel. For the kindness I showed, the people I helped, and the difference I made, even in small ways.

So this Thanksgiving, I’m feeling grateful for all of it.

The successes and the failures.

The people who stayed and the people who moved on.

The lessons that came easily and the ones that were incredibly hard to learn.

The dreams that have come true and the ones I’m still working toward.

I’ve always believed that the energy we put out into the world has a way of finding its way back to us.

And while I don’t always sit down and intentionally practise gratitude, I truly do feel it every single day.

For a while, I was doing something my mentor called my Golden Hour. It was dedicated time each day to work on specific things that would help me grow personally and professionally. And I always started by writing down three things I was grateful for.

I think it’s time I brought that little habit back. Because even when life is difficult, there’s usually something worth being thankful for. And sometimes we need to slow down long enough to recognize it. This Thanksgiving weekend, I’d love to encourage you to do the same.

Take a few minutes to think about three things you’re grateful for.

Think about the people who have helped shape who you are today. Maybe someone who believed in you, someone who challenged you, or even someone who taught you a difficult lesson. If you can, reach out and tell them.

Also, take a moment to appreciate where you are right now.

Maybe you’re not where you hoped you’d be. Maybe things haven’t gone according to plan. Maybe you’re in the middle of a particularly difficult chapter.

That’s okay.

Life is a marathon, not a sprint. And the beautiful thing is, there really isn’t a finish line. We’re always growing, learning, changing, and becoming.

You don’t have to be at your destination to be grateful for the journey.

And as a reminder…. you never know whose life you’re touching along the way.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends. Know that I am truly grateful for each and every one of you. ❤️

Until next Sunday,

Rachel xo

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