Unless you follow a passion or passionately follow what you enjoy, you will have no idea who you can become. Passion is something you find in your heart..rather than in your head.

Passions can be simple things like reading or making something. Or they can be more complicated like learning or teaching or competing in sport at an elite level. But mainly they are about doing. Doing whatever you want, regardless of what other people think about it, and doing it with enthusiasm and energy.

Watching my children do the Tinman triathlon this weekend reminded me just why we do sport and why we started sport in the very beginning. The girls had the biggest jol doing what they loved this weekend, they smiled, laughed and joked from start to finish even when dad asked them if they had dropped they handbags hahaha and THAT’S what its all about. Yes, winning is great, victories are amazing but nowadays it often seems that in sport it is all about winning and the fun, joy, excitement and love of it, the reason we started it in the first place, is lost.

Discovering a passion is like finding harmony in your life. Running is my passion, my first love and the secret to my energy. It sets my soul on fire. I run because I LOVE IT.

I run to express my gratitude for my health and mobility, I run to teach my children dedication, commitment and hard work and to show them just how incredible sport can be. It takes you places, makes you friends and opens so many doors. I run to inspire people, especially mothers because if I can do it after three children, so can they. I run because I love how it makes me feel, so free and alive, it’s my happy space. I don’t run because it’s my career, I run because I love it.

My wish for my three daughters is that they find a passion, like I have, that sets their souls on fire. I hope it gives them energy, purpose and teaches them all the things sport has taught me about dedication, commitment, scarifies and forfillment. Something that is “theirs”.

Running is “mine” and no one can take away the experiences; good and bad. The highs and lows. The dedication, commitment, hours of training, sacrifices, good times, hard times and the victories. I cherish them all and have learnt so much from this journey. It has moulded me into the person I am today and mostly it has taught me to believe in myself, something I never used to do.

PASSION, PURPOSE, PRACTICE, RESILIENCE AND HEART are the key ingredients.

NURTURE YOUR PASSION, love what you do.

FIND YOUR PURPOSE, gritty people have purpose. They feel what they do is important.

PRACTISE MAKES PERFECT, consistency is the key to success in everything you do in life.

HARNESS YOUR RESILIENCE, there is an old Japanese saying “fall seven times, stand up eight” which is the epitome of grit. When faced with setbacks, gritty people BOUNCE BACK.

HEART, do things with all your heart. Love what you do.

Follow your passion, be prepared to work hard and sacrifice, and , above all, don’t let anyone limit your dreams.

HAPPY MONDAY, go out and be awesome. FIND YOUR PASSION.