(video transcription…)
Aimee: It’s not your typical story. I didn’t come and kick goals instantly and get to where I wanted to be. It’s been a long hard road. I originally came when they started up, I’ve been here for two years nearly, and I cried, I was anxious. I was someone that really didn’t want to be here, but I had to be here. I was gaining a lot of weight sitting at home being depressed on the couch doing nothing as I know a lot of people do. And I spoke to Steve on the phone and he just said come in, and I walked up and I burst out crying and he hugged me. And that was my first day.
So I was here for five months and I got really anxious and really paranoid over things that had nothing to do with the gym and I quit. I quit on myself. I quit on life and I didn’t do very well for a long time. And then one day I reached out I spoke to Steve and I said, can I come back?
And again, he was there, arms open; I was crying and I came back.
And I stayed for a while again and the same thing happened again. Because it’s a lifelong thing with me, my anxiety; it’s not going to go away overnight but I learned to live with it and I learned to work with it. And with Steve we worked together.
So I’ve quit three times and come back, and every time Steve will have me back.
Every time he has open arms and every time I feel like this is the place I need to be. Even though I have bad days, even though I cry, and sometimes I feel like a failure and I get guilty – this is where I need to be every day. So when I finish my session I feel a million bucks. I change – I’m happier, I’ve achieved something and I’m proud because of I’ve achieved it and I go home and my day is better.
Steve: I couldn’t have put it better myself Aimee, honestly that is perfect because there’s a lot of people out there that struggle with anxiety and depression who want to make the move to come in but they are really worried about it. What would you say to any of them people watching this?
Aimee: Just keep having faith in yourself, even if you fail or trip or stumble – get back up and try again. You have to. You just have to keep trying.
And I might fail again and quit one day I might trip up, I might fall over, I might not be able to cope but I know Steve is always there. I can always just open up, speak to him, tell him how I’m feeling, and he will do his best to understand and make you feel comfortable here.
Steve: Don’t make me cry! Anyways that’s the truth. And that’s what people need to hear out there, they need to hear the honest truth, deep down how you felt in your situation when you first come in.
Aimee: And to know that it’s not perfect. It’s not a perfect journey. You can’t compare yourself to everyone else. You can’t come in here with a mindset of how fast you’re going to do it or you know that it’s going to be perfect.
It’s not a perfect journey. It’s your journey. Yeah.