October 2021 GRIT
SA-Name:// JACKIE RIOUX
Day of GRIT: #1 of 28
METRICS: 12 MOD (FoF) Finisher- AMRAP
CONTEXT: StoryAthlete Finds a Way…
21 years ago I dated a man that I had known from childhood. Little did I realize the soul connection we had then. There were factors against us in keeping that relationship and we parted but have connected many times over the years. I had written a poem for him when we broke up. That poem has been in my website many years and I have referenced his poem any time we connected. Events have happened in the last few years that led me to believe that we might rekindle that lost relationship at some point soon.
I cannot explain soul connection, but I have had it before in other ways with a dear friend and a son in law. I lost Andy in 2014, and Larry in 2018. It is only after they passed that I realized the soul connection as it was, although in life we had an uncanny spiritual connection we could not explain, but we knew it was there.
Although we were connected all these years in our own ways, I had lost touch with his family several years ago. In January 2021, I connected again with Darrel, and again, I cannot explain the urgency I felt to tell him I loved him any time we talked. I had even said many times that our soul connection transcends time space and dimension, and that I love his soul. (Who the fuck says that??? But yes I did).
My energy healer and intuitive friends knew about Darrel and my soul connection with him as he often came up in my own energy healing sessions. Many were sure that this soul connection was bringing us together at some point soon. He also loved my energy healing any time I shared that with him.
We had some good chats in the last few months. I had hoped that he would come out to see me as he lives a few hours away. He promised to call next time he was here, but with restrictions and borders, I wasn’t sure that would happen any time soon. The last time we talked was August 14th. It was in that phone call that I reiterated my feelings for him and bluntly told him I wanted a relationship with him again. Since that call, we missed each other’s calls a few times. The last two weeks, that urgency to call him intensified, but again, we missed each other’s calls.
Last Thursday, September 30th, through mutual connections on Facebook, I found out that he died that morning after being in a car accident several days before. He had had 2 simultaneous heart attacks while driving.
When I lost Larry and Andy, I was a wreck for a couple months afterwards. Inconsolable tears, but I managed to still live my life as best I could. The connection with Darrel, since we dated, was so much stronger as a cherished soul mate. I feel numb, empty, and dead inside. I was going to sit out of GRIT this month, but I am here because I need my GRIT warrior team more than ever right now.
I had told Darrel about my involvement with GRIT and I am sure he would want me to continue right now. We never know someone else’s soul journey or the exit points we will take. I just know that the other side is Heaven and they do not want to see us sad and miserable. So I am trying to find my way through this emptiness and tears.
I have turned his poem page into a memorial page and have been sharing some musings and memories there to let the hurts out of my aching heart. I am grateful to my energy healer friends who have been supporting me through this the last few days, because honestly, when I heard this news, my soul wanted to leave as well. My kids still need me. So I am here in GRIT again.
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Neil Sekol: Jackie Rioux Praying for you at this very difficult time of loss. May God’s Grace be with you and keep you.
Jackie Rioux: Side note: Grief diet has had me not eating solid foods for a few days. Lost 8 lbs.
Niki McCormick:
Jackie so sorry your heart is breaking.
Brett Wininger: Jackie Rioux I’m honored that you are letting us grieve with you here in
GRIT.
Yes, its going to hurt, let it hurt here with us.
Yes, there will be crying, we can cry here together.
Everything we do for you or say to you is about taking the next step forward in this journey.
What has happened or didn’t happen is in the past and its unchangeable.
My Dad wasnt by any means a spiritual man but he often said to be more concerned with the ones still left here on Earth than the one that is gone.
Their problems are over, we still here stuck dealing with life.
This is a powerful reminder to draw closer to our loved ones cause there is a day for all of us that will be the last.
You are not alone in this walk, we are here for you, one day at a time.
Jackie Rioux Brett Wininger Thank you. I was such a wreck from the news that my soul wanted to leave asap too. Thankful for support when I really need it.
Divine timing that a friend sent me a video a month ago meaning for the cats we lost, but I just watched it today.. lots of tears from this bittersweet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bF8UTZgFKc
Life After Death with Dawn Hayman
Brett Wininger
Jackie Rioux you will have a powerful story to share when someone else goes thru a similar loss.
They might not have the support, resources or insights that you have and they will really need you experience.
Day of GRIT: #2 of 28
METRICS: (FoF) – Accumulation Workout F2 Finisher- 4MOD- Continuous Shoulder Pain Train version 1
CONTEXT: “I Master Situational Strategy…”
I used to love crossword puzzles years ago. My grandmother and great Aunt and I would do the daily newspaper crossword together and also play Scrabble often. That was about as far as my strategy skills ever got. As a teenager and young adult. I would by the combination Crossword books that had other mind puzzles in them. You know, the ones with logic puzzles in them. I would wrap my brain around most of the other puzzles in the book, no problem. But I had such a fascination with logic puzzles. Probably because I also loved two minute mystery books as well. I would read through logic puzzles over and over again trying to figure out the clues until my brain hurt. Sometimes I would be so proud of myself figuring out everything. Other times I would go look at the answer then kick myself that the clue was staring right at me.
I am not sure if this is where my juggling skills came from all those years raising kids by myself and working full time. How to keep the bills paid, go to work, get the kids to school on coffee breaks and make sure everyone was fed nutritious food and had clean clothes to wear.
Now years later I can still manage to juggle life where needed and sometimes do a crossword here and there. I have a shelf full of old crossword dictionaries that seem to be just a treasure of memories.
Day of GRIT: #3 of 28
METRICS: 5K Day Finisher- 4MOD- Relentless Reps
CONTEXT: “I Seek Empowering Opinions…”
This is why I stayed in GRIT this month. My GRIT warrior friends are set on personal growth, and reading others contexts is empowering.
I am so grateful for my network of energy healer friends that are in tune with the energetic and spiritual realms, who are just as unique as me and they don’t think I am a nut case for feeling the way I do right now. To get through this grief process, I am leaning heavily on them and spirituality and faith. My emotions are all over the place in going thru the heartache of the “what ifs” and the “if onlys”. Yet I am actually doing ok, and I do feel better. Still lots of tears earlier today, but I had a few calls with certain trusted friends and some spiritual discussions.
I watched a second video after the one I watched yesterday. Fascinating yet bittersweet and hopeful.
We cannot change the past but we can empower our future.
Day of GRIT: #4 of 28
METRICS: 12 MOD (FoF) Finisher- Kettlebell Tabata Version 1 F2
CONTEXT: “I Strengthen My Connection…”
There is not a damn thing we can do to change the past or to bring back loved ones from the dead. I obviously did book off a couple days and moved appointments ahead to this week, then blocked the rest of my calendar for the whole week. The wonders of energy healing have me feeling much better now. I am ever so grateful for my network of healer friends.
I realized from watching that video yesterday that I need to keep my vibration high to be able to connect spiritually. Laughter and good memories shared. I am pretty sure that he was getting a good laugh from my stories as well.
Today I had a 5 hour long Zoom call with an energy healer friend in Scotland. Sometimes it is just good for the soul to write off a day here and there for our own healing and connection time. Benefited both of us and strengthens our connections and friendships.
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Brett Wininger: Jackie Rioux must have care for the Caregivers also otherwise we are all screwed.
Wayne Purser: Jackie Rioux Loss is not easy. “Benefited both of us and strengthens our connections and friendships.” Having someone to release energy is a blessing.
Day of GRIT: #5 of 28
METRICS: (FoF) – Leg Day Complex F2 -> Finisher- 4MOD- Ascending Reps
CONTEXT: “I Don’t Let My Talent Cheat Me…”
I have been doing energy balancing since 2009. There are many others I have met along my journey that have been doing this work many more years than me. I was quite unsettled about 2 years ago when another practitioner expressed her admiration for my work and that she was a little intimidated to work with me. WHAT???
First off, I do not feel that there is competition in this line of work. We all have unique gifts, personalities, backgrounds, and experiences. Second, I always stress that the client’s comfort is the utmost important factor, so they are welcome to choose me or another practitioner to work with.
Thankfully this practitioner got to know me as quite approachable and we have been working together for over a year. She has different experiences that make her work unique as well. There are some energy healers and spiritual gurus who promote themselves as better than the rest, or untouchable. I feel this is a disservice to their clientele.
While I appreciate that my clients and friends admire my work, I prefer to keep myself humble enough to realize that I am a facilitator and that I only shift energy. Their body does the actual healing.
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Wayne Purser
Jackie Rioux “I am a facilitator and that I only shift energy. Their body does the actual healing.” There’s a lot more to it than this. They need to feel your bedside manner before their body can do the work.
Way to Go and keep inspiring others to heal themselves.
Day of GRIT: #6 of 28
METRICS: (FoF)- Hub Spoke F2 Finisher- 4MOD- Jump Rope + Burpee Ladder
CONTEXT: “I Refuse To Be an Extra… “
I used to be such a wallflower but after my first divorce at 28 years old, I needed to build up my self esteem and confidence somehow. I saw an ad for a boudoir photo shoot. What I have got to lose? No one but myself to impress either. Turned out that this husband wife team was branching out on their wedding photography business. With nothing to lose, I went all out with the lingerie in fun evening of experimental pics.
Considering this was a new endeavor niche of photography, and a first time for me as well, many of my pictures turned out so well that they asked me to do another shoot for them. My pics were used in promotion for their business in the local newspaper and in local bridal store as well as the wife’s salon. With some newfound confidence, I got involved with a local modeling agency and had a lot of fun being a walking clothes hanger model in local fashion shows.
Not too long after that experience, I got involved in Toastmasters for three years.
For a long time it seemed I have had a neon sign on my forehead “pick me” to put myself out there. In a lot of ways I still do with running my own business.
Funny thing though, with the past modeling experiences, and high school drama class behind me, I did put myself out there to be an extra in a movie filmed in our city. The really funny thing is I don’t watch many chick flicks, but I found out later that this movie is a Hallmark movie lol. I am in the trailer in one scene at :47. Watch for the purple coat in the background. I am curious if I will show up in the market scene when the movie comes out next month. I was wearing a red coat in that scene.
Jackie Rioux :46 purple coat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH42EEZoApw
Princ Films presents A Great North Christmas
YOUTUBE.COM
Brett Wininger Jackie Rioux you wore the purple coat well
Day of GRIT: #7 of 28
METRICS: Sunday-Stretch-a-Palooza
CONTEXT: “I’m Persistent When It’s Inconvenient…”
I prefer that people see me as approachable and friendly, but when I list off my traits as a redhead Taurus, half German, lil bit Irish, and an ex postal worker, most people start to back away slowly. I am only 5 foot 4 inches tall, so this is quite amusing to me.
Taurus is known to be a stubborn bull, and yes that can be me at times. As I have matured though, I prefer to think of myself as more determined than stubborn. In my opinion, stubbornness was in my years past when I would get some idea in my head and plow though any blocks to achieve my goal, but sometimes to my own detriment.
Determination, to me, seemed like a more focused goal, but still persistent enough to accomplish whatever I set out to do.
Day of GRIT: #8 of 28
METRICS: 12 MOD (FoF) Finisher- AMRAP F2
CONTEXT: I Trust Myself…
My trust in myself is all out of whack right now. Sure, I keep my word when I give my word to others. My energetic connection with my clients seems to be spot on with listening to my intuition and giving them pretty accurate and effective energy balancing sessions.
What is out of whack right now is my keen sense of soul connection and my intuition that way. In the past I have had dreams that turned out to be premonitions. I “knew” of a couple accidents of close family and friends before they happened, or when they happened and had confirmation soon afterwards. That is downright freaky, I tell ya!! I had nightmares in June of 2018 of various ways of having my neck broken. A few months later, that is how Larry died.
I had such a sense of urgency to tell Andy and Larry certain things from my heart the last time I saw them and somehow “knew” I would not see them again.
Right now, it is really messing me up how many times in the last few years that I have said “I love your soul” to Darrel. It’s like our souls “knew” before we knew that his time to go was near.
For the most part yes I trust myself, but right now it is really messing me up in how “right” I was before I really consciously knew.
Day of GRIT: #9 of 28
METRICS: (FoF) – Accumulation Workout F2 Finisher- 4MOD- Continuous Shoulder Pain Train version 1
CONTEXT: “I Know To Use Models…”
Years ago I participated in several local fashion shows as a model. I have never had much fashion sense so I made a really good walking clothes hanger for the stores I represented. The outfits that got the most compliments were the ones I bought for myself.
Years later I now own a business and use different “models” to make life easier for me. One of my mentors recommended an accountant that has been an absolute godsend for me in taking care of my finances. Numbers are not my forte so they are my angels that have taken very good care of me over the years. I wanted to be more organized and in bringing my paperwork in to them so they gave me an Excel ledger template. It took me a while to figure it all out, but now I am flying and found other ways to organize my digital data and lessen my paperwork using this model.
Day of GRIT: #10 of 28
METRICS: 5K Day Finisher- 4MOD- Relentless Reps (No breaks) Version 1:
CONTEXT: “I Explore the Edges…”
There’s an old saying that there is a fine line between genius and insanity. I started life being such a wallflower, but as I matured in my personal growth, and gained wisdom and knowledge through life experiences and education, I got more comfortable pushing my limits. I have crossed off many things on a lifelong bucket list, some of which some people may thing of daring, other things just for fun, and some things have progressed my success in both my personal life and in business.
Yes there is a fine line between genius and insanity. Life gets pretty interesting when we decide to dance on that line.
Day of GRIT: #11 of 28
METRICS: 12 MOD (FoF) Finisher- Kettlebell Tabata Version 1 F2
CONTEXT: “I Practice 4-Dimensional Transformation…”
I understand the idea of today’s context being the balance between mind, body, business, and relationships like the four wheels of a car needing to be balanced equally. My take on this context is much different. Energetically we are living in the third dimension of patriarchy, war, greed and strife. Earth energies are transcending to a new world of 5th dimensional peace. Strangely, the fourth dimension is a very unstable place of transition where some people get stuck.
Getting to the 5th dimension is a journey of healing our past and balancing our energies through releasing past trauma and all the third dimensional garbage. The lighter our energy, the more balanced we become. And the more inner peace we can achieve.
Re-reading all that, I feel like my brain is somewhere in la-la land.
I am still going through the grief process here and today is triggering with memories of my son in law’s passing 3 years ago. I am not liking social media very much so I am in the midst of transferring all of my SIL’s memories to my website instead.
I suppose that somewhat of a balance between mind, body, business and relationships.
My mind is focused on memories. My body still is reacting with grief and no appetite. My website is my business. And my relationships are shifting in ways I am not liking in losing loved ones but cherishing their memory.
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Bob Little: It sounds a lot like quantum entanglement.
Jackie Rioux: yup. Working thru that…
Day of GRIT: #12 of 28
METRICS: (FoF) – Leg Day Complex Complex 1 F2 Finisher- 4MOD- Ascending Reps Version 1:
CONTEXT: “What I Focus on Expands…”
In all the manifestation type techniques, the idea is to focus on what we DO want in our lives, and to not focus on the things we do not want.
This is so hard for me right now. For the last several years, I have been focused on the man I do want in my life. I have had a couple friends encouraging me to rekindle this relationship all along as well, knowing all the soul connection we have shared through the years. I talked to him several this past year and it seemed not much standing in the way anymore. I was hopeful and the last time we spoke, the word “relationship” was said as a possibility.
There were several missed phone calls after that, and then a social media post that he had died in an accident. I still have not found out any more details. My heart died that day and it has been hard to focus on anything. Thankfully I have a wonderful network of energy healers and I am slowly picking up the pieces. I am focusing on the good memories but I am not sure that can expand once someone is passed.
Day of GRIT: #13 of 28
METRICS: (FoF)- Hub Spoke F2 Finisher- 4MOD- Jump Rope + Burpee Ladder
CONTEXT: “I Won’t Restrict My Vision… “
Being a Taurus redhead, and having the upbringing that I did, I have always found some way to swim rather than sink. Always have a Plan B, always have an escape route. Just get ‘er done no matter what.
Thanks to this attitude, I have quite a list of accomplished bucket list cross offs. Concerts, road trips, adventures, hiking, traveling, earning a psych degree, and I have a mean set of resourceful survival skills from my days of single handedly raising four kids while working full time.
What happens when the finality of death rears its ugly head and takes away my main focus and vision for the future of my life? My humanness does not see much future or vision right now. Everything feels mechanical and futile.
Thank God for energy balancing and a network of healer friends and GRIT warrior buds that are keeping me grounded while I find my bearings in life again. The future looks awfully bleak and black but I still have family that needs me to find a new vision and purpose for life.
Day of GRIT: #14 of 28
METRICS: Sunday-Stretch-a-Palooza — much needed kind of Vitamin M
CONTEXT: “My Preparation Pays Off…”
I learned a lot of resourcefulness growing up. My mom grew up on the prairies, and my father in Germany during the war, so we learned to not waste food. I learned my chores and housekeeping, cuz well, you don’t cross my father. Ever. I learned to turn off the lights or I would come home to smashed bulbs. I learned to put away stuff or it would get smashed.
Not a very nice way to learn survival skills or “preparation”, but the lessons stuck. Thank God I don’t have to walk on eggshells anymore from those days long past.
“Proper preparation prevents piss poor performance” is still a good motto to live by though. Always prepare for the worst case scenario, but live and hope for the best. That way when miracles unfold, you’re ready to jump at a moment’s notice.
Keep bills paid, keep house stocked with food and necessities, keep gas tank full, keep emergency supplies handy, keep paperwork caught up, keep clutter at bay. Rules for my simple life that keep life running smoothly.
Day of GRIT: #15 of 28
METRICS: 12 MOD (FoF) Finisher- AMRAP F2
CONTEXT: I See Everything As Motivation…
I can so relate to CJ’s context today as I have had a “screw you” attitude many times through my life when i was told I couldn’t or wouldn’t do something I had my sights set on. In more recent years, I know to just clear my energy of any blockages holding me back and then things usually work out and I get the oomph I need to keep going and accomplish my goals.
These last few weeks though, everything feel mechanical, just going through the moves. Life feels futile and pointless. I am finding “motivation” has taken a holiday for a while. I am still getting things done. But how has 3 weeks passed since that shocking life changing news? Just keeping myself busy and trying not to think too much through the tears and triggers. I have been writing in one memorial page for Darrel as a blog of memories and musings.
This past week was the third anniversary of losing my SIL. As FB memories come up each day, I am putting together a memorial page for Larry as well. My motivation there is my grandkids having something to remember their daddy.
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Adam Davidson: Jackie Rioux You got this girl! ❤
Niki McCormick: Jackie stay strong on your hard journey.
Day of GRIT: #16 of 28
METRICS: (FoF) – Accumulation Workout F2 Finisher- 4MOD- Continuous Shoulder Pain Train Version 1
CONTEXT: “You Don’t Know Me!…”
Very true. You don’t know me. I am certainly not the same person I was many years ago. But there are still days that I don’t even know myself. Such is the path of personal growth and energy healing. I find blocks in my life, find the root cause of these blocks and shift my energy to release the blocks. In doing so, I am continuously uncovering my own true authentic self. So far I love the person I am uncovering. Me, myself, and I. We’re a nice bunch of girls.
Day of GRIT: #17 of 28
METRICS: 5K Day Finisher- 4MOD- Relentless Reps (No breaks) Version 1:
CONTEXT: “I Seize Control…”
What to do in a 10 year stagnant marriage, when I went from teen mom at home to marriage and no time to grow up in between…
It took me a while to realize I wanted to grow and he didn’t. So I took control of my own life, got a divorce, and started raising my kids on my own. Thankfully I had a good job and some resourcefulness under my belt. It wasn’t easy for many years. Back then, I had to get my ex husband to sign over the utility accounts to my name and then prove my own credit. I went through a credit counseling program to pay off all the debt he left me with when he let our carpet cleaning company go down the drain. I was young and naive for sure. The loan company had made me sign papers to guarantor my husband with my job security. Ugh!
But, as the years went by, life got better and better, all because I took control of my own life.
Day of GRIT: #18 of 28
METRICS: 12 MOD (FoF) Finisher- Kettlebell Tabata Version 1 F2
CONTEXT: “Healing Is My Nature…”
When you start off life at rock bottom with a childhood trauma, the only way to go is UP. Sure there was a lot of first time poor experiences in forging my way through life, but at some point when you take that first step towards real healing, the universe conspires in your favor.
I floundered aimlessly for many years and went to several counselors. Nothing helped until I had a breakdown at work in 2008. I was sick for over a year until my doc finally figured out I had an ulcer. These horrible experiences were a blessing in disguise.
I started taking psychology classes which led to some connections with business networking and then into energy psychology and energy balancing. I often say that all my knowledge and skills are second nature now. But that is not really true. I am pretty sure that healing is my first and foremost nature.
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Jackie Rioux: CJ Thomas I completely agree with your context today. What we are finding as energy healing practitioners is one hell of a nasty energy signature with that poison. And worse yet, I still don’t have any confirmed details as to why a 42 year old man would have a heart attack other than he got forced after the last time I talked to him a few weeks before. That just cements my hatred for all this BS. I lost my soul mate.
CJ Thomas: Jackie Rioux I lost my dad to the cancer industry this year as well. It’s tragic what they take from us. But strengthens the conviction and moral obligation of those of us still living to push back, speak out, and strengthen ourselves.
Day of GRIT: #19 of 28
METRICS: (FoF) – Leg Day Complex Complex 1 F2
CONTEXT: “I Edit With Intention…”
How does this context apply to me today? My heart and brain are still frazzled with grief and tears here and there. What the hell kind of good can come from losing a dear loved one?
If I apply “editing” to energy balancing, then yes I do edit with intention. In very big ways. And quite honestly my healer friends are the only reason I am still here right now. In fact, I feel a little bit guilty that I am not an inconsolable wreck these last few weeks. I mean, I am inside still grieving terribly, but I am still functioning and even happy and clear headed some days. Why? Because I have “edited” my energy with intention to keep the good memories.
I just found out today that a client’s husband passed away recently and she is surprised that she is coping fairly well so far. She feels it is also because of energy balancing and being able to let go of and process the grief in a more intentional way.
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Day of GRIT: #20 of 28
METRICS: (FoF)- Hub Spoke F2 Finisher- 4MOD
CONTEXT: “I Built This Motherf*cker… “
In an ideal world, children have their parents to protect them from the outside world and to guide them to be well balanced and functional adults. In an ideal world. How many people have had such an upbringing? Life is full of less than ideal circumstances.
Sure, we looked like the perfect family sitting in church every Sunday morning. But it was not until later in life that the secrets that happened behind closed doors came to light. Childhood trauma has a way of exploding at some point if not effectively addressed.
I was the oldest of four girls and although I thought I could lean on my father to protect “daddy’s little girl”, my experience was far from protected. Violated would be more the word…
Violated and unprotected carried on through more experiences in my life until I finally realized I need to protect myself. To stand in my own truths.
It was only then that life took an uphill swing for the better.
I am at a point in life now that some people confide in me that “this will probably sound weird and or scary”. Nope, not to me. Try me. If I haven’t experienced it myself, I am pretty sure I know someone who has. Not much surprises me or scares me anymore.
I have stepped into my own truths. I have embraced my character. Redhead Taurus, half German, lil bit Irish and an ex postal worker. Most people back away slowly with that list, but I assure you that I am quite approachable, fun loving, and compassionate. I am five foot four and not much more. Just don’t cross me.
Day of GRIT: #21 of 28
METRICS: Sunday-Stretch-a-Palooza
CONTEXT: “I Live My Life Free of Regret…”
We can’t change the past, or can we? Theoretically, no. Time passes by and if we miss that moment in time, it is unlikely that opportunity will pass by again. At some point in my life, I looked back at my past and I did have some regrets of the times where I did not stand up and speak my truths. I felt these were mistakes and missed opportunities.
I have realized though, that life unfolds according to Diving Timing. We are always right where we are supposed to be to learn our life lessons, even as crappy as some of those life lessons may be. Our lives are an incredible tapestry of varied and wonderful colors accentuated with dark threads. As Nikki Sixx says “Life is Beautiful”. We can only know and understand the good times when we also know the contrast and opposite experiences as well.
Regret brings with it many unresolved energies that can hinder and unsettle our future. Thankfully, with energy balancing we can disconnect and resolve those non beneficial and detrimental energies to pave the way for a brighter future.
Each time we resolve and heal events of our past, we gather the lessons learned to bring forward and we also forge our inner strengths to be able to stand in our truths much more wholeheartedly.
For the most part, I no longer have any regrets about my past. All those events, event the traumatic ones, have made me the person I am today. And She is a pretty awesome lady, if I do say so myself.
Day of GRIT: #22 of 28
METRICS: 12 MOD (FoF) Finisher- AMRAP F2
CONTEXT: I Track the Inner Scorecard…
I am a work in progress. It weighs heavily on me when I think I screw up on anything and don’t meet expectations. I have learned to let go of others expectations and just do my best. I keep my word as best I can to others as well. When it comes to me though, I do accomplish a lot, or so my friends seem to think. We are our own worst critic though. Still, I know I can do better. Sometimes though, like this past month, getting myself on track and processing grief are enough. For now, minimum required effort is plenty enough to keep up with. I have accomplished much in the past, and I will again. That statement is progress from 3 weeks ago when I just wanted to close my eyes and not wake up.
I am thankful for my GRIT warrior friends and my practitioner friends who keep me accountable to continuing life right now. I will keep working on my accountability to myself.
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Day of GRIT: #23 of 28
METRICS: (FoF) – Accumulation Workout F2 Finisher- 4MOD- Continuous Shoulder Pain Train V1
CONTEXT: “I Commit To Do Hard Shit…”
My kids went to see Ice Age at the theatre with their friends. When they came home they told me “OMG Mom, You’re Scrat!!!!!!!” . Who the F is Scrat? I called my bestie who happened to work at the video store and was up on the latest movie releases. She laughed so hard, then explained who Scrat was, and yes the name fits.
See, I was working full time, raising 4 kids alone and God help me if I could ever multitask and juggle anything keeping kids in extracurricular activities, keeping them fed and keeping the bills paid.
I was ever chasing the acorn of life and only grasping at straws most of the time. But I did make it. I survived and my kids survived as well, with a crazy amount of endearing unbelievable memories.
I went through more tough-it-out times working outside for 12 years through tundra winters of deep snow and -40 C below.
Thank God those kind of hard times are long behind me.
My hard times right now is surviving through the blows of lost loved ones and the grief process. Right now, hard shit just means one foot in front of the other, in baby steps most days but still making progress.
I have not done anything with my Akashic course because my reason for signing up died, literally. My last conversations was telling him that I wanted to figure out our soul connection in the Records. I finally posted an introduction in the course group. Our teacher wrote back with an inspiring message:
“I am so sorry for your loss Jackie N. Rioux. We are not separate from one another so you can have a loving relationship with him in the spiritual realms and not in human form. I would suggest asking more questions in the records about how you can connect with his High Vibrational Soul in his whole form. I would also ask how his passing is impacting your bodies and how you can support all aspects of yourself in this stage of grief. ❤ Sending you a big hug and lots of love and light”.
Right now this is my hard shit, to get myself in a headspace to get immersed in this course in a whole new way.
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Kelly Robb: Jackie Rioux You are an inspiration and I see and hear you! Your teacher sounds very wise,
Day of GRIT: #24 of 28
METRICS: 5K Day Finisher- 4MOD- Relentless Reps V1
CONTEXT: “I Am Accountable…”
“I’m too busy to book in a session right now”. I hear this statement from some people who are stressed to the gills with life and busy schedules. They understand the benefit of having an energy balancing session, but they have a hard time wrapping their mind around the idea that they do not need to be physically present for their energy balancing session.
Energy is everywhere and also connected everywhere, so yes it is possible to have an energy balancing session via email while you go about your other obligations, or even sleep through your appointment.
How do you know that I have done your session then? Quite often, most people can feel a difference in their energy after an energy balancing session. Some people even feel different during their session. The most common reaction or feedback from sessions is feeling lighter (emotional baggage is “heavy”), clearer, more focused.
When someone books a session via Zoom or phone, they can see what I do in a session or hear me talking and explaining the details of the session. Whether you choose to be present for your session or not, I am accountable to my clients in that I provide notes and an opportunity to follow up with questions as needed.
This arrangement works wonderfully for working professionals, parents who are constantly surrounded by toddlers and home obligations, or clients who are in conflicting time zones. My clients know they have me as their quiet secret weapon in their corner addressing the stresses of life so they can more easily connect with their own inner peace when they are ready. They have the benefit of a more peaceful home life and much more relaxed and refreshing sleep as well.
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Glenn Forman
Jackie Rioux pretty much sums up what we do in energy balancing. Good text. Thanks.
Day of GRIT: #25 of 28
METRICS: 12 MOD (FoF) Finisher- Kettlebell Tabata V1 F2
CONTEXT: “I Optimize My Environment…”
Did you know that anything can carry energy? And non beneficial energies at that?! Yes that means that any time you bring second hand furniture into your home, you could be bringing the energy of previous owners as well. Even “new” furniture can carry energies from the manufacture of the materials, and the creators and handlers of the final products. Ewwww right? Ya. Good news is that we can clear these energy signatures so that items in your home are cleared and aligned with your own home environment.
Don’t even get me started on clutter. That is just overwhelm central and icky poo nasty in the energy sense. Clean that up and let your environment breathe freely with fresh air and much more positive energies.
For as long as I have been an energy balancing practitioner and learned about this kind of energy misalignment, this has been my take on cleansing our environment to optimize our living and working space.
The positive integrations of energy into our environment often include air cleansing plants, crystals, and other such positive and cleansing items.
Sometimes this also includes vision boards, posters and post it notes of affirmations and prayer intentions. Sentimental and meaningful items especially. We create our world though these methods.
I have a Reiki box full of affirmations and prayer intentions for myself and my loved ones. My children have acquired suitable employments, vehicles and other material things. They have achieved goals as well as I have over a number of years and I have realized what in my Reiki box has come to fruition. I have a treasure box of pictures, memories, hand written letters. My computer contains digital format emails and sentimental letters as well.
What happens when a loved one passes away? That is where I am at right now. Looking around my home and my treasures to realize how many pictures and items I have here that are memories of Darrel. His number is under faves in my phone yet I will never see his number come up again that always made my heart skip a beat to hear his voice. All our texts…
Its been 3 years since my SIL passed and I still have his texts in my phone as well. Is this optimizing my environment in holding fast to these cherished memories in this way? I dont know, but I am nowhere near ready to let any of it go.
This past month has been sadness for me in losing my soul mate. I am doing better now and moving forward with some renewed hope of spiritual connection still intact. We will always have that at least. A few of my clients have suffered some losses as well. While that is not “my problem”, humanely I still share a collective sadness with them in trying to assist them through their grief while I process my own. I have been writing in Darrel’s page in my website to process my grief and to hopefully inspire and encourage others to grieve as they need to.
Earlier this year we lost our 19 year old feline furbaby to old age. In July when the tenants next door moved, we lost two of our cats within days of each other. No leads, just gone. Not sure if commotion next door was a factor or not, but they are still gone. (Dear Universe: Enough with the blows!!!). I needed some real happiness around here so a few weeks ago we kinda “put it out there” to get some new furballs to liven up our home space. No ads, but I did take note of some FB posts and messaged a few tagged people. Wellllll…. One messaged back with 3 males that are 4 weeks old. Long story short, this young mom asked us to take momma too as she cannot afford them anymore. Yup, we have a very sweet momma reminiscent of a sweet kitty we had 20 years ago, her name is Linda. The babies are Max, Meeko, and Diamond is mine. Darrel’s page explains the reason behind Diamond’s name. We have some happiness, some entertainment and a whole lot of fun distraction in our home now. Whether this is optimized for productivity or just plain happiness remains to be seen 🙂
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Bob Little: Jackie Rioux Linda is so beautiful. Thank you for giving them a new home. I love animals because they love you unconditionally and likewise. Plus, their energy is raw and natural.
Day of GRIT: #26 of 28
METRICS: (FoF) – Leg Day Complex V1 F2 Finisher- 4MOD- Ascending Reps Version 1:
CONTEXT: “I Get Paid to Solve Problems…”
What does a client receive in benefit when booking a session with me? Whenever a client says they feel “stuck” or otherwise hindered in some way, we know to look for energetic blockages. Many of my clients are on their own healing path and do a lot of their own energy balancing as well. But we are all unique in our gifts and experiences. For this reason, it is always wonderful to connect with an experienced practitioner for some “fresh eyes” to find energetic imbalances.
So, yes I do get paid to “solve” problems, but there are two things that stand out for me here. One, I am just the facilitator that shifts energy so your body can heal itself. And two, when we balance energy, that energy in GONE. This is not a Band-Aid solution to “solve” problems. We resolve issues completely.
According to good ol’ Google: “What is meaning by solved and resolved? Solve usually refers to the process of finding a correct answer to the problem, where resolve refers to bringing the problem to an end or conclusion”.
Clients pay me for my time, education, and experience to facilitate their own innate healing to Resolve problems.
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Glenn Forman: Jackie Rioux I like it best when whatever we are working on doesn’t have more angles to address. Though when there are more angles, it can get very interesting.
Jackie Rioux: Glenn Forman Very true, I always intend to go straight to the most important root issue. Seems to work well. But there can be more angles to address for the next session if they choose to book in again.
Glenn Forman: Jackie Rioux Exactly. That’s what I do also.
Day of GRIT: #27 of 28
METRICS: (FoF)- Hub Spoke F2 Finisher- 4MOD- Jump Rope + Burpee Ladder
CONTEXT: “I Reflect on My Results… “
GRIT is all about balancing Mind Body Business and Relationships like the four wheels of a car. This past month I feel like I have been driving on four deflated and damaged wheels. I was going to sit out of GRIT this month, but jumped in last minute realizing this is the time that I need my Story Athlete tribe more than ever. You see, September 30 I found out my soul mate died, just weeks after a phone call where the words “rekindle relationship” were said. We have been soul connected for more than 20+ years. Any time we have connected in all these years has been just as intense as when we dated back then. Just pick up where we left off. He has always been the one to call and reach out. Life has taken many twists and turns between us though. This past year I felt such an urgency to speak from my heart and be super clear on what he meant to me. I honestly thought my “wish” might come true soon. And then my world was crushed in the worst way possible. Abruptly sidelined. I wanted to curl up and go to sleep and not wake up. I have been through the grief process before in losing loved ones, but not as intimately as this. He was my safe space, the one I could say anything to. His heart beat felt like home. And now it stopped.
Reflecting on this past month:
Body: the grief diet shut off my appetite for several days and I shed 8 lbs just drinking bone broth for days on end. I have been posting in the evenings because my Vitamin M workouts have been slow, heartless, broken into small bits through the day. Just an F2 minimum effort, but the movement was needed to regain strength from my deflated dead inside feeling. I have training and experience in trauma and grief release techniques. That all goes out the window when it happens to ME.
Relationships: Well, obviously one ended abruptly, yet we are always connected spiritually. Trying to wrap my mind around the spiritual and soul aspects while grieving my human sadness of never connecting physically again is downright crushing. I feel scared to ever love someone quite like that ever again because they just die and leave. 7 billion people in the world yet I had my heart set on one. (I told him that in the last several phone calls too). Writing is cathartic, so I have been writing in my website memorial page for him, letting my thoughts and emotional struggles out for all to see. Trusting that someone may relate and connect, and be inspired with my journey through hell. I am SO grateful for my network of energy healer friends who have been essential in assisting me in processing all this sh*t pile of grief and sadness to get me back on life’s track. Realizing too late how important it is too speak my truths no matter what, I have been very vocal on my thoughts and opinions, especially on global issues. The friends and contacts who are mature enough to be critical thinkers and open minded enough to appreciate differing views are still around. Some have blocked and/ or deleted me. You really find out who your true friends are when the rest of the world walks out.
Mind: Again thankful to my energy healer friends who have helped me disconnect the pain and emotional charge of sadness and grief so I can still function and live for the rest of my loved ones. I have also realized how much I NEED my GRIT community. Having been a Story Athlete member since April 2020, I have been paired with several people on each months teams. I have always tried to at least read my teams contexts each day. But I find that there are more and more people I have connected with and I want to follow their writings too. I got behind on reading each day the past two months. So, this past week, I have made it a priority to scroll through each day contexts and “heart” every one that I have read to keep my placeholders.
Brene Brown had an article about the 6 types of people you should never confide in. This has been forefront for me this past month. I need and want to be surrounded only with my like minded souls. These are my GRIT warriors and energy healer friends. Through reading GRIT contexts, I can be much more inspired with relating to the solutions of everyday struggles and some have also suffered through losses recently as well. My GRITmates that are aligned with the heroic self philosophy of personal growth through thick and thin. MUCH more inspiring than the unpredictable drama fueled poison soup of Crackbook.
Business: Thankfully I have managed to move forward and still do client sessions with a clear mind. I get to see miracles with my clients and that in itself is encouraging. I do have systems in place, but my receipts and paperwork have piled up yet again. Always an area of improvement here, but again thankful to GRIT community friends and all the ideas and processes I have gleaned here, I am so much farther ahead than I was in April 2020.
While my 4 wheels have been way out of alignment this past month, GRIT is definitely my Pit Crew and Pace Cars. Thank you to each one of you.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/brene-brown-advice-vulnerability_n_3392414
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Day of GRIT: #28 of 28
METRICS: October FINAL GRIT Workout 10 Moves, 31 Reps of each; Finisher: Hill Sprints F2
CONTEXT: “I Expect the Unexpected…”
My month started off with about the shittiest form ever of “I did not expect that kind of unexpected”. I have been working towards a more positive end to the month…
So, my unexpected today was working with Glenn Foreman to uncover some detrimental energies that had to go in order to find some happiness again. HUGE thank you!!!!!!!!!!! I also find it unexpectedly amazing that we can do the “same” work, yet do it differently in our own unique styles and fresh eyes and a different technique can be mind blowing in what comes up.
My other unexpected this morning made my day. This was an email from a client I worked with yesterday that has had some body aches and mobility issues.
” Holy cow!!! Our session was short but…. SO POWERFUL. I shifted a lot of energy. The knife in kidney pain went away. I went for a short walk afterwards and my walking, is getting considerably much better. The honor and privilege and gratitude with working with you is all mine. Our session was so short that I would like to consider having our next session by email. I will email my issues a day ahead of time, if I may.
Thank you so much!”
Those are the kind of unexpected I would love to expect more of in my life!!
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