Inspiring Women Spring 2018

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I think sports have had a major impact on my life and they continue to help me evolve through determination and focus— both lessons that my experience in sports taught me. Also, even though gymnastics isn’t really a team sport in the traditional sense of having to work together when you’re competing, being part of a team was still an important part of growing up. We encouraged each other to do our best, supported each other when we failed, and learned to manage realistic expectations while still pushing ourselves to extremes. I continue to use all those lessons and expand on them in my current sporting activities. Most of all, I think sports have shown me that taking risks can be very rewarding. Something I may need to rethink just a bit as I get older…. So many things have surprised me through my involvement in sports, mainly the things I never thought I would see or do. I’ve fallen through a cloud at 7,000 feet and know what a cloud feels like at that altitude. I understand that the silence of being underwater brings the world around you into focus like nothing else can. I know the freedom of driving my motorcycle fast (yes, really fast), and the sensation of the air trying to stop me as I twist the throttle to go even faster. All these experiences and so many more are both surprising and memorable. I discovered that sports can be really good for both body and mind, but I also found out that doing sports to an extreme when you’re young can have some not-so-great impacts on your body as you get older. I’m glad to see a lot of new technologies being put in place in all sports that minimize that later damage. When I started in gymnastics, we didn’t have spring floors or foam pits, or a lot of the “gentler” equipment that is commonplace now. The biggest thing I learned about myself is that I’m not interested in competing with others. My desire is to challenge myself to the maximum that I can, and encourage others to do the same. My most important achievement was just making the cut for my gymnastics team, after having never competed at that level before. It wasn’t a real tryout. We were only going to get some information and then the coach said, “Let’s see what you can do.” I wasn’t even in a leotard, but he put me on the balance beam and then the floor and asked if I could do certain tricks. Some I had never done before, but I had seen them on TV. I was extremely scared, but I gave it my best and he said he would think about it. I suspect he was testing my ability to adjust to stress situations as much as my skills. I don’t remember being more proud of myself, even when I was winning ribbons and medals, than I was the day I found out I made 56
the team. I was 8 years old and absolutely beaming inside. I think many people want to find a sport to help get into shape, but don’t know where to start. I think one of the best things someone can do to get involved is to ask yourself what you’re good at, or what you want to be good at. Then just go for it! Have you always wanted to learn to dance? Find a local studio and take a lesson. Want to learn to ride a motorcycle? It’s not too late! Does scuba diving tickle your fancy? There are classes everywhere! Don’t wait or psych yourself out. Take a chance and see where it leads you. Within the FAWCO organization I am the 1 st Vice President for Communications—since 2017. Locally I am the Club & Community Director and also co-president for The Hague club, and I was the FAWCO Rep for the Amsterdam club. My FAWCO role uses both my technical skills in managing the website and our communication platforms, and my editing skills for all our publications (including the awesome <strong>Inspiring</strong> <strong>Women</strong> magazine that was launched at the conference in Mumbai). I love everything philanthropic that we do in FAWCO, and my contribution to that is important to me, but the “behind the scenes” work getting the organization running on the Google platform is what I’m most proud of so far. Now I just need to get more registered users onto our website. We have so much to offer that is only for our members and I would like to see more people take advantage of that. For me FAWCO represents the hard work and dedication of SO many amazing and talented women from across the world! GETTING TO KNOW LAURIE If you could try a sport/fitness activity you’ve not done before, what would it be and why? Bungee jumping or motocross riding. I think I would really like bungee jumping, and motocross riding looks like a lot of fun, but I would not want to get too extreme with it. Just catching a little air with a motorcycle would be a blast! Tell us about an event in your life that made a big difference and why it did. Losing my grandmother impacted me greatly. We were very close, and it’s because of her that I chose my personal motto. What personal motto do you live by and how does it affect what you do/don’t do? Never stop learning and always strive to be a better person. It really affects everything I do, and it’s a good reminder when I feel like I’m overwhelmed that everything is a learning experience and there is always a silver lining to be found. Sometimes you just have to examine the cloud up close ;-) Tell us something interesting about yourself that not many people know. I once passed out while skydiving, woke up still in the air but blind, and lived to tell the tale! 57
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September February 2018, 2017, Volu
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Inspiration from the Editor I t ’
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Page 11 and 12: Tax Reform: What’s in it for expa
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Page 19 and 20: FAWCO Clubs in Motion Clubs in Moti
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Page 25 and 26: Inspiration from England LAURA TRID
Page 27 and 28: GETTING TO KNOW LAURA Tell us about
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Page 31 and 32: Inspiration from Dubai RENUKA MATTH
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Page 37 and 38: GETTING TO KNOW LAUREN AND JULIE LA
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Page 43 and 44: Inspiration from Norway ALICIA PART
Page 45 and 46: Fitness can be fun. Many believe it
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Page 49 and 50: Inspiration from Morocco GWENDOLYN
Page 51 and 52: GETTING TO KNOW GWEN Tell us about
Page 53 and 54: addition to attending class, she pr
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