"You are who you hang out with."

It's a cliche, but it's a cliche for a reason. You are a combination of the people you hang out with. These core people, the ones you see all the time, the ones who's opinions you value, these are the people that make up who you are. I have the absolute honour of associating with some of the very best people, so I thought I'd share my experience with you.

It hasn't always been this way. I used to hang out with people who just did not jive with my life goals. They were going in a different direction than me, they had other plans, and honestly, they kind of brought me down. There were always excuses being bandied about, very little responsibility was taken, if any, for mistakes that were made, and honestly, a lot of judgement and cattiness happened daily. My group of influential people made me a person that I now, in retrospect, do not like. In the past three years, since the birth of my last daughter, I have joined circles of people who are happy, successful (personally and professionally) and whom I'd very much like to emulate as I grow.

I have 4 core groups right now; my dayhome group, my fitness group, my surrogate group, and my long time friend group.

My dayhome group has become family to me. I see these people almost every day, they trust me with their most precious people, and they genuinely care about my family and I. They celebrate my highs, pick me up when I'm low, and share their lives with me. Most of my clients have been a part of my life for 7 years now, some have left but remained good friends, and there have been a few who have not been a good fit for us, we parted ways entirely. The ones who have stayed a part of my life are people who have changed me, shaped who I am, and are now a part of me. I have learned patience, diplomacy and absolute trust from these people. I have also received more love from them than I could ever have imagined.

My fitness group is wide spread, but these people lift me up to where I want to be. Most of these friendships are new, I haven't been in the fitness world for nearly as long as I'd like. Three people stand out in this group, and I truly believe it is because of them that I have become the healthy, hardworking woman I am now. I had a personal trainer years ago, Rachelle, who got me started on my first ever weight loss journey. She pushed me hard and never let me quit. She moved on to other things, but we stayed in touch, and when she started managing an Orange Theory studio, she asked if I wanted to join. It took me a while, but when I finally joined, she was there with biggest smile to welcome me to what is now one of my favorite places to be (even if I swear and threaten to murder the coaches daily).

Rachelle and Aaron, casually being awesome.

Orange Theory comes equipped with some amazing coaches, but there's one in particular that has helped the thrive in the past year. Aaron is the kind of coach who will see you starting to slow down, notice you are ready to stop running, then come up behind you and tell you to hit the plus button instead of the stop. She's the one who is in the studio with you, telling you to run for your why, and all other manner of inspirational quotes, but who will also message with you after work when you have a question about how to beat a plateau, or what to eat after an intense workout. She will openly share her story of wins and fails, and seems to always have time for anyone who wants to talk. She's the reason I've become a runner (something I would have laughed hysterically at even the thought of being not that long ago), why I have picked up heavier weights, and why I am able to do so much more than I ever thought possible in the gym.

The last is my Kangoo instructor. Maribel has not once let me stop moving forward. If I stopped coming to class, she would message me to find out when I was coming back. I talked about wanting to teach the classes some day (2 years ago!!), but I never got serious about it. She never forgot, and she gave me all the tools to take the course. She works with me to create my choreography, and she will stay late after classes to talk and to impart wisdom in other areas of my life. She was the first one to see that I was not ready to go ahead with another pregnancy. She is the epitome of an excellent mentor.

I also have a group of women, all online friends, who have become my support system. We all started a fitness program at the same time, and decided we would follow each other and support each other through it. I haven't met these women in person, but you can bet that when I was freaking out before my course started, they were all messaging me that morning, wishing me good luck. They were the first ones I shared my positive pregnancy test with my last round of IVF, and some of the first who knew I'd miscarried. These women are strong, tough as nails warriors who push me to do greater things.

My surrogate group is made up of people who are absolutely changing the world. They are giving entirely of themselves to fulfill other's dreams.They give up their bodies and their time for months, if not years at a time. They undergo invasive testing and procedures, share their lives, and then deliver a child into the arms of people who cannot have them themselves. Some of these women have done this several times, for many families. They have taught me humility, strength and compassion.

My last group is a small group. One in particular, Denika, has managed to stick through years of me, which I know has not always been easy. We've known each other since elementary, but it took us until grade 5 to become close. Once we found each other, we were inseparable, aside from the falling out's we'd have every couple of years. We have always managed to find our way back to each other, and I have had the joy of seeing all of her babies shortly after their birth, and she mine. Our older girls are best friends, and she became a part of my family. She has taught me how to accept my mistakes, how to say sorry and how to forgive, and what it is to have a sister.

My 18th birthday, one of the few pictures of Denika and I

All of these people are excelling in their lives in one way or another. Of course, no one is perfect, but they all have something that I can learn from. Are you surrounding yourself with people who inspire you? People who lift you up, make you want to do better, and who's advice and opinions you'll listen to? If you are the most successful person in your group, how can you become better? If you feel like you are stuck, or perhaps you've become someone other than who you wanted to be, if you are unhappy, consider seeking out people to look up to. Find that person who makes you feel like sunshine, or that group who absolutely will not give up on you or judge you when you fall. Those are the people who will have you look back at your life and say "I've had a really great life."