In October of 2000, I packed my 1992 Honda Accord as full as I could and took off to Phoenix, Arizona.

2 weeks prior, I had quit my well paying research job at a children's hospital in Dallas, Texas to start a new life in Arizona.

I was pursuing my dream of working in the fitness industry and living wherever I wanted to.

By Christmas my dreams had landed with a thud.

I was fired from the fitness job I was working in, and didn't have anywhere to turn.

I hadn't made many contacts in the 2 months I was there.

I was out of a job and almost out of money.

My nights were filled with tossing and turning in bed and lots of tears.

What had I done?

I had left a well paying, stable job in Dallas.

I had turned my relationship with my girlfriend at the time to a long distance one, which wasn't easy.

And just 2 months later, I had nothing to show for it.

So in April on 2001, I packed up my bags and moved back to Dallas.

I felt defeated, like a failure.

Fast forward to 2005 and I was running a very successful women's only bootcamp that lasted 5 1/2 years.

Fast forward 5 years after that and my entire business was online, allowing me the freedom to move to the beautiful state of Colorado, where I'm surrounded by mountains and all the outdoor fun you could ever want.

More recently I took another risk, and launched Say It With Gratitude in 2016

So what did that experience in Arizona teach me?

Taking a risk and "failing" taught me a lot.

It taught me to stare fear in the face and confront it head on.

It taught that the "worst case scenario" isn't as bad as I thought, and I was able to survive.

It taught me the importance of my family and friends during one of the low points of my life.

It taught me that to achieve my goals and dreams, that I have to get uncomfortable and step out of my comfort zone.

But most of all, it taught me the joys of running my own small business where I get to help others on a daily basis.

And even though running a small business has it's ups and downs, I wouldn't trade it for the world. :)

We don't have long on this Earth, so go out and pursue your dreams.

Don't wait!

And be grateful for your "failures." :)