Lifting people

Helping others see beyond their current circumstances is a superpower

This week, I’m featuring a Q&A with someone who inspires me.

Several years ago, I was into golf. Really into golf. Although it can be fun, it’s not exactly a game that promotes the best health! I spent too much money and got in bad physical shape. To make matters worse, those who played with me can attest that I wasn’t any good!

At the suggestion of my friend Marc, I decided to try out a new gym in the area. It can be intimidating to go to group fitness classes when you're out of shape. I was blown away with how patient and encouraging the instructor was as I struggled through running, box jumps, burpees, pull-ups, kettlebell swings and a whole host of challenging activities. Over the next several years, I became a regular in the 5:30 am class, pushing myself well beyond what I thought I could do. I got in good shape and made great friends along the way.

This instructor helped me and so many others with a smile, encouragement, and just the perfect amount of tough love. She's a difference-maker, both as a fitness instructor and later as a gym owner, and now as a nurse. No doubt her proudest accomplishment is her beautiful family. She and her husband Matt have 2 boys, 2 girls and a granddaughter on the way next year! I hope you enjoy these highlights from a recent conversation I had with my friend, Lizz Bennett.

The people who influenced me the most are also the people who hurt me the most.
-Lizz Bennett

• Tell us about your family and where you grew up. I am the oldest of 8 children. My twin sister is 4 minutes younger than me. We also have 5 brothers and a baby sister. We were raised in Littleton, Colorado, and Chicago, Illinois. We remain very close.

• Who are the people who influenced you the most? The people who influenced me the most are also the people who hurt me the most. They helped me to discover myself, value myself, and value others. The people who influence me the most NOW, are the people who love me despite my faults and still see me as someone to be cherished. These are the people who make the struggles, the work, and the joy all worth it.

• Where did your spirit of servant leadership come from? My mom and dad. Their selflessness, forgiveness, unconditional love, humility, endurance, and faith despite difficulty and uncertainty inspire me. I want to help others feel that they are worth more and capable of more and to never allow anyone to feel small and hopeless.

• What’s your advice on getting through hard times? Be kind to yourself. Admit that you’re in a tough situation and that you can be sad about it. Feel your emotions as they are not an abstract concept. They are real and a physical reaction to stress and hormones.

• What are the similarities between owning a gym and working as a nurse? Being in a hospital can make a person feel alone, uncertain, and out of control. Coming to a gym may be a last resort for someone to improve their health so it can feel much the same. In either scenario, I want to make people feel like they are the most important person in that place.

• What funny stories can you share from being a nurse?

  • There was a big burly man who was scared of having blood drawn. I asked him, “Hey, I have some needles I use on babies do you want me to get those for you?” We both started laughing and I got the job done!

  • I was working the graveyard shift and had the idea to wear a headlamp when I went to check on patients instead of waking them from a sound sleep with the overhead light. From then on, I was known as the headlamp lady!

  • I’m learning Spanish. Practicing with my patients consistently brings laughs!

• What else would you like to share?

  • Be kind to yourself first

  • Pause before you have emotional reactions to difficult situations

  • Everyone wants to be listened to

  • Don’t rush conversations

  • Ask people, “What can I do for you?”

  • When a dream dies, ask God to help you learn what you’re supposed to learn from it so you can come back stronger the next time

  • Try new things! Travel, eat new foods – try something totally different. It will change your brain.

• What do you want to be remembered for? My legacy is my children. I want them to live powerful, inspired faith-filled lives. I want the things I’ve taught them to live on through them.

Lizz Bennett: A true people lifter!