As the story has it, one day I headed to the opposite side of the globe – the Flipside. I arrived in Korea February 16th, 2005 and thought I’d do a year, then leave. I was wrong. I stayed, launched my first company, Flipside Fitness, and then opened Korea's largest boxing club, Hulk's Boxing (now called Hulk's Club).

After 11.5yrs in Korea, I then picked up one day and returned to Toronto, Canada. But then I left again.

Now I live in the Philippines where I am the CEO and head coach of Empowered Clubhouse, the Philippines' first and only boxing clubhouse exclusively just for women. I also am the founder of the Lil' Sistas Project, CEO and designer of Slay Gear and Baa Baa Black Sheep .Ph.

Friday, August 04, 2017

My Two Year Anniversary... Friday, August 4

Today is super significant for me so I updated my Facebook status with this post:
Exactly 2yrs ago today I decided to Woman-up and be the hero in my own story -- I left Korea after 11.5yrs. People may never fully know my story and people still scratch their heads over it but when they wonder why and how I'm doing what I'm doing in the Philippines, I know the driving force behind it is Korea and me finally empowering myself to stick up for myself and what I believe in.
I remember leaving Korea, relieved that I was going to see my next birthday.  It'd be in a couple of days, it'd be in Canada.  There were many a moments when I honestly didn't think I'd make it to my next birthday.  And in the two years since I left Korea and arrived at my father's doorstep, I've gone to three different countries. Now I live in the Philippines.

It took me a lot to get to where I am but there's some days where it still freaks me out that I'm so close to Korea.  I'm but a four hour flight away.  Some days I feel like I'm playing with fire, being so close, and testing my limits, but then there are days like today when I'm almost tempted to call Korea out and talk to them face to face.  

I remember once I looked Snickers right in the face and with sobbing tears and a shaky voice, I told him "one day I'm going to write a book about you".  I never did write that book but I did continue my homepage.

Here are some random affirmations I thought I'd share here to inspire you and perhaps lift any of you up if you're feeling down.  You're not alone, perhaps that's the best thing I can tell you.  I wish someone had told me that when I was going through what I was struggling through in Korea.  I wish I had opened up to someone instead of quickly closing myself off after I reached out for help but was totally rejected and blamed.  

You're not alone.

...the affirmations...
Grow through what you go through.
She distanced herself to save herself.
A successful woman is a woman who can build a foundation with the bricks thrown at her.
I've never met a strong person with an easy past.
Once you become fearless life becomes limitless.
Love yourself enough to remove yourself from anything that you know isn't good for you.
I love the person I've become because I fought to become her.
I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.

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