We recently had the chance to connect with Dinah Goodman and have shared our conversation below.
Dinah, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity will always be more important to me than intelligence and energy. My 3rd core value of the 10 I have is Integrity Above All. My first core value is First Do No Harm, followed by Honor, Courage, Commitment (that’s my Navy thing), and then Integrity Above All. If we have integrity, everything else falls into place. It may not always be easy but at the end of the day, I can look at myself in the mirror and be proud that I did what was honest and true. When I leave this earth some day, I want to be remembered for that…not the popular choices…but the RIGHT choices.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello. I am Dinah Goodman and I own BuzzFit BootCamp and Blue Laser Events. BuzzFit BootCamp (previously called Boone Trail Fit Body BootCamp) has been open for almost 6 and a half years. We specialize in 30-minute High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), personal training, and nutrition. We recently won Community Choice Best Fitness Center/Gym and Up and Coming Magazine’s Best Veteran-Owned Business. We believe in knowing each client’s name and forming a strong bond and relationship with all of our clients. After all, our clients are our biggest asset and we love them. Since Bees are so vital to our existence, we chose to rename and restructure to our brand, BuzzFit BootCamp. We have challenges throughout the year and an end of year Black Tie Affair Masquerade Gala we all look forward to.
My other business is Blue Laser Events, which is a venue and event center. We cater to bringing people together for their special milestones in their lives. My husband and I enjoy get-togethers with people we care about and celebrating life so Blue Laser Events is right up our ally. Currently, we are preparing for the Black Tie Affair Masquerade Gala at Blue Laser Events and it will be amazing!
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I was my mother’s guardian and caregiver from the time my dad died in 2013 until August 30th this year. She had Dementia and was digressing as time passed. My waking hours were consumed worrying about her needs and wondering if she was loved enough. I was constantly on high alert and looking at my cameras, popping in and out to check on caregivers, grocery shopping, praying over her, and concerned about her health and welfare, picking up meds, etc… In between long workdays, my mom was my primary time consumer and I had no problem with that. It did take a lot out of me though but I would not have had it any other way. I learned so much about her and our relationship matured into a stronger bond. When she recently passed, I found myself constantly looking at her house cameras out of habit, thinking I need to be with her, and feeling the need to go shopping for her. It is tearing me up as I write this. This was my identity for many years…caregiver…daughter…her pillar and person to lean on. I often wondered who I was without her. I am learning to live again and spend more time with my husband. I know I have to release my identity as a caregiver and guardian of my mom and move on. It hurts, it is hard, but life does go on.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering has taught me that God’s grace is enough and that I should rely on Him because there is a reason for the pain and turmoil. He never promised we would not suffer but there is a lesson in it. When we suffer, we are now in the position to be a testimony to others that are now going through what we went though. Suffering has taught me that I can easily go from the highest platform to the lowest gutter and still know that there is a way out and that I can survive and thrive again. It has strengthened my resolve and Jesus has given me the strength to move on and overcome, knowing that there is always a bigger picture. I am not alone and if He has suffered, I can too and still survive. Suffering grounds us, strengthens us, and teaches us what to do better and how to help others come out of their darkness.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
An important truth that very few people agree with me on is that we are a victim of our own circumstances and choices. We make wrong choices all the time that put us in the precarious positions we are in now. It may have been a recent choice or a choice made long ago that led us on a trajectory of where we are today. For example, if we are broken, broke, and failed more times than we want to admit, we can look in the mirror, have a deep conversation with ourselves, and trace our situation back to a series of bad decisions. This is a hard pill for many of us to swallow. We do not like taking accountability sometimes for our failures. It is generally easier for people to blame others for our shortcomings. We have all made bad decisions in life. We have to rise up, take accountability, and do better. I recognize that bad things also happen to good people but it is the way we respond that determines what direction our lives will go in. Personally, I put my trust in God because I know there is a bigger picture and we will definitely fail many times in this life.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when surrounded by nature with my husband and pets. Being completely in nature grounds me and brings out this peace in me that makes me not be afraid of anything. It brings me closer to God and creation. When I am surrounded by something this beautiful that is much bigger than me and that has been in existence long before me, it reminds me that I am a small piece of an immense puzzle of purpose and intention. This is why I love beautiful places that are natural and serene. I enjoy tranquility and talking to God in His most beautiful creations. I even have a glow about me when I am in nature. I look and feel better and have an inner peace. I release every worry, every concern, every past trauma and submit to His will. It feels freeing. I will never get tired of this.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fab5fitness.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinah-goodman-626951259/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BuzzFitBC
Image Credits
Rod’s Studio
