Amy Churchouse

Tell us a bit about yourself

When I was young my Mum told me I could be anything I wanted to when I grew up, so that is what I have spent my life doing. I don’t think she considered that I might have wanted to be everything…

I have held a number of different roles and had many different jobs. I have been a Head prefect, University student, a personal trainer, a zookeeper, a rugby player, a house owner, an international travel guide in France, a home renovator, chairperson of a board, an English teacher, a coach, a business owner, a step-mum, a school workshop facilitator, a volunteer, a manager, a sales trainer and a Vet.

In each of these roles, with all of the things I explored, experienced and introduced to my life, I learned more about myself and about the direction that I wanted to go in. I learned about the things that were important to me, about what I liked and what I didn’t like. I found out about things that aligned with my values and learned how to manage when I came across things that didn’t.

With everything I have done, I have learned more about who I am, what I want to experience and how I want to contribute.

There is still a whole lot more I would like to do, and with everything new, I discover other possibilities…Now I just want to keep exploring and learning. And I am going to do just that.

Why do you like to be fit and healthy?

It makes the Game of Life much easier and because I need to be in good shape mentally and physically to go on all the adventures I have planned.  Also, we only get one body, and it has to last the distance…  

 What is the best advice you have been given?

Always do your best. There will always be people that are better and worse than you at things. Comparing yourself with them won’t help you improve or feel good. Your best is all you have to offer so you should be very happy with it. And giving less than your best will only leave you wondering “what if…?

What has been your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?

One of my most difficult challenges was to stop being a vet after only 2 years in practice when I had previously studied for 5 years to achieve my childhood dream of becoming a vet.

I worried what people would think. I worried that I had wasted 7 years of my life to find out that this was not the career for me. I worried about what I was going to do…

But when I looked at myself, I was miserable. I had worse physical and mental health than ever before in my life. I wasn’t having positive experiences or positive interactions with people…

Then I realized that I had a choice…and I had to make a decision…

And I decided that my life and health was more important than the things I was worried about. That I wanted to enjoy being alive and that I actually had more to offer the world than this career was letting me contribute.

I thought about all the amazing experiences that 7 years of studying and working with animals had given me. I thought about all the amazing people I had met and things I had learned. And most importantly I had learned that being a vet was not the right thing for me, and that that was ok. 

I focused on all of the positive things that had happened so I could take them with me on the next part of my journey. I let the bad stuff go because it wasn’t going to help me move forward. 

I set myself free, decided to Do Things Differently and as a result am having the most fabulous adventure of my entire life.

It is very good to remember that we always have choice. Once you realize you always have choice, then nothing can stop you…because you will always be able to find another way. 

What is your best tip for motivation, health and fitness?

Approach everything with a positive attitude and you will not only find things much easier and but you will have a great time along the way.

Who do you look up to as a role model & why?

Ellen de Generes – 20 years ago she came out as gay on her television programme and, despite losing her show at the time and having to deal with a huge amount of negative backlash in public, she has become a very successful leader, talk show host and role model for millions of people around the world. She has shown us all that being confident being yourself is the most important thing in life, regardless of how different you are, and that what other people think and say really doesn’t matter at all.