cover story
Katie getting certified in ashiatsu massage
Katie with husband Chris , younger daughter Mercedes , son Aiden , and oldest daughter Alicia tickle , pinch , and bite . She ’ s young at heart and not afraid of a challenge .
Katie makes it a point to teach her kids about tackling challenges , too . A typical night in the Mathews ’ household might include the feat of looking the least dorky playing virtual reality or looking the most graceful doing aerial yoga in the living room . Katie ’ s daughters , 20 and 15 , are naturals in the latter challenge , and her son , 11 and the “ true gamer ,” usually wins with virtual reality . Katie and her husband of 17 years , Chris , hope to mold him into a software developer just like his father . Whatever the challenge , Katie says , “ I like to show my kids that working hard is important for self-fulfillment and achieving what you want in life . Any job , no matter how small , is worth doing well .”
Whether it ’ s jumping out of a plane , testing your fate in rapid waters , overcoming personal struggles , or achieving progress with the things you ’ re passionate about , Katie stresses the importance of getting out there and improving , little by little . “ You have to have little challenges , and once you meet those goals , you continue on ,” she says . “ If you fail , that ’ s fine . You keep going . What you need to look for is bettering yourself . Don ’ t plan to lose 100 pounds right away , don ’ t plan to do everything perfectly . Be realistic , and say to yourself , ‘ I ’ m going to be better today .’ If you ’ re not , it ’ s okay . Be better tomorrow .”
Katie learning to surf in Costa Rica
Be realistic , and say to yourself , ‘ I ’ m going to be better today .’ If you ’ re not , it ’ s okay . Be better tomorrow .
enhance magazine | JANUARY 2017 33