How Do People See You?

A couple of weeks ago I was at a funeral for a neighbor.  I never had met her, but did know her husband.  She had been suffering from health issues since we moved to the neighborhood, and kept to herself in the house.  During the service a few friends got up to speak of memories they had and it got me thinking, how would people remember me?  How do people see me?

In the last week I have been in the process of getting personal character references from people who have known me for quite some time; both the good sides and the not so good (we all have them).    When I read what these friends had written, I was touched.  Moments were remembered that I hadn’t thought of in a long time and then there were things that I truly did not see as significant or out of the ordinary; but they mattered to someone.  It’s a good reminder that everything we do and say has an effect on someone and it’s up to us as to what that will be.

I found it funny how character traits that are seen as quality traits, vary from person to person.    From one person, they saw strength with something to do with a small engine.  For another, it was related to relationships with family and friends.  Guess which one was the girl answer and which the boy answer. 

I have to be honest and say that I feel like I haven’t always been the mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend that I want to be or could be.   We are always our own worst critics.   We all have a tendency to get busy and caught up in life.  The thought that ‘I’ll call them later’ or ‘I should stop by to see…’ , gets lost as there are not enough hours in the day.  When I think of all the opportunities I am given on a daily basis to make a difference for someone, I’m grateful and only hope that I will take advantage of every opportunity to make a positive difference for someone.  I have been made aware that everything I do, no matter how small it may seem to me, has the potential to matter greatly to someone else.

 

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

A Big Decision

I have found myself in a really weird and somewhat confused place the last three weeks.   Here we are with only nine days left till I must make the decision whether or not to grade this year.  As I have seen potential candidates make the very hard decision that this is not their year to grade, I have started questioning myself.  If they don’t believe they’re ready, how in the world do I think that I can be? 

I have been thinking of little else the last week, trying to figure out, how does a person know when they are ready for something like this?  As of tonight I still haven’t got the answer to this.  The last couple of days I have been reflecting on the last 8 months.  I have looked at my numbers, I have gone over my list of requirements, I have reviewed what I chose for personal challenges this year and  I have to say that I see this year as a success in that respect .  If anyone would have told me that at almost 40 years old I would be doing what I have the last year, I would have laughed at them and thought they were off their rocker.  Having to come up with a list of personal challenges and then be held accountable for completing them has been an amazing motivation for me to do things I always wanted to but didn’t have the courage to.  Logging pushups, situps, km’s, diet, etc.  has proven to myself that first it is possible and second has been a push to see if I could do better.

I have rediscovered the fact that this is an independent journey.  It is a decision that one must make for themselves and not make it dependant on what other people decide.  We may train together and encourage and help each other, but in the end it is only ourselves that can truly decide where we are mentally and make the choice of where we want to be.  I have gone over and over convincing myself that next year would be better.  It would give me more time to prepare, maybe life will slow down (now that one is a laugh), and maybe my knees and shoulder will be in better shape. . . . . . .blah blah blah.  What I have realized is that first off my life will not slow down.  The older I get and the more I use my knees and shoulders are they really going to feel better?  As for more time, well I believe the more time we have, the more we try to fill it with.   

I am finding this such a hard decision for the fact that because it is important to me, I don’t want to make the wrong one.   Well the clock says 12:11am, now only 8 days left!

Alana Regier

Back From Grande Cache

We got back from Grande Cache Monday evening.  What an absolutely incredible weekend!  Not only did I accomplish one of my challenges for this year, I really had FUN!   I didn’t make any record times, but I was happy with 2hours and 10 minutes.  I learnt that 19km on town paths is not the same as 19km up and down rocky slopes or running through swamp; its way more fun.  Next year I’m going to beat that time or better yet try a different leg!

Three of the biggest advantages I had:

1)      Family and friends encouraging me

2)      Having learnt how to breath in Kung Fu (thank you, oxygen is always good!)

3)      Many years of quading through bogs and swamps, you learn to pick routes that are safer, faster and even cleaner!

 Every person running had their own reasons.   For some, it was for bragging rights of saying “I ran the DEATH race!”  For others it was a personal challenge that they had for themselves.  For a few, it might have even been on a dare from friends (probably these are the ones running in jeans or fleece PJ’s).   I found it interesting to see how there seemed to be 2 types of people:  Those that it was all about them; these people were totally focused on the finish line, but missed the steps in getting there.  Then there were the others, who had concern and words for others along the way.   These were the people who I think got the most out of what they were doing.  They actually enjoyed the steps in between, the steps that got them to the finish line.   It was uplifting to see the people who would stop to see if the person laying on the ground in front of them was ok, if the lady doubled over with cramps needed a salt pill, if the guy beside looked like he was ready to quit and just needed that word of encouragement or the ones who just stopped for a moment to take in the view.

Our teams goal was to challenge ourselves but at the same time to appreciate the journey.  I can honestly say I have never been an enjoyer of running.  However this weekend, in this place, with these people I had a blast and ran with a smile on my face.   Although it was a personal challenge for me, it was very much a team effort.  This was a wonderful example of what working together and having others behind you can do.  This isn’t something I would have done well or even enjoyed on my own.  As each team member came into the end of their leg, the entire team (along with other family and friends) were there to meet them and to cheer them on.  I was excited and proud for each member as they accomplished what they had set out to do.  I was reminded that the encouragement, push and support from people around can help anyone move mountains, or at least run up one!

Alana Regier