Meeting Challenge #4

For 40 years I have made excuse after excuse to avoid getting on a plane.  I have missed out on how many opportunities because of a ridiculous fear of something I have never even tried.  Well very early tomorrow morning I am biting the bullet and getting on my first plane ever.  I had actually put this down as one of my personal I Ho Chuan Challenges, but quite confidently thought to myself that I could get out of it easy with a very legitimate excuse (have to work, no babysitter, $...).  Up to this point I have stuck with holidays that I could drive to (or if need be, could have swam).  I have held back not only myself but my entire family from some great opportunities and experiences because I couldn’t go past my own back yard. 

Enough is enough!  I have finally decided that there are things I want to do, things I want to see, things I want to be a part of that are going to require me to get past this fear.  So I write this now when I should be sleeping.  We have to be at the airport for three in the morning but I can’t sleep, getting a little nervous the closer it gets! 

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

How much information is too much?

Since my first I Ho Chuan meeting last year I have struggled with the question, how much is too much information? I'm not one who likes to talk a lot in front of others anyway, but when asked the question "how are you doing?", I have found it difficult to answer completely without revealing too much personal stuff going on in my life. I say the bare minimum. Like most people, I have personal things going on that either I don't feel comfortable sharing or that I doubt what is an appropriate time or place to share and with some things I'm just plain scared I may break down. The funny thing is, a lot of times its these personal struggles and distractions that hold us back from moving forward towards some great things. There is great comfort in being able to share with others who may have or may be going through similar struggles. What better place to reach out than with a group who cares, understands and may possibly be able to help?

I'd like to thank everyone who has had the courage to open up and been so honest as to the struggles they are having, trusting the rest of the team and allowing others the opportunity to learn and help. How can anyone help unless they are aware that someone needs it?

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Habits

Five days without coffee!  This is turning out to be a bit harder than I thought.  I miss the sound of my grinder with the feel of my ear muffs on my head (it’s a loud grinder) and waking up to the smell of fresh brewed coffee in the morning.  I’ve caught myself a couple of times, ready to order a coffee or grind some beans and with disappointment, reach for the tea bags or ask for a hot chocolate instead (definitely with a pout on my face). 

 It’s amazing how easy something can become a habit.  A person continues to repeatedly do something over and over until it becomes routine and part of their life.  When a person steps out of routine it’s easy to feel lost, like something is missing and incomplete.  Like having a cup (or 2) of coffee in the morning, when a person makes their training a part of their daily routine,  it becomes something you look forward to, something you enjoy and something you need to complete your day.  Plain and simple, it becomes a way of life and part of who you are. 

Making wise choices as to the things we decide to make habit and routine in our lives should be a priority. Everything from what we choose to eat, the words that we speak, how we spend our time, the time given to our training, and the list goes on, all help develop us into the people we become. 

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca