Death Race 2014

Each year I walk (or kind of hobble) away from the Canadian Death Race with having learned something new about myself and a memory or two that will stick with me for a lifetime.  This year my leg of the race took me up Mount Hamel and on a 38km distance run through beautiful country with amazing people who were all trying to attain similar goals.  I truly have not been able to put into words my thoughts and feelings from last Saturday.  As I stood on top of the mountain I was flooded with a feeling of peace, gratitude, accomplishment and absolute wonder.   The journey down and to the finish line was one of pure joy and contentment.

 This past week I have found myself thinking about the person I was 10 years ago or even 5 years ago; a person who was scared to try new things because of a lack of confidence and a fear of failure. I definitely still have those moments of self-doubt and frustration; however I have decided that I will never know if I don’t try.  If I don’t step beyond what is familiar and comfortable I will not change or grow.  I think the biggest thing that is changing for me is the way I am choosing to accomplish the goals I have set for myself.  Like last weekend, I have stopped focusing solely on the end goal and where I want to be at the finale.  I am taking things step by step, enjoying the journey and learning everything I can along the way.  There has been and will be trips and stumbles but it will be most likely those moments when I learn and grow the most. 

I want to thank Brandon, Cam, Darcy and Vince for a wonderful and absolutely fantastic race.  You guys made me bustle my butt with inspiration and encouragement! Can't wait till next year!J

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

End of a Season

Here we are already, coming to the end of the soccer season and hopefully the beginning of a beautiful summer holiday.  May and June have been dedicated to Kayden’s soccer.   Out of all 7 days of the week, his practices, games and even tournaments have landed on his Kung Fu days.  At the beginning of May I tried to at least get to Mondays (we had 15 minutes to spare between practice and Kung Fu) but found it pushing across a line of burn out and exhaustion.  To run from work to Kung Fu, drive directly to the soccer field, oh ya forgot supper again and really not sure where to fit in homework and studying for final exams and of course the projects and chores at home; something had to give.  I found out there sometimes is not a way to fit everything in. 

The last couple of months have been interesting with eye opening moments.  For a while now we have struggled with keeping our son interested and engaged in his Kung Fu.  It truly had become something he really was only doing for his parents.  I am well aware that kids don’t always know what is best for them and can sometimes not see the big picture and the benefits in something later on.  However, watching my son this past two months totally and completely engaged, excited and full of pure joy playing soccer has really helped me see that where my interests and passions may lie are not going to be the same for my children.  I am now seeing a young man who has found something he is passionate about, something he enjoys and quite frankly something he is extremely good at. 

I do still hope that he will come back to training in his Kung Fu, but at the same time want it to be a decision he makes for himself because he finds the value in it.  Even at 11 years old he realizes he has learned more than the kicking and punching.  He has learned skills and been given tools that are going to help him be successful in every aspect of his life.  He has learned an appreciation for things that make a difference in the world around him daily, whether it is helping keep our environment clean, awareness and fundraising for different groups and organizations or just the importance of acting with purpose, integrity and respect in all that he does.   

In short, I hope he knows how very proud of him I am and that I will respect, support and encourage him always J

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

Tough Week

This past week was a hard one.  The life of a loved teacher of our youngest son was taken.  The circumstances were ugly; something that you see on the news but never believe could happen close to you or in your own community.  How does a person explain to an 11 year old why a tragedy like this happens when you can’t wrap your own mind around it as an adult? 

Saturday, as I sat at her Celebration of Life service, I was touched by not only how many people were there, but how many people’s lives she had touched in a multitude of ways.  As I listened to the special messages written with so much love for each of her children, her parents and her siblings, I was overwhelmed with the thought that if something was to happen to me unexpectedly, would those dear to my heart know what they meant to me? 

Life is busy.  We all have longer lists than we do time.  But do we prioritize according to what is really important?  This young lady was open and honest.   She stood up for what she believed.  She was passionate about things she enjoyed and thought important.  She let those around her know what they meant to her. 

Live with no regrets.  Take the time to play with your kids, tell those around you that you love them, play hookie from work to spend a day with your spouse, use the good dishes… LIVE!

Live a life that makes a difference, a life that matters, and a life that will be missed when it’s gone J

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

Distracted

We learn from our first day of class the importance of bowing in and out, the significance of crossing that threshold and leaving the outside stuff out and giving all our respect, attention and focus to our instructors and to our time on the mats.  Unfortunately life can cause distractions for us and I am very guilty.  Last night at the Advanced Black Dragons class I found myself in a position where I didn’t leave all the ‘stuff’ outside.  I was distracted and mentally not where I should have been and I apologize to my fellow instructors as well as the students.  I know as well as anyone the value of that time and should probably been on the bench rather than the mats. 

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

Setting Examples

If someone ever tells me that my actions, words and habits do not affect my children’s choices, I will have to very strongly disagree.  I have proof! 

Two weeks ago our son brought home a note from the principle.  Yikes!  Reluctantly I took the envelope, wiped my sweaty hands and I sat down, bracing myself for the news.  It simply read:

 “ Dear Kayden, I understand you have been helping keep our school clean and setting a great example for others!  Thank you, Mr. Hetherington.”

 I guess Darcy and my daily walks with one bag for garbage and one for recyclables have passed on to the next generation.  He is a chip off the old blocks!  This wasn’t something he learned from TV or in his classes at school but rather from the example set at home.

If that isn’t enough to convince you, last night our family dug up old videos from when the kids were young.  One tape was of our youngest son and Darcy doing Hsieh Chien.  Yes, his technique needed improvement, he might have missed a few of the words and maybe his attention got a little diverted, but he was only 2 years old!  Even at that young he was following in the footsteps of someone he loved and respected. 

As we continued going through video clips, one surfaced from Kayden’s first kung fu class at 2½ years old.  As we watched and laughed, we noticed that out of the entire class of these little guys, there were four familiar faces that happen to still be continuing in their training at Silent River.  Funny, but not surprising, was that all four of these kids happen to have parents who to this day are active Silent River students. 

So what does this all say? Quite simply, we are helping build the next generation.  We are responsible for teaching healthy, respectful and thoughtful actions.  It is our job to set a positive example in all we do and at the same time step up and be accountable for the mistakes we make.

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

Continuing Forward

So here I sit to write a blog, not because I have to, but rather because I want to.   My first year as part of the I Ho Chuan –  Year of the Dragon, was in all honesty, because it was a requirement to grade.  My second year, Year of the Snake, was because I wanted to keep with a momentum and needed to prove to myself that the routines and changes I had made in my life the year before were not only sustainable, but that I was truly committed to making them permanent, a lifestyle.   

As this year’s banquet got closer, I admit I felt a little sad.  It meant not only the end of the year but also the beginning of a year which I had chosen not to be a part of I Ho Chuan.  What I have found out in the week and a bit since Chinese New Year, is that I am still carrying on as if I were part of this year’s team in many ways.  I still am faithfully using my log book.  I am still working toward another 50000 situps and pushups.  I’m still continuing with my km’s (I love this one).  I’m still recording RAK’s.  Rather than working on one form, I am picking out parts of all my forms that need work.  I’ve added a few things to my workout schedule with the bowflex and with my good old skipping rope.  Last but not least, I am going to continue blogging (funny since this was one requirement that I struggled with). 

I may not officially be on this year’s team, however, I am fortunate to be a part of a small and wonderful group of fellow students and friends who have been setting daily challenges and posting our progress daily for each to see.  One of these lovely young ladies is even across the ocean J .  I truly thank each of these ladies who have inspired me in different ways and helped keep me engaged and going forward, even when it is 32 below!!!

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

Construction Zone

“The spirit of a child is a lot like wet cement.  It doesn’t take much effort to make an imprint.  Any time you see your child go skipping by, you’re in the presence of a construction zone and ought to ask yourself, What is being built here?  Is there anything I can do to advance this cause?”

This paragraph from an article I read this last week, so simply but perfectly, puts the affect our actions and words have on the children in our lives. 

With abnormally warm temperatures the past couple of weeks I’ve noticed an ‘offness’ for some of the kids I’ve been surrounded by.  The thought that they are stuck inside while the sun is shining and puddles are a calling makes staying focused on something inside exceptionally hard.  I’ve found it hard to maintain my own kids focus and routines and am getting a lot of practice perfecting patience.  Although it may be frustrating at times, I have to remind myself that although discipline and routine are important, there are some moments I may need to relax a little, enjoy the moment and see that there may just be an opportunity in front of me to build on something bigger, something different than I had originally planned.  J

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

Remembering the Skipping Rope

This week I was reminded by a friend of my long lost skipping rope.  I remember when I was little (a long time ago), skipping with friends every recess, lunch hour and till it got dark with friends outside.  Those were the days when the rope was a toy, meant for entertaining and games, and used without the feeling that I had expended a whole lot of energy after an entire day.   Things are a little different now.  Saturday morning my calves felt a little tender, a good tender though, and I found myself moving a little more careful.

A year and a half ago I had incorporated skipping into my daily workout routine.  I wasn’t extremely graceful and my toes seemed to stick out a little too far every now and then, but I found it a great addition to improving my cardio and my coordination.  Somehow as I started focusing on other things, the skipping rope got pushed to the side.  So as of Friday I have added skipping back into my routine, thanks to the friend who got me restarted!

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

A New Year

New year = new book.  Before becoming a member of the I Ho Chuan, I had never kept a log book.  I had seen Darcy consistently writing and adding up numbers as a member of the UBBT but from an outsider’s perspective, never really saw value in it or thought of giving it a chance myself. 

 Signing up for the Dragon team, I bought a log book; not because I wanted to or had yet seen the value, but because I was told I had to as a requirement.  I don’t think it even took a week before I realized just how valuable a tool a log book was for me.  When I first started, I recorded my form reps, sit ups, push ups, km’s and RAK’s.  As time went on I started to include things that happened that day that might have had an effect on my numbers, like weather, injuries, holidays, work, illness, classes attended and what was covered etc.  As I continued to add my numbers I found it pushed me to see if I could do better and if I could beat the required numbers for the year.  At the same time, it showed me where I was behind and where I needed to pull up my socks.

I’ve found having my log book where I continue to see it throughout the day, has done wonders for me as well.  It has a permanent spot on the kitchen counter, not because I like the clutter look, but because it is the one place that I am sure to see it several times a day which reminds me to first get my numbers done as well as to write them down. 

Although I’m not part of the upcoming Horse team, I am going to continue to log, just as I’m going to continue with my push ups, sit ups, km’s and RAK’s.  I have found the value in it and have discovered it as a tool that truly works for me.  Before deciding it doesn’t work for you, make an honest effort to try it. J

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca