Consistency

After successfully completing his last two races, I recently asked our oldest son what advice he would give to someone as to the secret of his success.  His answer was short, sweet and one word, CONSISTENCY!  No matter your mood, the weather or where you might be stuck there is always the opportunity to do something. It may not always stick to your routine or schedule but how many people have a life that does not throw monkey wrenches into their plans squashing what they envision for their day?  If its 40 below outside, run on a treadmill.  If you find yourself stuck working overtime who can’t find a quiet corner for 50 squat thrusts? Sick in bed, why not read blogs, journal or even get some much needed rest.  Running to the grocery store, take a bike or if driving park at the far end of the parking lot rather than driving around the parking lot for the closest spot to the door.  The opportunities are there, we just need to take advantage of them. 

It’s the building of these routines and making our journey a way of life rather than with an end date in mind that I believe will get us the furthest with results of true success.  We can all set goals and work like crazy to achieve them; however, once our goal is reached we have the choice as to what we do with it.  Do we see it as the end of the journey and allow poor habits and bad choices to take over our lives leaving us with nothing but fond memories of the good old days? Or do we choose the extraordinary by building onto what we have accomplished, resulting in reaching even more amazing mountain tops?

Being consistent in investing ourselves in our relationships, our own health, our jobs, our passions, our goals, our kung fu, in absolutely everything that is important to us, we can do nothing but develop, mature and succeed being better than we were yesterday.  That which we give attention to and invest in grows and in the same way that which we ignore or abandon deteriorates and eventually disappears. If each of us is truly honest we will realize we are responsible for where we are by the choices we make. We will get out of it what we put into it.

Alana Regier

http:/alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

Where I Am

It can be hard to reveal to others exactly what is going on in our lives, more often than not, harder with people you know versus a stranger on the street.  I have tried and retried to write this blog for quite some time without success.  I am pretty confident it will still not come out as eloquently as I hoped but its time.  I have been struggling with my blogging along with pretty much all of my requirements. I have found the balls I have been juggling laying unmoving by my feet.  Where some may struggle with finding something to write, I struggle with hitting the publish button.  What I have written I believe has merit; however, I believe that my blogging should be honest and transparent of my journey, especially when things aren’t going so well.

In a nut shell, I have been working on fixing all my broken pieces; these pieces being made up of physical body parts but on a larger scale, the mental part. The truth is I have become bogged down and worn out. I am in a place that is hard to feel motivation or the ability to make any goals past next week.  In my effort to try to figure out how to win the battle, I believe I have two things in particular that are making this fight so hard; the first being the fact that there are some things in life that are beyond my control.  Being a person who tends to have control freak moments and one who likes to plan and schedule, I have found this place hard to manage and destructive to how and what gets done. I can’t fix what I want to, heal what is hurting or control some circumstances life throws at me. I am very aware that I have control over how I react but the truth is the feeling of being overwhelmed can take over what logic says.  Add to that my second battle, my unwillingness to accept mediocrity and the desire and need to go further than what I may be able to. My inability to be at peace with “good enough” or the ordinary has me dealing with added discouragement, resentment and lack of direction.  It’s this determination to push myself towards particular goals that has got me in a bit of a pickle more than once and recently has set me back in my training significantly. I have a vision of where I want to be and what I want to do and the reality that I may have to change my expectations seems deflating. Where I am right now, I have found more comfort in working and training on my own, resulting in becoming disconnected from the team and a big part of my training.  I have not given up or in any way stopped.  I continue to blog for myself and to journal my km’s, push ups, sit ups along with other training in a bit of a different direction.  I know this is falling short on what I have committed to but I feel like I’m doing the best I can at this moment. I don’t want to make excuses but rather to own up to my short comings and to be honest with the team as to where I am. It truly is harder to come back the longer you are away but it’s the first step needed to reconnect me.

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

The Kindness Diaries

In the wake of so much sadness, confusion and anger, it can be hard to see the goodness and love that still exists.  We are being bombarded with messages of hate and fear on the television, newspaper and social media. Unless you are aware of the possible effects, the constant hum of despair and negativity can easily steal the hope and faith you have in the world you live.

 About a week ago Kayden came home from school excited about a guest speaker they had who taught a powerful message.  This man’s name is Leon Logothetis.  Leon’s story began as a well off stock broker who was unhappy and went in the search of something more.  He documented on camera his trip around the world on a yellow motorcycle named Kindness One on a quest to “ignite goodwill and transform lives.”  Now our family is not a huge television watching one, however, I found myself intrigued with Leons documentary which is showing on the Netflix series The Kindness Diaries. In this series, the footage is put together showing Leons journey to travel around the world relying completely on the kindness of strangers.  Every drop of gas, every meal and every bed he sleeps in is graciously given to him by complete strangers.  Now I have only seen the first 5 episodes so far but I have found myself encouraged, uplifted, smiling, laughing and even crying during these half  hour episodes. Not only am I touched by the goodness and love that is very much alive but by what strangers are willing to share and the lessons they teach through their kindness. 

I have to be honest, as much as I love helping people, if a strange man came up to me randomly on the street and asked if he could spend the night at my house, everything in my bones would be screaming NO! However, even many of these people who had that same inner voice were willing to reach out in other, safer ways whether a meal, a tank of gas or a fencing lesson (you have to watch).  What has stood out the most in these first 5 episodes is that those that seem to give the most have the least.  One man that Leon approaches in Pittsburg when asked if he would be willing to put Leon up for the night at his house, looks him in the eyes and says he doesn’t have a house, he is homeless and lives on the street.  Even with so little he invites him with open arms and a loving heart to stay in his area on the street curb with a couple of friends to share what little they have.  He introduced Leon to his friends, gave him his old lawn chair to sit on, fed him what little food he could find and made a bed for him on the sidewalk out of the few pieces of bedding he possessed.  This is true kindness, true love, true goodness and truly a beautiful heart. 

Now it would be unrealistic to believe that a person could solve all the problems of poverty, war, greed, corruption etc. that exsists in our world, but as Edmund Burke said “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”  Rather than make the excuses that as one person we will never make a difference, we need do for one what we wish we could do for many.  We may never directly see the effects our kind words and actions have but I believe that they will change somebody’s life somewhere and will have a forever trickledown effect.  Continue to look for opportunities to spread kindness and listen and learn from the lessons that come with them.

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

No Coin Required

I’ve been struggling with feelings of disappointment and let down that my body doesn’t seem quite able to or is finding it difficult to accomplish goals that my stubborn mind is determined to accomplish.  As I prepare for death race in two weeks, I’m finding that I can’t will my body to do what my mind says I want it to.  I left registration this year to the last minute allowing myself only a month till run day, not because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to run but for the simple fact of not sure if I should or could.  With only hours left to the close of registration I signed up feeling both excited and a little nervous.  In the past five years of being a part of this race I don’t think I’ve ever felt as prepared as I’ve wanted and hoped to be, this year even with more reservations.  As the date approaches very quickly I can’t help but feel more excitement than anything because of what this weekend has grown to mean to me.  The environment and the people I’m surrounded by continue to challenge, inspire and just plain pump a person up.  The August long weekend has turned into so much more than just a physical challenge and push, it has become an experience that speaks to every part of me. 

So what am I going to feel if this year I don’t cross the finish line in time?  I’ve thought a lot about this, about my intent when running.  What keeps me going back every year?  The measure of success is individual.  Some may think you need to cross the finish at a certain time and receive the medal at the end in order to consider your day/night a success.  I however belong to the second group.  The group that has learned that its more about the experience they gain and what they learn from it. Now don’t get me wrong the shiny coin in the end is nice but it doesn’t compare to the memories of majestic views, sounds, smells, conversations and true peace.  Each year I learn more about myself and about life. I add to the collection of moments and memories.  One can only laugh at the slimy mango story at Ambler Loop.  Or the graceful fall ended with a shoulder roll down a rock strewn hill that left a bloody leg on leg 1.  Or how about the bear met on the trail that pushed you to run just a little bit faster than ever in your life.  And then there are the brief but meaningful conversations had with the 73 year old race icon whose mere presence inspires you to the bone to what you want to be like when you grow up.  Along with the comradery along the trail to new friends met to the sharing of Advil and salt pills.  And who can forget the feeling of reaching that mountain peak only to look down with absolute amazement that your own two legs got you there and look at that view, truly indescribable.  All these moments I would not have traded, blisters, shin splints or upset stomach and all.  So this year I go whether taped in KT tape or duct tape with the intent of pushing myself physically but more than anything to add to the collection of moments so dear to me.  I don’t know what the end result of this day will be for me but I look forward to the new challenge and what the day and weekend has in store.

Alana Regier

 

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

Canada Day

So another Canada Day full of demonstrations has come and gone.  Dragon and lion dances were enjoyed and our team was able to perform demonstrations to wow.  No dropping of weapons…oh no that’s right I did have a bokken leave my feeble grip.  Who knew the combination of one hand without feeling and another sweaty from the heat was a bad mix?  I guess a positive spin is nobody was impaled and I was able to smile at myself. 

As much as I would have much preferred to have a malfunction happen during practice at the kwoon, or better yet in the privacy of my back yard, the reality is that’s not exactly how it works, we don’t usually get to choose when our grip gives way.  As goofy as it may sound, this glitch was another growing moment for me.  At one point in this journey this ‘oops’ would probably have kept me from performing ever again.  It would have had my face a shade redder than anyone would have thought possible and I may have even found myself coming back to the kwoon in a disguise of black shades, a wig and a handkerchief.  Fortunately I have come a long way.  I have learnt that mistakes and malfunctions don’t always happen during the practice sessions and that I am only human without control over everything.  Sometimes we need to dust ourselves off, pick up that weapon once again and continue on.  Giving up never changed or solved anything.  I only wish I was faster on my feet and would have maybe followed my bokken down the hill with a beautiful shoulder roll, grabbing it with my teeth as I passed and continuing on, all the while like I meant to do that.  Notes for the future!

I would like to say a well done by all who performed in anyway on Saturday and to thank those who came out to share and support our I Ho Chuan team.  It was greatly appreciated.

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Always Someone to Help

We have yet again reached a new stage in our family.  Our oldest son, Brandon, is working this summer for an environmental company out of Sherwood Park.  This job is taking him to remote and distant places around our province and BC.  What is kind of cool is that we now have a continuing family chat text conversation exchanging pictures of a variety of plants as we come upon them trying to properly identify them.   The fact that nobody knows everything, has our little group pulling  our combined info and experience together to come up with answers.  Rather than stumbling, struggling and wasting time trying to figure it out on our own, we have reached out for help.  Kind of a phone a friend idea. I'm not going to lie, it's been kind of cool and a real reminder that we can't always do everything on our own, that we are surrounded by people who can and want to help.  We have a wealth of knowledge that may surprise each one of us right at our finger tips.  Most times, we just need to ask.   As humbling as it may be at times we are often given people and opportunities in life that allow us to both be helped and also help those around us.

For our family, we have been able to not only combine our knowledge to come up with answers but have also had the opportunity to share our day and even pictures of wildlife seen with each other really makes you feel a little closer than the distance between Stony Plain and Fort St. John.  Although I have to admit I'm having a hard time matching the pictures and videos of bears and caribou.  Not much more past coyotes and gophers around here.  I'm holding out to see one of the wild boars I keep being warned about.  Now that would be hard to beat!

Alana Regier

Good Bug or Bad Bug?

I will apologize in advance for my bug talk especially for those who may be a little squeamish when it comes to crawly things.  This is what happens when your job has you spending more time with plants and bugs than with people.  The great outdoors, best office in the world! 

In my job we have many insects brought in baby food jars for identification, the reason being that people want to know is it a good bug or a bad bug?  Of course there is the lady bug which everyone knows to be a friend but what about all those others that don’t have those cute polka dots?  If they are black, hairy, long antennas and just plain ugly does that automatically makes them bad? A lot of people see bugs and think ‘must squish’; however, there are a massive amount of crawly things that are actually beneficial in huge ways; for example, the braconid wasp.  Many things about this insect upon first appearance scream SQUISH! This is a species whose females inject its eggs into host insects, which many times this host is destructive to many plants and trees.  These eggs then hatch into larvae which feed inside the host insects. Once the larvae have reached full development the host insect (problem insect) dies, nature’s own biological control. I know gross, but bear with me. 

Like so many things in life that change or hit us out of the blue it becomes easy to come to the conclusion that if we don’t want it or didn’t ask for it, it must be bad.  Whether it’s an illness, injury, job loss or whatever it may be, I believe it is for a reason.  Maybe it’s to humble us, maybe it’s to move us into a better job or relationship or maybe it’s to keep us safe from that which we aren’t even aware of. Although I may not understand many of these things that appear to me as something negative and ugly, I am also aware that I don’t see the entire picture.  Sometimes the valleys loaded with discouragement, pain and disappointment are the paths that lead us to something great, something that wouldn’t be possible without first going through the low times. Not that I welcome the valleys with open arms but I am trying harder every day to see the positive, to see the possibilities.

 

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Purslane

Purslane is a plant found sometimes in great abudance, a weed to some and a plant with a purpose to others. It has succulent leaves and yellow flowers.  It may appear to be just another plant but what many may not know is that one plant is capable of producing 2,000,000 seeds that can stay viable for up to 40 years! Nature always amazes me with its ability to survive. 

In reading these tidbits I couldn't help but see a correlation to our acts of kindness.  Like the purslane plant, we as individuals have the capability of making a huge impact with each act of kindness we perform.  We may be just one lonely plant wondering some days if our actions ever really matter or if they have lasting impact that will reach beyond what we see directly in front of us today. There are many acts that we will never  directly see the impact we have made but I do believe that every act of kindness, every time we act honestly and with integrity and every time we put others before ourselves, there will be results that change lives. Every piece of garbage we pick up, every kind word we have for another or every worm, lady bug or ant we relocate, we make a difference. 

Like the one purslane plant that disperses 2,000,000 seeds and can hang around for 40 years waiting for optimum conditions to decide to sprout we too can continue to live a life that will have ever lasting effects for generations to come.

A Mountain Break

This past weekend found our family in my favorite place, the mountains.  As prepared as we thought we were, I was surprised to find as much snow on the trail as we did, almost up to my waist in some spots.  Our trail shoes and shorts may have looked a little out of place to some of those we met along the way. 

In everything I do, whether it is shovelling soil, hauling wood, parking a long distance from the door or climbing a mountain, I try to be aware of how I use my body and try to see the perks in every task, some tasks/activities being more fun than others.  This hike I focused on my breathing.  I made extra effort to breathe in completely through my nose and into my belly and exhale through my mouth.  For me I have a tendency to take about 3km to find my groove.  It seems to take this distance for me to fall into a comfortable rhythm and to get my breathing to a point where it is working to my body’s benefit.  I keep learning just how important using my breath properly changes how successful and how much I enjoy all activities. There is always something to be learnt from every task and activity we do if only we look and jump on the opportunities.  If they so happen to be in the mountains, well that’s a bonus!  Maybe we can move fitness classes to the fresh mountain air doing push ups, sit ups and a little bag work on our way to the peak, just saying …

Alana Regier                    

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

Altering Expectations

On this path to mastery I believe we all have a high level of expectations for ourselves.  We have decided on a list of goals that are personal and are chosen with the intention of adding to and bettering our lives.  What we forget is that life will happen and sometimes the goals we strive to reach have to be altered.    

Like most of us I have a level of expectations for myself whether it’s in my family life, job, kung fu, around home etc.  To be honest sometimes the expectations I set for myself are not the most realistic for the time.  I find it extremely easy to get discouraged when I lack the time or energy to work towards meeting the level of accomplishment I believe I should.  After a couple of conversations this past week I have been led to think on the fact that I may have to alter my expectations some for certain things.  I’m not talking about giving up because it’s hard; it’s supposed to be, but rather changing my perspective, approach, time line or possibly my goal all together.  Life happens, things change and the reality is that in order for me to continue to progress in life, I’m going to have to roll with the punches a little.  Injuries happen, life circumstances happen and people change and with that I may need to be a little less rigid on sticking to what I wrote down on paper at the beginning of this year.  I need to learn to give myself a little grace from time to time, not an excuse but rather grace.  I need to accept the things I can’t change and continue to work to change those things that I can.  There are moments where I will have to accept that I will not meet the level I strive to but be grateful for every step forward I am able to make.  Sometimes I may have to go two steps back in order to get one step forward; it’s the journey I need to focus on rather than the destination. 

As easy as it is to say ‘I need to…’, I’m not exactly sure how to go about it completely.  I am very much a work in progress!  So if you see me walking around in circles lost as to direction or asleep in the corner please don’t hesitate to point me in the right direction or pinch to wake me up.

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Something To Think About

I have to first apologize for being a couple of days late with my blog.  I can use the excuse of life is crazy, and it is, but the truth is I haven’t been getting much sleep and am tired beyond tired and with that my ability to think straight and make a sentence one may understand is a long shot, no guarantees on this one either.

“I’ve learned people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”  Maya Angelou

This quote came up in a workshop I attended last week, I’ve heard it before, liked it then and still like it.  It’s a statement that spoke a little louder to me with the extra awareness of acts of kindness this month.  It is so very true that we can have the best intentions with our words and actions but can miss just how these are sometimes perceived by those around us. We can give of our time and energy to a person and yet forget to take the time to say the words “I love you.”  We can do the paperwork to help someone get a better deal or work out a problem but never take the time to truly listen.  We can send quick texts checking up on friends or wishing a happy birthday but rarely pick up the phone to really talk. 

As we come closer to the end of the month I encourage everyone not to focus only on the ‘doing’ acts of kindness but to take the moment to think just how you make people feel by your actions. Have a great rest of your week everyone!

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Mindset

This past week I had the opportunity to attend a workshop on Property Awareness Safety Training.  The intent for sending our group was to help make each of know the importance of being aware of our surroundings and to help us to make wise decisions when dealing with possible situations that can be dangerous in our jobs.  I have to say for the most part a lot seemed like common sense; however, common sense to one person differs greatly to another.  The added fact that most of us after doing a job for any length of time have a tendency to become complacent and therefore not take the necessary precautions in our everyday tasks.  During the entire presentation I saw repeatedly different lessons I have learnt in my Kung Fu.  Hearing them mentioned outside of the kwoon had a way of reinforcing just how valid they are in different areas of my life. 

A large portion of the presentation focused on the importance of mindset.  As our instructor said, “Prepare your mind like you would prepare your body.”  The point of how important the mental preparation is was not lost on me.  I have realized and continue to be reminded of that on a regular basis in all aspects of my life.  A proper mindset requires me to be more engaged with the moment. Where I am mentally in all I do determines how successful I will be. 

The points made on mental preparation:

-         Complacency is your enemy

-         You need the ability to adapt and change

-         Continue re-assessment

-         Confidence in skills and abilities

-         Elimination of distractions

Many of these should sound vaguely familiar to most of us J.  The mental component of our training is huge and to some underestimated.  I know for myself that in looking back at my greatest failures, I can now see that I had the wrong mindset.  For some I believed that the physical was all it took and in others I approached with either a negative or just an unprepared mindset. Although many of those moments were humbling and frustrating, they were the lessons I needed to and actually did learn the most. Being in the right place, at the right time and for the right reasons will help you to find success in the goals you have set out for yourself.

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

A New Routine...Again.

Well the sun is shining, frogs are croaking and the geese are back to stay, I hope.  Work is back in full swing and I find myself trying to get into a new routine once again.  There seems to be a shortage of time most days and the evenings and weekends go way too fast.  With Kayden playing on two soccer teams, track and field, kung fu and just everyday life stuff, Sunday is our family’s only day of rest or so we try. It seems once I feel I kind of have things figured out they change and I get to start all over again.

As mentioned in our last meeting, the two things we can count on are that we are going to get old and we are going to die.  The past couple of weeks I’m kind of feeling the getting older part a little bit more.  Nothing seems as easy as it did in my 20’s and there seems to be many more creaks and crunches with any movement.  With all that being said I’m even more certain that I need to change how I do a lot of things, many that I have just done without much thought up to now.  My job is physically demanding and has me needing to find new creative ways to accomplish some things.  I love what I do.  Being outside is the best office in the world and dealing mostly with plants is a pleasure; they never talk back and offer no drama. 

So as I try to develop a routine that is sustainable without going a little crazy, I am enjoying this time of year.  Best sound in the world is frogs croaking and kids laughter, best smell is fresh cut grass and the best view is the new life of everything around me coming back from the long winter.

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

The Path Less Travel

The past few days we have spent down in Lethbridge for Brandon’s graduation as well as packing and moving him back home for the summer. Yay! It has been an extra-long weekend that has had moments of hectic as well as those of relaxing and laughs. Being that Lethbridge is a 5 1/2-6 hr drive (5 if you are male), there was a lot of time spent on the road with little to do than watch as each town and farm yard passed by.  This trip we chose a route off the beaten trail which led us through small communities, many you would miss if you blinked. Even though we had a schedule of sorts with places to be and things to do, I found the trip this go around much more relaxing and enjoyable.  Maybe it was the fact that I was belted into the passenger’s seat with nowhere to go, but I seemed to notice so much more without my mind racing back to the lists and schedules.  I enjoyed the sporadic weather systems coming and going (even though I would have chosen more sun), the leaves on trees starting to bud out, the glimpses of mountains and foothills, along with all the adorable baby calves who dotted the fields. 

In the quiet of these hours I was reminded that the environment I find myself surrounded with determines where I am mentally and how much I am able to enjoy each moment.  The drive on these empty, curving roads with my mountain view offered complete peacefulness.  For those moments I didn’t have to be anywhere or do anything other than simply enjoy the moment.

Yes life is crazy busy with the lists to complete and the places to be, however, I believe it is important to sometimes take the path less travelled, the slower more scenic trail that has a beauty and peace of its own, the path that will calm the soul and rejuvenate the spirit.

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Horsemanship Seminar Round 2

Friday night I was fortunate to be able to attend Mr. McKee’s Horsemanship Seminar for the second year.  Last years’ experience revealed a bit of a control issue and a let’s get as much done as possible in the time we have character flaw in myself.  This year I found completely different.  Taking what I discovered about myself last year, I approached Friday with an adjustment in attitude and intent and was pleasantly surprised with the results. 

The evening started with picking a horse that I felt a connection with.  The first horse I approached walked away from me yawning, not the connection I was looking for.  The second, Shorty, I was immediately drawn to because of his eyes that reminded me of my dog’s kind and loving looks, this was the one.  This time around I went in more relaxed, with the desire to enjoy each moment and learn new things and at the same time work on what I had problems with last time.  As we went through the different exercises I found that my approach of working with my horse with a patient and caring touch rather than trying to force him into doing my plans my way and right away, was much more effective and enjoyable.  To work with an animal that is so sensitive and responsive to its surroundings is truly an experience that teaches you a lot about yourself.  These animals don’t lie.  They respond based on what they sense and can reveal things about the people working with them pretty blatantly.

This year was also a little different for me in respect to coming with intentions and specific things I wanted to work on.  Last year I didn’t only come without any idea of what to expect of the afternoon but I came in mom mode and that definitely made a difference for me.  I always have loved experiencing new things with my kids but I will admit that many times it changes the experience for me.  I find myself worrying and constantly turning to keep an eye on my kids, yes control issues, all the while missing out on some pretty cool parts for myself.  I wish I could say I’ll change but the truth is once a mom always a mom.  With that being said I am trying to work on letting go on some of the little things.  I know the importance of making mistakes and learning from them and from being given the opportunities to go out and try without mom holding your hand.  This I will continue to work on for a lifetime. So with that realization, I did let Kayden go on his own and trusted that if he needed me, he would holler and I was only a few meters away.  I believe this totally changed what we both walked away with.

So once again I would like to sincerely thank Mr. McKee for a wonderful evening.  You’re humble, witty and have a kind way of instruction and giving information that is truly a pleasure for those who are fortunate enough for the experience.  You are very good at what you do and I am very grateful for the opportunity to continue to learn from the lessons you teach.  I believe a person could come back every year and walk away learning something new and enlightening about themselves. Thank you again!

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Confidence

For the past three weeks or so I have been paying a little more attention to people around me in respect to how they display confidence.    I am trying desperately to uncover the mystery to being able to perform and present without rushing through, remembering to breathe and actually feeling excitement and enjoyment from the experience. 

I have observed from my walks with our dog that people, mostly kids and teenagers, seem to be distracted with earbuds in their ears and looking down at their shoes or their eyes pasted to a phone or other hand held device, totally unaware of everything around them.   For the first couple of days I just watched, trying to read their body language as to whether they were just listening to a song they needed to get pumped up for the day or were responding to an urgent email that required their instant response.  Now I am no expert but it appeared to me that most were just going through the motions of a day without thought or truly being in the moment.  Then there were the other group who had shoulders hunched, heads down and appeared to be trying to blend in to the sidewalk not wanting to be seen, just trying to get from point A to B.  To be honest I found it more than a little disturbing.  So after a couple of days I started yelling over their music while jumping in their path just to say good morning, great way to make an impression in a new neighborhood I’m sure. The response has been a little shock perhaps but with a little bit of a smile and the start of a few words being exchanged as the days go on.

This whole idea was sparked by a young man in the Tuesday/Thursday classes.  Every time I see this young man, whether in class, at the Chinese New Year or in the Walmart parking lot, he seems to ooze with confidence.  When asked in class if anyone would like to show what they got, his hand is the first raised and sometimes the only. One cannot help but be drawn to him and secretly think, I want what he has.  The generations have changed and the acknowledgement and respect given to one another I believe has taken a kicking, however, this young fellow when asked ‘How are you?”, looks you in the eye and says with extreme confidence “Very well thank you, how are you?”  As I write this I have to giggle a little because it seems something so rare to see, especially from someone only 3 feet tall.

So I find myself trying to get what he’s got.  I don’t want to be the one looking down at my shoes, intimidated by those that I feel are superior or scared to look someone in the eye and voice my opinion.  I want to be able to hold my head high, believe in me and to carry myself with confidence.  I want to be able to take chances and to laugh at myself when required.  I want to be confident enough to express my thoughts and feelings without fear of feeling small or insignificant. I want to be like the young man from Tuesday/Thursday classes.

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Hidden Battles

I should maybe begin by apologizing for the possibility that this blog may be hard to read and that I may not be able to express my feelings just perfect.  I have found myself thinking on last week’s meeting many times this past week.  I came out of the kwoon, sat down in the car, exhaled a deep breath and said out loud with confidence that I felt it was the best meeting we have had yet this year. I left feeling I knew a little more about some of my team mates and felt relief that I am not the only one with challenging things going on in life.  I would like to start by thanking the young lady, who by sharing her own story; got the ball rolling by giving others the courage to open up and share the different struggles they have been facing in their own training and lives (we miss you not being on the team this year). It made me more aware than ever that there are many battles being fought by people I am around on a regular basis, battles that for many are kept quietly to themselves.  I walked away Saturday with the lesson reinforced that when we have the courage to open up at the right time with the right people, we may be surprised we are not alone; empathy and help can come from surprising sources. 

I just wanted to share a few points from one of my readings this week as to the importance of relationships.

-         Your life is very different when you are alone vs. connected to others

-         We all face difficult challenges in life

-         When we are disconnected from the support and love of others we lose energy, become discouraged and tend to repeat old behaviours that don’t work

-         Accomplishing our dreams/goals will be accelerated or decelerated by whether we are working alone or are accompanied by support

-         Life is better when we are with others

-         Relationships are the fuel of our existence and path

-         To ‘be with’ means on the same side and signifies that someone is present with you, has your back and wants to help you

Just one more thank you to everyone that shared last meeting, you help encourage others to do the same at the same time allowing others the opportunity to possibly help.

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Pieces of the Puzzle

Every experience in my life has been a piece that has brought me to the place I now find myself.  Every challenge, heart break, injury and decision has helped shape me into the person I have become.   These trials have taught me many lessons and strengthened and prepared me for things to come in my future.  Somethings in life I can look back at and understand and accept why they turned out the way did and even be grateful.  In others I may never know why my life took the longer harder path but need to be confident that it was for a purpose and with lessons I needed to learn along the way.

Each one of our journeys are different, some with more detours than others but if we can change our perspective on what each moment means we could greatly alter the outcome.  I could revisit or dwell on many things I wish I would have… or I shouldn’t have…, but the truth is its all these things put together that were the pieces that have built my path that has led to this moment.  Each piece plays a part in my destination. How you view each event in your life, your challenges, fears and regrets along with every joy and moment filled with laughter, will determine the value of the lesson in the end.  

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

PJ's or Uniform?

Tuesday night rolled around and as 8:00pm closed in I found myself looking at my PJ’s on one pile and my uniform neatly folded and ready to go on the other.  How easy it would be to justify choosing jammies saying to myself ‘next Tuesday’, knowing full well that I can find an excuse to put something off once easily enough and that every time after it only gets easier.  With that in mind sparing it was.  For the week prior I hadn’t felt any anxiety about the thought of sparing after such a long time that was until I was on the floor.  All of a sudden I started to sweat, my mouth went dry, I started to feel paralysis in my legs, okay maybe not paralysis, but definitely anxiety and trouble breathing and I hadn’t even started anything yet.  How is it that a person can forget how to breathe?  Does the body not just automatically do it without me having to think about it and constantly remind myself? 

The truth is that sparing has never been my absolute favorite thing to do and I have avoided opportunities that would allow me the chance to overcome this.  What better way to conquer a fear or to get better at something than to meet it head on gloves a blazing, well not blazing YET!  What growth will come by running in the opposite direction? 

As I looked at my fellow students Tuesday night I felt a calming.  I have known most of these people in one capacity or another for quite some time.  There truly wasn’t a safer or more controlled place to get in some much needed rounds. I’d like to thank Sifu Sharida Csillag for answering my call for girls and for the rest of the guys who were extremely patient and took it a little easier on me. It was a great night and I can honestly say a great time! 

Thank you again,

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Raise Em' Up

So often I look at my kids and think ‘where do you get that from?’  Sometimes it’s the witty comments or the mischievous look when they have been up to no good but then there are the moments they display compassion and empathy to a complete stranger, the leadership qualities they demonstrate or the commitment, determination and follow through they show towards goals they have set for themselves.  Then I take a look at the environment they have been raised in and realize they are a reflection of us as parents, grandparents, friends, teachers, coaches etc.  What I have done, how I have behaved and the words I have used have all been a part in building the foundation that have made them the young men I see before me.  They have confirmed for me that as a parent I have a huge opportunity and responsibility to influence change.  

I look at Kayden and I see how he dedicates himself to things he enjoys and is passionate about.  I see how he gives it his all in what he does, always striving to do the best he can and beyond. I admire how he stands up for what he believes and continues to lead by example in a world that is not always so receptive. I then look at my oldest son Brandon, who in his second year of college has received honors and scholarships for the hard work and continued dedication to his studies. He has stepped up into leadership roles at every opportunity given and acts with compassion, patience and kindness towards everyone along his path. I see him writing in his journal the km’s he has run, the strength training he has done and the food he has eaten every day and I stifle a giggle, poor guy he is just like his parents! His complete commitment and perseverance every day in order to reach some pretty major goals in his passion of ultra –running while balancing school, work and life totally wows me!

I look at these two young men and can’t help but feel proud and hugely inspired. My boys are confirming for me that in pursuit of overcoming mediocrity in my own life I am also impacting how they view the world around them and how they choose to live their own lives.  They weren’t born with or lucked out with these qualities; they were surrounded with them, encouraged and taught from an early age on. In all I do, I am passing on qualities (the good, bad and unfortunately ugly) that will help them in their own paths towards mastery.  The decision to be a part of the I Ho Chuan team isn’t one to take lightly.  It is a decision that whatever your accomplishments are come the end of the year, affects not only you but trickles down to all around you in one way or another.  Choose to live a life with character and integrity, one you want to see your kids, friends, neighbors, coworkers, team mates etc. mimic. So as Keith Urban said on my run last week “Raise em’ up trophy high, raise em’ up to the sky, raise em’ up tall and strong, raise em’up right from wrong.”

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Lifestyle and Appreciation

We choose and develop a specific type of lifestyle based on what is important to us, what we appreciate and what we respect.  I think for most of us as we look over the years we will see that our lifestyles undergo change as we grow and move through different stages of life.  This past week I have been confronted with a couple of situations that have caused me to reflect even further on the fact that I am guilty of taking many of my blessings for granted.  I have certain things and people in my life that are a part of my every day in one way or another and I have failed to give them the continued every day appreciation that I truly feel and that they deserve.  My lack in verbally expressing or consciously thinking how grateful I am for what I have and what I have been able to be a part of is really not because I no longer see how valuable they are to me, but rather because I have gotten so use to them always being there, part of my life, making up my ‘lifestyle’. I have allowed the routine of life to blind the fact that I neglect to show the appreciation I feel towards those that make my life so complete.  I have relied on them always being there and have overlooked the fact that in a blink of an eye they could be taken from my life.

This week had me looking at many parts of my life in a different light. I have become aware once again that I have somehow lost track of time with being busy, been easily side tracked and have lost opportunities to show my appreciation towards many people and opportunities. I have realized just how many times I have not lived in the moment, breathing in every smell, truly seeing every view, hearing every word because I have taken those moments for granted and assumed they would be there again tomorrow. I don’t want regrets in my life.  I want those around me to never doubt what they bring to my life, how much I appreciate and value them. Wake up each morning grateful for every breath and take every opportunity to show gratefulness and appreciation to those in your life who are deserving of it.

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

A Time and Place

I have been attending the Tai Chi classes for the last year and a half (minus the summer months) and to be honest have struggled more than a little right from the beginning. When I first started I found that I had the hardest time with relaxing and slowing things down. To first off transition from move to move without clenching a fist or having my body at attention seemed impossible.  It didn’t seem to matter how many times I would say ‘relax, relax, relax…’, my body would not listen.  Add to that the concept of slowing down.  Life is hectic and I do have a hard time slowing down at the best of times, always thinking about how much ‘stuff’ there is to get done. Even when I feel that I am going extremely slowly, I have found myself way a head of the rest of the class. My favorite form is 18 temple motions; I love the slow movement that allows me to use my breath and to feel the 6 harmonies.  So I have had a hard time understanding just why I am struggling with the slow, relax movement of Tai Chi. 

The past couple of months I have had a few revelations.  I have caught myself feeling what I believe I am supposed to.  I have had moments of actually feeling myself slowing down and complete relaxation. So what has changed?  It has been a slow process for me but I have figured out that it lies in the proper time and place.  I have discovered that a chaotic environment does not work for me at this point.  This goes beyond just the place I choose to practice and includes the state I come into that place.  Running into the kwoon 5-10min before a class starts or trying to squeeze a repetition in between projects, is not ideal for me.  What works better is to come in a little earlier, strolling in with an attitude and feeling of calmness.  Second I find slow, soothing music to help me get ‘in the mood’.  I have found if I focus on the music my body movements slow down and my shoulders drop.  The moment I tune out the music my mind may wander, my shoulders go back up to my ears and speed increases.  Thirdly I have found lighting to change how tense my body feels.   Florescent or artificial lighting is not really my friend.  If light is in the cards, the feel of natural sunshine on my face is of more benefit to me.   I have also played with near to or complete darkness.  Maybe it’s the lack of light that stimulates my body that it’s almost bed time and time to wind down, but it does seem to help me relax and slow my movements.

So although it has taken me much more time than some, I am slowly feeling progress in my Tai Chi, which I am finding exciting and in turn is making me want to practice more.  I would like to send a huge thanks to Sifu Dennis and Sifu Vantuil who have been incredibly patient with me and my questions and who I am sure have had to stifle wincing when watching me on a regular basis.  I am definitely a work in progress.

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Patience and Wisdom

 

Just over a year ago our family dog tore a tendon in her back leg running into our retaining wall while chasing crows. In a matter of seconds this dog who was use to running 10km a day with the energy of a puppy was unable to walk or even to stand up on her own.  Her vet told us that our best hope was that she would eventually walk short distances with a limp and be extremely restricted to what she was able to do.  This was my km maker, my peaceful buddy for my walks and the furry family member that went anywhere possible with us, so this was devastating news for all of us.  The routine we had was out the door and I found myself having to sneak out of the house with my running shoes, ducking as I went by the windows, only to return to her look of  ‘I know where you went and you forgot me!’  Unwilling to accept her prognosis and determined not to give up, we set up a slow rehab routine for her.  It started with lifting her 90lbs down the 3 stairs so she could use the bathroom to slowly walking only to the bottom of the driveway and back to eventually after a couple of months being back up to 5km a day with no limp! The process was slow and frustrating for her but in the end gave her back a life she loved.

All this to say that there is so much to having patience and progressing wisely when dealing with injuries.  I seem to be learning about this continually in my training, usually the hard way.  There seems to be a fine line as to how far to push yourself. Go too far and you go back 3 steps from the 1 step forward you just made, or never push yourself past what is comfortable and safe and you will never get better or progress to your potential. This whole process can be frustrating, discouraging and full of learning curves, but it’s in these moments where you can learn an incredible amount beyond just the physical injury, if you are willing and open. So as I try to figure out a couple of issues at this moment I am trying to have patience, I am fighting the frustration, I am trying to do all I can to take care of the issues and at the same time not stop or give up but make wise decisions as to what to do and how far to do it.  Oh so much to learn!

Alana Regier                                                                                                 

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Deadlines

Ten o’clock on a Saturday night and I fall into bed exhausted.  Surely I will fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.  Wrong!  I fall into bed alright but instantly my mind starts racing.  The end of March on my mind, the date to have version 1 of our weapons forms ready.  Yikes!  So instead of sleep I found myself trying to visualize just what I could do with this weapon.  Trying not to wake Darcy by flopping around with a pretend bokken and scared that by morning I wasn’t going to remember these cool midnight thoughts, I got up and stumbled in the dark for a piece of paper and an pen and scribbled what I was sure was true brilliance! 

Well morning came and as I tried to decipher my own writing and grabbed my bokken, things didn’t flow and work together quite as well as they did in the middle of the night.  Okay, back to square one, that’s alright, it’s a process.

Not that I can afford to or like losing sleep, but deadlines work for me.  Having a date set puts intentions and plans into motion and gets things done.  Knowing that I have a team that is holding me accountable helps light the fire a little hotter.  I believe in order for goals to be successful a date or deadline is needed.  Any open ended plan gives room for excuses and kills motivation; making plans, goals and intentions easy to put to the side for later or permanently.

Most of this year’s team are returning from past years and know that this is just the beginning.  The expectation isn’t to have this perfected and final product but rather the opportunity to show that we are following through with our commitments and are engaged with what we have set out to do this year. With a team this size each having their own unique, imaginative and possible ideas, I look forward to seeing each one of the roosters version 1, especially those frying pans!

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca