Entwining Passions and Goals

We all have lists of things we hope to, want to, intend to and work toward accomplishing.  The trouble is many of these lack the excitement and fun that would make doing them so much easier. If we approached our goals differently, in a way that would ignite a fire under us and give us pure joy, would our results and end products be different?  I believe they would!

Our oldest son is at a point in his schooling where he needs to propose his senior research project.  With the sky being the limit it can be difficult to narrow down a topic and direction and harder yet to do it with an attitude of  ‘I can’t wait to’ vs. ‘I have to’. What he has discovered is that with a different approach that intertwines his passion of ultra-running with that of completing his research project, he has not only discovered a renewed interest and excitement but a project that will also take our family on several trips to the mountains surrounding Grande Cache, a bonus all around. :)

The mundane, dreaded or boring things we need to or should complete, if put together with things we love and are passionate about cannot only accomplish many goals at once but can accomplish them bigger and better changing our perspective and approach to goals we choose or those that choose us. This has proved to be the case with one of my personal goals.  I have over my years in the I Ho Chuan had a couple of goals that never really worked very well for me.  It wasn’t that they weren’t important to me but rather my approach didn’t help all things to work well together.  So this year I incorporated a couple of goals that would not only complement each other but with the twist I am really enjoying.

I have an absolute love of photography.  I have thousands and thousands of photos nicely either in albums, on sticks and on an external drive. The sad thing is I rarely take the time to go through them.  In the same breath I had a gratitude journal that I had intended finishing each day off with some insightful and meaningful words of gratitude.  Well that became boring, not because I didn’t have anything to be grateful for but that I found myself worn out at the end of the day and past the moment of thinking and reliving and noticing the great parts of my day, I was done.

So this year I have put together 2 goals that will complement each other. I have started a computer photo journal.  Once a week I pick one picture and paste it in my journal followed by a journal posting of gratitude and thoughts as I relive the moment that picture was taken.  I have found this has me not only going through my photos, but reminding myself of my experiences, where I came from and all I have to be grateful for in my life. I have also made a point of placing a photo on each one of my blogs, some related to the blog others are just cause they made me smile.

intertwining our passions with our goals makes the journey all the sweeter.  Whether it’s coming up with a research project or a list of personal goals for your I Ho Chuan year, combining them with your passions they become truly personal, meaningful, more motivated and at the end of the day more successful.

Alana Regier   
http:/alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

This is a picture of my grandpa in the place he loved the best doing what he loved most, mountains and fishing!  I guess the love of the mountain beauty and atmosphere has proven to be hereditary! A gentle and loving reminder of where I came from, bringing floods of wonderful memories of a dearly loved man!

 

 

 

Vileda vs. Coffee Pot

A New Year, new weapon and new form!  As this year begins a little late for me, I do feel a little behind the ball with my weapon and form.  With spear as my weapon of choice, I am finding it challenging to find the space it requires to learn and practice this time of the year. So as I find myself surrounded by mountains of snow my practicing space seems a little limited, hence I have grabbed my vileda broom. As I go through my day and find myself thinking on my weapon I have found the need to quickly in the moment figure a portion out or have an ah ha moment that I need to confirm,  out comes the broom handle.  I have discovered that anything longer than a wooden spoon is probably not a good idea to practice with in your kitchen, my coffee pot barely survived.

We all learn a little different, for me it’s a matter of learning the sequence of a form first that benefit me the most.  If I know what move comes next I can better visualize and feel where my body needs to be, it makes sense, helps me to remember and allows me to focus on the details later with my full attention. With knowing how I process, I have found the swinging of a spear while standing on ice or in puddles (depending on the time of day) with several layers of clothes on (mittens and spear not a great combination) has worked okay in respect to allowing me to just learn the order of without the pressure of trying to put too many things together at once.

As I look out my window and see even more added snow to the already heaped piles, I find myself CAREFULLY spinning my broom handle once again. Watch out coffee pot, here I come!

Alana Regier

http:/alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

Taking Action

Now I’m not a scientist or scholar and can’t claim to have the foggiest idea of what the late Stephan Hawking’s scientific contribution completely means to the world, however, as I watched the broadcasted tributes to this man I can’t help but be in awe. Upon seeing this man’s picture alone, one would right away know that his life was not an easy one and that he faced more than a few challenges throughout his life.  Despite those obvious challenges, never mind those that we can’t even pretend to understand, he accomplished great things.  As I watched the video dedicated to Mr. Hawking, I found myself all the more grateful for the blessings I have; the working limbs, my ability to speak without assistance, the ability to walk, run and hug those I love and so many more.

 On top of the reminder of how much I have to be grateful for, the bigger lesson this week has been that I can’t only want to, need to or intend to change, I need to act. The meeting of goals I have set for myself or the place I want to be in my life will not just magically happen; I need to choose to follow those intentions with actions.

In each of our lifetimes we are going to encounter moments that we feel ‘we can’t’ or ‘it’s impossible” but it’s going to be in these moments that we choose to take action,  that our journey will become an extraordinary one.  It won’t always be easy; the things in life that are, rarely are the ones that mean the most to us.  Taking that first step and continuing to work towards our goals and to face the challenges that stand in our way, we will not only dig ourselves out of the holes we may find ourselves in but may inspire and motivate others along the way. It is a shame that so many of us are blind as to our contributions and to what we are truly capable of, we limit ourselves and deprive the world of what we have to offer.  So I challenge each one of us to take action and go after the lives we want, fill the world with extraordinariness.

 

Alana Regier

http:/alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Trails in the Snow

Have you ever tried following in someone else’s footsteps through the snow, only to find that the footprints have a different shoe size, that the stride does not match your own or to find that the trail you choose to take leads a little to the left or right of the already existing path?  This will most likely be a similar experience we will all have during this year’s journey in the Year of the Dog.

Although we may all start off in relatively the same spot with similar year end goals in mind, we will each have our own way of getting there that will be individual and very personal and will not fit in anyone else’s mould.  There will be lessons and experiences along each individual path that will help build and determine our own end result.  We may go a little backwards with an injury, or sniff a rabbit that leads us in a direction going right into the bush or maybe it will be a hard left in an effort to help a friend who is struggling and lost, each step leading us forward in one way or another.

Along the road you may even come across those, who with a lack of understanding will doubt, question or even discourage you.  It’s in these moments we may need to remind ourselves of our goals. We may even have to be a little selfish in making choices that look after us first, with the clear understanding that when we take care of us, we will be better equipped to help and take care of others.

It is so important that we each show patience and respect for each journey for the simple fact that until we walk in someone else’s shoes, we will not completely understand the reasons their trail led in the direction it did.

Alana Regier

http:/alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

 

Sustainability

As I started a week late in the year of the dog, I started a week behind in blogging as well so… here goes number two!

Choosing personal goals for the year can be challenging in itself, however for me, it goes beyond a point of just choosing goals that speak to me and a way to measure them, to choosing goals that will be ones that I can sustain for a lifetime in one way or another.  I’ve learnt the hard way that I can accomplish goals I set, but without thought and a plan that will make them a permanent part of my lifestyle, they just become something to cross off a list, something that changed me for a moment but are just a memory from the good old days.  Although I have always learned a lot along the way in attaining these goals, this year I want to choose goals that yes I will accomplish but in a way that will enable me to continue on with them after the year is complete, continuing to build and bettering them as the years go by.  I want goals that challenge me today, change me each day and push me to continue to grow, taking it always to that next level.

Alana Regier

http:/alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

A New Dog

As of this morning I became a dog.  I had an incredibly hard time deciding and had mulled the idea over for quite some time. This decision was a tough one for the simple fact that in looking at my goals and the unpredictability of what this year may bring, I am somewhat uncertain of what capacity I may be able to be a part of certain pieces of the year.  We all have busy lives and with that it’s easy to make lists of why maybe next year would be better, but really is there ever the perfect year?

An excerpt from a book I am currently reading put it perfectly:

“Take what the trail gives you.  That’s all there is to it. On one level “take what the trail gives you” simply means you should take and make the most out of, what the trail presents; that is, what’s right in front of you.  If the trail looks gentle and smooth, then use that stretch to run faster and fluidly.  If the trail turns steep and rocky, switch to slower running or hiking, and leverage your strength and agility.  If the trail churns up sticky, slick mud, just take it and run through it, keeping your sense of humor intact. It is a gift to run in the great outdoors, a gift for which we should be grateful and that we should never take for granted.  Who knows what could happen, so seize the day and hit the trail.”

Like running a trail, this year’s journey will go through easy flat land, rocky steep slopes and muddy wet puddles, but it will be the combination of all these moments and experiences that will encourage each one of us to grow into better, stronger and happier people who make a difference where ever we may go.

If we wait for that perfect moment or perfect year we will inevitably be disappointed and full of regret because the fact is that year does not exist.  Some years will be better suited than others but all will have their challenges. So as the excerpt says, be grateful for the opportunities we have today and seize the day!

The more imperfect the year seems perhaps the more perfect it becomes.

Go thru the muddy part of the trail with a smile on your face!

 

Alana Regier
http:/alanaregier.blogspot.ca