Change...

Change… it truly is something you can count on.  It is sought after by some and fought against by others.  Although it is continuous, it is our choice and in our control as to how we react to it.  2014 was a tough year for me.  It was a roller coaster year with more time spent at the bottom of the tracks.  I have found myself surrounded with people and circumstances that have truly tested my faith and patience in every way possible.  I have tried to control things that weren’t mine to control and at other times felt defeated and too tired to take charge and change things that I was capable of.  I have found myself influenced way too much by what the world and society says, and have been guilty of ignoring what I know from my faith and life experience to be true. 

So what have I learned? 

1.)    Allowing the worries and concerns consume my life and neglecting seeing the blessings will ultimately destroy me.  I truly believe that stress is the number one killer of relationships and health in today’s society.  When it’s allowed to take over it will leave a path of destruction.

2.)    Hold onto and trust in my faith.  Although people are going to be put in my path who are more than trying and I am going to be tested with numerous circumstances that I would rather run from, there is a purpose for it all that in some way will lead to something greater than I could have ever put together on my own.

3.)    Enjoy life.  Life is short and full of the unexpected.  I need to take more advantage of the moments that matter and let go of those that don’t.

4.)    Remember to do things for myself that bring me joy and peace.  Although I may find myself pulled in a million different directions at times, I need to give myself a break, not feel guilty and take time for me. 

To wake up today and say I have this all figured out and that everything is going to be 100% on track from this time on, would be unrealistic.  It took time to get to this spot; it’s going to take time to get out of it.  So what am I doing?  I have started a new log book for the year 2015.  One of the I Ho Chuan requirements of logging (kms, pushups, situps, forms, RAK’s etc.)  that I had incorporated into part of every day, I allowed to slide in the beginning of September.  Even though I was not part of the team this past year, I had continued my logging.  Then one day company comes for lunch, the log book gets taken off the counter and out of sight, out of mind. Shortly before that I had let my journaling slide. The rest of my year was sketchy to say the least.  Not that I wasn’t continuing my workouts, just not to the same degree and without any accountability.  So my new log book is now back on my kitchen counter and being faithfully filled. 

I have also got my butt back into our garage.  It’s not the kwoon, but is what I can make work at this time.  I’m not only spending walks/runs outside but have added km’s on the treadmill (not as enjoyable but definitely warmer).  I have spent more time on our mats stretching, push ups (as much as my shoulder allows), sit ups and forms.  I have spent time with the kicking bag, although it’s not with quite the same gusto as when Sifu Frietag would have music blaring and yelling out combinations.  My music and yelling at myself doesn’t offer quite the same drive (loved those classes!).  These moments have helped me realize the role of and how important the kwoon and the people that fill it are in my training.  There is an added motivation and drive that I can’t quite get on my own.

And lastly, I have started a gratitude journal.  This past October I realized how easily I was being drug towards the negative and was failing to see the positive in many things around me.  With a book for each of us, my family and I started writing about at least one thing every day that was positive and that we were grateful for.  Really, how hard should that be?  In a society that has so much to be thankful for, how could I not fill a book every day?  Unfortunately, when you find yourself in a hole, it’s harder than you think.  I admire my 17 year old who has totally grabbed onto this and every night faithfully has written in his book.  He hasn’t just written down one word or one sentence (‘hit all green lights on the way to work today’), he has given tremendous thought and time into each page.  Thanks for the inspiration Brandon!  As small as this book might seem to some, it has been really good for changing the direction of my thoughts.  It makes me truly put aside for a moment the garbage going on around me and be able to see a bigger picture, one that has potential.  All part of the journeyJ

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

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