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

  

 

Brrr....

Last week was hard to want to get out of long underwear and fuzzy jammies.  With the freezing temperatures, the thought of going out for my km’s walking/drag, really wasn’t very appealing.  So instead I blew the dust off my treadmill (haven’t used it a lot since getting a dog) and went for a run.  I set up my dogs’ big pillow beside me hoping that my company would be enough to satisfy her and that she would let me off the hook for our km’s outside.   I was wrong.  She slept with one eye open showing little to no motivation but as soon as the treadmill stopped she popped up with her head pushed against the door, ready to go out.  Who could resist that face?  Needless to say, I put on several layers of clothing and off we went.  I have to admit that once out, the fresh air was fantastic, also was getting back into a warm house! 

The times I have the lowest motivation and drive are usually the times where it is even more important for me to push myself and stay with my routine (the best our life allows me).  The moment I strap on those boots or step out onto the mats, I am instantly glad to be there and always leave feeling uplifted and rejuvenated and looking forward to the next timeJ

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Where's The Quality?

We have a project going on around our home that has had a stream of different contractors coming and going for the past 2 months.  Unfortunately, this experience has had me questioning whether there is any such thing as quality anymore.  I have found out that the days of a hand shake and of honesty, accountability and trust is a hard thing to find.  Gone also seem to be the days of customer service and quality work.  The sad thing is that this attitude is being passed down from the more senior workers to the new guys who will soon be taking over.    What is the point of doing something half way, just enough or just altogether wrong?  How can a person feel good with signing their name to a job that is deficient and full of shortcuts? 

As I have seen the shoddy workmanship and lack of accountability and the path of damage along the way, I have struggled with how to handle this.  I don’t want to fly around on a broom yelling (although I have found myself close to it).  I want to approach these guys in a constructive way, getting my point across and still have my integrity intact.  I’ve never been good at any kind of confrontation (would rather run from it), yet it seems I’m being put in more situations these days than I like where I have to stand up, question and call people on certain things.  Every action I take and every word I say needs to be thought out before delivering.  How I react is going to affect not only how this project turns out but also in the end how I feel about myself.  I don’t want to feel disappointed and embarrassed with my actions. 

On the other hand, we have had 2 crews that have come in and been incredible.  They have been efficient, done an awesome job and been an absolute pleasure to deal with, and I am grateful for them.  I only wish that they didn’t seem like a minority!

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca