Routine

Routine, although can be very comforting, can become one that at times feels like mediocrity. I for one typically love the sense of knowing how my day is going to go down and feel relief in that sense of some sort of control.  In knowing this about myself I have been a little caught off guard with the feelings I have been experiencing with my routine.  I have found myself just going through the motions with some requirements, doing them without much thought, intent or purpose.  Take for instance the sit ups and push ups.  They are a requirement I have been doing faithfully for a few years now and I think I have got to this place that they are just something to scratch off the list of must do’s.  Please don’t get me wrong, this is not because I’m in awesome shape because the truth be known I am in probably the worse shape I have been in for years. I think I not only have lost what the value physically is but have lost the much deeper purpose of this requirement. In trying to figure this out, I think, like many things for me this year I have had the wrong perspective and attitude at times.  I have allowed myself to become distracted and have not been in the moment with a pure intent in what I have always been doing.  I recognize the need to focus on where I am and what I’m doing and why I’m doing it.  What is my intent? What value is there in strictly being able to cross it off a list or write a number of reps down in my journal if I fail to see the value in it?  What have a gained?

So like many on the team this year, I have had to hit restart.  I have had to restart on some of my personal goals that dropped off for me early on and have found that changing things up with a little pizzazz, out of the comfort of routine, to be benefitting me more than I would have thought. Changing how I do things, adding more to compliment achieving my goals and taking other things to a new level has helped me refocus in a cool direction. Each of us joined the Year of the Rooster with great intentions and plans but I believe it is extremely important to revisit those reasons ‘why’ throughout the year to gain clarity as to where you are and reassess whether you need to adjust to better your results. Quite often in examining the ‘why’ we discover much deeper benefits and value than what appears on the surface.

Alana Regier                                              

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Value of Goals

The value of setting goals is not lost on me. Without goals life seems somewhat lost and without purpose.  If a person is not working towards something, then they are living without direction.  Without direction comes chaos, confusion, disorder and ultimately little completed in the end.

In the past it’s been the physical goals that I have found the easiest in respect that they usually seem more measureable to me.  It’s in the goals that are more mental, spiritual, relationship orientated that can be a little trickier for me to tell whether I am making progress.  I can make myself do push ups, sit ups, squat thrusts, running etc. but those goals that dig a little deeper, are more complicated or involve other people are unpredictable and sometimes requires me to change my plan many times along the way. Not always easy or comfortable but necessary.

Not all progress and successes are visible to the outside world, however, I believe the fruit we bear in all areas of our life will be evidence that we are on the right track. It is your future goals that determine the energy and effort you put towards what you do today.

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

Splattered on the Wall

As I find myself in a funk in my training, unable to explain why and unsure of how to crawl out, I read one of Tom Callos’ recent posts titled “Hitting a Wall.” The timing of this particular post could not be more perfect as in many ways I think I may actually be more splattered on the wall.  As I read it I could without doubt nod my head with complete understanding.  I could visualize myself too choosing Star Bucks over going to class and not understanding why. 

For almost 7 years I worked my way from white belt to black belt, continually being taught and led in my training and then I reach this black belt level and all of a sudden I felt somewhat lost as to the direction I was supposed to go.  I remember the realization quickly that this was completely the start of my training and that I hadn’t even scratched the surface.  So how do I progress with taking my training to the next level? I’m not an unmotivated soul. My drive and determination is mimicked off the mats and beyond the four walls of the kwoon. One would think that it would just be a constant progression, reach one level continue on working to the next, however , I haven’t been able to get to that place and find myself  trying to figure out why. It’s not the belt or the red stripe that I am so fixed on getting, for me it is the journey in reaching that spot.  It’s the lessons and growth along the way.  It’s the difference I can make in the world around me.  I want to know with every fiber of my being that when I reach that level I have truly earned it.  The one lesson that stands out vividly that I can say I am working on steadily on this journey is patience.  I wish I could say it was easy and that I was successfully winning but it seems to be one of the lessons that is more of a work in progress, the one step forward two back type.

 It can be less visible that everyone has struggles, that we all have valleys and mountains tops.  Mentors and heroes can be easily put in a category of having special powers that make them untouchable and perfect but in reality they are as human as I am.  They still hurt, struggle and feel frustrated and disappointed. The difference is how they overcome and persevere.  How they don’t allow the crap stuff to beat them down and allow it to become an excuse as to why they didn’t or why they can’t.  They are determined and because of this become the leaders and mentors that stand out and motivate others.  It’s in witnessing those I admire and look up to struggle, fail and overcome that I am truly inspired.  They are extraordinary because of what they have conquered and become and give me hope that I am capable of the same if I choose to be.

As Tom Callos said in his post:

 “Yes, I hit the wall too.  When you see me do it, then watch me. Watch what I do.”

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Decluttering

“The hot desert sun vaporizes all manner of luxuries.  Then the cold shelter less nights expose the essential guts of life.”

Deserts declutter the soul.  When things are taken away or lost it forces us to see what remains, what has been hidden under the clutter we have accumulated and piled.   Decluttering can reveal a deeper appreciation of the things that really matter.  It can eliminate the things that aren’t important, those things that steal our focus and exposes the true nitty gritty.  To completely embrace a moment, to not see, hear or worry about all the ‘stuff’ but to at the same time see everything a moment has to offer, to take in every sight, smell, feeling and lesson is a blessing. 

We live in a fast pace world, generation and country that demands us to be connected through cell phones, laptops and the like.  The funny thing is in this effort to stay connected we have actually disconnected ourselves from the lives we were meant to and designed to live, the life that would rejuvenate us, give us joy and allow us to live a life worth living. I have discovered this is where injuries, job losses, moves etc. become a gift.  These are the moments that give us the quiet down time we may need to refocus and redirect or to simply get the rest we need.  If we adjust our perspective to see it as something with a positive to offer rather than a punishment of sorts we will come out changed with needed lessons learned. 

A big lesson for me this year has been the need to get to the bare bones of some things in my life.  I’m learning that there are reasons why things haven’t been going as planned and hoped and the answers rarely have been on the surface.  I’ve had to dig a little deeper to try to start to understand and adjust.  So 2017 did not turn out as I had written on paper but really it can only be seen as a ‘wasted’ year if I allow it to be.  Some of my revelations haven’t been easy to discover and some have even set me back further than when I first started and then others have me seeking more answers, but they have all been lessons I needed and are leading me a step closer to where I want to be.  It’s not always easy or comfortable to own up to the part we are responsible for in what goes astray but it is necessary if we truly want to change our direction.

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

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