Evaluating the Results

I have over the last few years made a point of reviewing the results of goals I have set for myself.  What I have and continue to learn in my kung fu and in my life experiences is that there is extreme value in evaluating the results. It truly is in this that you learn the most and have a better chance of success the next time around.

My first ‘list’ I made and actually wrote down in black and white, was in the late night hours after my black belt grading.  On that piece of paper I started with listing the things I did that I thought worked well for me and given the chance I would do again. Following that was the list of what didn’t work and what I would do differently.  Seeing just how much this self-evaluation helped me in choosing new goals as well as building on the goals I had made in the past, only encouraged me to continue and to make this part of my goal setting journey.

As valuable as I have found this tool/habit, I have found it easier to do with some goals over others. I’ve struggled with trying to figure this out and all I can come up with so far has been that it seems to be largely influenced by what is going on in my life at that time and whether my heart is really in the place that makes that goal a priority or of importance in that moment.  Is that goal serving me, mind, body and soul?  As I have revisited my goals throughout the year, I have observed that most of my ‘kung fu’ ones in the physical sense have suffered. However, what has been very evident to me is that the personal ones I have set for myself have actually come out quite strong with the added bonus of learning more and adding to what I had planned in directions I did not foresee. This I see as awesome and makes my year in my eyes a successful one.  I have been challenged, I have learnt and expanded on things I thought I understood and believed and through all this I have grown and gained some clearer clarification as to the direction I want to and need to go.  All this may be totally unobservable to the outside eye, but what is really important is what I know and am confident of in my own heart.

I am not sure of where all this will lead or where exactly I will land, but I am confident that it will be somewhere great and as long as I am willing and ready, it will result in a lifetime of adventures yet to come.

Alana Regier

As we have celebrated both our boys birthdays this past week, I have found many pictures of many adventures and memories!  This picture was from a few years ago at a favorite lake just outside Jasper. Here's to many more great memories and adventures.

Why?

I have been asked on many occasions why I do some things I do, everything from my kung fu, job to most recently death race. Why would a person pay, travel a distance and put their body thru such stress with such unkind demands? I found words would not come to me; it is truly something that one must experience firsthand to understand.  I know in my heart why but to explain that to someone else is impossible.  Every year as runners pour into Grande Cache a new slogan is posted. This year’s sign described it perfectly for me. 

The truth is I love the challenge, I love the location I love the people and the environment I love it all! Each of the last years I have gone into the bush one Alana and come out another.  I believe anything that has the power to do this is something quite incredible and a true gift. Seeing and feeling the impact first hand only proves to me the ability experiences have to change us, help us find ourselves and to help point and direct us in the direction we are meant to go. I have prepared for a year for this past weekend and have not left disappointed. In many ways going in I felt like I was so unprepared and physically not up to the task but I surprised myself and proved that consistency and smart training benefited me greater than I would have believed possible. This year had a huge bonus for me in that I was able to run with a dear friend and share a day full of adventure. So thank you Darlene for making this day one so full of memories I will treasure always and a bigger thank you for still being my friend! You did amazing!!!!

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

A few of so many pictures of a wonderful weekend!

Disconnected But Engaged

Can you disconnect but yet still be engaged? Please don’t get me wrong, disconnect for me isn’t laying on the couch stinking but rather more of a leaving the unnecessary busyness of life in the back ground vs. at the forefront taking over and running the show.

I’ve been fortunate to be able to spend the last couple of weekends out in the mountains, my favorite place to be.  Although a weekend alone is a short time, it was made sweet with the leaving of the hustle and bustle and distractions of everyday life. I am finding for myself that a little disconnect is just what is needed for me to stay engaged.  I am very aware that it’s a slippery slope and very individual as to where that line is for each individual, this is where being very aware and in tune is key.

 I have found real growth recently in this perspective.  I have found new and renewed passions and have found myself more engaged and slowed down in individual moments that together are building toward goals I have for myself. With this realization my goals have changed a little and therefore my plans and actions. I’m not exactly sure what all the reasons are to where I find myself, maybe being tired, maybe finding a shift in priorities, maybe the realization that time is going fast and the moments I have in this place at this time are only here for this moment so I need to enjoy and relish each one.  Or maybe it’s the realization that I won’t always be capable of doing everything I am at this time or that the people in my life now are not a guarantee for a million more moments, so spend your time carefully. I have no doubt it’s the combination of all these and more.  I find as I get older with more experiences and lessons under my belt, I am starting to view things differently, maybe at 45 I’m finally starting to grow up and get a little more of this wisdom thing I’ve heard so much about. 

So at this point my disconnecting may appear to others as disengaged but I’d have to argue that that would be only an outside view and a very small picture as to where I am. I believe I am where I am meant to be right now and still moving in a forward motion, with steps back along the way.  More lessons and more growth continuing, the moment you stop learning you stop living.

Alana Regier

  http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Pictures from last weekend up in Grande Cache, each moment treasured!  Last pic was the only guns I had to fend off the bear, never ran so fast, not sure which one of us ran faster to get away!

Lessons Along The Way

Along each journey there are a number of lessons and opportunities however it is dependent on the attitude and perspective of the person that determines what they walk away with. A bad attitude leads to a distorted perspective which leads to a diminished value of the journey.

This past weekend I had the privilege of witnessing our oldest son go after a goal he had set almost a year ago.  I watched him hit the submit button last November and saw his dedication, hard work and consistency only grow as the day approached.  His goal, actually one of a few, was to complete his first 100 miler in the Sinister 7 race in the Crowsnest pass.  Anyone familiar with this race will know it's not for the faint of heart especially when done solo. He may not have made it to the end of this gruelling 100 miles in 30 hours THIS TIME, but he learned many valuable lessons in the 90km and over 15 hrs he was trudging those mountains, rocks and roots.         

In the year preparing for this past Saturday as well as the day itself, Brandon learned lessons larger than expected. He learned the meaning of progressing wisely after an injury in May. He learnt adaptation, modification and patience in trying to heal and at the same time move in a forward direction. He learnt more about his body, what it needed and when it had had enough. He was given a gift with the opportunity to run and chat with some fellow racers that he has followed , admired and respected for quite some time. All these pieces and more made his journey one worth every ache, pain and lost toenail.     

I am completely inspired and proud at what he did accomplish but what stood out the most this race was the attitude he walked away with. Of course he would have rather been toting around the belt buckle Sunday afternoon, but seeing him make the tough but wise decision as to when he thought his body had been pushed enough, was something new for a young man who is determined, stubborn (a quality probably from his dad) and at this age where he is invincible, makes me so incredibly confident that he will continue to accomplish remarkable and extraordinary things in his life. Not only did he make the call on his own, but he did so with peace and a smile and a kind word of thanks to everyone who was a part of his journey from the volunteers handing out meatballs, the strangers ringing cowbells and to the crew that washed feet, rolled out muscles and changed up bladders and packs. He walked away with no regrets and a heart full of gratitude and to see that only makes me all the prouder. He will be back I have no doubts and I will be there to wash feet, ring bells and push him back in the bush. He has big plans and I will be grateful for every one I am able to be a part of. 

If a person stays aware and in the moment along the way to a goal I believe this is where true success is found.  You can plan, prepare and commit and yet the outcome is still unpredictable.  I can say without any hesitation this was one of the best weekends I've had in a while filled with moments I will never forget! 

Alana Regier

The Seven Best Doctors

I have heard the 7 best doctors are sunshine, fresh air, exercise, water, diet, laughter and rest. 

In looking at this list I can easily cross off sunshine being that’s where I work every day.

 Being outside every day all day allows me the opportunity to take in all the fresh air my lungs can. 

With my job and the activities I do daily I get exercise that flops me in bed every night. 

Working outside, especially in 30 above in chainsaw pants and gear has a girl drinking water till I’m ready to float away.

As for diet, thats always been a no brainer for our family as we know what you put into your body affects your output so we have always been very aware of our food intake (exception being the chocolate chips I steal while hiding in the pantry from time to time, for blood sugar purposes of course).

 I look to laugh at every opportunity I get.

And then there is the rest,  ahhhh…  this is where I fall short.

 As tired as I may be, I am not getting the amount of restful sleep I need.  I know without it my body and mind don’t function to its full capacity and that I am more prone to injury and less likely to heal and recover. So it is with this knowledge and pure exhaustion that I have finally decided it’s not worth putting off the inevitable. I have finally gone in and have a scheduled date for carpal tunnel surgery.  As quick and easy as this procedure is, less than 20 min actually, the recovery time is a bit longer.  I am to do NOTHING for 6 weeks and for other stuff 12 weeks possibly longer.  As the surgeon looked me straight in the eyes with a pulling no punches stare, he asked me point blank “Are you capable of rest and allowing yourself to heal?”  I think my family squealed to him as to my inability to sit down and do nothing, good thing my legs will still work.  I have put this off for a few years now but have finally reached the point that it’s never going to be a good time and I would rather have a better quality of rested life. As frustrating and disappointing as this may be to setting back progress on my goals, I have reached a place of realization that I want to be able to do the things I enjoy until I’m older and ricketier and I want to be able to enjoy each moment of the journey not just surviving through it with little grace and a whack load of pain.  The truth is I’m looking more to longevity in all of my training, activities and work.  Sometimes one must step back a little, get the rest and healing the body is yelling for in order to progress forward and accomplish and enjoy the things that are important to us.

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

Picture of the week, taken November 2017 on Brandons and mine road trip to Crowsnest Pass.  Just beautiful, no other words to describe.

Value of Team

|We are not a team because we work together.

We are a team because

We respect,

Trust and care

For each other.

We each joined the year of the I Ho Chuan for our own personal reasons; however, I believe if you were to look closely and compare ones list to another, they would most times be working towards similar goals and directions. Looking around our circle of teammates it is quite obvious that we are a group made up of very different personalities.  It is the combination of all these people put together that have the potential to make a great team with the ability to accomplish fabulous and extraordinary things. Although there are parts of a year in the I Ho Chuan that are quite individual there is a huge part that is team.  This team portion is the part that for some is more difficult than others. Those who may prefer to work it on their own and to focus solely on their own personal goals and ambitions may miss out on a big benefit of what being part of this team has to offer.  As I have found myself in a tough place personally I have been deeply touched by the reaching out of a couple of teammates.  It is the sincere reaching out, honest, respectful, caring actions that have had the power to keep me moving forward even though at a turtle pace. It is the qualities that these individuals have demonstrated that I see as true qualities that make up not only a person worthy of a black belt but one that is a gift to the world they live in.  It is even more incredible to me when the outreach of support and care comes from someone whose balancing of life does not allow them to be present at every class or event however they are more in tune and engaged than what many might recognize.

I really encourage each of us to continue or for some start reading each other’s blogs and for those not blogging, start.  Allow the entire team to be a part of your journey.  Let each member of this team know that someone has their back, that there is a group of people who care, respect and are looking out for them. The moments we believe we are the only ones struggling, the only ones who have ended up detoured, I will guarantee there is at least one of the many who make up this team who has found themselves in a similar place and who may be able to offer help.  Why struggle alone in silence when we have such a wealth of resources at our finger tips? Why not help others from our own lessons learned? 

I am truly grateful to those who have reached out to me at a time that was low and discouraging. You will never know completely how much it meant and the difference it made! You have reminded me how important it is to be aware of, watching out for and caring for those around us, whether they are there in the flesh or from a distance. Thank you thank you thank you!

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

Picture of the week, a slam on the brakes look at that barn moment!

I love old barns, old stuff of all kinds actually. Love to think of the stories they could tell!

Cutting Corners

I’m running down the trail, a long steady hill climb ahead, my feet feel like they have 50lb weights on them, I’m tired and drenched in sweat.  Three steps ahead I spot a hidden path that few use that would obviously be a short cut to my final destination allowing me to avoid the grueling hill, cut my distance to 2/3’s and land me back to the parking lot ½ hour sooner, nobody would be any the wiser.  What path do I take? Will I be okay in my own mind with knowing I took that shortcut? Will there be consequences that I haven’t considered or are not aware of at the present time? Will I regret it?

Life is full of possible shortcuts in every aspect of life, in our jobs, education, training etc etc.  The path we choose is up to us, it may be skewed and altered by others and circumstances, but ultimately we are the ones that will make the choices that will lead to the final outcome. There are those corners that we believe nobody will notice if cut but the truth is the effort and involvement we give will always show to the outside eyes whether we acknowledge that or not; what we put into something will show in the end and will continue to affect not only our immediate progress but our future accomplishments in unlikely places. To be aware of the fact that every corner cut we cheat not only ourselves and those around us is something to consider with every contemplated shortcut.  There is no better feeling than to know with every fiber of your being that you gave all you could and at the same time showed others just what they are capable of.  So one must ask themselves, what am I doing, why and how will this affect and change my life?  Am I on the path I want?

Alana Regier

http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca

 

Picture of the week, looking down toward Grande Cache from powerline.  Love this place and the memories it holds.