Golf...It's more than just a Game.

When Darren and I started dating he attempted to get me interested in the game of golf.  I enjoyed our afternoons on the course, but from the start the game was a love, hate relationship.  Even back in the day, one good shot outshone the thirty bad ones.

As the years have gone on, we have increased the frequency of our golf games and as a result I have noticed much improvement in my game.  My improved scores are a direct result of lots of practice, improved patience and the need for self improvement that takes over when I step on the course.

We decided to involve our kids in the game of golf right from the time they could walk.  For the last two years we have golfed on average of 4 days a week. We hope to continue this tradition we have with the kids for many years to come and are very grateful for the staff at the course who welcome our kids and encourage them every time they see them.

For our family, the game of golf is not just a way to spend time together.  We have noticed that  both of the kids have more respect, self confidence and patience then other children their age.  They enjoy challenges we put before them and are competitive with themselves and their improvement on a regular basis.  Although our focus is not to create a pair of golfing super stars, the kids have naturally become good at the game!

Sometimes finding ways to teach our children how to be confident, respectful members of society is difficult. We got lucky...Golf is helping us do just that!

A Life Worth Living

Life can pull you in many directions.  Goals and dreams are great to have, but sometimes reality tends to get in the way.  Choices we make can affect how we get involved in our own life, and the lives of those closest to us.  Expectations that others have for you sometimes make us choose paths we are not completely comfortable taking.

All too often, when the path is muddy or unclear, the pressure and stress we feel can overwhelm us.  This stress can affect our health and more importantly our happiness.  Anyone who has ever been encouraged to do things they we not comfortable with or to be involved in activities that they don't truly enjoy will be able to relate to the heavy feelings and general unhappiness that goes along with it.  

Not that long ago, a wise friend reminded me that it was, in fact, ok to be happy.  It is acceptable to be completely  satisfied with how our lives are progressing and how the events that are unfolding, despite anyone else's opinions or beliefs. We don't always need to feel like we must impress others, involve ourselves in everything and as a result pass by the happiness that simplicity can bring.

I'm beginning to realize that the key to my happiness is simply doing things that make me happy!  Finding my interests, setting my own goals and not caring how unrealistic  or crazy they may seem to others is my new priority.  It is ok to have a successful career, a life full of great friends, and an amazing family.  It is also acceptable to be overly accommodating, obsessive compulsive, health obsessed and a tad bit wacky.  Without these traits I don't think I could continue my path down this crazy road called life, on track to a life worth living.  

Be your biggest fan, the world is full people who want to bring you down to validate themselves.  Just remember, anyone who works to bring you down is simply rock on your path.  Keep on walking and tell yourself "It is great to be me...I deserve to be happy!"  What would you do to be happy if the opinions of others were not a concern? 

 

Clearly not Perfect

Inspired by my early morning realization that I hadn't scheduled a post to be released in time for not one, but two days, I decided to remind myself that no one is perfect!  Overcoming fears, manipulating setbacks and admitting your faults are great first steps to rectify things gone wrong.

Any challenge you set in your path is bound to be delayed or at risk at some point.  Choose to dust yourself off, jump back in and attack the goal again.

As disappointed I am I missed two days in my challenge, I'm going to overcome by doubling up my posts and reflecting on the wonderful evening I spent in the moment, with my son, at the golf course.

Learn from your setbacks, live in the moment and set your plan back in motion.  How do you react when your plans fall off track?

Define your Dreams

Everyone has dreams, things they wish they could do and places they want to visit.  Dreams can be anything, simple to achieve, possible to happen with effort, or completely unrealistic.  The difference between who carries these dreams throughout their life and those who actually see their dreams come true is simply taking those dreams and putting them into motion.

A couple years ago I started to assemble my Vision Board.  A picture display of the things I wanted out of life.  I decided to focus on 5 areas of my life that were most important to me at that time.  I chose to focus on Family, Health, Financial, Travel and Career.  I began collecting pictures and statements that meant things to me in each area. I then arranged the pictures in a 11 x 14 frame.  I grouped my most important goal of Family in the middle, and circled the other 4 important areas around the outside.  Once I had all of my pictures on, and all the space filled and the paper framed I hung it beside my bed where I look at it multiple times a day.

Some of the dreams I have on my Vision Board were simple, like drinking water, continuing boot camp and focusing on my family.  Others are dreams I hope to see in the near future, like a nicer body, more career opportunities and improved health.  I also included goals and dreams I have for 20 years down the road, like places to travel, a mortgage free life.   Staring at this board everyday reminds me of what is important, it keeps me motivated and every time I accomplish one of the dreams/goals on my vision board I am reaffirmed that the focus is working.

Although I don't see the  need to re create my board in the immediate future, I do re evaluate my goals at least every 6 months.  For those dreams I have realized I check them off and fill them in with something new.   For the goals that haven't been achieved, I alter them and make suggestions that put myself on track to completion.  Ever since I have hung my board beside my bed I feel a little bit more on track, a little more organized and like I may actually have control over my life!

If you are interested in putting a focus into your life, to examine what is important to you and to set your future in motion according to your desires, then take some time to check out one or two of the  Vision Board articles on the Internet. The idea is quite simple and you will be amazed how quickly you will see your dreams come true.

Start today.  What defines you?  What do you want to accomplish?  What would you do with your life if the sky was the limit?

Music...Feel it!

There is nothing worse than a bad mood that won't pass, a crappy attitude that follows you through the day or an overwhelming feeling of sadness.  When life has you down there is no easier way to shift the mood then with the right music.

I've used music for most of my life to shove my emotions into, and to sing my issues away.   A solid playlist can take anger down to a simmer, a crappy attitude to optimism and sadness to a sense of peace.  I currently have a few playlists on my phone exactly for that reason.  When I'm angry the list includes songs that verify my anger and slowly simmer me down to a sense of calmness.  When I'm sad the songs allow me to belt out my sadness and work my way up to upbeat happy songs.  When I'm lazy, the playlist provides me upbeat, dance along kind of songs to get me rejuvenated and happy.

One of the best things we have worked hard to incorporate into the kids lives is an appreciation of music.  The kids beg for the music to be louder, they both love to sing and dance.  In fact, I've learned over time that I shouldn't attempt to wake my children up in the morning.  All I really need to do is get up, crank the party tunes and hit the shower.  By the time I'm out of the shower the kids are up, getting dressed and dancing.  We don't fight in the morning, we dance our way to the kitchen for breakfast and hit the morning with happiness!

Music and my children are two things that can always bring me out of a bad mood.  The best thing is when the two combine and teach me something important.  I'm suggesting the next time you are feeling down and out, blast the tunes and take a page out of Maddux's book...Sing and Dance Like No One is Watching!

Build a Better You

In a society filled with self improvement products, beauty enhancements and fad diets, it is no wonder that most women have self confidence issues.  On a daily basis we are bombarded by advertisements detailing all the parts of our bodies we should hate...our hair, our skin, the shape of our body, our breast size, our cellulite...in fact, based on the messages, there isn't a part of our bodies we shouldn't attempt to fix!

As if this message wasn't bad enough, many times, time spent with others is a constant reminder that we are full of imperfections.  Diet discussions, comparing exercise routines and sharing beauty tips and tricks may seem innocent enough, but all to often these just serve as a reminder that we need to change.  These common topics leave us feeling like we haven't done enough, or that changing habits and behaviours are helpless.

Along my journey I have tried very hard to keep a positive attitude and to be proud of my successes.  It is very frustrating that even when I reach a goal, it never truly makes me happy, I always want more! I went from a women who wanted to lose a few pounds and feel healthier, to an exercise addict who expects change on a constant basis.  I went from reading magazines that promote weight loss for the lazy to health magazines for women who are looking to work hard to change their shape.  The most frustrating part of this for me was opening these "health magazines" with pictures of physically fit, health conscious women and seeing advertisements beside them for performance enhances, supplements and fads for the fit.  What kind of message is being sent?  

As a teacher, I really wish I could teach a self confidence class to teenagers.  A class that focuses on individual beauty, a class that teaches girls how to place an emphasis on their best qualities, a class that teaches girls it is amazing to be unique.  Imagine your life today if someone taught you how to be confident and full of self love.  Imagine if the only person you compared yourself to was the you from yesterday!

Run Like the Wind...or without getting Winded.

When I was a kid I was envious of all the other kids that could run around the playground for hours on end.  Twenty five steps and I was was out, severely winded and with legs that felt like jelly.

When I was in grade 5 I remember signing up to run the 1500m, only two of us attempted it.  I was proud of myself for even putting myself out there even though I had to run/walk the entire way.  In Grade 7 and 8 the 12-minute mile was a love/hate relationship.  I would run slowly at the back of the class, happy to be moving my legs steadily one in front of the other, until I was lapped by the speed demons, the kids who not only could run forever, but fast too!  Although by high school I no longer had to perform any type of running motion I was envious of those who could and did.  By the time I was in my twenties I joked that someday I would be a runner, it was the dream that I thought I would never see happen.

Once I joined Bootcamp and I had no choice but to run I decided to attempt my dream.  As the block became easier, the weather got warmer and my iPhone became the love of my life, I decided to take the big step.  I purchased the Couch to 5K app and changed my life.  The success I felt after every run, a little farther each day, a little faster each week, supplied me with the desire to continue.

Although my pace is still on the slow side, I can run for miles without getting winded, without my legs feeling like jelly, and with a sense peace.  I spent the summer improving my 5k run and successfully completed my first 5km race 6 months after I set my goal to take the step and become a runner.

Now I look forward to the me time I get on a run, the satisfaction of achieving small goals on a regular basis and the confirmation that my body can do anything I put my mind to.  I not only found something I enjoy, I developed a new habit...one I don't want to break!