Lessons

Hello, 

The past months have been months of lessons and trying to implement these lessons. Even though we may recognize the value of these lessons it is often difficult to put them into action. Often we need that ah ha moment where we finally see the value of the lesson. 

Ah ha moment #1
Hard to describe but applying a little bend to the elbow makes the hand grab the water allowing for a stronger push forward.  Feeling the water allows one to recognize where their legs are in the water which hopefully translates to moving them up to the surface thus the body is at a better position to glide through the water. The hard part putting this into practice all the time but the benefit is being a faster swimmer.

Ah ha moment #2
When you are sick take time off.  Don't go back too soon or you'll just end up sick again and in some cases sicker then you where. Honestly I have a hard time telling when I'm too sick.  This is a direct result of playing sick as a kid to skip class in elementary school.  I really did dislike school.  I now know if I go back too soon then I'm off twice as long as if I actually did take time off. The obvious benefit I am happier, healthier, can train more & be with my family more.

Ah ha moment #3 
Just do It !!! This moment comes as a result of church. Although there are many religions around the world the basis for most is to show compassion for your fellow human being.  Although the Bible tells us to love in today's sense of this word I don't think this is what we are to do. Rather I think it is saying to be compassionate and have empathy for others.  If we all practiced this and showed compassion/empathy for others our world would be a different place. I think we would be much happier as we would not complain about things or people because we would have readjusted our ideas to the situation.  

If we take the Latin meaning of compassion to suffer with then every sporting event is a compassionate event. We all "suffer" together when training & hopefully we have the compassion to give an encouraging word during a race or help during training when we see one of our fellow athletes having troubles.  Better yet we take the lead from the Olympic Gold medalist Dario Cologna who waited 28 minutes to shake the hand of the 1st Peruvian to cross the finish line. Or we give up our spot like the Canadian speed skater to someone who should medal and did medal.  That is a true sign of sportsmanship and compassion.

Another Just do it moment stated late January when we decided at Faith United to create a team and sign up for the Coldest Night of the Year walk in support the Refuge. In less then a month we created a team and raised 827.00 dollars to support teen & youths living on the street or in poverty in the Durham Region.  A huge THANK YOU to my supports to help with reaching this goal. 

What's next ?  Lots of training as IMMT gets closer every day.  Trying to put the above lessons into action.  Start the next fund raising campaign for the Gate & trying to figure out a fund raising event. Spend as much time as possible with family.  

Hopefully Mother Nature will soon see fit to provide us some warm days but until then there is nothing more beautiful then an open field in the winter covered with untouched snow.  There is beauty out there in this cold winter we just have to look for it.  

Have a wonderful weekend, 
Liz