Don't stop believin'

This week's blog is brought to you by the letter O.. for overcoming your fears.  I want to give a shout out to my CrossFit little sister, Courtney, for getting her first muscle up this week!  In the CrossFit world a muscle up is like a unicorn - so perfectly executed and requires so much dedication it seems unattainable, getting one almost seems unfathomable and to some is only dreamed about.  Courtney has been doing CrossFit for just over a year now and has worked her way to muscle up greatness.  I on the other hand am coming up on my 3 year fitiversary and hadn't touched the high rings in months.

Seeing her make that jump to Muscle Up Goddess really got me motivated.  I convinced (well really he ended up convincing me) Coach Braiden to assist me with some transitions on the high rings on Sunday.  He was all ready to flip me up on top of those rings that hang from the extremely tall ceiling but I was stalling.  At that moment I came to the realization why I hadn't touched the rings in months.  I was frickin scared.  I am pretty scared of heights, mainly due to the fact that I'm scared of falling and hurting myself.  I try and avoid rope climbs, I stay away from practicing bar muscle ups all because I'm terrified of taking a death spiral to the floor.  I am also scared of insects, reptiles, rodents, birth, injury, needles, death, rejection and failure.. just to name a few things.  I'm so confident, right?! :s

I also realized that I don't like much of a crowd when I'm trying something for the first time whether it's a gymnastics movement or something as simple as surfing behind the boat.  For as loud and over-the-top as I am, I like to know I'm not going to make an absolute fool out of myself with something new.  Once I give something a go then I usually don't have an issue with shyness.  Perhaps that's the fear of failure coming out in me.  But let's face it - who on earth perfects everything on the first attempt?

After I procrastinated, made excuses and wasted Braiden's time for about a half an hour he finally talked me in to trying an assisted one with him.  Guess what?  It was so easy!  He tossed me on those rings like it was nobody's business.  We probably did it about 10 times and not once did I fall on my face, no cuts, broken bones or bruised egos.  Attempting something that I'd had my sights set on for a while but was too scared to try was actually a relief.

Now I am nowhere near getting a muscle up but it is definitely an attainable 2014 goal of mine, however, I wasn't going to get one in a lifetime by avoiding the rings and my fears.  Go out and try something that scares you, it's exhilarating and you may even be able to conquer your fear.  Dream big and don't forget to kick ass and take names while you're at it ;)

Baby it's cold outside

As we all know we've recently had an extremely cold weather snap. Without turning on the tv, radio or computer I knew the weather was cold. How did I know this you may ask? I stepped outside and it was cold! When I opened up my social media there were many, many posts notifying me that it was cold out. I guess what I'm wondering is, why do people feel the need to repeatedly state the obvious on these sites?  It's a well known fact on the first snowfall of the year that your Facebook newsfeed is going to blow up. Then there's the first BIG snowfall of the year. Be prepared for a Twitter frenzy. Everything winter will surely overload your computer/mobile/tablet with overly obvious updates.

Yes, the cold weather sucks.  But let's face it, we choose to live here so it's really our problem. You would think the weather complaints would end there but then when we're having an overly hot summer day/week/month the complaints start to roll in about the heat. I do believe there are these machines you can get to help cool you down. An air conditioner or something? Or my personal fav freebie.. the lake!  This is where you'll find me this summer on the hottest of summer days.

There are also the days that are spent basking in the summer sun and then some rain happens.  Take to social media people!  Alert the masses!  The rain isn't the best pump up weather but in case you have forgotten some of it is required to help promote the growth of the crops we readily enjoy to consume.

They say that weather is unpredictable but really we know better.  Summer = hot, rainy, breezy, chilly.  Winter = cold, snowy, wind chill, icy.  Sure the seasons may change more quickly at times and that is frustrating but you can't say we didn't see it coming.  At this time of year it's easy to go on a public rant about the weather but think of all the other things that we've got going on for us: health, friends, family, food, shelter, and on and on.  People don't hashtag it #firstworldproblems for nothin'!  Stay warm this winter people, summer is coming.. like it always does :-)

Token wintertime vehicle thermostat pic.
Yep, mine says the same as yours and everyone else's!

If you wanna make the world a better place take a look at yourself, and then make a change



For the last few years that I've worked at my office we have always done a Christmas gift exchange amongst the staff.  We spent $20 and ended up with some cutesie little gift that, quite frankly, we could live without.  This year we have decided that each of us will throw that money into a pot and go out and buy gifts and food for a family in need.

On November 1st it was National Random Act of Kindness Day.  I think this is a fabulous idea.  I spent my day spreading Starbucks love to co-workers and strangers alike and even had the favor unsuspectingly returned to me.  It felt fantastic!  If the day had been longer I had so many other ideas of how to spread some joy throughout the city.  A lady that I work with was so inspired that she bought a bouquet of flowers and gave them to a very touched elderly woman outside of the Market Mall Safeway.  Another woman I work with bought a stranger's lunch at Tim Horton's, where the drive-thru employee asked her "But it's $10, are you sure you want to spend that much??".  On the radio people called in to tell their stories about how they touched people's lives in some way or another.  It's the kindness of others that is truly amazing.

This blog post is going to be short and to the point.  I am asking for help finding a special family that we can spoil in Saskatoon this holiday season.  Please share this blog so we can spread the word and find someone truly deserving of this gift.  If you can think of someone, simply send me a message with the family's name, contact information and why they are the most deserving.  We will be surprising the family that we choose in the next few weeks so it is important that we receive any information about them as soon as possible.  Thank you for taking the time to read this.  Stay safe this holiday season!  Remember to live life, love lots and laugh forever.