What are you thinking???

“Watch your thoughts, for they become your actions. 
Watch your actions, for they become habits. 
Watch your habits, for they become character. 
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”   

Our thoughts are such a powerful force. State of mind and what we tell ourselves can be the cause of greatness or defeat.   

I fondly remember standing in the corner of the floor at the 2004 Olympics and having the most powerful positive self-talk going on inside my mind. I was reminding myself to breathe and that I was ready. I was completely focused on each element of my routine and wasn’t getting ahead of myself and thinking of the outcome. I was completely immersed in the moment and internal words of encouragement were like fireworks inside my mind. I was so open to possibility and as I stepped on to the floor I said out loud, “Make it Happen”.   

I also fondly remember standing in the corner of the floor at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in the floor exercise final. There, I had incredibly negative self-talk running through my mind. Instead of reminding myself that I was ready and focusing on the subtle details of the performance, I was worried sick that I would make a mistake, not win a medal and let my country down. I was so afraid to fail and I kept imagining myself messing up. Inside my mind I was thinking, “Don’t screw up”.     

At the 2004 Olympics, my routine was simply flawless. At the 2006 Commonwealth Games, I landed my first pass on my arse. Coincidence? I think not…   

During my years in sport and in life outside of it, I’ve come to strongly believe that our thoughts ultimately become our destiny. What we believe about our potential will come true. The stories we tell ourselves about our worth will become real. The energy we have buzzing through our mind will directly impact the scenarios we find ourselves in. Thoughts are the epicenter of our lives and we must be very aware of them in order to determine how they are affecting our current state.   

I encourage you to take 5 minutes today to observe the story that you tell yourself inside your head. Is the conversation full of positives and encouragement or are you beating yourself up? What kinds of language do you use inside your mind when you are interacting with others? Imagine if you wrote down every thought that entered your mind for a 5-minute period. Would the majority be something you’re proud of or would a lot of them be judgmental like watching an episode of garbage TV like TMZ?   

The great part about our thoughts is that we do have control over them. Positive thinking is a choice and it’s something that gets better with practice. The most important thing is to have an awareness of our thought pattern. We need to catch ourselves when we begin to stray and doubt our worth or abilities.   

As the sun begins to shine, start exercising your mind to be your most mighty asset. Concentrate on thinking positive thoughts and telling yourself courageous stories. Let the conversation inside your mind be one that is full of belief, hope and confidence.   

Our destiny is determined by our character and our character is based on our habits. Our habits are formed through our actions and, ultimately, our actions are dictated by our thoughts.   

So, ask yourself, what am I thinking? If you are not where you want to be, perhaps shifting your attention to the dialogue that exists in your mind is the best place to start.

Check out Revive.ca for more awesome content about active healthy living!

7 ways to inspire a more vital you!

Vitality is the positive force that surges through us, making us feel more alive, motivated and powerful! This post identifies a few ways you can increase your vitality factor when it needs a little boost.  

1.     Filter out a negative force. We’ve all got something in our life that is weighing us down. Its important to remember that it’s all about the baby steps here. Breaking bad habits and/or getting rid of clutter in your life can be overwhelming. So much so that we often avoid it because we know it’s going to take a lot of work and we don’t know where to even start. Decide on that one thing that’s renting space in your head and/or heart. It might be a stack of papers on your counter. It might be that closet full of old clothes you’ve been meaning to donate. It might be your negative self talk first thing in the morning. Heck, it might even be an energy sucking relationship. Think of one thing that you can do to start the process of eliminating it and take that step. If you can’t think of where to start, pull out a timer, set it for 5 mins and be completely focused on writing out all the possible options. Once the time is up, choose a step and take action. Filtering out one negative force in your life can give you an amazing sense of lightness and freedom. It also gives you space to bring in something new that’s more in line with the best version of you! 

2.     Make exercise and moving your body THE main priority. Email, phone calls and mindlessly surfing through random facebook photos can wait. To feel more vitality in your life, make your commitment to daily physical activity non-negotiable. No matter what obstacles you come up against in your day, compromising your pledge to moving your body is not an option. If you approach exercise with this conviction, you’ll always find a way to get it done. And you’ll feel better in all areas of your life because of it. Repeat after me: “I’m sorry, I can’t go for drinks tonight. I’ve got a date with the kettle bells and my yoga mat. Want to join me?” 

3.     Meditate/Journal for 10 minutes a day. A little internal reflection and calm can instantly make you feel more in-tune, aware and present in your life. Creating a little bit of stillness can reset your body and mind and get you back on track, especially on those days when you have distractions flinging at you from every angle. While you are writing or meditating, pay close attention to your breath. Always come back to it after you go off on random tangents – because I can almost guarantee you will! 

4.     Buy one of your fruits/veggies organic. The expense of going full-on organic can be a bit overwhelming to start off with, but slowly implementing one purchase at a time can have huge long term benefits. Let’s face it, our grocery stores are packed with food that’s been in contact with chemicals, pesticides and various un-pronounceables and these can be harmful to our health. I’m not a nutritionist, so I can’t tell you all of the benefits of implementing organics into your diet, but I do know that treating your body like a temple can make you feel more in charge of your life. 

5.     Crank up the tunes! Music just makes life better! If you want more energy and to be more productive, then pump up the volume. A little back beat and some familiar lyrics can instantly change our mood and get you into a groove. Music also tends to get us out of our heads and into the rhythm of our bodies. Make sure to sing loud enough for the neighbors to hear! 

6.     Volunteer for an organization you care about. There is no better way to feel purpose than to engage in a little giving back. Doing good things for others is really the secret to happiness and being a part of the fabric that surrounds you can help you feel connected. 

7.     Rest well. I recommend going to bed early and waking up early. This way you can get a head start on your day before all of the demands come pouring in. A good rule of thumb to adhere to: go to bed when you are tired. Duh. Don’t force yourself to stay awake to catch that episode of True Blood. That’s why they invented PVR! Stimulating your brain when you are actually tired is counter-productive. Everyone has different sleep needs, but I’ve found that 8-9 hours a night keeps me feeling focused, motivated and energized through out the day.     

By implementing one or all of these suggestions, you will be well on your way to experiencing more energy, motivation, power and vitality in your life. And the best part about feeling good is that it’s infectious; a more vibrant you will lead to more vitality in your community too! 


Check out Revive.ca for more awesome content about active healthy living!

Kyle Shewfelt Gymnastics!

 

 

Gold medal-winning Olympic gymnast Shewfelt becomes a champion of his city

 

 

BY VALERIE FORTNEY, CALGARY HERALD JUNE 11, 2013

 

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Kyle Shewfelt, Olympic gold medallist in gymnastics from the Athens games, poses alongside his likeness in the Olympian Heights exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The exhibit is a collection of portraits of some of Canada’s iconic Olympic and Paralympic heroes.

Photograph by: Ted Rhodes , Calgary Herald

At the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, Kyle Shewfelt was the toast of Canada. His gold medal in men’s floor exercise, the first Canadian gold at those games, was also the first artistic gymnastics medal of any kind for this country.

Nine years later, the 31-year-old former athlete and native Calgarian is continuing to build upon his successful career in new and innovative ways. He’s logged countless miles across the country as a public speaker, served as a TV commentator at such events as the 2012 London Summer Olympics and, he notes with a big smile, just competed in his first triathlon.

It’s his work in the community, though, of which he is the most proud these days. “I’m really engaged in life and trying to make an impact,” he says of his work with such events as the annual Kyle Shewfelt Gymnastics Festival and the charity Right to Play. “I love Calgary — and I want to do my part to make this city even better.”

This fall, Shewfelt plans to make good on that promise with the opening of Kyle Shewfelt Gymnastics (for details, email info@kyleshewfelt.com), an 11,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility in the city’s southeast that will offer gymnastic programming to Calgarians of all ages. “It’s going to start out with a purely recreational focus,” he notes of the centre that will be located near the Deerfoot Casino, “with the intention to have a competitive program later.”

I meet up with the disarmingly warm and charming Shewfelt on Tuesday morning at the Museum of Contemporary Art, the public visual arts institution in Calgary’s municipal building at Macleod Trail and 9th Avenue S.E.

A few days earlier, Shewfelt was one of the celebrity athletes on hand for the opening night of Olympian Heights, a show featuring various works depicting our most iconic Olympic and Paralympic sports legends, created by local artists. The show runs until July 1.

The dozen works, everything from wood cuts to abstract paintings, provide a who’s-who of both sport and art: John Hall is paired with hockey great Hayley Wickenheiser, Elena Evanoff with skating icon Catriona Le May Doan, while Shewfelt was immortalized by Chris Cran, an internationally recognized Calgary artist.

“When they asked me to come on board, I jumped at the opportunity,” says Shewfelt of the brainchild of MOCA board member Viviane Mehr, who also participated as an artist with her mixed media work of triathlete Simon Whitfield. Mehr’s idea was inspired by the gallery’s January show of Andy Warhol’s The Athlete Series. “I love all forms of art,” he says, adding he understands the pressures artists face, such as creating something for the world to judge. “I spent 16 years building up to one minute, 30 seconds, where it all matters.”

Jeffrey Spalding agrees with Shewfelt’s claim that these two seemingly disparate disciplines share some common ground.”We are a sports city,” says Spalding, artistic director of MOCA. “In a show like this, we can showcase our athletes and our artists, people who have extraordinary abilities on an international stage.”

Along with bringing yet another exciting show to this public gallery that has gone from an average 3,800 visitors a year to a projected 24,000 for 2013, Olympian Heights also raised nearly $80,000 through a live auction of the works, which will be shared by the artists and the institution.

Shewfelt credits this collaboration with MOCA for giving him the inspiration to finally commit to starting his own gymnastics club, something that has been rattling around the back of his mind for a long time. “It connected me to my love for this city even more than before — Calgary is such an interesting place and I want to be a part of that.”

While he’s had the kind of success most young athletes only dream of, the road before and after hasn’t always been an easy one. “It’s a lot of hard work and sacrifice, he says of a childhood spent in such places as the Altadore Gym Club. “But I like to work hard — it isn’t just about winning a medal, it’s about setting a goal and chasing after it, giving it everything you’ve got.”

That never-say-die attitude would be put to the test at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, where Shewfelt competed only six months after suffering kneecap fractures from a bad training landing.

Today, his knees are in decent enough shape — “I can feel them creak when I run in the cold,” he admits — to try his hand at new sports. He also remains philosophical about the lack of post-Olympics sponsorships for gymnasts compared with that of gold medallists in higher profile sports. “I wasn’t expecting it,” he says. “Bell Canada came on as a sponsor, which allowed me to keep training and prepare for Beijing, which I’m thankful for.”

What was tough, he confesses, was the void created by the end of his competitive career. “After it was all over, I was like, ‘What do I do now?’ It took a while to reinvigorate that same drive.”

A stint at Mount Royal University to study TV broadcasting followed, along with the start of his public speaking and commentating work. It wasn’t until this past year, though, that Shewfelt recaptured his old razor sharp focus.

“Starting up my own gym is a lot of pressure, absolutely. But I like pressure,” says the infectiously optimistic Olympian. “I had this realization I needed to have gymnastics as part of my every day. I feel that that’s my legacy.”

These days, Shewfelt says he couldn’t be happier. He shares a home in the inner city with his girlfriend, interior designer Kristin Desilets — they met four years ago at a class at Yoga Mandala — and their Brittany spaniel, Cooper.

“I feel really blessed, “ he says of a life filled with the kind of variety that takes him from testing his physical limits in new ways and planning a new business, to charity work and being the spokesperson for an art exhibit celebrating artists and athletes. “I also feel really grounded in who I am and the impact I want to have.”

vfortney@calgaryherald.com

Twitter.com/ValFortney

© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald  

KSGF 2013 Rocked!

Here's a sampling of photos from the KSGF 2013 weekend! A huge shout out to our amazing volunteer photographer Dave Holland. If you are interested in purchasing any of the photos, please be in touch with Dave directly through his website: www.daveholland.ca.

Tons of fun pictures from the event can be found on the KSGF Flickr Page.

Thanks to everyone who attended and made the weekend a tremendous success.

SAVE THE DATE: KSGF 2014 will be held March 20-23, 2014 at the University of Calgary in the Jack Simpson Gym. Looking forward to another great weekend!

Some pics from South Africa

Our breakfast view

Victoria Wharf

With Jim, Jim, Ken and Rena

The spectacular view at Chapman's Peak. Ya, I rode my bike there. NBD.

Kristin and I at the Botanical gardens

All of the Gold Medal Platers who rode in the Argus…and our drivers thumb ;)

Watch out for those baboons...

Another spectacular view at Chapman's Peak. Incredible!

The KSGF Proposal

Congratulations to Jason and Lindsay!

South Africa

I've been a super bad little blogger. I just can't seem to get the formula right - I always post to facebook and twitter and forget to post to my blog. I also feel the need to write something epiphanus and detailed here. Today, I say screw that.

I am in South Africa with Kristin at the moment hosting some wonderful guests from Gold Medal Plates. It feels like we've made 60 new friends and we are having an absolute blast. We've been to Robbin Island, hiked through the Botanical gardens, drank more wine than a person should in a week and have had some awesome conversations. Feeling really blessed to be here.


I've also neglected to inform that I am training for a triathlon and (hopefully) half iron man this summer. I've been so immersed in preparations for this trip, my training and Kyle Shewfelt Gym Fest that I haven't had much time to re-visit my happenings in word form. I've just been immersed in living them.

Anyways, now that I've got the guilt off my conscience, I can give todays update and hopefully write a few more short posts while here to get things up to speed.

80km's from our resort to Franschoek and back

I rode 80km's today with Jim Cuddy and his wife Rena. It was actually my first time on a road bike on the real road (parking garage doesn't count ;) ). I've been doing tons of spin classes and riding at home on my trainer, but when I took up my triathlon pursuit in November and the snow had already fallen, there wasn't much road to ride on.

I am going to do the Argus Pick N' Pay race in Capetown on March 10th. It's a 110km and I figure that since I was able to pull off 80km's on my first time out today, 110 should be super do-able. I should thank Martine, Ashley and all of the great instructors at Peleton Cycling in Calgary for keeping me motivated and fit during winter training.

Here's my insight from today's ride:

Accomplishment: A stellar 80km ride today. 
Observation: Clip pedals in traffic are much different than clip pedals in my parking garage ;)
Conclusion: I LOVE road biking (especially when it's with Jim Cuddy and his wife Rena), but I could do without the cars and stop lights.

First official road bike = done.

Looking forward to many more :)

MOCA Presents: The Canadian Athlete Series

Inspired by Andy Warhol: The Athlete Series, The Museum of Contemporary Art Calgary has decided to create it's own 'Athlete Series' collection. It will feature 10 Celebrated Canadian athletes paired with 10 high profile local artists. I love the concept and I'm honoured to be included…

The first two portraits of the MOCA Canadian Athlete Series are complete and I got to see them last night. Lisa Brawn painted Clara Hughes and Chris Cran painted mine. WOW! My painting brought me right back to that moment in Athens - I can vividly remember the click of the camera that took the photo Chris used for inspiration. 

Eight more portraits will be unveiled over the next few months and the entire collection will be displayed at MOCA Calgary at the beginning of June.

www.mocacalgary.org

Lance Armstrong

I met Lance Armstrong in 2005. He was a nice enough guy…


But I am pretty disgusted with all the attention he is now getting for admitting that he CHEATED all those years. I'm also disappointed to admit that I'm just as intrigued as the next person... 


What's a really sad reflection on our world, to me at least, is that he'll have a "Tell All" book out soon, it will sell millions and everyone will soon forget about the lies and deceit of the past and hail him as a hero and advocate in the fight against anti-doping in the future. That's total bullshit. What's also bullshit is that he probably got paid a lot of $$$ to exclusively tell Oprah.


The REAL heroes are the athletes who train(ed) and compete(d) clean their entire careers. The ones who don't cheat to get to the top. The ones who are honest and don't look the world in the eye and blatantly lie on multiple occasions. I think we should be putting more resources into celebrating them. 


And I think Lance owes more than just an apology to the world - I think he can take most of his $100 Million and put it back into the system that he so cowardly (and now openly) deceived...

Look what I can still do!

I just spent a couple of days in Toronto and had a visit at Kelly's new gym: Manjak's Gymnastics!

I did some playing around and could still manage a double layout off the good ol' fast track.

It felt pretty awesome to be in the gym. Sometimes I don't realize how much I miss it until I start fooling around again…

It's actually a bit funny  - I've been having a lot of gymnastic dreams and flashbacks lately. While I was running the other day, I had a total out of body experience where I was immersed in the moments right before I competed in Athens. How in the world did I handle that pressure?? The butterflies were fluttering so quickly in my stomach, but I also felt so grounded, confident and ready in my mind.

I'm starting to feel like I need to get back to my roots and spend some more time in the gym. I was born to flip, swing and tumble - I need to start feeding that part of me again.

Congratulations on your new gym Kelly. I'm so proud of you!

One thing at a time...

Another thing I've been doing to help me stay organized and proactive is to fight hard to focus on ONE task at a time.

I have the tendency to be reactive and start 8 things at once. I am slightly addicted to the idea that if I don't do it RIGHT NOW, then I will forget about it forever. To combat this, I have been bringing a pen and paper with me when I am completing a task and I will capture the "To Do" that pops into my mind. In the book Making Ideas Happen by Scott Belsky, he calls it the backburner.

It's incredible how much easier it is to make progress when you stay singularly focused one thing. The Big Picture vision is essential to have as you need to know what the end looks and feels like. But you also have to dissect the project into little manageable bits and pieces. Slowly chipping away is the hardest, but best way to get something done. There's no shortcut to success or completion…and if there is, then the task probably isn't worthwhile to take on in the first place.

Proactive and Organized

I am feeling really awesome these days. 

And I know exactly the reasons why…

Firstly, I have been one mega proactive dude. I have not only been thinking 3 steps ahead, but I've been taking action. Example: This morning I have already thrown dinner into the crockpot and I sorted my November receipts for my book keeper. Feels good!

Secondly, I have created some new organization systems in my life. I was surrounded by a desk full of papers and I was spending more time "looking" for something than I was "doing" something. When my desk gets cluttered, it's a direct reflection of what's going on in my mind. It's a sign that my thoughts are scattered, my attention is everywhere, I have trouble focusing and I have a hard time remembering anything. But when I take an hour to sort through the pile and create a system of flow, my mind instantly opens up and feels freedom to create. No longer do I feel bogged down, I feel empowered knowing that whatever I need is exactly where I filed it ;)

Lastly, I have been playing the "timer" game. If there's a task on my list of things to do and I find myself avoiding it (filing, working out, etc), then I throw on a timer for 20 minutes. I tell myself, "I don't need to work at this until it's finished and perfect, I just need to put 20 minutes of effort into it". Then I throw on some Songza.com and get going. Amazingly (and not so surprisingly), I usually find my groove after 10 minutes and the 20 minute timer seems too short.   

It's the little things that make a difference when it comes to productivity and finding a sense of accomplishment. I've come to realize that my life will be a constant roller coaster ride of feeling in and out of control. But it's nice to know that I am establishing some strong defences and habits right now. I'm hopeful that I can keep this streak of proactivity and organization going for the whole month of December. I love heading in to a New Year feeling clear minded, open and in a solid groove. 

SO Dance

Allie and I killed it on Friday night. Mostly Allie.
We also had a total blast.
Check out the photos and video below. Our Dance starts at 1:20 and Allie busts out some MUST SEE freestylin' moves at 4:37.
My heart grew 3 sizes in those 8 minutes.
I can't wait to dance with Allie again.

Allie and I

Allie, Blake McGrath and I

Chip Chop

For the past couple of months, Allie (my Special Olympics partner in crime) and I have been practicing hard for the S.O Dance competition coming up on November 23rd in Edmonton. We have decided to do a Chip Chop - a self-created combination of Cha Cha and Hip Hop. 

The process has been super fun and although I have plenty of experience with living room dance parties, I have never taken formal dance lessons before so this is totally new to me. Allie, on the other hand, is the queen of hip hop and regularly attends classes. Pft. She's kind of a rock star. She had never taken a ballroom lesson though so both of us are newbies to this genre.

I can't think of a better dance partner to share this experience with. Allie is uber talented and a very fast learner. She is full of life and energy. And, as she likes to say, she loves to bust out her swagga'. HA! We have really connected during this process and our lessons have become a highlight of my week. We're like two long lost buddies who are just hanging out and perfecting our dance moves. 

Allie possesses many special qualities, but the one that really stands out to me is her ability to see the greatness in everything. I have never left one of our practices feeling tired - I always feel alive and energized! Here's a sneak peak video of Allie and I busting out our Chip Chop. 

Special Olympics athletes are athletes of the very best kind. Every S.O. athlete I have ever encountered has been honest, hard working, courteous, generous and above all else, super positive. This positivity is insanely infectious and it leaves you smiling for the rest of your day!

Ian (or @docdance_) from Arthur Murray Studios here in Calgary has been an incredible instructor as well. He has definitely gone above and beyond! He taught us our first Cha Cha step, picked our music, choreographed our routine, tweets and facebook's the heck outta our experience and has been our biggest cheerleader along the way. Both Allie and I are extremely appreciative of the support and energy he's been putting towards this project. If you are reading this and you live in Calgary and you want to learn some new bad ass ballroom dance moves, I highly recommend you go to Arthur Murray and ask for Ian. 

I also wanted to put out a special ask. If you have the means and you care about Special Olympics, Allie, myself and all of the athletes at Special Olympics Alberta would greatly appreciate it if you could donate to the organization through Allie and I's fundraising page. Every dollar helps keep the programs running and as I'm sure Allie would tell you, they make a huge difference in the lives of those with a mental disability. 

One more week until the big S.O. Dance show. Wish us luck!

Chip chop,

Kyle

Running Forever

I have been reading 'Born To Run', a book that I recommend everyone reads, and it has been shedding some interesting light on the process of running. One of the principles that really sticks out in my mind is that the best ultra runners in the world mentally approach running differently than weekend warriors. For the ultra runners, it's about being in the moment during the process and not focusing so much on the end. It's about who they become while running the race rather than who they become once they cross the finish line.

I tried to apply this principle to my run last night and it worked brilliantly. I didn't set a pre-determined goal distance and time, I set the goal of thoroughly enjoying the wind against my cheeks, the pitter patter of my feet through the slushy snow and the increase of intensity in my breath as I ascended some epic hills.

I had some initial resistance at the beginning of my run because I am usually driven by the specific measurables. I want to run X amount of km's in X amount of time. Having the goal to focus on and to use as ammunition in pushing myself is usually what turns my crank. But yesterday, I committed to just being present and enjoying each step.

After a while (I don't know how far and I don't know for how long because I didn't press start on my Garmin - it was maybe 8km's in about 40 minutes), I did a body scan and realized that everything was feeling AMAZING! The best part, I was smiling from ear to ear. At that point, I felt like I could run forever.

I am the type of person who gets fixated on a goal and has the tendency to loose perspective. When I want something badly, I tend to narrow my focus, put my head down and grind through it until I figure out a way to get it done. This has benefitted me in the past and is a great technique for short term focus, but it can be pretty exhausting as well. I am starting to realize that it's equally important for me to take a step back and look at the big picture. I need to enjoy the process of life more rather than be obsessed with checking off tasks on the never ending list of things to do.

It's OK to lace up and to go for a run just because you feel like going for a run. You don't always have to be looking to improve. Finding the energy to conquer your previous time isn't accessible every single day and it's important to recognize the times in your life when you need to take that step back. Because at the end of the day, it isn't just about crossing the finish line, it's about who you become along the way…


 

Fabric of my gymnastic life

I've been holding on to a bin full of old competition and training shirts for the past who knows how long in hopes of one day making a t-shirt quilt. Finally, after years of procrastination, Kristin and I (along with countless hours of help from her Mom and Dad, Carol and Maurice, and sister, Amber), buckled down, made a plan and got it done.

First, we assessed the inventory. There were soooo many shirts to choose from and unfortunately many of them didn't make it off the cutting room floor. I picked my "must haves" and then we started to build a pattern on a piece of grid paper.  

Once we had the general puzzle mapped out, we started cutting and sewing…and adjusting. HA! T-shirts don't always end up being the size you thought you were cutting them. Sometimes the corners curl, sometimes the material magically shrinks or stretches after you've cut it. I was so nervous cutting the first shirt, but after it was sliced with a fabric cutter on a quilting board, there was no turning back. 

This project took eight solid sewing/cutting sessions. We even put in four or five hours of hardcore concentration on some occasions. Much like the years of gymnastics it took to earn these shirts, the process of building this quilt took patience, team work, flexibility, attention to detail and a plan.  

When I look at this quilt, every single square inch has meaning to me. If you look to the far right, there are two sets of thin black and white stripes that look like arrows. Those are the sleeves from my favourite training shirt - I wore it so often, it was covered in holes. In the bottom right corner, The CMIGC logo is from my very first Senior International competition in Taipei in 1999. The hand print part way down on the left hand side is from my White Palms movie shirt. Every Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup Final and Commonwealth Games I competed at for Canada are represented here. There are also a few from my favourite summer camp, GymJam, and some miscellaneous memory provokers. 

We still have to put a border/backing on it and fill it with batting, but the foundation of my long awaited tshirt quilt is complete. I absolutely love it and can't think of a better way to preserve memories for a lifetime.  

Writing while flipping

I realized something this morning: I feel compelled to write most when there is a perceived crisis in my life. If I look back at my personal journal (the pen and paper one…weird, I know) and all of my unpublished blogs, I always come to these outlets when I am trying to solve a problem or make something unforeseen make sense. It's my way of sorting things out, clearing the slate and uncluttering my mind so I can see a bit more clearly and start over with a new perspective.

I love to write. And the truth is, I haven't been writing much lately. There have been many things to share and to write about, I have just been in avoidance mode. I feel like I am in that awkward phase of flipping, twisting and turning after letting go of one trapeze. I am trying to create the next chapter in my career and life (the next bar to grab on to) and as I feel like I am flailing all over the place, not quite knowing what that next bar I'll catch looks like, I tend to retreat rather than share. And this morning I realized that maybe I should do the opposite.

So here I am. Stuck in transition. Trying to create the next thing. Sometimes wishing I could blink my eyes and have the next adventure right in front of me, screaming with purpose. It will come, I know. Panic and worry will not make it come faster. I need to patient. I need to be patient. I need to be patient.

Until things become more clear, I am setting a new goal: I will put more focus on enjoying the process of flipping in between.