personal development

I am the worst kind of competitive.  You know, one of those people who doesn’t think she is competitive, who thinks she is a good enough person that she can turn it off when with family and small children, that is until somebody in the room yells “go”.  Then her true nature shows.  To those who asked about the place of competitive in my life, post rowing, I had wonderful answers like I had found a balance, like I could just enjoy sport for fun, like now I was going for health rather than winning.

I love beginnings.  They are filled with promise and the unknown; it seems like anything can happen.  The New Year 2013 is a beginning, it is an entirely different year and so entirely different things can happen.  I could become better organized, punctual, and less prone to forgetting dentist appointments.   I could, in fact do all of these things, but I have learned to choose my resolutions carefully.  As in most things, focus is a key ingredient to successful resolutions.  For years I began my new year by listing all the things I was proud of in the previous year, this was a feel good wa

Goal setting has been part of my life since my early days as a track runner.  With four Olympics and years of leading others in the discovering and living their potential, you would think setting a New Years resolution would be a snap.  I had created my list of what I am proud of in 2011, I started my list of intentions for 2012 when I stumbled upon a critical flaw in the 2012 list; not all the things I was including on my intention list were aligned with the vision I hold of where I want to be in five years.  There were several things on the list that were significant tangents, enjoyable a

Once again I find myself on the Sky Train en route to the Richmond Oval. Canada's Christine Nesbitt is favoured to win and the Sky Train s is packed with Canada flags. Try blogging on a Blackberry while standing on the Sky Train. My kids are sitting eating their lunch; I gave them eight minutes to down their sandwich. I can't afford anymore twenty dollar hot dog stops, I am saving my money for a great speed skating shirt for each of them. Anyway, after last nights hotdog induced indigestion my gut needs a break.

I opened the globe and mail today to see the most beautiful image of Jennifer Heil just missing a gold medal. Her face is so calm and composed, and sad all at once. The stakes in sport are so high, you train so intensely for so many years, and a little wobble of the knee, and gold turns to silver. She had a beautiful run and knew it but the American Hannah Kearney was just a little bit better. You are amazing and inspiring Jennifer.