Yes, Please!

The rain was arrived, the air is brisk, and the clouds are grey..... winter is here.
SUP season is on the down low,  not that many people want to brave the freezin water temperatures combined with the freezin air temperatures and risk the uncomfortableness of it all. Luckily, I DO! HA BUT first things first.....

 Earlier in November, my two part time jobs (thank you Deep Cove Canoe and Kayaks and GreenHeart: totally loved working for both companies and appreciate the support!) came to an end as the season changed from pleasant in the city to dreary in the city....The last 3 weeks: I've been trying to find a way to support my new SUP RACING hobbie with some sort of income/job.... Yes, I have moments of doubt, moments where my confidence is on the fence and about to drop off and crack, and yes I feel like an idiot sometimes..... I am 32 and looking for a job again.... hmmm... I am at that point in my life where, I don't think I want just any old job ( I have career ambitions/goals....) but am also at a point where I want to train loads, race lots, and plan and execute expeditions, ane spend time with my hubby and friends...... It is a true struggle...

Funny enough within 1 great day I found 2 jobs that will provide me with new work, fun (I hope!), exciting goals, and income for at least 6 months... Fortunately, they are jobs which are providing me with an even stronger base/experience towards something very exciting (I hope!). I am truly excited to see where these jobs lead me in all aspects of ME but am also nervous about how they will affect my goals for my SUP racing year of 2013... Already, I can not make one of the races I was truly looking forward to: the ISA World Champs in Peru. I was super stoked to paddle for CAN but the timing does not work anymore. What a tough internal decision this was for me. I have to think about sooooo many things and sometimes in life you just have to choose and hope your choice was the right one for you. I had to choose between a job that I can see myself doing and loving for awhile, or at the very least help provide me with amazing experience for future employment opportunities and a race I felt would help me further develop the athlete in me. Deep down in my gut I knew I could not pass up the job opportunity that has been given to me, a job that I so badly was hoping to get the opportunity to try. I had to look at the race in Peru in a different light and although my heart wanted to go I could see there were other opportunities for me to race and pursue my SUP goals for 2013. Sacrifices....

Since my return to Vancouver I have been enjoying all that I was missing while working and living in China. One of those is crossfit. Crossfit Vancouver (Tbear and Kelly) are awesome and it has been such a pleasure to get back into the gym, sweat, push myself, and feel the soreness of a hard push.... I missed it last year,...

I am trying to figure out a schedule for on water/off water "playing" (some would call it training but I prefer the word play) its tough without knowing what my schedule is and that it could change at any moment. I have been able to train more than a working individual these last 3 weeks which has been AWESOME! I love it love it love it.... I am nervous about the next 6 months when I begin work, how will that affect my training? my energy levels? there will be so much to balance: work, family, training, friends, preping for teaching, commuting, relaxing(....who needs to relax?!?haha)... BREATHE..... I will figure it out and love it...

Its funny I sometimes don't realize how successful I have been in my area of expertise. I love live music, plays, musicals, theatre, dance shows, etc.  I just recently got to experience 2 concerts and a contemporary dance show that a friend was a choreographer for. I look at these people on stage and think, geez that is so incredible that they were able to find a gift, and deliver and share it with all these people.... COOL.... I wish I had that...  then I have to step back, reflect and realize I get to do this as well. I get to do it my way in the form of athletics.... EVEN COOLER! HA....

I am looking forward to hopefully securing my secret weapon for 2013 to help me break through and reach my goals. He is am amazing person who inspires me through his passion and his ability to take that passion and his dreams and create an amazing life for himself and others by just getting out there and doing it. I am taking a leap of faith in myself, putting myself out there and hopefully I can make it happen for myself and for others. I want to prove to myself, and especially to others that if you want it badly enough, no matter your situation, with passion, drive, love, determination, and creativity you can also make it happen. We all have gifts, we all flourish in our ow ways, .... love and enjoy your own and then share it! I love learning from others, and being inspired by others!

I like to ensure I take every/most opportunities that are given to me in life... I saw an opportunity to further develop as a person, athlete, and teacher and I grabed it. I am soooooo looking forward to spending 1.5 weeks in MEXICO with the amazing Pacific Paddle Surf family. I met Adam and Vero in Cabo and their spirit, kindness, and passion rubbed onto to me and I needed more of it. I will be off training, teaching, learning, and of course taking in the warm sunshine! THANK YOU Adam and Vero for this opportunity and thank you to Andrew for supporting me in these random acts I do!

live, love, laugh,...DREAM!
lina