Do things that SCARE you!

So, my last post was about doing things that are HARD. Today, my post is about doing things that SCARE you. There is a difference...my last triathlon (in Fort Macleod) was hard. I wasn't scared or really concerned, I knew it would be hard, but it didn't really scare me. My next triathlon, Banff, scares me!!!! It's an open water swim, in Banff, the mountains, in September, it's going to be COLD!! The bike course will not be closed to traffic (crazy, unpredictable tourists!) and we are to beware of wildlife on the road (specifically big horn sheep!) that could be interesting. The run is the only thing that doesn't scare me! But it's a HUGE event, there will be olympic athletes, it's a qualifying race for other big time races. There's going to be tons of people. I'm not going to let me fear take over, I will succeed and I will be so happy when I cross the finish line!

What are YOU going to do that scares you?

Once you do that thing, you'll realize that it didn't kill you and that you can do AMAZING things!

Hard things

Two years ago I was in charge of our family reunion (my dad's family). It was a very hard thing to do, with 10 siblings, the Michel Family has grown to be a very large family! We do the reunion every three years. I made the theme of the reunion We Can Do Hard Things. Planning the reunion and trying to make it a great experience for so many people was a hard thing for me, but when everyone had a great time, it was worth the stress and hard work I had to do.

This summer I have been training for a triathlon. My first triathlon was 4 years ago and I loved it. I've wanted to do it again and this year was a great time. I signed up for the Fort Macleod triathlon, sprint distance. (This was my first full triathlon ever, supersprint distance). I've since added a Stirling triathlon (completed 2 weeks ago), and Banff (Sept 7)! But Fort Macleod was still that one I wanted to do! Then I got sick!!! I was home in bed with strep throat for 3 days! I was finally feeling better on Friday, but still not 100%. Saturday I felt good, but I knew I had no reserves (no food for a week will drain any stores you have)!

Through the entire event I struggled with myself. In the pool I stuggled to breathe and had to go slow. On the bike the wind was blowing against me and I had to go up the worst hill I've ever seen!, on the run I felt like puking on the side of the road. But then, in the pool I felt smooth with my stroke, after the turnaround the hill wasn't so bad and the wind was at my back, on the run...I knew I was almost done (I did walk most of the 5 k, but it was all I could do)!

I've never cried when I finished a race, but I did that day. It was HARD, but I DID it! I could have not done it, or I could have quit, but I pushed through and I did it! Banff is going to be a cakewalk now! (not really, but I'm excited for it).

I really think that doing hard things is something we should always be striving for. To try hard things and then accomplish them brings a feeling better than trying something you know you'll be good at. So go and do something HARD!

please note, my hard things aren't nearly as hard as others, but we all need to dig deep to get through the hard things in our lives!

Bucket list

I have decided i need a bucket list...here goes

1. complete an Ironman triathlon
2. complete Escape from Alcatraz triathlon
3. become a Scentsy Family SuperStar Director
4. go to Jerusalem
5. go to Switzerland
6. go to Australia and New Zealand
7. Run a Marathon
8. go up in a hot air balloon
9. go to Mt. Everest base camp
10. return to the Philippines

Is that a good enough start? I can always add to it, can't I.

Scentsy Family Reunion 2013 part 2

The thing that I love about the Scentsy Family, they love to have consultants share what they know, and all those consultants are willing to share what they know to help everyone grow and improve. This year at reunion we had several consultants speak to us. Here are a few of the points I enjoyed the most...

Sarah Matanane: she talked about booking blitzes (calling/texting/messaging as many people as  you can in a short period of time with the sole purpose of booking parties). one quote she used was by Mark Victor Hansen  “Don't wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.”

Danette Kroll said "it's not the gift that matters, it's the value YOU leave"

Teri Newman said "if you have the will to achieve your goals, you will WIN"

Jenae Sexton quoted Hank Aaron  “The pitcher has got only a ball. I've got a bat. So the percentage in weapons is in my favour and I let the fellow with the ball do the fretting."  I've got the bat, the weapon is in my favour! I will not fret. It's about loving what you do and sharing it with the world, build those relationships so that they know why you want to share it with them.

Maurita Tollestrup was my favourite consultant speaker of the week, not only because I know her, but I really did love the message she had to share. She talked about beginning with an end in mind, then map it out. If you plot where you are going, you are more likely to make it there as our actions will lead to the results we want! 

Here's part of my map, though not the end, just some steps along the way, these goals will guide me to the end I'm aiming for!

quick weekend getaway

Last week Monday Chris suggested we go camping on the weekend! We quickly checked out Waterton Springs Campground (a great campground just outside Waterton Park). They had 1 spot available and we snatched it up! We packed everything up on Thursday, then Chris and I worked Friday and headed out after work. We didn't have time to do anything Friday night, but Saturday was filled with all kinds of Waterton traditions...

We all made it up Bear's Hump! (those stairs they added are HUGE, poor little Blakelee could barely make it up some of them!)

Then we headed over to the Prince of Wales Hotel. The last time we were in Waterton the kids wanted to know what that big house was, so we told them, Kayla asked where the wales were :) then this weekend Blake said, it's the dolphin house! 

We stopped by the cabin to see Grandpa Ted (my grandpa) and he invited us to go fishing. We spent the afternoon on the boat enjoying the sunshine and beautiful scenery. We didn't catch any fish, but it was still lots of fun.

We stopped by the big scoop for the traditional icecream cone and Kayla had chocolate, can you tell?

S'mores by the campfire made even better with Velata caramel milk chocolate!! YUM

Sunday morning before church we stopped by Cameron Falls and climbed up to the lookout. Kayla wanted to stay all day long!

Goodbye Waterton, but only for a few weeks, we'll be back!!

Slump

After almost 5 months of running, adding in swimming and biking. Training for races along the way. I hit a wall! a little over a week ago I ran a 5k fun run (Scentsy Family Reunion 1st ever) in Indianapolis, Indiana. WOW! The humidity was something I wasn't ready for. I knew it would be hot and humid, but I never thought it would affect my running so much...it did. It was the first time I've ever felt like puking while running (I have a friend that pukes everytime she runs!!) and I had to walk part of it just to finish. I did finish and felt good about it (though not happy with my time). The rest of the week was filled with tons of walking while I attended the Reunion (aka convention). I did run 5k the saturday morning before I left, but since then I've been fighting to keep training! I've had to force myself to get out and struggled to finish even 5k training runs!

Now begins a new week, I will focus on the triathlon that I have coming up August 17th! Bike on Monday, Run on Tuesday/Wednesday, Swim on Thursday, Bike on Friday, Run on Saturday morning (aiming for 8k) and a bike ride with the family! There, it's out there and I'm accountable (if only to my computer, I can do it!)

Create your look!

I love this video about how to create 20 different looks with just one bag, 2 clutches and 2 accessories! This is also a sneak peak at what will be available August 1st!! So excited about the new catalog, eeeekkkk!