For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace. - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Since as far back as I can remember I have been perpetually training for my next season. It use to be basketball - first it was the regular season, then spring league, followed by summer off-season training and before you knew it training camp was just around the corner. Once basketball ended, it was training for the frisbee season. The indoor league begins in September, which gives you a few weeks to prepare for the CQU4 indoor circuit, which typically begins in November. That lasts until April and before you know it the outdoor season begins - with monthly tournaments and the Canadian Ultimate Championship (CUC) mid-August. Really, with the exception of my achilles tendon injury, I have been in a never-ending season of various athletic pursuits! Truth be told, I have loved every minute of these experiences and I would not have changed a thing. And, despite the multiple injuries, trips to the phyiso and acupuncture clinics and very sore mornings - because of my ankles - this season of my life has been both comfortable and safe. The pre-season, in-season and off-season training, along with big games, the constant presence of teammates, coaches and athletic therapists and traveling in large groups, is all reassuring to me - it's what I know! But, these past few months I have been questioning if this is what I still love to do. Since the end of the CUC's last August I have felt pulled towards a new challenge, or rather a new season of my life. I have needed these past competitive seasons to challenge me and grow into the person that I am proud to be today. Competitive sports gave me so much - discipline, self-confidence, opportunities to travel, friendships, and ultimately an opportunity to pursue a higher education - in other words, it helped me become me!
But to be able grow as a person, one must live new experiences and face new challenges, and that is the season of my life that I now find myself in. Since announcing that I would be taking a break from frisbee this summer, I have felt a pull towards traveling! More specifically, I have felt a pull towards hiking the Compostelle Trail and not just a section of this trail, but rather the entire thing. That's right all 780 km! Like always, I'm an all or nothing type of person. I'm not exactly sure yet why I'm going. At first I thought it was because I would have the opportunity to travel across Europe and face the ultimate challenge of hiking nearly 800 km at one time. And yet, as I was getting closer and closer to having to buy a plane ticket and make a real commitment to go, I realized that was it was more than just another challenge. It's hard to put into words, but I really feel like I need to go and do this. And so here I am, just over a month away from my trip, and I feel anxious and excited about the unknown that lies ahead; much like I have felt before stepping onto the court or the field for the start of a new season. I guess in many ways I am starting a new season. But this time my motivation isn't a gold medal at a national championship, but rather a deeper understanding of who I am and a better ability to be still and listen, so that I can have a clearer direction of where I'm going.
Much like every sport season that I have ever gone through, this adventure is going to be physically, mentally and emotionally tiring, but equally enriching and life changing. My goal with this blog is to share my experiences through this season with you - both in English and in French. Enjoy!
Buen Camino!
But to be able grow as a person, one must live new experiences and face new challenges, and that is the season of my life that I now find myself in. Since announcing that I would be taking a break from frisbee this summer, I have felt a pull towards traveling! More specifically, I have felt a pull towards hiking the Compostelle Trail and not just a section of this trail, but rather the entire thing. That's right all 780 km! Like always, I'm an all or nothing type of person. I'm not exactly sure yet why I'm going. At first I thought it was because I would have the opportunity to travel across Europe and face the ultimate challenge of hiking nearly 800 km at one time. And yet, as I was getting closer and closer to having to buy a plane ticket and make a real commitment to go, I realized that was it was more than just another challenge. It's hard to put into words, but I really feel like I need to go and do this. And so here I am, just over a month away from my trip, and I feel anxious and excited about the unknown that lies ahead; much like I have felt before stepping onto the court or the field for the start of a new season. I guess in many ways I am starting a new season. But this time my motivation isn't a gold medal at a national championship, but rather a deeper understanding of who I am and a better ability to be still and listen, so that I can have a clearer direction of where I'm going.
Much like every sport season that I have ever gone through, this adventure is going to be physically, mentally and emotionally tiring, but equally enriching and life changing. My goal with this blog is to share my experiences through this season with you - both in English and in French. Enjoy!
Buen Camino!
