Two months in and with liifeintechnicolor celebrating its second birthday, i thought now would be a good time to get back into the swing of blogging. i stepped away from my online journal for a few months but i’m settled and ready to reflect on 2012.
On January 12th 2013 liifeintechnicolor turned two. That means for 730 days i started, kept and grew my blog. i posted 22 new entries, and had 4,900 views (almost double from last year) from 63 Countries. So what’s next?
It was a really special year. It encompassed many ups and downs, laughter and tears, sacrifice, self-discipline and determination. Many early mornings, late nights, and home cooked meals. Cant’s were replaced with commitments, and i learned to ask for help when needed. Life changing opportunities made 2012 a significant year. i had 4 personal best running races, i was 1 of 24 applicants selected for the Sears Future Leaders program, i raised $38,000 for pediatric childhood cancer centres across Canada and i rode my bike from Vancouver to Halifax, raised awareness and money for children living with cancer and beyond. 2012 really was a year of accomplishments.
1) Family: My family never ceases to amaze me. Aside for being totally awesome ALL the time, this year i was exceptionally spoiled by their support and willingness to chauffeur my vehicle-less self around . My training and fundraising schedule was very taxing and not once did they complain about the early morning store visits, the late night pick ups from train stations or the occasional weekend they were without a car. There were always clean sheets on my bed, home cooked meals in Mississauga and Toronto and smiling faces at my cycling events. Thank you to my parents, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins for all of your support this past year. i know it probably wasn’t easy but you helped make this year special.
2) Goals setting: 2012 was a year for accomplishing many goals. i had my best running season to date. i was accepted to the Sears Future Leaders Program and took the next step in my career. i picked up a new sport. i juggled work, training and fundraising successfully. i remained focused and positive. i made decisions that were best suited for me even though others at the time begged to differ.
3) Friends: Well here is another group of people who i couldn’t have gotten through twenty twelve without. Although schedule conflicts restricted frequent face-to-face hang outs, efforts were made for phone chats, skype dates and late night text convos. i made many new good friends in 2012 and grew closer with old ones. My best friend Andra is engaged and i am happy to be a part of her wedding party. My roommate Lindsey moved away to Turkey and is enriching the minds of high-schoolers. Melissa made the big move to the city and became my new roommate. Courtney also packed her bags and embraced all Toronto has to offer and became a run leader with me. Tina became a lawyer and won her first trial, but always made the commute in the city for a visit. Lise landed her dream job in teaching and challenged me as a runner. It was a busy year for everyone but i am thankful for each one of you who have positively impacted it.
4) Work: In 12 months i grew within Sears and held 3 different jobs, made new friends and built the foundation necessary for me to continue to grow in my career.
5) Running: Has been fully integrated into my everyday life. i became stronger, faster, smarter and explored my city (and others). i have my wonderful supportive friends and colleagues from Nike to thank for that. i cannot wait to see how much my 2013 portfolio grows and how many new PB’s i set.
6) The Ride: I have been volunteering for just over a year now in hopes of making a difference. I wanted to continue helping others so aside from volunteering at Sick Kids, I took part in an event where my efforts directly made an impact. I stepped out of my comfort zone, challenged myself physically and interacted with my country. I successfully completed a 17 day ride across Canada and had a life changing experience, this past September. I rode and met with incredible people and families, and I experienced the country in ways many have not had the opportunity to. I challenged myself and experienced the challenges and triumphs that are involved in pediatric oncology across Canada. I have gained a new family of fellow riders, many memories and a new passion for cycling. Working with terminally ill children, and seeing how optimistic and passionate about life they are made me appreciate mine to its fullest. i completed the ride with a feeling of accomplishment. Not because i cycled from Coast to Coast but because i knew i made a difference in the life of a child.
8) SNCKR 12: Changed me. I met incredible people who i now call family, and have 26 new riding partners. RV 2-3-4. ( There will be a SNKCR reflection entry in the near future as i know i haven’t done a final posting yet.)
9) Sacrifice and self-discipline go hand in hand. Both are tough. Sacrifice – an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy. Self-discipline – the ability to control one’s feelings and overcome one’s weaknesses; the ability to pursue what one thinks is right despite temptations to abandon it. I went 730 days without eating anything from a deep frier. Not a single french fry, chicken wing, onion ring, chicken finger or anything with a greasy fried outer layer. I passed up many parties, fun nights out with friends and vacations because of training, volunteering, races or because i felt it necessary to start saving money. Sacrifice and self-discipline aren’t easy to practice, but both are traits that come with rewards.
10) i have learned the importance of a balanced healthy diet and how you don’t have to give up the things you enjoy. My love for being in the kitchen continues to grow and allows me to be more adventurous with food selection. i even learned how to make a proper sourdough loaf of bread.
11) Pick your battles. Focus on the ones with specific issue of importance rather than trying to deal with the petty issues that wont matter tomorrow. All important things are worth fighting for, so make sure you fight for them.
I’ve had almost a month to really think about what i want 2013 to be. Who do i want to be, and what do i want to get out of this so-called game of life?
1) I started off really well last year with blogging, but fell off the band wagon 6 months in. This year i will grow my blog from just journal entries, to photos, videos, quotes, art, music, design and anything else that exhibits who KK is.
2) Travel was a big part of 2012 as i experienced the RAW outdoors Canada has to offer. I want to go back and visit my Country and experience it off of a bike…who am i kidding, my bike will DEFINITELY be present.
3) I will continue to give back but also encourage and inspire others to do the same.
4) I will Boston Qualify with a time of 3:30:30, PB in a marathon (3:30:30), 30k (2:25:30), half (1:30:30), 10k (0:40:50), and 5k (0:20:45). I will run 3 times a week and cross train.
5) I will complete a half ironman in under 6 hours.
6) Become a better cyclist.
7) Explore my right brain. Paint, build, sew, knit, CREATE.
8) Progress in my career.
9) Continue to learn but also teach.
10) Be a good friend, sister, daughter, girlfriend and mentor.
11) Challenge and push myself beyond my limits. Run that extra km, save that extra dollar, make that extra sacrifice and work that extra hour.
12) Be patient. Things don’t happen over night.
13) BE HAPPY. Direct quote from last year. “Last but not least…. BE HAPPY. Blissful, chipper, chirpy, content, elated, gleeful, jolly, joyful, peppy, thrilled or tickled. It doesn’t matter how you put it, be one of them. Life is a lot tougher when you’re not happy.”
Happy 2nd Birthday liifeintechnicolor.
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Tags: Bikes, Goals, Running, SNKCR
