The End of an Era

It was with a heavy heart I walked on to the bench today. I knew it was the last time I would be showing up for these girls. It was the end of and era, the last game that Stephanie and I stand on a bench together, to get mad, get frustrated, get excited, get nervous and way to into a game of soccer played by 14 year olds. From the day we started this adventure we knew this day was inevitable, it certainly does not make it any easier. When we started this we were not at all sure what to expect, nor were we sure what was expected of us. That first winter was a rocky one; we had a lot to learn about our new roles. By the time we made it to that first summer things were rolling. Yes, we had plenty of help, the managers, the technical director, the technical staff, and the club officials (one in particular, Paul, always had our back… no matter what. Even when I might not have.) The more we were out there, the more we got to know the girls the better things were getting, Stephanie and I really found our groove and we thank everyone who has stood behind us through all of this, and they certainly know who they are.

As sad as today was, and as hard as it was to say goodbye I look back fondly. These girls and this experience have left me with some of my happiest memories. I will not soon forget our time together, I will not forget all of the things they have taught me, because I know they have taught me more than I ever could have taught them. It goes way beyond the perfect pass, and the prefect play. It has been much bigger than that, and I could not have asked for better. As I move on I will take my own advice “heads-ups, next play.” You never know what is coming next; you just have to be ready. Prepared for that moment when it all changes again.

I must say has been an absolute privilege to spend the last few years coaching with Stephanie, probably the one good thing Alan and Phil did, getting us to coach together. Between the hangovers the hangouts, and the hang-ups we survived. There were certainly days we did not think we would, nor did we think we could. There are days they drove us crazy, and their parents drove us crazier (if at all possible!)

I will say this I would not have wanted to put up with all of that with anyone else. We may not have ever gone to nationals but we have successfully won the Gunn, won provincials, thrown numerous kids in the pool, wore Winnie the Pooh ponchos. We have survived broken windows, flash light tag, road trips, nose bleeds, bugs in the eye, broken bones, and broken hearts. We have fallen in love with the girls, our little soccer babies, and in my opinion we have impacted many players on and off of the field. That is something not all coaches are lucky enough to say.  And not all coaches are lucky enough to say they did all of that with their best friends, so thank you Stephy. I would not have wanted to do this with anyone but you, you made the tough days bearable, you made the losses easier to deal with, and you made the victories more exciting, you made everything more fun.

 In our time doing this we have seen many players come and go, and I have a special place for each of them in my heart. I will be cheering for them on and off of the field for the rest of their lives. They are all special, talented, funny, and amazing people all in different ways. Each player we have seen has had something different to offer, something different to teach Stephanie and I. I must thank them for all of the hard work they put in over the years; I thank them for making my job fun, for keeping me on my toes, for making it easy and enjoyable to show up every single day. I appreciate each and every single one of my soccer babies, and wish them the best. I will be there next summer, much less stressed, sitting on the other side of the field cheering you all on.

 Thank you for the memories ❤

Biggest Loser Season 11 – Review

Biggest Loser Season 11 is done and wrapped up with a bow. I plan on giving you a little run down on how I felt the season went, but first I would love to go on a quick jaunt down memory lane. I can remember before the first season of this show premiered how controversial it was, and to think if all of that had gotten in the way of what this has become. So many lives have been changed for the better, not just the people on the show, but the people at home too, it has become this giant revolution motivating people to get off of the couch and become the people they deserve to be.

This is a show I have watched with so much dedication, rarely miss it when it is on, and when I have to I always tape it (and steer clear of twitter and blogs until I watch it.) I must however admit that this will likely be my last season watching. Last time Jillian was not a trainer on this show I found it much harder to get in to. In recent years with her and Bob working together it has reaffirmed why this show is successful and why I love it so much.

I know this season Brett and Cara were made to be the bad guys in a sense, however I must admit I love Brett, he has really grown on me, and you could see his growth throughout the season. I think he will be an asset to this show in coming seasons. As for Cara she never grew on me, I cannot see it happening anytime soon, which is unfortunate as she is a champion and a very strong woman. I am just quite simply not a fan.

As for Anna Kournikova joining the training team (which was the worst kept secret ever) I am not completely thrilled, I feel it is based on the fact it will get them a ratings boost, however I feel they should have picked a past contestant we already love. Someone like Ali Vincent, or they should have gone out just like they did in with Bob, Jillian, Brett, and Cara and found some hidden personality with a whole lot of talent, and a lot to offer.

I could not have asked for a better final season to watch. The day team purple walked onto the ranch, started cracking jokes, shedding pounds, and being real I absolutely fell in love with them and everything they were about. I could not help but cheer for them, and was lucky enough to get to right through to the very end.  I freaked out weeks they fell below, and celebrated every time they climbed those stairs and shed those pounds. Their attitudes were infectious; I don’t know anyone who did not fall in love with these sisters.

I am so glad that in the end, it was just the two of them standing up there ready to begin their new lives together. You could tell they were real that they were honest, they were humble hard working determined, motivated, and destined for success. They made friends, and they were just two members of a group of girls who I believe made this season what it was. Courtney and Irene were also both very strong women who were motivated and motivating all at the same time.

Right from the beginning it seemed like this the guy’s game to win, as it seems every year, however this year we were lucky enough to see a top three made up of all women. I must admit the first few weeks it was scary seeing Jillian and Bob’s team struggling, however I had faith in the fact they knew how to do their jobs and that in the long run you would see their original contestants have great success, and I was not wrong. The top four were all original Jillian and Bob contestants.

This season really seemed to have a theme, and that was facing fears. It always is a common thread in every season, but this season they really seemed to push the contestants and even the trainers to face fears, to keep pushing and working, and it made for great television. I loved how much they included past contestants this year, I especially loved Tara coming back to kick more butt in the car pulling challenge! Mind you there was one major event that was missing this year, which would be the marathon. I was very disappointed that it was not on this season. It is always a favorite of mine; it is a full circle moment. The contestants begin their journey on this show struggling to walk 5km and then end off their journey running a marathon. It is a symbol of how far they have come, and where they are going. I think it is something the show should certainly think about bringing back.

The words that Ken had tattooed on his arm really hit home for me, and are words that will stick with me long after this season is over:

“What you’re for strengthens you.”

What you believe in makes you who you are, it makes you better, it makes you stronger, and it challenges you in a way. These contestants without a doubt proved that it is a matter of believing in yourself and being willing to put the work in and make the sacrifices.

Each year the weight losses and changes get more dramatic, this year was no exception. It was a great year, and I was happy with the results, and I am happy I spent my Tuesday nights this year watching BL11. All in all this has been one of my favorite seasons ever.

PS – Cannot forget to mention Ali Sweeney, this show has been greatly improved since she joined the team, you can see her passion for her job, you can see she cares about these contestants, and although live shows do not seem to be her thing she is the PERFECT host for this show.

Summer School

Summer school… two words I never thought I would be saying, and one thing I never thought I would be involved in. Mind you this was my ticket to graduating early, and I could not pass that up. The worst part of these classes is they are electives, neither of which I have a whole lot of interest in. It makes it hard to get motivated to get these courses done. Mind you the motivation for me comes with the fact this is my last step on this long journey to get a lovely piece of paper that hangs on my wall.

I have a lot of determination, and plenty of ambitions, however this is a task I am struggling with. I am already roughly a week and a half behind in classes, however this morning I woke up with a fire under my butt, a feeling that I really need to get this done. I am hoping this motivation lasts through the next month and a half.

I am looking forward to the day I am done, and I am looking to forward to the person I could someday be.

Voicemails & Proud Moments

Yesterday was a day I was proud of beyond many I have had in my life. I survived what was to be my hardest semester, what were to be my toughest courses, and what became my most strenuous two weeks. I may not have done it with a ton of grace, or all kinds of dignity, but I did it. Yesterday I passed in my final marketing strategies paper, and I don’t think I ever felt more relieved.

I am not yet done my degree, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel, two arts electives stand between my degree and I. These courses I know will be a challenge for me, and I am looking forward to it. However I must admit when I finished my paper and submitted it yesterday I felt a weight lift off of my shoulders, I felt accomplished, and I felt proud.

Me being proud of myself is one thing, but I was shocked, I received a few voicemails and text messages from close friends, as well as from some unexpected people, and it really warmed my heart, and made the moment even sweeter. I know how cheesy that truly sounds but honestly that is how I felt, it was something so simple to do, and most did not even realize how much it meant to me. From people telling me to go enjoy a beer, and have a great day, to others telling me to take over the world.

I always knew I would do the whole university thing, I always new I would finish university, and enjoy every minute… or at least most minutes. It is just weird to think it is all coming to an end, and I really don’t know where I am going to end up next. It is nice to know I can finish what I start, and even nicer to know how many people believe in me.

No matter what is next, no matter the accomplishments, no matter the challenge, no matter the moment I have all the right people in my corner, and they are the people that keep me going, the people that make me want to be better.

Time Management

The workload the last three weeks has been stressful, however I shocked myself with how well I managed my time. I knew I was going to be busy, it was to be expected with my course load, and with the amount I had going on. It was like a call to action for the inner planner and time manager in me.

In prior years during exam crunch my time management skills have not been impeccable, and I certainly had a thing or two to learn. I knew what I was going to be up against this year, more specifically this week. As this week got closer and closer I really didn’t think I was going to be able to handle it gracefully, or get any sleep for that matter. Let me say this once, as I do not say it often, I was wrong. It only took me seven exam periods to learn how to properly manage this hectic time of year.

I made the most comprehensive plan I have ever made; I basically made a plan about my plan. I had productivity goals for the weeks leading up to this week. I survived long enough to make it to this week, now I have daily and hourly productivity goals in place. They were basically guidelines, not easy ones to meet; however I must admit thus far I have met every single one. It was difficult, but I really focused on my plan, I really focused on my work, and I had success. It has been a great feeling, and very satisfying to achieve this level of organization, goal setting, and productivity.

I know the week is far from over, and I still have a huge list of things to do; however if I stay motivated, and if I stay on track I should survive the remainder of my university degree. Although this was not a skill taught to me in a course, it is something I can take away from my university experience. Not everything I learned the last four years has been learned in a classroom. Here is to having a million more opportunities to learn, and here is to surviving the rest of my week so I can enjoy the first step to the rest of my life.

Last Class… Bash?

Today was the last time I walked into class and took a seat as an undergraduate student at Mount Saint Vincent University, I do not know how to feel about this. I am very excited that school is coming to an end, that I get to spend my summer on the soccer field, that after four long years and a whole lot of work I am going to cross that finish line.  However there is a scary part to all of this. I am someone who has never really known my end goal, where I want to be or what I am going to end up doing.

With that being said I have always been someone who has forged a path, not always the one of least resistance, but I have made my way to where I am today. I made it here through sheer determination, hard work, some goal setting, and of course I made a ton of lists, and I made lists about those lists. I have always been someone who knows which step comes next, or which project I need to work on next, I am terrified as for the first time I do not know my next move, I feel like my life is so open ended. This could be a great thing for me or it might not be, that has yet to be determined. I am just anxious to find out what is going to happen to me next.

It is not that I am the student who counted the minutes until I got to leave university; I had a great time at The Mount, best four years I have had. I have met some incredible people, I have learned some pretty cool things, and I made some irreplaceable memories. I am grateful for every moment I have had, and every person who made my experience what it was. I am just looking forward to the road that lies ahead, I always seem to find a great adventure or a great experience in everything I choose to do. I am hoping this will be no different.

Four years have come and gone, I am happy I earned a piece of paper I can hang on my wall, but more importantly I am happy about the fact I earned a future, I made friends, I learned a lot about who I was, about who I could be. I had hilarious nights, and I had perfect days. I feel lucky and honoured that I had such a great time, and I am hoping that my future will bring just as many, if not more, good days and happy days than I have already had.

We Are Mystics

“Every champion was once a rookie” – Unknown

October 25th 2009 – MSVU 1 vs UKC 0 (regulation time)

I am sitting here on a Monday night, five sleeps away from another ACAA championship weekend. My fourth trip to an ACAA championship weekend in four years as an MSVU Mystic. Our name yet again tops the leader board as we head to Truro for a weekend of tough competition, there are teams out to get us, there is a certain level of expectation that comes with being a part of the women’s soccer program at MSVU, and that expectation is