I am re-reading the book Failing Forward written by John Maxwell. This is the third time I have picked it up. In fact, I have liked this book so much that it is now in my personal library...As it sounds the book is about failing and moving forward. Today I had someone make me accountable for a mistake, again, in something. No big deal really cause I make mistakes all the time. Learn my lesson, hopefully, and move on.
The difference today was that I really got this great message afterwards....

"The only thing I know I am RIGHT about in my life is that I will often be WRONG: and that's ok." I am so grateful to this person for calling me on my mistake and for providing me with an opportunity to learn my lesson and fail forward.

It feels as if a great mountain has been lifted off my shoulders cause it's awfully hard to be right...but it sure feels right to be wrong...

Living la vida fearless, Jan

Support My Journey
The Weekend to End Breast Cancer is a two-day, 60-kilometre walk through the neighbourhoods of Toronto, taking place September 8-10, 2006.

Proceeds benefit Princess Margaret Hospital, funding important breast cancer research, education, services and care.

So, why am I doing something like this? Really, who, in their right mind, would wake up one day and just decide "Hey, I'm going to walk 60 km in a few months, just for fun." I mean really.....

Gotta be honest with you walking is not my best sport. Swimming, that's different and, if I was asked to swim 60 km, I know I could do that. Walking....well that's a whole other story.

But, here's the thing. I have a mom who has watched friends pass away due to breast cancer, I have watched her cry when being told another friend is beginning treatment. I have a neighbour whose close friend is suffering so very much and is tired of suffering. I have a network of women that I belong to headed by a courageous and honourable woman touched by breast cancer....I have two sisters, I have a daughter, I have nieces and sisters-in-law, I have a best friend, I have so many good friends....I have cousins...We're half the population and I want to be a part of the change for that half....

So, thanks for taking the time to read this, and more importantly, thanks for taking the time to support the women, and their families, who need it most.

And, if you wish to honour my support to walk and raise money, here's how to do it. Go to this link, http://to06.endcancer.ca/site/PageServer?pagename=to06_homepage, click on the icon for "Sponsor a Participant" then search for my name, Janet Auty-Carlisle, and voila, there you are at my home page.
Again, I am grateful to you for your support. Let's be the change we wish to see on this walk and make a difference to the women and their families.

Living la vida fearless, Jan

An Olympic Event

The Olympics have begun in Torino, Italy. Of course it's the winter Olympics given the time of year. That said, I sat down and watched some of the athletes compete recently. First off, hats off to our great women's Canadian hockey team. They rock....Go for gold all the way.
Today I watched the snowboarders catch "some air." 360's, 720's, and 900's....all great numbers but meaningless if you don't follow snowboarding. They relate to the number of full turns they do, while up in the air, spinning before landing.
Amazing. They look like they could fly if only they had wings.
Have you ever tried snowboarding? It may look easy to some I suppose. When I turned 40, almost 10 years ago now, I decided that I would do a lot of things I had been afraid of doing. One of them included snowboarding. I had never been on a snowboard before, and, if truth be told, I am a chicken when it comes to heights. Anything taller, or faster, than me is just plain scary in my eyes....On the other hand if you like getting dizzy and feeling nauseous than it's good being me....
So, back to snowboarding. We packed our gear, headed to the local hill a couple of hours away, rented our gear and made our way out to the lessons we had signed up for. We included my husband, my best friend, her husband and myself. Now, athletic I am not, at least not out of the water. We met our instructor, a man: boy really: more than half my age. He had probably only learned how to walk a few years earlier come to think of it....
Anyway, he shows us how to go on the lift, without falling off, a feat in and of itself. He also shows us how to do a few moves that include moving forward. Wait a minute! Moving? Forward? On my feet? Well, technically I did manage to move forward, down the hill, with my board....on my butt...And, I am happy to say, that I got really good at that! The problem was, they started us on a big hill: or so I thought.
I kept working at that big hill, down I'd fall, I'd get back up, start again, move forward and boom...down I'd fall...over and over. Until, I couldn't believe it, they were asking us to go to the next big hill. When I didn't move the instructor came over to me and said, very politely, "Ma'am: um, excuse me, these little kids here need to work on the bunny hill now. You will have to move on." Bunny Hill? Bunny Hill? Who was he kidding?
Sucking in my breath, board still on my feet, I moved on...to the next big hill. And started down...eyes closed most of the time which is probably best because it's easier to fall that way and keep the snow out of your eyes at the same time.
Once I was at the bottom I stayed there. I knew enough to give my weary body a rest. My husband aced it the first time and hasn't looked back. My best friend fell, hurt her back, and hasn't been able to look back since. Her husband did ok and won't try it again.
Which takes me back to Torino. Being an Olympic athlete is a life mission. It is a passion. You can't be the best in the world without great sacrifice, great motivation, great coaches and a never quit attitude. These people don't decide one day that they will just "go to the Olympics" and then wait for it to happen. They train, and they work and they psyche themselves up. They sacrifice social lives and personal lives for this goal. And only one will win the gold: but still they try.
What makes you work like an Olympian? What causes you to never say die, to stay motivated, to be so clear that nothing can divert you?
Here's to great achievements. Great dreams and great determination. I salute all who are competing in this year's Olympics. May you succeed far beyond your imaginations.
To all you non-Olympians out there: the same message. May you succeed in all that you strive to do. Make your intentions clear and concise and visualize the goal then go for it!
Living la vida fearless,
Jan
www.tobeyourbest.net