New additions ...

here are some additions to the list from before ...

#29 Run 5km in Bridge to Brisbane - it was supposed to be 10km but I told my synchro girls that if they run with me I will sacrifice my 10 for 5 .... should be fun :-)
























#30 Get my nursing license transferred :-)

Process started Sept 2, 2010 ....we will have to wait and see what comes of it !



#31 Learn on song on a musical instrument - piano: Vietnamese School song


#32 finish my papers before the due date


#33 get a scooter


#34 this is a toughy - stop biting my nails (date: Dec 31, 2010)


#35 Swim a 2km ocean swim (or another 1km but MUCH faster)

Rock 2 rock


















#36 get active again


#37 taking a Global perspective - advocate towards MDG #5











Please visit and get on board ! This band-wagon is worth jumping in on !


WHO on Improving Maternal Health






Just cause I love this video :-)







#38 volunteer again


#39 visit Tasmania


#40 Sydney and Canberra with Natalie


#41 make a trip home (aka: where ever my parents are) once a year (no excuses)


#42 it's still half full :-)


#43 work as a nurse in Cambodia and Vietnam


#44 get moving


#45 stop being a wuss and 'man-up' to the cold showers in my QLD-house


#46 (when the waters are warmer (in Sept I hope) get out surfing once a week


#47 get back to photography


#48 take a life of a huntsman (just once, it's cruel otherwise) - not yet accomplished 0-2

















#49 read the list of books (from Julie's collection) over the head of my bed (6 more to go) then pick new ones from Julie's collection ...




#50 make time ...


#51 meet an innovator and a gentleman: Stiglitz




















#52 give ...this time to the kids in Fiji




















#53 hike




















#54 bake




















#55 Read: The Te of Piglet - Benjamin Hoff




<----- some would argue it's me :-) #56 sleep more :-) #57 make a funny face :-)















#58 become a veggie for a month (in support of my roommate)




















#59 see how long I can STAY a veggie (in support of Lacey and Karissa!)















2005 ?






















#60

Accomplishments so far ...

The resources are limited but the ideas are endless. The immediate responsibilities are calling yet all I can think about is how else to indulge in life's pleasures :-)

I am re-visiting the list to make sure I didn't miss any new ideas and check off those which are completed.


Australia/ New Zealand
1) Check out most of the East coast (Cairns to learn scuba diving)
2) Drive to Perth then to Darwin ----> Alice ---> Tazmania
3) Glacier climbing in NZ
4) watch an All Blacks home game
DONE 5) visit Fiji as a tourist
DONE 6) Learn how to surf - Noosa's main beach ....and I ride goofy if you are interested :-)


Other Travels:
7) work at the WHO (Geneva) - hmmm maybe .... still hesitant

8) Canadian cross country tour (once I'm back on home turf)

9) India for yoga lessons

10) India for cooking school

11) Cultures to experience from up close: Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan

12) Back pack: Greece (Croatia), Italy, Morocco, Netherlands, France, Germany, Malta, Sweden (maybe more ?) - Roxy, you better be ready cause here I come :-)



Life interests:
13) publish a book (I have some ideas for the chapters now)

14) learn to play the guitar (lessons might start in Australia)- I did start, however, thanks to my Vietnamese roommate I can now play another song on the piano

15) Try to make as many ethnic foods as possible- curry (variety of colours), authentic stir-fries, Fanta-chicken (or Cola), cabbage rolls, a list of soups (egg, potato, veggie with broth, vaggie with cream), banana bread b/c it's my fave :-)

16) fly in a hot air balloon

17) volunteer at a community centre - this is my very next :-)

18) sing more, laugh more, dance (more if feet allows for)

19) love :-)

20) stay positive (more)

21) sit with Granny and talk (asap) - I will call her soon

22) own a specific car and motorcycle (won't elaborate on this because I do feel a sense of guilt for wanting these 2 things)

23) Reunite in Hawaii with the Guelph peeps at the age of 30



Career goals:
#7 - work at WHO (first, back to the roots)

24) one day, (sigh) work in a hospital again, anywhere ...

25) Develop policies which promote health and justice in the world - MDG #5

26) collaborate on an NGO mission

27) take a stand for health care by participating in a munk debate



Sport/ leisure activities:
27) score in water polo (on a break away) - polo is on hold at the moment :-)


28) possibly get involve in coaching synchro again - create, encourage, empower - This was a TRUE attempt however, due to politics and logistics beyond my control I have decided to end my synchro career here and now, it's been great to know synchro but I think 2010 is my official retiring year, unless I suddenly get a phone call .... then a few more months but by Dec I am done :-) (maybe it's for the better)

Summing up the 1st Q and looking on to the next...

It is 11:11 on Aug 22, exactly 49 minutes and 1 month away from entering my Q2 and what better way to avoid writing my major paper (which is due in 2 days) then to take some time and look back on Q1.

These Q's I'm talking about are life quarters. I can confidently say that I have had an amazing first quarter and if I were to make a basketball/water polo analogy here is what I would have say:

I owned the court/pool and gave it my all. I kept my eye on the prize and played this 1st quarter with all my heart in the game. Defensively, I choked at times and let the game have the best of me but I always knew to brush-away the disappointments and get my head back in the game. I payed close attention to some of the mistakes during this first quarter and tried my best to follow through with corrections learned form myself (while playing this game) and from people on the side lines: my #1 coach(es) (Mom and Dad), some of my teammates (my friends) and even from the on-lookers from the distance, cheering me on.

During the game, I visualized before I made each move. I was told that visualizing yourself doing something (not watching but rather being in the moment as you visualize the act) allows for your body to move some of your smaller muscle fibers into positions which are needed during a highly skillful act. An example for this is scoring. So, I visualized myself completing each shot I took on net, each stroke I pulled through the water, and each dribble towards the net (this took place off-court while at rest) in hope that my body will adjust. So once I was back on the court or in the water, it was my time to shine. My body, confident, as if I have done these skills before, I would try and charged at the net to score.

I did not score every time. Most times I didn't even make it half way to the net. But, because I was able to navigate my body and prepare it before hand, I was also able to correct mistakes faster during the game. I never made the same mistake twice on the court, but I definitely made lots of mistakes. They were always new and unique as my skill advanced to the next level. At times, this was very frustrating because I started to question my ability in perfecting my skills. However, as the quarter advanced I realized that perfection is not about doing everything right all the time. It's about experiences, good and bad, and the body saying: 'yup, done this before and this is what you should do in this case', it's being able to think on your feet when the situation gets stressful. This is called automatic movements, sub-conscious, and it's developed over time, or in my case, visualization would be another way to speed up the process. With time, dedication, patience and a lot of passion for the game I have been able to master the skills needed to get to the net and even score at times.

I never counted my goals/swish. I never had time to sit and watch the ball touch the net. Once I did, and my coach (my actual polo coach) yelled at me to "Get BACK ON D! What are you doing day-dreaming! And sure enough, the next minute the other team scored on us. After that, I never cared about my score, just shot, and sprint back to be ready on defense. See, being able to play both side of the court/pool is something I still have to develop. I don't know if I'll ever master this skill but I am getting better at it each day. I know what I need to do, but I'm not fast enough and skillful enough just yet. Also, at times I do get a little lazy and enjoy 'cherry-picking'. I mean, who doesn't like to sit back and enjoy a hard work's outcome.

It can't be always work work work. Instead, I know to pick my battles. I give it my all when I go to score on net, then take it easy to allow others to shine. I can't always be in the light. Plus, this way I can take a break while still in the game and re-charge my batteries. However, if I'm needed I am always there if a teammate needs me. So my head never takes a break and I always pay attention to what goes on around me.

Q1 has been definitely a fabulous way to start this game. I learned about myself as an athlete (person), got to know my team better and how we work best together, and got to develop my skills under various distractions. My coaches are the most supporting bunch ever and I am very lucky to have their knowledge and skill be passed onto me. It is comforting to know that they are not just there to discuss my performance but they are as excited about my success as I am.

To summarize the first quarter:

I feel that I played well, definitely have room for improvements but if I can keep this momentum going I am one happy camper. I have to pace myself and make sure that my energy doesn't run out in the second quarter since the crowd and my teammates are counting on me. I have to play smart and stay positive when things don't happen my way. To play well I have to focus and visualize my moves as they need to be performed and stop worrying on what I did wrong. For every mistake I do I have to remember the number of things I did correct. If I can keep this in my head I will have a similar second quarter or I could take Q1 and make Q2 even better.

Gosh, if I had time to translate everything I just said into real stories and memories I would be up all night and as you might recall from the introduction I have a major paper due in 48 hours. One of my life goals is to publish a book one day. Not for fame but for myself. I hope that time will slow down so I can spend some of my days typing out all the amazing experiences in Q1. I have to or else Q2 will fill up my brain and Q1 will be stored too far back in my memory bank lol.

I think that's all for now .... but this blog will have to be further expanded before this month expires.


xo
R :-)

a friend tells me ...

"Never let your memories be greater than your dreams." -uk



"Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." -uk