First off, Happy Birthday to the love of my life! We’ve been together for 11 years now and so I have really seen him grow up from a teenager into an amazing successful man – Happy Birthday AndrewJ
Whether you are getting one year older, starting at a new school or job, or rowing at a new club, as humans we are always changing (ourselves and our environment). Today I really felt like there was “change” all around me.
The weather was the most obvious one. For a couple of weeks now it has been cold, wet and windy…so windy that on some days, a row would turn into an erg/RP workout. It has definitely been a drastic change from the 25+ degree weather we had just last month! Today though, the water moved more quietly and the wind felt subtle, it was a welcome change. I happily did my two rows (total of 30km) and felt like I could really work on my rowing technique.
It also helped to have a coach follow me for my first row. More change. Stani is the new coach under which I am training, and so far I have had some really good sessions with her. It’s always helpful to have someone break down my stroke and make me work for each stroke that I take. Of course trying to please, I went out and stayed focused with pressure on my oars for the 18km row – I didn’t have my speed coach (a device you put in your boat to help tell your speed), but it was incredibly hard for my brain and body nonetheless. Unknowingly, she helped me create some cue words to use that could help me make sure that my posture is strong, legs are fired and knees are quiet. The amazing thing about rowing is that it requires focus, and so this has really helped me decrease my stress related to anything outside of the sport. I can get in a boat and trust that whatever stress I have (positive or negative) related to work, friends, family, etc., it can safely be put aside for the duration of my workout, and then I can return to it with a more open mind.
Now change with work. Nothing has significantly changed, but I am always evolving in my role – learning new approaches to management, processes, sales etc. I felt this today as I was problem solving with my team on different topics – I absolutely love it! No day is ever the same.
If you are facing change in some way, don’t feel alone because I’m sure almost everyone is. Today there is one change, and tomorrow there will be another. How you deal with that change can affect your stress levels, so take a breather and go for a rowJ.
I knew this song as a dance song and had never seen the video until tonight
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