End of Semester Post :(

So, it's that time of year again, where we have to say goodbye to the people we have met and made friends with. But it's also that time of year to reflect upon what we have learned. I have learned so many great things about myself and others throughout this entire semester!
I learned...
1. That outer beauty isn't everything - after having watched the documentary, I think my whole perspective on how I view myself changed completely. I used to think that girls had to be skinny and cover their whole faces with make up to be considered "pretty." But now I know now that inner beauty is learning to accept yourself for who you are, as well as embracing your insecurities, because those are what make you YOUnique.
2. That fitness requires a lot of motivation - ugh! Fitness! It takes SO much motivation! But I just have to keep going and know that it will end soon!
3. That it's only yourself that's stopping you from what you want to do - if you keep telling yourself that you cannot possibly do whatever you have to do, then it will never get done! I have learned to instead tell myself positive things like "You can do it!" and "It's not that bad!"
4. That I place a higher importance on health, rather than placing a high importance on "fixing" my insecurities - maintaining my health is a better use of my time than spending hours perfecting every single thing I dislike about myself. I would rather die of old age than to die of a surgery to get rid of wrinkles or something like that.
5. That I am and will be judged, but I am strong enough to handle it - I have learned that people say things that may offend me, but I don't necessarily have to let it get to me. If they say those things about me, I will probably get a bit hurt, but I will bounce right back up from that, making me even stronger.
6. That positive energy spreads like wildfire - I love our Get Fit class because there is so much positive energy! There is not one day that I have not managed to smile, or laugh, or be more motivated to do something because of the positive energy that we have!
7. Different activities that I can do outside of Get Fit/PE classes - I have learned that I love being outdoors. I would rather play outside than do a workout inside, mostly because of the nature aspect of the outdoors. Throughout my Get Fit experience, I have learned that you can jog in snowshoes, go to a gym and do gymnastics, do the Grouse Grind, do Tae Kwon Do, and dance! There are so many things that I can do  to stay active, the possibilities are endless!
8. That what motivates me is seeing the "finish line." - what mean by this is the end of the exercise. I just really like the feeling of having accomplished my goals and even sometimes exceeding my expectations!
9. That girls should be given more credit for the way they handle how they are treated in society - again, referring to the documentary. I feel like my eyes have been opened since then, and I have learned that girls are treated so unfairly for so long that it has become normal for some of us. I think girls should be appreciated so much more than they are. I mean they give birth and have periods and all that hormonal stuff!
10. How to love myself as a whole, not just bits and pieces - I have learned to accept my flaws and see them in a new light. I now see them as something that makes me unique and unlike other people.

After this Get Fit class is done, I think that I will continue to stay active through different outdoor activities and through the Wii (Just Dance! and Yoga). I will also continue to spread the positive energy, and avoid the negative at all costs!
Overall, this class is probably one of the best experiences of my life, and I am glad that I have learned so many things from it. I really hope that the girls in next semester's class will learn and discover as many things as I have.

Inspirational Quotes

Here are some inspirational quotes I have found on the internet. I think the quotes that I like reflect what I want to become: strong. No, I don't mean lifting 500 lb weights or anything of that sort, but strong on the inside. I think how you react to a bad situation really reflects the type of person you are. And personally, I strive to be the type of person that picks themselves up and comes up stronger than they were before. I want to be the type of person that throughout all the pain, will keep moving forward - where else do I have to go? With this inner strength, I believe that I will have the motivation needed to keep going even on those days where I ask myself "Why do I even try?" And I think that this inner strength can also help me during future work out/fitness days. I believe that I can achieve whatever I want to, as long as I have motivation, strength and heart to do so.

Snowshoeing

Yesterday, we went to Mount Seymour to do some snowshoeing. I really enjoyed it! I had fun having small chats with some of the girls in our group, as we walked through the sparkling white snow as we ventured through the trails with our snowshoes. It was really fun playing games, such as the snowshoe hare relay race and freeze/ hypothermia tag. I learned a lot about animals that survive through winter conditions. For example, Whiskey Jacks, snowshoe hares and snowfleas. I learned that the snowshoe hares burrow in the snow during the winter, when they have white fur, and their fur turns brown in the spring and summer time. I enjoyed raising my heart rate with snowshoes, since I've never experienced snowshoes in that way. I had gone snowshoeing before, but at Grouse Mountain with my family. I have always enjoyed the outdoors and the snow, so I enjoyed the experience even more when I got to snowshoe with my friends. I was a bit jealous of the little kids that got to ski and ride on the magic carpet! :( In the future, I really want to try skiing and snowboarding, even if it's just one lesson. I am planning on trying to find more outdoors type activities. I think that being outdoors allows for moth exercise and it also allows people to enjoy the nature surrounding them.

Snowshoeing by Me, Nanki and Jessica

Snowshoe hares burrow,
As we walked through the snow without sorrow.
It was all laughs and smiles
As walked for miles and miles
Through the ups and downs
We lost so many pounds
We had lots of fun
In the snow and the sun
And we sweated off our buns!
My soreness is gone
But the memories will live on!