"Will We Be Seeing You in London 2012?"

Alas, it is Wednesday and if you have come to my blog this Wednesday (like most other Wednesdays) you’ll know that on this day of the week I blog on relationships, providing my non-expert insight.  However, since I am now blogging with Huffington Post, I’ve decided to move some of my relationship blogs over to “The Huff,” this week included.  So, if you check back in the next day or two, I’ll have this week’s “Wednesday’s Relationship Corner Bog” posted.

Given I have now begun my training for the upcoming 2012 season, and yesterday marked 10 months to the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games, I thought I’d share with you a blog I wrote exactly 3 years ago.  This will be my final year of competing as a World-Class Athlete… A moment I planned for 5 years ago.  Even if I were to jump 3 metres next year, I will still be hanging up spikes at the end of the 2012 season… to begin my next phase in life. So, from here on out, I am deeply enjoying every moment left to experience in my athletic career.

Here’s a look back at what I wrote on September 28, 2008….  And  I’m happy to say my attitude/perspective hasn’t changed: 

"If there's magic in boxing, it's the magic of fighting battles beyond endurance, beyond cracked ribs, ruptured kidneys and detached retinas. It's the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you." ~from the movie Million Dollar Baby

Well, it’s been a while since my last blog. I’ve just returned home from Europe and I am still trying to catch up with some left behind work. This time of the year can be challenging for me. It requires an adjustment, after being away from home for 4 months and trying to settle into normal daily activities. And unlike New Year’s, this time of the year usually conjures up many life questions.


Athletically, the past season is reviewed and plans for the following year are thought through. However, this year I’ve also had to consider whether I will continue the high jump for another 4 year. In fact, it seems to be a question many people ask me. In fact, I think that might have been the first question asked to me as I stepped off the track in the Bird’s Nest.


Over the last month I’ve struggled with answering this question. Not because I worry that I won’t be as sharp athletically in 4 years time. (I’m counting on my physical testing’s which prove otherwise as well as my late introduction to the high jump.)


In the end I realized it was the emotional investment that another 4 years would demand, that seemed to make me indecisive. Additionally, I have other facets of life available to tempt me away from my passion for the high jump.


By emotional investment I mean believing in the unseen, with no guarantee in place and the unplanned expectancies of life. For me my ankle sprained 3 days before the qualification rounds at the Olympic Games proves this.


You ride many waves in sports and life – waves of disappointments, jubilation, frustration and satisfaction to name a few. And I needed to ask myself would I be willing to do this for another 4 years? A sort of scary question…


But, isn’t that what life is about? And isn’t it the journey that makes victory sweeter? So, in these weeks following my last competition I’ve taken time to consider this question; and I realized that the only answer that is true to the type of person I am is “Yes”! Yes, I am committing to another 4 year cycle of Athletics.


I have some unfinished business to attend to… Now if you’ll excuse me. – I have some work to do. ;)


A disciple of excellence,
Nicole

What if God was One of Us

Sunday's Lyrics

I originally chose this song as a Sunday's Lyric last year.  These lyrics will probably always be profound to me.  It is a song I believe which is relevant to whether someone is a believer or non-believer in God... And simply a question to ponder how it is we treat others and would our actions change if it they were God?  Perhaps the real thought to consider is whether we should be striving to treat our neighbours better than we do?  

What if God was One of Us, Joan Osbourne

If God had a name, what would it be
And would you call it to his face
If you were faced with him in all his glory
What would you ask if you had just one question

And yeah yeah God is great yeah yeah God is good
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah




What if God was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home

If God had a face what would it look like
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that you would have to believe
In things like heaven and in jesus and the saints and all the prophets

And yeah yeah god is great yeah yeah god is good
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

What if God was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
He's trying to make his way home
Back up to heaven all alone
Nobody calling on the phone
Except for the pope maybe in Rome

And yeah yeah God is great yeah yeah God is good
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

What if god was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
Just trying to make his way home
Like a holy rolling stone
Back up to heaven all alone
Just trying to make his way home
Nobody calling on the phone
Except for the pope maybe in Rome

The Road Not Taken

This poem needs no introduction... but merely, a contemplation as to what road we each choose to take in life.  Sometimes daring to take that path which is not so easy at first, in the end will lead us best to what it is we truly desire... making all the difference.

The Road Not Taken  by Robert Frost


Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

5 Things Men Look for in Women

Wednesday's Relationship Corner

This was originally posted on Huffington Post.

When it comes to matters of the heart, it seems that all everyone wants is to love and to be loved in return. Yet, as simple as this shared mutual goal may seem, men and women seem to be speaking different languages. They fail to understand the other's desires, which results in amassed dating "games" and confusion. This week I thought I would take a look at what it is men really want from women. Surveying my 2,500 Facebook friends (a very reliable source) I think I might have begun to crack this code.

1. Attraction. There must be some level of attraction, which peaks a man's interest. This doesn't necessarily mean a women needs to look like a Barbie doll or an air-brushed model. Often attraction comes down to how a woman carries herself. A woman walking with confidence, while appearing approachable, can stop traffic and make the most unlikely guy a believer.

2. Independence. We have certainly entered a new era where independence is highly lauded. Men now enjoy women who have their own life going for them. Their life is so exciting and amazing, that they want to be a part of it. Gone are the days that a man wants a woman who will drop all that she's doing for him.

3. Fun. Men enjoy women who can make them smile and the time with them appear to fly by. Being fun may include being spontaneous, humorous or willing to try new things. Often the secret ingredient to being fun is to just be yourself. When you are authentic you are likely to remove any barriers or inhibition you may have, and be less concerned about how you are being perceived.

4. Sanity. Sorry ladies, apparently attributing your mood to hormones is not acceptable. Surprisingly, men do not enjoy women who may, from time to time, appear like Faye Dunaway in Mommie Dearest. Men enjoy women who come with minimal drama, do not overreact and have a mood which doesn't change as often as the current weather. This can be a fine line, as some men do enjoy a strong and assertive woman. But, just like Mary J. Blige's song, they want "No More Drama."

5. Support. This was overwhelmingly mentioned by the "expert" Facebook men I surveyed. It reminds me of a Maya Angelou quote, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." When it comes to relationships, how you make someone feel provides the sustenance power, which can allow a relationship to survive World War III. It is internal, trusting, lasting and provides that "Je ne sais quoi" characteristics. Never underestimate the power of providing a genuine ear to your special someone when they are having a bad day, or believing in them when their dreams may seem impossible. You, my dear, are being supportive and valued for this rare quality.

Hopefully, I've cracked the Martian language of men and have given women an inside look at what it is men want. Next week, I'll reveal what it is women want in a man, and hopefully bridge the language barrier between men and women when it comes to dating.
Your Non-Relationship Expert,
Nicole

 

Follow Nicole Forrester on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nicoleforrester

Monday's Lyrics - COMPETITON

Competition can bring out the best in each of us.  Dare to explore another level of possibility within us.  And competition does not have to be limited to another individual, but rather the greatest competition can sometimes come from oneself. 

Competition

No one trains to fail

Nobody prepares to loose

Everyone wants to prevail

You must compete

Competition is perseverance

Competition is passion

Competition is focus

Competition is adversity

And the will to triumph

Competition is life

Live to compete

It’s on!

5 Ways to Fail with the Object of Your Affection

You were going along fine and then you stubbed your toe… This is analogous with having a girl interested in you hook, line and sinker... until you mess up with a deadly sin. Any of these mishaps can have you cast back into the flames of Bacheloritis, where your sins will also be discussed amongst friends and condemned.  Alas, I’m here to help you and save you from yourself, if you read carefully.

1.  Asking Her on a Date and Making Her Pay

I and most of my friends are liberated, independent women.  As such, when on a date I will always offer to pay.  I am of the belief a girl should always offer to pay and a guy should decline the offer.  And not just with the initial dates, but throughout the whole courting process.  It may be old fashioned but I think it may be tied into (dare I say) Darwinism and feeling provided and taken care of.  If a man takes my offer to pay for dinner, it will probably be our last date dinner for he has now been cast eternally into the friend box – where sharing the cost of dinner is acceptable.  If you are still feeling each other out and it’s not officially a date, certainly going halves on dinner is a granted exception and make sense.  But, if it’s a date….. that’s a different story

2. Not Calling When You Say You Will

This is liable to have you “Poofed! Be Gone!” and anye girl that waits around for your phone cal,l you should probably “Poof!  Be Gone!” her. This is a matter of integrity and keeping your word, as well as showing your interest.  People want someone who is excited about them, and if you are lazy with keeping you’re word you’re demonstrating you are just not that into that girl.

3. Being Selfish/Self-Absorbed

Any smart girl will stay away from this guy.  Relationships are a balancing act.  It should not be one sided.  If it is all about one person, it will inevitably end in failure.  

4. Too Many Female Friends

This can be a killer and a source of insecurity.  Some girls cannot be bothered with a guy who has too many female friends, so you might be missing out on the beginning side of dating. And if not, with time the many female friends can become a source of stress and insecurity, as your girl begins to feel in competition.  It all goes back to the age old question, whether men and women can truly be friends. 

5. Jekylle and Hyde

It’s always best to be yourself.  Too often people want someone to like them and will act a certain way with them and another way with their friends.  You cannot keep up this charade forever.  Someone who changes who they are is like a camilian.  You can never be sure if they are their real-selves with you. 

At the end of the day, it’s always best to be considerate, open and yourself.  Dating doesn’t have to be that hard.

Your relationship non-expert,

Nicole

What is Sports Day in Canada?

As a Team Visa athlete, for the last month I have been counting down and sharing my excitement for Sports Day in Canada via the various social media outlets – twitter, facebook and my website Likewise, for the last two weeks I have been blogging about the value and importance of sports in Canada. But this week I found myself wondering if my passion for this event might have overlooked explaining the obvious – what exactly is Sports Day in Canada about, and how can Canadians participate?

I thought I’d take a moment to see if I can give you a crash course on what this AMAZING day is all about. Trust me – you definitely don’t want to miss out on this event!

Sports Day in Canada is a nationwide celebration of all levels of sport. We know that the power of sports has the ability to improve academic success, create leaders, improve health, decrease risky behaviours, and the list goes on. Sports Day in Canada is about recognizing this power of sport while also promoting a healthy lifestyle. But I’ve got to warn you, only come out and join the action if you are ready to have fun!

So how can you get involved? Well, it’s very easy. You can register and find events across Canada at www.cbcsports.ca/sportsday. If you are a sport organization, team or club you can create and host your own event, like an open house, game or competition. Just be sure to register it online so you can be recognized for your involvement! And if you don’t consider yourself a jock, don’t worry - NOW has never been a better time to get out and get active! Sport is transforming lives everyday, and it can transform yours! I know, because it has for me!

If you are in the greater Toronto area, I’d really love it if you’d come out and join me in Markham at Fletcher's Field with CBC and ParticipACTION on September 17, where Canada will take on USA in rugby! GO CANADA!!!!

Feeling the power of sports,
Nicole Forrester
Follow me on Twitter www.twitter.com/nicoleforrester

The Station

By Robert J. Hastings
Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision. We are traveling by train – out the windows, we drink in the passing scenes of children waving at a crossing, cattle grazing on a distant hillside, row upon row of corn and wheat, flatlands and valleys, mountains and rolling hillsides and city skylines.

But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day, we will pull into the station. Bands will be playing and flags waving. Once we get there, our dreams will come true and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a completed jigsaw puzzle. Restlessly we pace the aisles damning the minutes – waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.

“When we reach the station that will be it!” we cry. “When I’m 18,” “When I buy a new 450sl Mecedes Benz!” “When I put the last kid through college,” “When I have paid off the mortgage!” “When I get a promotion.” “When I reach retirement, I shall live happily ever after!”

Sooner or later, we realize there is no station, no one place to arrive. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.

“Relish the moment” is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” It isn’t the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.

So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.

Why I Love the High Jump...

As posted on CBC Sports Day in Canada - happening September 17, 2011 across Canada

 

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.”  ~Henry Ford

In the world of sports, there are few competitions where even the winner will always end on a failure.  The high jump is one of those sports… and it is my sport.

The high jump is a sport requiring athletes to successfully clear a bar, which is continuously raised in height.  Each athlete has three attempts to clear the bar; if successful, the bar is raised to a greater height.  The athlete who clears the highest height is declared the winner.  But even for that athlete they will depart the competition failing to have cleared their last height.  Inevitably, there is always a height each athlete will fail to clear in a competition.  Though this presents a continuous challenge, this failure also provides motivation to me as an athlete.

To be an elite high jumper you must be strong, powerful, fast and have equally strong mental prowess.  There is always a time during competition when the bar will look high and threatening, even to myself, a Team Visa Olympic high jumper.  However, in that moment, I am also fueled with excitement and exhilaration as I attack the bar.  Even though it is high, I am not afraid of it.  I welcome the challenge as it can only make me a better athlete. 

We will generally fail more times than we succeed.  But it is how we handle those moments of failure that define us and allow us to be even more successful the next time.  If we choose to see failure as obstacles, that is all we will ever experience, and our goals will become fantasies. 

I love the high jump because it mimics life.  It is about trying to keep my eyes on the goal of jumping high, in spite of a threatening barrier staring me in the face.  I must believe in my abilities to meet the challenge faced before me and not ever allow any doubt to creep into the corners of my brain.  The moment I doubt, I no longer see my goal and begin to see only the obstacles. 

It was almost a year ago that I won gold at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India.  During this time, I was incredibly ill.  A week before leaving for India I was diagnosed with 20 brain lesions, which carried with it a host of symptoms including migraines, numbness and pain on the right side of my body.  It wouldn’t be untilfour months later that they would be able to diagnose it as simply an autoimmune virus.  During the Commonwealth Games, I knew I was seriously ill, but didn’t know why, and I was incredibly scared.  But even during this time of challenge, I wasn’t going to allow it to dissuade me from my goal of winning.  I know with certainty that had I allowed myself to see my illness as an obstacle, I would not have realized my eventual goal of becoming the 2010 Commonwealth Games Champion. 

This is what life is all about - keeping your eyes on the goal, being brave enough to go after what it is you really want, and never settling.  Each time you pick yourself up from a setback and get back on the path of your desire, you are affirming your commitment to that goal.  If there is magic in the high jump and in life, it is scaling new heights and daring to go after a dream that nobody sees but you.

The greatest feeling to me is running with full speed at this seemingly imposing barrier, but not having a care in the world at how high it is, as my body leaves the ground and floats through the air clearing a magnificent height.  I’m on a mission to see just how high I really can jump; and though I may fail sometimes, every miss I have is actually a step closer to jumping higher.

How high do you want to soar in life?

Soaring high,

Nicole Forrester, 2010 Commonwealth Gold Medalist, Olympian, Team Visa Athlete & PhD Candidate



Single for Six Reasons

Wednesday's Relationship Corner
Today's Blog is by Sofi Papmarko, a witty and clever writer with Huffington Post.  I enjoyed this blog by Sofi so much I had to post it on today's Wednesday's Relationship Corner.  Enjoy!


Single for Six Reasons by Sofi Papamarko
In a HuffPost article that went mega-viral, television writer Tracy McMillan detailed the reasons she believes single women aren't yet married.

In "Why You're Not Married," McMillan insists that single women are not married (holy matrimony being the ultimate brass ring of womanhood, apparently) because we fall into one or all of the following categories:

1) You're a Bitch
2) You're Shallow
3) You're a "Slut"
4) You're a Liar
5) You're Selfish
6) You're Not Good Enough

McMillan fancies herself a bit of an expert, in that she has been married three times and brags that she was "born knowing how to get married." It is worth pointing out that McMillan has been divorced just as many times. So while she is certainly an expert in the field of getting hitched, McMillan is not very good at maintaining such a blissful state. Which is sort of the point, I think.

Having never been married, I humbly suggest that you should all pay attention to me instead of McMillan; I haven't married the wrong guy even one time.

McMillan's article stems from a larger problem; the assumption in the media and popular culture that single women are doing something wrong.

I would argue that we are actually doing everything right.

Here are the six real reasons why you, dear female reader, are not married (assuming you even want to be):

1) You're Patient
They say that good things come to those who wait. You're extremely wary about rushing down the aisle to the quickening rhythm of your biological clock. If you have to wait years for the right guy to come along, you will. Hell, you've waited this long.

2) You're Confident
We've all seen it, and it is sad. Women with low self-worth tend to latch onto inappropriate men. They're reluctant to get out of mediocre or even bad relationships because they're worried that they'll never find anyone else who'll love them. You, single lady, are independent, self-sufficient and don't require male validation in order to function day-to-day. You've long since realized that you're more than enough on your own.

3) You're Beautiful
In Mark Gimein's "The Eligible-Bachelor Paradox," he suggests that beautiful women -- confident that they have game -- hold out for something great for a longer period of time because they know they can. It is the less attractive females -- those with fewer chips with which to bet, as he puts it -- who "bid decisively," aggressively latching onto whoever will take them. (No offense, married ladies! I'm sure most of you wed for true love instead of out of quiet desperation.)

4) You 're Successful
Some men are intimidated by successful women, but the right guy will be in awe of all of your accomplishments. Don't downplay all that you've built for yourself. Don't mute or muffle all that you are.

5) You Won't Accept Anything Less Than You Deserve
You've ended relationships that potentially could have led to marriage because he did not treat you with the attentiveness, tenderness and/or respect that you justly deserve. Everyone is better off alone than in a relationship like that.

6) You Know What You Want
McMillan suggests that single women are too picky -- find a man of character and lock him down! Character is key, but there are so many other factors necessary in a successful partnership. Connection. Friendship. Compatibility. Chemistry. McMillan dismisses the need for sexual attraction as shallow, but it's clearly essential.

Sloane Crosley put it best, "Husbands are like tattoos -- you should wait until you come across something you want on your body for the rest of your life..."

The world should stand back admire single women instead of perpetually trying to fix us or fix us up. We're smart enough to know that Prince Charming is the stuff of silly fairytales, but we're definitely going to hold out for a hero.

A version of this article originally appeared in Sun Media newspapers.

What is Beauty??? – ACHTUNG

Recently, The Body Shop released Ruby, an alternative version of beauty.  However, due to Ruby’s close resemblance to Barbie (which I’m not sure I see) they were forced to remove this advertisement. 

The truth is things like Barbie, beauty magazines, videos and television are shaping the way women and men view beauty.  Young girls and women are comparing themselves to an airbrushed opted photo, while men are taught to value beauty greater than the character content of a woman.  Very sad.

While some girls’ feel magazines make them feel fat and short, for me, growing up they made me feel extremely self-conscious about how tall and skinny I was.  Growing up, I was a gangly, emaciated-looking, 4-eyed girl. I was extremely skinny and try as I may, I couldn’t gain weight to save my life.  (Honestly, the skinny images of models displayed in magazines can’t compare with just how skinny I was.)  I hated it.

I didn’t see anything or anyone that looked like me as a standard of beauty. 

To add to my childhood disillusion of beauty, flipping through a magazine and finding an advertisement of an African-American or Asian model was as likely as finding a minority Santa Claus at Christmas time.  Thankfully, at least there was Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks and Benetton ads to give me some sense of hope that minorities could be included in society's standard of beauty.

This topic of beauty is actually an ironic topic for me, given I use to model.  Interestingly, what I gained most from modeling was how to walk tall, embracing my height and skinny frame.  (Apparently, that was something lauded in the world of modeling.)  And, then sports entered my world and really took care of the rest.  Sports taught me that being different was good, and I appreciated it in others.  It also taught me how to be self-confident and how to care less about the opinions of others.  And I learned that true beauty begins on the inside. 

Funny enough, society's standards of beauty is always changing as if it were the newest season’s fashion collection. 

I mean it was only a hundred years ago where a fair complexion, thin lips and a full body was a symbol of beauty in the Western world.  Now, we’ve emerged to a time where women are spray tanning for a darker complexion, starving themselves and injecting their lips with collagen to have fuller lips.  Who’s defining your standard of beauty?

I dream of a day where defining beauty isn’t found in a Kim Kardashian reality television show, but rather as something seen as radiating from the inside out.  I wonder what a beauty pageant like that would look like??? 

Beauty can’t only be skin deep?  Or is it?

As per Ruby, maybe Mattel may get inspired to make a Barbie more representative of the average person.  And while they’re at it they should go ahead and make a gangly, awkward, 4-eyed version as well. ;)

You are Beautiful,

Nicole

All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten

All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum

  

An excerpt from the book, All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten

All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile at school. 

• Share everything.
• Play fair.
• Don't hit people.
• Put things back where you found them.
• Clean up your own mess.
• Don't take things that aren't yours.
• Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
• Wash your hands before you eat.
• Flush.
• Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
• Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
• Take a nap every afternoon.
• When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
• Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
• Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
• And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.
• Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.

Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we all - the whole world - had cookies and milk at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.

And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

These are the things I learned:

I Have A Dream.... (As posted on CBC)

As posted on CBC Sports Day in Canada Website.  Sports Day in Canada is happening on September 17, 2011 across Canada.  Go to CBC Sports Day in Canada to find out how you can be a part of the action, even in your very home! 

“A country can truly call itself sporting when the majority of its people feel a personal need for sport.” ~ Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the International Olympic Committee & father of the modern Olympic Games

I am an Olympian, a Team Visa athlete and the 2010 Commonwealth Champion in Athletics in high jump. Indeed, I am passionate about sports, not because of the medals I’ve won, but more importantly because of the positive influence sports has provided me off the track.

Ironically, it’s these superlative benefits that sports offer that are often not as recognized or as well understood. And this concerns me.

For if we did, would physical education be required only once in high school, when enough research has shown that if you can keep kids active throughout high school they are more likely to have a life committed to physical activity and healthy lifestyle behaviour? And that these students would also be more likely to achieve a higher level of education, be involved in their community, and would be less likely to engage in risky behaviour such as smoking, crimes and drugs?

Is there possibly a dollar amount that can be placed on the value of sports? I think not.

Sport promotes learning capacity, confidence, resiliency and the celebration of human excellence. As an athlete and Sports Psychology doctoral student, I know first hand the power that sport has played in my life.

I will always remember my high school teacher and basketball coach spending time with me during lunch hours, teaching me the skills of shooting, boxing out and rebounding. The year before, I sat on the bench and usually played the last 2 minutes of the game. The disparity between my skill level and my teammates was so great, I had naturally assumed I just wasn’t as talented. But during those lunch hours with Mr. Andy Symons, I learned how to become a better basketball player and in doing so, he also taught me one of the greatest lessons in life: the power of LEARNING through failure and practice. When something does not come easy, it is an opportunity to learn how to make that skill or ability easier!

It’s no wonder the researcher K. Anders Ericsson has found it takes 10,000 hours or 10 years of deliberate practice to master a skill

From the gym to the classroom to life, I’ve applied this fundamental lesson Mr. Andy Symons has taught me. It is what has allowed me to excel as an athlete and a student, entrepreneurially and creatively. And it is from this that the saying “where there is a will, there is a way” resonates with me. By the way, I did LEARN how to become a better basketball player that year and went from being a bench warmer to being the MVP.

Beyond its influence on education and excelling in life, sport promotes health. The number one cause of death in Canada is lifestyle related. Too many Canadians have adopted an unhealthy lifestyle and are expiring long before their time. Stroke, diabetes, heart disease and the various forms of cancers are all examples where the adoption of sports and physical activity can prevent their occurrence!

Canadians rightfully share a concern for our healthcare system that is under immense strain, Each of us must recognize the role we each play in adding to the pressure of a system that is about to burst and contribute to the solution.

It doesn’t need to be costly or difficult. It can be cheap, easy and fun. I’m talking about getting involved in sports - feeling that personal need for sport. It’s time we as Canadians begin to be proactive instead of symptomatic in our approach to healthcare in Canada.

I believe in a healthier Canada and I believe in the power of sports to facilitate this.

Sports Day in Canada is certainly one giant proactive step, and I hope the majority of Canadians will join me in being active on this day.

Visa, an Olympic sponsor for the last 25 years and sponsor of this year’s Sports Day in Canada, has long recognized the value of sports in society. In its second year in existence, it excites me to be a part of this event once again, as a Team Visa Olympic Athlete. It is exciting to be a part of this far-reaching initiative, and if I can have it my way, I’ll continue to be a part of this event for the rest of my life.

Nicole Forrester, 2010 Commonwealth Gold Medalist, Olympian, Team Visa Athlete & PhD Candidate