North of 55

I was able to watch some volleyball this weekend and basketball a few weeks ago. I am incredibly happy to be watching local sports again. It reminded me of the good ol high school days when my dad and i would watch my cousin play. And then I got this overwhelming wave of homesickness that was close to nauseating. Now, when these games are much more significant to me, I can’t watch them with my dad…when I’m part of the performance on the court, I can’t bring my dad along… I cant show him the things i’ve done…i cant show him that those 5 years of school, 4 years of working for free have made me into something, they were worth it. I miss home, I miss my family, I miss best friend, I miss my KINadian’s, I miss my warm hugs and kisses, I miss my cats……

Busy does not come close to explaining the past few months. Teams, coaches, parents, althetes, meetings, programing, and research have all been eating up every ounce of me. That, and this project of knitting myself a blanket…it’s cold in GP, a gal needs to keep warm somehow when her guy lives across the country. 4 varsity teams, 1 ski team, 3+ 2 half hockey teams, 30 figure skaters, 8 specially selected emerging athletes, 3 minions, (aka practicum students), and soon to be 2 soccer teams…. I get to manage all of this, lucky me?? All while trying to develop myself as a strength coach. In case you’re wondering, yes, I have been waving my hands asking for a life raft in hopes of not drowning. And so far that has come in the form of packages sent from home of coffee and warm clothes, and my BB. Among all of that i still need to fit in, cooking meals, working out, and keeping in touch with the people who mean the world to me. i’m failing miserably with the later 3. Sleep? um…. eventually.

Breaking it down bit by bit, all of it is coming along amazing. I say “coming along” regretfully, only because I have as much patience as an elephant’s grace. I have these visions and plans and i just want to put all of them in motion. I want to change the varisty culture, I want AEP athletes to have a solid program, I want ASDC to be the go to for hockey in GP. Heck, i want it to be the go to for ALL performance enhancement training. And I want it all to happen now!!! “It’s a process”, is a phrase I’m hearing regularly from my colleges. 

Developing as a professional, working, lady really is a challenge. And some days…sometimes more than others… I’d like to just throw in the towel and go back to school. (that’s not a dig at the majority of my friends still in school). But then all it takes is one session with athletes to bring me back to life! You see, training athletes at this level, this age, is so much more than just strength and conditioning. It’s educating, I have so much more opportunity to make a difference in their lives. leave a positive impact. Be the girl they remember when some bone head of a strength coach tells them to build mass in the middle of a season. I’m determined to be a positive influence on my athletes, every single one of them. I’m determined to be remembered.

Let’s step back a bit…back about a year to California….ah so warm, enjoying my Starbucks on a beach, where produce didn’t cost me an arm and a leg and taste like…. Off topic! My “future planning advisor” (he wanted the title of best boss, but that’s already been claimed) presented us interns with a task. The task was to rank our 5 core vales, and explain why they were ranked as such. We then came up with some career planning strategies and worked on our interview and resume skills. Why is this so significant now? Because I’m pretty positive I can credit that exercise to me getting this job. That exercise has helped changed my perspective on planning for the future. i know things will be in order when they are suppose to be. And right now I have to be selfish and focus on my career, my experience, it’s ok to rank that above my family, health, and happiness…  right now. Because i’m young, and i need to gain that experience when i’m young! But when that ranking shifts, then my universe is shaken up and the order of things is shaken with it…then I have to rethink my place in life. but for right now.. as busy, and stressed, and frustrated, and lonely, and scared, and sad, and cold as i am… this is where i have to be. 

xoDO

” Well, it’s pretty obvious you didn’t go to Grande Prairie for the city. You went to Grande Prairie to become a better Strength Coach. So when you go back dedicate yourself to becoming a better Strength Coach”. - Cook 

Hearing those words come from Mike Cook, the Director of ASDC Capital Region, was like flicking on the light bulb that’s been so dim in my lonely little head. He’s exactly right. I didn’t come to Grande Prairie cause it was a happening place to be, (no offence). I came here because I’ve been presented with an opportunity that would be more insane to turn down, than moving across the country to northern alberta. 

Going to edmonton to train with Mike Cook and Lindsey Materi was a phenomenal experience. To be able to banter everything strength and conditioning related, to be challenged on methodology, to collaborate on programming and to be exposed to a whole new point of view was…. a little earth shaking… to be honest. I was comforted and that my approach to training was in line with theirs, but at the same time, had smoke coming out of my ears trying to grasp the vast amount of knowledge they were sharing with me. It’s clear, i am an infant in this profession! But the good news, my baby steps are being taken on the right path. 

I spent my time learning Olympic Weight lifting… which left my muscles very sore and provided me a new training goal. 

Master Olympic Lifting Progressions

I was giving a list… long list… of researchers, writers, and strength coaches to read. which left me with literature to keep me occupied well past Christmas. 

As if my little brain wasn’t spinning enough with the tasks I have here in GP, my trip to edmonton spun it even faster. But in a strange way I feel as though I have more control. The fact that experts in the field recognize the potential in me and were once in my shoes is somewhat comforting. I say somewhat because I still think having this much responsibility is terrifying. But at least now I know the support that I have believes in me. 

Now I can tackle my 4 varsity teams, 3 hockey teams, 1 skating team, 9 athlete enhancement program athletes, 1 freestyle ski team, and rugby alberta athletes… all by myself… with…. a little…. more…. ease…. 

Alright D…. it’s time to put your best game face on… and go play myself the game of a lifetime! 

3 weeks in and I’m still alive…alive and well actually. well, the well is a little debatable. So on this fine, crisp, Alberta blue sky fall afternoon… sitting at Starbucks with my cozy sweater on and a pumpkin spice latte, (first and last of the season) i tap away an update on the GP adventure. 

My basement apartment is slowly becoming a home… with the gentle touch of a mothers help. Mother bear came out for a week to help me set up. Reminding me of all the things I need, but would never think of until I’ve mixed the muffin batter and have no tins to bake them in. ALthough it was some serious mother daughter time… GP isn’t really the best of places to go exploring for some quality R&R momma daughter time. Someday, I do plan on repaying every ounce of help, guidance and thoughtfulness back to my amazing parents. Even though they believe in me, have complete faith I can make it on my own, support my every decisions, move, step on this path do “gulp” adulthood… they know just when to step in and help out. 

Now that I’ve settled into my office… (mostly), and school has started, teams are coming with their demands. Preseason programs, testing, yearly plans etc… all coming at me at what seems like warp speed. It feels nice to get my hands on work that absolutely love doing. But it’s also a little scary having all this responsibility. Essentially, what I say, goes. Although I feel confident in what I’ve learned, its still a little scary without many people to “approve” my plans.

Ah my plans… In the short time i’ve spent with the athletes.. I’ve come to realize how much i dislike the title “Strength and Conditioning Coach”. It seems that all the athletes, and coaches, see strength and conditioning as pushing weight around in the weight room. BUt no work as been done on conditioning and mechanics. The efficiency of the athletes has SOOO much room for improvement, their performance will go through the roof if a little time is spent on that. BUt how do i convince them that this is what will help? How do i get the buy in? Challenge Number 1… changing the culture of Strength and Conditioning in GP…

Although I’m completely consumed by work… (which i’m totally fine with cause i love it) There is enough time in my day for me to realize just how much i firkin MISS home. I miss my family’s ridiculousness, the banter with my sister, being able to call up friends for coffee, or beer… ETHEL’S… the bf… god don’t get me started on that one. As much of an adventure as this is.. as much of an adventure this is that i really want to take on. It’s extremely hard this time not being able to take it on with the people most important to me. I love what i’m doing, i’m so excited about the position i’m in. I have the ability to instil change! I have the ability to make an impact on athletes not only in their performance, but in life. I can be a role model. these are things i get excited about… but its hard to share excitement like this over the phone, or Skype. (or crappy FaceTime that appears to only work when it feels like it). Maybe I can’t describe this frustration… all i can say is that it’s friggin frustrating being the happiest and luckiest girl in the world… in 2 different places. 

But, i guess that’s all part of the adventure. So, for those of you.. and you know who you are…(which is pretty much everyone). I miss the shit out of you. 

xoDO

First of all… i’m hereeeee! 

Secondly, thank you, everyone, for the words of encouragement and support. As excited as this little girl is about starting a dream career straight out of University without the debt of a Masters or PhD or Professional school… I’m still shit scared. So you’re encouraging words and interest in how i’m doing means a lot. 

So..here’s how the adventure’s gone so far.

With my life, (lululemon, jeans, sweaters, uggs, pictures, and mugs) packed up into 3 suitcases, the flight to Edmonton could have gone a little better. Seriously, i think the airlines should employ their brightest tools in their box for those 5am shifts. Cause i really don’t have the patience for incompetent people at 5am. But, not fear, in fine DO fashion i came running up to the gate with not too many minute to spare. (And still no coffee, which made me a grumpy bear). But waiting in Edmonton, I got my starbucks, had a pleasant flight to GP chatting with a president of some money company, who just so happen to originally be from Oakville and knew lots about Alberta. 

Upon landing, i started… just went at er..full force…no holding back. Meeting staff, attending coaches meetings, signing the final contract, and then finally heading to my accommodations…. The Holiday Inn Express… Winner! Which has been my home since Tuesday. Wednesday I was able to settle into my office… let me repeat that “settle into my office”  yes, i have my own office, and a set of keys to rival the janitors. Changed my number to the local GP area code, it’s official! And spent the rest of the day trying to find a place to live. This did not prove to be an easy task. So i left frustrated and walked to Safeway, which provided me with enough excitement to get me through the night.

Thursday had a little more substance with a little more cold. I woke up to 2 degrees and frost outside. Let me just say that this is unseasonably cold.  We preformed pre-season testing on some young athletes taking part in a sport academy program. It felt nice to get back into the swing of things, meeting more coaches, teachers, and athletes. It’s amazing what’s put into the young athletes here. Refreshing actually…Again, the rest of the day was spent trying to find a place to live, with again, very little promise. So i went to Starbucks, which provided me with enough comfort to get me through the night.

Friday was more testing and, wait for it……a place to live. I move in monday. All 3 suit cases. which was enough relieve for me to forget about the cold i’m getting.

So in summary…

I nearly missed my flight. I’ve been living out of a hotel for 4 days, the starbucks has plenty of comfy seats, i score sweet deals on food with my safeway club card, I am no longer on the hunt for cardboard boxes to make my own house, i’m popping Cold Fx like their gummy adult vitamins. And now, i look for furniture, i think i’ll start with a bed.

in all seriousness…

As overwhelming as it may be, and as much as i miss YOU, I am excited for what ASDC has in store for me. Not only because this is the direct path i’ve wanted to follow since high school… but because it means there is support, for the young athletes of Canada. and it means I am apart of it. 

Matt provided us with the Summer of Goals. I didn’t achieve all of those goals. I’m ok with that. But i think it’s just the inspiration i need to set my lifetime goals… Which is perfect, since i know 2 people in GP, (one of which is my Boss)… there will be plenty of time for reflection this weekend…

xoDO 

To my devoted clients, runners, and shape up’ers 
 
As I take the next step along my career path I would like to take the opportunity and pause for a brief moment to reflect on the distance we’ve covered. 
 
Each and everyone of you, in your unique ways, with unique goals have been a pleasure to train. Even through the complaints, the groans, and rough days you all worked very hard. It is through all of you that I have been able to gain confidence in myself and develop as a Personal Trainer. You kept me on my toes with your challenging questions, managed to brighten my day during those gruesome  split shifts, and continually impressed me with the improvements you’ve all made.
 
I am extremely proud of your accomplishments, progress, and ability to embrace the sweaty life. I want you to know that your unwavering dedication to living an active, healthy lifestyle is inspiring. So please, go out and share that with your friends, family, and coworkers. Share with them your accomplishments, teach them something you’ve learned, and encourage them to follow suit. 

I hope you have been able to find humor in my ridiculous stories, and believe me when I say I DO know how to count. I hope you realize that even though I was ordering you to do things that may have caused some pain and discomfort, it’s for your benefit and good health. But above all, I hope you realize that I care for each one of you, I am excited about your goals and wish you the best of luck in accomplishing them. So please, don’t ever be a stranger! 

With this farewell I will leave a D.O. Care package 
Put your skinny jeans on, keep your sternums high, grab a hundred dollar bill with your glutes and don’t let go to gain some ASSests. Goals are important, so write them down and go after them. But remember, they are like trying on clothes and chagne often. Just because your goals change doesn’t mean you’ve failed. And finally, success is not the result of spontaneous combustion, you must set yourself on fire! I hope I have given you enough to ignite the flame.


All the best and Active Living,
Danielle Ordyniec

Well hello my friends. 

First, I will start by apologizing to those of you I have appeared distant to. Trust me, it is not by choice, but rather an insane work schedule that really left no time for anything that resembled normalcy. Again, my own doing, and just because I absolutely love doing what I do.

Next I will ask the question….what is a girl to do with her final weeks in Ontario? Maybe that wasn’t an appropriate way to tell those of you who haven’t caught wind….(ie been told by Anton) about my westward adventures…

To fill you in…I’m moving to Grande Prairie Alberta…ie way the fuck north and west….before the end of august to take some giant leaps and bounds in the direction of my career. Alberta Sport Development Centre flew me out last week to check out the town, facility, and meet some people. After consideration, and chatting endlessly with a select special few…I have decided to accept the position as their Strength and Conditioning Coach. 

I could continue to bore you with more details…but I figure if you’d like to know more you can ask me…

Anonymous asked: why did it take me so long to realize you had a blog....

Frank?

I just finished writing my last exam of undergrad, which means we have another end. Apparently I’m no good at keeping up with all the inbetween bits. 

I was fortunate enough to be nominated for Valedictorian of the 2011 graduating class. Or my friends just did it as a joke, either way i wrote a speech. And in the process of writing that speech i came to realize many things. (Much like the packing of that bag back in California). 

I discovered some significance in my 5 year undergraduate experience. I discovered many questions about my future. 

What I’m trying to say, is that writing that speech provided me the opportunity to reflect on my past and ponder my future at a time when reflection and pondering is most useful. I almost want to recommend to everyone graduating to write what you would say as a Valedictorian speech. So, even though in the end, i’m not the Valedictorian… I’ll share my speech anyway..

The would have been, could have been, not should have been or else it would be Valedictorian speech for 2011

Mr. Chancellor, members of the convocation, Family members, friends, and fellow graduates!

There is a diverse group of individuals here today. From Applied Health Sciences and the Faculty of Environment. Although we may differ in what we think to be significant in life, rank our core values in a contrasting order, and have separate ideas of what it truly means to be successful, all of us here today are united, not only as the class of 2011, but in our desperate attempt to create a future for ourselves.

So what could I possible have to say when I am the exact same as all of you? Wondering what to do with the extraordinary experiences we had here, excited to be celebrating the accomplishment that today represents, and full of hope and ambition in search of a purpose so great it will challenge every capacity to beat our best. I am the exact same as all of you. But I’ll do my best provide you with what little gems of inspiration and wit I can cram into a 5 minute speech, no promises though.

We all began our journey here with a child like curiosity. Excited to start something new. Nervous to be meeting new people. Wondering what classes, labs and seminars would be like… what the cafeteria food would taste like..? And as the new and exciting became routine, those people became our friends, teachers, advisors, mentors, and  the wondering became familiarity those curiosities transformed into our passions, friendships, ideas, ambitions and a deeper appreciation for home cooked meals. Now, it is nearly impossible to summarize this chapter of our lives experiences and memories into one speech, one pieces of paper, one ceremony, but it is important to pause for that brief moment and enjoy the luxury of looking back on our distance covered, here at the University of Waterloo.

Some of you here today know exactly where you’re going next. Whether it be a job lined up, professional school, graduate studies, another degree perhaps.  Or, if you’re like me, you dodge the question “so what’s next”?  Like you dodge the goose poop sprinkled all over campus. Because, lets face it, we just don’t have an answer to that question yet. But I’ve learned in my final days here, that having a plan, isn’t what’s important. The true currency in life is what’s between your ears, and your time. And those are not to be devalued. Thank you Stu McGill, for those wise words. So Parents, family members, friends, I ask one thing of you – celebrate, praise, and congratulate today. Today marks a significant accomplishment for us graduates. Because today, we are graduating from one of the top 100 ranked Universities in the World. And that is something worth celebrating. The question of what comes next can be thought about and answered tomorrow. And to you my fellow graduates, do not forget to shower all those who have helped us out along the way with many praises of thanks you all are a major part of today.

Robert Kennedy once said,

Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each one of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those great acts, will be written the history of a generation.

Well my fellow graduates, NOW is our time! It is our time to go forward with our dreams of alternative energy and improving the health of the individuals around us. It is our time to change the world by minimizing climate change and implementing corporate wellness strategies.  It is our time to make history by putting an end to global warming, finding a cure for cancer, and ending the obesity epidemic! It is our time to take what lessons we’ve learned, what knowledge we’ve gained, what relationships we’ve built and apply it to the rest of our lives.

In the words of David Foster Wallace – The Capital T-truth is that your education really is the job of a lifetime, and it commences now! Are you ready? Congratulations Class of 2011. Put your best game face on, and go play yourself the game of a lifetime 

It has taken me all weekend to pack 4 months into 3 bags. You’d think, since I did this only 4 months ago, it would be easier the second time around. Especially since a) I know what bags i have to work with and b) I know everything that i have to bring with me - everything in my room! But it wasn’t easier the second time around. Partly because of the stuff I have acquired while being here, yes, but I think it was more than that. 

For the past 2 weeks everyone has asked me the same two questions…

1) Are you excited to go home for Christmas?

2) Are you sad to be leaving?

(ok maybe 3 questions)

3) What are you plans when you get back?

To which I have answered…

Yes, I’m excited to be with my family for Christmas, and see my friends, and hopefully there’s snow. Yeah, I’m not ready to leave AP. I’m enjoying myself so much, and I feel like there is a lot more I can learn. Hopefully I’ll be back? Put in a good word for me. (insert smile here) I have 4 months of school to finish…and then I look for a job in the real world.  (insert shrug here). 

But I think my weekend long struggle to pack has made me realize that there is much more to it. I’m not just packing up my clothes and shoes and hair accessories. I’m trying to pack up 4 months worth of memories, experiences, friendships, lessons, knowledge acquired, and personal gain into 3 bags?? And I’m not just going home, I’m leaving a world that I’ve fallen in love with. Only to return to a world I’m not sure I’m ready to face. There are so many things I’m not ready to deal with yet, that i’m suffering from the motion sickness of being excited and scared to return. I just need a little more time.   

But I guess in the end, my bags are packed, my flight leaves Wednesday, and I just have to hope that everything I fit into those bags is enough to….well, I don’t know. 

We’ll see what happens when I get there.