When is your Grey Cup?

If you are a Canadian, you are likely familiar with the Grey Cup. It is the Canadian Football League (CFL) championship game that determines who is the best team over the playing season.

Now, don't worry. I won't ask you to define what a three downs per possession means. Nor will I ask you to tell me the difference between the CFL and the National Football League (NFL).

Instead, I want you to think about the crowning moments of your year.

For a CFL player, the Grey Cup is where it is at. They have started in the pre-season in June and played a game almost every week until the playoffs. If the player is lucky to be on a team that makes the play-offs, he needs to continue to keep his endurance and skill up for what might be the championship game. Once the player's season ends, he must hit reset and fall into the off season with a change to his training (both physical and mental) and a decrease in competition and games.

So I ask, when is your Grey Cup?

Are you working on something in your life that has a natural build to an ultimate event or time?

This past week I was invited to meet with a writer who will be sharing my professional expertise and experience in a national publication for farmers.

Farmers (likely CFL fans themselves) know these kinds of physical demands as a CFL player.

The preseason of seeding and getting their crops in the ground.

To the regular season of waiting for crops to grow and ensuring the soil is fertile.

To the build and crescendo of harvest, where they are working tirelessly to get this beautiful crop off for the season. Their Grey Cup of sorts.

If you ever get a chance to drive through the prairies during harvest, look out for the humming of combines as they roll across the fields sometimes together in groups of two or three. It is an amazing sight to see!

Since it is likely neither you nor I are CFL players or farmers, I ask, what are you working towards?

Is your physical activity supporting you today and into the future?

For me, a big thrill of moving my body is for those two hour bike rides in the summer that allow me to be out on the road. It is all about having the strength and endurance to get out in nature and hike when the opportunity arises. And all the hours in the pool provide me the confidence and pleasure to jump off a boat and pick up a line to ride the waves behind a boat.

For you, maybe you are physically active to keep up your physical fitness to travel and enjoy exploring a new place. Maybe you play on a recreational sports team and you too have a season of sorts. Or could you be caring for a parent or child or loved one who needs you to be at your top physical game. Or is it the endurance to get all your Christmas shopping done!

Whatever your Grey Cup is, I suggest you take stock of the influence your day to day physical activity has on your crowning moment of the year!

What I will mention though before I close is that the 2022 Grey Cup is this coming Sunday November 20 in my hometown, Regina Saskatchewan. It will most definitely will be a chilly event outside!

Stay well and happy moving,

Lisa

P.S. Sometimes purpose and Grey Cup moments stem from your WHY. Check out the The Why I Move Project. It's my passion project of curating stories of WHY people are physically active. Care to share? I always love hearing your stories.​

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