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Having a purpose and understanding why we do what we do is an incredible way to build satisfaction into our lives. It can help get you through challenging times in school, sport and life.

Finding your Why

Beyond some of the initial reasons that come to mind, continue to ask yourself why andsearch for more, deeper reasons! Many Olympians take part in their sport of course tosee how fast they can get, how high they can jump or how far they can go; but beyondthat, many athletes also take great pride in being a good teammate and helping others reach their potential - ultimately providing them with a sense of purpose.

Have a long term overarching goal, but make sure your daily focus is on process goals and small manageable steps you can take.

In a time like now, where big dreams and outcomes are especially challenging to see because of all the uncertainty around us, it can be helpful to focus on small daily process goals.

Building a purpose driven mindset instead of (or in addition to) an outcome driven mindset will help you when you face obstacles in your journey.

Reaching small goals each day at a practice, or completing a presentation or test at school, can provide you with a sense of accomplishment for the day.

• Sometimes each day all we need is a feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment.

During a time like this pandemic, where we don’t get to measure ourselves at big competitions like we might be accustomed to, it’s important to find purpose in what we do each day and keep it front of mind.

• That way, on the days when we don’t feel like getting out of bed, we can remind ourselves of why we do what we do and push through the small challenge in order to feel fulfilled again!

Once we begin ticking off small accomplishments, our motivation can grow from there. Sometimes just getting started is the hardest part!

Head to Head promotes mental resilience and physical wellness through Olympian led Youth Mentorship programs and swim clinics. Head to Head swim clinics are led by active and retired Olympic swimmers and each clinic is designed for youth between the ages of 10 and 17 yrs, from all levels of swimming (early competitive to national level). For more information visit www.headtohead.ca/clinics or contact hello@headtohead.ca.

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Resilience is your ability to bounce back or recover from challenge, disappointment or failure.

Failure is almost never a bad thing; Although it can make you feel like quitting or giving up, you'll find that many Olympians see failure as a critical part of their journey. They know that they need disappointment and bad results sometimes, so that they can learn, and focus on what they need to improve.

Below are strategies you can use when faced with challenges or setbacks:

Make a plan, and stick to it!
Have a long term plan, and when little things go wrong along the way, remind yourself that it’s okay. Having a long term motivation can keep you going on the days when you have a challenge or hit a roadblock. Patience, perseverance and determination will eventually pay off.

Below are some of the qualities of a resilient person. Think about which qualities you think you possess and which ones you could improve on. It’s important to take steps to work on those qualities over time.

• Sees challenges as opportunities
• Commits to chasing goals
• Focuses on what they can control
• Doesn’t blame themselves or others
• Is empathetic
• Thinks positively

As you face challenges of your own today, consider how you can move forward.

• Are you learning from every disappointment you face?
• Have you created a long term plan with a big goal that you can stick to? - It doesn’t mean you can’t change your plans along the way. If you have a big overarching goal or long term dream to help motivate you; you can make small changes when you learn more about yourself and what helps you succeed!
• Having clear goals and expectations: Remind yourself about your long term goal, it will take many highs and lows to reach it, but you have to persevere and you can’t let the failures along the way get you down. If you miss a goal along the way, focus on the things that you can do better

Head to Head promotes mental resilience and physical wellness through Olympian led Youth Mentorship programs and swim clinics. Head to Head swim clinics are led by active and retired Olympic swimmers and each clinic is designed for youth between the ages of 10 and 17 yrs, from all levels of swimming (early competitive to national level). For more information visit www.headtohead.ca/clinics or contact hello@headtohead.ca.

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Swim paddles are one of the most popular pieces of equipment used for training. There are many different types of paddles on the market and many different purposes! There are two basic categories of paddles; there are paddles that are meant to offer resistance and build strength and power, and there are also paddles that are meant to improve technique.

Team Aquatic Supplies carries many styles of paddles in both categories, and will provide a bit more information on each to help you choose a paddle option that is best for you!

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Dear TAS families,

September 30th marks the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation for Canada. Creating a federal day of remembrance was one of the 94 calls to action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission back in 2015. The day is set aside in honour of all the children who survived residential schools, as well as to recognize those who did not return. This year we are inviting you to participate in a nation-wide Orange Cap campaign to raise funds and awareness for National Truth and Reconciliation Day.

Along with wearing your orange cap, we encourage you to share the attached educational document with your team as well as participate in a walk together on September 30. It is important to recognize that while raising funds is a step, we must continue to focus on building relationships, taking action and educating ourselves as part of the journey to Reconciliation.

The opportunity for swimmers to get involved and support Reconciliation - Purchase orange swim caps through Team Aquatic Supplies

Latex $5.00/cap
Silicone $12.00/cap

100% of the proceeds will be given to the Indigenous sporting community We will wear our orange swim caps to commemorate the residential school experience and to honour those affected and those who continue to be affected by the genocidal residential school system. How to purchase orange caps

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge the land that our training pools reside on as the traditional territory of the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island. To learn more about your traditional territory, visit https://native-land.ca/. For guidance and information on land acknowledgements, visit your local university website.

What Were Residential Schools?

Indian residential schools operated in Canada between the 1870s and the 1996, the last standing school was located in Port Alberni, BC.  Children between the ages of 4-16 attended Indian residential school. These schools were mandatory. 90 to 100% suffered severe physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. There was a 40 – 60% mortality rate in Indian residential schools.

As of August 2022, 2207 graves of unmarked children have been uncovered Watch the following video where Chief Robert Joseph shares his experience as a residential school survivor and the importance of truth and reconciliation in Canada.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zuRQmwaREY 

“I want to get rid of the Indian problem.....Our objective is to continue until there is not an Indian that has not been absorbed into the body politic, and there is no Indian question, and no Indian Department…”
 - Duncan Campbell Scott – Deputy Superintendent General of Indian Affairs 1920

What is Orange Shirt Day?

“The annual Orange Shirt Day on September 30th opens the door to global conversation on all aspects of Residential Schools. It is an opportunity to create meaningful discussion about the effects of Residential Schools and the legacy they have left behind. A discussion all Canadians can tune into and create bridges with each other for reconciliation. A day for survivors to be reaffirmed that they matter, and so do those that have been affected. Every Child Matters, even if they are an adult, from now on. ”1

1 Source - https://www.orangeshirtday.org/about-us.html Picture, Every Child Matters Artist: Andy Everson, http://www.andyeverson.com/

Additional Resources

1. Read about the Original Orange Shirt: Phyllis’ Story in her own words, https://www.orangeshirtday.org/phyllis-story.html

2. Here you can find Resource booklets for various age groups, https://www.orangeshirtday.org/teacher-resources.html

3. Learn about the North American Indigenous Games that take place in Canada, swimming is one of the sports at the competition! http://naigcouncil.com/culture.php

4. Learn about the Indigenous Sport and Wellness organization (Ontario) https://iswo.ca/who-we-are-2/about-iswo/

5. Read about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action. https://crc-canada.org/en/ressources/calls-to-action-truth-reconciliation-commission-canada/

6. Article - One quarter of Canada’s Indian Residential Schools have grave searches underway, https://tworowtimes.com/news/local/one-quarter-of-canadas-indian-residential-schools-have-grave-searches-underway/

7. Here is a video discussing Residential Schools and Intergenerational Trauma, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWeH_SDhEYU 8. To learn more about traditional territory, visit https://native-land.ca/ 9. Land acknowledgements, http://www.lspirg.org/knowtheland/

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