從三鐵比賽到育兒思考 - From triathlon to parenting reflection
從我在Challenge Taiwan挑戰完成我的第一個標準鐵人三項比賽（51.5公里：1.5公里游泳，40公里自行車和10公里跑步）回來，已經有兩個禮拜了。這兩週我還處在休息階段，腦袋裡很多信息，身體筋疲力盡，但是整個人的狀態還是很興奮。送完我的孩子去托嬰中心後，我坐在咖啡館裡，開始反思整個比賽和訓練所學到的東西。
不可否認，當初是因為自私和天真。我報名參加了比賽：
今年1月生下了我的第二個孩子，六月的時候當時我還沒有恢復健康和身體線條，所以我想用三鐵的有氧訓練當作我的減肥計劃。
我的生活中有許多人生許願清單。在這個許願清單上，我列出了我想去的目的地，或體驗的生活經歷。完成一場鐵人三項就是其中之一。
我26歲那年，媽媽去世了，而我也被誤診為潛在癌症。那段令人心碎而重新人生啟航的旅程。我將在另一個博客中寫它。從那時起，我有了一份人生清單，它可以讓我更有意義和積極的來構想我的生活。
我想挑戰自我，今年我想為自己做點事，不僅為家庭或者我的孩子，更是為了我自己。在成為妻子和母親之前，我應該是要先成為我。
而且，我確實是想與孩子們分開幾個小時，享受一些安靜的時刻，不會被打擾。 （如果你是媽媽，你知道我在說什麼......）
但是我從沒想過準備和參加鐵人三項對我來說是一場育兒反思，事實也是如此！身教是最有效的育兒道理，不是嗎？其實我們無法通過言語去讓我們的孩子知道，什麼是勇氣和毅力，什麼叫合作，我們只能通過所有生活經歷為他們樹立榜樣。
就如許多運動，為比賽做準備是最艱難的部分。這過程很無聊和令人沮喪。而這也是一個孤獨的旅程。許多體育運動員或業餘愛好者需要每天或每周固定訓練來完成比賽或者拼成績。而這個過程，也是一個前進又後退的過程。生活其實也是一樣的，它並不總是美好的，有時，它也是非常令人沮喪的，甚至會讓人失去所有希望。有時我們只需要堅持一下，不要輕易放棄，再嘗試一次或兩次就可以跨過難關；有時我們需要調整方法；甚至有時我們只需要短暫休息，重新呼吸和再聚焦開始。
勇氣是無法教出來的，這是我們內在的動力。我感謝我的父母在我整個童年時期都如此開明。每當我想嘗試一項新運動或新課程時，他們總是鼓勵我先嘗試，而不是用各種方式讓我"害怕或者退縮"。第一步總是很可怕，但是一旦踏出去，其餘的事情就會變得很容易。我們的孩子天生就有這些內在動力，當他們開始走路時，他們經常摔倒，但他們一次又一次站起來再嘗試。最終，他們學會了行走，並平穩行走。他們沒有抱怨"這太難了，我不想再嘗試了。" 游泳是我比賽中的弱項，三年前我不知道如何游泳。在比賽開始時，要在開放水域游，然後很多人在我周圍干擾，這讓我感到恐懼，當下我確實想到了放棄，尤其是當我找不到呼吸並開始感到恐慌，開始掙扎時，我抓住了浮球。那一刻，我想到我的孩子，他們是生命中的自然探險家和冒險家。他們沒有放棄學習站立，行走或跑步，不管他們摔了多少次，撞了多少次頭。"去！我會生存下去的，我會完成這場比賽！"因為我希望我的孩子也看得到，我也有勇氣學習，挑戰和克服前進中的所有困難。
當我開始接近終點線時，我忍不住哭了起來，我知道我的丈夫和孩子們正在終點線等著我。我希望他們為我感到驕傲，而且，我希望我的孩子們知道，當你找到正向的意願和正確的方法時，一切皆有可能。我希望我的孩子們知道："你其實比你想像的要更有能耐。天空無限，去追逐它，並且嘗試超越它！人生就是一段旅程，我希望你們可以保持積極向上的精神，不斷奮鬥，永遠不要輕易放棄！勇敢地體驗人生路上各種酸甜苦辣。"
我和我的家人一起攜手越過終點線時，那一刻我知道我做到了！這是我永遠不會忘記的時刻，而我也為自己感到驕傲！
It has been two weeks since I completed my first standard triathlon (51.5km: 1.5km swimming, 40km cycling, and 10km running) in Challenge Taiwan. In the past two weeks, I was still in the resting phase. There was a lot of information in my head, and my body was exhausted, but the whole person was still very excited. After sending my child to the childcare center, I sat in the cafe and began to reflect on what I learned throughout the game and training.
Undeniably, it was because of selfishness and innocence. I signed up for the competition:
I gave birth to my second child in January of this year. In June, I hadn't recovered my health and body shape, so I wanted to use tri-iron aerobic training as my weight loss plan.
There are many life-events wish lists in my life. I have listed the destinations I want to go to or the life experiences I experience on this wish list. Completing a triathlon is one of them.
When I was 26, my mother passed away. I was also misdiagnosed as potential cancer-that heartbreaking journey to set sail again. I will write about it in another blog. Since then, I have a life list that allows me to think about my life more meaningfully and positively.
I want to challenge myself. This year I want to do something for myself, not only for my family or my children but also for myself. Before becoming a wife and mother, I should be me first.
Moreover, I really want to be separated from the children for a few hours and enjoy some quiet moments without being disturbed. (If you are a mother, you know what I'm talking about...)
But I never thought that preparing for and participating in a triathlon is a parenting reflection for me, and it is true! Teaching, by example, is the most effective parenting principle, isn't it? In fact, we cannot let our children know what courage and perseverance are and what cooperation is through words. We can only set an example for them through all life experiences.
As in many sports, preparing for the game is the hardest part. This process is tedious and frustrating. And this is also a lonely journey. Many sports athletes or amateurs need regular training every day or every week to complete the game or fight for results. The training process is full of forwarding and backward progress, so does real life. It is not always wonderful. Sometimes, it is also very frustrating and even makes people lose all hope. Sometimes we just need to believe and don't give up easily, try one or two more times to overcome the difficulties. Occasionally, we need to adjust the method. Sometimes, we just need to take a short rest, breathe again, and refocus.
Courage cannot be taught: it is our inner motivation. I thank my parents for being so enlightened throughout my childhood. Whenever I want to try a new sport or new course, they always encourage me to try it first, instead of making me "fear or shrink" in various ways. The first step is still scary, but once you step out, the rest will become easy. Our children are born with these inner motivations. When they start to walk, they often fall, but they stand up repeatedly and try again. In the end, they learned to walk and walked steadily. They did not complain, "It's too difficult, I don't want to try anymore."
Swimming is a weak point in my competition. I didn't know how to swim three years ago. At the beginning of the game, I had to swim in open water, and then many people interfered with me. This made me feel scared. At that moment, I really thought of giving up, especially when I couldn't find my breath and started to panic and struggle in the water. I caught the float and took a short breath. At that moment, I thought of my children; they are natural explorers and adventurers in life. They did not give up learning to stand, walk, or run, no matter how many times they fell or bumped their heads. "Hell, yes! I will survive, I will finish this game!" Because I want my children to see it, I also dare to learn, challenge, and overcome all the difficulties in progress.
When I started to approach the finish line, I couldn't help but cry. I knew my husband and children were waiting for me at the finish line. I hope they are proud of me, and I hope my children know that everything is possible when you find the goodwill and the right way. I hope my children learn: "You are actually more capable than you think. The sky is infinite, chase it, and try to surpass it! Life is a journey. I hope you can maintain a positive spirit and keep fighting. Never give up easily! Bravely experience the ups and downs of life."
I crossed the finish line hand in hand with my family, I knew I made it! This is a moment I will never forget, and I am proud of myself!