#290: Regular Physical Activity Changes Lives

"New year, new you" campaigns are window dressing. The real power comes in changing lives through regular activity.

At this time of year in the western world, we don’t have to look far to find all the campaigns promoting resolutions around a healthier lifestyle. “New year, New you” is popular in any entity offering fitness and wellness to the masses. The reality is that the power of healthy choices should not governed by the calendar. Some of the real power comes from harnessing regular activity at an early age.

When it comes to youth sport in 2025, there is way more at stake that playing a sport and developing specific skills. There is the underlying power of developing healthy practices. Regular opportunities to move hopefully connect a young person’s interest with positive pursuits.

Let’s dig into story time:

The words resonate with me almost 40 years later: “you did not workout today did you?” said Mom.

In 1981, At 16 years old, I had started going to the gym to rehab my shoulder and strengthen my body to play hockey. I had already had a few bumps and bruises, was almost 6ft2 but, and predictably my muscles and body armor had not caught up to my growth! I needed to get stronger if I wanted to keep playing at higher levels, and boy I wanted to play at higher levels! (that is another story for another day!)

My Love For Physical Movement Started Early!

What Mom said to me that day has stuck with me since. She noticed the difference in my mood on workout days compared to non workout days. She needed me to know.

My time at the gym led me to a part time job. Doing fitness assessments and onboarding for new members/exercisers. It allowed me to build my knowledge, experience and confidence in a physical activity setting, and gave me another physical outlet (in addition to hockey) that allowed me to focus better at school (my membership was now free as I worked there!)

When it came time to make a decision what to study in university, I had 2 choices: Commerce/Business or Physical Education. The former I was good at, the latter I was curious about. My dad was a teacher, and my role model, so I thought teaching and physical activity would be a good pursuit. So, that is what I did. (My dad, by the way, was the one who suggest that I follow what interested me most. A very wise man indeed as that advice has always stayed with me).

I got my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Physical Education from McGill University. I studied topics like exercise physiology and other movement sciences. I learned about sports skills and the methodology around teaching and coaching. That included the science of regular exercise and the impact it had on the body and the brain. My career path was locked in. I was going to apply all my learning as a teacher in the schools! I taught and coached for 8 years at all grade levels. All in a position of leadership around physical activity.

Once I stopped competitive hockey in university, I continued to play different sports well into adulthood. Volleyball, golf, slow pitch, basketball, skiing, cycling and mountain biking, flag football and eventually back to hockey. Physical activity was always a staple to my ways. It was always a part of my life. A big part. Oh yes, and I went to the gym regularly. Still do.

Yours Truly In The Big Rink!

There was a feeling after being active that I could not duplicate any other way. Still can’t. When I was not active, my mood was not the same, neither was my patience or focus or ability to get things done. My energy levels changed and my addictive personality focused on less constructive outlets. I am very grateful that I have had the wisdom to recognize the power of activity had on my life. I also thank my mother who reminded my and help me connect the dots!

The activities also allowed me to be a kid again. To revisit a time where all I did was play outside. Every sport and activity imaginable from hide and seek to tackle football to 1–2 hour bike rides (as a mode of transportation).

To play.

To develop social skills.

When got my first full time teaching job a few hours from home, playing in the adult basketball league allowed me to meet a ton of new people.

The post activity time turned into my best thinking time and most productive time. It is when I planned my lessons and planned my practices. Planned my next career and life moves.

As I left teaching when the opportunities in the schools changed, I settled on business in the fitness industry. I found a career in equipment supply. To this day, my career revolves around fitness and I am a better person when I move, play and exercise.

While this was happening, we had our son, and yes, he developed his own interest in sports and activity. And yes, I coached many of his teams growing up. Yes, he tried every sport you can think of. Skiing, volleyball, basketball, badminton, fencing, hockey, soccer, swimming until he found the one he loved…baseball. (See a similar pattern?)

He has chosen to build his own career path in fitness and health.

Physical Activity Has Opened the Door to Many Great Experiences!

Now close to 60, and on the “back nine”, my life is still better with regular activity. My passion for active living has opened doors and led to a great career. Over the years I have found ways to stay active through a busy and demanding lifestyle.

I always prioritized physical activity, because I knew I was different without it. I was not the person I wanted to be without it. I made decisions I did not like without activity in my life.

We all have our own path. I share a little about my story as a way to unravel some of the layers behind youth sport and its benefits.

That smile you get from your player or son/daughter after their activity of choice could be the beginning of many positive choices and experiences throughout their lives. The experiences that opened my doors through Coach Clark, Coach Healey and Coach Arsenault for me in those formative years harnessed a passion that has enriched my life all these years later.

It’s not youth hockey or baseball or basketball or whatever….it’s an opportunity to open doors to young people that can change their life. That is the reason so many volunteer their time and commit so much to youth sport.

As we roar into 2025, let’s not forget the impact we can have !

Physical activity changed, even saved my life!