TUES, DEC. 24TH - THURS, DEC. 26
BRANDON KERSEY .......................... Publisher
SAMANTHA MORNEAU ...................... Editor
SARAH JANE PHOTOGRAPHY ... Photographer
SAMANTHA MORNEAU ..................... Writer
FRAN BRACCIO ................................... Writer
Tell us about yourself!
Hey y’all! If you’ve been a part of our Kersey Kickbox family for a while now, you probably know me. If you are newer to our team, you might be thinking to yourself right about now: “Who is this blonde kid?” Well, my name is Samantha. I have been away from the club for a little while as I recover from surgery, but I have been editing every issue of Live Your Best Life Magazine and I am hoping to be back on the schedule soon - following doctor’s orders, of course!
I began training at Kersey Kickbox in 2016, but I have known Brandon and Krista for what feels like my entire life. Way back in 2002, I was brought to Mr. Kersey’s Karate School for Buddy Day and that is where I met the whole Kersey gang, and spent the next nearly two decades training for my black belt(s), volunteering for the SWAT Team and eventually, becoming a sensei, helping to
train the next generation of martial artists, including our very own Coach Lauren and her sisters.
Teaching at Mr. Kersey’s led me to my current profession: teaching. Since September, I have had the absolute privilege of teaching the most amazing kindergartners at the same school that I met my buddy that introduced me to karate twenty-two years ago. Unfortunately, I will be leaving my class after Winter Break, and I am going to miss them very much!
If I am not at school or the club, you can probably find me at the movie theatre (where I am a very frequent flier), on the couch with a book (my TBR list is loooonnggg) or hanging out with my friends and family (probably at the movie theatre or talking about books).
When you see me in the club, be sure to wave, say hi or give me your movie and book recommendations. I can’t wait to be back working hard with everyone!
By Samantha Morneau
Alright, folks! As we approach 2025, we are all going to be inevitably sucked into setting New Years Resolutions that we will not accomplish and joke about not accomplishing as early as February. But, here’s the thing, perhaps, we are just setting the wrong types of goals.
Very often when we set goals, we say something such as: “I want to lose weight” or “I want to eat better,” but what do those statements mean? Do they mean to lose 5 pounds, 50 pounds or to look different in the mirror? Do they mean cut out chocolate altogether or simply eat one vegetable everyday? When setting a goal, there are a few things we need to consider: Is the goal clear? Is the goal achievable?
I would like to challenge you to set SMART goals. What does a SMART goal entail? Well, I’m glad you asked!
S: Specific
S: Specific
When setting your goals for 2025, you want to make sure that your goal is clearly stated. As mentioned above, the goal needs to clearly state what you are going to do.
For example, “I will lose ___ pounds” or “I will read ___ books.” These goals specifically state what you are going to do making the desired outcome clear.
Now that you know what you want to accomplish, you need to make the goal measureable. Making your goals measurable means that you are able to track your progress and therefore, it is evident when you accomplish your goal. If we were to build of the goals from “specific,” stating “I will lose 10 pounds” or “I will read 10 books” makes the goal measurable.
Next, we need to ensure our goals are achievable. When setting our goals for 2025, we need to consider what is in the realm of possibility. For example, I cannot set a goal of running a marathon in January, as I have not been training and therefore, it would unreasonable for me to believe I could. A more achievable goal may be: “I will go for a ____ minute run twice a week.”
As for relevance, we need to consider if our goals contribute to improving our overall being. If we have a long term goal of climbing the ladder in our professions, would a smaller goal of quitting our jobs help us eventually achieve the bigger goal? Probably not. Perhaps a more relevant goal may be to complete some additional training.
The final letter: T! In order to finalize our SMART goals, we need to plan a start date, which may be January 1st, 2025, and a completion date. For example, we may
set a time-bound goal such as: “Starting in January, I will work to lose ten pounds by June.”
Now, that we have covered how to create SMART goals, I have a challenge and an activity for you (I’m sorry, it’s my teacher side coming out). This year, see if you can set SMART goals for all areas of your life: personal, work, health and fun. Furthermore, I want to challenge you to set twenty-four goals for the year. Don’t freak out! Not every goal has to be to a BIG GOAL, but the goals can be smaller ones that contribute to the few big goals you do have. Maybe your big goal is to lose a certain amount of weight by the end of the year, so your smaller, leading goals may include walking twice a week for thirty minutes, attend three kickboxing classes a week, or eat a salad every other day for lunch. You do you!
I believe two things: we always need to be working towards something and we need to celebrate everything we accomplish, no matter how big or small. I created my own bingo card for 2024 and then I misplaced it. When I found my bingo card and I was able to cross off many of the goals that I had set, some big, some small, and of course, crossing things off a to-do list is my favourite part of making a to-do list!
Here, I will leave you with the blank bingo card on the following page. I wish you the best of luck with your goals in 2025 and I can’t wait to hear about everything you accomplish!
Coach Krista
Coach Brandon
Favourite Film Released in 2024: Tulsa Kings (not a movie)
Favourite Song Released in 2024: Deep Down by Never Dull
Favourite Book Read in 2024: Only listen to audiobooks, usually anything about business
Favourite Memory of 2024: Snowboarding in Lake Tahoe
Favourite Film Released in 2024: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Favourite Song Released in 2024: I don’t know
Favourite Book Read in 2024: I didn’t read any
Favourite Memory of 2024: My daughter’s first year on St. Clair College women’s soccer team
Coach Fran
Favourite Film Released in 2024: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Favourite Song Released in 2024: Inhale/Exhale by Rufus Du Sol
Favourite Book Read in 2024: When You’re Ready, This Is How You Heal by Brianna West
Favourite Memory of 2024: Singing and dancing with my family in Italy
Coach Samantha
Favourite Film Released in 2024: The Fall Guy
Favourite Song Released in 2024: Work It Out by Joe Jonas
Favourite Book Read in 2024: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Favourite Memory of 2024: My family all recovering from their surgeries
Coach Angie
Coach Lauren
Favourite Film Released in 2024: Wicked
Favourite Song Released in 2024: Taste by Sabrina Carpenter
Favourite Book Read in 2024: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Favourite Memory of 2024: Getting to explore Lisbon and Porto, Portugal with three of my best friends!
Favourite Film Released in 2024: I haven’t watched a new movie this year lol
Favourite Song Released in 2024: I don’t know
Favourite Book Read in 2024: Maybe I’ll have some time to read in 2025
Favourite Memory of 2024: Helping coach volleyball this year, more enjoyable than I thought
Coach Amy
Favourite Film Released in 2024: Twisters
Favourite Song Released in 2024: Beautiful Things by Benson Boone
Favourite Book Read in 2024: The Witching Tide by Margaret Meyer
Favourite Memory of 2024: Hiking in Huntsville!
Favourite Film Released in 2024: It Ends with Us
Favourite Song Released in 2024: A Bar Song by Shaboozey
Favourite Book Read in 2024: I haven’t read any new books this year *oops*
Favourite Memory of 2024: When baby girl Jayla was born on August 17th and we got to hear her first cry <3
Favourite Film Released in 2024: I can’t lie... I haven’t watched a new movie this year lol
Favourite Song Released in 2024: I Can Do It With a Broken Heart by Taylor Swift
Favourite Book Read in 2024: Mayvbe I’ll have some time to read in 2025
Favourite Memory of 2024: Going to see Taylor Swift with my daughter
Favourite Film Released in 2024: It Ends with Us
Favourite Song Released in 2024: Loose Control by Teddy Swims
Favourite Book Read in 2024: Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
Favourite Memory of 2024: My wedding on October 19th
Coach Mallori
Coach Marshall
Coach Sara
Favourite Film Released in 2024: Challengers
Favourite Song Released in 2024: Real Man by Beabadoobee
Favourite Book Read in 2024: What Meets the Eye by Alex Kenna
Favourite Memory of 2024: Skating on the frozen marsh by my parents house!
Are you looking for a way to help your team level up?
Are you looking for a way to help your team level up? Bring them together to boost camarderie? Have fun learning a new skill? Improve strength, endurance, agility, coordination?
Bring them in for team training at Kersey Kickbox Fitness Club!
You’ll get a one hour private session with a trainer who will tailor the workout to your team’s needs, to help them become stronger physically and mentally to crush it when game time comes.
We’ve had soccer, volleyball, hockey and broom ball teams!
Are you a part of a team that has nothing to do with sports? A killer accounting team, a fantastic nursing crew? We are also booking special team building events as well that double as a workout and a team builder - with no awkward ice breakers!
For more information, contact us at 519-979-4001 or infocardiokickbox@gmail.com.
Alyssa Riberdy Dec. 1st
Swathika Venkatesh Dec. 1st
Sara Harper Dec. 1st
Anna Lewandrowski Dec. 1st
Scott Fleming Dec. 2nd
Shelly Pittman Dec. 2nd
Lish Bencich Dec. 8th
Martin Noelle Dec. 10th
Jillian Everett Dec. 11th
Cassandra Wilson Dyrda Dec. 11th
Kyle Jubenville Dec. 11th
Eiffey Adou Dec. 12th
Sandra Bistany Dec. 13th
Heidi Baillargeon Dec. 13th
Cristina Lecce Dec. 19th
Geoff Gosselin Jan. 1st
Erin Edghill Jan. 3rd
Pam Sleiman Jan. 4th
Chantelle Gouin
Jorge Gutierrez
Kelly Andruko
Jana Nader
Kelly Drouillard
Jacqueline Jackson
Jan. 5th
Jan. 6th
Jan. 7th
Jan. 7th
Jan. 8th
Jan. 9th
Lauren DiLeonardo Jan. 9th
Joanne Soave
Jan. 10th
Madison Luff Jan. 10th
Maddi Chemello
Jan. 19th
Charleen Levesque Dec. 19th
Sarah Raymond Dec. 20th
Stephanie Pierre Dec. 20th
Denise Masse Dec. 24th
Mikaela Morin Dec. 24th
Ash Hui Dec. 25h
Caddie Kerr Dec. 27th
Tala Ghosn Dec. 28th
Samantha Morneau Dec. 29th
Amanda Hutchinson Dec. 31st
Stefani Kisan Dec. 31st
Christina Tatangelo Jan. 19th
Adam Chartrand Jan. 20th
Karen Riosa Jan. 21st
Gillian Cator Jan 25th
Nikki Grossett Jan. 26th
Hailey Nantais Jan. 26th
Monika Lampman Jan. 29th
Colleen MacDonald Jan. 30th
Natalie Demarco Jan. 30th
TUES, DEC. 31stWED, JAN. 1st FOR NEW YEARS
Until Christmas, bring in cans to contribute to our community’s donation bin, and we will be donating with “Feeding Windsor Essex” Food Bank this Christmas.
Saturday, December 7th 9 am - 12 pm
Come celebrate the holidays with us! On Satuday, December 9th, come in early or stick around after class for some holiday treats!
Tuesday, December 24th - Thursday, December 26th
For Christmas
Tuesday, December 31st - Wednesday, January 1st
For New Years
