Life is not for the faint of heart

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature nor do the children of man as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.

Helen Keller 1880-1968, Blind/Deaf Author and Lecturer

How many times should you get up?

Just trust that everything is unfolding the way it is supposed to. Don't resist. Surrender to what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be. Great things are waiting for you around the corner.

Sonia Ricotti
#1 Bestselling Author 
Unsinkable: How to Bounce Back Quickly When Life Knocks You Down

Choose Growth

One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.

Abraham Maslow 1908-1970, Psychologist

Still Climbing for the Second Half

As we start the second half of 2012, we all need some encouragement!

See Inspiration from Success.com

Oh Canada!

Hearing the national anthem on Canada Day still stirs up one of my oldest memories.

I arrived into this wonderful land as a small child on a large boat. The first memory of my new country was pulling into the Halifax harbour, seeing the little colourful homes teetering on a hill. Like doll-sized homes, in yellow, pink, green and blue, cute enough to want to reach out and touch. Did real people live in there?

I have only vague recollections of what was involved in a move that would take my parents around the world to a new country, leaving behind everything they had known.


My 19 day voyage is only a blur. I was in the fold of adults, and had a play-mate on board (all that really matters when you're five years old), she was the daughter of the captain. I do remember seeing a ship pass somewhere in the ocean, lit up like fairyland and arrived in Canada on my birthday.

Hearing the anthem yesterday, on Canada Day, or almost every time actually, can bring me to the brink of tears. I have been known to discreetly wipe my eyes at a school function and even at a hockey game, much to the chagrin of my children. How different my life would have been had I not been in Canada.

Canada has been incredibly good to me. It has brought many delightful, surprises with its beauty from coast to coast, and a land so filled with cheerful, warm-hearted people (in spite of some of our frigid temperatures). It is a land that has offered countless others every opportunity to embrace a healthy, learning and safe environment.

So yes, I did shed a tear yesterday and felt just like I did when I saw those little houses perched high up on a hill.

Don't give up

When you get to the end of all the light you know and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: either you will be given something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.  

Edward Teller

Sharing our Strength

Starbucks Run for Women, Because I am a Girl event took place on Saturday, June 23rd.

                                                    learn more at Because I am a Girl!

Top of the Hill!

                                                            
We gathered, young and older, to support the education and empowerment of girls and women. No one should be discriminated because of gender. There was much light-hearted dialogue, dancing and cheering as we gathered below the overcast and drizzly skies. Somehow, our joined efforts kept the rains from coming down until later that afternoon (or at least that's my belief!).

Seeing women encourage and challenge each other up and down the hills at Baker Park was not less than inspiring. Winding around the curving paths in a sea of mauve t-shirts, you were proud to be a woman.

Each of us had a goal, hard fought for through early Sunday morning walks, wet shoes and blistered heals. Hours of dedication fueled this day. Each won their individual race; a first race ever, a first race with a pint-sized daughter, a first race with a new friend, a first race after chemo ended, and hundreds of other stories.

Whatever the goal, each face shone with delight as we crossed the finish line.

Congrats to everyone who completed and to our partners who supported our efforts, took photographs, rang bells and provided hugs at the end of the race.

We are each better prepared to set a new finish line and a new goal.

Home Stretch.

                                                               

Your life does not get better by chance...

You must constantly ask yourself these questions: Who am I around? What are they doing to me? What have they got me reading? What have they got me saying? Where do they have me going? What do they have me thinking? And most important, what do they have me becoming? Then ask yourself the big question: Is that okay? Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.

Jim Rohn 1930-2009
Author and Speaker

Some kind of progress – 12

She and Ollie met several times over the next few weeks. She realized that their friendship and the ease they felt with each other had not diminished over the decades. He had walked her home once, to her building with the striped awnings and eyebrows of cream coloured sandstone. A building she had loved instantly, because it had reminded her of the old, brick buildings that were common in their hometown. It even had radiators.

Once she had arrived for their coffee and met one of Ollie’s neighbours, a woman who lived one floor below him. Grace had smelled of vanilla and had the cheery, open face of someone that practised smiling often. She sometimes gazed to her left as though she was pondering carefully, giving her answer serious thought. They talked about art and Ollie, it was as though they were connected somehow.

Early on, she had forgiven him for being the messenger.

She told him about how when her position changed to day-time she had become more aware. It was so much easier to hide her sadness in the comfort of the dark.

He asked her if she recalled their days together in college, of streakers, and pre-happy-hour drinks in the corn field adjacent to their college. Oh, those days of camaraderie had always stayed with her as the highlight between cramming for exams and hitchhiking to save on your finances.

As time went by, she opened up more, her smile no longer seemed a betrayal of all that she had lost and laughing didn’t hurt. Ollie even gave up his toupée. She didn’t mention it outright, she just said that “he looked especially fine” that day, he understood.

Some things don’t need more words. (Click to Tweet)

For the rest of The Little Story, read here.

 

A Piece of Time

A piece of time for you to close your eyes, let go of your worries,

shed a tear if you need to, hold the hand of someone you love.

Be Still My Mind

There's a man in my Friday night yoga class who reminds me of my old friend Dan.

I don't know his name and I don't need to. He looks sort of like Dan, speaks in a careful, unassuming way and then when you are least expecting it, will let a wickedly hilarious remark just slide in.

I remember my teenage days with my friend Dan, while we each navigated our way into adulthood. Now we live on opposite sides of the country and our paths seldom cross without emails rapidly flying back and forth in the planning.

We met some years ago in Vancouver, together with another friend Eddy, who was up from Petaluma. Together for a few days, we walked along the sea-wall, stopped for endless cups of decaf coffee (for Dan), had sushi, and talked, photographed and laughed. They humoured me by eating as many meals as possible out-doors. I ate a lot of fish that weekend, I who had escaped the cold dreary March in my home town.

At a wedding, I introduced Eddy to the girl who would become his wife. I wonder where Dan's wife is working right now. Was it Cats, that she'd danced in?

Breathe slowly, in and out, stop thinking, in and out. Stop my monkey mind, too much coffee today.

Another time, we met in Montreal, and drank draft at the pub which was down the street from our high school. How do so many decades go by so quickly? There were a few of us, old friends joining together in an informal reunion of sorts. Catching up with the present, reminiscing of the past. Remembering how it was one of us who instigated the petition to allow the wearing of jeans to school.

He even looks like Dan from behind. Stop it, breathe slowly, in and out, stop thinking.

Some years later, Dan stepping off the train in red pants. College days of him throwing his head back while he had a good laugh.

And all this happened in my head even before the three beautiful OOOMMMs that started our class.

Funny how familiarity beckons us. Unsuspecting we are and eager to follow our thoughts down the rabbit hole.

Waves of Energy

                                                                on the way to Waterton


The ENERGY I have always felt when meeting someone is something that I have grown to trust and rely on. We call it our spidey senses, our intuition, our gut, but how often do we relinquish our egos long enough and just “go” with it.

After decades of second-guessing myself, I aim each day to operate on what “I just know” no logical reason, just KNOW. I have met many people recently who are choosing to operate each day from that level. If you start being aware, they are easy to spot!

For those who have toiled at the ability to hide who they truly are, you might think that you are fooling us, but you’re probably not. We too can play some games, and just like you ALLOW us, sometimes we just ALLOW you to pretend also.

I am interested in hearing your stories, about when and how your inner voice spoke to you and what you did about it.

Crazy Love

For your listening pleasure, especially if it's a rainy afternoon where you are.

Heraclitus said...a long time ago

The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Think only on those things that are in line with your principles and can bear the light of day. The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you do is who you become.

Heraclitus
535-475 BC (approximately), Philosopher and Author

Not just a Race - Bloomsday in Spokane

                                                   Bloomsday Run  Spokane, Washington


It has already been one month since the Bloomsday Run (Spokane, Washington, May 6th), it remains an inspiring event even for a spectator with a camera. First of all, there were a staggering number of
participants, 50,000 give or take! That number alone could spell disaster for the organizers. Much to my delight, I was surprised to see how well it was all run (excuse the pun).

It was impossible not to get caught up in the excitement of the walkers and runners. Their enthusiasm was contagious and the downtown core was a-buzz for days. Endorphins permeated the air. From the extended families walking together, to the young couples pushing a stroller, it was obviously a family event. Not everyone was there for speed.

                                                                          Friends

                                                                          Family


There were definitely stories that celebrated togetherness and the sharing of large and small triumphs. I could see through my lens that this was much more than a race, it was an event that celebrated LIFE.

                                           Runners shed their layers for donation to the needy

Stay - Davenport Hotel (beautiful, historical and steps to good shopping) http://www.thedavenporthotel.com
Retail Therapy - http://www.riverparksquare.com and a bag-full of goodies from LOFT  http://www.loft.com/
Drive - beautiful, long winding roads that were perfect for breathing in and singing aloud
Company - divine!
Stars - excellent, already planning a repeat for May 2013 http://www.bloomsdayrun.org/
Brews Bros. Coffee - on the list for next year

Coffee that comes highly recommended, thanks Corey!

                                                       Davenport Hotel, Spokane

Waiting

Many of my friends in spite of being happy for me when I met the most wonderful man, were disappointed that my on-line dating stories had come to an end. When you’re in the “mature” category, it is a true gift to meet such an incredible match.

My friend J. still shakes her head at the “drooling man” I met, who had presented himself with a 10 year old photo. And H. couldn’t believe when I shared the story of meeting someone who actually lived at the drop-in shelter (but by golly, he could spell, use proper grammar and punctuate). OK, they weren’t all bad, although some were exceptionally odd. I did meet some lovely men, but I wasn’t ready, they weren’t ready and for the best reason of all we were not a match. The best reason, I speak of is patience.

Then one day, (it was actually right after the “highly medicated drooling man”) I took myself to a local shopping mall and then drove and drove in circles, looking for a spot to park. Then I had a talk with God/the Universe. “OK” I said, “what’s going on? Where the heck is he? Am I supposed to be alone? What am I doing wrong?”

Then right in front of me, a car pulled in and like a lightening bolt from the Universe (because sometimes we need the obvious!) I saw the car’s license plate. It said “Timing”.

I waited and got ready and had patience while my super, fantastic man waited and got ready. 

Now, I give thanks each day as I savour, relish and bask in our lives together. I can now see the humour in my Saturday morning coffee-dates.  I realize that I was being prepared by the men who allowed me to pay for my own coffee, asked way too many personal questions, who showed up at the wrong location, who whined about their exes and those who were still in love with their exes. I was being given the opportunity to appreciate what I was worth and to wait for someone who was worth waiting for.

For all of you out there waiting, be with the breath and allow. I can’t promise you anything except that the day will come when you too will give thanks.

(And because I know you’re asking, no! my wonderful man does not have a brother.)

Content, Control and Content

How content are you? If you Googled, there are probably thousands of surveys that you could access to rate yourself. But do we really need a test? Don’t we all just know if we are in a good place? 

In my eyes, happiness is equated with contentment, I have seen ample proof of this in my life. We each know the person who appears to have nothing in terms of material possessions but has an abundance of wisdom to share. Then there's the person I see each morning, sitting in his wheelchair handing out the free local paper with a smile for everyone. These people are not held captive by fame, or the size of their bank accounts, they run on the fuel called choice.

They are content. What they already have makes them happy. They will always (for the most part!) be happy, because they do not derive their happiness from outside themselves. They are not attached to the weather, the economy, the traffic or the price of gas. They are content with their own content, and know that they will often have no control of circumstances.

These people can ride the waves of ambiguity, downturn, and falling stock prices because they already have the skills to survive. To rise to the top, your content has to be resilient. You have failed often enough and survived to know that you have a life jacket. That jacket is not visible on the outside, nor is it orange. It is what keeps you afloat when the winds of change are howling around you. It is what’s inside.

Are you content with your content?

Persist until you Persevere

Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.

Walter Eliot

                                            Wilammette River, Portland

What if 11/22/63 didn't happen?

I finished reading 11/22/63 a few weeks and decided that it was time to put fingers to keyboard to share my thoughts.

You might have stayed away from this book because of the Stephen King name and his propensity for scary things that go bump in the night. It was bit of a surprise when I first heard that King was going to tackle this subject. The date of J F Kennedy’s assassination is marked in many of our minds as one of our earliest encounters with tragedy.

Immaculata School (off Decarie in St. Laurent) sent all the students home that day. We watched the news and saw Kennedy’s blood splatter over his wife’s clothing on our black and white televisions over and over. It is an image etched in my memory, even though I didn’t quite grasp the magnitude of the event.

This book however is more about the Time than about the Date. It is about a naive nation, about mystery and hope and love. I won’t spoil the story for you but the walk down memory lane, the references to cars with chrome and fins, candies, clothes and music are on their own worth the cost of the book (paper or digital).

*11/22/63 is the first book I have read on my Kindle. The Kindle was very light weight and has an easy-on-the-eyes screen for reading on the beach or on a plane. I am very fond of it! It was relatively problem free to get used to making notes and highlighting passages for future reference. It is my newest favourite thing since I discovered post-it notes…



                                                         

Click here to check out my new favourite thing, my Kindle!        
      

Disappoint - they will survive

 Making time for yourself in this bustling, noisy world we live in can be challenging. How do we find and commit to "me" time?  Let's face it, we are on/in demand to every family member and 4-legged beast that lives under our roof. We are connected by blood, love, and wireless-ly, there is scarcely a moment of solitude. 

I know of people who set their alarm clocks earlier  in order to get some quiet time, to read, run, swim, write or meditate. Many folks are then catching a shut-eye in their cars over the lunch hour or on the train home at the end of the day. 

We have been raised to be polite and respectful of others and feel horribly guilty to put ourselves first. Why is it easier to disappoint Me rather than You? Honouring yourself takes time and dedication. If we can't find the time and reason to celebrate who we are, why should anyone else? (Click to Tweet)

See Cheryl Richardson's video and article on Let Me Disappoint You.