10 most popular posts in 2012

Some of my lessons this year arrived in a flash and some crept up on me. All however spoke to me on our humanity, our limited time and the joyfulness of understanding that we are all connected. In writing these words, I was changed, another small piece of the puzzle came together.

My lens on life in the 10 most popular posts of the year:


1. Angel Flight

I've already had my emotional moment this morning, when Canada won its first Gold at the Olympics in Gymnastics.  read more

2. My  Circle of Women

It is not about lipstick, high heels and lace

It is about toiling together under a half yard of top soil before darkness sets.

It is about baking 4 dozen muffins before your kitchen gets too hot. read more

3. A New Week Begins

The start of a new week. Welcome whomever crosses your path for we don't always recognize the reason they are there. read more

4. 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! read more

5. 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. read more

My circle of women

It is not about lipstick, high heels and lace

It is about toiling together under a half yard of top soil before darkness sets.

It is about baking 4 dozen muffins before your kitchen gets too hot.

It’s about recognizing when your friend needs a break with drinks and appies at the neighbouring pub

And when to sit still and look at the river.

It’s about handing your friend a disposable camera, while she sets out on her first cross country trip after the death of her husband.

And encouraging your friend of thirty plus years to walk down the hospital hallway that seems a hundred miles long.

It’s about emptying your parent’s house, wiping your tears, and eating grilled cheese cooked on the only frying pan left in the house.

Then putting the names of the children on the remaining items, because Grandma would want them to have it.

It’s about sharing the small things, new seedlings poking through the dirt, and the new guests in the birdhouse hanging on your porch.

It’s about celebrating getting the long-awaited retro cheque just in time for your vacation.

It’s about leaning on each other and cheering each other to the finish line. Whatever that line might be. So when the last breath happens, we can smile together for a journey well enjoyed in the company of your favourite people.

Lead

Twice in the last week in 2 very different sources, I have read about crustaceans (lobster/crab – take your pick!) escaping from the boiling pot.

From a business standpoint, the reference was to leadership. It mentioned how there is always someone brave enough to “rock the pot”, to escape the status quo and bring his brothers along with him. The article spoke of the remaining crustaceans, giving him a boost (with their own specific skills) which allowed the leader to lead them, and hence make changes that cause a shift in their working environment.

The second reference came from a female entertainer. Here again she spoke of the crustacean in the boiling pot. I was prepared to hear a similar story but her response came as a surprise. She spoke of how the women in her past had not offered the helping hand, how for the most part if someone escaped the heat, that they sat on the lid to prevent you from freeing yourself as well. How sad.

One pot, two experiences and here’s the question. Human being or crustacean, are you the one lending a helping hand, assisting your peers to be the best they can be or are you the one sitting on the lid?

Having just finished Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent, I could recap for you the story of Dinah’s voice in the Book of Genesis. However, the fellowship of women, the words used to describe their joy and their suffering, their absolute commonality to every woman who has walked this earth should be discovered on your own sofa with the beverage of your choice. Sisterhood must continue because stories are essential to make sense of life.

“Even those without family live in such close quarters to their neighbours that the cries of a labouring mother bring out other women like geese responding to the call of a leader in flight.”

Yesterday or today, assist your leader until you are one.

Guided to Cross

My friend M. and I met the day her family moved into our neighbourhood. Over the following 22 years, we have often reminisced about our meeting. Me, mom to 2 small children, shy and not commonly taken to walking over to a stranger with an out-stretched hand. M, with 2 smaller children, an army brat quite used to packing up and going but still surprised at the behaviour of a stranger, me! From that day onwards, I have truly believed that I was guided to make a connection that has proven to be invaluable over the life of our friendship. We walk, we talk, we eat, we wine, and we grow.

We don’t see each other often, sometimes it seems like months go by without contact and then it is like a simultaneous drawing together (you know, the “hey! I been thinking of you, so glad you called” conversations we have with our favourite people). Some friendships were meant to be, and I give thanks for having the awareness that day so long ago when I crossed the street because... I HAD to, I didn’t know why but I knew that it had to happen. That day, the earth shifted to bring me a friend.

M. brings many things to my life; laughter, deep thought, someone who has seen me at my best and certainly at my worst, who supports, and who speaks the truth.

I share below, one of her gifts to the world. This urban oasis can only be created by a human being with a good soul.

Did you or didn’t you, when intuition told you to step into the unknown? (Click to Tweet)

3 - Woman Intersection

 

3-Woman Intersection #Spokane

at a given moment yesterday
at a 4-way stop
we met.

each on the walk of our day
each on a journey.

strangers but women
been be become
each carrying the parcels of our lives
aware of our differences
knowing our similarities.

we nod smile wink
and carry on
until we meet again

and again
and again.


We meet again, as strangers. (Click to Tweet)

Same person, different face. How do we react?  (Click to Tweet)

Light your Way

Today I had a conversation with a young colleague regarding the Power of Women. She alluded to some choices she had made as a teenager that impacted her life. I spoke to her on the importance of surrounding yourself with strong women who can support and guide you. They are always there, we are sometimes just not ready to hear them.

I realized that through the most difficult time of my life (long unhappy marriage = long-overdue divorce), I yearned for such a person. They were there when I was ready. My 40's were fraught with awareness that pained, bridges that collapsed and lessons that brought me to the truth: That power and strength are gained through life experiences that we would not choose. That the enlightenment that we reach (if we are fortunate enough to appreciate it when it comes) can move us to higher levels of understanding ourselves, and that to go higher we have to be brought to our knees.

Be brave young friend, always look with joy at the bending paths ahead and listen for the voice that speaks to you. There are sign posts along the way if you allow yourself to pause.

What experiences have you had that slammed one door but gave you a peephole to where you are today?