It was a rainy morning. I was in my car, approaching an elementary school. I saw something so full of life. My curiosity heightened. I had to pull over. And watch.
A little girl was walking through the open field, heading to school. She carried a bright pink umbrella. The winds were powerful. All of a sudden, its force grabbed the umbrella from her little hands.
The umbrella starts rolling and jumping across the field.
She chases it…
Laughing!
The wind became her playmate.
She ran to catch her umbrella. And the wind would twirl it in the air and bounce it across the grass. This continued until at last she captures her umbrella.
She tilts her head back, with a big smile on her face, as though she were saying “Oh Wind! You are so silly.”
Her laughter made me laugh. I smiled. And drove away.
A little girl reminded me to never stop living whimsically – regardless of the storm.
There is wonderful adventure awaiting us at any moment. Remind yourself, again, that you love carefree moments.
What carefree moment have you experienced in the last seven days?
Every December, before the new year begins, I contemplate what the next theme will be; what journey will I embark on; what learnings will I experience; what stories will unfold.
It hit me with strength and clarity as I sat looking out over the Pacific Ocean in Vancouver: My theme for 2015 is #Believe&Trust.
Believe: Believe in your present and in your future with expectancy; with hope; with confidence.
Trust: Trust with relentless surrender in the very things you long for; trust the path you are on.
Believe and Trust in the uncommon and the extraordinary. The remarkable.
In reflecting, I think Believe and Trust are some of the hardest verbs to surrender to:
They are our bane and our delight.
They haunt us and exhilarate us.
They unsettle us and draw us to peace.
They disturb us and heal us.
We shame ourselves when we lack them and are content when we lavish in them.
Believe and Trust meld us into raw vulnerability. Inviting us to surrender over and over and over again. Not easy…
Perhaps to Believe and to Trust means to let go of control, just a little more. Doors will open and doors will close. And all will be well.
Is there an area in your life where this resonates with you?
Sometimes we allow our circumstances to thwart our confidence. We’ll let conversations, moments and environments infect us with doubt. Whatever is going on in your life right now doesn’t define you – it shapes you. And this is good. Valuable. Your life is a series of chapters – being woven into your story. And the reader, captivated, turns each page with wonder to see what happens next.
When Karen came into my life in 2012, it was as if she’d always been there. This was one of those rare relationships where I felt comfortable immediately and knew from the start I could trust her. And that’s Karen. She is a force. Karen’s interest and desire to know who she is talking to is so strong, you can’t help but be pulled in, and in sharing about yourself, you get to know her, too. She creates a safe space where it’s not only okay for you to be who you are, it’s genuinely what she wants – the authentic you. While this sounds like it can be intense – and it is – it’s intensity in the very best way. In getting to know you, Karen comes to want the best for you, but it’s not a best that’s imposed by someone else. She’s most interested in what’s best for you, and someone who is cheering for you in that way is an amazing gift. And while she’s getting to know you, she graciously shares her infectious enthusiasm, her amazing laugh, her wisdom and her let’s-give-it-a-try attitude. I always feel better after talking to her (even if I was feeling pretty good already), and I’m honored to call her a friend. I know you’ll enjoy getting to know her, too.
Karen and her pal, Mickey
“The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.”
I am addicted to learning. Anywhere, anytime, anyone. There are stories unfolding everywhere I go. I am a student. And the world is my teacher.
Whether I’m buying my Earl Grey tea from a barista, walking the city streets of Vancouver, hitting a little white ball in the green hills of a golf course, cycling through the trails and streets of urban living, choosing the best scallops at the market, walking the seawall with friends, laughing with my children, captivated by the soul of great musicians, smitten by a movie, charmed by an author, whatever it may be – people and their stories surround me.
I have the wonderful privilege of working for an extraordinary luxury footwear company, John Fluevog Shoes, directing both Retail Sales and the Culture and Community of the people who are connected with the brand. I lead a team of 19 managers and direct the growth and success of 127 employees in both Canada and the United States. I report directly to the owner/designer John Fluevog. He is an inspiration to me. One of the most creative individuals I know.
I tend to learn, what people may view as, the hard way. Throw me into deep waters and I’ll figure out how to swim. My favourite part of business is not knowing. Not knowing is the exhilarating opportunity to learn, to grow, to explore, to figure it out. Embarking on the unknown and celebrating how far we’ve come – together – this is good for the soul. We high-five our victories and develop strength through our defeats.
Stories. Your story. They are invaluable and immeasurable. The greatest wisdom I’ve gleaned always comes through stories. They impact us, challenge us, confront us, empower us.
I’m thankful to be part of this writing team and look forward to joining this blogging adventure.
It was a rainy morning. I was in my car, approaching an elementary school. I saw something so full of life. My curiosity heightened. I had to pull over. And watch.
GOOD FOR THE SOUL 