In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there are few. Shunryu Suzuki Roshi Patience was never a particular strength of mine. As a child I was fidgety, and as a young woman I was always striving to get my ducks in a row and fixated on the destination rather than…
The moment you wake up, right away, you can smile….You are aware that a new day is beginning, that life is offering you twenty-four brand new hours to live, and that that’s the most precious of gifts. Thich Nhat Hanh The tune It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And…
A rare opportunity to travel to Indonesia has popped up for me. This trip couldn’t have come at a better time as I seek to reboot and rebalance my life. Before I head off on my adventure, I’d like to share with you one of my favourite poems by Shel Silverstein. What better way to…
Smile, breathe and go slowly. Thích Nhất Hạnh “Where’s the fire?” a friend asked good-naturedly as I hastily said goodbye and bolted out the door. Bolting out-of-doors had become the norm with me of late. Several weeks ago, I did not exercise good judgement on a particular project, simply because I was in a hurry….
The future is completely open, and we are writing it moment to moment. Pema Chodron, teacher, author For many of us dealing with life transitions, new beginnings can be strange and confusing – we fear them as much as we anticipate them. More often than not, there will be moments along our journey when filled…
In chaos there is fertility. Anais Nin, novelist The first leg in our journey of transition was about “letting go” and just when we thought nothing could be tougher than saying goodbye, we find ourselves in still murkier waters. Welcome to the second leg of our transition process, “redefining ourselves” or what change management expert, William…
The only way to make sense of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance. Alan Watts, philosopher, writer The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus famously observed that the only constant is change and that life is a rapid river, perpetually flowing, churning and transforming. When challenged by change in…
freak flag n. A characteristic, mannerism or appearance of a person, either subtle or overt, which implies unique, eccentric, creative, adventurous or unconventional thinking. Urban Dictionary My freak flag has been flying since day one. I had always been the “odd duck” of the family. I was the child repeatedly reprimanded by her schoolteachers for…
All great changes are preceded by chaos. Deepak Chopra Not a day goes by that I don’t find myself chasing tiny balls of solder from various corners of our home, reminders of recent re-piping and renovation work. The need for re-piping had presented the ideal occasion to initiate much neglected and long deferred projects. For…
It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech. Mark Twain For many of us, public speaking can be a nerve-racking experience. Literally placing ourselves, front and center stage for public scrutiny, rarely tops our fun-to-do list. My first time presenting a wellness seminar was just that – all butterflies and sweaty palms. Despite my…