Have You Been Winterized?

Photo: Colin Owens

What a beautiful fall season it has been this year. The warm temperatures and sunny days have made it an easier than usual transition into the winter months that lie ahead, but the trees are now bare; exposing their structural beauty and reminding us of the strength and endurance the allows them to flourish in the harshest cycle of the four seasons.

Winters can be challenging. The bitter, cold, gray days can take a toll on one's mind and body. Some people embrace the the season of snow and ice by taking up activities like skiing or snowboarding.

When I first became a parent, I envisioned myself being outside all winter building snowmen and tobogganing down steep hills with my children. Not so much. I'll get the urge to play outside as many times as there are fingers on my hand– other than that, I am watching the kids from inside the house, happily making hot chocolate for when they come in. I'm the type of person who cannot stand being cold. Once I get a chill, I can't get rid of it and then I'm uncomfortable for the rest of the day.

Over the last several years through yoga and my my naturopathic doctor friend, Pankaj Seth , I have been introduced to Ayurveda– the science of life. This system of self care has made winters much more bearable. Basically, it is a personalized method to keep yourself well balanced and healthy. A lot of it seems to be common sense, as it is about consciously changing your habits to adapt to your environment (and vice versa) and/or circumstances to maintain balance. Any time the body is not balanced means it has to work harder; the longer it takes to restore balance means vulnerability to illness and disease increases because the immune system is more and more compromised. This approach to well being has demanded I take more responsibility for my own health and well being.

According to Ayurvedic philosophy, my dosha is predominantly vatta-pitta. Winter is "vatta"(wind) in principle, and since like increases like, I am more vulnerable to imbalances during this season: super dry skin, physically chilled, susceptible to colds and flu (I used to be one of those people who would catch cold after cold and have one major bout with flu every winter).

Using the principles of Ayurveda I basically eliminate all things cold and reduce the number and change the type of activities I do. I try to incorporate as much kapha (water & earth) or pitta (fire) principles into my daily living as possible. It's kind of fun adjusting this and that to see what works and what doesn't. Here's what has worked for me:

1. Drinks: Lots of fluids, no caffeine and hold the ice!
-hot liquids. (I love my Tazo and Yogi  teas!) Even plain ol' water is hot. When I go out to a restaurant,
 I'll request hot water with lemon, which gives me an extra boost of vitamin C; at home, I'll make tea
 out of a heaping teaspoon of Chyawanprash
-red wine


2. Food: Goodbye salads, hello soup...
-hot cereal or granola with hot soy milk for breakfast.
-increase my intake of spicy food, heavy comfort foods and meat- yes, I said meat! (preferably organic)
-raw foods I pretty much limit to fruit that can be stored at room temperature
-increase use of olive oil in cooking


3. Environment: Warm and cozy please.
-aromatherapy with earthy or spicy scents
-burn candles throughout the house and of course, spend lots of time in front of the fireplace
-sit in the steam room at the gym
 


4. Activities: Less doing, more being.
-cooking (I love being in a warm kitchen in the middle of winter!)
-running indoors
-yoga
-reading
-anything creative: writing, painting, sketching


4. Personal Care: Stay warm and grounded.
-sesame oil, almond oil or mango body butter for my skin- if it feels warm the minute it touches my
 skin, it's perfect
-increase massage therapy treatments
-much more conscientious of my body temperature; the minute I begin to feel cold, I add another layer
-if I feel the early signs of a cold, I make a fresh basil and ginger tea and that knocks it out of me.
-hot baths at night
-music: less bounce, more chill; jazz, ambient, R&B, reggae, etc.
-meditation
-introspection/reflection
-vitamin D supplement 

Most important of all is guarding the mind so as to have a good night's rest and being mindful of thought patterns that can be toxic, whether it's constantly thinking about too many things at one time or negative inner dialogue– the mind is a powerful influencer on health and well being.

Winter is quickly sneaking up on us. Why not try something different this year? For instance, if you tend to lose motivation and become moody during the winter, that would be considered a kapha (water & earth) imbalance. What you need would be some pitta (ex. spicy food) and vatta (ex. invigorating physical activity) influences.
Ayurveda has been one of those things I have gratefully added to my "Toolbox for Life".  It provides yet another perspective about health and well being that seems to be missing in western medicine, although Dr. Oz and Deepak Chopra have been doing a good job of introducing it to the masses– even though it's a bit on the commercialized side. (sigh) However, if you're into your health (because what good is life without it?) Ayurveda is something worth checking out.


Resources on Ayurveda:

Movie: The Art of Being

More about Dr. Pankaj Seth, ND:
http://www.doctorseth.ca
www.bodhinewmedia.ca/


The mind has great influence over the body, and maladies often have their origin there.  ~Moliere

Remembrance is more than just a day.

Several years back, I was in Kettle Point taking in the sights and sounds of a First Nations pow wow. I stopped by a concession stand to grab a bite to eat, where an elder gentleman served me. I noticed on the hat he was wearing, it said "WW II Veteran".

I looked at the man and said, "Excuse me sir, did you serve in World War II?" He looked me in the eye and said, "Yes, I did". I then responded by extending my hand to him. We shook hands and I said, "I just want to say thank you for risking your life for the rest of us." Taken by surprise, he held my hand and replied while shaking his head, "there were times I didn't think I would make it out alive." I thanked him again and paid him my money. He sat down on a little fold-out chair, took out a handkerchief, dabbed his eyes, gave me a big smile and waved goodbye.

I can only assume how that brief conversation impacted that gentleman. I hope he felt my sincere gratitude and that somehow my words let him know his suffering wasn't done in vain; that somebody noticed his sacrifice  of a 'normal' life.


Since that encounter Remembrance Day has taken on a new meaning for me. It is an annual renewal of my vow to do what I can to create a more peaceful world. I believe every veteran carries the desire for peace deep within their hearts and as a beneficiary to their sacrifice, the least I can do is to let my actions and way of Being suggest that I am eternally grateful and I am honouring them more than once a year.

To all veterans, young and old: 

May I carry the torch lit by the desire of your hearts.

I will not rest until this work is done.

On your behalf, I call upon the younger generations

to move forward and make changes that last.

Let's turn this ship around and get it right.

Love. Peace. Unity.

No Bieber Fever in THIS House!

Until recently, I had prided myself on successfully keeping Justin Bieber out of my home. And then it happened... On a drive home from summer day care, my 7-year-old said:

"Mom, I like Justin Bieber."

I turned my head around faster than Linda Blair in The Exorcist. "WHAT???" Oh crap! I'm driving a car. My eyes go back to the road.

"What do you know about Justin Bieber?" I say scrutinizing her in the rear view mirror.

"I don't know what he looks like, but I like his music," she responds.

"How did you hear his music?" I'm dumbfounded.

"A---- at day care had it on her MP3 player."

"Isn't A---- like 6-years-old?" Now I'm even more dumbfounded.

"Yeah... I don't know what she's doing with an MP3 player." Phew! At least my daughter is still on my side about that issue...

"What song did you hear?" Oh Lord...

She then proceeds to sing Baaby, Baaby, Baby OOOHHH

Okay, I can handle this. It's just a song. No big deal.  I cautiously surrender and we talk about the rest of her day. But then the next day...

"MOM! Today I saw the Justin Bieber video on Youtube!"

"WHAT?!" I BECOME Linda Blair from The Exorcist.

"Daddy put it on for me." Great... I'll deal with that later.


"Let me see the video," I say.

Girls are appropriately dressed. Check.  NO bumping and grinding. Check. NO explicit lyrics. Check. An old school dance off. YAY! Puppy Love... not crazy about exposing her to that, but I guess it's time to start introducing the topic (why can't it be as easy as introducing solid foods?)

Here come's the mama talk...

"Okay, Jas. I don't mind you watching this video, but as long as it's not every day, all day. I don't mind you liking Justin Bieber's music, as long as you stay away from becoming so attached to him that he's all you think about. There are a lot of girls out there who wake up thinking about Justin Bieber, go to school and all they think about and talk about is Justin Bieber. Then they start looking for boys who look like Justin Bieber and at night, when they go to sleep they dream about Justin Bieber."

Flashback to 1982

"You know, if Justin Bieber inspires you to become better at something, then it's a good thing. Like when I was a little girl, I used to spend hours dancing so I could move like Michael Jackson. Because of him I became a better dancer. I learned about how he wanted to excel at everything he did and I was inspired to try and attain the same high standards. He made me think about the rest of the world and helping others. But all that other stuff I just talked about with the screaming and crying and carrying on is nothing but a distraction from you becoming the best you can be. A little bit of Justin Bieber is okay, but too much is just not good." I should know!

"Mom, it's just a song!"

"Until you go to school and start hearing all of the other girls talking crazy talk about Justin Bieber. You don't want to become one of those girls. I'm just sayin'! "

A box!

"Jas you have to trust me on this one. Imagine you have a box on top of your head and the lid is wide open. As long as that box is open, my job is to put as many good things in there as I can because one day, you are going to slap my hand away and close that lid. Then I'm going to have to wipe my hands clean and say 'my job is done'. You are going to make mistakes, but it'll be okay because I know I've put good things in that box of yours and you'll eventually remember all that is in there and get back on track. But for now, let me do my job."

"Ohhh I get it. You're just making sure I won't do what everyone else does and get crazy about Justin Bieber."

"Exactly." Whoa, that smile feels pretty big on my face. Wait a minute..."Do you know where Daddy is?"

Ready for a Radical Change?

When I take my last breath I will know I have lived to my fullest potential and with no regrets.

We all get lazy sometimes and that's okay, but when it becomes chronic we become miserable and life becomes mediocre. Usually, we blame everyone and everything around us when in fact, we are being called to change; called to be more than what we currently are. We've grown and the discomfort of our life is just a signal that it's time to move on –metaphorically or literally.

Most people get stuck in complaining about something and then go back and forth between things going well (complaining stops) and things going bad (complaining resumes). It takes a cancer diagnosis or a job loss to start pondering the course one's life is taking.  But instead of waiting for that major, earth shaking, painful incident to happen, why not just get tired of complaining and decide to do something about it before the power of choice is taken away?

Deciding to do something is like a switch going off in your head and in that fraction of a second you know with every ounce of your Being that it's a done deal and you'll never go back to the way things were. To put it simply: all lasting change starts with a radical change in thought, not action. To say "I need to lose weight" is really only a "should" and will lead you to putting yourself temporarily on a diet. To say "I need to exercise" is really only a "should" and will lead to you purchasing a gym membership and neglecting to go.

A life changing decision is a change in values or beliefs and is usually preceded by frustration. "I am sick and tired of feeling this way!!! I will NOT go another day feeling these aches and pains in my body because of my weight" is a decision that inspires a strong commitment to action.

But, maybe you just aren't that sick and tired yet. Okay... fast forward 10 years from now and see your life as the effect of today's actions. Be honest with yourself –no sugar coating allowed! If you don't like your weight now, how will being overweight affect your quality of life 10 years from now? If you are broke now, how will having major debt and no savings affect your quality of life 10 years from now? If all of your relationships are full of drama now, how will you be functioning a decade from now? And remember, the more conscious your decisions, the more responsibility you have. Are you ready for that? Let's not forget that every decision made always affects more than just you. Can you negotiate the cost of a bad decision?

By glancing into your future you can educate yourself now and take advantage of an opportunity to make choices that will change your life's path. Just think, if tomorrow you took your last breath, would you be able to say, "I gave it my all" or would you be begging for a second chance?

Making More Connections

Last month at ChangeCamp London, I met Nadine Reeves from Childreach , which is a wonderful non-profit, early childhood and family resource centre. The second I found out Nadine was from this lovely organization, I immediately informed about I how much absolutely LOVE their blog. By chance, (or not...) Nadine was the one responsible for the Childreach blog. Without hesitation I volunteered myself as a guest blogger and was delighted that Nadine thought it would be a fantastic idea.

A few days ago, I wrote my first post for Childreach entitled "Character Development Isn't Just for Children".  Of course afterward, I noticed some minor errors... Grrr... I always find it difficult to edit my own work.   (By the way, if you stumble across errors while reading any of my posts, please feel free to let me know :) ) Even still, the response has been great. I look forward to connecting with Nadine in the future, as well as other community non-profits I can support through my writing.

Everyone has a story not just to tell, but to share. What or who are you passionate about? What audience can you easily relate to? Somewhere in your community there is an organization that welcomes your perspective.  Go ahead, plant another seed. I'm just sayin'...

Return to the Ocean My Friend

 Today my husband and I received news that a friend of ours died suddenly of a heart attack this morning. He was 36 years old and left behind a wife and two small children. I trust what has happened, but it saddens me just the same. Only love can heal this wound for the Hookey family.

Ocean

Life is mysterious
Everyday shows
A new meaning
Sometimes
I get so confused
And things seem
So muddled

It's not until
The tide has rolled in
And receded back
From the shore
That I can see
The bits of debris
That explain
Why life
Has happened
The way
It has

Sometimes
I am anxious
Too curious
Too impatient
To wait and see
So I plunge
Into the wave
That surrounds me

Even with a mask
And snorkel
All I see
Is a large
cloud of clutter
It's dark
And dirty

A million
Particles everywhere
Yet I can be
So determined
To find answers
That I waste
Precious energy
Trying to find
My way through
The murkiness
That has now
Turned into
Pettiness

Not until
I am forced
To shore by
The strong thrust
Of a wave
And the water
Is too choppy
To venture
Into Again
Will I sit
And wait

And like always
The debris
Collects
In the sand
And I am
Quickly reminded
Whether it's a
Beautiful shell
From the sea
Or a gray
Skeleton of
A fish

I remain
Not only
Living
But a part
Of the Universe

A Life Saved and a Story Worth Sharing

Yesterday, my best friend, Melanie, shared this story about her husband, Jeff who is an train engineer with CN.  I regret it is not until now that I have time to write about it, but I think it is GOOD NEWS worth sharing, timely or not. The following took place Saturday, July 3rd in London, Ontario and with permission, is written in Melanie's words. Perhaps if you know the name of the person who this happened to, you could let us know how he's doing...


Jeff called me at work and told me, "There's been a bit of excitement at work today." As they slowly brought their train across a bridge near South Street hospital, he looked out of his window to see if he could spot any fish. As they neared the other side [of the river] he noticed what looked like clothes floating in the water. As he looked closer, he noticed with alarm that it was actually a person floating face down in the river with his feet just barely up on shore. 
Jeff thought to himself 'I didn't hear any splash or see any waves or ripples in the water' and wondered how long he had been there. After stopping the train, (which took yet another few precious minutes) he and his two co-workers found their way down to him. The challenging part was trying to explain [to EMS] exactly where their location was, as the man was just off the bike path, not near any roads.
"Watch his neck & spine! Get his head up!" Jeff instructed. They gently and quickly moved his body out of the water and onto the shore. The man's eyes were rolled back and he was not breathing. As they continued to maneuver him into a better position, he started to awaken and talk.
Jeff could only shake his head. No one would have seen him on the path unless they noticed the crashed bike and decided to look further. Up on the bridge, Jeff just happened to have the perfect view and was in the right place at the right time. He still has no idea how long the man had actually been lying there, submerged in water before hew was noticed. "I guess it was that guy's lucky day," he says modestly. [Once EMS arrived, they got back on the train and continued on]

Jeff never did find out the man's name or knows how he is doing now.

It makes you think twice when you are stopped by a train in the city. Who knows what those "train guys" are really doing. They could be giving a stranger a second chance at life.
Jeff and his two co-workers, Ron & Colleen, were the CN railroaders who together, saved a man from dying alone, face down in a river.  These three are simply silent, modest heroes among us. 
After my husband shared this story with me, it restored my hope in humanity. This was a deed to be proud of. A monumental difference has been made in the lives of everyone who was at that scene.

Finding Meaning in the G20 Chaos

It's been three days since the G20 summit in Toronto and like majority of Canadians, I am still feeling the affects of it. As I search for the meaning of last weekend's events, the disturbing images planted in my mind keep surfacing. We can do better than this.

I will not lose faith in the notion that across this beautiful globe of ours there are enough intelligent, creative and caring human beings who can rise up and become the leaders we so badly need: leaders in their families, leaders in their workplaces, leaders in their communities, leaders in their countries... leaders of their countries.

Just the other day, I was joking with someone (but not really) that in order to beat 'the man', you have to be 'the man'. As much as it pissed me off to see the politicians smiling and enjoying themselves, their blatant disregard of the protest is what we needed. Like a teenager who once rebelled against their parents before maturing into an adult, the time of kicking and screaming and breaking things is over– as is the time of passive aggressive behaviour.  We have become wise enough and capable enough to take responsibility of our world as it is and do something about it.  As Ghandi once said, “the difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problem.” Yes, it's a much bigger commitment than 72 hours of protesting, it's a lifetime devotion to personal progress not for monetary gain, but for global gain. That is what will create lasting change. And one day, when we become leaders of the country we have envisioned, we'll realize that guiding a nation isn't easy at all (and that we do need to be surrounded by armed officers when travelling).

From an eagle's perspective, beyond all archetypes, beyond race, culture, religion or sexual orientation, last weekend was the convergence of human beings falsely separated by the historical illusion of 'us' versus 'them'– the stuff that war is made out of. And so it continues, as we defend whichever 'side' we are on. What was the first thing Nelson Mandela did when he was released from prison after 27 years? He certainly didn't have time to get caught up in "he said/she said" pettiness; he had a nation to liberate.  Leaders who have made substantial progress for the sake of humanity have first sought to understand the opposition, and then forgive them. Those two actions are what kept their extraordinary visions pulsing with life and birthed into reality. Nobility. Nobility...

By no means do I attempt to minimize what the protesters or innocent bystanders have experienced, or what the thousands of police officers experienced for that matter because they, too, have stories. I thank all of the protesters who did not engage in acts of violence. I thank the police officers for doing a very difficult job. I thank the Black Bloc for reminding me there is a black sheep in our family. I thank the politicians for making it clear I have more work to do from where I am right now.

Get involved in the community, continue to spread kindness...  keep faith in humanity. All of our actions, if driven by vision, will open a multitude of doors that permit us to making greater and greater impact.

You CAN change the world

"Making your mark on the world is hard. If it were easy, everybody would do it. But it's not. It takes patience, it takes commitment, and it comes with plenty of failure along the way. The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won't. It's whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere."

-President Barack Obama


Shortly after I graduated and began my first career as a school teacher, I remember having this overwhelming feeling that somehow I could change the world; that I was unstoppable. Of course, that was before I knew about bureaucratic barriers. It didn't take long before my naive optimism was squashed out of me and I resigned to a life of mediocrity. I decided that I was powerless; my pulse slowed down, my fire turned to glowing embers. My new mantra became "Why bother?"

If you are living or ever have lived by that mantra, you understand the ways in which your life suddenly turns gray and you begin to live vicariously through larger than life characters in books or on screens.

It was only a matter of time before my residency in the wasteland of mediocrity became dissatisfying. My hiding place was discovered by my spirit and my first born child. I had no choice but to try again.This time around, I realize that leaving your mark isn't so much about the mark itself as it is about the type of person you have to become and the vision you have to guide you.

Mr. Gandhi was right.To create any significant change in the world first requires a significant change within. The biggest changes often involve overcoming multiple fears. Fear of loss. Fear of rejection. Fear of persecution... and the list goes on and on. In fact, I'm not sure the list is ever exhausted. And you can guarantee, where there is fear, feelings of inadequacy also exist. 

Nobody likes to feel inadequate, but without feeling less than capable we wouldn't need to grow. It is where one of life's many forks in the road exists: grow bigger than you are right now, or shrink so you can remain comfortable–for now. I guess you could also choose to not to choose. I wouldn't recommend that option though, I've tried it and I just ended up standing at the junction complaining because I was uncomfortable. It's not fun. But what I now know is nothing... I repeat; nothing feels more epic than overcoming a fear that has been holding you back from living to your fullest potential or becoming proficient at something you once floundered at.

When I was younger I took the comfortable road. Maybe I didn't believe enough in my vision to fight for it. Or maybe I had realized if I fought for it I might not win... and then what? Perhaps my vision was weak and incomplete. Whatever the reason, I needed my flame to peter out so I could build a better fire. Now, when I feel the slightest loss in momentum,  I either fine tune my vision, change my approach, take a break, regroup... I'm not giving up. Not this time.

As Barack says, making your mark is not easy and it does take patience, commitment and a willingness to fail. It is a true test of your vision. I believe a great vision will always see you through and the feet of the person you are becoming will eventually get you there.

Breathe Deep and Breathe Often

In yogic philosophy, it is said that your life has a predetermined number of breaths, so breathe slow and breathe deep...

As  a yoga practitioner, I find breath to be fascinating. For those of you not familiar with yoga, we spend a fair amount of time doing what is called pranayama, which is a series of seated breathing exercises. I remember when I tried yoga for the first time, I found the practice to be strange, but had to admit I noticed the immediate calming affect.  I cannot help but to attribute a much stronger immune system and a higher tolerance for stress to the years I have invested in the practice.

Most of us spend our days breathing short, shallow breaths and sometimes we stop breathing altogether, thanks to stress and unconscious breathing. By simply bringing your awareness to breath, you can instantly de-stress the body, improve a negative mood and become less reactive to your environment. I know if I have trouble falling asleep at night because my mind won't shut off, I focus on deep, rhythmic breathing and before I know it, I quickly drift off into a peaceful slumber. Physiologically there are so many benefits to mindful breathing exercises because unlike regular cardiovascular activities, where the fresh intake of oxygen is immediately burned up by the muscles being used,  seated breathing gives oxygen the chance to properly rejuvenate the body.

From a larger perspective, I believe that breath is something we too often take for granted and for no good reason.  Our lives begin with one big inhale and ends with a final exhale; all of the breaths in between create our sweet, sacred life and declares "I am alive!" My entire life hinges on my final exhale. Every major life decision I make is an acknowledgment of that moment as I aim to ensure that when it happens I will have no regrets.

What about you? When is the last time you felt the significance of waking up in the morning and inhaling as you stretch your body out to prepare for the day ahead? Or maybe you hold your breath as you jump out of bed in a mad rush to get ready. Either way just remember, every day's waking breath is another opportunity to right some wrongs and enjoy life's surprises. As the saying goes, any day above ground is a good day... and you have your breath to thank for that.

Didn't Anyone Tell You About the Closet?

When I first met my husband, 15 years ago, I told him back then that as long as he was with me, he would never love the same person twice. Even as a 21 year old, I had consciously planned to evolve for the rest of my life, which meant my husband has grown accustomed to trying new things and observing me challenging myself in mind, body and soul.

Just last week, we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. At times, I didn't know if celebrating a decade of marriage would be a reality for us. Every marriage goes through it and from what I can see, it's a perfectly natural and good thing.

My husband and I met when we were 15 years younger. Our priorities were very different and we were without children. Fast forward to our current place on the timeline and neither one of us is remotely the same person we were back then, regardless if we were 'evolving consciously' or not. Yet, the sticky web of dynamics attempts to pull us into ways of interacting and Being that no longer serves us... and so the bumpy ride begins. If only a voice had said, "Hold on tight because this is the first ditch you vowed to dig yourselves out of when you said 'for better or for worse'".

I can understand how so many marriages dissolve or how affairs happen because let me tell you, that ditch is bleak. But in our case, after we took a closer look we found we weren't in a ditch at all. Rather, we were in our matrimonial closet of blames, hurts and ideals; all we had to do was open the door and clean the mess up. A lot had to go, but some treasures just needed to be dusted off and put to good use again. It took a few years, some emotional oscillating, new boundary setting, open and raw discussions and at last, fresh eyes to see each other with. It was like we entered a chrysalis together and were thrown off by the darkness and the losing of our form without realizing all the while we were shedding our old selves as a couple. Thankfully, we made it through.

After having gone through all of this and without being so naive as to think it will only happen once, we cannot deny our rich history together or that the depth of our love for each other has since expanded. We feel lighter and wiser. We acknowledge we don't know what our future will bring, but have a healthy awareness that the relationship we cultivate today will shape the one we have tomorrow.

And we now know it's better to clean out our closet on a regular basis than it is to wait until another decade passes.

A Hero Among Us

Last night, while teaching my yoga class, I had the privilege of meeting a man with an incredible story.
The class was packed with women. In walked a male newcomer. Middle-aged and bald-headed, he's husky and tattooed. His braced legs and cane carried him as he made his way to the front of the class. Within the first few repetitions of our sun salutations, he began showing signs of struggle and I became a little concerned that he may be discouraged and leave the class... but he didn't.
In fact, he gave his all throughout the entire class, taking breaks whenever he needed to and without apology. He was the last to leave and as I approach to thank him for coming, he introduced himself and told me his story.

Three years ago, he had a flu shot and he nearly died. His entire nervous system was blown out and recovery has been a very long process. He spent months in the hospital, extensive time in a wheelchair, eventually progressed to walking with two canes and now he is down to one cane. His neurologist told him to come to yoga and if he continued making the progress he was, he'd be back to work next year.

This... man... is... INCREDIBLE. As he told his story, I couldn't help but to notice his determination and positive attitude and my eyes couldn't help but to fill with tears of absolute humility. It's not often I come across such courageous and inspiring individuals face to face, but when I do I am wise enough to recognize I am in the presence of a hero.

I know you're out there...

On some level, all of us are craving change. Perhaps you have felt your wheels spinning because the desire for change was there but you didn't know what to do with it. It's time to stop spinning and just make your move! Whether it's big or small, all action counts and is instrumental in creating change.

I found this TED Talks video (my favourite source of information) featuring Seth Godin, an entrepreneur and well-known blogger, speaking about using the internet as a tool, bringing like-minded people together to create major change. The power of one isn't really the power of one; it's the power of many and it is the power of truth. Speak your mind and share your heart, but you're going to ruffle some feathers. Do it as a 'tribe' and there's nothing to fear.

Grab a cup of tea or a glass of wine and for the next 20 minutes enjoy this little pep talk.

Seth Godin on the tribes we lead | Video on TED.com

Never Water a Weed

My 7-year-old daughter was the inspiration for me to re-enter the blogosphere today. Until now, I've been only thinking about it and had it filed the 'action' part with the rest of the "some days" of my mind. But the truth is, I've been agonizing over the desire to share my thoughts in a way that inspires people and elicits positive connections with others. But today is the day... I'm back!

So why "Never Water a Weed"? This is where my daughter comes in. Earlier this evening, she and I were having a conversation about her taking the initiative to play soccer with a bunch of boys at recess today. I was glad to hear that she had taken a chance to do so and was anticipating a victorious ending; which was right about when she told me she stopped playing because one particular boy was laughing at her.

Her look indicated she knew what was coming next... one of my motivational talks, which for her is like cleaning her room; a painful process to start, but once it's done she always feels better.

"So you stopped playing because of that?" I responded. "You let that person take your joy away... You're going to let someone else make you shrink inside? Baby girl, you gave all your power away. So what are you going to do tomorrow?"

"Play soccer," she says with a smile.

"And laugh back if someone laughs at you again," I add.

"Yeah, and then I'll just say to him –"

That's when I cut her off. "Baby, never water a weed. You know what happens when you water a weed, don't you?"

"It grows big," she says, as she pantomimes a weed growing.

"And how easy is it to pull a weed out when it's big like that?" I ask.

In her dramatic 7-year-old voice she proclaims,"It's NOT!"

And in proper form, our philosophical discussion ended with her having more bounce in her step and I, wandering away while pondering what I had just said.

Today I realized I have a few weeds of my own I need to stop watering. There has been some negativity I have passively allowed to creep in my mind and the worst part is I have been watering those thoughts with belief. Sh*t! I know better than that.

In the days, weeks and months to come, I look forward to spending time in my garden (both figuratively and literally) pulling weeds and watering flowers. With this blog, it is my intention to plant seeds of inspiration and nurture growth for my readers... and reminding everyone to never water a weed.