This morning I had one of my new skydiver friends reach out and share an article with me, that speaks to creating your story and how to better remember our post allowing for a happier tomorrow.
Brilliant really. Life really is all about perspective.
Words definitely create your story. It's why I've written about them in a few blog posts. It's why I continue to write my blog. She and I had a good discussion on it, and I started my day with a glow.
The rest of my day, unfortunately, was filled with miscommunicated words on a few levels, it was good to go back and revisit the conversation I had this morning about sharing words. It really is the perfect moment to share about today.
Today was a reminder that sometimes words are not received as they were meant to. Sometimes words don't quite cut it and sometimes even the simplest of words cut deeply. It's all about perspective and understanding how to edit for a better ending.
I'm getting better at that. Sharing my words and being less afraid to verbalize my words (after all I'm a writer, not a speaker!) are all starting to bring to light another side of me.
While I would have called myself aware in the past, I feel I'm even more aware today. And as I reflect upon today's moment, I realize that creating my story has brought me that depth of awareness.
So, today's moment? Celebrating words because even though sometimes they can mess things up, they also bring much joy and depth into my life.
Moments sharing thoughts and ideas with a new friend.
Moments to remind that even when words get dark, digging into the corners of one's mind is a good thing to process through.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Monday, January 6, 2014
Moments D623: Tunnel Rats
Today my love whisked me away for an after work surprise. I had no idea where we were headed, but we were late and we sped off quickly to get there. And after a lovely 15 minute motorcycle ride, we arrived at the Perris Indoor Skydiving Tunnel. Uh oh. I was going indoor skydiving.
Not knowing what to expect, I was nervous. I'm always nervous trying something new, and this time, I was completely out of my realm and fully in EQ's world. The last thing I wanted to do was embarrass EQ in front of his colleagues and friends.
No pressure, right?
I had 6 minutes in the tunnel. Not all together! Gosh no. That would be insane! My moments were broken up into 1 minute increments, so I was in the tunnel 6 times for 60 seconds each time.
What was immediately noticeable was how much could be learned in 60 seconds. Incredible really. Not only for myself, but for the other two students that were working in the tunnel. By the time I was in my third round, I was getting the hang of it. By the fourth time I was flying on my own and for the fifth and sixth times, my coach was flying with me and spinning me around. EQ even joined us for a second or for for a mid-air kiss. Too much fun.
As I waited in between my turns, I watched the others learn their flying skills. At the end of our tunnel time, our tunnel coach enjoyed the final moments in the tunnel and showed us her expertise. WOW. Incredible.
I can see how people would become "tunnel rats" and enjoy as much time in the wind tunnel as they could. I love every second that I was in there!
Not only did I learn something new today, but I also found myself respecting the sport of skydiving a whole lot more.
Here's hoping I wasn't embarrassing to my love!
Moments enjoying a surprise.
Moments appreciating the finer details of a new sport.
Not knowing what to expect, I was nervous. I'm always nervous trying something new, and this time, I was completely out of my realm and fully in EQ's world. The last thing I wanted to do was embarrass EQ in front of his colleagues and friends.
No pressure, right?
I had 6 minutes in the tunnel. Not all together! Gosh no. That would be insane! My moments were broken up into 1 minute increments, so I was in the tunnel 6 times for 60 seconds each time.
What was immediately noticeable was how much could be learned in 60 seconds. Incredible really. Not only for myself, but for the other two students that were working in the tunnel. By the time I was in my third round, I was getting the hang of it. By the fourth time I was flying on my own and for the fifth and sixth times, my coach was flying with me and spinning me around. EQ even joined us for a second or for for a mid-air kiss. Too much fun.
As I waited in between my turns, I watched the others learn their flying skills. At the end of our tunnel time, our tunnel coach enjoyed the final moments in the tunnel and showed us her expertise. WOW. Incredible.
I can see how people would become "tunnel rats" and enjoy as much time in the wind tunnel as they could. I love every second that I was in there!
Not only did I learn something new today, but I also found myself respecting the sport of skydiving a whole lot more.
Here's hoping I wasn't embarrassing to my love!
Moments enjoying a surprise.
Moments appreciating the finer details of a new sport.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Moments D622: Celebrate Life
Today was a rough day as pieces of bad news made their way to me. An old respected and loved colleague of mine lost his battle with lung cancer yesterday. A team mate of mine lost his mother. Another friend struggles with an ailing father.
Each a message was a reminders that life is short. That we need to do what we can to shape each day into one that is meaningful.
So tonight, even though I was tired and would have liked to tuck in early, EQ & I ventured out for dinner with friends who were heading home tomorrow. I'm glad that I did, for we shared a lot of laughs and stories of life, death and progress. In the big picture, we celebrated their successes from the weekend, which is no small feat given that I've heard how challenging the training course is.
Post dinner, EQ and I celebrated life again on our own, by taking some time for just the two of us. It was perfect. We celebrated life, the milestones we have accomplished and those we are about to set.
Moments that remind you of the fragility of life.
Moments grabbing hold and living a little more.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Moments D621: Purple Slivers
I spent most of the day on my own today running an errand and otherwise reading the day away. A pretty chill day.
I dropped off my broken phone at a repair place first thing this morning, (yes, I had to drive that Big ol' Truck again!), I spent some time in the bed of the truck soaking up the sun, I finished off my book and then drove back to the repair place to pick up my fixed phone.
And when I arrived home, the sun was just lost behind the mountains already and the sky was my favourite colour. And there, in that pretty purple sky was a pretty sliver of moon.
I paused and soaked it in. I couldn't help but share this one out. What a beautiful way to end the day.
Moments seeing your favourite colour as the backdrop to your favourite natural icon.
Moments pausing to take it all in and then sharing it all out.
I dropped off my broken phone at a repair place first thing this morning, (yes, I had to drive that Big ol' Truck again!), I spent some time in the bed of the truck soaking up the sun, I finished off my book and then drove back to the repair place to pick up my fixed phone.
And when I arrived home, the sun was just lost behind the mountains already and the sky was my favourite colour. And there, in that pretty purple sky was a pretty sliver of moon.
I paused and soaked it in. I couldn't help but share this one out. What a beautiful way to end the day.
Moments seeing your favourite colour as the backdrop to your favourite natural icon.
Moments pausing to take it all in and then sharing it all out.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Moments D620: Big ol' TRUCKS
Me, I like little sporty cars. I miss my Tink! (Yes, I named my car!)
Too bad because EQ has a big truck. I haven't driven a boat that big ever. (Though I did drive a fairly big car way back in my teens.)
Tonight I had my second opportunity to drive the truck and this time, it wasn't easy highway driving. (Otherwise known as freeway driving here in the states!) No no! This time I was driving us around town running a few errands this evening. That meant driving in some tight spaces and from one (small) parking spot to another.
At first, I was a nervous nellie, after all this monster is the biggest thing I have ever driven. That said, with every parking job I made, I found the next to be a little easier. By the time we made it home, I was ready to back in the truck into its parking spot.
EQ wasn't feeling so confident about that (at the time), but I proved that I could do it. Slow and steady I slipped his beast back into its cage.
Beautiful. I love stretching my world.
Moments learning something new.
Moments finding confidence.
Too bad because EQ has a big truck. I haven't driven a boat that big ever. (Though I did drive a fairly big car way back in my teens.)
Tonight I had my second opportunity to drive the truck and this time, it wasn't easy highway driving. (Otherwise known as freeway driving here in the states!) No no! This time I was driving us around town running a few errands this evening. That meant driving in some tight spaces and from one (small) parking spot to another.
At first, I was a nervous nellie, after all this monster is the biggest thing I have ever driven. That said, with every parking job I made, I found the next to be a little easier. By the time we made it home, I was ready to back in the truck into its parking spot.
EQ wasn't feeling so confident about that (at the time), but I proved that I could do it. Slow and steady I slipped his beast back into its cage.
Beautiful. I love stretching my world.
Moments learning something new.
Moments finding confidence.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Moments D619: Send over the heat
Tonight EQ and I went to dinner with a few of his skydive students. One of his students and his wife arrived here just today from Vietnam, home for 2 weeks visiting. Today's moment is inspired by this couple that I only just met this evening.
After dinner, EQ's student's wife was cold. Surely after 13+ hours of travel that will happen. As the others shared stories within their sport, I discreetly watched the couple. They are still newly weds and it was fun to watch as hubby put his hand on his wife's shoulder and started humming and shaking his arm. A few seconds later, he said, "...I'm sending you heat. Can't you feel it? You are now warming up."
So darn cute! So worth being today's moment.
Moments sharing stories over food (one of my favourite pastimes!).
Moments enjoying a couple's "almost" private moment.
After dinner, EQ's student's wife was cold. Surely after 13+ hours of travel that will happen. As the others shared stories within their sport, I discreetly watched the couple. They are still newly weds and it was fun to watch as hubby put his hand on his wife's shoulder and started humming and shaking his arm. A few seconds later, he said, "...I'm sending you heat. Can't you feel it? You are now warming up."
So darn cute! So worth being today's moment.
Moments sharing stories over food (one of my favourite pastimes!).
Moments enjoying a couple's "almost" private moment.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Moments D618: Expectations, opportunity and thanks
This morning I woke early, on my typical daily schedule. I was wide awake at 4:45 am PST (7:45 am EST) - a normal rising time for me. That's not supposed to happen on New Year's Day. Isn't everyone supposed to sleep in and enjoy a lazy morning in bed instead? Apparently that wasn't meant to be for me.
I also didn't want to wake EQ as he had to work today. He wasn't due to rise for a couple of hours, so I decided to inhale the quiet of the morning and start the New Year with the sunrise on my own.
Just after 6am, I ventured out into the brisk quiet morning. My plan, go for a walk, watch the sunrise and spend some time in with the sun before heading back home. I brought the novel I was reading with me ("The Sister's Brothers - I recommend!) to help pass the time.
The briskness surprised me and I was happy to have bundled up before I left. The first thing I noticed when I started on my morning adventure was that the howling coyotes in the distance. What an eerie, beautiful song they sang.
As started my walk the sky slowly started it's shift in colour. Most interesting was to listen to the still morning as the coyotes quieted and the roosters took over singing as the sky began to brighten. A changing of the guard if you will.
I didn't expect to start my day with the sun breaking the horizon. I didn't certainly didn't expect to start my year walking alone in the briskness of dawn. What I realized in those early moments of my walk, was that sometimes expectations cause inflexibility or kill one's creativity. In the worst scenarios, expectations can also cause you to miss a new opportunity thrown at you unexpectedly.
As I continued my walk, I pondered this conundrum. Life is filled with expectations. We all have them. Expectations of family, of friends, of other people in our circles (or just outside our circle), with our jobs and our co-workers, and how we as individuals present ourselves to the world.
I walked swiftly to keep warm and toiled with this concept, rolling it around in my mind. One really cannot live without expectations, after all that's like living without goal. So the key then, in my opinion, was to find a way to keep balance with expectations so that they don't cause inflexibility. Brilliant. Not mind blowing, considering balance is the key to a lot of things. The bigger point is to find the trick is to sort out how to keep that balance.
Talk about deep thoughts so early in the day, this the first of 2014. I couldn't help but think back to a year ago today where I had also found myself waking to expectations that had been blown of the water. I remember feeling crushed and uncertain of the path ahead of me. And yet as that first day of 2013 progressed, I felt more confident in my path forward, challenging as it was.
I quickly found myself overwhelmed with ghosts. So much has transpired since that moment. And today is the start of another year and I could feel that I was yet again at a crossroad of expectations. My mind heavy with thought, I paused to enjoy the calm of two horses playing with one another.
I needed that pause. In that moment, the warmth of the sun began to break through the chill of the morning. With that moment came the realization just how much I had learned in a year. My personal growth has deepened and I owe much, if not all of that growth, to the people I have surrounded myself with. And that was my moment today. Feeling grateful. Being excited by the future and what I will be sharing with them moving forward.
So, if you'll bear with me, I'm going to take some time to thank them. Yes, today's blog is a novel. For those to expecting a solution to my original thought - you can stop reading here. I never did figure out a solution to keep the balance between expectations and being flexible. I guess I have something to chew on for days to come! What can I say, I was completely distracted by the amazing circle I have around me and I took rest of my time alone, at the beginning of the year, to pause and appreciate them.
In the end, it's been a hell of a day, and a hell of a start to 2014 and I want, nay I need to share a little love and thank my friends for the opportunities they've given me to grow this past year.
Arizona. What a strong, beautiful woman you are. Our friendship is relatively new, but it is a deep friendship. You have offered me many new perspectives in the ever changing world I find myself in. Thank you for sharing with me.
Archie & Comic Guy. My besties. A couple that has been in my life for a very long time. First I love them as individuals for they have unique perspectives that I love from each of them. Second, I love them as a couple. I truly don't know where I'd be without the two of you. Thank you for always picking me up when I falter, for kicking my ass (not so gently) and for helping me navigate some tricky waters in the past year.
BFF. Through thick and thin we've been. Tears, music, anger, joy, milestones and then some. What an incredible colourful journey it's been my dear friend. Thank you for recognizing the value of our friendship, for fighting daemons (of your own and mine) to keep our friendship strong. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from mistakes made in 2013 for I know it means our friendship will grow ever deeper and more meaningful.
Bunny & Bear. Long time friends. I've worked with, schooled with, and spent many interesting evenings with Bear. When he married Bunny, it was a most special day to watch them unit. They are an incredible couple with two amazing young lads. Thank you both for sharing your individual brightness with me as well as that of your beautiful family. I know, without a doubt that you always have my back.
Cherry. A work colleague come friend. Thank you for commiserating with me as we processed through similar life milestones this past year. I look forward to a continued friendship with your and your new beau.
Chica. A fellow co-worker that I adore. You are proof that even someone old like me can learn from a young thing like you. (Not that I'm ageist at all!) Thank of for your endless positive energy and for reminding me that life is too short. I love your perspective on life and appreciate that positive, self-respecting version of the world around you. I will continue to try and incorporate more of that into my world.
Co-workers. Thank you for making every work day easier to get out of bed for. You are an amazing hard working, inspiringly creative crew. I'm thankful every day.
Hawk. Thank you for for the biggest learning opportunity of all this past year. We have shared and lost much together over this past year. My hope is that you find deep happiness in the years to come.
Heini. A friend with nearly 2 decades of history. Over the years we have battled many daemons together. What I have always loved was that you offer your insightful opinions without judgement. You have always listened, understood, respected and supported me even when the path chosen was one you didn't agree with. The truest, deepest mark of a best friend. Thank you for loving me and supporting me through many of life's trials. I have learned a lot from our friendship.
MooCow. A new friend, adopted from EQ's circle. An amazing huge heart, ready to help out at a moments notice. Such a wonderful energy to be a part of. Thank you for accepting me into your world.
Mr. B. A co-worker that I call friend. He's nearly my father's age, but I don't see him as a father figure. I see him for his brilliance and experience. A true mentor and friend to me (even if he does get me in trouble sometimes!). Thank you for all the insights you share with me. I am a sponge to your words.
My team mates. Baseball, volleyball, boot camp and tough mudders. Thank you all for keeping me moving, growing and learning as an athlete. It feels great knowing that even being nearly 40 I still have some moves to share back.
I also didn't want to wake EQ as he had to work today. He wasn't due to rise for a couple of hours, so I decided to inhale the quiet of the morning and start the New Year with the sunrise on my own.
Just after 6am, I ventured out into the brisk quiet morning. My plan, go for a walk, watch the sunrise and spend some time in with the sun before heading back home. I brought the novel I was reading with me ("The Sister's Brothers - I recommend!) to help pass the time.
The briskness surprised me and I was happy to have bundled up before I left. The first thing I noticed when I started on my morning adventure was that the howling coyotes in the distance. What an eerie, beautiful song they sang.
As started my walk the sky slowly started it's shift in colour. Most interesting was to listen to the still morning as the coyotes quieted and the roosters took over singing as the sky began to brighten. A changing of the guard if you will.
I didn't expect to start my day with the sun breaking the horizon. I didn't certainly didn't expect to start my year walking alone in the briskness of dawn. What I realized in those early moments of my walk, was that sometimes expectations cause inflexibility or kill one's creativity. In the worst scenarios, expectations can also cause you to miss a new opportunity thrown at you unexpectedly.
As I continued my walk, I pondered this conundrum. Life is filled with expectations. We all have them. Expectations of family, of friends, of other people in our circles (or just outside our circle), with our jobs and our co-workers, and how we as individuals present ourselves to the world.
I walked swiftly to keep warm and toiled with this concept, rolling it around in my mind. One really cannot live without expectations, after all that's like living without goal. So the key then, in my opinion, was to find a way to keep balance with expectations so that they don't cause inflexibility. Brilliant. Not mind blowing, considering balance is the key to a lot of things. The bigger point is to find the trick is to sort out how to keep that balance.
Talk about deep thoughts so early in the day, this the first of 2014. I couldn't help but think back to a year ago today where I had also found myself waking to expectations that had been blown of the water. I remember feeling crushed and uncertain of the path ahead of me. And yet as that first day of 2013 progressed, I felt more confident in my path forward, challenging as it was.
I quickly found myself overwhelmed with ghosts. So much has transpired since that moment. And today is the start of another year and I could feel that I was yet again at a crossroad of expectations. My mind heavy with thought, I paused to enjoy the calm of two horses playing with one another.
I needed that pause. In that moment, the warmth of the sun began to break through the chill of the morning. With that moment came the realization just how much I had learned in a year. My personal growth has deepened and I owe much, if not all of that growth, to the people I have surrounded myself with. And that was my moment today. Feeling grateful. Being excited by the future and what I will be sharing with them moving forward.
So, if you'll bear with me, I'm going to take some time to thank them. Yes, today's blog is a novel. For those to expecting a solution to my original thought - you can stop reading here. I never did figure out a solution to keep the balance between expectations and being flexible. I guess I have something to chew on for days to come! What can I say, I was completely distracted by the amazing circle I have around me and I took rest of my time alone, at the beginning of the year, to pause and appreciate them.
In the end, it's been a hell of a day, and a hell of a start to 2014 and I want, nay I need to share a little love and thank my friends for the opportunities they've given me to grow this past year.
Arizona. What a strong, beautiful woman you are. Our friendship is relatively new, but it is a deep friendship. You have offered me many new perspectives in the ever changing world I find myself in. Thank you for sharing with me.
Archie & Comic Guy. My besties. A couple that has been in my life for a very long time. First I love them as individuals for they have unique perspectives that I love from each of them. Second, I love them as a couple. I truly don't know where I'd be without the two of you. Thank you for always picking me up when I falter, for kicking my ass (not so gently) and for helping me navigate some tricky waters in the past year.
BFF. Through thick and thin we've been. Tears, music, anger, joy, milestones and then some. What an incredible colourful journey it's been my dear friend. Thank you for recognizing the value of our friendship, for fighting daemons (of your own and mine) to keep our friendship strong. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from mistakes made in 2013 for I know it means our friendship will grow ever deeper and more meaningful.
Bunny & Bear. Long time friends. I've worked with, schooled with, and spent many interesting evenings with Bear. When he married Bunny, it was a most special day to watch them unit. They are an incredible couple with two amazing young lads. Thank you both for sharing your individual brightness with me as well as that of your beautiful family. I know, without a doubt that you always have my back.
Cherry. A work colleague come friend. Thank you for commiserating with me as we processed through similar life milestones this past year. I look forward to a continued friendship with your and your new beau.
Chica. A fellow co-worker that I adore. You are proof that even someone old like me can learn from a young thing like you. (Not that I'm ageist at all!) Thank of for your endless positive energy and for reminding me that life is too short. I love your perspective on life and appreciate that positive, self-respecting version of the world around you. I will continue to try and incorporate more of that into my world.
Co-workers. Thank you for making every work day easier to get out of bed for. You are an amazing hard working, inspiringly creative crew. I'm thankful every day.
Hawk. Thank you for for the biggest learning opportunity of all this past year. We have shared and lost much together over this past year. My hope is that you find deep happiness in the years to come.
Heini. A friend with nearly 2 decades of history. Over the years we have battled many daemons together. What I have always loved was that you offer your insightful opinions without judgement. You have always listened, understood, respected and supported me even when the path chosen was one you didn't agree with. The truest, deepest mark of a best friend. Thank you for loving me and supporting me through many of life's trials. I have learned a lot from our friendship.
MooCow. A new friend, adopted from EQ's circle. An amazing huge heart, ready to help out at a moments notice. Such a wonderful energy to be a part of. Thank you for accepting me into your world.
Mr. B. A co-worker that I call friend. He's nearly my father's age, but I don't see him as a father figure. I see him for his brilliance and experience. A true mentor and friend to me (even if he does get me in trouble sometimes!). Thank you for all the insights you share with me. I am a sponge to your words.
My Family: One big thank you to envelope each of you with a hug filled with love. There are many entries in my daily blog that speak to just how important you are to me. I am so very fortunate to have such an amazing family.
SILIS & Sunshine-Unicorns&Rainbows. A couple from EQ's circle who have graciously accepted me into their world. They have brought many a smile to me over this past year. Thank you for welcoming me in your home just last night for an amazing meal and to celebrate the turn of the year. I'm sure we'll see many more celebrations in the years to come.
To all of my new sky diving friends: What an incredible bunch you are! So diverse, so welcoming, so filled with life. Thank you for sharing a sliver of your world with me.
Tree & Baldr. New friends also from EQ's circle. New friends that, at once, I felt at home with. Thank you for the acceptance and love you have shared with me already. Like long lost souls that have finally had an opportunity to reunite. I'm excited about the possibilities in the years to come for our blooming friendship.
To everyone else in my world that I haven't specifically called out, thank you for crossing my path and for sharing a piece of you with me. Each moment shared is an opportunity for me to learn and grow.
And last, but certainly not least, my dear sweet love - EQ. Never has someone been allowed so deep into my being. Thank you for turning your twinkling eyes my way. How you ever found me I will never know, but I am grateful every day that you did. You make it easy (okay, easier!) to share the deepest parts of me. Thank you for your patience, for your love and for building a strong foundation for our future together.
And there you have it. My little novella that will bore most. For me, it's a perfect way to start 2014, with reflection of the past and the excitement of the future ahead of me.
Moments where one's mind goes in many directions, only to circle back to that which is most important.
Moments enjoying the promise of a new day, and the opportunity to dig ever deeper thanks to those in your life.
To all of my new sky diving friends: What an incredible bunch you are! So diverse, so welcoming, so filled with life. Thank you for sharing a sliver of your world with me.
Tree & Baldr. New friends also from EQ's circle. New friends that, at once, I felt at home with. Thank you for the acceptance and love you have shared with me already. Like long lost souls that have finally had an opportunity to reunite. I'm excited about the possibilities in the years to come for our blooming friendship.
To everyone else in my world that I haven't specifically called out, thank you for crossing my path and for sharing a piece of you with me. Each moment shared is an opportunity for me to learn and grow.
And last, but certainly not least, my dear sweet love - EQ. Never has someone been allowed so deep into my being. Thank you for turning your twinkling eyes my way. How you ever found me I will never know, but I am grateful every day that you did. You make it easy (okay, easier!) to share the deepest parts of me. Thank you for your patience, for your love and for building a strong foundation for our future together.
And there you have it. My little novella that will bore most. For me, it's a perfect way to start 2014, with reflection of the past and the excitement of the future ahead of me.
Moments where one's mind goes in many directions, only to circle back to that which is most important.
Moments enjoying the promise of a new day, and the opportunity to dig ever deeper thanks to those in your life.
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