Embrace your inner child

One of the wonderful things I've realized is that through words written and correspondence received over the years, I have a tangible connection to Debrah's wisdom and spirit. A vibrant and committed wellness proponent, she was also very open about her own struggles, lessons and path - whether sharing her latest inspiration in yoga class, helping a client explore their life plan in coaching, or trusting a friend with a business challenge. I loved that about her.

She also expressed many of her ideas in several books, articles and on her website. One of her writings featured the decision to pursue more fun in her life, to break away from being such a mature, professional, restricted adult:

"... My creativity was buried beneath layers of responsible adult behaviour... how dull!
To reclaim my creative inner child I began to watch children at play. I heard them sing out their laughter with no heed for who might be listening... or frowning. I watched them run and jump and skip without any regard for smudged clothing, disheveled hair or proper behaviour. Their faces beamed with vast reserves of joy and giggles long forgotten in the maturity of adulthood. They have so much to share if only we allow their wisdom to touch us... their innocence to soften our worried view of the world.

Then I let my creative inner child run and jump and skip, too. We played on the swings and climbed the inside of an old tree trunk (I got thoroughly soaked and smudged in the rain - it was so worth it!). I ventured further outside my box... stayed up all night to see the sun rise, watched several movies in a row until 3 am with a girlfriend, lazed in bed until noon on a sunny day 'just because', enjoyed red wine without guilt for the first time in a dozen years, indulged in exotic foods simply to tingle my tastebuds, dug out my watercolour pencils to draw for the first time in years, sang out loud with the windows down in my car, listened to new kinds of music... all for the sheer joy of it!

As a result I feel freer, more playful, more open, more creative, more loving. While I am not advocating that you disintegrate your health with nasty new habits in the name of fun, I am suggesting you experiment. Give yourself the pleasure of discovering what lives outside the box you have declared home for your spirit. Take your inner child to the playground... join the fun. Cook something unusual. Drive a different way to work. As the author Sark says, "invite someone dangerous to tea." Use your good china. Wear a new colour. Change your hairstyle. Go to an unusual play or movie. Finger paint. Let your creative spirit begin to move a bit more freely and stand back to watch what shifts in your life. You will be happier and, as idealistic as it sounds, so will the world around you. One more cheerful person on the planet contributes to all our well-being!..."*

With spring in the air, it feels like a very good time to embrace this suggestion. :)

* pp 28-29, Christmas Musings, 2005, Debrah Rafel

Why are we silent?

A compelling video quoting the UN Declaration of Human Rights asks this challenging question. The situation in Tibet has been tolerated for far too long.

Spring!

Sun's out, snow's almost gone, smells great, and birds are singing like crazy.

Time to play!

Today's feel good moment

If you haven't seen this performance by six-year old Connie already, it's well worth watching.

Taking things in stride

I've been feeling very blessed over the past year as things really have fallen into place. It has been as if the universe was helping me along my path, encouraging and validating decisions. Have you ever had moments where you felt this sense of guidance?

Years ago, my friend Sandra and I were on a canoeing trip to Temagami and in the dusk at the end of a long day of paddling she walked off a cliff while searching for firewood. I saw her disappear over the ridge and ran, heart in throat, to see where she had landed. She had fallen about 8 feet or so and was completely fine. At the time she said it was as though a huge hand had cradled her descent downward, gently placing her on the ground below.

I've thought about this image many times since then and can honestly say I've had that sense on a few occasions as well. Driving in traffic and feeling the pull away from a wayward driver. Walking along the sidewalk with Maggy and feeling the need to stop suddenly - to be missed by another wayward driver. Or simply feeling the positive influence of something greater than me, assisting me on my way.

All that said, this past few weeks it hasn't felt as though things are falling into place at all. Instead challenges have arisen. These are the times when I've learned to put down my head and keep on going. And/or to simply observe what's going on to hopefully see the bigger perspective and lesson to be learned. Some glass-is-half-full-thinking and a bit of resilience may be all that's in order for right now.

Snow, snow, snow

Two weeks ago in Vancouver there were crocuses and cherry blossoms blooming, lush vegetation everywhere, green grass, open water and the sun was shining. It was a stunning contrast to what I had left behind in Toronto - ice, cold, wind and an impending snowstorm.

In my five days away, TO hosted two major snowfalls. Since then, we've had more snow and the forecast is for snow tomorrow and Thursday. It's unbelievable how long and cold and windy and snowy this winter has been. Everyone is grumbling about it and perhaps most of all those that have escaped to sunnier climes only to return to this uncharacteristically bitter weather.

Today while sitting around my parents' kitchen table we were glancing longingly at a magazine that featured lilacs and magnolias and sandals and spring/summer clothing. Then we watched some golf on tv where it was warm and bright and we could only dream of smelling the cut grass and balmy air. Stir crazy doesn't do justice to the unrest that many are feeling, especially now that spring has officially arrived - on the calendar at least.

Though I tried to declare a moratorium on my winter boots and down coat last week (and froze in the process), it appears they are still required for a few days or weeks yet.

Taking pause

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity, travel and emotion. Amid all of that, I've remembered that it's time to take pause.

One thing I learned living in Vancouver (from Debrah as well as Georgiana, Luanah, Venetia, Yael and Evelyn) was the practice of the pause. Taking time to stop, breathe, breathe and breathe again.

Namaste.