Blast from the Past!!!

The novelty of being back has almost run out. This morning I went to swim practice. First 5am wake up in months and first real swim practice in awhile. While in the water I felt as though I had never left. I finally felt like I might perhaps be ready to start real training again. I miss it but at the same time there are things that I don’t miss about it…
Sometimes you leave and upon your return things have changed and are different. Certainly some things have changed but I’m noticing that many things appear to be the same. Upon my initial return last week I felt like I was a completely changed and different person. I felt like I had been away for ions. But now my life in BC seems like a distant memory and far away world. I’m back to being immersed in Ottawa and noticing the things that haven’t changed. Many of my friends are still at their government jobs doing the same thing day in and day out, my parents are still insanely irrational and well the triathletes are still training. This morning I was taken back to my life before I left. I could feel old thoughts, patterns and feelings creeping back to me. Within a short while I was remembering the past with fondness. Why was it that I left again? Maybe I should try and get my old life back? Damn, here I am thinking that I’ve evolved and determined not to look back. Determined to not ever put myself back into a position where stress, pressure, and burnout are strong possibilities. But at the moment only the positive thoughts and memories are floating about in my mind. It’s funny how we very often look back into the past with rose colored lens. Things are never certain or completely in our control. We never know for sure what life will throw at us. One certainty however is that time will march on regardless of what we choose to do with it and therefore things change even if we don't take notice...

Oh how I miss you….Beautiful BC

It’s nice to be back. But I have mixed emotions. I feel as though I have left bits of my heart hanging around somewhere in BC. There’s a certain degree of sadness pulsing through my veins. Nelson BC was such an amazing and mellow town filled with equally amazing and mellow people. Never in my life have I seen so many dread locked hippies, hitchhikers, environmentalists and yogis. Little by little it aided me to drop or at least put aside my Type A obsessive compulsive driven achievement oriented personality.
People trade in their careers in exchange for the lifestyle that awaits in Nelson. However, by its nature it is generally a very transient town. It was definitely the perfect place to be for me while being in the middle of a life transition. I feel that I have been very fortunate to have been able to have a transitional period of floating around in my life. I know that responsibilities and commitments normally weigh most people down and don’t allow them to just pick up and leave town. Also, leaving one’s comfort zone can be difficult. But it seems like when you take the risk of leaving all that is familiar and comfortable you open the door and make room for so much more. Things you couldn’t have imagined or planned. The relationships and connections I made were amazing. I am in awe of where my journey led me and all that it has brought into my life. The beauty and attractiveness of BC and all the people I met has enhanced my life. But I am still feeling sad. I guess I should be remembering the quote “Don’t be sad that it’s over. Be happy that it happened”. Namaste.

Airports and Random Acts of Kindness…

There is something that I have always loved about airports. And I’m not just talking about the idea of going somewhere new even though that’s extremely exciting. But it’s something more than that. I like the actual feeling of being in an airport regardless of why I’m there or where I’m going. Even if I’m just dropping or picking somebody up. Perhaps because it’s an opportunity to see people express raw emotions. I love seeing people completely ecstatic to see one another. I also find it touching when people part with great sadness. By nature I’m often a very impatient person but while stuck or waiting in between flights I never mind at all. I feel kind of in between space. Many people are stressed out travelers. But somehow airports relax me. The only thing I hate is middle seats on airplanes!!
I’m always curious to know where people are going, where they’re coming from, why they are there. Everybody’s got a story. Six months ago I had a brief flight sitting next to a man whose best friend had tragically died in a motorcycle accident. He was on the way to the funeral. I was just so sad for him despite the fact that I had only known him for like 10 minutes and of course didn’t know his friend. He had passed along a magazine for me to read at the end of the flight which happened to have his home address on it. I decided to send him a sympathy card. I never thought about the situation again until I arrived home yesterday to heaps of mail and Christmas presents after intending to be away from home for 2 weeks but instead extending my trip to 6 months… Anyways, I open a card from him just totally expressing his utter surprise and appreciation for receiving the card in the mail… He writes: “Thank you for the nicest most unexpected card I have EVER gotten….”
I tell this story because I just love random acts of kindness and how you just never know the kind of affect they will have on someone or the lasting impact they can have on yourself. I absolutely loved the movie and whole concept of “Pay it Forward”.
So I challenge you to do at least one random conscious act of kindness; whether it be paying someone’s expired parking meter, offering your help, or something as simple as smiling at a stranger. There are countless little ways to brighten a day!! So Shine!
And next time you are in an airport instead of just catching connecting flights try to make a human connection!