Coming up for a breath

This morning as the house and neighbourhood are still quiet, I hear the peaceful sound of birds. The stench from a skunk was almost overpowering on my walk with Ruby this morning. I thought we were taking the best route to avoid it, but instead we were led through the thick cloud. No skunk in sight and only my imagination to think of what happened to cause the explosive reaction. I think it was a cat and somewhere the poor cat was trying desperately to clean the sticky odour from its eyes, mouth and fur.

What’s been happening for me?  I’m now a yellow stripe belt in karate and testing tomorrow for my yellow solid belt. I had my first horseback riding lesson, which was truly soul soothing. I’m back to piano lessons to learn some new repertoire to play and sing as a stress relief. I had a personal trainer set up a program so I can get into better shape. AND….I got a promotion at work. Life is awesome, crazy busy, but awesome.

My children are now 11, 13 and 15. Summer vacation has been relatively quiet so far with no summer camps, only down time at home and visiting with cousins and friends. The school year was a successful one for all of them and a huge relief on many levels. My middle daughter made a very mature decision to give up competitive ballet to pursue more horse back riding!  My youngest is now a purple stripe belt in karate. My oldest loved her first year of high school and is going for her junior life guarding this summer. My, almost two-week, vacation started this morning and so I’m looking forward to some down time to enjoy each other’s company. Ruby Tuesday has had some health issues over the past few months but for a Boxer, she’s still the healthiest we have ever had.

Time for a cup of decaf and to start learning more Japanese words for tomorrow’s karate testing!  Wish me luck!

 

Selfie time

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the season of Fall

I’ve been incognito for a few weeks now and this typically happens to me as we enter the month of September. 

September brings our household back into the routine of school and a multitude of extra-curricular activities. I love that my children (one teen, and two tweens) have interests but truthfully September can take the wind out of my sails until we settle into the new groove of Fall. Competitive dance times two, horseback riding, drums, karate, swimming. It doesn’t sound like a lot when I list it here, but when we are driving seven days a week to and fro after a long work day…it’s busy. 

Having said that, I enjoy watching my daughters’ light shine when they are dancing their favourite genre of dance; one ballet and the other loves every genre but shines at tap. I smile when my middle daughter is up early and ready to head to the barn two hours before her lesson. My son keeps his light a bit more hidden from others. He’s a talented young drummer who does not like to practice but loves the yearly performance when he’s the young tween playing in a band with three senior teens and truly holding his own. He is also a purple stripe in karate and drags his feet sometimes to go but is very disciplined and loves to show us the new katas he has learned. I was in awe watching him test for his recent belt…moving through all 24 katas with precision. As I type this I realize he never complains about going to swimming, when he swims lap upon lap improving his stroke. He’s becoming quite the dolphin!

Some parents live vicariously through their children. Am I doing the same? Not really. I took up tap dancing because it was something I always wanted to try and I loved it. I get my weekly horse fix watching my daughter ride and have started to plan when I will start taking lessons myself. There is a woman in her 60’s taking lessons now, I can do that too. I’ve inquired about leasing a horse…hmm. Definitely food for thought. 

With Fall, I find myself ready to start into my own extra-curricular. It’s the season that brings the winds of change and this is my favourite season. 

What is yours?

 

it feels so right

My daughter had her second riding lesson today. She starts and finishes with a heartwarming smile that speaks volumes from her soul. 

I can see the future direction we are heading; it feels so right!

 

Unexpected turn

I knew changes were coming. There had been talk since April and even conversations which lead me to believe my voice mattered. The end result is not what I hoped for.

Or is it?

I wanted a change. A new position to feel challenged again. I wanted to grow in a new direction. I got that. I wanted to move closer to my career goal and I am.

What I did not want was to move physically to a new space. I like where I am and who I am with. It saddens me to think about moving.

What bothers me most is the reason for the move. To be micro managed. One person wants control and she worked her manipulative skills to end up with exactly what she wants. I detest that.

I am trying to know what my lesson is in this time of change. I embrace change, however this time part of it is tearing at me.

I need to ask and listen for the answer to feel settled.

inspired to say the least

I love watching people speak about their passion. It’s uplifting, inspiring and I get caught up in their energy to live my passion too. 

Last night I watched a webinar of Caroline Myss. She is one of my favourite authors so I sat smiling and nodding my head throughout the entire 90 minutes. 

The information she shared has caused me to rethink, reevaluate and change my thought pattern. She recommends that we live a detached life. Not detached from feeling or caring, but detached from labeling something good or bad. All is well because we are constantly learning the life lessons we need. 

Tonight I walked my Boxer who is normally very reactive to other dogs, and I tried very hard to detach from my feelings of how she would freak out when we walked a past a particular dog, who always charges at the fence. You know what?  As silly as the exercise seemed when I headed out the door, it worked! We walked past said dog’s backyard and other than a sniff, Ruby kept walking by without lunging at the fence.  

Okay so this was a fairly simple exersice, but a good one to start with.

Baby steps…that’s all. 

My sweet Ruby who sometimes acts like a freak show to play with another dog.