PART TWO OF THE PELICAN COFFEE CHRONICLES

It’s funny what a little relaxation, quiet and really awesome people will do for your creativity. As you all know, I have a home office, which I love, it’s just sometimes changing up the view helps the creativity. That and a little bit of fun.  Admittedly, sometimes I leave out the fun part, I have been really focused on work the last long while and that was a conscious choice. Any time that you delve into a new business of any kind, it takes a (excuse the language) shitload of elbow grease. LOTS of it. I work really long days and well into the night, some days truthfully my fingers get numb from sitting at the computer, my voice wears out from shear use and my brain just powers right down. The brain drain I find is more prevalent when I am using those creative juices to not only write but to dream up my next piece of social media because trying to inspire people is not something that I take lightly. Even the small pictures that I create for social media purposes have got to mean something to me. It’s a lot of soul searching every single day, what a great job I have.

So … it is my last day in paradise today. There is a bit of chill in the air at night and I swear it feels a bit like fall. Sorry I didn’t mean to say that out loud but, last night I felt like my toes were frozen. This morning, the sun is definitely sparkling over the water, I have a cup o’jo, my trusty chocolate shake and my trusty old computer, sitting on the deck listening to old Sarah McLaughlin, I forgot about how much I love listening to her. It really seems fitting this morning. She’s crooning out Sweet Surrender, it seems rather fitting … who are you? Sweet Surrender, it is all that I have to give. What’s my job? Giving of myself. Again … what a great job.

Lake life … I’ve been missing out all of these years, I feel a little bit of “I missed the boat” this weekend although it was fleeting. Why? I have 50 years left … I can still do this for the rest of my life if I so choose, that’s the beauty of making your own life. Being by the water grounds me. I’ve always known that, it’s like coming home. I’ve always felt like this is where I belong … it is where my creativity soars and the peace inside radiates.

I think the other part of why these experiences have extra special meaning is in how it makes me sit and appreciate the people that I have come across during these little excursions. Like I was mentioning yesterday, it’s important to practice gratitude. Today … my list is long and it carries a long list of people. Pelican People …

To my dear friend Suzy … it is you that included me in your little piece of heaven without which none of this would have transpired. You started a long list of chain reactions that probably have for certain made huge changes in my life. I am so thankful to have you back in my life my very dear friend. Thank you for convincing me to get out of the city, making me laugh, helping me build my Stoneboat Queen crown and for just being really amazing. Introducing me to everyone in your lake life has been a wonderful thing indeed. (Dan and Deb … you guys rock … gotta do this again)  Being able to belly laugh like we have is the best thing in the entire world, just can’t get enough of that ever. This is one of those people I talked about yesterday, she came into my life, then we lost touch, now she’s back and thank goodness for that. It’s rare to find friends like Miss Suz that support you in unconditionally.

To Sue, so glad that you are Suzy’s best friend … you and your family, Winnie and Harold, could not be more welcoming and I am thankful for the hospitality and the great dating stories. And thank you for putting up with mine. Sue … what you have done for me will impact my life in ways I can never thank you enough for.

To Dennis and Nola, gracious hosts and thank you for welcoming me into your home. Dennis, your abilities as cupid will never cease to amaze me … you missed your calling darlin’. I do hope that your status at the yacht club won’t be too damaged after the antics of your out of town friends. Oh … and Dennis … for god’s sake will you just CLEANSE! You’re just a plain ol’ chicken.

To my sister, for opening her lake home to me … it has been so wonderful and I am very thankful.

To Joyce and Duncan for welcoming me into the neighbourhood, the great conversation, coffee and happy hour. Thanks for the introductions to the rest of the clan, Margaret and Fred, Arlene and Miss Shannon. Dinner on the deck with such lovely people is a treat, being welcomed into your lives for a short period of time, priceless. Joyce, I’m elated that we unlocked that creative spark that’s in there dying to come out, keep it up baby and let it flow. Tell the love story from the top of the hill. Duncan, I will send you a curler pic just for the memories.  LOL. Anything goes at the lake right? Thanks for helping me work … I couldn’t have done it without you guys.

Last night, I had the privilege of sitting on the dock, watching a fantastic display of fireworks. It was a gorgeous calm night, the boats all tucked away in the harbour and the air filled with kids laughing at their own antics. Listening to kids laugh and giggle always makes me smile, nothing quite as joyful and innocent as children playing.  It was a content moment, and the in the brief moments and thoughts of speculation into the future, could not be clouded by the here and the now of what felt like a really perfect moment in time. That’s what I want, to keep living and producing those same kinds of moments, lots of little perfect moments that build into one big fantastic life moment.

People bring this into our lives. All sorts and types. Some bring good moments, some not so good, all in all it is all for the best as we live we grow by our experience of them.  I can only hope that this bunch of Pelican folk will always remain as part of the equation. My little sojourn into this piece of heaven in their little part of the world has sparked a whole new appreciation for letting new people come in and say hello.

Pelican Coffee

I have been rather fortunate over last little while to be sitting at a very beautiful lake, enjoying peace and quiet (although still working) but at least working on the deck looking over the lake. This morning I started to think about how really awesome it is when you have great people in your life.

I find it interesting how in the road of life, people come and people go. I, myself, let them do so, with the grace of being thankful that they played a role in my life for a period of time. Everyone happens and everything happens for a reason. Sometimes when I look at other people, I watch, well because that’s what I do … watch how they interact with their life. Some let life rule them, while others rule their life. This is mastery of course because most people are all scurrying around putting out fires all of the time and well, they get so consumed in the intricacies of doing so that life ends up ruling them. Control is lost, and things just start spinning. Spinning, sometimes downward spiral, sometimes just stuck in the same place.

I see it all the time, I think one of the most important things that I try to get all of my clients to practice is a daily ritual of being grateful. Appreciate what you have in your life. Yes practicing gratitude. It starts to change your life. Let's back up a bit.

I do believe that we are here to learn lessons in life; we keep having to relive those lessons until we have LEARNED our lessons, and then we can move on.  So knowing this, why don’t more people make the life that they want?

FEAR?

Sure. Fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of success, fear of risk, fear of being alone, fear of falling in love, fear of life itself, it just goes on ad infinitum. Fear comes in many shapes and sizes. 

It’s funny what happens when you have enough courage to just let go … let go of fear and just go get what you want. Most of us are paralyzed by fear, in that, in fear there is comfort in the ways of old, like the worn out pair of jeans that maybe just feels natural to keep stepping into. Truth is, most times, the ass is worn out of them, probably ripped right out … and the knees, well, they’re gone too. Maybe you should ask yourself why? How many times are you going to let life keep kicking you in the ass before you start making some changes? Never mind that when are you going to stop letting life bring you to your knees.

It’s time to think about buying a new pair of jeans. The old worn out ones, aren’t really that sexy, hate to be the one to tell you. I know everyone hates to go jean shopping but sometimes, you have just got to bite the old proverbial bullet. We all know that at first, they feel little stiff, the color tends to wash out a bit, but then in no time, you feel comfy, cozy and at home in your new jeans. Life is no different.

People that are enraptured by fear and their comfort of living in it, that they find it difficult to understand those of us, that have no fear. Believe me when I say, I myself, do not let fear stop me from trying to get everything I want out of this life. Besides, in case you haven’t seen the memo … we only get one shot at this, so let’s make it worth it.

Here’s where the gratitude piece comes in.

The first part of living a full and enjoyable life is appreciating the things that you already have in your life. This is why my clients are on my gratitude program … wake up every morning and before getting out of bed, list three things that you are grateful for. Then … every day thereafter, think of three new things to be grateful for … day after day after day. Soon you will start to realize that a shift is taking place and you are happier as you start off your day and you actually start paying attention to the things around you that are simply fantastic. The light of life starts to seep back in.

You no longer dwell on the things that aren’t’ going well, perhaps your stuck on your past … well … your future is way more interesting and way more awesome. Let’s be grateful that we all have a future. The past is where it belongs, in the past and there is a reason for that. Being a “Past Dweller” is really like being a “Cave Dweller” of old. It’s dark, dingy and cold. Get out into the sun and build a house with lots of windows, modern day conveniences, electricity, hot water, and a lovely bed. This new house and the “Present and Future Dweller” loves the light, the warmth and the promise of a good life.

Gratitude.

You are alive.

Be Grateful.

You are the master of your universe.

So master it.

You are the Change Magnet.

So start changing.

You are what you create.

So start creating.

Some people might be completely happy with their lives. Power to you, I commend you, there are very few of you. Those that aren’t satisfied with your life, be grateful that right now you can make the choice to change it.

Go buy a new pair of jeans.