Pleasant Sunday

Did a little writing this morning while I ate some granola and sipped my Alpine Berry tea. An awesome way to start the day.  I need to get up earlier during the week so I can have time to do that before heading out to work. Of course that would require that I haul myself off to bed a little earlier too and that never seems to happen.

A little later, I ran into the shower and left Andree to answer the door when her sister and brother-in-law stopped in for a surprise visit and caught us both in our pj's.

After lunch, Andree and her sister decided to go play crib at the senior's club here in town and I headed out for a nature walk along the canal. I threw my journal, my pen, and something to sit on in my backpack and away I went.

I walked 5.5 miles altogether but I stopped to wrote for a while. Who would have thought that on Nov. 13th, in Northern Alberta, I could sit outside and write without freezing my fingers or my butt off.

Out in High River where 2 of my two daughters and 3 of my grandchildren live, it's been exceptionally nice, even more so than here. In fact they've been warmer than the Okanagan for the past couple of weeks.

So for sure there's no snow in High River, or in Mariville, which is about 45 minutes North West of High River, so who would have thought that while they were out there they would run into Santa and his Reindeers. But that's just what they did!

Carys and Jesse having a heart to heart with Santa

Finn showing Santa the Christmas pictures he's been drawing in his book

Look! I caught a reindeer!

And here's the rest of the heard

This evening, we were invited out for supper and a game of cards with some friends of ours. It was a delicious meal with wonderful company and a great way to end the day.

November You Say?

I will take it any day.

How beautiful the month of November has been so far. With the sun shinning and the wind blowing the farmers have been like a swarms of bees madly trying to bring in their crops while it lasted. I think most of them were lucky enough to reach the finish line.

Here I am taking a walk when the sun was out and the weather was more Spring like than November like.

We are back to cloud cover and drizzle today but that's okay. Much better than old man winter showing his face. I'm not ready for that yet. As far as I'm concerned it could snow on December 20th and all disappear by Jan. 20th. That would be enough winter for me. But, I live in Northern Alberta so I should be a little more realistic.

Here I am today hiding under my umbrella on my 5 mile walk in the, on again, off again, drizzly rain of today.

Look at these 6 little cuties all cuddled up in their outside makeshift home. Yes, there's actually six. One is so black you can barely see him. "No more cats," my honey says so I try and fill up on kitty love when I go to her son's place.

I got a new book the other day. I didn't dive into it yet but might just snuggle into my chair by the fireplace tonight and crack it open.

The Appalachian Trail stretches across 2,190 miles and goes through 14 states. In 1955 at the age of 67, Gatewood told her children that she was going for a walk and headed for that trail. She hiked the it again in 1960 and a third time in 1963 at the age of 75 when she did the trail in sections. Apparently, Emma sometimes averaged 22 miles a day.

I can't imagine it. I do 5 miles and I think I've walked a long way. I would love to build up the endurance to take a hike of that magnitude though.

Walk and write. I think I'd have no trouble living life that way. Who knows. Maybe someday.

A Gift For You & Me

Why do we cower at the thought of revealing our true selves to the world?

Fear of judgment? Fear of ridicule? Fear of rejection? Fear of not being seen for who we really are? Fear of not being understood? Fear of being hurt? Or is it fear of our own greatness, owning it and having to live up to it?

Either way - it's a damn shame!

We only get one chance at this life as the person we are now. Let's wake up and quit dwindling time away. Let's make the most of each and every day by revealing our true selves to the world.

And, what our true self looks like doesn't matter. What matters is that you are you. The real you. Not someone you think you should be, or limit yourself from being, because of the fear of, ,,,,,,, fill in the blank with your own fear or fears.

We have to be willing to dive deep to uncover the limiting belief that keeps us from owning our power, standing in our truth and revealing our true selves to the world. Not doing so is cheating the world of who we are and what we have to offer.

Even if the only thing we have to offer is a smile, a touch, or our presence, for it is in the simplest of things that are the greatest gifts.

I believe that one of our major sources of unhappiness, is when out of fear or a need to protect ourselves, we go into hiding. For in the hearts of all people there's a basic human need, a yearning, to live from the truth of who we are.

If you want to gift me, let me see the real you. If I want to gift you, I will let you see the real me.

From this place - you and I will connect and become One.