What's in Your Hands?

Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy -- because we will always want to have something else or something more. ~ Brother David Steindl-Rast

While on the cruise, I was amazed by this couple who did aerial acrobatic dancing. They were breathtaking in places, so magical and spellbinding to watch at times. You can have a glimpse at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nFAR2fOUrc and see for yourself. Their show was entitled Journey and I was impressed by their tale of love and romance, struggle and success, and disappointment and determination. They seemed to have understood that gratitude is the key to a happy life and they held in their hands, both literally and figuratively.

Today was a busy workday. I am satisfied with the fundraising work that was done. I still have to count the final tally but it is somewhere in the $500 mark which is pretty good for the effort expended. I certainly cannot complain and I am thrilled that some of the winners were very deserving of their prizes.

I had a surprise at work when I was asked to do a short assignment at the end of the day. It was hugely successful and a great bonding experience with one of the new staff. I drove home smiling. Gotta love last minute events that make you happy.

I better get to bed early tonight after last night’s lateness!

Peace,

Suzanne

A Laugh a Day

A day without laughter is a day wasted. ~ Charlie Chaplin

Tonight I gathered with others to send our friend Karen off to her new life. She is heading back to her birthplace of Newfoundland to retire. She has been such an amazing colleague. I know I will miss her greatly in the field, but equally as much as a friend.

One of the things I love about her is that despite a real serious side, Karen knows how to laugh. I cannot imagine her ever wasting a day. Tonight was no different. We all laughed lots. She also loves to dance so dance we did!

In fact, the evening ended with a dance contest.

We had a fantastic meal—there goes the weight I lost last week!!

We started with appetizers, moved to mojitos, and then served dinner. We danced, we jumped in the hot tub, and then danced some more. Whew!!

I have to work tomorrow so I am not sure why I am still awake. I need to hit the sack but I sure have a smile on my face as I do. It was a great party and I know Karen will long remember it.

Peace,

Suzanne

Step Out of Your Zone

I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it. ~ Pablo Picasso

I am back at work this week but I do keep some of the lessons I learned on the cruise in the front of my mind. This photo from Icy Strait Point makes me think that sometimes the road seems impossible but there must be a way to get to the destination. Even though this broken pier seems to go nowhere, life grows at the far edge of it.

Today at work, I was busy with my fundraising role, selling t-shirts. At the beginning of the day, a colleague wrote in an email, that if I sold $700 worth of shirts today, she would be impressed. I was pretty sure that I could do that. I am a little less sure about tomorrow’s silent auction but am hopeful that we can make our money back plus make a wee profit. Fundraising is something I would say is not my forte but I said yes to the position because I am trying to choose to do things outside my comfort zone in order to learn new things.

By the end of the lunch hour we had already sold enough t-shirts that we broke even. By the end of the day we had sold over $700 worth of them. I have to admit that I was pretty proud of the work that we had done. Perhaps by the end of the week we will have a good sum of money in the bank.

I love stepping out into the unknown with faith and getting an awesome result. Like this shot of the rickety old pier, life can appear where you least expect it. How about you? When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone and had a surprisingly fantastic outcome?

Peace,

Suzanne

End of an Adventure

Everything we do should be a result of our gratitude for what God has done for us. ~ Lauryn Hill

I stood outside on the top deck one night, alone in the encroaching darkness and stillness, and received the joy of the gift of that moment. The sun setting, the moon rising, and the coolness setting in caused me to draw in a deep breathe of gratitude.

The Alaskan Adventure has come to an end. I am home now, laundry done, groceries bought, and ready for work tomorrow. Though not a perfect vacation by any means, I still rejoice in many memories that I have. I saw some spectacular scenery and met some interesting people. I learned many things. How can I not be grateful?

I said to my sister tonight that I did not get seasick and laughed about a few stories related to the roughness and how one night the drawers to my night table opened and closed several times but I slept soundly through it all.

I took a moment to step on the scale tonight and much to my surprise, I appear to have lost a pound. Must have been all those stairs on the ship!! Thanks for small miracles and for giving me eyes to see them.

Peace,

Suzanne

Friends

Friends are friends forever. ~ Christian song

Some friends you never tire of. My friend Shelley is like that. I met her through my cousin Kathy and loved her dearly. She and her friend John picked me up from the pier and we had brunch in Gastown before heading through White Rock. We decided to have an ice cream on the way home. The beach there is beautiful.

We spent a great day together, chatting lots but also going to deep subjects. It has been a blessing to be here. The hour is late and I must sleep.

Peace,

Suzanne

Cruising

There are signs everywhere...it's up to you to choose to see them. ~ from a card chosen at the Stephanie Staples session today

Today was the second session with Stephanie Staples. This morning we continued to work harder on ourselves than anything else exploring what is easy or hard for us to do. She then had us do affirmation sentences for two minutes: I am joyful, faithful, fun or I love to laugh, I listen well, and I live fully. Try that as a bit of an experiment one day and see how far you get before running out of steam. I feel blessed that I came through my 50th birthday celebrations where people had shared some of these sentiments with me so the thoughts flowed pretty easily for me.

Part way through the morning, we spotted dolphins playing on the side of the boat, diving in and out of the water. When I went outside to snap a few photos I noticed a couple so intent in doing their Sudoku puzzles that they did not see the dolphin dance right in front of them. Life is like that sometimes. Like the quote above that I selected in the session this morning, I think we need to choose to see the blessings that are presented to us sometimes.

Now I am poolside in the sun, soaking in its warmth. The wind has picked up though so I may need to jump back into the hot tub to warm up. An alternative might be to go to the Spa and try out those ceramic heated loungers. Those would be nice here by the pool.

It is the last day here on the ship. We arrive tomorrow at 7:00 in the morning and should be off the ship by 10:30. Shelley will pick me up and bring me to my beloved Crescent Beach. I love that place—its rugged beauty stirs my spirit. I hope to also spend some time with Therese and Gilles. I look forward to that day too, celebrating with them the journey we have together.

Peace,

Suzanne

Live Your Life

There is no greater joy than living the life you were meant to live. ~ Edmund Blake

I sometimes wonder if I was given a chance to live portions of my life over, how much would I change. I don’t really have too many regrets. All that has happened has made me who I am. This trip too is helping to form me, to make me realize things about myself and to create within me a gratitude for the gifts given.

I got up early today to see if I could see any of the whales that the Naturalist on the ship had promised. I did not see any but I did see them blowing water. They stayed hidden beneath the waters. I saw several eagles throughout the course of the day. They are such regal creatures.

I stalked one in a tree in Ketchikan, getting as close as possible, given the fact it was up in a tall pine tree. I think one of the things I know about myself is how much I love to be in nature and what a joy it gives me to see Creation in its own element.

Today was also shopping day. I bought a few presents—gifts for my parents and myself. Really there is not a lot of stuff here that interests me that is within my price range. I am not really a diamond girl and there are lots of jewellery stores. I must confess that I did let a saleswoman convince me to try on a blue diamond ring in Juneau. It looked rather nice on my finger!

Now twenty years later I am living out a dream that grew in my spirit from looking at photos of a woman who lived with the Sojourners Community. I believe that there is no greater joy than honestly living the life you were meant to live. Tomorrow is the last full day of the cruise before arriving early back on Sunday. This dream has been realized—on to the next!

Peace,

Suzanne