“So life’s year begins and closes;
Days though shortening still can shine;
What though youth gave love and roses;
Age still leaves us friends and wine.”
— Thomas Moore

The shortening days of autumn are, indeed, upon us. I love the fall season. It is full and ripe. It is the culmination, harvesting and reaping of all that we have sewn this year.

And, so, it is time to celebrate. Fall harvest celebrations are happening in every corner of our continent. Images of grinning children, huge pumpkins and corn stocks come to mind. Here in the Okanagan Valley, we have just celebrated the Fall Wine Festival. So much bounty!! (So much wine, so little time….)

A time to give thanks. This season is the cornucopia of life. How can we not pause to take stock of all our blessings? We live in such a hurried environment these days, that sometimes we forget to stop and appreciate all that we have. We pass by those moments where we can bask in the warmth of accomplishment and fulfillment.

It’s a time to reflect on the past, and gaze into the future. Busy, chaotic Christmas/Holidays will be here before we know it! And, then the New Year is come and gone. Resolutions made in haste are soon forgotten.

I find this is the ideal time of year for crystal ball gazing. It’s more of a dreamy, soft sort of look ahead as opposed to the hard, by the numbers goals that I would set in January. The challenges and successes of this year are still a fresh taste in my mouth. I am savouring my victories, my accomplishments. I can still catch the bitterness of the disappointments. I have a generous sense of my potential.

So, I would invite you to sink into this season, and gather it around you like a warm blanket. See your glass full to the brim, and make a toast in celebration. Smell the aroma of all you have achieved this year. With each sip, say a word of thanks, appreciate the bounty you have created. And then, as you savour the lingering finish, dream into the future. Picture yourself in the rosy glow of next autumn. What will you be celebrating and giving thanks for then?

1. Cold, spicy Gewürztraminer in a hot tub on a starry starry, night. Soft music or absolute silence. Alone or with the one you love. Ahhhh. Food for the soul.
2. After some rigorous winter sport, heat up a big mug of mulled plonk to enjoy while roasting hot dogs by a roaring bonfire. Sip and munch and laugh. Save the S’mores for the hot chocolate.
3. Sip a wonderfully crisp Rose on the patio on a warm summer afternoon, chat with your partner & occasionally throw the ball for the dog. Make everything take as L - O - N - G as you can. Sigh.
4. At a winery picnic table with some cheese, fresh baguette and your favorite from the wine tasting. (Hint: choose the wine to match the weather, not the cheese!)
5. Roast Turkey and stuffing at Christmas or Easter celebrated with lots of family and friends and a bottle or two of Sparkling Shiraz. (Sparkling Shiraz is getting more common outside of Australia, but try the Seaview - good, fun and cheap!)
6. A lazy Saturday night, a funny movie (Shrek anyone?), a big bowl of buttered popcorn, and a creamy barrel fermented Chardonnay. (If you’re from BC, See Ya Later Ranch has a tasty one - not too oaky) Snuggle up on the couch and laugh till it hurts!
7. Savour a big, juicy barbequed steak with a bunch of friends, potluck salads and a few bottles of gutsy Zinfandel.
8. Winding up a great meal with fresh strawberry shortcake accompanied by a lightly fizzy, slightly sweet Muscato D’Asti. Pure, simple flavours with the promise of springtime.
9. Oh, and chocolate. Really good chocolate can be one of life’s experiences all on its own, but crank it up a notch. To really splurge for a romantic evening, light the fire and feed each other tiny bites of the best dark chocolate you can find with tiny sips of luscious vintage port. Or, if it’s just to satisfy that craving, reach for the chocolate chips and Tawny!
10. Any impromptu occasion with good food, great company and whatever you have on hand!

What is it about spring that urges us to clean and shine, get rid of clutter?

Maybe it’s the sun finally shining its light on the things in our life that are no longer of use to us. Maybe it’s the sunlight showing all the streaks on the windows and the dustbunnies in the corners. We want to scrub everything shiny and new.

Fresh.

Spring is about freshness. The sense of a new start.

We’re all familiar with Spring cleaning our homes, yards, offices. Our actual physical environment. Many people also use this time to do a cleanse of their physical bodies. So, what about your mental, emotional and spiritual environment?

Take a couple of moments now to let the sun shine on you…… Where are the cobwebs? What clutter is there? What “junk” do you need to get rid of? Where could you use a little polishing?

How good would it feel to do a personal “spring cleaning?” To have a fresh, new you emerge along with the blossoms?

Here are a few places to start. And, I’m sure you’ll find some others along the way!

Who do you need to forgive, so you can get rid of some old baggage?

What old habits are no longer serving you?

What strength do you have that could use a little polishing to let it shine?

What inner grime can you clean away to let the warmth of your relationships really touch your inner core?

What lost dream do you need to dust off and bring into the light?

How could you bring more spring “freshness” into your life?

You get the idea! There’s a program developed by Coachville called “Clean Sweep” that provides a complete checklist of 100 items which, when completed will give you added vitality, balance and personal strength. If you want me to send you a copy, email me and I’ll send it to you!

Happy Spring!!

You may have read this email that  has been going around. I have used the exercise in workshops before, and found the 2 glasses of wine adds quite a nice twist!

Check it out to see if you are putting your priorities first!

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in
a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 glasses of
wine…

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front
of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty

Mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the
jar.
He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between
the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They
agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of
course, the sand filled up everything else He asked once more if the jar
was full. The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’

The professor then produced two glasses of wine from under the table and
poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty
space between the sand. The students laughed.

Now, said the professor, as the laughter subsided, ‘I want you to
recognise that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the
important things; your family, your children, your health, your friends,
and your favourite passions; things that if everything else was lost and only
they remained, your life would still be full.’

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house,
and your car. The sand is everything else; the small stuff.

If you put the sand into the jar first,’ he continued, ‘There is no room
for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life . If you spend all
your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the
things that are important to you.’

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with
your children. Take time to get medical check-ups. Take your partner out  to
dinner. Play another 18. Do one more run down the ski slope. There will
always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the
golf balls first; the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest
is just sand.’

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the wine
represented.

The professor smiled. ‘I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that
no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of
glasses of wine with a friend.’

This is one of those “pass it on” chain emails that we get way too often. Except this one has a very powerful message that relates to my previous blog post.

The question is: What do we miss when we are in such a hurry to go (where?)?

have a read…..

This occurred Jan 12, 2007:

A man sat at a metro station in Washington, DC and started to play
the violin; it was a cold December morning. He played six Bach
pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush
hour, it was calculated that a thousand people went through the
station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle-aged man noticed there was a
musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds,
and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a
woman threw the money in the till, and without stopping, continued to
walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to
him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again.
Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3-year old boy. His
mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the
violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued
to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by
several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced
them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and
stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk
their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and
silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was
there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best
musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces
ever written, with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at
a theater in Boston, and the seats averaged $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro
station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social
experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The
outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate
hour — Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we
recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best
musicians in the world, playing the best music ever written, how
many other things are we missing?

You pop the cork. Pour a stream of crimson fluid into your glass. Inhale deeply the aromas it offers up. Taste the richness and notice the complexity. Feel how it glides over your tongue towards your throat. Hold your glass to your ear. And, listen. Just listen.

This wine has a message for you.

I was contemplating wine the other day (ya think?). And, I was wondering what messages it might have to impart to us. What does the wine have to say to you and me?

I think it says: Stop. Pay attention. Savour the experience. Really tune into the moments in your life.

I think it says: Celebrate! Life is good. Enjoy what you have and rejoice in the small successes that are offered up every day.

I think the message is: Take care. Take care of yourself. Take care of the place you live. Be careful to nourish your body and soul. After all, what is wine without the soil, water and sun?

I think it says: revel in diversity. Enjoy the differences. Just as wines come in different colours and flavors, so do people. Appreciate the variety of the human race.

And, I hear something about changing, and growing. And, the process. Creating something beautiful.

I hear: Cheers! The importance of family and friends, being in good company. Choosing to be “cheer”ful and bring cheer to others.

Am I hearing things? Maybe I need another glass!

How committed are you to your dreams and ambitions?

There is power in absolute conviction and the commitment to do whatever it takes to move you forward.

Consider the following quote:

“Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issue from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no many could have dreamt would come his way.” W.H. Murray

Here’s an exercise that I am practicing myself right now to increase the level of commitment to my goals:

I have created a commitment statement. Like an affirmation, it states: I am committed to…. creating…… Several times a day, I stop and focus and re-commit. I am very intentional about creating the feeling of strong commitment during this exercise.

And, guess what? I am noticing that opportunities are appearing, and successes are mounting almost without effort. Hmmm. Maybe this actually works?

What would you commit to 110% if you knew you couldn’t fail?

Why don’t you try it on for size? Let me know how it goes!

It’s funny how sometimes you hear a song, and all of a sudden the words take on meaning. I was driving yesterday, and heard the song “Thank You” by Alanis Morissette. And, the words just hit home. I’ve obviously heard the song so many times before, but for some reason, this time it was different.

“how bout me not blaming you for everything
how bout me enjoying the moment for once
how bout how good it feels to finally forgive you
how bout grieving it all one at a time”

And, then she thanks the hard things, like terror and disillusionment, and frailty.

It really reminded me that sometimes the hard stuff makes us appreciate the rest of it so much more. And, as she says, just letting go and getting back way more in return.

Hmmm, makes you think. There are so many lessons out there that are just waiting till we’re ready to hear them.

Thank you.

Yeah, summer!!

I have to admit, I’m one of those fair weather people. I just feel better when the sun is out. It has been a long, cool, gray spring, and just as the longest day and summer solstice rolls around, so too, has the sun.

And, I am thankful!

Not that I need someone to tell me, but I just came across this quote and wanted to share:

“There is nothing under the sun better for man than to eat, drink, and be merry. Go, therefore, eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with cheer.” Ecclesiastes 8:15

So, enjoy