A Big Dose of Clarity!

Oprah Winfrey Rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Probably the best 130 dollars I have spent in a long time. Man is it great to see such a motivational talk in person vs. on TV. I have honestly never felt so engaged for 2.5 hrs as I did last night. Did not have a single thought other than what her speech inspired in me. No a single to do list or task or worry or anything else at all passed through my mind that evening watching her on stage. Unbelievable.

She is a genius. A master of speech. A huge inspiration. And I have been to many, many many keynotes and motivational talks as part of my job. This one was in a different class.

And she is genuine, and real, and funny and sweet and powerful and humble. She makes fun of herself, brags about her money, is honest and breathtakingly elegant. And currently is raising nine teenage girls who live with her in her home.

Last night honestly was the icing on the cake for the personal development journey I have been experiencing over the last few years. It almost felt like a finale of sorts..and at the same time..a whole new way of seeing things. A beginning of sorts too.

Coming back from vacation..I always feel a bit down ( aka so what is next?) When is the next vacation? Last night I realized I don’t need another vacation (necessarily-although we all know there will be plenty more of those) What I need to do is invite more of these life changing experiences such as last night into my life. I have been seeing plays with family and friends lately, taking cool day trips, listening to cool programs on TV, ordering many many books, dressing differently, reaching out more, crying more and less. Seeing friends way more and spending less time at home. Taking my kids on adventures. Dreaming with my husband. Travelling more for work.

Getting the hell out of my comfort zone and into the broader world a bit more. While still understanding my limits and values and keeping my life and family safe and protected. It is delicious! all of it.

Seeing her up there. In her “flow”…..offering up her wisdom and gifts to the 15,000 hungry women (maybe 5 men!!!) in the audience was incredible. It made me realize that capable people are capable of amazing things if they want it enough.

And it gave me a ton of clarity on my own life. Aha moments over and over and over. Clarity…aww…just what I have been craving. I will not be forgetting April 11 2013 anytime soon.

-Everyone has a flow in life…..what people will speak of if you have done a good job in your life at your funeral. The flows should match up and mean something. Your life needs to have meaning to you and others (beyond people that are personally close to you)

-The most successful people on earth don’t just prepare for the worst…they prepare diligently for success. All the time. When success comes to them, they are ready to embrace it

-Nothing in this world is luck. There is no such thing as a lucky person.

-Get outside of the bubble of your own life and see family beyond your own nuclear household (this was a very important point for me as I have contained myself in a huge bubble deliberately much of my life)

-Service others. And service does not have to be scrubbing floors on your knees for free at an old rotting daycare! You can make millions as your serve the world if that is what you choose!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hallelulah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (You in with me BBB????)

-Listen to the whispers in life…before they become earthquakes…listen carefully always a make changes as you go along. Love this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Accept who you are and be vulnerable. Make fun of yourself. Laugh out loud at yourself.

-Reach for the stars. Seriously.

Anyways nothing I have not thought of or heard before. But I loved the package she put it into for everyone. The way she said it, her body language, her clothes. Everything.

It changed everything for me I think. That is how inspiring it was. We all receive…when we are ready to listen. Don’t we? Last night I was listening Oprah. And watching and learning.
Thank you Oprah  from the bottom of my life-for giving me an  example of service that made a ton of sense to me. And a view on life that I was not able to see before. You showed me in no uncertain terms what fulfillment looks like and what it could look like in my own life.

PS-And I got on TV!!!!!!! Her personal camera crew before the show was making a personal tape for Oprah and I squeezed myself right in front to where they were taping (I know I am a pushy and bitchy but it worked!) And I said my line and then he asked me to repeat it and said he loved it and wanted it on her tape !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is it Possible?

I am so surprised that I am actually good at yoga.

And that I am actually capable of it.

And that I like it!!!

It’s quite shocking. I am sooooo not a yogi. I think that comes from having to have chanted more than my share of yoga chants throughout my childhood. And eating tofu for Easter in a big circle on the floor with a Swami sitting beside me and yelling “the child must eat!!!”

My Dad played violin at yoga camps so while other kids went to the beach for vacations, I got to go and watch my parents meditate and do yoga and eat beans and lentils. The big excitement of the day was the old wrecked plane to visit in the courtyard. My brother and I visited it like a hundred times a day..and not because we had any interest only because there was nothing at all to do there.

Oh ya we enjoyed the rats on the floor a lot too at night on our mattresses. I swear to god if my Mom even mentions ever that I am doing anything wrong with my kids …..I am going to remind her of this! And spending my childhood in the back of a pickup truck without a seatbelt! So what if I don’t scrub my potatoes with a separate brush!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you figure out yet my parents were sorta hippies?????????? They also used a drawer for my bed and put tofu in my milk bottle.

God love them.Now wonder I am so corporate now. It is a rebelllion!

Anyways I do like yoga now and I am good at it. I have always felt rather inadequate in aerobic classes. Literally as they start the class I want to go home . It makes a long hour between this and dripping in sweat after the first 3 minutes.But I was always super strong in the weightromm. All the girls around me lifting 20 lbs on their legs and me 100 lbs!

Well same with yoga it seems. I seem to be really flexible…I think unless the teacher is tricking me and this is not yoga? Its seem to weird that so many of my friends (some who bike form Toronto to Mtl and another who works out 7 days a week) think yoga is hard and I find it super relaxing? It also seems to be too good to be true...to actually like excercise and anticipate it????

And what is even stranger is that I seem to be the only who who will chant  Ommmmmmmmm at the end. I am not even shy. I know it’s a bit odd-but I actually like it. It makes me feel good. I know. I know. I guess there is some hippy in me after all.

It is the first exercise class that I look forward to. Really really stretches and relaxes me. I never relax in real life.

And the teacher it would seem might be very annoying to me. I mean c’mon to be so happy and smiling and positive all the time is annoying isn’t it? But for some reason I actually like her. Why? I have no idea!!!! What has happened to me? I actually like when she talks about the body and mind and our limits and says things like “feel the prawna in your body and let go of all your worries”

I don’t mind that she does not understand the first thing about business or stress and when she came here to have a booth in the cafeteria to attract more employees to yoga classes she asked if she could use the time for her and her yogi colleagues to eat lunch.

I thought it was funny!

Anyways. Yoga is a good thing however surprising that may be. And meditation too. Breathing is a good skill to learn. I wish I had known more and taken it more seriously as I pushed my 10 lbs. baby out no epidural! (not a choice of course..it was New Year's Eve and the anatheologists were all at a party!!!)

Maybe the next vacation instead of a cruise we will do a yoga camp with the kids. And invite my Mom. I will ask her as I sit and do my breathing and oooooomming all day if she would mind taking the kids for a few chickpeas and grains and looking at the plane in the courtyard again before they go to sleep in the drawer on the floor infested by rats! I am sure she would love to join us on this lovely vacation!!!!!

I might even throw in a few pieces of tofu turkey if it is Easter! And a fake lentil cupcake at the end if she is super fortunate.

 

Last Few Faves and we are Done!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not bad for a girl who said less pics and more present eh???? I guess I failed that goal!!! promise no more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Fini,,,Phew

Cozumel, Mexico

 

Our last excursion. Tomorrow is a day at sea and last day on the cruise:(( Cozumel was nice. Savvy recommended a great beach club called paradise that was Awesome and even better and awesome price.

 

Great pool.. Ok beach ... And a bunch of water big bouncy toys in the sea. Great lunch too. All Round an awesome resort for 2 dollars per person !!!! We were amazed since first cheap thing that was actually great!  Bring it on Savvy!!!! I love having a BFF travel advisor. Only problem was that see were not able to enjoy most of it for most the day because the weather sucked.  Windy red flags were up and bouncy big slides pulled right put of water. Wind rain and clouds.

For the last couple of hours of the day cleared up and we enjoyed the pool. The ocean wasn't very nice as all cloudy and dirty from storm but we went in anyways.

Lunch was really really good as. Beauty loved the coconut drink alot. We made the most of the bad weather and just read and relaxed. I love that the kids are at an age where that is very possible too. They just sit around and talk to each other and rest. Like us!

Of course... Like anywhere we go.. Beauty made a friend. Girls all over are drawn to her and always have been. I think it is bc she is a hell of a lot of fun. She is scared of nothing and extremely agile and athletic for a girl. She also loves art and music and anything else really.

My best part of day:

Beauty came up to me at one point and said" I have a secret to tell you"

“I love you with all my heart”

And when she says something like that.. I listen hard as it does not come every day.

And then she silently stared at me for about 3 minutes tears glistening in her eyes. It's a side of her I love and I crave.

 

Cozumel weather or not... Was great.

 

Ps after I wrote this hubby and I had a massive fight and ruined dinner for all of us. Just making sure you don't ever think things are tooooo rosy around here!! Here we are below on a better day..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Religion

“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.”

  – Meister Eckhart

When I read the above..I realized-this is what spirituality is to me. This is what it means for me. In this definition, I have been religious my entire life. I have prayed fiercly and strongly and forever.

To be abundant in life...to be grateful. To be playful and thankful and gracious. To be a good wife, mother, daughter and friend and truly love and show love to those around me.To take their precious lives with the same care and attention I do my own and the same urgency of emotion.As often and as well as I possibly can.

To give and receive feedback and act on it.
To know with certainty that the moment we have at hand is one of the finest we will ever know.
Because we are alive..and healthy..and present.
Benevolant.
Abundant.
Full of Grace

GrandCayman

 (you all must be so totally bored by now hearing about this trip and looking at all these pictures!!! I will be back to normal blogging by end of week I promise! This is more for me and my family..as a record of our times together. Hang in there! Although I have noticed my blog traffic has tripled!) And sorry for any typo all were written on iphone 5 on a rocking ship!

 

It was another hot and beautiful day. I get it now ... Travelling in April vs November you seem to be guaranteed good weather.

Great excursion in a lovely boat snorkelling and then swimming with the stingrays. Then a 2 hr stop at the 7 mile beach for lunch and swimming.

The snorkelling was really nice and the boat ride relaxing. The stingray swim the family seemed to really enjoy. Personally not my thing... I prefer dolphins :) but it was fun watching my family like it. They even convinced me to kiss a stingray more than once since it guarantees 7 yrs. good luck ( therefore I kissed it 6 times just to be sure the luck does not run out) The stingray gave us all back massages too.. Strange experience to be rubbed by a slimy ugly fish :)

Then we went to the 7 mile beach and had a quick lunch. We are always starving coming back to the ship as we try to save money on food when off ship and order no more than 2 plates to share between us. This time caprese salad and naan bread with spicy hummus. Delicious.

The ocean was gorgeous and the water luxurious. The white sand beach and turquoise waters were breathtaking.

But...... Hubby won the bet we have been having for a long while.

We have been you go to Turks and Caicos Island for a decade now almost yearly. Started out at family resorts and for the last 5 yrs. just the two of us in an incredible condo belonging to my husband’s client that we are lucky enough to get at half price.

When I say incredible.. I mean incredible. This last November we made a deal last time there... Time to try other stuff. But my husband was upset- he vowed this was the best beach in the world and why bother anywhere else. Never mind that we get extremely luxurious rental at an affordable price available nowhere else. And full kitchen allows us to cook all of our meals.

It was still no. Need to see the world I said.

Grand Cayman was referred to me by about a dozen friends and colleagues as one of the most beautiful beaches and islands. I told hubby if nicer then Turks..... We would hold deal and not return. If it was less nice than Turks.. Then back to Turks we go on next adult vacation. He has been adamant that he refuses to even think about anywhere but Turks and thinks I am crazy

 

Guess what? We will be going back to Turks. Hubby is thrilled! Cayman super nice and gorgeous... But Turks is even better. Wider beaches... Less developed... Less expensive... Less crowed... The water is even more breathtaking in Turks and we live for the water.

I honestly don't think there is a nicer beach. Now having visited 4 beautiful new islands.. I am convinced

And we could never ever afford the type of place we stay in in Turks. Not ever. It is a huge favor on his client’s part and each time I think of it I want to get down on my knees and kiss his feet.

Too bad condo is up for sale :(L((((((((

Lucky for us his brother another super good cleint of my husband’s owns the one next door. Only half as nice but hey... Still beautiful... And still Turks.

 So Grand Cayman was a hit. We loved our time there today and wish we could have stayed longer. It's been a super busy vacation so far... And super wonderful too.

 

Dinner tonight is formal. Hubby and I would like to do buffet tonight as had a formal night in dining room already but kids won't hear of it . They are way more gourmet than either of us and although don’t really care about them or us dressing up much they like to see all the glitz and glamour and eat all the fancy lobster dinners.

I am still amazed that any man would rent a tux for a dinner like this or any woman waste precious vacation moments in the beauty parlor getting her hair and makeup done for a cruise dinner. But hey.. Clearly I am not the girly girl I thought I was! I would rather throw myself overboard than spend more than 15 minutes getting ready for any dinner.. Any party or any event. PS I still prefer formal night to any Halloween party by the way.
God we are boring eh??????
Savvy told me that I dress up most days and nights of the week! I never realized this about myself that I am I guess "naturally fancy???
I guess it is because I love nice clothes and accessories just cant bother spending any time on them except for putting them on.

 

My fave part of day today was when Bear decided that the cool American Eagle underwear normally worn religiously under his bathing suit were getting unbearably on his nerves. So we came up with the plan of  him taking them off far off into the ocean. Guess who was left with them in her hand to bring back to shore?

Ya. Me.

So I decided to do what the book on adolescence I am reading prescribes. When a teenager is rude or does not comply with the Rules use humor. Get them back by embarrassing them. This morning my two boys left eaten fruit on the hotel floor to my dismay and it was gross! Chase also often on this trip tells me not to speak when anyone is around! Bear put a password-HIS on MY iPad mini.

 

Therefore I came towards those boys in the sea with a pair of underwear worn upon my head. Calling their names out clearly to make sure everyone around knew those kids were mine and that clearly I was their Mom:))))

 

Life is beautiful. Payback time boys!!! And I have plenty more of those moments in me so watch out.

 

Ps -dinner tonight needs a special mention. What a difference an amazing waiter and service can make. Most of trip we had a very inefficient and grumpy waiter. Changed sections to an awesome Indian guy who made our night. He even promised me special Indian dishes the next two nights! The shrimp and lobster plate kids loved and Bear said steak was amazing. My mushroom vol au vent was great. Best dessert I have ever had was Neapolitan baked Alaska yummy!!!!!!! Still does not compare to the menus last time on Mediterranean cruises but still soooooooo good. This cruise was worth it just so see kids eating and ordering the way they do. Gives me huge glimpses into them as adults. From a girl who did not try hummus until I was 20 yrs old ( my moms total fault!!) I have to say I am extremely impressed with their palates

 

Pss \ despite applying sunscreen 4 times in. 6 hrs we are all burnt quite a bit - except Chase bc no matter what he is always perfect when it comes to stuff like this. Menthol Aveeno is being passed around alot tonight

 

Jamaica

What an incredible day!!!!!!!

We had a driver for 6 hrs who took us on two excursions and then a nice lunch and dip into the beautiful and pristine Jamaica sea.

I wish the day could have lasted forever. The kids were so incredibly sweet today. Both boys feel somehow like they have to take care of me.. Telling me such and such a rock is slippy or be careful a car is coming. It is so sweet. Beauty also loves this trip and such an affectionate side she is showing.

 

Dunns river is AMA ZING. I never realized how beautiful and fun it was. I loved every single minute of climbing the falls and wading in the streams. The kids adored this and it was so nice all climbing up and holding hands together. We had a great guide who took lots of good pics allowing us time to just enjoy the moment.

 

Next excursion might have been the most beautiful scenery I have her seen in my life. A 45 minute tube ride down a beautiful  fresh water tropical river. A mix between lazy river in a tube and white water rafting. Heavenly. So serene and quiet you could hear the crickets in the trees. I have never seen the kids look so happy and relaxed as I did today. There was a break on the river with a swing and Tarzan rope right in the river.

Luscious ride down the river.

These two water excursions were perfectly suited to our preferences. Loved both.

 

To top it off  30 minute stop at a beautiful beach with a gorgeous view and warm warm water. The lunch we ordered was amazing and one of the best meals of the trip. Jamaican jerk chicken and fries with hot sauce. To save money we only ordered two plates to share... We looked like animals starving when it was served!!

Now back to cruise for a Mamma Mia show at 7pm and another great dinner in the dining room . We have been trying to convince the kids to go to buffet one night but they won't hear of it.. They want fancy all the way since it is "included"

(Included my ass!!  Hahahha)

 

Loving these excursions . The cruise part is ok but the islands rock. I love my family and in general being angels so far.

 

Thank god for separate rooms. Makes such a difference in my irritably levels.

 

Not much down time thus far. Busy busy busy X o xox