More growth
I regret that I have not had the opportunity in two weeks to write a blog. Between my office move to downtown Vancouver at the beginning of July and a five day conference at UBC smack dab in the middle of the month my blog had to be put to the side. In retrospect, as life would have it, I did not anticipate for how much time all of this would take up and I certainly feel like I do not know where July went due to all my busyness. It had me thinking, however, that not knowing how busy the month was going to be was useful in order to get me through all I needed to arrive (safely) on the other side and has opened up my own contemplation and self-reflection as to my continued growth. More precisely, how can I grow from all my experiences this past month is a way that is beneficial and affirming? How can I take what I learned from the conference to use them both for my work and growth with clients? How can I navigate and settle into my new office home away from my actual home and make it just right in terms of comfort for clients and me? How can I graciously find more time in a loving way to be with loved ones in my life and to be fully present in the presence of them and to see how all those moments have to offer in relation to nurturance? Last but not at all least, how can I cultivate more of my relationship with me as a venue to foster all that I want in order to be present in all of the above experiences. Simple really but at times difficult with the demands that life puts upon us. I make the conscious choice to do so with openness and willingness to grow and to continue growing. I will utilize my down time to self-reflect upon what I have taken away from this month and where I want to go in the future. Growth and a commitment to it is what I tell clients is a process that if one chooses to engage in is a beautiful and wonderful experience that is life long with so much to offer and provides so much nurturing and reverence. So remember… It is Your choice.
My office in downtown Vancouver… 
Lightening things up
Indirectly, this blog entry was inspired by a very dear and long-time friend of mine whom I quote from her text message: “If I had a blog I would write about how having a really great friend can help you go from completely shitty to busting a gut because you are laughing so hard you think you are going to pee your pants.” (I did get her permission to quote her.) She on many occasions over the years of our friendship has done the same for me. This friend was panicking and distraught over a serious problem in her life and I was there to support her. We went out for dinner and she talked about it. I listened and offered alternative points of view that helped to calm her and to see the problem in a different yet manageable way. She was then able to relax and here is where the laughter began. They are not kidding in that sometimes laugher is a really good form of medicine. I too needed to laugh after my own stress of the office move that took up my entire Canada Day long weekend and all the change that I did not initially anticipate to be strongly both exciting and stressful. Laughter can be healing and calming. I like to think that at times I can be animated and funny. It helps me to not take myself or situations at times so seriously. It helps to give us a much needed break from the rat race of life and all our problems. Life is already hard enough. To be able to tease ourselves and lighten things up. To comfort ourselves and others through laughter and humour. It truly does create and make room for moments of calmness and serenity.
Beautiful downtown Vancouver….
Walking the talk
Yesterday I moved into my new office in downtown Vancouver. A colleague and dear friend of mine have had this move in the works for sometime now as we had a clear vision of finding a space with two offices and a waiting area. Our collaborative dream in just the right location; and we found it. What has been baffling to me though was the amount of stress leading up to yesterday’s move, which I did not expect. We all know moving is one of the top ten stressors in life I just forgot to apply this to an office move. In some ways more so because of the coordination of not just myself but of all my clients. Not to mention the headache of combining two people’s different tastes as to what the waiting room will be decorated as, making sure all my clients know when and where to go, and making sure I tell each and every one of them about my colleague’s dog who is in training to be a therapy dog (and; of course, I did forget to tell one of my clients. Do not worry… She now knows!). The movers were late and the whole thing took a lot longer that I had anticipated. Oh, did I mention it also rained. So very stressful. I did, however, do all the usual things one is supposed to do to combat and minimize the effects of this stressful event leading up to the move. Exercise. Lots and lots of fruits and vegetables. Getting enough rest and sleep. But the most helpful was to up the self-care that I talk to my clients about on a daily basis. Being with myself and paying lots and lots of gentle caring attention. Noticing and listening to me. Turning inward and nurturing all my thoughts and emotions around this move. What a gift to give to myself as each time I do this I can feel the tension in my muscles relax and that felt sense of calm come over me as I tell myself, my body, we are safe and okay. This transformation then allows the up side to this move in that I feel excited, elated, and hopeful that this new journey and all the future has to hold in my new space will be prosperous in growth for me and my clients.
My new office building…
