School’s Out…!!!!!

Morning Psycho Babble

I love mornings and have always been a morning person.

When I was growing up I would always be the first one up…apart from my dad. I would awaken early on a Saturday morning, tip-toe downstairs so as not to awaken any siblings, and would find my dad quietly reading the paper and drinking his morning coffee.

In the cold months he would be in the sunroom and in summer he would be sitting by the pool. I can remember countless delightful mornings having my dad all to myself while the rest of the family slept. We would chat about life, the Universe and everything. And, after dad finished his paper, we would look at the Saturday recipe in the Food Section and decide whether it sounded like a good family dinner for that night.

At the time, those mornings with my dad just seemed like our normal Saturday routine. Looking back, however, I can see them for the golden relationship-building moments that they were and my throat tightens a bit at the remembering. As one of four kids in a very busy household, any one-on-one time was incredibly special.

Fast forward a number of years and I have finished university and am back in Toronto living with my parents. The only other sibling at home is my beloved baby brother, Mike, who is just finishing his last two years of high school. Rather than the weekend mornings of my childhood that stand out, however, it is the weekday ones that I remember with a laugh.

I would be up and ready for work and sitting cheerily at the breakfast table eating an enormous breakfast. Mike would stumble out of bed at almost the last minute just in time to have a quick breakfast. I was always so full of energy in the mornings and so glad to see Mike that I would launch into the happy chatter that was the hallmark of my mornings with my dad all those years before.

What I did not register at the time was that it was an entirely one-sided communication. Mike did not talk at all.

On one particularly grey morning in November (two months in to my living back at home after four years away), I was in mid-stream when Mike fixed me with a dead and bleary-eyed stare and said; ‘Kate, for God’s sake, stop the morning psycho babble!’

Morning psycho babble…?!?!?!

That morning has become one of my fonder memories of Mike and my kids absolutely love that story. I have valiantly attempted over the years to curb my penchant for morning effusiveness. Particularly because I did not marry a morning person and none of my sons enjoy my verbose morning meanderings.  Some mornings, however I just can’t seem to rein it in.

This morning I was awakened by our fat grey cat at 5:30. She wanted out and was going to relentlessly pester until she was freed from the confines of the house. I was annoyed at first because, being a Saturday morning, I was planning on sleeping in until 6:30 or 7:00.

However, the sweet drift of summer air that met me at the back door shifted my mood instantly. What a gorgeous morning! And, the first day of summer to boot!

I just couldn’t wait for someone else in my house to awaken so I could share it.

Watch out morning psycho babble…

A few hours later, I was sitting in the back garden enjoying my morning tea when I was joined by a poor, unsuspecting Simon. Unlucky for him, he became the recipient of my torrent of exuberant morning energy; ‘isn’t it a gorgeous morning?’, ‘what a perfect day!’, ‘don’t you just LOVE June?’, ‘don’t you just love sitting outside in the morning?’, ‘happy first day of summer‘. When he looked over at me from his Muskoka chair with that same look I remember from over twenty years ago, I smiled sheepishly and said; ‘morning psycho babble, right?‘

Oh well, old habits die hard. Where is my dad when I need him?

Happy first day of summer…!!!!!! 

 

Life is Good

Sunny Friday afternoon in June.

Work done for the day.

Feet in the grass.

Cardinal singing his beautiful little heart out.

Cup of mint tea and a BLove raw S’More at my side.

First day of summer tomorrow

Oh…life is good! 🙂

Extraordinarily Verdant

Today was supposed to be just a regular work-from-home day.

But it was anything but regular.

The day was so warm and so lovely that all the windows and all the doors were flung open to receive the scents, the sounds and the constant breeze dancing through my house. It was just so wonderful to sit at my desk and feel the spring all around me that I felt as if I had delightfully puckish company with me while I worked.

My work for the day is done now and I find myself in my lovely little postage stamp of a backyard with my feet in the lush grass.

I find it extraordinary to think that two months ago this same patch of my backyard was knee-deep in snow. And today, here I sit feeling the earth beneath my feet pulsating with life.

I’m not sure it gets much more extraordinary than that! 🙂

 

The Extraordinary Ordinary

A nasty cold virus has been working its way through my family for the past ten days. By the time I went to bed last night I was beginning to feel that achy and heavy sensation that marks the beginning of a cold. I awakened this morning feeling much better than I thought I was going to and am now just feeling mildly crummy.

If I had to, I could work my way through this touch-of-a-cold. I could push through and keep going. However, there is something calling me to be very quiet; to sit, to nurture, and to reflect.

As I was juicing a little while ago, I was reflecting on the day that I had yesterday and the blog post that was the result. I was thinking about the fact that every workshop I lead feels magnificent. I was reflecting on the gift of ending every day of work feeling profoundly fulfilled, in the flow, and on purpose. And I was thinking about the fact that every single group I encounter, whether it is large or small, is full of dynamic, loving, curious and passionate individuals.

So what, I wondered, is the common denominator?

And the answer is…connection.

Every workshop I lead gives me the opportunity to connect with people in a way that truly makes my heart sing. And, not only that, I have the profound privilege of bearing witness to people connecting with each other. And that is why, day after day, the fulfilment of the work that I have chosen just gets deeper.

And, interestingly, while the fulfillment gets deeper, the work gets easier.

I mean, really, to call it work feels almost silly.

Before I hit the stride that I am feeling now, it used to feel stressful to run workshops even though I loved front-of-the-room. It used to take me a while to connect with a new group and to find my flow state. I always felt a little shy and uncomfortable while I got my bearings, settled in, and created the safe learning environment that is so important to me.

But now, I feel that sense of connection and flow gaining momentum while I am travelling into Toronto in the early morning. And by the time I am kicking-off the workshop, I am so connected and so deep in the state of flow that it feels as natural as breathing. And that means that I can not only deliver the message that I have been hired to deliver, but can also take it to the next level with laughter, with fun, with play, with fierce coaching, and with deep connection.

I used to feel absolutely exhausted by the end of a work day. I used to feel depleted and drained. I would drag myself home and need hours to recover from the output of energy. The introvert in me still needs time alone to process. However, it is no longer from exhaustion. Now, it springs from the need to quietly celebrate and acknowledge the deep connection and the brilliance of the human experience that makes my heart feel so full it could almost burst.

My original intention with 365 Radical Acts was to celebrate and acknowledge the concept of the great, big, juicy, Radical Act. And I intended to do that by acknowledging something Radical or extraordinary in the ordinary of my every day to see where those would lead.

As this project continues to deepen, however, I am just coming to realize that the most Radical Act of all is to see the extraordinary in the ordinary of every day. These last 203 days have reminded me how easy it is to get caught up in the ordinary-ness of raising kids, grocery shopping, working, paying bills, making coffee, sleeping, cooking, healing, and fighting, and forget how extraordinary our lives really are!

And so, today, from my own little quiet and connected corner of the world,  I am sending out my deepest appreciation for this life that continues to unfold in all its extraordinary ordinary perfection.

Broken Record

As my fabulous day is winding down I am reflecting on my life, my work, and the profound fulfillment of my professional life.

I spent my work day doing what I love most; coaching, teaching, facilitating, and challenging the incredible human beings that I am so privileged to cross paths with.

As my workshop was coming to a close this afternoon with each brilliant participant sharing their own personal ‘ah-ha moments’, I was filled appreciation, joy, passion and deep fulfillment.

I have said it before and I’ll say it again…I LOVE what I do!

I know I must sound like a broken record playing the same tune over and over…but, truly, I am the happiest broken record in town! 🙂 🙂 🙂

Magic in the Night

It is a beautiful, sunny holiday Monday morning and I find myself in a very quiet house.

All the men in my family are still  asleep except for Michael, my fellow early bird, because we have had two very late nights. Saturday night was a campfire in our neighbour’s backyard complete with lovely red wine, laughter, kids roasting marshmallows and hilarious charades. And last night was a glorious display of Victoria Day fireworks at the Dundas Driving Park.

The effect of two late nights for me is usually a distinct feeling of low energy and a kind of quiet sadness.

This morning, however, feels entirely different.

As I made my cup of Vanilla Rooibos tea a few moments ago, I realized that I was feeling a delicious sense of wonder, happiness and deep fulfillment. And as I tapped in to the feeling, I connected with the magic of the last two evenings; a campfire dancing in the night and then fireworks lighting up the sky with almost impossible beauty.

Isn’t it incredible how the simple things in life can have the deepest and most visceral impact? And, upon reflection, I have realized that none of them cost any money!

• Standing beside a waterfall
• Watching fireworks
• The smell of freshly cut grass
• Sitting around a campfire with friends
• Telling someone; ‘I love you‘
• Hiking in the woods
• The smell of summer rain
• Standing beside the ocean as waves crash in
• Watching a sunset
• The fragrance of lily-of-the-valley
• The feeling of gathering one of my sons into a deep embrace and feeling us both take that first deep breath together that says; ‘we’re connected‘
• An evening walk with Simon
• Exchanging a smile with a stranger
• Singing along to my favourite songs

So, here’s my holiday Monday question? What are the things that light you up and connect you deeply to yourself? And, have you taken the opportunity to experience at least one of them in the past few days?

Happy Monday! 🙂

Naked Chocolate

Okay, it’s time to come clean. It’s time to start telling the truth. I simply cannot keep it hidden any longer…

I have a massive ‘foodie crush‘!

Yes, indeed, I am head-over-heels. And his name is David Wolfe!

My crush started as a mild interest a few weeks ago when I stumbled across one of his videos on YouTube. And I have logged hours ‘at his feet‘ ever since. I have bought two of his books, have watched hours and hours of video footage, and have adapted many of his suggestions, especially concerning Superfoods.

So…I was already well on my way to falling in love when, last night, my crush spiralled into an all-out, losing sleep, can’t-stop-thinking-about-it crush.

So, you ask, what happened last night to catapult me into the realm of the star-struck teenage girl?

I watched David Wolfe’s Tedx Talk on raw chocolate!

Ooh la la!

I am a die-hard chocolate lover! And, at 8:00 last night, I was told, in no uncertain terms, that my absolute all-time favourite food in the whole-wide-world is ridiculously good for me! And, he does it all in The Second Circle which is just that much more delicious!

Now, tell me, wouldn’t you be in love too? I think it’s kind of the opposite of ‘don’t shoot the messenger…!’

I could continue to wax poetic but, really, what more is there to say? If you feel about chocolate the way that I do, I just need you to go and watch that Tedx Talk.

And then get back to me…!!! 🙂

What to Do?

It is 15 degrees Celsius and there is not a cloud in the sky.

Apart from my two walks to school and back with Zachary, I have been working in my office all day.

So…here are my choices as I see them;

#1: Stay inside and write the blog post that I had planned for today
#2: Forget the blog post and head outside to put my bare feet in the grass and turn my face up to the sun

Hmmmm…what would you do?

See ya! 🙂

Sunday Dinner

When I was growing up, Sunday dinner was my favourite meal of the week. More often than not, at least one set of grandparents was with us which always made it feel like a party. We ate in the dining room on the good china and there was always dessert.

Sunday dinner was roast beef with mashed potatoes and gravy, roast chicken, pork roast or lamb chops. I would be hard-pressed to pick my favourite because each meal had its own particular character and yummy-ness!

With Simon and Zachary away for a week, I am down two men in my house which makes dinner 50% easier. I made Max and Michael a nice steak dinner with the requested trimmings. And while their dinner was cooking I was preparing my own Sunday dinner. But instead of roasting, steaming, boiling, baking or frying, I was juicing my dinner.

And here it is…(with enough left over for my breakfast!)

• 1 cucumber
• 2 lemons
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 thumb ginger
• 2 small celery stalks
• 1/4 tray of sprouts

My recipe is borrowed from my raw foodie friend, Loren, and it is absolutely delicious. I maybe went a bit overboard on the ginger but it’s got a good little kick to it.

And to finish? Rather than pie, cake, cookies or ice cream, I am going to indulge in an heirloom tomato that I bought at a local farm today with an avocado and some cold-pressed olive oil.

Not sure what my grandparents would have to say about this Radical departure from tradition, but I know what I say…yum!

Happy Sunday! 🙂