Preparing a Walk to Work

‘It’s all about Plan B.’

That’s what my fridge magnet says. Walking to work, seemed a good idea this morning. Cool, a bit cloudy but not raining ~ yet. A short cut across the park? How long would it take me? Without needed preparation, I felt pressured and anxious ~

and started to worry right away. All the what if’s and maybe’s popped up like dandelions in spring

But I really wanted to walk to work to this interesting and much closer work site. Then a little voice in my head sounded, and I do mean little ~ as in a five year old wanting a certain type of sugared cereal - ‘right now!

Deep breath ~ blow all the worry out and do your morning yoga.

Just take the car - ‘but..I..want..to..waaalk!’ (No tears though, just a bit whiney)

OK ~ so prepare to walk ~ but do plan well because you have to carry your lunch. (This imaginary five year old always uses my muscles to do the heavy lifting)

So we (the five year old and I) did go for a short walk but only down the sidewalk and through a back lane with a back pack filled with my very well packed lunch, a soft cover book and an umbrella at the ready. Too heavy! That test run told me ‘Not to-day, sweetie ~ but let's plan and make a picnic lunch for a day off. We'll take the walk to see how far we can go with a lighter back pack!’

(Five year old: ‘ok.’ big sigh)

In the car, a few minutes later……..I am so glad I didn’t try to walk! It is a bit farther than I thought and a good stretch is on cement sidewalks at an incline. My legs and lungs are still flatlanders. Planning more time for even mildly steep inclines is always necessary.

So, the five year old didn’t win today ~ but I did promise a picnic lunch soon!

“Before beginning, plan carefully.”

~ Marcus Tullius Cicero

Preparing for Growth - Blossom Time in Victoria

Snow clouds hovered over my head in May
Delicate snow flakes drifted onto hair and shoulders
Shelter and balm ‘neath trees of pink cloud as I walked
Gentle drifts nestled in pockets and corners of street and tree
Pink snow settled on earth burgeoning with daffodils and tulips
while dormant roots and shoots awakened from winter’s rest.
Snow clouds hovered over my head in May.

“Blossoms are scattered by the wind and the wind cares

nothing, but the blossoms of the heart no wind can touch.”

~ Yoshida Kenko

Preparation Time ~ Preparation - Theme for May 2014

Tagging along 
like an energetic little kid,
preparation jumps into the scene
getting ready for some action
right now, all day and every day
preparation gathers ideas and stirs up timetables and schedules
Opening cupboards and pulling out drawers
finding the tool box and gardening tools.
Checking lists and dashing out to stores for supplies
Getting out paints and pencils, sewing and crafting supplies
Reviewing schedules and calendars for spaces to play or work
Shopping, preparing and cooking just one meal or four for the freezer.
Keeping the car ready to roll, 
purchasing tickets for a trip or a play.
Preparation is not for the faint heart hearted!
(But please take time to breathe!)

“He who is best prepared can best serve his moment of inspiration.”

~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Intention Fills each Day

Intention leans into mind, body and soul
reflexive, original intention drifting and lost,
distantly birthed and born, 
parented, planted and taught ~
voices echo from the past.

If outcome unfavourable, don’t blame past lessons.
If outcome successful, share crédit with past teachers.

There are many intentions in each day ~
specific and desired outcomes sought
Set goals short or long
time and tide set the pace
individual will begins the action.

“It is not good enough for things to be planned ~ 

they still have to be done; for the intention to become

a reality, energy has to be launched into operation.’

~ Walt Kelly

Listening with Intention

Listening and hearing the voices of others.
Paying attention with intention.
Listening for clues, hearing ideas different and yet the same.
Turning old beliefs on their heads to see the ceiling from a different angle.
Gently bending rigid intolerance 
to find reason and acceptance.
Listening to others with intention wide open 
adds clarity to muddy waters of self-righteousness.

“Never allow your ego to diminish your ability to listen.”

~ Gary Hopkins

Intention Behind Sleepy Eyes

slowly to close and shut out the light
drift off to sleep, cosy and warm
dream fanciful dreams strung across the night
like coloured party lights swaying to silent daytime tunes
fused together, reshaped ~ made silly, bizarre or sweet.

The intention of sleep ~ 
to rest ~ perchance to dream and awaken
refreshed and ready for the dawn.

“Even a soul submerged in sleep is hard at work 

and helps make something of the world.”

~ Heraclitus, Fragments

Reposting: A Plea to the City of Vancouver

This is one week past my Easter weekend with my sons and grand dogs. A rally was held today at the Trout Lake dog park in John Hendry Park in support of the Dog Lovers of Trout Lake. Here is my post from last week:

'It’s the final day of the long Easter weekend. Family time and for many, a deeply religious time as well. Part of my family time has been walking at lovely Trout Lake in John Hendry Park with my son and his dogs. We met several others there, also walking their dogs. I really should clarify ~ the dogs were racing about and playing, wrestling and generally having a good time. Dog owners and myself were discussing the City of Vancouver’s proposed changes to the dog park. Opinions expressed by these dog owners and residents of East Vancouver were of extreme concern about the proposed changes. Is it the intention of the City of Vancouver to push dogs and their owners out of this lovely park?

Off leash dog parks are a necessary part of any community where there are responsible dog owners, and there are many. From the prairies where there is lots of green space, I recognize that the need for control of the limited green spaces out here on the west coast is paramount. In Victoria, BC now for the last 10 years, I visit one of our off leash areas frequently to enjoy the dogs in the dedicated green space and in spring, the daffodils. My sons, now in Vancouver, have frequented the John Hendry Park at Trout Lake with their dogs.

John Hendry Park is a moderately sized park and the amount of off leash area that dogs are permitted will be reduced by almost 80%. The remaining amount off leash area will decrease their running room and at the same time increase the chance of risk to humans, Vancouver residents, their families and tourists. Some residents and visitors that are unable to be dog owners enjoy the dogs and watching their play. Putting these family pets in a confined space increases the risk of territorial fights between dogs.

When this non-resident and non-dog owner visits, our walks there with my sons and my grand dogs, are cherished parts of our family time together.  

This singular voice asks, in the interest of both family and dogs, that the City of Vancouver modify their plan and expand the amount of green space available for dogs and their human families.'

“A dog reflects the family life.Whoever saw 

a frisky dog in a gloomy family, or a sad dog 

in a happy one? Snarling people have snarling 

dogs, dangerous people have dangerous ones.”

~Arthur Conan Doyle, The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes

Advertising - An Intentional Dialogue

The Age of Persuasion and Under the Influence are two of my favourite radio shows on the CBC Radio Broadcasting System. Terry O’Reilly, the host of both of these shows, entertained us tonight with a historical look of advertising. The intention of advertising has always been to sell a client's products and to make a profit for the client. Advertisments have been at once annoying and entertaining, while showing us what we as consumers profess to want. Mr. O’Reilly, who started as a copywriter over thirty years ago, has moved up through the advertising world is now an author and much sought after speaker on the subject of advertising. He shared his wit and wisdom about the very competitive world of advertising. Using film clips from various Hollywood movies from a 1947 Clark Gable movie, the TV sitcom Bewitched, until today’s most recent Mad Men, several other movies (one with a very young Tom Hanks), and finally two of his own advertisments, Terry O’Reilly showed us some of the finer points of advertising, as well as those that are ‘made for TV and the movies’ only. 

Following his presentation Mr. O'Reilly opened the floor to questions and conversation with the audience. It was a very entertaining and enlightening evening.

“Advertising is no longer a loud one-way

conversation. It’s a delicate dialogue now.”

~ Terry O’Reilly