Positivity…

The idea of positive thinking has been around for years and been touted as a way to change the world around you. For many years I didn’t believe that. I had no faith in my personal power and capabilities. But over the past few years something has changed within me. I’ve decided that being positive is a better way to be than being negative. I have realized that being kind and smiling at people is better than being miserable and angry that someone walks in front of you on the sidewalk. It’s taking a look at the little things and seeing meaning in the simplest of details.

I revel in the small moments and embrace the little details that are around me. It hasn’t been like that. It was an effort to get here. I did it by being positive and now that I’ve arrived at this place I can’t see there be any other way.

My mood feels better, I can certainly feel my health is better and above all my spirit feels better. Good things have been happening to me. Both on the large scale and on the small. Often it’s those little moments that give me the most happiness.

Working for my inner child…

This past year I have been fortunate enough to have a contract with Carousel Theatre for Young Audiences. If you aren’t familiar with their productions take the time to find out a bit more. If you have kids then definitely find out about their 2011/2012 season and the classes they offer for theatrical children.

There is something special about Carousel that brings countless smiles through their doors. It’s their joy and passion for the work. And by ‘their’ I mean the women behind Carousel Theatre, Carole Higgins and Jessie van Rijn. Dedicated, professional and enthusiastic about their work Carousel presented an incredible 2010/2011 season. One thing I discovered while working with them this season is that I had almost, if not more, fun than the children in attendance at the opening performances. Each production brought a smile to my face as I sat back and enjoyed the show through adult eyes.

Their last production Pharaoh Serket and the Lost Stone of Fire was an epic adventure story. The first time I read the script I couldn’t stop turning the pages. The production directed by Mike Stack did not disappoint. It had the largest set for Carousel this season and was well used throughout the production. However I think my favourite part is sitting in my seat and listening to the children respond to the show.

Pharaoh Serket and the Lost Stone of Fire, photo by Tim Matheson

Passing day 60…

In February I signed up for a 90 day challenge with the Bar Method studio in Vancouver. It’s a combination of yoga, pilates and ballet. Three things that I enjoy. I’ve been attending classes since the studio opened in November, 2010. I was going but wasn’t truly pushing myself in class or in my day-to-day. When I heard about the challenge it immediately set off my competition drive. I wanted to be a winner and to say that I did “x” by day 90.

Well here I am, past day 60. I’ve pushed my physical capabilities pretty far. My flexibility has improved greatly, my calves look sculpted all the time, not just in heels. Posture is and has always been my focus. With all that core work – curls, breathing, planks – I’m always standing straight. Maybe that’s my sense of accomplishment from committing to an early morning class four times a week where I push myself. I’ve gone from being able to only do push-ups on my knees to punching them out on my toes with a rigid body.

Coming into the last thirty days I’m feeling pretty good. My muscles are strong, my resolve is charged and I’m ready to breakdown the next set of barriers holding me back. This may be a 90-day challenge but for me I feel its a 90-day warm-up to the life marathon of a healthy lifestyle.

A weekend of opposites…

This past weekend saw me take in two events, each at the opposite end of the cultural event extreme. On Friday night I was fortunate enough to grab tickets to see Bon Jovi at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The show was amazing! I wasn’t sure if after all these years I’d remember the songs or not but the lyrics all came back to me. I forgot that Richie Sambora was the guitarist of Bon Jovi and was taken back to my high school years with my then boyfriend as he riffed on his guitar emulating the greats. I don’t often go to concerts but when I do I always seem to have an amazing time. Maybe it’s my go with the flow attitude and this time was no different.

The view from our last minute seats....

Saturday night took me to a different event. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet was in town with their production of Wonderland. I love dance! So much so that I purchased my tickets early for this show and scooped up four seats in the second row. I haven’t sat that close to the stage for the ballet in ages and it did not disappoint. I am amazed by the power of the dancer’s body. Always stunned by the beauty and creativity of the costumes. For me my favourite costume of the evening was the Flamingos.

From rock to the ballet, I like to toast it all.

Paradise Garden inside us all…

Recently I was fortunate to attend the opening night of the Arts Club presentation of Paradise Garden at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. Telling the story of two star-crossed lovers so to speak made me think about the various types of love in our lives. Love is fleeting, love is exhilarating and love is always changing. The main characters Day and Layla may have known in the beginning that their hearts were meant for each other but through human triviality and errors in judgment it took years before they realized it. But then with waiting comes sweetness when a union is fulfilled. But can this really happen in real life.

It made me look deeper into my own relationships and realize that what I need to become closer with is myself. I need to sow my own garden and rejoice in my own growth and renewal. It isn’t always easy but it is something that can be done. If two lost characters like Day and Layla can find one another in the landscape of theatre then perhaps I can find myself in the landscape of my life. But with every garden there is always a risk…but for the one I call my own I’m willing to take it.

Free your inner Mukmuk….

Today in the heart of Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Olympics a very important rally took place. Important in the fact that it let some much needed silliness into the day to day world. The ‘Free Mukmuk’ rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery was to raise awareness to the status of Mukmuk. Did you know that he’s the official sidekick of the 2010 mascots? That means that he must fetch their cocoa, run their errands and stay in the background in a virtual world. There is no Mukmuk walking the streets of Vancouver posing for photographs or waving to fans. It’s time that someone stood up for this. Why does Mukmuk have to be relegated to the background? Doesn’t it make you think of how we sometimes feel about ourselves? Often we put ourselves in the background while we let others shine around us and we take a step back. Isn’t it time that the Mukmuk’s of the world got their dues? But for right now, let’s start with one tiny marmot at a time.

Preparing to welcome the world…

I found myself fortunate enough to be at the Monday Dress Rehearsal for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. It all happened at the last moment when a friend who has connections with VANOC was given two tickets for the performance. Knowing that I am always one to try new things she called me. Of course I said yes!

I live downtown, in Yaletown to be exact, and have seen the steady changes happening in and around my community. First there was the construction of the Canada Line and the closure of several streets (and several businesses), then there was all the city work that was being done, then the makeover to David Lam Park and now finally the finishing touches of signs and more street closures. I can’t help but feel the Olympic spirit as I am veritably right in its path!!

And that path took me to the ‘big show.’ Although the big name performers weren’t at the show there were so many incredible aspects to the opening ceremonies that I found myself feeling like a little kid again. That feeling of being excited for something new, not having that adult cynicism play into how I feel. It was a real thrill to be part of this evening and get a glimpse of what the world will see on Friday when the official Opening Ceremonies happen. In fact, it made me feel proud to be a Canadian and welcome the world to one of the most beautiful places on earth. I love Vancouver; I always have and I have a feeling that I always will. This will be something that I keep with me for the rest of my life. As we prepare to welcome the world I’m going to keep a smile on my face and remember that I am fortunate and blessed enough to actually live here.

Moving theatre…

I was fortunate enough to attend the Opening Night of Beyond Eden at the Vancouver Playhouse. This world premiere was truly a Musical Spectacle. From the dynamics of the sets, the intriguing and changing projections to the incredible voices, this was a production that moved something inside of me. I started to see as if my two masks were finally together. One looking out, always looking ahead while the other looks in, introspective.

My emotional attachment to this production came from a deep place, a place of longing. I felt impacted by the story of the Raven and the Eagle. I could visualize Raven and Eagle sitting together watching their land change around them. The communities that were there and then gone, the nature that was there and then gone.

It isn’t often that I have a theatrical experience that stays with me. But Beyond Eden has. I felt myself mesmerized by the totem pole imagery. It made me want to go visit the Museum of Anthropology and see more totem poles for myself. Centuries of stories.

At the heart of Beyond Eden there was a unique story that made us look deeper inside and join Lewis on his path to discover what was behind the second mask. Maybe it is time that we all put both masks on and look ahead at the world and look within ourselves and see how they match up. When the two masks come together what are you going to be unable to uncover? For playwright Bruce Ruddell he has uncovered a beautiful and tragic story that brings the audience into the expedition and has left me feeling a bit like Lewis.

Becoming a Smart Cookie…

Through my work over the past few years I was fortunate to assist the Smart Cookies in arranging several locations for filming through London Drugs. At this time I started to pay attention to the things they were talking about on their program and on their website. Write down your expenses, make a budget, and know your numbers. I didn’t make all of the changes right away but my mind experienced a shift in the way that I perceive my finances. In mid 2008 I began to write down every single penny that I spent. It was surprising. I realized a few things about myself and my finances.

This year I made a resolution to take control of my finances and create a ‘get out of debt’ plan that would take me through the next two years. One of the tools that I was going to enlist was the Smart Cookies Guide to Making More Dough book. I purchased the book and have since been madly working through my numbers and getting a concrete look at my financial picture. It’s good, it’s bad and some of it is ugly but I have to say, mainly it’s good.

Those few tools I began using in 2008 started to build a solid foundation that I have since carried with me. Writing down and keeping track of all my finances was interesting, opening up about my financial status to friends was difficult but knowing that I have truly become a master of my finances has doubled my confidence and created a sense of well-being. Knowing where you stand financially provides a solid foundation in building dreams of today and tomorrow. And those dreams are big but that’s for another story.

Climb every mountain….

As a Capricorn I have always felt an infinity with my astrological symbol of a goat. The sturdy hooves slowly climbing up the mountain with head and horns down for better maneuvering and eyes watching from both sides. The mountain goat goes from one mountain to the next with their sure steps. They do not waver from one mountain to the next.

With the turn of the New Year I’ve been thinking a lot about the mountains that I have climbed this past decade.

At the start of the decade I was set on one path but it didn’t entirely work out for me so I chose a new path. Much like the mountain goat I scaled this mountain and am now perched on the precipice looking out deciding which new mountain to tackle. It’s daunting. There are many choices and it’s always difficult to choose the right one. But I’ve realized there is no right choice.

I once believed that there was one dream to follow and only one thing to do in life. Lately I’ve realized that life is full of twists and turns and one path may lead you to something even better than you had originally imagined. As I think about the mountains that I have scaled the image of Mother Superior from The Sound of Music comes into my head. Her reassuring song to Maria about climbing every mountain and follow every rainbow gives me reassurance. Reassurance that it isn’t always about destination but rather more about the journey we undertake.

A new decade is beginning….what mountain will you climb?

Climb every mountain,
Search high and low,
Follow every highway,
Every path you know.

Climb every mountain,
Ford every stream,
Follow every rainbow,
‘Till you find your dream.

A dream that will need
All the love you can give,
Every day of your life
For as long as you live.

Climb every mountain,
Ford every stream,
Follow every rainbow,
Till you find your dream

A dream that will need
All the love you can give,
Every day of your life,
For as long as you live.

Climb every mountain,
Ford every stream,
Follow every rainbow,
Till you find your dream.