Bama Breeze and the hoary marmot part 2

Well I got back to do some training on Saturday and did it ever feel good.  I am looking forward to be able to attend class more regularly.

I wanted to write this week about seeing things from another's perspective.  To give a bit of background I grew up in the Canadian Rockies.  And yes it was as awesome as it sounds.  It is because of this that I have pursued travel and being outdoors when ever I can.  One special place I think is the most beautiful spot in the world is the Tonquin Valley in Jasper National Park.  I like the area so much I named my little ranch after the Tonquin.  So there is a place called "The Tonquin Valley Ranch"  just a little south of Onoway.

This summer I was able to take my older son and his girlfriend into the Tonquin with me.  It was cool seeing their reactions to the mountians, to Amethyst Lake, to the Cariboo, to the bald Eagles, to the Owls, to everything.  I imagined it was how I reacted to the Valley when I first saw it as a teenager. Sharing what is special to me is a great feeling.

The horse I rode in on was called Alabama, thus I called her Bamma Breeze.  My sons girlfriend took a real liking to the Hoary Marmots that were every where at and above the tree line.

Opportunities

As I walk down the path of life I am constantly presented with opportunities in front of me.  Do I always take the opportunities?  No not always as many times they are not seen as opportunities until after they have passed.  I am more focused than ever to make sure these opportunities are recognized as such when they are presented.  If I am looking for them as such it should make it more easy to identify the opportunities.

Every time I am presented with an opportunity and I take the opportunity. I learn.

From out of chaos comes order

I know it has been a while since I have been around.  I have found that June and July have taken me away from home and work for many reasons.  At the same time I am in the middle of a house renovation.

I am keeping up on my requirements for the most part but have missed a few blogs.  I will have this rectified here going forward.

I remember a saying;   from out of chaos comes order.  That has been my life for the last month.  But a good ride should always be a busy one.  See you at the Kwoon next week.

Buffalo

The other day I had a very clear vision.  The first time I ever had a clear vision I was 19; high up  in the mountains pursing a vision quest.  At that time, after two days, I clearly saw in my mind a coyote walking and playing in the mountains.

This past week I was struggling trying to sleep with many things on my mind.  After about three nights with no rem sleep, it was a vision like I was right there.  I was out on the prairie and a few Buffalo started to go by me then a few more until the horizon was filled with Buffalo.  I had no fear of the Buffalo and they had no fear of me.  It was a very spiritual moment for me.

I am not sure yet what this means to me, but I think it was ment to give me some peace. I think my mind was looking for some calmness.  I think it ment that I should just take things easy and the world will unfold in front of me the way it should.
One of the Cowboy singers I listen too put it this way, much more elegant than I can.

Sit tall in the saddle, hold your head up high 
Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky 
And live like you ain't afraid to die 
And don't be scared, just enjoy your ride

Chris Ledoux

That is what it is all about

I have to share a cool story.  Being a member of SRKU we are able to experience things that other people do not get to experience.  We as a group are able to go out into the community and are able to make noticeable impacts on peoples lives.

 As I was walking to my car after the parade on Saturday, the traffic was slow and was going along at the same pace I was walking.  An older lady rolled down her window and said Hi to me.  I said Hi back.  It looked like she was being driven by her daughter.  She asked me if I enjoyed the parade.  I said it was a great day.  She then thanked me and  SRKU for making the parade a great event and for our group being a part of it.  I was blown away.  I said "You are welcome, I was glad I could be part of it."

She smiled and the traffic picked up and the car moved on.  I comprehended this for a moment.  Just being there, putting in some effort, we were able to make someones day special. 

For me that is what it is all about. 

Lesson Learned

"One of the best lessons in life is to Master how to remain calm"  Bruce Lee

One of the constant themes in our training is to remain calm.  We are taught this in Knife defense, we are taught this in sparing.  A calm body and mind allows us to be at a heightened level of consciousness.

One of my business mentors would always tell me that as emotions when up, intellect went down.   I found myself in that situation on Friday.  I was letting the emotions get in the way and was not recognizing that I was allowing myself to let this happen.  Unable to resolve the situation, I took a step back realized what was happening, then went back at the problem.  The emotion gone and a calm body and mind.  I was then able to resolve the situation based on intellect rather than emotion.

Another lesson learned.

5 years and many memories

We are in the middle of a home renovation.  As most people know this gives you a good chance to rid yourself of stuff that you are no longer using or stuff you have accumulated over the years.

What I feel great about is we have been able to give things to neighbors and friends so they can put these items to use.  One of the coolest things we have been able to do is with our old kitchen cabinets.  They were old but had good bones.  We found and elderly couple on a fixed income that needed to put cabinets in their kitchen.  We were able to help them out by giving away the cabinets and had a three way win.  They got some cabinets that they desperately needed and couldn't afford, we were able to get rid of the cabinets with less effort that we could have expended and the cabinets will not go to a land fill. 

The other thing that was cool (I rarely get rid of things) is my wife found 3 old pair of my hiking boots that I had worn out (over the last 5 years) and had not disposed of them.  We talked out the many miles, the many countries and the many memories that those boots have taken me.