Limitless

There was no hope of a sunrise this morning. It's raining so hard that it appears endless. The rain is actually bouncing off the ground. If it were only five degrees colder it would be a beautiful snowfall.

It always amazes and impresses me when it rains so hard. I spent a decade living in Vancouver so I've seen my fair share of endless downpours. The resources seem limitless. It makes me reflect on our own capabilities. We are also limitless yet most people won't or can't acknowledge it. We can handle so much more than we think we can. It usually takes pushing us to the limit to discover these deep resources but they are always there. In some cases they are literally waiting to be summoned.

Fire in the Sky

There were just a few wispy clouds in the sky this morning but enough to give the light something to bounce off. It was a striking array of light and colour. It looked like a really hot fire along the horizon.

Fire burns. It cleanses. It renews. Think of the phoenix rising from the ashes. This metaphor outlines the possibilities of reinventing yourself anew. The opportunity usually comes when everything else has been stripped away. I wrote about this concept in The Secret of Successful Failing when outlining the steps to use your failures as the building blocks to your successes. Granted this doesn't always feel good. In fact, it usually feels quite disconcerting. The old way of being literally dies away and is replaced by a new way of being. The time in between feels completely undirected, unbounded and uncertain. Winston Churchill once remarked "if you're going through hell, keep going."

Community

It was such a peaceful walk this morning. The boardwalk was dotted with beautiful Christmas lights all along the way. Last night, we had a community mini-event to watch as they illuminated the tree lights for the first time this season. The lights are put on by a real estate office in the community. It's not an official city event. Rather, a random gathering of people in the neighbourhood to spend some time together. The lights are still on when I walk because they go out when the lampposts turn off.

A strong community is worth its weight in gold. It makes general living more enjoyable, more colourful and more interesting. It also makes it safer for everyone because as a group we can look out for each other. A vibrant community is reflective of the people that live in the neighbourhood. The community is only as strong as each individual in the community. When one person stops to pick up garbage or to decorate a lone tree in the park then it makes the entire collective stronger.

Hunker Down

Winter is here. It's snowing for real right now. This morning was gray and cold and windy. And yet, the ice crystals that formed overnight were so beautiful as they glittered in the light of the lampposts.

This morning finds me in action towards my goals. Nothing can replace solid action driven by a purpose. Many people missed that point when they embraced the teachings in things like The Secret. It's very important to have a laser-sharp focus and to marry this mental process with a powerful congruent emotion. However, once the internal work is done then massive action must be taken from that powerful foundation. Action is what brings the energetic inner work into reality in the external world. Action is the bridge between inside and outside.

Change is in the Air

Windy is an understatement. The sunrise was definitely outdone by the wind this morning. Bordering on freezing temperatures, the sunrise was hidden this morning. Although, the sun did make an appearance at about 8am shining brightly through a momentary break in the overcast skies. This is the kind of morning that brings a change. I think it's going to snow.

Change is like that. It usually doesn't feel very good. In fact, when things start to change, most people try to go backwards and return to the way it was. How does the old saying go? "Resistance is futile!" Once change has begun then you can't reverse the process. Try to ride out the challenging days by staying focused on your end result or by focusing on the little things that are going right. You have the power to direct your focus at all times. Make sure to remember that when things are changing and you were wishing that they weren't.

Craziness

Just when you think you've seen it all, you get a sunrise like this morning. The wind was so strong that I thought it was going to pick me up and throw me around. The photo is blurry because it is obscured by grains of sand flying throughout the air propelled by the insane wind. Not a very calm sunrise to say the least.

We have an awesome amount of power in as well. In the same way that the gale force wind could come from nowhere, we too can summon all of our power at will. It takes practice and belief. You have to submit to the idea that you are more than you think you are. You are so much more. Once you have grasped this reality then you are in a starting position to create what you want in your life. Try it, just for today.

Interesting Observation

The lake was dead-calm and the sky was almost completely clear. I noticed something very interesting about the sunrise. There wasn't much to photograph because nothing was changing. Everything was still and steady. It was beautiful but it wasn't exciting. I didn't realize how much I liked the influence of the clouds and the wind. I found myself looking for objects to photograph instead of just photographing the actual sunrise.

I started to think about all the times in my life when I would try to wish away the chaos. Or the times when I would beg for a little peace and quiet. Now I am starting to question that strategy. Perhaps the challenges and perturbations in life are there to keep things interesting as well as to help us grow and evolve. Might life get a little boring if nothing ever changed or nothing ever happened? I know that it helps to focus on what's right when things are changing but perhaps it might also help to focus on what's changing and hold it as a point of interest instead of point of resistance.

Possibility of Change

There was no sunrise again this morning. The sky has been overcast for days. Yet, I am hopeful because I know that at some point the clouds will break. In fact, they appear to be breaking right now as I type this. For me, the clouds represent the possibility of change. I know that better days are on the horizon.

It's like that with anything in life. The challenges and hardships gives us something to compare against. I'm sure you've heard the saying that it takes darkness to recognize the light. The polarity of opposites is what allows us to distinguish between what we want and what we do not want. If life were always sunny then we would never really know what we were truly capable of. The challenges give us context.

Start Small

The lake looked like an ocean on this overcast morning. The waves were crashing on the shore at regular intervals. It always amazes me that this same lake can be dead calm on some days. It all starts with a little wind. It doesn't take much wind to cause the waves to happen. Once there is momentum with the waves then it takes very little wind to maintain the waves.

It all starts small. It always does. At first, it may seem as though nothing is really happening but after time there can be big results. Some results take longer to produce than others. It's important to maintain momentum even when it appears like nothing is changing. This is usually the hardest time to stay focused on what you want. It's the "test". But you have to remain focused on what you want without question and especially when things get challenging. Focus is a very big part in determining whether or not you will achieve your goal. Most people give up on the their focus early by giving attention to what they don't want. You must remain focused on what you want until you actually have your results in your reality. Then you can move to another goal.

Quiet Day

Totally overcast this morning. And I'm grateful for that. It's the morning after my 40th birthday celebration. I got up at sunrise and then went back to bed after a moment of contemplation. I realized that even the sun wanted me to stay in bed this morning. It is snowing as I write this. The snow is melting as soon as it hits the ground but there is definitely white stuff falling from the sky. There is no denying it, winter is making an entrance.

It reminds me of the process of change. Once the process of change has begun there is no going back to the old way of being. Pain and suffering are a result of resisting the changes which have been set in motion. It's similar to the analogy of removing a band-aid. The best way is always to rip it off as fast as possible. Short term pain for long term gain.

Beachy Heaven

It felt significantly warmer this morning despite being only 6 degrees. The sand wasn't frozen anymore. The light in the sky expanded and reached outwards in all directions. The tone of the morning was very expansive.

Expansion is one of my goals for this coming year. So much more can be accomplished when we are in an expansion mode. We have a greater ability to see possibilities and more use of our creative faculties. We are set to look for opportunities when we expand. Conversely, shutting down is destructive on many fronts. First, it alienates us from other people but it also cuts us off from our own inner self. The key is to stay open when you want to close. That is your real work.

The Little Things

It was freezing this morning. Literally. There was frost on the boardwalk and the sand was slightly frozen and very easy to walk on. It's impossible to pretend that winter is not literally around the corner. However, the sunrises are particularly beautiful this time of year with lots of colour and character. I was delighted to see the swan couple at the water's edge this morning. They make for such beautiful silhouettes and they also add variety to the scenery.

It's the little things in life that usually make the difference. Like the swans this morning. Their presence changed the landscape and gave me something different to focus on. And they were graceful and beautiful to watch as well. This possibility exists in any area of life if you are willing to see what is new and different right in front of you.

A New Era

There shouldn't have been a sunrise today. The sky was completely overcast and it has been raining for 3 days straight. Yet, I was determined to go for a walk and watch the sunrise today because it is my 40th birthday. Every year for a long time, I have been watching the sunrise on my birthday. Obviously, this isn't as big of a deal this year since I have watched 321 sunrises in 2010 so far. Against all cloud-cover odds there was a beautiful golden sunrise this morning through the only gap in the clouds. It was a precious gift from you-know-who.

This particular sunrise is a big deal to me because it marks the first one at age 40. Not only is this a new year, it is a new era for me. I like new eras. They hold so much possibility. My intention is to take this decade by storm. I want to play a bigger game. I want to impact a lot more people. I want to love more than I ever have. These things all sound cliche but I'm pretty serious about accomplishing them. I intend to be like the sunrise this morning. I intend to find any gap in the proverbial cloud-cover through which I can shine my own light. And I intend to start today.

Nonexistent

There was no sunrise that I could see this morning. Hence, no picture. It is raining and cold and blustery and cold and cold. This type of day begs for a roaring fire in the fireplace and a cup of anything hot to drink. It's the kind of day that makes you feel cold through and through.

Life is full of tests. They could be big tests or little tests but they happen all the time. The moment that you define what you want and set out to achieve it is the exact time that you will be presented with your first test. The testing actually helps you to understand your boundaries. Your job is to keep focused on what you want and be relentless in your pursuit of your goal. It makes me think of the emergency broadcast signal that used to play on TV when I was a kid. The announcer used to say "this is only a test, if this had been a real emergency then you would have been given specific instructions." It makes me laugh because life's like that. So the next time you get presented with a challenge, remember, it's only a test.

Changing Direction

I haven't been down to my beach in many weeks due to all of my travels. I was shocked to discover the sun so far in the south. It makes sense for the shortest day of the year is just around the corner and yet the difference in location was startling. It really is almost winter here in Canada. I think I've been in denial with all of my travel to the southern hemisphere.

The sun is almost at its most southerly point. Only about 5 weeks to go. Then, it will hang in limbo for 3 days while it changes direction and begins the move northward again. It only takes the 3 days to completely change the momentum and direction of our light source. It doesn't take much to change your direction either. It starts with an intention and is followed by action in accordance with that intention. There will be a period of lag as your momentum and direction halts and changes direction. Stay focused during this time. The change you are looking for could literally be right around the corner.

Routine Rise

The sun rise was fairly routine this morning in Toronto. The day started out quite cloudy but was a brilliant sunny day by about 9am. The light from the sun was even more brilliant when it illuminated all of the fall colours. The trees are almost bare but there are plenty of coloured leaves on the ground and a few stubborn trees all around.

Routines give us structure and help us to get things done. Without any routines then life would just be a constant single-event day with no connection. The trick is to give your life enough structure so you can accomplish all of your goal but allow for enough fluidity so that you can be flexible in your behaviour. Balance is not a static concept. It's dynamic and ever-changing. The trick is to be aware of what you need when you need it.

A Shiny New Day

Despite the thick clouds that were trying to prevent a sunrise, the sun blasted its way into the morning. The band of light at the horizon was stunning and blinding.

Miami Beach is such an interesting place. All of the buildings are art deco which gives the town a very unique character. We all have characteristics that differentiate us. Yet so many people try to fit into a norm or conform to a sameness. It is the idiosyncracies that give life flavour. How else would you know you were you if it weren't for the things that made you different?

Miami morning

Gorgeous Atlantic sunrise this morning. We are staying across the street from the ocean so I walked over this morning to watch the sun rise over the Atlantic ocean for a change. Strange how l was on the other side of the pacific only a couple days ago. It's different.

Diversity is important. If for nothing else than to keep things interesting. I'm here in Miami with 3 of my girlfriends from university. We have known each other for 20+ years and have been through a lot of life together. We are all so different and yet it is our very differences that make our friendships so strong. The differences in opinions and perspectives give needed depth to our challenges and struggles. Many a-ha moment is had in this group of women. Diversity is the secret of our success.

On the Move

I'm up again on my way to the airport. It's going to be another stunningly gorgeous day. I have been travelling a lot lately and focusing on how grateful I am that I am fortunate enough to be able to travel. I love seeing new places and experiencing new things.

The thing I love the most about traveling is the change in routine. I think it keeps me fresh and open to new ideas. I also love the food. It's usually very different than my regular dishes. All of this newness provides an opportunity for me to build new neural networks. This keeps my brain active and ensures that I am in growth mode. They say the best thing you can do as you age is to test and tax your brain to keep it healthy. Puzzles such as crosswords or sudoku also help to keep your mind sharp. It doesn't matter what you do so long as you keep changing things and trying new things.

Home Again

The leaves are falling fast in Toronto. I awoke to a very chilly morning. In fact, it was the coldest morning that I have seen in many months. The ground is almost completely covered with leaves. There are still a few stubborn oak trees that haven't given up one single leaf yet. I watched the sun rise many times in the last 24 hours. What a weird sensation to fly for almost 24 hours and have almost no time pass on the clock. Makes me wonder about time in general.

When you fly across the international date line, the date just changes. It's a bizarre feeling, especially when you fly "backwards" as I did yesterday. I left Auckland at 8pm and arrived in Vancouver at noon on the same date. I finally arrived in Toronto at 10pm. Is time really arbitrary? Is it something that we constructed? Who decided? It's good to ask questions about things that are assumed. How many things do you just take for granted as being true that have never fallen under your questioning scrutiny? Questioning breed innovation, design and invention. It doesn't matter what you question so long as you do it. It's important to never stop asking questions and challenging assumptions and outdated ways of thinking.

Transitions

By the time that I get home today I will have watched the sun rise a few times on my way from Auckland to Toronto. I watched the sunrise in Auckland from the top of St. Helier's Bay Road this morning. The sky was a blend of cloud cover and sunlight as it found its way through the cracks.

Transitions are never easy. It doesn't matter what you are doing, change is usually a bumpy road. I've found that the best way to navigate change is to do it quickly and without reserve or hesitation. Change also takes a lot of energy so it's a good idea to stay fit and healthy if you are navigating a change. There's no question though, change is always worth the hassles and the struggles because there is a whole new world waiting on the other side.

Differences

What struck me as different this morning when I awoke in Auckland were the birds. First of all, there were chickens. I kid you not. Chickens. But they were sort of singing. Then there was the bird that sounded like the control panel of the starship Enterprise. Birds were the theme of this morning's sunrise. They are definitely different than any birds I've ever heard in Canada.

Differences keep life interesting and prevent it from getting stale. I know that the best way to mix things up is to change the routine. It could even be as easy as taking a different way to work. Noticing what's different is as important as changing something in your life. It's also important to always be growing and innovating. Someone wise once said to me that you are either growing or dying. I suppose the choice is yours.

Golden Goodbye

The sunrise from Sydney airport was bittersweet. I have been here for so long that I am sad to say goodbye. However, the sunrise was most stunning with the reflection of the light off the clouds casting a fiery glow all over the airport. It really was breathtaking and made the 3am wake-up call completely worthwhile.

Ending things can be challenging. I know it is something that I struggle with. I'm usually better with starting new thing than with ending something. It was hard to say goodbye to the Australian springtime, the sun and all the beaches. However, I also excited about going home to crisp autumn nights and brilliant sunrises. In every ending, there is a new beginning.

Marvellous Manly

The sun finally came out this morning in all it's glory. It was so beautiful that I just wanted to jump and sing. I promptly jumped on a ferry to Manly so I could soak up as much of the sun as possible before my course started this morning.

It's amazing how the sun has the power to transform our moods. We really are creatures of the light. I notice that a few minutes in the sun and I'm happy and contented. I'm sure there are chemical reactions going on inside of me as a result of the sun exposure. I also find that I lift my head to the sun as if reaching for some form of contact. Interestingly, when you reach your face upwards, it is very difficult to maintain a negative state. I wonder if the two are connected.

A Break in the Pattern

It is still raining in Sydney. This weather has been totally ridiculous. Yet, this morning there was teeny, tiny little break in the clouds and the light was pouring through. The rest of the sky was dark grey and thick with rain but this little opening was awash in bright, golden light.

Breaking patterns is what I do. Problems are created out of patterns. Therefore the solution is to isolate the pattern and change it. This can be an easy and simple task or it can feel like a monumental challenge. The degree of difficulty is dependent on two factors. First, how badly you want to change. And, secondly, on how much gain you get out of having the problem. When the desire to change is greater than the gain from the problem then the pattern will be easily altered and new results close behind.

Blustery Balmoral

I went back to Balmoral Beach this morning for a nostalgic sunrise walk. It was windy and freezing. I opted instead to gaze at the water from the sanctuary of Billy's coffee shop where the staff are incredible. They have really made me feel at home while I have been away for so long.

Home is a pretty special place. I used to think that home was a place but now I am starting to understand that home is actually a state of mind. True, I haven't been around my actual home much in the last few weeks but oddly enough there have been a couple of days where I have felt truly connected to my husband and kids despite the fact that they are thousands of kilometres away from me. I realized today at Billy's coffee shop that it's our connection to people that satiates our need for home. It is human contact and connection that we crave not locations and buildings. This insight liberated me today.

Drizzly Darling Harbour

Another super grey morning in Australia. I thought my clock was wrong this morning when it still appeared dark towards 6am. Nope. It was just the grey clouds and the drizzly rain that was causing the problem. It was the kind of rain that makes you feel really cold. Yet, for some reason, it didn't seem to bother me.

I made a choice this morning that I was going to enjoy my morning walk. I was a little surprised by the rain but I borrowed a really big umbrella from my hotel and off I went. It was very peaceful at Darling Harbour that early in the morning. I noticed the Jacaranda trees with their beautiful purple flowers all around the harbour. Their colour was such a juxtaposition to the bleakness of the morning. There were amazing birds everywhere. It wasn't hard to notice the beauty all around me because I had made a choice to see it before I even got there.

Glowing Icons

Today was the first clear day in Sydney since my return on Sunday. I walked down to the ferry terminals this morning. The light surrounding the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge was a faint golden glow. The air was crisp and the ocean was calm. It was a beautiful morning.

The Harbour Bridge and the Opera House are icons. Most people recognize them. Symbols play a very powerful role in our lives. They activate responses that are out of our awareness but have a very real effect in our lives. Think of a green light. It symbolizes GO whereas a red light symbolizes STOP. This is pretty much universal around the world meaning that everyone responds the same way. There are literally an infinite number of symbols all around you that give meaning to your life. Your dreams contain symbols. The symbols are specific to your experience. Many people ask me about their dreams but I can't answer for them. Instead I guide them to ask themselves what the symbols mean to them. The answer is always inside if you are willing to listen.

From the Darkness

The sun always comes out of the darkness. This morning was no different. Due to the time difference in Sydney, I was up this morning whilst it was still pitch black outside. I got to notice the exact moment that the light penetrated the blackness and the sky was no longer purely dark. There is a distinct moment when that happens.

When something changes, it changes instantaneously. It might seems as if it has been changing over time but the reality is that there is a distinct moment in time where the situation alters irrevocably. Prior to the change, nothing is different. After the change, everything is different. The process leading up to the change might be painful or frightening in the same way as the cliche "it is always darkest right before the dawn". During this period is when you need your faith. Faith in the process, faith in your outcome, faith in yourself. This day is significant for me because it is my husband's birthday. The day after I met, everything was different and my life was altered forever and completely. I am so grateful for his presence in my life.

Not Everything Is As It Seems

At first glance, this morning's sunrise was pretty beautiful in Sydney. There were various layers of clouds allowing the sunlight to bounce all over the place in a variety of shades. I'm staying the central business district and thus surrounded by many buildings. I managed to get a clear view of the sunrise this morning. However, despite the lovely start to the day, it quickly turned sour as rain clouds moved in and rain started pouring in a fairly steady rhythm all day.

Often times, things don't turn out as we expect them to. They start out in one direction and end up in a very different direction by the end. It's hard to stay positive when challenged with a complete turn of events. In fact, I know that I feel like throwing in the towel and completely giving up sometimes when life gets the best of me. However, I also know that there is a learning opportunity behind every experience, even the ones that hurt. In fact, especially the ones that hurt. They usually contain the richest opportunity for pure growth.