I've found that no matter how well someone plans, no matter how consciously aware they are of their activities, there are always points in someone's life where the upcoming tasks can seem a little overwhelming.  I have a couple thoughts on that.

1.  Breathe.  Oxygen is good.  Try taking 1/2 an hour to step aside from the daunting tasks at hand and just breathe; deeply and fully.  Think about what it is you really have to do.  Jot down the tasks (all of them) and visualize the people, experiences and other resources you could pull from to help you up the mountain.   In my experience I've learned two valuable facts that are applicable in most any situation. 

        One, people want to play a role in your greatness.  The larger a ta ...

Just had a fantastic couple days in Niagara Falls, Ontario.   I've been down there a few times, but every trip seems to be a little different.  There's a lot to offer I guess, with a little something for everyone.  While the falls were gorgeous (as always), and we had terrific accomodations (Sterling Inn and Spa - check it out, you won't be disappointed!),  the highlight of the weekend was a side trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake (NotL); a quaint town about 20 minutes outside of the tourist centre that is the Falls proper.  Maybe it was the stark contrast of the bustle and commercialism of the Falls itself, but there was a sense of calm and peace in NotL that was almost indescribeable.  And while it's a beautiful town, truth be told, there's not a whole lot going on in NotL.  Yet what they do have, they do well.  The whole town consists of a couple golf courses, one small stretch of even smaller shops, and a startling collecti ...

I was reminded the other day of a conversation I had with a friend in Vancouver. She overheard me saying "I'm not a morning person" in response to someone telling me about a morning show they'd just watched. Without evening blinking she responded with "That's pretty much the fastest way to rule out a third of your life."

I absolutely love it. How often do we go through life ruling things out and removing all opportunity with an offhand remark. She taught me a valuable lesson in the power of words. She actually taught me a solution for my "anti-morning attitude too". Now, every time I feel tired in the pre-noon hours, instead of complaining, I say (outloud), "I'm not as awake as I'd like to be." And it always makes me laugh. My co-workers think it's pretty funny too.