The recent wildfires in our community have me thinking about impermanence, and therefore permanence. I have practiced enough by now to know that everything is impermanent, of course, but the destruction left in the wake of the fires really illustrated the reality of that. And then the other day I noticed what I think was a new tattoo on the arm a colleague of mine and it brought to mind my own journey with ink and impermanence.

Until a few years ago, hardly anyone knew that I hate black standard poodles. I don’t just prefer other dogs, I don’t just dislike black poodles, I literally hate them. I’m not scared of them. I don’t think they are ugly. I hate them.

I know, I know. Hate is a strong word. But I’m justified. And I’m not crazy, because my sister hates them too.

A few weeks ago I qualified as one of 18 women who will represent Atlantic Canada at the World Double-Bit Axe Throwing Championships in August. I presume it is like other similar sports in that there is definitely a physical technique to perfect but there is also a huge psychological component to being successful at it, especially in competition. When I’m competing it is really hard to forget that people are watching, and that the score matters. I become attached to the outcome.

I value what I’m calling transparency these days. In fact, I’m finding it is an essential part of my integrity.

Last week I embarked on an exquisite experience in the mountains of North Carolina. I’m calling it an essential self cleanse. And what happened has inspired me to integrate.

My obsession with Action Learning Part 3…Why does Action Learning Work?

Who has time to change anything? I know I’m not the only one who keeps doing things in a less-than-optimal way because I can’t muster the energy to change them. Action Learning comes with the promise of slowing down to speed up. But what does that really mean?

My obsession with Action Learning, Part 2…and why I think Action Learning is what the world needs now.

I have heard and read recently much about the importance of reflection. I couldn’t agree more. The importance of structured reflection is part of what Action Learning taught me as a young engineer working at an oil company.

What is Action Learning?

Change has been a consistent theme for all of us during the past two years. Change is hard, and yet it seems that the world needs us to change more, faster.

Good news. I have some secret sauce for you. It’s called Action Learning, and I swear by it.

Fear about the future does not keep us safe. It steals our ability to be present and respond with all our wisdom to the challenges right in front of us.

My relationship with time is challenging. In the past I have resigned myself to just never having enough. As I age, that resignation gets scarier, and I’ve started trying to make more conscious choices about time. For this new year I’ve decided that I really don’t want to be busy. I want to change my relationship with time.

Tired enough for a nap? Try Yoga Nidra instead…my healthy obsession!

Who has time for tea. Seriously!? Well, I invite you to find some. Tea has been one of my pandemic gifts. While my kids were home from school, I spent a lot of time working from home. And that meant I was interrupted less. I soon discovered that after working furiously at my desk for 30 or 40 minutes, when I got stuck on something it was a great gift to be able to get up and make a cup of tea (or, even better, ask one of my sons to make one for me!).

“Don’t take your boots off,” was the unsolicited advice I gave to my partner as we were backpacking last week. It turns out that maybe I’m not always right about things. And making taking your boots off when you need to is the right thing.

It's time to spend some time talking about our relationship with time.

As I have been working one-on-one with entrepreneurs over the past several months I have started to notice some common themes.  Not surprisingly, many of us have challenges around our relationship with time or money...and sometimes both (I'm in the both category, myself).  Often our challenges are related to what we believe about time and money.  And, often our challenges are rooted in a mindset of scarcity.

And practice is everything. For us as entrepreneurs, our practice starts with getting out of bed every morning. Showing up for our practice is the hardest part, and we have to do it every day. Some of us live our work, but that doesn’t mean that showing up is easy.

I stumbled upon axe throwing the year after we opened the brewery. I had been working every day for what seemed like forever. A friend had asked me to help at an event she was organizing. I desperately did not want to go. I was exhausted, and I wouldn’t know anyone there and my introverted self just screamed NO.