This last week has been a hard one. Not sure why. Nothing major happened. And lots of what happened was good, but for some reason, it has felt like a struggle. I suppose that that is how life works. Sometimes everything is smooth sailing and appears effortless and sometimes, you run out of steam and just getting out of bed feels like work.
I was really excited when I finally decided to take this trip to Italy - I am not known for being one to spend money on myself. Now that I no longer have a regular paycheck, it makes those spending decisions all the much harder. So making this decision to take this trip has been hard. When you work a 9 to 5, there is never time to do the traveling you want. When you work as I do now, there isn't money to do the traveling you want. But life is too short to live in purgatory. It is too precious to not be cherished and it is our duty to enjoy life every day.
So why the dilemma? I am not a risk taker -I take very calculated, planned out risks and I always look to mitigate the possible pitfalls before they arise. So planning this trip is strife with challenges for me. I have to remind myself daily that I deserve to enjoy life; that I deserve to be able to play and have fun and to live a life of abundance. Somehow its not a natural thought. So this last week, pushed me against a wall. I went into a sense of self doubt that perhaps this trip was too big for me right now. I thought maybe I should be focused on growing my business and not taking something on that would cause me to lose the momentum that I have been building. And then I filed my taxes . . . I know at first glance that filing ones taxes does not appear to be a good thing. But for me, it was exactly what I needed. It allowed me to take a deep look at my financial situation as a business owner - it allowed me to understand what I really need to survive on and how creative I can be to get there. It allowed me to understand that I am destined to be successful in my business, so long as I stay true to myself and my vision. It allowed me to know that I deserve to be happy and to follow my dreams.
Yesterday, I got a sign - a big beautiful sign that life is good, that success comes in many packages and best of all, that I am on the right path.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
PaGandhi
I received the following from my dear friend Val today - I had to share it.
OMG…the world has gone crazy! Everyone wants to be Paris Hilton instead of Mohandas Gandhi! What happened to us? Are we so off track that a girl with blind ambition and a royal name can become an iconic figure?
Gandhi desired a world filled with peace, love and joy. His mission was to unite people and raise the vibration of the planet. On the other hand, Paris just wants to have fun … not that there’s anything wrong with that.
We have become so focused on the outside or external world that we have diverted our attention from the inside and our true spirit. There is a place for both of these energies in this world.
This may sound like I don’t like Paris, but that’s just not true. We need Paris Hiltons in our lives to show us the world can still be fun.
These days, we have a tendency to view things as extremes. On one side we have the power mongers. They want to control people with fear, or by force if necessary. They want all the money and total control of the world. You recognize this type … Saddam, Napoleon, Adolf, corporate executives, politicians and (dare I say this?) some religious leaders. This type exists in all areas of life.
Then we have the “Paris Hilton Effect.” This is a group in which everyone wants to be a celebrity having unlimited resources and their own reality show. Nice work if you can get it.
I am happy to say a new group is emerging. Our goal? To save the world! I know you are one of these people. It’s great to have you on the team. We really care about making the world a better place and helping others in the process.
A lot of these wonderful people are bit too serious I fear. What if we do some blending?
Let’s create a group of people who want to save the world – and have fun in the process!
We could combine the fun of Paris with the incredible healing power of Gandhi.
We could call ourselves the PaGandhi’s!
Yes, I want to be a PaGandhi!
Gandhi desired a world filled with peace, love and joy. His mission was to unite people and raise the vibration of the planet. On the other hand, Paris just wants to have fun … not that there’s anything wrong with that.
We have become so focused on the outside or external world that we have diverted our attention from the inside and our true spirit. There is a place for both of these energies in this world.
This may sound like I don’t like Paris, but that’s just not true. We need Paris Hiltons in our lives to show us the world can still be fun.
These days, we have a tendency to view things as extremes. On one side we have the power mongers. They want to control people with fear, or by force if necessary. They want all the money and total control of the world. You recognize this type … Saddam, Napoleon, Adolf, corporate executives, politicians and (dare I say this?) some religious leaders. This type exists in all areas of life.
Then we have the “Paris Hilton Effect.” This is a group in which everyone wants to be a celebrity having unlimited resources and their own reality show. Nice work if you can get it.
I am happy to say a new group is emerging. Our goal? To save the world! I know you are one of these people. It’s great to have you on the team. We really care about making the world a better place and helping others in the process.
A lot of these wonderful people are bit too serious I fear. What if we do some blending?
Let’s create a group of people who want to save the world – and have fun in the process!
We could combine the fun of Paris with the incredible healing power of Gandhi.
We could call ourselves the PaGandhi’s!
Yes, I want to be a PaGandhi!
As a PaGandhi your mission is:
Create peace
Have fun
Have joy
Laugh (a lot)
Do what you love every day
Help others
Heal others
Create abundance
Save the World!
Create peace
Have fun
Have joy
Laugh (a lot)
Do what you love every day
Help others
Heal others
Create abundance
Save the World!
Gandhi’s most famous quote is…
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Mohandas Gandhi
Mohandas Gandhi
It is extraordinary in its simplicity and power.
This is the PaGandhi version …
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world and enjoy every step of your journey.”
Remember, this is supposed to be a fun adventure. In any adventure there are many ups and downs with twists and turns. Enjoy every minute of your journey because your true mission and purpose will be uncovered along this path.
It is not about achievement…it’s about adventure.
It is not about achievement…it’s about adventure.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
My trip
This trip will not be a vacation - vacations conjure images of laying on beaches, skiing down the slopes, wine tasting while snacking on local cheeses - ok well, maybe the third hits closer to home. My trip is an opportunity to fully immerse myself in the food production world in Italy. I will be traveling to Italy through a group called WWOOF - here's how it is described from their official website.
About WWOOF
The purpose of WWOOF is to create an interest and understanding for organic and biodynamic ways of living. In addition to this WWOOF makes it possible for people to travel cheaply all over the world and, at the same time, to help where it is wanted and needed.
I am headed to Italy to live amongst the food and the people. To share in the daily challenges of being a smaller producer, farmer, artisan cheese maker - you name it. The details are yet to be worked out, but the spirit is 100% in place. I am focusing my journey into Tuscany - so far, all I know is that my flight will land into Florence - the rest is still in evolution. I have a print out of almost 60 pages of farms - about 5 farms/page. Some of them are in small towns and villages, one was described as being an 1 1/2 by foot from the closest road. I am imagine, I will land in the more urban areas - well at least by farm standards.
I invite you to share in my journey - for my journey is not just the trip that I am planning. It is the sheer pleasure of learning about the geography and diversity of this region.
About WWOOF
The purpose of WWOOF is to create an interest and understanding for organic and biodynamic ways of living. In addition to this WWOOF makes it possible for people to travel cheaply all over the world and, at the same time, to help where it is wanted and needed.
I am headed to Italy to live amongst the food and the people. To share in the daily challenges of being a smaller producer, farmer, artisan cheese maker - you name it. The details are yet to be worked out, but the spirit is 100% in place. I am focusing my journey into Tuscany - so far, all I know is that my flight will land into Florence - the rest is still in evolution. I have a print out of almost 60 pages of farms - about 5 farms/page. Some of them are in small towns and villages, one was described as being an 1 1/2 by foot from the closest road. I am imagine, I will land in the more urban areas - well at least by farm standards.
I invite you to share in my journey - for my journey is not just the trip that I am planning. It is the sheer pleasure of learning about the geography and diversity of this region.
Monday, April 5, 2010
My sister
I have the most amazing sister. When I first told her of my decision to take this trip - she was excited and supportive. See, my sister helped me get to Italy on that first trip. When I first planned it, I thought I could do it on my own. I had a part-time job, putting myself through school. I had earned a scholarship to help fund me for a conference I attended in Rome and another in Finland. And then disaster struck - well disaster to a 22 year-old college student. Just weeks before I was scheduled to leave, the transmission went out on my car. I was faced with the decision of fixing my car or eating. And my sister came to the rescue. She lent me the money I needed and then gave me a generous birthday gift to make sure that I did not just take my trip, but got to really enjoy my trip.
Fast forward almost 20 years and big sis is still my biggest supporter. Yet again, I thought I could do this on my own. A few months back I started looking into tickets and to my utter shock, they were $1600-1800 - a steep price given my self employed status and the mortgage, and other bills that will still need to be paid when I am gone (gone are those simple days of just having to afford the trip). I began to wonder if I was maybe biting off more than I could chew. Maybe I just needed to settle and take a two week vacation like everyone else. And then my sister showed up for me again - she is giving me her frequent flier points to cover my trip.
So the reality sets in - this trip is really going to happen. I am so fortunate to have the most amazing family and friends and especially my dear sister - there is nothing I wouldn't do for her and I know that the feeling is mutual.
Fast forward almost 20 years and big sis is still my biggest supporter. Yet again, I thought I could do this on my own. A few months back I started looking into tickets and to my utter shock, they were $1600-1800 - a steep price given my self employed status and the mortgage, and other bills that will still need to be paid when I am gone (gone are those simple days of just having to afford the trip). I began to wonder if I was maybe biting off more than I could chew. Maybe I just needed to settle and take a two week vacation like everyone else. And then my sister showed up for me again - she is giving me her frequent flier points to cover my trip.
So the reality sets in - this trip is really going to happen. I am so fortunate to have the most amazing family and friends and especially my dear sister - there is nothing I wouldn't do for her and I know that the feeling is mutual.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
The Title
So 40 years and 10 weeks - I am not yet 40, and certainly not 40 plus 10 weeks. So why the title? This blog is dedicated to my path to arriving at 40 and the journey that ensues. Last fall (just shortly after my 39th birthday), a friend asked what I was doing to celebrate the big day. All around me, the invites to attend 40th bday parties were rolling in. I sat in awe listening to an especially fit friend of mine as she described the training and the actual feat of deciding to climb Mt Rainier to celebrate her 40th. She did not make it to the top, but her commitment was clear none-the-less. She had embraced on her mission because she was not ready to celebrate the passage into the decline, she was just discovering new things and taking her body to new heights.
So, I thought what could I do that would really evoke me, celebrate me, enrich me. I'm headed to Italy. Not for a vacation, but for 10 whole weeks.
I took a trip to Italy in my early 20's, spent about 10 days there, along with stops in other parts of Europe. I sat in awe on a hill side in Firenze - enjoying a beautiful picnic lunch of bread, fresh tomatoes and cheese.
I watched children of street vendors in Roma, playing behind their parent's stall - engaged in a pick up game of soccer when a fight broke out. Before long, the men had wandered over to see the commotion and soon the momma's joined them. Shouting at the kids, waiving their hands in the way that only Italians can, and putting everyone back in the their place. Minutes later, the game resumed and smiles once again returned.
I relish the day spent in Milano working with some friends - following a beautiful breakfast of cappuccinos and pastries, we wandered to the office. About 1pm it was time for lunch, so we stopped by a farmers market in the way back to the flat - picking up beautiful fresh pasta, salty brined olives, luscious tomatoes and of course a bottle of vino. Lunch was a leisurely affair, cooking, enjoying the wine and of course ended with a much needed siesta and a wake-up of a lovely demitasse of espresso with a hint of lemon peel. Then back to the office for a few more hours. Dinner was a night on the town, sitting down to prepare a beautifully prepared meal about 9pm. Certainly, wine was on the menu and we happily returned to the flat about midnight.
Life in Italy has passion! It is not the food, it is not the people. It is the attitude about life that jumps out to me, beckoning back to live a life of passion. The Italians are truly experiential. They do not passively sit by and watch on the sidelines. They embrace life, for good or for bad, and they do it with gusto, pride and true passion.
My 10 weeks in Italy are about just that. Living life with passion. I will be headed on a journey - figuring out how to get there, how to afford it, how to enjoy it and how to take those memories and make them a permanent resident in my life. I hope that you can join me on my adventure, so that one morning as you sip your latte from Starbucks, the aroma will take you to a cafe in Pisa or perhaps a hilltop in Firenze.
So, I thought what could I do that would really evoke me, celebrate me, enrich me. I'm headed to Italy. Not for a vacation, but for 10 whole weeks.
I took a trip to Italy in my early 20's, spent about 10 days there, along with stops in other parts of Europe. I sat in awe on a hill side in Firenze - enjoying a beautiful picnic lunch of bread, fresh tomatoes and cheese.
I watched children of street vendors in Roma, playing behind their parent's stall - engaged in a pick up game of soccer when a fight broke out. Before long, the men had wandered over to see the commotion and soon the momma's joined them. Shouting at the kids, waiving their hands in the way that only Italians can, and putting everyone back in the their place. Minutes later, the game resumed and smiles once again returned.
I relish the day spent in Milano working with some friends - following a beautiful breakfast of cappuccinos and pastries, we wandered to the office. About 1pm it was time for lunch, so we stopped by a farmers market in the way back to the flat - picking up beautiful fresh pasta, salty brined olives, luscious tomatoes and of course a bottle of vino. Lunch was a leisurely affair, cooking, enjoying the wine and of course ended with a much needed siesta and a wake-up of a lovely demitasse of espresso with a hint of lemon peel. Then back to the office for a few more hours. Dinner was a night on the town, sitting down to prepare a beautifully prepared meal about 9pm. Certainly, wine was on the menu and we happily returned to the flat about midnight.
Life in Italy has passion! It is not the food, it is not the people. It is the attitude about life that jumps out to me, beckoning back to live a life of passion. The Italians are truly experiential. They do not passively sit by and watch on the sidelines. They embrace life, for good or for bad, and they do it with gusto, pride and true passion.
My 10 weeks in Italy are about just that. Living life with passion. I will be headed on a journey - figuring out how to get there, how to afford it, how to enjoy it and how to take those memories and make them a permanent resident in my life. I hope that you can join me on my adventure, so that one morning as you sip your latte from Starbucks, the aroma will take you to a cafe in Pisa or perhaps a hilltop in Firenze.
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