Life Coach RV Update ...

Hi dear friends ...

I’ve just returned to Vancouver from a September holiday in the beautiful and sunny (mostly) Okanagan Valley. My wonderful aunt took a cruise to Alaska and I took time to enjoy her gorgeous home, 2 blocks from Skaha Lake and beach in Penticton. I’d get up at 7:00, throw on some power-walking cloths and breath in the awesome views and pine scented air surrounding me as I explored my favourite spots and noticed how much some things have changed, and how much some things feel exactly the same, 30-40 years later.

My family moved to Penticton when I was 8 years old – very close to where my aunt lives now. I remember, like it was yesterday, my cousin Freddie and I competing to win the sand castle contest, along with the rest of our third grade classmates, on Skaha beach. As I walked along that same beach last week, I could see us there and feel Fred’s presence. He was larger than life my dear cousin Fred. And today, he still feels larger than life to me, almost 18 years after his death. He is my number 1 guardian angel, just as he was in life ... always getting my attention in different ways. He lived life large and reminds me to all the time.

During the summer of 1983 I was working as a Recreation Programmer in Naramata (very close to Penticton) ... having been hired by a young woman named Sharon, who became an instant best friend to me and a woman that radically changed my life for the better (more on that for another blog). After work each day (and I mean every day!), Sharon and I would hop in the car and head down to the beach and wait for “Captain Freddie” to zoom in and pick us up in his speed boat. We’d see him coming and we’d yell “Yeah for Captain Freddie!” and he loved all the attention. He’d pick us up and we’d water ski all over Okanagan Lake for a couple of hours, laughing and skiing. Laughing and taking turns skiing – that’s all I remember. We’d clap for Captain Fred and each other – so full of energy, fun and the spirit of it all. We were just in love with each other and the beauty of the moments – it was a truly brilliant summer. Sharon and I still love to reminisce about that summer, and I know we always will. Isn’t it amazing how much pleasure we can get out of reminiscing about special times, special people? It’s all here with me. Time could never take that away. What a gift.

Speaking of pleasure, I must have stopped 10 times on the route back to Vancouver ... to breath in the changing views and scents along the way. And when I reached Abbotsford, I could smell the ocean. I’m not kidding. Maybe it was the Fraser River or the Ocean or both, but I’m telling you I could smell it and it felt like the smell of home. Yummy, yummy, yummy. How refreshing. I love that there’s room in us to love one geography and place immeasurably, and then be carried away with awe and pleasure by another as well.

Which sort of brings me to my original intent for this blog entry (got carried away with reminiscing and just went with it). As most of you know, I’m on a one year LOA from Douglas College, where I teach in the Therapeutic Recreation Program. I felt called to move my biz and passion for coaching, speaking and creating to the next level. And, as some of you know, I’d planned to buy an RV, call it the “Life Coach” and travel around quite a bit this year. Well, first I want to say thanks to all of you who love this idea, have encouraged me on it, and/or have checked in to say hi and ask “where are you in your travels?”

The update is that the RV plans are on hold for now. The passion for that part of my dream is still very much alive and I believe the time will come. For now, the Universe is guiding me perfectly to stay put in lovely Vancouver this year (with the exception of some short adventures away here and there of course). And this feels good. In fact, it feels really good.

There are many pay-offs for me staying right here for now, and it’s become clear that one of the biggest is that my mom (who lives in Vancouver as well) is experiencing some health challenges and I get to have more time and space to support her, and to learn and grow through it myself. Perfect. All is as it is meant to be. I’m so grateful for this timing and opportunity.

So, I’m continuing to coach some of my clients face to face in my Vancouver space, and some on the phone, wherever they may be (or in the case of last week, wherever we both are – me in Penticton and them in their home locale) ... going with whatever mode feels better to each person. I highly value the flexibility, and I know they do too.

I’m also busy planning for two big Keynotes and a smaller workshop booked for me to present in Sept and Oct ... and creating a green audio CD of my favourite health and happiness tools (will be available soon!). Lots on the go and yet not so much that I’m not taking time out to enjoy Vancouver in my favourite month, September. It’s my birthday month, it’s the first month of my LOA, it smells of summer and fall combined and it feels rich with presence and opportunity ... in short, it feels pretty precious to me.

And as I write that, I’m reminded again that you also feel pretty precious to me. Thanks, as always, for listening and sharing your heart.
Be well and be blessed,
Lee

PS: Once the RV and “Life Coach” come on board, you’ll be among the first to know.