A Gift from a Stranger

I’ve been thinking about all of the amazing women that have touched my life with grace over the last few years.  That isn’t to say that there aren’t any amazing men that have graced my life; I work for one right now whose entire way of being encompasses wisdom, kindness and humour.  But for this post, I’m thinking specifically about the women – and there are many!

The latest was a young woman visiting Vancouver from Ireland.  She was looking for a quiet sanctuary to say her prayers on an anniversary related to her grandmother, but unlike her experience in Ireland, all the likely spots in the downtown core were locked up for the afternoon.  In the middle of the standard spiel about our need for volunteers to keep the worship space open to the public and that there would soon be a wedding rehearsal taking place, I stopped myself and said, ‘Oh never mind all that.  C’mon, I’ll take you upstairs myself.’

The nave and chancel were peaceful and reverent as we entered and went our separate ways for a few minutes of private contemplation.  As we closed up and retreated down the back stairway we chatted the usual, “so where in Ireland are you from” kind of conversation but in those few moments there was a part of one sentence that has stuck with me – “well, you should make it your business to ...”.  This young woman said this in the context of me exploring my Irish heritage but I immediately sensed a deeper connection as I applied the phrase to my life as I live it now. 

I often “skim the surface” of life, not venturing anywhere too deep.  The phrase “you should make it your business to ...” sounds like a trumpet calling me to action – a call to a deeper level of awareness and a call to experience and live life with more intention.  It’s also a call to be curious, a call to slow down and pay attention to what is going on around me while being more aware of what is going on for others.  It is a call to be thankful for all of my many blessings and a call to reach out and give back to others.

From what was expressed in our few minutes together, I know that my simple actions made a difference in another life that day.  But in the gift that life is to each of us, the words of a young angel were her gift to me.

May you all “make it your business to ...” in 2012.

Kitty Comfort and a New Year

The fun thing about New Years Day is that it is full of firsts.  First luxuriously, sleepy, slow morning.  First nutritious and yummy meal.  First snooze for the kitties.  First walk through the neighbourhood.  First picture snapped.  Oh, and first hot water bottle.

First hot water bottle, you ask?  Well, let’s just say that in this home if you are feeling a little chilled the first thing that you do is pull on an extra sweater or if you are a middle-aged furry feline, you find the nearest heating vent and you lay down on it.  Completely.

It’s actually one of those cute “awww” moments when you first see it but it loses a bit of the cuteness factor when it is below freezing outside and the feline in question has been sleeping there, blocking the heat, all night!  Yes, my little four-pawed friend is a heat-hog and today she discovered the wonder and beauty of the hot water bottle.

Never mind that the first hot water bottle of the year was to bring some comfort to an achy human knee, this new discovery started the little purring machine purring and those little white paws kneading; a warm water bed just the purrrrfect size for a kitty who is serious about her comfort.   Of course we first had to make sure that it wasn’t “alive” and pounce on it and paw it a few times, sending the human flying to the bathroom for the kitty manicure clippers.  Next we actually had to protest and ultimately endure the kitty manicure (don’t know what you humans see in all that fuss!) but afterwards Miss Whiskers was left to curl up for a snooze in peace and comfort. 

Having lost the household battle for the comfort of the hot water bottle, the "human” headed out into the great outdoors of South Surrey/White Rock for a walk through the wilds of suburbia finding comfort and joy in the smiles of neighbours also out for an afternoon stroll between rain showers and in the quiet companionship of the ducks snoozing in the pond.

A great start to the new year!

Just me, George Costanza and our never colliding worlds

I’ve been thinking a lot about where I receive encouragement lately.  I tend to turn to a small group of close friends when it comes to my “solve the problems of the world” conversations – also known as my life – or for sharing my personal wins and achievements.  But for a number of different reasons, my usual group of confidants weren’t available recently when I was seeking to reach out.

Now, I have to admit that I am fortunate to have circles of many good friends.  Some I see at coaching groups, others in my church, in my spiritual groups, in my workplace and I’m sure in a few more circles that aren’t coming to mind right at the moment.  But one thing is common, rarely do these circles interconnect.  My coaching friends are my coaching friends.  My church friends are my church friends.  Like George Costanza on the TV show, “Seinfeld”, apparently I don’t like my “worlds” colliding!

I had been in a powerful group coaching call about beliefs (check out www.vickimcleod.com if you are ever interested in any kind of group, personal or professional coaching – she is simply AMAZING in this work!) and was having one “aha” moment after another.  But when it came time to actually talk to someone to verbally process some of my thoughts I went through my “solve the problems of the world” group and mentally checked them off one by one.  No one was available.  So, uncharacteristically of me, I reached out into another circle and had a conversation that was insightful, warm and supportive.  Oh wow, I felt so supported!

Later that same week when I was celebrating a win, I again reached out into a different circle and once again, I was amazed at how many people took the time to respond to my post and celebrate my win with me.  But it wasn’t just the typical ‘way to go Kath” comments, it went on in the form of encouragement to continue on my path and a deepening in our relating to each other in our sharing. 

I’m now looking at how I can bring my circles a little closer together and maybe even overlap them a little – like the Olympic rings – and wonder what powerful relating, support and encouragement will emerge for all of us.  I can’t wait to find out!

With warmth and encouragement,

Kathy