Happy Halloween!

Tonight, Jo Anne and I took the kids out trick or treating. Nick was "Jason" (Friday the 13th) and Alex was a "Baby".

This was Nick's first year walking around the neighbour hood with his friends, without Mom or Dad in tow. He's growing up! We still walked around with Alex and her friends, and soaked up the energy of all the little ghosts, goblins, and witches.

I always remember back to when I was a kid. My sister, cousins, and I would all go out trick or treating, then return home to inspect the loot.

We would watch "The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" on tv, and eat candy until we were nauseous. Ahhh the joys of childhood!

Happy Halloween Everyone~

Balance Coaching

This weekend I attended the "Balance" course with The Coaches Training Institute.

I knew most of the faces, but there were a couple of new ones. It's nice to be with a group of like minded individuals, people who are in a similar mind set regarding personal development. All of the group is beginning to feel like family. Some of the connections that I have made in the courses have overflown into real friendships.

I really felt aligned as I entered the weekend, and I got a lot of great learning, as always!

The 'Balance' approach to coaching, takes a look at 'perspectives', and how they can look different from a variety of positions. Simply moving around your space, physically, can help you look at a situation or area within your life that you feel 'stuck' differently. It was quite profound.

As the possibilities open, and shift, you can decide on the new perspective of choice. Once the new perspective has been decided upon, you then brainstorm on creating action items, finally concluding with a commitment. It sounds so simple, and yet was remarkably effective.

I personally was able to look at some areas within my life that I struggle with, and have felt 'stuck'. As the possibilities opened up, I realized that I have more options that I realized, and felt empowered in looking at new perspectives. It felt liberating, and freeing.

Thanks to Caroline, Ken, Barbara, Liliane, and Annie. Looking forward to 'Process' in November! Love and peace to you all! NAMASTE

McDreamy or McSteamy????

Sorry, but McSteamy wins!!!!

Hubba Hubba!!!

WOW!!!!!!!

I attended the concert of a lifetime last night. My guest for the evening was my Mom, and I can't have imagined going with anyone else in the world.

The orchestra played in the background, as everyone took their seats. As the flood lights surrounding the orchestra pit collectively shone upwards, the centre cat walk was darkened in the shadows. In a flash the lights went dark, and one single spot light shone down upon the centre stage.

It was Barbra, standing alone....she was glowing! The crowd erupted.

It was a surreal moment. For those of you who know me, it will be no surprise that I got emotional, and had tears in my eyes. And for many reasons.

I think for me, Barbra Streisand's music has always been in the backdrop of my life. It was always played at my Uncle's house during family gatherings. My Nan, with whom I was extremely close, bought me the Barbra Streisand Box Set Collection for my 25th Birthday, "Evergreen" was my wedding song......I think you get the idea.

She is a music icon, and I never thought I would see her 'live' in my lifetime.

She sang a variety of favourites, and was accompanied by the 'pop opera' quartet, 'Il Divo'. I was in heaven!

Of all the people that I could have attended the concert with, I would have chosen no other person than my Mom. I am like my Mom in many ways, and yet in many ways, wish I could be more the person she is.

My Mom, is the strongest woman I know, so I think parallels the powerful woman I see Barbra Streisand representing. My Mom keeps our family together, and always seems to be the one each of us goes to when we need to vent about one another. She works full time, runs a home, takes care of her grandchildren, manages my Dad, manages my sister, and manages ME. Each of which is a full time job in of itself.

My Mom never complains, always wakes up happy and positive, and just moves forward. We all rant and rave, and carry on around her, and all she sees is the love and adoration she has for each one of us. I wish I could be more like that. You see, family is all that matters to my Mom, and I think she's on the money.

So I guess I was in the company of two amazing women last night, one was singing on stage, the other sitting on my left. Love you Mom!

Toronto Half Marathon

This morning I ran the Toronto Half Marathon.

I was excited to be running my second Half Marathon, and was hoping to beat the time I did back in May at the Ottawa Half Marathon.

The scale of this race was smaller than that of the Ottawa Marathon. The route was more varied in it's terrain, which made it a little more challenging.

I was able to run the entire course and finished with a time of 2:08:34.9. So I shaved almost 15 minutes of my last race, which I was pleased with.

Congratulations to all those who ran the Half and full Marathon. Great Job!

Princess Bride

Last night I attended my dear friend Susan's Wedding. Susan looked like a Princess, and her smile lit up the entire hall.

I have known Susan and Lance for close to 3 years, and was honoured to share in their special day. The weather was a little unsettled, but the rain held off long enough during the ceremony and leading into the reception, which was perfect.

From the Ceremony, to the reception, the day went off without a hitch, and a good time was had by all.

I got to see another friend Lauren, who had moved quite a distance away, but came in for the wedding. We danced up a storm, and caught up on each others lives. It's funny how you can not see someone for a length of time, and when you are re-connected, it's as if no time had past at all. I some connections are just meant to be~
All the very best to you Susan and Lance, wishing you both a lifetime of Happiness together!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Thanksgiving....I have so many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, I had dinner with 11 of them tonight.

Me....I have the best two kids in the universe, I am healthy, have great family and friends, a great career, and so many other blessings.

Thanks for the best Turkey dinner tonight Mom, I think I will be full for the next two weeks!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! What are you thankful for? Take a minute to think about it, if you haven't!

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Sunday night I attended my dear friend Rose's wedding, held at the Mississauga Convention Centre.

My friend Rose is one of the sweetest women I know. We met at work, and were in the same hire group back in January 2004. The whole group instantly connected, and we have all been friends ever since.

From the day I met Rosie, and was introduced to her fiance George, I knew they were a match made in heaven. It was so great to share in their special day, and see them so happy.

Rosie and George are of Greek heritage, so the traditions of the day were somewhat new to me. One of their traditions was the couple 'breaking' a 'Sweet' bread. They then proceeded to toss pieces of the bread out to the guests in attendance. I think I suitably impressed all of the guests at my table as I caught a piece of the bread, with one hand, without even flinching. Pretty good for a guy who never played baseball eh?

Speeches were conducted in between the courses of the meal, and once complete the dancing began. The Bride, Groom, wedding party and family all joined hands and created a circle. They danced and celebrated the union, each person within the circle taking a turn to lead the dance.

As the Bride and Groom danced, family and guests came up to them and began pinning money to their clothing. The traditions and heritage were great to witness. Later in the evening there was 'Late Night Buffet' where they served lamb and pork. I was taken back to the movie...."You don't like meat? I make you lamb".

Thanks for inviting me Rose and George, it was a privilege to share in your special day. I wish you a lifetime of joy and happiness, and many babies. (Rosie wants 6).

OPA!!!

Happy 30th Beth

Saturday night I attended a surprise birthday party for my cousin's girlfriend Beth. Family and friends gathered at Beth's uncles house to celebrate Beth's 30th birthday. Lots of good conversation, great food and drinks.

Part way through the evening my cousin Craig gathered every one's attention, got down on one knee and proposed to Beth.
It was a really special moment, one that we all got to share in. The party then turned into an engagement celebration, with congratulations and well wishes all around.

Congratulations Craig and Beth, wishing you both all the happiness in the world!!! Love you both~

Fulfillment Coaching

This weekend I attended the "Fulfillment" course with The Coaches Training Institute.

I entered the weekend knowing that it would be intense, from both a "learning how to coach" perspective, but also from a place of great personal learning for me...about 'me'....

For reasons I am still 'being' with, I was not full engaged in the weekend. I was there, received great learning on all fronts, but was in a place of resistance. I'm not making myself wrong for the 'feelings', but am interested in being with them, and fully understanding them.

Entering into the weekend, I was feeling pretty peaceful within myself. I know that these 'training' courses are like emotional Tsunami's for me, so I think I was partly resentful that my 'harmony' was going to be disrupted....(I'm smiling as I type this, because the disruption, was not only welcomed by my spirit, but designed perfectly by the Universe).

This weekend was also a 'kids' weekend for me, and I think I was struggling with an element of guilt for my absence. I know my kids were well taken care of, but I think there was something at play there for me non the less.

One of the things that I found most profound was an exercise in which I 'connected' with my 'Future Self'. When we take time to visualize our future selves, we attach the most important 'values' and 'needs' to them, and the details and trappings of what's in our heads today seems to fall away and hold less of a place of importance.

As I live today, I have the image, identity, even a 'name' of my future self in mind. It leaves me with a sense of 'peace' knowing that I will reach my destination to that 'self'. I think that the space between the 'me' of today, and my 'future self' will now be filled with more aligned decisions and comfort.

My friend Mariana and I have often said that being unemployed leaves a person filled with panic and angst. Yet if that person knew they would get a job in their not too distant future, it would free them up in the 'now', and allow them to enjoy the time in between today and them getting that job in the future.

Similarly, my space can now be filled with more peace, as I feel that I can actually enjoy the times ahead of me. It feels less filled with panic and angst, as I know with every fiber of my being that I will reach my destination. All the things that I want for myself will come to fruition.

Thanks to Deborah, Steven, and Barbara. Great leadership! And thanks to all the participants in attendance with me. Love and peace to you all! NAMASTE