For the first time ever, I didn't spend Christmas Day in Manitoba or with my family. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it or not. Because I changed jobs a couple of months ago I had to work on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. There wasn't time to head back to my home province.
It turns out I had a pretty good day.
I had breakfast at friends. It's always nice to be included. I FaceTimed with my parents, and received a whole bunch of messages and texts from people wishing me all the best of the season.
All in all, Christmas left me with the best gift of them all. I have an overwhelming feeling of optimism. I think 2014 is going to be a great year for the world and for me personally. I don't know what it's going to look like but I know the people who choose to be around me are great people. I know that there will always someone to lend a bit of support when I hit bumps in the road and that fills my heart.
My life isn't perfect, in fact it's not exactly what I want it to look like at the moment. I am ok with that. I have come to terms with twists and turns, in fact, I welcome them. It makes life interesting, especially when you know great people will be around you and check in from time to time.
I got some very thoughtful presents but this overwhelming feeling of optimism about where things are going is a wave worth riding as far as I can. A year ago I wasn't feeling too excited about the future but now I can't wait for whatever is next and that's a great place to be.
I hope everyone who reads this takes some time to reflect and count up all the good things that you have in your life because you probably have more than you realize and it will probably give you a very optimistic outlook.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Friday, December 20, 2013
The Shortest Day of the Year
Today is the first day of winter so in the northern hemisphere we have the least amount of daylight. As a person who loves a bright sunny day this is not my favourite day of the year. Thankfully the holidays make you so busy that you don't really notice how little the sun is up. The hard part is getting through the first part of January. At least we have turned the corner and there will be more daylight everyday for the next year.
It has snowed a lot in Ottawa this year and it's stayed cold enough that it is sticking around. There will not be a lot of sunlight to warm things up and melt the snow so its best to find ways to enjoy it.
Snow can make for beautiful photos, especially in the sunshine.
Snow means you can ski, or toboggan, or build a snowman.
Snow can be mesmerizing, especially the big fluffy flakes when the sun is low in the sky.
I will admit that winter is my least favourite season but there are still some really cool things about it. The way things are going we may have a very long season on the Rideau Canal, which I must admit is a great place to go on a winter day.
The climb out of the cold darkness of winter to the re-birth of spring is exciting and unpredictable. It takes two steps forward and three back. It's always something to talk about and on the first day that really feels like spring, it's a moment everyone will enjoy every year.
Today is the shortest day of the year but that only means that good things are coming our way, and as long as there are good things coming, we have a great reason to get up and seize the day.
It has snowed a lot in Ottawa this year and it's stayed cold enough that it is sticking around. There will not be a lot of sunlight to warm things up and melt the snow so its best to find ways to enjoy it.
Snow can make for beautiful photos, especially in the sunshine.
Snow means you can ski, or toboggan, or build a snowman.
Snow can be mesmerizing, especially the big fluffy flakes when the sun is low in the sky.
I will admit that winter is my least favourite season but there are still some really cool things about it. The way things are going we may have a very long season on the Rideau Canal, which I must admit is a great place to go on a winter day.
The climb out of the cold darkness of winter to the re-birth of spring is exciting and unpredictable. It takes two steps forward and three back. It's always something to talk about and on the first day that really feels like spring, it's a moment everyone will enjoy every year.
Today is the shortest day of the year but that only means that good things are coming our way, and as long as there are good things coming, we have a great reason to get up and seize the day.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
My Not So Perfect Life
Yesterday I stumbled on a really interesting blog called Confessions of an Imperfect Life written by Katie Devine. She's in her mid-thirties and her life looks nothing like what she thought it would. It got me thinking a bit.
My life is not anywhere near perfect.
I'm about to turn 37 and I'm no where near getting married. I walked away from a good paying job because I felt really trapped. I'm pretty sure I'm having a mid-life crisis.
All that being said, I wouldn't trade my life in.
Once upon a time I had a job I really liked. I was excited to get up on Monday morning and go to work. I eventually out grew that job and moved up. I left that job and I feel free. I don't love what I do these days but I have rediscovered what it's like to feel free and I will not trade this feeling.
As I often tell one of my friends, when we are old and sitting around at the Legion we are going to talk about this moment. My life is full of stuff like that. Some of them are big moments, some of them are small moments but they are all noteworthy moments.
I don't know where my life is going and in a way I really don't care. It's ok to not have a plan. It's ok not to know the future. It's ok to wake up and say maybe today everything is going to take a big left turn or maybe it won't. I'm liking that about my life.
I've lost over 30 pounds in the last year. It helped me realize that I can shape my life to what I want. It reinforced that I have control of my life and if I want to change it I can. That's really exciting.
My life is not perfect but nobody's is and I wouldn't trade my imperfect life full of great friends, wonderful family, and epic moments for anyone else's.
My life is not anywhere near perfect.
I'm about to turn 37 and I'm no where near getting married. I walked away from a good paying job because I felt really trapped. I'm pretty sure I'm having a mid-life crisis.
All that being said, I wouldn't trade my life in.
Once upon a time I had a job I really liked. I was excited to get up on Monday morning and go to work. I eventually out grew that job and moved up. I left that job and I feel free. I don't love what I do these days but I have rediscovered what it's like to feel free and I will not trade this feeling.
As I often tell one of my friends, when we are old and sitting around at the Legion we are going to talk about this moment. My life is full of stuff like that. Some of them are big moments, some of them are small moments but they are all noteworthy moments.
I don't know where my life is going and in a way I really don't care. It's ok to not have a plan. It's ok not to know the future. It's ok to wake up and say maybe today everything is going to take a big left turn or maybe it won't. I'm liking that about my life.
I've lost over 30 pounds in the last year. It helped me realize that I can shape my life to what I want. It reinforced that I have control of my life and if I want to change it I can. That's really exciting.
My life is not perfect but nobody's is and I wouldn't trade my imperfect life full of great friends, wonderful family, and epic moments for anyone else's.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Maybe It's a Mid-Life Crisis
As I have written about several times, I have recently changed jobs. I had to. I felt trapped but now I feel like there is something out there that I'm going to thrive at. The problem is, I have no idea what that may be.
There are good and bad points to any job or career. We all know that. There are some parts of the new job I really like and there are parts I would gladly do without. So not surprisingly, with this new found feeling of freedom I wonder what else is out there.
A couple of days ago I thought to myself, hmmmm, maybe I should be a truck driver. It's different and it would have an element of adventure but it also would keep me from talking to people all day. As such, it is probably not the best choice in the end.
The truck driver thought made me realize that I don't know what I want my life to look like for the next twenty years, which brought on the mid-life crisis thought.
If you don't know what you want, it's hard to get there. I have been feeling like a bit of a scalar lately. I have lots of energy and drive but I don't know where I should be directing it. I don't know if I want a large or small organization. I don't know if I want to start something new. I really don't know.
Now the one huge upside to not knowing where you want to be is a many courses of action are open to consideration.
I'll figure it all out. I'll get headed to where I should be. In the meantime, I'm learning and growing, which in the end, is probably the most important thing in life, at least to a guy like me.
There are good and bad points to any job or career. We all know that. There are some parts of the new job I really like and there are parts I would gladly do without. So not surprisingly, with this new found feeling of freedom I wonder what else is out there.
A couple of days ago I thought to myself, hmmmm, maybe I should be a truck driver. It's different and it would have an element of adventure but it also would keep me from talking to people all day. As such, it is probably not the best choice in the end.
The truck driver thought made me realize that I don't know what I want my life to look like for the next twenty years, which brought on the mid-life crisis thought.
If you don't know what you want, it's hard to get there. I have been feeling like a bit of a scalar lately. I have lots of energy and drive but I don't know where I should be directing it. I don't know if I want a large or small organization. I don't know if I want to start something new. I really don't know.
Now the one huge upside to not knowing where you want to be is a many courses of action are open to consideration.
I'll figure it all out. I'll get headed to where I should be. In the meantime, I'm learning and growing, which in the end, is probably the most important thing in life, at least to a guy like me.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
You May Be Judged
I really believe in free speech. You can say whatever you want. It doesn't bother me. However, I will judge you for what you say.
I was witness to a conversation today that made me take note. It was about Christmas. One of the parties to the conversation was arguing that we shouldn't be having things like NBA basketball games on Christmas Day because it will prevent a lot of people from being with their families on that special day.
I see his point.
However, this person is also a member of the senior management of a for profit organization that was open the minute the law allowed for on Remembrance Day.
I'm a firm believer that we should take one whole day each year to remember and thank those who gave up so much so we could have choice in our life. How does it often fall to the wayside for people to show respect for ordinary people who committed to a cause and faced evil forces to ensure the future would be bright.
I didn't speak up this time. I wanted to see where the whole argument would go. This is definitely a case of actions speaking a lot louder than words. Preventing people from being able to show their thanks and support for the few that did so much is very unfortunate. What is even unfortunate is people don't have the depth to realize that they do not approach each situation with the same moral compass.
He was right, it is important to have families together for Christmas and if at all possible employers should facilitate this. Most families do get at least a couple of days a year that they can spend together, I only ask for one whole day to remember and say thanks for our precious freedom.
I was witness to a conversation today that made me take note. It was about Christmas. One of the parties to the conversation was arguing that we shouldn't be having things like NBA basketball games on Christmas Day because it will prevent a lot of people from being with their families on that special day.
I see his point.
However, this person is also a member of the senior management of a for profit organization that was open the minute the law allowed for on Remembrance Day.
I'm a firm believer that we should take one whole day each year to remember and thank those who gave up so much so we could have choice in our life. How does it often fall to the wayside for people to show respect for ordinary people who committed to a cause and faced evil forces to ensure the future would be bright.
I didn't speak up this time. I wanted to see where the whole argument would go. This is definitely a case of actions speaking a lot louder than words. Preventing people from being able to show their thanks and support for the few that did so much is very unfortunate. What is even unfortunate is people don't have the depth to realize that they do not approach each situation with the same moral compass.
He was right, it is important to have families together for Christmas and if at all possible employers should facilitate this. Most families do get at least a couple of days a year that they can spend together, I only ask for one whole day to remember and say thanks for our precious freedom.
Monday, November 18, 2013
I Knew It Would Happen
A month ago I changed jobs. I feel a lot freer but there is one thing I knew I would miss. When I moved to Ottawa, I found a place to live within walking distance of work. Everyday I would walk a little over two and a half kilometres to get to work in the morning and another two and a half kilometres to get home. Once I got used to it, it really helped with other parts of life.
I miss walking to work.
I'm starting to notice the effects of not walking to work. I think I've lost a bit of my cardiovascular strength and endurance. I am a bit slower when I run and the last couple of reps of the last set at the gym are more difficult. Going into winter, I'm not too fond of this.
One of the main reasons I switched jobs was I wasn't enjoying my job. I felt trapped. I can't imagine how bad it would have been if I had not been walking to work each day.
Walking does a lot to help reduce stress. It forces you to be outside. It makes you feel more connected with the city in which you live. It gives you some exercise.
I may never live walking distance to work again and that's a shame. If you have the opportunity to live close enough to your job that you can walk, I suggest you take advantage of it. You will not be sorry. It will improve your life.
If, in the future, I have another opportunity to walk to work, I will put it back in my lifestyle. My life improved significantly when I moved to Ottawa three years ago and one of the best enhancements was walking to work, even if I don't currently do it.
I miss walking to work.
I'm starting to notice the effects of not walking to work. I think I've lost a bit of my cardiovascular strength and endurance. I am a bit slower when I run and the last couple of reps of the last set at the gym are more difficult. Going into winter, I'm not too fond of this.
One of the main reasons I switched jobs was I wasn't enjoying my job. I felt trapped. I can't imagine how bad it would have been if I had not been walking to work each day.
Walking does a lot to help reduce stress. It forces you to be outside. It makes you feel more connected with the city in which you live. It gives you some exercise.
I may never live walking distance to work again and that's a shame. If you have the opportunity to live close enough to your job that you can walk, I suggest you take advantage of it. You will not be sorry. It will improve your life.
If, in the future, I have another opportunity to walk to work, I will put it back in my lifestyle. My life improved significantly when I moved to Ottawa three years ago and one of the best enhancements was walking to work, even if I don't currently do it.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
It's a Rush
I have now been selling cars for a bit over three weeks. At this point I'm not the best car salesman that walked on this life supporting sphere that flies through a vacuum around a gaseous ball of fire but, I'm doing ok. With each deal I make, I learn a bit more. However, I must admit, I get a rush when I'm doing a deal.
I like the feeling I get when I close a deal.
I'm not going to lie, sales is a tough racket. You get what you put into it and not everyone has the intestinal fortitude to deal with all the rejection but if you are willing to slug it out, you can can get a really good feeling from selling cars.
There are a lot of unscrupulous people in the car business. Some of the people I've met are not worth my time. However, if you do this for any amount of time, you can sell cars. It may be the only thing you are good at, but you can get really good at it.
Most of my friends thought I was crazy to sell cars for a living. As I write this I don't know if I will do this for a long time but I know that when I'm doing a deal, I get a rush. I get excited. I get caught up in the moment and I like that feeling. I can see how people end up doing this for a long time. You have a lot of control over your performance. You have direct control over what you take home and, if you are like me, you get a big rush from selling cars.
If I do a deal in the evening, I will have trouble sleeping at night. I'll be buzzing for hours from a rush. Living life hopped up on adrenaline is a good way to be and I'm doing it.
If the rush starts to disappear, I will have to move on because I'm not going to live a mediocre life, but as it goes for now, I will live a life full of rushes from selling.
I like the feeling I get when I close a deal.
I'm not going to lie, sales is a tough racket. You get what you put into it and not everyone has the intestinal fortitude to deal with all the rejection but if you are willing to slug it out, you can can get a really good feeling from selling cars.
There are a lot of unscrupulous people in the car business. Some of the people I've met are not worth my time. However, if you do this for any amount of time, you can sell cars. It may be the only thing you are good at, but you can get really good at it.
Most of my friends thought I was crazy to sell cars for a living. As I write this I don't know if I will do this for a long time but I know that when I'm doing a deal, I get a rush. I get excited. I get caught up in the moment and I like that feeling. I can see how people end up doing this for a long time. You have a lot of control over your performance. You have direct control over what you take home and, if you are like me, you get a big rush from selling cars.
If I do a deal in the evening, I will have trouble sleeping at night. I'll be buzzing for hours from a rush. Living life hopped up on adrenaline is a good way to be and I'm doing it.
If the rush starts to disappear, I will have to move on because I'm not going to live a mediocre life, but as it goes for now, I will live a life full of rushes from selling.
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