Time to Take a Hike!

Due to our ongoing love affair with nature, it has been decided that it’s time to act and take a hike! While our long-term dream is to do treks like the Pacific Crest Scenic Trail or the ever-so-famous Inca Trail, we are probably going to start by taking baby steps (pardon the pun). Once we see that we are capable of living with only a limited number of underwear (i.e. I have to stop changing undies 3 times a day), once we have hardened our feet with hours of walking, once we have learnt to endure cold weather with minimal whining, and once we are beginning to feel a little more nomadic, then we will venture off into the wild.
As for now, we will simply step out into our own backyard…Quebec. So beginning this Thursday, October 9, we will be taking a two-hour drive and head towards the beautiful Parc Sutton. This hike is a 77km network of trails, including cliffs, lakes and greenery! This is a good beginner’s trail and we are looking forward to the refreshing mid-week break!
Once we become a little more advanced, we will look into some other wonderful trails in Quebec, including the Gatineau Park and the Parc de la Gaspesie. Both seem like spectacular scenic trails, and so close to home! Finally, we will fulfill one of our dreams, a one-week trip to Anticosti, a beautiful 8,000 square foot island (bigger than PEI) situated in the mouth of the St-Lawrence river with only 260-some inhabitants!!

So away we go! I am so freaking excited to be achieving another one of our mini life’s purpose!!!

Anxiety, BEGONE!

The Heart's Path
The Heart's Path

Sometimes anxiety gets the best of us. We pretend that things aren’t troubling us and we push them under the rug acting as though we’re not the slightest bit phased by the stresses that surround us. But they creep up on us. All of a sudden, we lose our appetite, we wake up in the middle of the night with what we pushed back in some corner of our mind inching towards us, we start exploding on our loved ones because they didn’t fold the napkins on the dinner table properly, we dread phone calls & e-mails because we know that they simply mean added stress, and we slowly lose ourselves…wishing we could remember what happened to that innocent being inside of us that had so many aspirations and plans on happiness.

But there must be a way to get rid of that anxiety that starts feeding on our spirit! I believe that all it takes is just a little action. Why would we remain anxious? Why let something linger and build up inside of us? Maybe it’s best to use the 4 d’s that I continuously hear about: Do, Delegate, Delay, and Dispose! If I were to categorize all my anxieties and ensure that I somehow dealt with them quickly, maybe I would start spending the rest of my free time on things that actually make me feel good! I would also feel less troubled if I had a system that helped take care of my issues that build up in a quick & efficient manner… If I am nervous about a presentation that is coming up, I should just DO as much possible by preparing and acting, and before I know it, it’s over. If I am worried about having another client added to my schedule, maybe I can DELEGATE that work to another manager. If I am so stressed about the dentist appointment that just so happens to fall on the wrong week, maybe I should stop whining and simply DELAY the appointment. And if I am anxious about trying to meet some acquaintance that ran into me on the street and now wants to go for dinner, a movie and a long walk, maybe I should simply DROP the appointment that brings me no added value.

I do believe that this may lead to a refreshing change in my life. These last two days, I was a nervous wreck. This showed in my physical appearance (worry lines, dark circles under the eyes, back pains due to stress, nausea, etc…) and in my mental functioning (cloudiness in the brain, heart palpitations, getting into little arguments with the love of my life, negative thinking, frustration, endless crying and sobbing, etc…). However, the moment I CHOSE to act and simply BE without worrying about my 3-page to do list and the last-minute emergencies, all these wonderful things came my way. I was referred for my ideal job, I had a wonderful talk with my love, I smiled more, I felt healthier, and I realized the insignificance of my worries! THAT helped me focus my energy on yoga, watching a movie, eating a healthy dinner and easing my mind… Isn’t that much better than spending the night by vigorously typing God knows what on the computer, not eating and sleeping with eyes wide open? I think so!

When I’m feeling lost…

...color finds it's way into my heart.
...color finds it's way into my heart.

I cannot see. I am typing blind and I am so sad about it. Why is it that I am allergic to computers? Or is it work? Am I meant to be a flower child, a hippie, a bum? Am I meant to live a life of spiritual enlightenment and let go of all material possessions and “things”? Am I living a life of routine? Brainwash? Submission?

Of course I am!!! It’s all because of a little emotion called fear. Where will I be without my big salary? Money is what makes the world go round, right? Why is everyone else working? It’s not like they’re stupid and I am going to be the smart one that quits. But what am I to do if I am allergic to my computer? Maybe I can go on worker’s compensation for this allergy… It’s quite clear that this will be a permanent problem though.

Ah life! Isn’t it interesting how things come about… The world keeps turning and I keep making choices, walking along my journey’s path and wondering if I have gotten lost somewhere along the way… Should I turn back? Start from some other point? Change paths? Where will these lead though? They would be prettier some of them… filled with travel, adventure, instability, sadness, happiness, fortune, loss, COLOR!!! Accounting is so “brown socks”, “white collars” and “gray suits”… I want COLOR – lots and lots of color, flowers, plants, trees, sky, earth, stars, sailboats, wind blowing through my hair, freedom to move – hands in the air, songs, dance, laughter, peace, healthy energy around me… Where will it be? It’s not here, not in this little conference room – tucked away with beige walls, cold air and no windows, staring at my computer that is making me allergic.

It’s out there. In this wonderful world that God created I will find my colorful life, with my loving man next to me… Hope he’s willing to join me 😉