What motivates you?

We have all had those days where where we feel that the world is against us and we want to give up, quit school, quit a job, quit a relationship or give up on a dream. Sometimes an incident or bad experience may make us feel like running from it because we can't see  past the obstacle in front of us. However, each obstacle creates a new opportunity and success comes from taking risks. When we look at a situation from a new perspective we often find as alternative staring us right in the face. Let's learn to respond rather than react. We want to live our lives on our own terms, so give yourself time and when a challenge arises ask yourself,  what am I willing to risk? The answer will be your motivation for success.

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity"

                                                                          Albert Einstein

The majority of us will never know what true challenges are in life. We will never know hunger, poverty, disability or war. Yet, we can learn from those who have had such experiences. It can be a strong motivator for us to practice "being the best we can be", which is the ultimate goal in life. We can draw motivation from anywhere and everywhere, a story, a movie, an experience, an individual, an organization, a picture or from within. I have always considered myself a "self motivator" the
inspiration usually comes from elsewhere but the drive to succeed comes from inside. I think what motivates me and makes me strive for success is the belief that.....
      I will be better for having taken the risk.

Shhh, Turn Off The Noise

I love the quiet of the early morning, just before the sun comes up and the day starts buzzing. I do my best thinking at this time, I assemble my thoughts and prepare mentally for the day ahead. The best part is that everything in and outside the house is peaceful, the radio, the t.v., the computer, the phone, even the hum of the lights are silent. I have heard people complain that it can be too quiet, I believe that there is no such thing.

As a society we have lost the ability to be alone with our silence for fear of being lonely so we seek to be continually stimulated or entertained. There is so much we can learn about ourselves when we are quiet, reflective and peaceful. It opens the door for creativity as well as provide an opportunity for honest communication with ourselves. Plus, becoming still has the added benefits of stress reduction, improved focus and concentration. It's important to find a balance in our day and take a time-out occasionally to

 turn off the noise and be silent.

I wake early intentionally to be alone in the morning silence, usually before dawn, I love to see the first wisps of the sun on the horizon and be alone in those quiet moments. My thoughts are my own, clear, uninterrupted and focused which allows me to become more present and attuned when the noise gets turned back on.

Life is a Puzzle

Life is a puzzle, all of our experiences fit together to make each of us very unique individuals. Every choice, positive or negative, success or failure, each emotion and relationship, opportunities seized and lost make us who we are. We learn from each piece, gaining insight about ourselves. Some puzzles are very intricate with lots of twists and turns, others contain plenty of detail and are beautiful to look at, both can be intriguing. And, like every individual the assembly of a puzzle can be a  labour of love and well worth a conscience effort.


Unlike the mass production of commercial puzzles a life is one of a kind. No two are alike, if we were all the same the world would be a very boring place to live? The experiences, perspective and opinions that we each have make us unique but also is what makes us fit together. Everyone has something to contribute. Every experience has a purpose and often much time is spent looking for one particle piece to complete a puzzle only to find it was right in front of us all the time.

I'm beginning to look more closely at my own life puzzle, family, career,  relationships, choices, milestones and celebrations and trying to understand how they all fit together. Sometimes it brings up mixed emotions, heartbreak, sadness, happiness, humour, bad memories and fond memories but they all have worked together to make me who I am. If any one of those pieces had been situated differently, or not at all, I would be a different person. I like who I am and what I have become, I wouldn't change anything about me or the choices I have made. If just one experience had been different I may not have the husband or children I have, I may not have reached my health or fitness goals, the quality of life, the peace of mind or any of the amazing aspects of my life that I adore. In the moment we tend not to see the whole picture of how it will all fit together, however, there is a reason for everything and it is all part of the bigger "puzzle" of life. That's not to say we can't, at times, manipulate the pieces to achieve a desired outcome, we can and should. Life doesn't just happen it evolves and we can direct and shape the pieces to create it the way we want. Not everything can be controlled but with a conscience effort the bigger pieces of the puzzle can shape the beauty of the finished product.  

So rather than lamenting over past mistakes and my 'woulda, coulda, shoulda's, I am embracing my unique life. I consider my personal  experiences as learning opportunities, pearl's of wisdom which I can impart on others. Embrace and honour your experiences, one puzzle 

piece can not complete the entire picture and the puzzle is never complete (and don't be afraid to ask for help).

Every piece impacts the whole...