First-World Problems in a Third-World Country

                                                

I just returned home from Nicaragua and I'm immediately feeling like I want to go back to my quiet fishing village. The greatest pleasure in traveling to other countries is embracing the way other people live. Here is what I learned...

Roads: Unless you have a truck, motorcycle or a horse don't bother heading onto the road. The bigger vehicle owns the road, and motorcycles are the most efficient form of transportation. If you own a truck, be prepared for unexpected passengers. An open truck bed is an invitation to a free ride.

Power & water: Sometimes there is no power. You get up with the sun and go to bed with the moon. A hot shower is like a gift from God; be thankful the water is clean.

Food: Variety is not important. You eat what is local and fresh. If you are looking for a culinary experience with an iron chef, the end of a dirt road is not where you are going to find it.

Efficiency: When I first arrived I was always processing how staff could be serving my needs more efficiently. I had questions like why are they not multi-tasking? They don't cause they don't have to. This lesson I should take home.

Housing: We were in a small fishing village on a dead end road. Until 5 years ago the residents never saw a tourist. Nicaraguans fish in the morning and find a hammock in the afternoon out of the hot sun. A simple life that that makes our work/life balance seem completely ridiculous. Westerners are starting to buy property around the area and building million-dollar homes. They all sit empty. They are back here, working to pay for their beachfront homes to get 14 days of relaxation a year. When this is explained to the fisherman on the hammock he thinks we are all loco.

Bugs: A conversation started with our favorite Nicarguan, Juan Carlos, about the bugs. He only had one comment. "You do know you are in the jungle?" End of conversation.

I spent one day living in a hammock by the sea looking at the sky. Not one plane flew over, no cruise ships or ski boats in the water. There is nowhere to go, nothing to buy and the only sight to see was the beach. We have much to learn back here in our first-world nation; this corner of the world is doing something right.

It was me. I stole it.

                                      

I stole something last week. Yes, I admit it. I am accepting my karma. Now before you get all judgy on me (please refer to the KS pledge), let me explain.

I stole a day. I know, it sounds crazy to steal a day but last Tuesday I just took off West to the mountains with my dog. I cancelled all of my appointments (with full disclosure about my irresponsible behavior) and blew off two webinars (which I later found out that I can watch at my leisure). The forecast was for a temp of 27c.  It's the start of fall in the mountains. Gorgeous.

I needed this day. I looked around my room, covered in books on social media, business and self help. How could I be taking myself so seriously? I am always preaching about living life, being in the moment and living with passion. So, I called my own bluff. Leaving the city felt like I was skipping school. Tuesday morning and here I was, playing hooky. The weather was spectacular, the foliage in the woods was breathtaking and I was free from WiFi.

Now, looking back on any given weekday I can't remember what I did unless I peek at my calendar. But Tuesday, September 18th I will always remember: a perfect fall day.

Friday Funny: Nailed It

Friday Funny: Nailed It

Help for the Rookie Car Shopper

Help for the Rookie Car Shopper

KS Philosophy 101

KS Philosophy 101

being hit by the karma bus

This week, I was hit by the Karma Bus. We have all heard it said about friendship that to have great friends, you need to know how to be one. Well, when this bus hit me the doors opened up and it was full of people ready to help. The situation I was stuck in was really quite minor (a first-world problem): car trouble and a daughter who needed to be picked up. One of my friends, Lorraine, brought the booster cables but both cars refused to start. My nephew Justin arrived to make sure we "girls" were not confused about the workings under the car hood; neither engine still would not turn over.  I had an offer from Shelley to be driven anywhere I needed to go, and Kathy texted me, offering to lend me her vehicle.

I am mother to four busy children in a sprawling city; it is not optional to manage them without a mode of transportation other than my bike. When Kathy made her offer, she was in the middle of an appointment at the hairdresser, with two of her children in tow. She left the salon with color in her hair, loaded the kids into their carseats and with an appropriate cape on her back, heroically delivered me to my new ride (shiny, white and heavily horsepowered). That is friendship. When we show up for our friends it creates all kinds of opportunities in the future for them to show up for us. It's like putting chips in your Karma Bank.

I loved being hit by this Karma Bus.

Janet

Passing kindness forward

Passing kindness forward

Weekly Wrap-up: Olympic Edition

Weekly Wrap-up: Olympic Edition

Summertime to-do Update

Greetings from Penticton, sisters!

Last week I posted that summer and I were going to rumble. And we have. I packed up the car, filled it to the roof with coolers, a trashy novel (no, not 50 Shades of Grey), luggage and kids and headed down the highway on a quest for summertime fun.

The great thing about traveling in a car with no agenda and no desire for a time record was that we could stop when we wanted to and we did, creating memories as we moseyed. We took pictures in the mountains and lunched by a lake. Having four daughters is an excuse for me to be a child again and I take full advantage of it. Every year we pass by a B.C. attraction called the Enchanted Forest. I've always wanted to stop but never fit it into the schedule, so this year it made the list. As we approached the sign, I became more excited while the older girls groaned. Really, who wouldn't want to wander through an enchanted forest filled with creepy garden gnomes?

Six days in, I have finished my allotted trashy novel, climbed a rock wall, raced in go-karts, jumped on a spider mat, owned the mini golf course, swum late at night in the pool and jumped in the lake. I still have the ghost town and the log barn to cross off before we head home. Here I am, steadily knocking off my summertime to do's.

Lemonade Stand Karma

Lemonade Stand Karma

Tuesday Inspiration: Haley

Tuesday Inspiration: Haley

Monday's summer nightmare

Monday's summer nightmare

Finding peace

Finding peace

Always dance in your kitchen

Why is it so hard for us to ask for help? And when we manage to ask, why do we feel guilty?

Recently one of our beloved sisters found her voice, found her feet, and found a sweet little space of her own with something she's always wanted: a kitchen where she would dance. Nobody could put her there until she was ready; but when that moment came, the Sisterhood sprung into action in a flurry of painting, cleaning, lending, and most of all, supporting. It was a beautiful thing. In the wee hours of Saturday morning we danced that kitchen for all its worth.

Because the truth is that girls actually do like to help. We like to feel needed in tough times, and we like to be part of a celebration in good times. We can't do it all ourselves, and when we have taken the time to create and nurture a group of friends, we don't have to.    

When did you go through a trial or tribulation where your sisters were there for you?

AAADD is running me

My ADD has been at an all-time high this week. I’ve started and stopped so many things that I surprise myself on the rare occasion that I actually get anything fully done by the end of the day.  

Which reminds me of our Friday Funny. If you’ve been challenged this week with completing tasks, and are wondering if you suffer from AAADD (Age-Activated Attention Deficit Disorder), you’re not alone, Karma Sister! Watch this sister as she goes through exactly what plays out in my head quite regularly.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oHBG3ABUJU

Gratitude & Tasmanian Devil

The moment I wake up, even before I open my eyes, I tend to run through my to-do list for the day. 

I recently had a long discussion with my Gaiatri yoga tribe about sending gratitude first thing, yet each day I start by running through the requirements of each day instead. One of my greatest strengths - and weaknesses - is my intensity. I complete projects quickly when I have passion, but I never stop to look back and appreciate what I have created.  

So this morning, I took a moment to reflect on my June. 

I graduated from yoga teacher training. 

I celebrated Cassidy's high school graduation and watched her accept the Drama award. 

I have three daughters who made the honor roll.

I launched my passion: karmasisters.com.  

I tear around like the Tasmanian Devil when I am in full speed. That’s just how I roll. But instead of ripping up landscapes I would like to think I have been planting a garden.  Sure, there were times when I forgot to water and weed, but in the end, as I look back, I know that I have created a beautiful garden.

I am officially sending gratitude for my fantastic life. I am happy. 

Who is a Karma Sister?

Who is a Karma Sister?

one hour

I haven't been doing my personal work and what I mean by that is I haven't been taking care of myself.   It happens, life is busy.  I rarely put myself as a priority in my own world.  Which is just crazy,   so many people depend on me being at my best.  Children have been known to hide during this period of insanity.   Taking care of myself is remembering what I want to do, and doing it.   Last week, I got caught up in my "to busy" story and now I am suffering the consequences.  I am full of anxiety and feeling pressure for no reason.      All of a sudden life seems to have taken over my life.  I started back on the program  and already I have seen a huge change in my attitude.  And what did it take?  One hour a day and some laughter.      I am so worth one hour of my own day.     

“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.” 

― Dr. Seuss

I am a inventor!

I was told today that I have to start blogging again for the website.   I hate being told what to do.  I instantly go to the little girl inside of me that stomps her feet and screams NO!    Blogging so last year for me and I am on to other things.  I have a team now and certainly someone wants to put thoughts down in a paragraph?   Apparently not.  They all picked jobs and this one was still on the list.   Blogging was easy last year, but now I seem to have writers block.  Am I not the same person?  Well, I can honestly say I am not (even if my grammar and spelling are still terrible).    Last year I wanted to be a writer, and this year I am a inventor.  Maybe next year I will be a dancer.   I get to change my mind!

To Lollygag is a choice

To lollygag is to spend time aimlessly; in idle.  Well today,  I got to do this with daughter Kate at the mall.    It dawned on us as we were lollygagging back to the car that we really didn’t have anything else to do today.  What a gift on a Sunday.  I have to admit that did try early in the morning to organize a soccer game and  a very wise soccer mom simply asked me “why are you adding?”   Good question, but is being idle different than being lazy?  There is this current of fear in my body that never wants to waste a day.   Therefore,  laying on the couch is not something that I enjoy.   And that is really what a day off is, choosing what you want to do with your time.  Idle or not.  Everyone deserves a day of choice and when they come,  enjoy it.  

Can I give you a title?

I issued another title and another box of Karma Sister business cards today.. It may sound crazy but to my new project its like a contract.  I have no capital to pay staff, no benefit package and no promise of a corner office.  All I have is a idea and a box of business cards.   Intention is a powerful thing and when you want  something,   somehow the universe  presents itself and it appears.  KS has five employees including myself and we love the possiblities.  Not what it will bring us personally but what we are creating.    The new way to do business is collaberation, inclusion and big picture.  Money can be  the root of all evil, but what if money is not the motivation?  I am not sure that Karma Sisters will ever turn a profit, but I do know 5 people who think that this adventure is one that they don’t want to miss.  To me that’s money in the bank.

Bucket list

As I was skiing today breathing in the fragrant mountain air, I began thinking about my bucket list.  It was such a popular conversation a few years back when the movie came out.   Emails were flying around with everyone’s top 50.   What happened to the lists? Is everyone checking items off?   I am not,  as it became another “to do” list that I have to manage.   I already have 4 uncompleted baby books haunting me, no thanks to more guilt.   As if I have time to go sit with the Dali Lama on a mountain for 4 weeks, life is busy.    Adventures comes to me all the time, so maybe I  just need to say “yes” more.    I shyly asked my  two oldest daughters to join me at a yoga/ski retreat this weekend.     Yogis love to chant,  dance wildly and eat tofu.  I was reluctant to show them how I act when they are not with me.  I often wonder if they are going to have me committed for not acting like a normal mother.   When they agreed,  I  prepared myself for the teasing and laughter, which I got loads of.  We shared many giggles and made some crazy memories which are two of my favorite things and this adventure was never on my bucket list.   I love my life with my girls and my life with one less list. 

Self Doubt

Self Doubt seems to be a plague with woman.  I watched Kevin Costner’s tribute to Whitney Houston this weekend and he reflected on how she was consumed with doubt about her abilities during the filming of “the bodyguard”.  Whitney Houston had a voice of an angel and she died not owning that.   I know from personal experience, working on my KS project, I am waiting for someone to tell me that I don’t know what I am doing (which is very true,  but still cautiously moving ahead).   What’s with all the self doubt?  Think about when we receive a compliment.  Usually with a deflection to someone else’s efforts or we argue the fact.    We were raised not to toot our own horns.  Are we not realizing who we are or who we can be because we are trying to stay quiet  in an effort not to hurt someone else's feelings? There is a difference between bragging and owning our accomplishments.   Achievements builds the evidence to damper that mean girl in our heads who remind us that we are not good enough.    As I searched the internet looking for a great quote for this blog most of them were from men.  Clearly this is not a gender specific problem, but it is Karma SISTERS.   So in the words of a great woman Eleanor Roosevelt   “You must do the thing you think you cannot do”

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day. I noticed that there are two Valentine camps. One group that refuses to participate in a “made up” consumer driven day, and everyone else that loves those heart shaped jube jubes and muppet valentines cards. Nothing says love like a note from Ms. Piggy. Sure there are 363 other days in the year that you could give flowers or chocolates, but how many days does it happen? It is an easy to get right. Its the same day every year and even the gas stations were selling flowers today. It is the smallest things that count, and one big day over looked that can hurt the most. If you forgot someone you love today, then you have the next 363 days to make it up. Karma Sister rule: Appreciate the ones you love everyday and a little bit extra today

drink in the moment

Tonight I watched the Grammy Awards with the girls.  Well, they watched and I drifted in and out.   “Someone” was doing the laundry and making lunches.    I am not sure who little Wayne's stylist is but he looked like he woke up from a nap in his PJ’s and stepped on stage.   Adele is a favorite in this house and we were ecstatic as we watched her accept 6 Grammies for her album that was “born out of a rubbish relationship”.  She turned great heart ache into a music masterpiece.   The most powerful the moment of the night was after she had finished singing rolling in the deep and she just stood there and drank in the standing ovation from the crowd. Somewhere deep inside a voice was telling her to slow down and remember the moment.   Rhianna, Drake, Stevie Wonder and numerous other award winning artists were on their feet, cheering.   Thanks for the lesson tonight Adele,   drink in the moments that count.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr5JkOc6rd0

Leo Moon and Phil

There is the most intoxicating moon in the sky.  As I hit the soccer mom trail tonight a Phil Collins song came on the radio “in the air tonight”.  In the first two lines  “I can feel it coming in the air tonight. Hold on...   I’ve been waiting for the moment for all my life.. hold on”   It sent shivers up my spine.  Music is a powerful tool, and I can always find some wisdom in a song.   Phil made me think about why are we all waiting for change.   There will never be a cosmic shake up unless we create it in our own lives.   Moments somehow will turn into years.   I never want to look back and wonder where my life went.   To quote the Dahai Lama “Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risks”.   And sometimes the pull of a very powerful Leo Moon.   Makes me want to howl.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkADj0TPrJA&feature=BFa&list=TLYJF5AsJWb2w&lf=artistob&shuffle=428301

The lesson in cancer.

Cancer is one of those diseases that every family has been touched by.  I have a young cousin in war.  When the diagnoses comes down,  we looked for reasons why.   She lives a healthy lifestyle, she is kind, and loving.   Why do bad things happen to good people?   My yogi brain goes to there is a lesson for her in the illness.  It just makes me feel better.  I imagine a great big door swinging open and there is this incredible life full of butterflies and waterfalls when her treatment is done.    My mother battled cancer and I know she looks at the world with different eyes.  Mom has this saying “it’s not cancer” when anything goes wrong.  And she is right.  Late for work, flat tire, or your roof fell in?  It is still not cancer.   With this recent sad news,  it is a reminder for me to slow down and stay close to those I love.    Maybe battling her way back to health is the lesson.    She is touching everyone around her with the reminder,  life is precious.   Jo,  your a powerful teacher.

Jumping out of the box

The greatest and scariest thing about doing something completely new is that there is a learning curve.  Sometimes I wonder how I can ever remember everything that I am suppose too and then there are small brief moments that it all just sinks in.   I have emerged myself into learning, and anything that can help me get Karma Sisters off the ground.  Last week I took a sales course “how to close in a elevator”.  There was that moment I had to explain what I was creating and it had to be in 30 seconds and in front of owners of actual business.    That is climbing out of my suburbia mom box.  I am not sure where all these small steps are taking me, but I keep reminding myself I don’t need to know, I just need to climb.  

Procrastination

Procrastination steals energy from our days. With the world speeding up and more on the list of things to do, it is so easy to put those nagging hard to make phone calls to the side.   When the paperwork and the laundry pile up it brings “overwhelmed”.    

This is the sprinkle of drama that we add to our lives.    Take the drama shaker away and work on that one nagging job.   I have included this video to help you get motivated or want to go to a french restaurant for Les grenouilles 

http://www.flickspire.com/m/IAAW/EatThatFrog?id=~Contact.Id~

The little white lie

Oh the little white lie.   We say them everyday.  Last week I watched a video about the concept of not lying, for any reason.  Stuck in traffic?  Probably not.  Missed your call?  pushed ignore.   There is a freedom in telling the truth.   I started to notice when my lips wanted to tell the smallest untruth.   I figured out that I am the most untruthful when I say  “ I can’t”  which means “I don’t want too”.    Lets face it, if we really wanted to do something we figure out a way.   The great thing about being 43 is I know what I want and I don’t need to explain it.   The other problem with being 43 is sometimes I just forget what I decided on.  Here is something called the mindful smack, its a great video blog on this very concept which got my lying radar up.    Enjoy.  http://vimeo.com/30905771 

Me & Justin Timberlake

I drifted between work, driving the kids, and pushing the cart through Safeway  I thought sometimes staying in the moment sucks.  This was me today.  Its only Tuesday and I am already dreaming about the weekend.     Next weekend I am off duty and it can’t come fast enough.  Not that being a mother is fully rewarding but having 3 days where I only have to worry about where I am is a holiday.  This got me thinking,  why don’t I include something everyday to look forward to other than the end of the day?    Even if it is staring at a Justin Timberlake video for 4 min.   It is similar concept to finding gratitude everyday,  it is taking a moment for joy and of course,  Justin.  

Pass kindness forward

Pass kindness forward is something that doesn’t take much time and it can be part of our lives everyday. I saw this video on FB this morning and thought it was such a great example of the world we all want to live in. Sometimes we miss those very small moments to help because we are not in the moment. Take 5 min out of your busy day and watch this. We all make a difference.

http://www.flixxy.com/pass-the-kindness-forward.htm

Pass The Kindness Forward

www.flixxy.com

One act of kindness leads to another. All shot in one take.

KS on Vacation?

Karma Sisters has been on vacation.  Thank you to my many friends who have dropped me many supportive notes about it.  I have been working with Franco Media about launching it into the web full scale.  No holding back, throwing myself on the line.  It is like putting your life out on the road and hoping that you don’t get run over.  I often think about where we would be if Rosa Parks hadn’t sat down on that bus or Alexander Bell had not but his idea into motion. (well in the dark actually).   How many brilliant ideas where buried under the earth because of fear, or perhaps one persons negative comment.  I am not saying KS is going to change the earth, but its going to change me.  Watch out web, here we come!KA

Love my phone

I love my phone. There I said it. I might have to join an addiction group. Sadly, it adds excitement to my world. My phone is all about me. My photos, my music and mostly my friends. Text messaging has become one of my biggest allies in the battle of busy. The greatest thing about instant messaging is that there is no small talk & no nonsense. If you approach each text message without emotion it drops all the drama. Texting is the only way to communicate with teenagers, (this is where the no drama is most helpful). Its the spell check that mess’s me up. Most days I am drinking coffee, on my laptop and texting. My text messages can be encrypted, but really it just adds more mystery to who I am. Please read all messages with open mind and a sense of humor.

Dedications for 2012

I didn’t do new years resolutions for 2012.  However,  on the beach in Costa Rica I  worked on dedications.    Just the term alone gives more substance to making a change.   Resolutions with me, only have had energy until mid January.     This year my dedication was to get on living my life.  I am 43 and I am not fux*ing around anymore.  The sand has more than covered the bottom on my hour glass and I am going to make every spec count from now on...   In going to look for the good in every situation, take risks and travel the earth.    There is a world outside of my life that I need to see.   

Roller derby

Yesterday I met my sister and we went roller-skating.  We didn’t go for us,  but soon it became about us.   We skated around as we did 30 years ago, we went back in time.   The games started and attempts at our old bag of tricks.  Tag on roller skates has to be done with reckless abandonment.  At some points it looked like a scene out of a Roller-skating derby, bodies littered the floor.    It only took one fall to remind myself that I am no longer 14 and bounce different, I bounce more like a bag of cement.   This is something I am going to do more of, living my life through the eyes of my inner child..  I am going to carry a few more bruises, but the infectious belly laughs are the reward. 

Heres to 2012!

New years eve this year was a ceremony for many of us who shared a week in Nosara over the Christmas holidays. It was a cleansing of 2011 and a welcoming of 2012.. As the sun set on the beach, a few of us swam into the warm water to say good f*@&!ing ridden to a tumultuous year, and let the rolling waves wash it away.. Now, I can’t wait for the new year to start.. I know wherever I am next year that when I look back to 2012, I am going to say “what a ride!”... Here is hoping that the Mayans got their math wrong.. Happy New Year everyone..