Last week I had one of those off days. 

You know - those days when nothing seems to go your way. Usually, I can go with the flow, but not this time.

So when I got together with some friends I was rather distant. I wasn't myself.

Happy Monday!   

How was your weekend? 

Were you mindful or was your mind FULL?

Or maybe a bit of both?  Hey, it's called a mindfulness practice for a reason. :)

Let's get real.

Sometimes life is hard, right? 

Issues with our relationships, health, money or maybe we feel completely confused about what our purpose on this planet is.

Sometimes it feels like complete crap - like our life is falling apart and there is no way out. 

Question...

When you wake up in the morning is your mental checklist off and running before you even get out of bed?

Are you nodding your head?

You know what I'm talking about, don't ya?

"I will be happy when_____"
(I have more money, I am in love, lose weight, when that person changes or I have a new job....and on and on and on)

Do you ever think any of these thoughts?

I'll share a little secret with you...

Most people's minds are going non-stop and, as a result, we take life and ourselves WAY too seriously.

Would you agree...it feels really good to be able to laugh at yourself?

Some of life's best moments are when you're having fun and being goofy.  Practicing mindfulness allows us to be present in those moments and embrace lightheartedness.

There are a lot of beliefs about meditation and how we 'should' do it.  So much so that some people may feel intimidated and never even try it.

The pictures we see of people meditating are usually ones where people are sitting on the floor cross-legged.  So you might think this is the only way to meditate.  It's not the only way.  It's one way. 
 

Wanna a quick pick-me-up?

Devote your week to being kind.

Especially to someone you find annoying or you don't get along with.

It's free.  And it's a choice.

The most common comments I hear from people about meditation are....

"I can't meditate because I have way too many thoughts."
And the one I used many times when I first started...
"I can't meditate this week because I am too stressed out."

These are not true.  

If these were true - I wouldn't be meditating.

I feel so grateful for the work I do.  I have the honour of witnessing people grow, feel happier, more positive and start to make choices to live their life fully.

How does it get any better than this?

When I meet a client who's life is filled with chaos or they aren't fulfilled - it is guaranteed their mind is chaotic and filled with limiting beliefs that are stopping them from moving forward and seeing who they really are. 

I've mentioned it before and I'll say it again...

We have a lot in common.

I'm not talking about what we have or what we do. 

I'm talking about who we are at the core.

As humans, we basically long for the same thing.

Connection and Love.

Happy 2017!  It is a new year filled with possibilities. 

So the big question is...

What do you desire in 2017? 

Have you taken time to reflect on this?
(if you haven't, it's not too late!)

Do you ever have one of those days when you feel like you are totally ‘in the flow’? 

When synchronicities happen left, right and center; you meet the right people at the right time, and everything seems effortless. 

How does this make you feel? 
 

One of the most rewarding experiences I had this year was teaching mindfulness at a public school to over 800 children.  I also did a talk on mindfulness for the parents at this school.  Incredible!

When the children came up and thanked me it made my heart sing. 
 

You know what - we have a lot more in common than we may realize. 

For one thing, we've got a mind...

And sometimes this mind likes to chatter about random things.  (Agreed?)
Including Mental Checklists.  You know - that 'to do' list that runs through your head.   
 

December is an interesting month.  It can be filled with so many different feelings, emotions, expectations, and busyness.

For some people this holiday season is a real celebration - they love it!  And for others, this holiday season will be very challenging.
 

I know this is a VERY deep topic today and something we can all relate to.

When someone takes YOUR parking spot!

It happened to me on Black Friday. I went to the mall. (I forgot it was Black Friday. Oops!) and the parking lot was packed. I kept circling around to find a spot and finally I found one. So I put my blinker on and I waited (it felt like forever) until the person pulled out. 

I know you have a busy day.

Do you have 2 minutes to spare?

This is the key to experiencing peace...

Ok - I have a question for you...

Out of 16 waking hours how much of that time are you fully present? 
a couple of hours, a couple of minutes

When you wake up in the morning, are you present as you start your day?  Having a shower, eating, getting dressed? 

Or is your mind already at work, and a mental checklist is running through your head telling you all of the things you have to do.

A lot people think practicing mindfulness is WAY too complicated for them.

Well, surprise, surprise it’s not.

Try this today….

Anytime you become aware you’re not present you are present.