Life on Salt Spring

Day 168 - October 27th 2008

Email Sabbatical - Progress Report 1

What is an email sabbatical? That's a very good question. Well, since July (August really) I have been trying to make/find/create the time to work on life-coaching products. This is my dream - to have a website that is a resource for individuals AND fellow life-coaches.

So, I start things, I have great ideas - and for a lot of the products it simply means simply tweaking what I've been using with my clients. But my dream never seems to happen or move forwards.

And I know email is a big part of the problem. 1) Volume, 2) New and interesting opportunities and enquiries that come through via email and 3) My inability to NOT CHECK EMAIL, distract myself and get caught up in 1) and 2).

So, this email sabbatical is an experiment. The auto-responder telling people went on last Thursday lunchtime at 12.00pm. And since then I have had a few realizations...

REALIZATION NUMBER 1. In preparation for switching on my auto-responder, I began to unsubscribe from lots of newsletters and ezines. I hadn't realised I subscribed to SO MANY! and by this morning my email had already reduced significantly! I unsubscribed from a few more and it seems by head is already clearer...

REALIZATION NUMBER 2. The pull of email is stronger than I realised. I spent an hour going through my email (although I did make a couple of phone calls instead of write emails) before I even realised that the time had gone. And each of those emails I responded to already knows I'm on sabbatical because they will have received my auto-responder response. I am more of the problem than I realised...

REALIZATION NUMBER 3. The phone - takes more 'personal' effort than email. Maybe that's why we use email when really a phonecall would be quicker/easier. If you phone, you have to think about what you're going to say, be bright and cheery, look up the phone number and USE YOUR INTERPERSONAL SKILLS! It's more tiring than sitting down and whizzing off an email. But the phone is also better for creating a HUMAN CONNECTION. More on this later.

I think I am going to have to wean myself off email rather than go cold turkey... Enjoy your week people!

Day 164 - October 23rd 2008

What to do with 100+lbs of Apples?

Well, these are just SOME of the apples we picked at the weekend. There are more elsewhere and I guess 20lbs still on the trees that we need a picking ladder to get!

The largest apple we picked was 14oz - nearly 1lb!

And so far we have given apples away (it can be hard to find willing recipients as Salt Spring used to be Canada's main apple supplier until they started irrigating the Okanagan!!), made apple juice, apple & blackberry pie and apple & blackberry jam.

Tonight we visit friends for apple pizza (it's a dessert!) and we plan on making apple cider (the alcoholic variety).

Apparently you can store apples by wrapping them individually in newspaper but if you have any other ideas for large amounts of apples - let us know!

 And if you come and visit we'll give you some too!

Hairy Buddha

It has been quite amazing what a difference adding a dog to our household has made. Not only are we more constricted in our movements (cat-sitters are much easier to find than dog-sitters) but I have found myself having to examine myself more closely...

Anyone who has seen The Dog Whisperer (Cesar Millan) or any animal-psychology makeover programme knows that animals sense our energy. Cesar is all about Calm-Assertive energy, about being consistent. In order for the dog to behave and do what you ask it needs to believe you are the leader - that you're IN charge and you know what you're doing. For some dogs it doesn't take much and for others - like the lovely Dexter - it is a constant battle.

For example, when we first got Dexter he couldn't walk on a lead without literally yanking your arm off. And then every thing that wasn't a 'normal' human got barked and vigourously leapt at - often straining at the leash on just his hind-legs. Man with backpack, woman on bicycle, child on skateboard, woman in wheelchair (that was embarrassing!), black sack on the sidewalk, horse, sheep, motorbike, woman with towel on head. The list goes on. But gradually through correcting him and ignoring supposed 'threats' he is much better.

But he still pulls on the lead and won't always come when you call him. Like I said. He doesn't believe we're in charge - he thinks he is.

Hence the self-examination. Calm-Assertive Energy. What is that? How do you do that? It's harder to implement than it sounds. When Dexter is going nuts it's all too easy to yell or get frustrated. I become Tense-Frustrated. They seem to know.

So, I now find myself constantly checking my energy. Am I Calm-Assertive? Most times I am not. I may be one or the other, but rarely both. But when I focus on it and I AM Calm-Assertive, not only is Dexter easier but LIFE is much easier. No faffing around, no stress just calm getting things done.

So, this morning, having finished a good book, I took Dexter for his walk. I WAS naturally Calm-Assertive. I decided to ENJOY him. Usually I see the walk as a battle of wills and I have to be strong. Instead, I ENJOYED his big black nose, ginger eyelashes and constant testing of me. Instead I thought - he's behaving as any adoloscent would - he WON'T get his way and I WILL ENJOY the process.

And that is a good metaphor for everyday life. If we resist what IS, if we see things as a battle - they will be. Instead if we ENJOY the process of life - if we allow others to be themselves and not take it personally - AND remain calm and assertive, how much easier would OUR lives be? 

Day 150 - October 9th 2008

Yoda RIP

{Oct 20th '98 - Oct 9th '08}

I have been putting off updating the blog for well over a week now. I came back from Vancouver to an all-day powercut and Yoda (my favourite cat) being diagnosed with a terminal illness.

From about age 2 Yoda has always had wheezing issues. Later it was diagnosed as asthma. I know - asthma in a cat!

Well, we had noticed his breathing had been getting gradually worse and thought - maybe it's time to get him that asthma inhaler - again I know, a cat with an inhaler!!

But when they x-rayed him to check for anything else, he had fluid in the pleural sac around his lung - and a suspected tumour which was hard to see because the fluid obscures the x-ray somewhat. Some milky yellow fluid was extracted from around his lung (ick!) and sent off for analysis. But a preliminary look while at the vets suggested cancer. Which is what it turned out to be.

We decided NOT to do chemotherapy which would have meant twice weekly trips to the vet for 25 weeks, lots of blood tests, chemicals, injections etc. And no guarantees - especially on a 9 year old cat. The best case would be remission for two years - but most live another 4-6 months only. That's not fair on Yoda and would totally stress him out.

And 2 days after taking him in for asthma, he was having trouble breathing and barely moving so we had him euthanised. I've never had to make that decision before. It was VERY VERY hard. Thankfully, one of the great things about living in a small community is home visits by the vet, so he was euthanised at home in front of the fire with Duncan and I there. Thanks Sacha (our vet!).

Now I just miss his hassling presence, miaowy face and little furry body. I really thought Salt Spring would be good for the kitties, open space, clean air, lots of mice to chase. Sadly Yoda won't get to experience it - but he did have a very good, spoiled and very loved life. Yoda RIP.