Dance Debut Insights

Are you Dehydrated? Why?!

2012-02-05T10:22:00.004-04:00

Canada’s Natural Resource: Water

We live in a country that is flowing with clean, nourishing water. We have some of the most beautiful lakes, rivers and ocean shorelines in the world. Yet, in our society, we are suffering from the most incredible illness – dehydration. Despite the opportunity to just turn a tap to receive our water, with all of our special filters and water preservation techniques, we do not drink the water. Can you imagine living in a third world country with contaminated sloughs to pull your water from? Can you imagine being so desperate for water you spend your whole day searching for a source? Can you imagine that in our luxurious lives we don’t know when to reach for our incredible commodity? – WATER.

Recently Tim Horton’s released its new oversized coffee mug. We all laughed and commented, and then many Canadians lined up to receive their anointed right, their daily shot of adrenaline to help them get through the day. And, maybe they chose a smaller cup, either way, they spent money on gas to get to the store, time to sit in a line and wait for their familiar habit, and then many minutes of the day to embrace their cup in front of them while sipping away at the brew that will bring them to life.

I don’t drink coffee. I never have and I am not interested in the message it sends us and our youth. I am appalled at the teachers who stand at the front of the classroom hugging their mug in the morning while they lecture. I am sad for the children who go to classes, practices or rehearsals who see their parents sitting in a chair watching and waiting for them, sipping on their adrenaline rush. I am worried for the children whose parents allow them to embrace the same habit at a young age – some as young as newborns in hospitals, who do not have bodies yet ready to cope with the effects of caffeine. And, I am horrified that the most incredible resource on our planet is completely ignored for consumption, polluted at every opportunity and sacrificed for advancing technologies in the oil industry.

Why do we not consume water? Why do we not like the taste? Why do we feel the need to deprive ourselves of it? Why is it not important enough?

I hear from many clients that they have brain fog, a sore back, restless leg syndrome, sciatica, aching joints, headaches, stiffness, indigestion, acid reflux…the list can go on. Do they look at what they are consuming? No, many of them ask for relief through medication. They want a pill that will take away the pain, and many wash it down with their coffee or black tea.

Have you checked your hydration level? A simple way to check is to pinch the skin on your hand. If you are hydrated it will quickly be reabsorbed into the hand. If you are dehydrated it may stand up for a few seconds before finding its way back into your hand. Or, you may have skin that doesn’t return back to the hand – now that is severe dehydration!

What are you going to do about? Are you going to pour yourself a cup of caffeine and contemplate this predicament, or are you going to make a change?

When I first began working on my own hydration I added a glass of water after every trip to the bathroom. For the first little while there were frequent trips to the bathroom, but that changed in a short period of time. Then, I stopped consuming juice, milk, pop etc at meal time. I replaced it with water. Better yet, I drank the water about 30 minutes prior to eating so my digestive system was ready to digest the food that was to follow. Adding liquids with the meal only hinders the digestive enzymes and their ability to work optimally to process your meal. If I wanted a hot beverage, I switched to a green or white tea that would provide me with much need antioxidants and support for my bodies systems. I also researched the best teas for different healing challenges and saved those blends for when they were most needed. And, I consumed this tea when I was taking a few relaxing moments for myself. I savored it, enjoyed it, relaxed, planned and then returned to my busy schedule.

Here is how you can get started to completely nourish and support your incredible body. Take a sip of water and swish it in the mouth before swallowing to stimulate the receptors in the mouth to recognize that the water is being added. If chronic dehydration is a pattern for you, after drinking then rub on the belly midway between the belly button and the zyphoid process on the midline of the body to help the body send the water to the brain as well as the muscles and organs.

It is important that you do not wait to drink water until just before you are doing something physical. It is important the body is always hydrated and that the water will be available for the muscles at the time of exertion, rather than to the organs that are lacking water. Water is best drunk at room temperature for maximum absorption in the quickest amount of time. Throughout the day the body requires approximately 6-8 cups for regular movement, and for more movement and exertion, it is recommended to add 2-4 cups more. If you consume a caffeinated product, for every cup of caffeine you need two glasses of water to reverse the dehydration that results from the caffeine. Alcohol works in the same way. For every glass of wine, add two glasses of water.

Before engaging in any activity it is essential that the brain and body are hydrated. Adequate water in the body allows for the cells to work efficiently, and helps to send messages across nerve endings. For coordination of movement, the brain and the body need to send information quickly and water is essential for this communication. If the body is dehydrated, the organs will be the first to receive fresh water, then the muscles and lastly the brain. Performance is compromised if the body is in stress due to a lack of water.

Take notes. On a piece of paper, list all the ailments or challenges that you sense in your body at this time. Begin a new regime that includes adequate hydration and nourishment for your cells. In a month or so, make a new list of ailments. See if the two lists match. Take note of changes you have felt in your body, and how your energy, mental clarity and initiative has changed. It is so simple, and it is just the turn of a tap away.

WATER, it is over 70% of our bodies composition and it is our life line. Give yourself the gift Mother Nature has provided for us and feel the healing benefits it can provide.

Some of the information used in this essay is from information gathered from readings in “Touch for Health” by John Thie, “A Revolutionary Way of Thinking” and “Nutrition for the Brain” by Charles Krebs).

Creating!

2011-11-05T16:23:00.000-03:00

Hot off the press last week was the new book by world reknowned author and healer, Louise Hays, and life coach extraordinaire, Cheryl Richardson. The book is called "You Can Create An Exceptional Life". I was so excited to receive my little package in the mail. And, despite having 5 other books on the go on the night table, this one was on top and I was ready. So ready in fact, I devoured the book in 2 days.

Being so inspired to read their book, I began to wonder why I had all these other books and magazines hanging around the night table. When I look at the pile I am able to express the words "I am sure behind on my reading". I am not really behind, I am just not inspired to really finish the books. So, why do I keep them there? I am not in a class where I have to read the book. I don't have to finish the whole thing. I don't have to highlight or remember anything specific and I don't have to admit I didn't finish them. So, why are they there? I finally realized that I like to finish things. I like to feel that I have given everything my best focus and attention. But, sometimes, we don't need to really be so thorough. And, who is keeping tabs anyway?!

It's like the stickees on my desk. I don't like lists, because I don't like to feel that I didn't complete something, so I put thoughts on my desk on stickees and as I deal with each one I am able to pull the stickee off and open the space. Do I really need a stickee or could I just put the topic needing attention on my calendar and pick a time to address the topic and be done with it. This would mean it is not incomplete, but waiting for attention. What a concept! And, imagine a desk that was open to thoughts of the day, rather than delays of details.

When I read a book and want to remember phrases from the pages, I turn up the bottom corners. Sometimes I will write cue words on the corner too. So, I go to one of the first upturned corners to read: "We are powerful, creative beings who determine our future with every thought we think and every word we speak...In our purest, most positive state of mind, we are powerful creators of our very best lives," (page 29 and 30, Louise Hays). This weekend I am devoting myself to find the creative energy within. I am clearing the patterns and habits that hold me back from being free to enjoy the present. I am cleaning up the piles of "incompletes", and "don't really need to look at", and I am enjoying the moments for being clear and mine and open. Wow! Feels like a fresh spring breeze...oh, I think I saw a snowflake...they too are perfect, unique and waiting to be marvelled in the moment.

Self Creation of Limitations

2011-06-24T19:26:00.000-03:00

Sitting on my desk is a quote that I heard on a talk show a few weeks back: "Many people are bound and held in the self creation of their own limitation." I have been reflecting on this and comparing what I choose to do with what I am capable of doing.

On Tuesday I taught my first webinar for ARPA and ACE Communities. This was a challenge to present my dance material with no visual background and only dialogue and printed instructions. I had never prepared a power point before, and I had never worked on so many computer details at one time. Monday morning my barometer of a back was giving me the stress signals. This is usually indicated by lower back pain and then everything seizes up. Tuesday morning was a headache. Why was I doing this to myself? Perhaps I should just stick to what I do best - leading dance classes with people who can see me and follow!

Giving in to my fear would not suit my character. In fact, not rising to a challenge has not even been in my vocabulary for many years. Perhaps it was time to consider "pulling back the reins" and choosing an easier course. But, what about the excitement of thinking in a different way? How about making my material easy to understand and reproducable by non dancers? If I did not rise to this challenge, others would not be able to benefit from all the studying I have been doing and all the experience I have gained over my career. No, technology and fear would not be a consideration.

So, I prepared a piece that had audience participation, (I did not want anyone to sit through a movement presentation); I had questionnaires to be thought provoking, (I wanted to engage the people who need to respond and be involved in the process of learning); and I had a joke and photos to entice the visual learners, (I wanted people to be interested in the material on the screen). It was a little weird to not see everyone's eyes, as I love to make eye contact with all of my students. It was also difficult to know if everyone was following, as participants were not sure if they should vocalize a response or not. But, I carried through answering written questions and responding to some of the dialogue.

When I finished I was so relieved! But, I was also elated. I had completed this incredible learning challenge, and I felt like I was able to get my ideas across and have them well received. Being a presenter of a webinar would open new ideas and opportunities for me and the material that I present. And, for those people living in a rural area where they could not access workshops or opportunities for my material, this was a new way to become connected to the world. Thank goodness I rose to the challenge.

I was also excited for the different attendees. I had people from across Canada as well as New York and their areas of interest were very different. This showed me the incredible potential that the webinar had for all kinds of people, and not just the participants attending a conference on a specific topic. Also, I could reach people across the world with this technology. Who would believe?!

So, now after a few days to reflect and think about the presentation, I am excited to bring more ideas and opportunities to people. I would love to add a camera to visually be able to share techniques and patterns of movement. The jitters are gone and the excitement of creation is taking over - of course, that is my favorite part of presenting!

As I stare at the quote on my desk again: "Many people are bound and held in the self creation of their own limitation," I wonder if I can move the other stickee over top: "I am filled with unlimited potential and I know exactly what I need to do to express this potential in amazing ways," (Cheryl Richardson). Yes, this quote definitely resonates at a higher frequency, and it opens my mind to potential - Amazing, Creative, Energetic potential. What's moving you forward?!

Walk the Talk

2011-06-01T11:24:00.002-03:00

What is the most repeated phrase you say to yourself each day. Do you look in the mirror and berate yourself for your weight? Do you assess the blemishes on your face? Do you wish the color of your hair was different? Do you curse the aches and pains in your joints as you get out of bed? Do you remind yourself that the inability to sleep, eat, walk, move etc is just a sign of you aging? Wow! Had you thought about your personal dialogue before? And, how long have you been speaking to yourself this way? Days, Weeks, Months, Years? How much time have you spent so far over your lifetime engaging in this dialogue?

What happens if you begin your day with "Good Morning Sunshine!" "Hello Doll!" "I love being you!" What a way to begin your day!!! And what if you continued this dialogue with congratulations for making a great breakfast, or taking time for a walk, or meditating for 10 minutes before starting your day, or loving yourself in the afternoon when your energy may drop a bit. What if you stood in the mirror in the evening and thanked your body for giving you such incredible opportunities through the day, or gave yourself accolades for a job well done at work, class, with family, children, etc. And, as you brush your teeth before bed, what would happen if you thanked yourself for being such an inspirational being, an abundance of energy, a source of support for family, or a wonderful friend? Wouldn't it feel fantastic! Those positive neutrons would be embraced by your body. They would latch on and glow with the accolades. Your energy would be fulfilled and the smile on your face would be genuine.

So, what are you waiting for? How long will you play the same old record for? When will you be worthy of recognition, self love, and personal abundance? Start today. Smile at yourself in the mirror and say "Hello Beautiful! Thank you for this incredible life today!!!"

Are you taking care of YOU?

2011-05-04T11:30:00.000-03:00

For the last few weeks I have been training in new methods of delivering information about how to repair the body easily and effectively. I have been trained in Touch for Health techniques for almost a decade, and I have taught these techniques for over 5 years. I have created a very well received workshop called “Tender Tootsies” that helps people to reconnect with their feet and strong, supportive posture. I repaired my body using these techniques and went from an inability to walk to rebuilding all my muscles from the floor up. I have been an avid Tai Chi enthusiast for almost 15 years, and the benefits of Tai Chi and Qi Gong have become a daily practice for me as well. Now I am adding the expertise of a program called “Circuits Alive” that balances all of the muscles in the body for better functioning, better performance, and better competitive edge for the elite athlete. I am also launching a new program called “Dancing to the Rhythms of the Cosmos” that combines music, dance and song to balance the muscles in the body. This program is fun, engaging and something that people can share with each other in a compassionate and energetic group setting. All of these techniques have something incredible – the ability to make a difference on your own body, to alleviate pain and suffering, and to find joy in moving. What puzzles me is why so few people know these techniques and use them to promote their own health and power of wellness.

I am always curious about techniques that are quick, simple and most effective and “how can I do it myself?” I am truly amazed when I introduce such techniques to people and how many people have no body awareness and just use their body as a vehicle to get to their mental goals. When their physical body lets them down, these people are so quick to confirm: “They are getting old”. How did this disconnect happen? Why are we so blocked for understanding our body, its mechanics, and its needs? Why do we want someone else to fix us, and why do we concede so easily that we are not fixable?

Many people spend several minutes or hours a day grooming for the public and preparing their public image. There is the long, hot shower; the hair gel; the blow dryer or curling iron or straightener; the deodorant products; the makeup; the clothes; the jewellery; the cup of coffee; and the minutes of time staring into the mirror; and the berating of the body for the extra pounds that are staring back. How much time is spent meditating or reflecting on the type of day you would like to have, the goals you wish to achieve, the dreams you wish to move towards or the people who need a few minutes of your compassion for the challenges they may be facing in their lives? How much time is spent cooking a really nutritious breakfast that nourishes your body for the day? Equally, how much time is spent preparing and cooking the lunch or dinner as well? How much time is spent thinking about breathing, and assuring your body that it is getting full deep breathes to nourish itself? How much time is put into exercises and activity to move, challenge, feed and heal your physical body? And, finally, how much time is spent nourishing the spirit throughout the day? (– And coffee doesn’t count!)

Many of us spend so much time in our heads that we believe we are very active because our brains are active. At the end of our busy work day, we are mentally tired, and this translates into physical fatigue as we neglect to nourish and feed ourselves throughout the day in a mental, physical and spiritual way. So, are we getting old? No. We are neglecting and abusing our most precious gifts.

If you have the opportunity to make a change for yourself today, think of what it would be. What could you do to bring balance to the Triangle of Health: Spirit, Mental and Physical Wellbeing? Start with a few minutes of deep breathing. Allow yourself to relax and breathe from deep down in your belly. Feel all of your muscles relax, your head clear, and your body move to a simple state of just being. Breathing for up to 15 minutes at a slow and deep rate of 6 breathes per minute can completely change your day and your body’s ability to react to the day. Next, find one change to your dietary routine that will allow you to feel the benefits of being nourished. Perhaps you add drinking 6-8 glasses of water throughout your day rather than filling up on caffeine drinks or sugar drinks. Perhaps you sit at the table and talk as a family while you eat your dinner. Perhaps you prepare your food from scratch rather than pulling it from a box. Lastly, find some way to exercise and enjoy your body each day. We have lost the ability to walk to work, take the stairs, play outside, or engage in a physical activity rather than going for a coffee to chat. Enjoy the outdoors as you walk around the neighborhood; put on some of your favorite music and dance in your living room; or challenge your children to a game of ball or soccer.

Below I will list a few of the techniques that I have learned from Specialized Kinesiology that I use every day to assist me in my quest for finding balance in my life and honoring the physical vessel that helps me to accomplish my goals each day.

1) De-Stress: Emotional Stress Release is as simple as putting your finger tips on your forehead lightly and taking some slow, deep breathes. This process brings the body out of survival mode and helps the brain to formulate ideas and tactics for dealing with challenges.

2) Energize: Cook’s Hook Ups bring the energy into alignment and a free flow. Cross the right foot over the left, and then cross the right hand over the left and link the fingers. Put the tongue on the roof of the mouth and breathe deeply for one minute. Then, put the feet parallel and touch the fingertips together as you place the hands in front of the belly button. With the tongue still on the roof of the mouth, continue to breathe deeply for one minute.

3) Walk with Ease: Rub between the bones on the top of the foot and the side of the foot. If there is a spot that aches, give it a little more rubbing until the ache subsides. This will assist the body in finding strength in the muscles of the feet and coordinate the muscles for ease with walking, running or exercises.

4) Decrease Pain: If there is a spot that is bothering you, place the hand or hands over the spot. Very often the hands will heat up as the blocked energy is released through your touch. Leave the hands over the spot until you feel them cool off. Or, for arthritic pain or swelling over joints, place the fingers over the joint very lightly in the shape of an X (the pinky finger will be an extra). Hold this square position over the joint for several minutes. With time the swelling may lessen and the pain may subside.

There are so many ways to find balance in your life. What is holding you back from being the best you can be? Do you have the tools to help yourself? If you don’t have the tools, perhaps you could add some of the suggestions added in this article. When will your body be important enough for you to remember it each day? When will you stop growing old?

Be Careful What You Ask For!

2011-04-27T09:06:00.000-03:00

When the movie “The Secret” came out, I was hooked. I got to work thinking about my dreams and I created my own vision board. I am sure many of you reading this have thought about a vision board. Maybe some people made one, maybe some of you put a list of ideas together. But were you clear? Did you really understand what you were asking for? Did you really think it all through? I thought I did…but there are many interpretations to pictures and words.

My vision board had a picture of several trip destinations and dates. I have accomplished several of those. They were easy. One is still on the board and I am looking forward to having this trip come to fruition.

I had a picture of a sports car, as I wanted something frivolous and fun. I had the opportunity to purchase this car in the fall, and I test drove the car, and I sat in it, and I thought hard about it. Guess what?! It was frivolous and fun, but not practical for the world we had moved to. Did I buy it? No. It was not a good fit for me. Oh surprise!

I had published several books at that point in my life, and I thought it would be great to sell more books. Now this can be interpreted several ways. Sell several copies of the same book, or create more books and sell copies of them too. Guess what I did. Made more books and sold more copies of them. Yes, I have lots of books, but I have not sold enough copies of any of them to turn a good profit. I guess I should have been more specific about this one.

I included a picture of the kind of house I wanted, but when I chose the picture, I was really in love with all the trees around the house. Well, I have a new old house, and it does not look at all like my picture. But, what I love about my house is the view from my bedroom window. I am over the trees and I feel like I am in a tree house. I love the feeling. Does it feel like the view I had in my picture of the house? Yes. I guess I got what I asked for.

When I sold my business and moved across the country it was to fulfill our family’s dream of living in Cape Breton. I was happy to let go of the hectic pace and to have more time to spend with my teenage daughter. I wanted more quality time with her, and the opportunity to share that time while not being so tied to my work. We have just finished four months of treatment to eradicate Hodgkins Lymphoma from her body. I stopped all work and devoted myself to her care and recovery. We have been inseparable through this time. I sure got what I asked for with this…I think I should have been a lot clearer on this one.

So, moving forward with my career, now I am working at a new brand name for several of my new program creations. I am trying to find a good catch phrase to launch these programs into a financial filibuster that finally produces the financial freedom and professional development that I have been working towards for years. My dad reminded me the other day that I often have such incredible energy for creating that I forget to forecast and build the financial picture too. This all has to be part of my vision board for sure. So, I am taking special care to really look at the brand, the forecast, the desired outcome, the program success and all. What I do know as I work on this – BE Specific! I will get what I ask for, so I need to make sure I know what I want, and I need to be clear at describing it.

What is on your vision board? Have you been clear? Have you taken the time to really think about what you want from your future? Do you have a plan or are you just “winging” it? Do you have goals with clear time tables? Are you ready to really achieve your dreams, or are you still “dreaming” about them? Just thought I would ask. Be Clear about your answer!

What We do With our Talents can be Very Inspirational for Others

2011-04-13T16:05:00.001-03:00

As a retired dance studio owner, and as an avid dance instructor, I have spent the last little while reflecting on what people do or don't do with the talent they have. And, is it right to not use your talent and let it go to waste?

When I first started learning about Cape Breton Stepdancing over a decade ago, I was thrilled at the level of expertise that was passed down from generation to generation and from family to family. There was so much history in this art form, and so much personality in the style that each family had and where their steps came from. For the Fraser Descendents, this is a big part of their story. Willie Fraser, a famous and sought after dancer and gaelic singer from Inverness County, first learned how to dance when he was four years old. He would wake up from dreams in the night with steps in his head and pronounce to the family what he had learned the night before. After several weeks of these dreams Willie had a series of steps to string together and to practice in the day time. As Willie became an adult, he was well known across Cape Breton Island for his steps. Even after he was married and with several children, he would come home from work and a car would be waiting for him to take him to a dance where people would be waiting to see him show his steps. In those days there was hardly enough money for the fiddler and the piano player, so the stepdancers performed for their own love of the dance. On one such occasion the Priest of the local parish felt obligated to give Willie something for all his efforts to come out to the event and leave his family and wife at home, so he blessed Willie's feet in thanks. From that day forward it was an honor to say to the dancer - "Bless Your Feet" after their performance.

Willie has expressed in interviews about those days, that he felt if he was given the gift of dance, then it was his obligation to go where the dance was needed. It would be rude for a stepdancer to not get up for the fiddler playing a Strathspey for the dancers and to disappoint a waiting audience. The same holds true for musicians and performers. How often do you see talented people being coaxed to get up and perform, and they refuse to oblige? They think it is awkward and presumptuous that people would be interested in them. Sometimes they are shy and want us to buy into that too. For those people without artistic capabilities it is a real disappointment to not enjoy the talents that others have been gifted with - no matter what level of expertise they are at. We all enjoy being entertained and a supporter of a performance.

On the bulletin board in my office I have hung many quotes over the years. One that has stuck out to remind me of why I need to perform when the opportunity arises is: "Nervousness is a Selfish Act" - anon. When I have felt my feet weren't ready to perform, or I was not sure about getting up infront of the audience in the hall for the night, or if I had not practiced and I was not confident in my muscle memory, I remembered my gift. I remembered my opportunity. I remembered my audience. I have an obligation to get up and perform, and I know I need to enjoy every moment of my gift and completely give to my audience. It would be selfish of me to deny us all and let fear dominate the evening.

As a teacher I was always encouraging my students to chase their dreams, embrace their opportunities and to shine wherever possible. This past month has been the start of the festival and competition season, and the dancers I left behind a year ago are now reaching their first performances without me. I am sad that I am no longer their teacher, and I am sad that I am not the one leading them this year. However, I am thrilled that my passion for performance and sharing has helped them push through this year of big changes as they embraced their own passions.

The first performance of excitement was a fundraising event to support alternative cancer treatments. Many of my former students chose to use their talent to create a statement. A very talented musical theatre singer arranged a favorite piece of music called "Home" originally sung by Vanessa Carlton, and gathered her friends into a band using their musical skills. I should note here that these performers are all preteens. Then, a former dance student, choreographed a moving lyrical piece to accompany the band and singer. They created this piece for a close friend of theirs, my daughter, who has battled Hodgkins Lymphoma this winter and who has not been well enough to perform. At the time of the performance we were not sure if she was cancer free yet, so her friends rallied to perform a piece that would inspire her to dig deep and succeed to find her health, with the knowledge that no matter how far away everyone was, they were all "home" with her and they were supporting her through this ordeal. I burst with pride knowing that they have all embraced their talents and they have let their passion shine through to bring their gifts to others.

The second performance of excitement was the first competition event for the season. Changing teachers, changing styles of dance, and changing studios was a big adjustment for everyone. My son was able to spend some time at the competition watching these former dance students and he called after the event bursting with pride. He could not believe how all of our former students were shining. They were passionate. They were strong. They were well prepared. And, they were confident to share their talents with the world. Again I burst with pride thinking about how these dancers had embraced their passion, dug down deep and found a way to shine in a big way with their own performances. They are the next generation that will go forward to share their talents with the world. They are not afraid to express themselves and use their talents to help others realize they should chase their own dreams.

Being an artist is such an incredible gift. We can be passionate, expressive, crazy, or anything we want to be. And, we have the power to put a smile on peoples faces. We can bring energy to bodies that don't have the ability to do what we are doing. And, we can inspire and motivate others to try their best and chase their own passions. If you have the talent and gift - Celebrate. If you witness the gift - Celebrate. But, most importantly don't let nervousness bring hesitation to your passion and prevent you from doing what you were given the opportunity to do - Perform and Love It!

One Smile Says it ALL!

2011-03-26T18:28:00.000-03:00

Comfort is a word that all of us use in the winter time when we want to be safe and warm from the winter elements. We might have “comfort foods” or “food mom used to make” to help wrap us in memories from our childhood when we were taken care of. We might wrap ourselves in a warm blanket or set a fire before us. We might add hot chocolate and marshmallows to our plan. We might play music that brings back warm memories, or read a book that we remember with fondness. And, then we reflect on the friends who surrounded us for our life adventures. We remember our family events, grandparent hugs, presents from Aunts and Uncles, glowing parents watching over us. And, we remember our friends. We remember the buddies who got us through the school years, our teens, our relationships, our children, our aging. And, we remember those in our world that set up a community of support that would raise us, help us, nurture us, support us and celebrate us. In this we find “comfort”.

Our community is our extended family. Sometimes they know more about us than we would like, but they care. They help us with projects and activities and provide volunteer time to achieve great things for those around them. They strive to create a working relationship that can create opportunities for others in the community through special programs and initiatives. And, our community provides us with comfort.

It is very stressful to enter a new environment (school, workplace, activity, community) and find out how you fit. Creatures of habit, we prefer to stay where we know how things work and what the outcomes will be, but sometimes we have to move out of our comfort zone and create new communities. How do we do this?

From our perspective, the new one trying to fit, we want to share, build, learn and grow with the new people and surroundings around us. From the community’s perspective, they want to learn about us, enjoy our different perspective, and help us find a way to feel like we fit.

How do we find a way to fit? It starts with a smile. An exchange of this simple gesture can mean so much. It can be heartwarming. It can be inviting. It can be accepting. It can be encouraging. It starts with a caring word. “How are you?” “Can I help you?” “Where are you from, or where you to? And it is the time that someone takes to help us feel comfortable and important. “Just call if you need something.” “Here, let me show you where that is.” “Let me introduce you.” It is only a few words put together and a gesture, but once the anxiety is decreased, we can relax and open ourselves up to a whole new world of possibility.

Simple gestures. Acceptance and comfort. Just one smile can make a world of difference. What would happen to your day if someone came to you with a smile, or caught your eye? How would you feel if you started the smile and you brightened the day of someone else today? How would one smile change the way the community around you felt about you, became engaged in an activity with you, or welcomed you? How would a new person feel if they were the recipient of your smile today? We all want to belong, and it is up to us to find the way for us all to feel the comfort of belonging – Smile and Pass it on!

Take a Walk on the Cultural Side

2011-01-18T21:37:00.000-04:00

Moving to Cape Breton as a place to retire was a big attraction for my husband and I due to the vibrant cultural scene. We love the Cape Breton music, the dances every night of the week, the kitchen parties, the mini concerts in all the communities every day of the summer, and the infamous 10 day music celebration “Celtic Colours” in October each year. Being full time residents now, there are still dances each week, concerts every weekend, and more as the Christmas season approaches. We have attended several shows at the local theatre as well as travelled to surrounding towns too. We thought the winter would be quiet, but it really is the time for the locals to enjoy each other and continue to enjoy the music and culture that radiates from them during the tourist season, through winter jam sessions, kitchen parties and Christmas concerts. We did not feel this same connection to culture in Alberta even though we did attend many shows and concerts throughout the year. It seemed that sports was more predominant and there was always a reporting of the stats of the Calgary Flames or Calgary Stampeders.

In a study released by Hills Strategies on consumer spending on culture in Canada, it was discovered that consumers spend three times more on culture than the government does at all levels ($9.2 Billion in 2007-2008). And, Canadians spend double the amount of spending on live performing arts ($1.4 Billion) than on live sports events ($650 Million). This came as a shock to me with all the avid hockey enthusiasts that we have. As well, with the sports report that accompanies the news each day, we don’t ever hear an arts report with reviews of the latest shows on the daily news. Why not? If society is recognizing the importance of culture in their lives, why do we not reflect this in our news reports?

In our two local papers in Cochrane, Alberta there would sometimes be an arts report, article or picture of an event that happened. But, these reports were often every few weeks. The local Folk Club managed some great coverage for a few weeks prior to their shows, the local high schools would have coverage for a few weeks prior to their fall and spring musicals, and the dance groups would have their odd photo in, usually in the spring with competition results. The sports sections were always full of results, stats, photos, and about three pages of reporting per paper. Diversely, in the Inverness Oran, our local paper for Inverness County, Cape Breton, there is an arts section that is jam packed in the summer months for at least three to five pages. There are announcements of what is happening where, and there are many photographs covering the events and who the participants were. Everyone cleans out the stores on Wednesdays when the paper arrives, it is the bible for the area for all the cultural events. There is a sports section as well, and there are equal pages allotted for stats, results and photos. There is a wide spectrum of reporting for all the sports and age groups.

Further in the Hills Strategies report they found: “In a context where “social networks are the link between cultural engagement and neighborhood economic vitality” the presentation indicates that “arts and culture are one way that neighbours build connections”…These connections can enhance “collective efficacy” in addressing community problems…the cultural sector can create “connection across barriers of geography, social class, and ethnicity, (http://placingcreativity.org/conference-2009-presentations/)”. What would happen if we changed the way we reported the arts and paid attention to it in our lives on a more global scale? What benefits would our communities see? How could we use the arts to strive for change in our neighborhoods?

While working with ACE Communities this spring introducing the arts into Rural Alberta, there was a bond built in the involved communities. There was a crossing of commitment between preschool groups, school age groups and seniors groups. There was a combining of resources, intergenerational interaction, and a motivation for students to become more involved in their community rather than just through the school’s initiative. Much of the funds used for the project started with a boost from the Alberta government, but there was fundraising by the groups to provide more for themselves. There were special programs and concerts developed, and there was usage of facilities for the arts that would normally sit idle. The community was drawn out to participate in many ways and on many levels, and there was a commitment to the members of the community to do more in the future and to further establish the bonds that were created. All this was happening with the introduction of 2 dancers and 2 musicians and some community classes to introduce the arts to the community.

In Longview, Alberta, there was a group of musicians who were self taught and eager to learn any way possible. They put on a big dance fundraiser prior to our arrival, and then they had two more concerts once we arrived. They strived to take every tidbit of information about dance or music from us, and it showed in their improvement over the 4 days. Children who could not access certain types of dance lessons, took every lesson they could and were motivated to do more to coordinate with other communities. One dance class even had 4 generations dancing together and the oldest participant was 93 years young. Two of the main organizers for the events were not musicians or singers or actors, they were just avid volunteers who wanted to see more for their community.

The findings of Hills Strategies is vital for our understanding of the connection between the arts and culture and development of a thriving community. We are attracted to places that make us feel good. Attending choir performances, theatre shows, community events, and dances, all have ways to bring us together and to feel good about ourselves and our neighbours. Many of these events require volunteers, and this is another way we feel good about participating. Sports is something some of us may participate in to be active and healthy, but the Arts feed all of our souls and fulfill us in different ways. We need to pay attention to the statistics and keep culture in our minds when we are making budget cuts and program cuts. Culture is vital for our bonding as a community and as growth for our nation with citizens who feel connected, involved and engaged.

The Greenwell's performing together

Seven years ago a friend of ours survived cancer and wanted to give back so others could benefit from the help she received while recovering. She began a special fundraising event called “Carpe Diem”, meaning “Seize the Day”. She chose to bring her passion for musical theatre and her husband’s talent with instruments together with her desire to include her children, family and friends in celebration. They created an adult band that spanned several different genres and gathered performances from their friends that could share talent in song, dance and theatre. After all these years of fundraising, her children now have a teen band and a children’s band. They initiate many of the activities and announce for her. Rehearsals begin months in advance of the event, and creative ideas are shared across generations. There are three or four generations always present for her event, and everyone gets involved singing, dancing or acting. The Arts is an opportunity for everyone to play a role and to participate. Many of the attendees have not missed a year and some plan vacations to coincide with the event if they have moved out of the area.

Canada is a diverse cultural nation that has the ability to blend, share and learn from so many styles and types of people and cultural initiatives. If we could bring this to the forefront of our lives in the news and in our activities, we may be able to see the positive connections that can happen between people who all want to belong and grow together. As we spend our cultural dollars in our communities, we need to reflect on the privilege the arts has brought to us as a whole. And, we need to demand this dedication of our government to stay involved and support initiatives in the arts that help us all to achieve the goal of a better neighborhood to live in.

Life...It's All About the Food

2011-01-04T21:17:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I was lucky enough to be visiting some great friends of mine that I had not seen in a long time. Their daughter is 8 years old and loves to cook. When I arrived there were 3 containers of sugar cookies all cut out in the shape of reindeer, snowmen, bells and angels. “Auntie M, do you want to decorate with me?” My children are now in their late teens, and spending time with mom decorating isn’t exactly on their list of favorite things to do. I quickly responded to Sarah, “I would love to”. This started the most magical afternoon of giggling, breaking cookies, eating them, and telling stories.

The event reminded me of the motto our family has always lived by: “It’s All About the Food”. We remember events by recipes and family members, we always include some fantastic nibblies for a social event, we cater to our guests with libations and sweets when they visit, and we hand down traditions as a sacred rite of passage.

A few Christmas’ back we had a guest spend a week with us from Cape Breton. It was her first time in Alberta and we wanted to show her all the things about Alberta that we love. We spent time at the Banff Springs Hotel for Sunday Brunch; we took her for Vietnamese Food at our favorite local spot; we went skiing and ate on the hill; we went into Calgary for some major shopping and a hot chocolate at the top of the Calgary Tower; we had fondue; and, we did raclette. When she phoned home to let everyone know what she was up to, she didn’t mention the landmarks, she bragged about the food! That was our first real reflection on how important food is to our social environment.

Last night we were at a Christmas concert in Port Hood, Cape Breton, and before the concert finished we all had to join in and sing the last song – our reward would be the numerous treats waiting on the back table: sandwiches, squares, punch, oatcakes and cookies. No event is complete on the island unless the guests are treated to the best goodies, and of course King Cole black tea.

My family has roots in Hungary, and paprika has always been an important part of our recipes. I remember my Great Grandmother making us donuts upon our arrival for our vacation. We would then have a huge lunch, usually with homemade soup and noodles, fried chicken or chicken and dumplings, and bird’s nest cookies for dessert. One day of our vacation was always set aside to spend a day with Nagymama, (as we affectionately called her), where she taught us how to make noodles from scratch. One day I had the honor of learning how to make strudel as well. She rolled the dough so paper thin by hand, I could not believe her patience and perseverance. After lunch, Papapa, (my Great Grandfather), would walk us to the corner store and give us a quarter. My sister and I always bought a bag of barbecue potato chips and savored the walk home with our great grandfather.

At my grandparents house, my grandmother was famous for her homemade bread. She always had fresh twists ready when we arrived, and breakfast would see the loaves of bread disappear quickly as our homemade toast was slathered with fresh apricot jam that was runny and soaked into our bread. I always found room for 4 pieces of toast on those breakfast mornings. My grandfather always insisted on taking a picture of the dinner table before we ate at our family gatherings. He had lost both his parents and the family farm by the time he was fourteen years old, and there were many days and nights that he wandered the roads across Canada trying to find somewhere to get a bite of food. By taking a picture of the table for our family feasts, he could give thanks for the many blessings that he had found since that time.

As we prepare for our Christmas celebrations this year, we have moved across the country to Cape Breton Island and we have left our extended family behind. Our son, who is now out on his own, is visiting us for a few weeks. What do we think about? What would you like to eat while you are here?! His first two requests, having been on the road for six months and eating restaurant food a lot of the time, was for my homemade pancakes (my Dad’s Dad’s recipe), and homemade macaroni (my husband’s claim to fame). For his birthday I made Waldorf Astoria Red Cake (my mother-in-laws recipe). Next week we will have the fondue pots out for some favorite beer batter with mustard sauce and sausages. Devilled eggs will be on the menu for Christmas day, that is what both Mom’s always made for us. And, no visit is complete without a few dozen chocolate chip cookies in the cookie jar.

As the commercialism of the season descends upon us through the weeks leading up to Christmas, I embrace my fond memories of dinners over the decades and with my family. I think one of the greatest gifts I could pass to my kids, is a recipe book full of the favorites and the stories that accompany each delicacy. My Great Aunt, who passed away this past January, published a cookbook of my Great Uncles recipes from the old country and from his time as a cook in the war. This family heirloom is a bigger treasure now that she is no longer with us. And, she was a writer. She wrote for her local paper for over 3 decades. We used to get angry with her telling family secrets from our various family events. But now, as I look back at her stories, she recorded our history for us. She preserved those precious moments visiting with each other and sharing the dinner table.

Even the Christmas tree was full of popcorn strings with cranberries, gingerbread cookies, and candy cane treats!

As you plan for your festivities this season, take a moment to reflect on the traditions you are carrying on. Perhaps you will have time to pass a recipe forward or attach a story to a favorite dish. "Bon Appetite" as Julia Child’s would say, and Happy Holidays from our family to yours.

Bonding in the Dark

2010-12-06T21:35:00.000-04:00

Yesterday as my family was preparing for the evening’s social events we had a power outage. The rain was pelting down and the wind was howling. This was the second time we had had such an outage in our new-old house.

The first occasion was during a hurricane at the end of the summer. It was a little scary and it caught us off guard. We had no water, toilets, telephone, candles etc. Our neighbour arrived on our doorstep within a few minutes to see that we were ok. Being that we were new to the neighbourhood and country living, she was worried for us. She asked us to raid our fridge for anything edible and bring it to her house. She gathered the neighbours for an incredible feast and evening of fun, laughter, and story telling as we watched the sun go down. It was a great community evening. We felt much better as we headed back to our house in the dark and settled down for the night. We determined then that it was our gentle warning to be prepared for the winter months.

By the middle of November we had the electricians out to wire the old house for a generator, and we finally purchased one and started preparations for the next outage. But, we had not primed the generator yet when the final flash of lights went out last night. We dug out the candles, flashlights and matches, and soon we were sitting in the “parlour”, (it is an old house), deciding which board game we should play, and thanking the heaven’s that the storm was a warm one at ten degrees.

Our teenage son was whining about not being able to use his X-box, and my daughter put away Facebook. The television was not a possibility, although with laptop computers we could use the battery power and still watch a movie. But, that isn’t what living with power is all about. This was time for us to be together without all the gadgets and gizmos. The board games came out of the dusty old bins. In no time, we were laughing and joking and just spending time together. We were truly connecting as a family.

My son reminded me of another power outage when I had taken him to a dance workshop in Boston when he was twelve. It was one of our first big dance training trips together. We landed in Boston and after traversing the subway with all of our luggage for several hours to get to Lexington, we dragged our tired bodies into a restaurant next to the hotel. We were really enjoying each other’s company as the rain pelted down outside. As we were finishing our dinner and preparing to pay – the power went out. There was a room full of dumbfounded people all wondering how they would pay for dinner with no credit card opportunity and cash only becoming the means of paying. Soon all the tables were talking to each other asking for change for a twenty, and finding change to use for tips. We met some incredible people that night as we talked and waited for the lights to come back on.

One couple that we were chatting with were enthralled that we were from Canada and that we were dancing in Lexington. They offered us a ride in their car to the local grocery store. Normally I would not make it a habit to jump in a car with a stranger – especially with my son in tow, but it was pouring, we needed a lift, and we had just spent the last 15 minutes in the dark getting to know this couple. So, with a little apprehension we accepted the offer and off we headed. The couple was very excited to show off their town, so instead of heading straight to the grocery story they took us on a tour of all the historical spots in Lexington. In 1860, Paul Revere raced through the countryside on his horse to warn the colonists that the British Army was coming. We saw sights, talked history and got a great feeling for the place. They dropped us at the grocery store about an hour later wishing us well. What started out as an initial evening in a strange town, warmed to a welcoming into the community with history and pride displayed in the incredible hospitality.

With the invention of electricity our lives have opened up to so many incredible possibilities, and at the same time, our modern dependence on electricity has created some limitations for us too. It amazes me how people can connect when modern convenience disappears, and how time stands still for those occasions.

Raised as a city kid, our first power outage on our acreage was a scary occasion. Now, as we become more prepared to handle the challenges, I do look forward to letting the world fall away with its seeming demands on us. I look forward to finding memorable moments that we can share as a family, or as a neighborhood, or as a community. Life has so many wonderful gifts for us when it is just about being together.

Life is About Creating Yourself!

2010-11-21T16:38:00.000-04:00

As I face my first few words as a new blogger, I am faced with the daunting task of introducing myself to the world. So, who am I? Why would someone want to read my thoughts and feelings? What do I have to say? Wow! I feel like I am back in Junior High and faced with an English essay assignment. What will be my catch phrase be? What is my conclusion? What does the teacher want? Yikes! I thought I had left that world behind. Now, don’t get me wrong, I do love to write and I am thrilled I am not getting graded on this, but I do hope I am worthy of your time to look at my words.

Who am I? I am a wife. I am a mother. I am a sister and a daughter. I am a recently retired Dance Studio Owner. I am a teacher. I am a new resident of Cape Breton Nova Scotia. I am a former Albertan who now gets to reflect about life on the prairies while enjoying life by the ocean. And, I am rediscovering parts of myself that got lost in my profession and the demands that it placed on my time, my family and my friends.

In my daughter’s room is a sign on her bulletin board that she looks at each morning and night – “Life Isn’t About Finding Yourself, Life is About Creating Yourself”. When I asked her where to start, she wasn’t much help, but her bulletin board sure was.

For the last 14 years I have been spending parts of my summer in Cape Breton Island, specifically Mabou on Route 19. I have been embracing the music, the dance and the culture and letting it spill out of my pores in Alberta during the off season. This past February my family and I decided it was time to chase the dream and make the big move to the place we were missing with every breath of our days. I sold my business, I transformed my profession, put the house on the market, and packed up the moving truck. Within a few short months we were trekking across the country and heading towards a new home and a new way of life.

I thought I had found myself already. I thought I had created the person I wanted to be. But what I noticed every day, was that the schedule was predictable, the demands were the same, and I had created a life that was fabulous but consistent. If I were to pass from this world tomorrow, would I be happy with all the choices I had made? Would I have chased my dreams? Would I be happy with the successes I had achieved and sustained? Yes, I would. But, what if I didn’t leave the world tomorrow? Could I try something completely different? Could I embrace shaking up the core of my being? Would I find something I didn’t know existed, and would it be better than where I was presently viewing life?

Many people are happy to live in the same house for most of their lives, work at their profession until retirement at 65, and then look at doing some travelling in old age. Why wait? What are you waiting for? My husband and I had a plan, and we were on that path. But, our hearts were really somewhere else and we wanted to be there. We wanted to slow down. We wanted more time together. We wanted to be enjoying life, not just counting the days until we could experience the real things we wanted in life. Life is too short to count down!

One of the most amazing experiences during this transitional period was the beginning of work with ACE Communities. Active, Creative and Engaging assignments began to open up my world for consulting as a dance workshop specialist. I had no idea the fun that I could have teaching dance in rural communities. I discovered a lot about myself and my ability to teach on the fly when plans shifted on a dime. I was amazed at the resources I had established and that I could share with others. I had always worked for myself in the dance profession, and now I had a team and an incredible leader to guide me. There was a whole other world out there once I left the safety of my dance studio space and my students and teachers. And, working with musicians was a dream that I had had, but never had time to pursue. Our ACE team consisted of two dance teachers and two musicians. We were all passionate about the Arts and all eager to share. Working as a professional team was uplifting and fun.

So, I have begun the process to re-create myself, and it is a fun and eye-opening journey. There are days that are challenging, and I wonder if I should have held on to those incredible students I had trained. Then there are days when I get to sit at my computer and research background on new programs I am building about dance and movement, and I feel free with the time that is in my own hands. And then there are days when my husband and I have a nap in the middle of the afternoon, and we smile at each other and repeat our new motto: Because we Can! Life is what you make it, and we have choices. I embrace each day and the new opportunities. “Life is About Creating Yourself” and I am thrilled to say: “Because I Can!”