THE  CLIMB  OF EVEREST

Yesterday marked the ascent.  They physical, emotional, mental and spiritual climb to my brilliance.  I truly have been preparing for this, my whole life.  Getting to base camp has been a slow and steady walk of endurance and change.  To prepare for one’s life work is not a straight line.  We can’t possibly know when we start where we will end up.  We may know the why, we may know that we must …..  I did not have a snapshot until now.  I left base camp yesterday.

Many many years ago, when I was a Family Court Counsellor, I attended a weekend on Mediation.  It was a national conference and the key note speaker I remember clearly.  She was the first woman and Canadian woman, to climb Mt Everest.   On that day my life changed.  I did not know then that it did – but today, clear in my mind and my vision, I know now why I was there to hear her story.  I bought her book and somewhere in my house it still lives.  She was a heroine for me then, and now.  I have not been physical before, or at least did not fancy myself as healthy or strong, or even driven.  Here I am to tell you a different story.

Several lessons from that day still resonate with me now and vibrate at my frequency,  (my word of the year for 2012 is FREQUENCY- fine tune and amp it up).  She talked about two teams striving to do the climb.  The US team with one woman, and the Canadian team, also one woman on the team.  The truth is that it takes a team to do anything life changing and world class.  At each step of the climb, once you leave base camp – you must make strategic decisions about what to leave behind.  You can’t carry it all up there where the air is scarce.  You must decide what is life support, what you can do without.  The US team made a decision to leave behind the radio communication, on last leg of journey, close to the top.  The Canadian team decided to leave something else and kept the radio.

The lesson in this, just so we all don’t have to duplicate the mistake, is that communication to the team is the most critical part of the journey.  It made the difference because the base camp could see the athletes arriving at their destination.  “I can see you making it”.  “You are almost there”.  “Just a few more steps, I can see you”.  And in those moments when all the messages in your own brain say to stop and go back, preserve your life, you can’t do this, what were you thinking?? And all the reasons why it does not matter if you make it one more step …. When your brain can’t see the top, someone can see it for you and help you arrive.

I am beginning my ascent.  I have left base camp.  I will have to make decisions every day as I climb to put me out there, out of my “knowing” and comfort zone.  To be stepping where few have stepped before and to have full intention of arriving at the top.  I am holding on tight to the communication with my team, my family, my loved ones, my dear sweet friends who have seen me arrive at this spot and will hold the vision for me as I take each step.  When I stumble, they will be there to tell me to get up and take another step.  I am so incredibly grateful this day, on my climb that you are all there in support and love.  Thank you.

Please keep talking to me and sending me your messages.  I will need and want your words and the knowing that you are there in support.  This is what I need now and for the rest of the journey.

I am a believer! I checked out the films today on IMAX, and find “The Climb of Everest”. I am going. I must go. I must learn from those who teach, leaders who inspire and people who have gone before.
I called yesterday to talk to a dear friend, mentor, about her learning as an athlete. She is so wise and offered a story. She did a thesis comparing how far people climb to their highest and best with no support and no external stimuli – just self talk and sheer will power and physical endurance. While remarkable – the comparison group had supporters shouting encouragement, visual stimuli marking distance and competition against time, “Just a few more steps” becomes the mantra. They pushed through success at more than 20%.
I talked to my partner, history in sports teams and asked questions about what I need to learn about teamwork, and who am I on the team? What are my skills and talents and how do I best use them? What can I get from my team and who do I need to seek out as key players. We used two analogies, the marathon runner and the football team. He is wise and experienced in both.
Football —- I was delighted to know that I would be a Quarterback! What little of football that I know, tells me this is a key position. If I am to be the best, I need to study the role and skills and motivations of a quarterback. I need to be able to read the plays, know the field, become familiar with the strengths and challenges of my team mates. I need to get yards, by getting inches. I need to only have one point more to win. Sometimes one inch to get the yard to get the win.
Conditioning is key to getting the whole team ready. Practice the skills. Learn the plays no matter what the conditions. How to adapt to changes in environment. Not to count on the strong players or the condition of the field to be constant. Expect and welcome change and know the plays for all the situations. Be able to count on flexibility. Be familiar with the equipment, not just mine but everyone’s. People will sustain injuries.
THE WALL of limitations. The key to success is to adapt daily actions repeated and consistent over time to move the wall of limitations further away. With a runner, it is a “mental” race. At some point you will be required to push through that wall of limitations. Extensive conditioning of the mind, mantras of success, visualization of achieving the goal – the more they are practiced and become the daily mindset, the more sheer energy will propel you through that wall. Prepare for the wall. Have strategies to deal with the wall. Create a “chant” to tell the body what to do. “push push push, reach reach reach”. “Go further, you can do it” must become automatic and already part of the brain speech. The force of will wins the race. The 4 minute mile. The climb of Everest.
Clearly defined often stated goals. Simple mission statements. “I am going to finish this race”. I will achieve the top 3% and reach my highest and best.
As quarterback, I inspire others to take their inches, to get the team yards to win the important games. We won’t win all the games, we don’t have to. We have to practice by losing so we can win the RIGHT games that are strategic and important ones. Don’t always use your best plays and your best players. Talent and confidence is needed for all team players to pull together as a team. Put all players in each spot and support them to do what they can for the team. Develop those confident players so when the eventual injuries, quitting, or other things happen – the team is strong and will all still have the confidence to win and get over the wall. Keep training the new ones, build their confidence, explore their talents and inspire their highest and best. Rotate people so they can play each others roles, always have something to reach for.
I will seek out my daughter who coaches teams, my brother who coaches teams and Robyn and Terry to tell me about world class athletes and their strategies and success formulas. I will talk with Realtors and Travel Agents, learn their habits and seek to do what they do. I will find people who want to be on my base camp team, those who want to climb and those who truly see making it to the top 3% of their highest and best.
All have value on my team. I will be the Quarterback of my team and I will climb this mountain with all that I learn and all that I give and inspire to assist others to get what they want.

Thanks to all of you for this day and this wisdom.
P

What if your life can be compared to a hot air balloon? You know your purpose, or at least the sense of purpose. To rise up and to fly. Unencumbered by restrictions of the ordinary, and on your own imagination to soar above the rest. To truly offer your special gift to the world. What if your vision was that big? Take a few moments to think about your vision. Fill your balloon with your dreams. Collage, with words, pictures, the places you would go and the people you would be significant for …. Your family, Europe, women all over the world, children, elderly people, people with wealth, Australia, China, people who live in poverty, ….. what is your message to the world? You are writing your book and your dream is on the front cover …. What is your special purpose? What color is your life? How high do you want to fly?
Now be on the ground – today. There are forces that hold you to the ground. There are other people’s opinions, previous experiences leading to fear, fear of success, fear of failure, not knowing ….. lack of money, habit, health, doubt, inexperience, lack of inspiration …… name them. What holds you back from being in your balloon and your special purpose?
Know in your core that time can never be a factor – we all have the same “time”. 24 hours in a day. 7 days in a week etc. We all have 60 minutes in every hour. We all have 60 seconds in every minute. Many of us miss those seconds, those minutes, those hours, those days and those weeks. Think back. Do you remember all days? All weeks? all years? Or do we remember moments – brief seconds of significance and “matterings”. We remember events from our perspective. We remember words spoken to us in anger, or in fear. We remember sometimes hurtful times and we can sometimes replay them as if they happened over and over and over again. We sometimes forget the 50 birthday greetings that came to us on facebook last year – even from people who don’t know us very well. Loving wishes for a long and happy life, and great success. We sometimes don’t consider and replay over and over again the compliments, the hand holding, the gifts handed to us in generosity.
We decide what ropes tie our balloon to the ground. We decide if we fly to our purpose or we sit another year and wait for “things to change”. We decide if we take a risk and follow our dream and let go of those nasty memories. We decide if we are coachable and want to learn a new way that sets us free to our purpose. We each and every day will be up against other people’s opinions and other people’s vision of us. We let that determine our greatness – even though we really secretly know we have greatness inside our balloon. We secretly in our heart of hearts and in our imagination we know what our special purpose is and who we can and need to become to fulfill our life and to live with passion and love and generosity. To be a model for our children and our parents and for people of significance for us. We know that. In our core and in our cells – it is ours alone. And we permit, we allow and we generously give our control of that to the choices we make and the people we let influence us. We allow ourselves to be the mirror of others. For others to see us as failure or weak. For others to see us as not capable or “tries too hard”, or “will never succeed” or “you won’t be good at this”. It is all in our hands and our choice, every second, every minute and so on.
This is not an easy path – to live the life you are destined for. The life you dream of. It can be full of doubt and fear. But more importantly it is full of hope and promise and future. We chose that too. Which one is it for us. Do we have the strength to live the dream? Do we have the strength to stand up and one by one, remove the ropes that tie us to the ground? Do we choose to remove those ropes one by one, with the love and support of others who would see us fly. Who would stand and cheer as our balloon leaves the ground and rises ever steady to the sky.
Surround yourself with those who will watch, support and cheer. Surround yourself with the gift of your own choice and your own success. There are many to follow – they stand out – they are already flying. Find some to watch and learn how they do it. Learn the habits and beliefs of successful people. Do what they do to create your own dream.

Looking back on the journey is rich with story. More than 3 weeks ago I began the physical travel …. Months and years before, the emotional saga.

Born in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia more than 50 years ago, I have a soul and heart connection to the sea. The waves of learning have come through my life in a song of both smooth and tumultuous rhythm. My particular story has been to move a lot, meet a vast variety of people and experiences and always moving steady and persistently back to the sea…. Or forward to the sea?

Homelessness is relative. Although I have always had a wonderful supportive house and roof over head, loving family tucked inside safe and sound – I have moved so many times I have lost track. My sense of direction is skewed and confused and I find myself frequently lost and wandering. Waiting for the next urge and idea that takes me off to another location and story. The bond of close relationships, family and friends, has an intensely strong pull on me.

I recall early in my young life, having summer vacations by the ocean, playing in the surf, walking in the red clay dirt of the Bay of Fundy, Minus Basin in Nova Scotia. Only there do I feel the call to “go home”.

Back to my roots? Is there a physical genetic or sociological drive to return to those early times? Is there a desire to re-live past young happy moments that repeated over my early years? Is the scent of the raw and sloppy wet ocean bed a strong path burned always in my brain? Is it the same for all beings? Like salmon going home to spawn? Is it true that we all search for an early happy time that fills the senses with longing, visual, olfactory, and intense? Is it the music of the day, or the cool cement steps that lead to my grandparents home on hot summer days of play and no responsibility?

My mother and brother share something similar I think. Both of them born beside the sea in the same small town and both of them driven to return. My father was successful in his military career and it took us to reside in exotic and domestic locations always a distance from Nova Scotia’s calling. My mother made a comfortable home for us wherever we rested our heads. My brother and I found friendship in each other briefly until our peer age cohorts of that particular location called our interests. Schools, activities, sports, and daily routine both helped us remain close and drove different experiences into our reality.

My mother maintained friendships and family connections. She sent and received Christmas cards, letters she handwrote with care and personal attention. She introduced us as we got older to the life she had left early in her 20’s. She often would tell us stories and updates, who is married, who is ill, who unfortunately had died and she would not ever see them again.

Her youngest brother, her parents one by one, some relatives and close friends have also passed on. I can only imagine this leaves a longing still stronger to return to “home” and spend precious days and mindful moments with ones dear.

My father was ill many years before he died almost 2 years ago now. His careful care giving consumed many hours and all of the energy my mother had. Since that time she has sorted through the years, the moves, and the memories of our lives and hers. Finding herself longing for the comfort of friends and remaining family in a location that is affordable and familiar, she began the conversation of moving “home”.

Deciding to leave me, her youngest child of two must be one that I respect and honor as being particularly difficult. We have been through much together and no better support to me as a person, as a mother, as a professional and as a daughter. She has imparted and shared her journey and in doing so enriched my own.

With nervousness and uncertainty she began the search for a home in Nova Scotia. My older brother had retired after our father died, and moved he and his wife and their son to Nova Scotia. He is happy and comfortable nestled in his roots. He enjoys the pace, the music, and of course, the bounty of the sea. He has a sailboat, eats lobster and has learned to play the fiddle. He has found such a joy in his life and a much needed break from the career he was very successful at for many many years.
Mom checked out real estate, condos, houses and settled finally on a lovely luxury apartment where she is the first tenant in her suite. Plenty of room, albeit no where near the size of the space required to place all her precious memento’s. She placed her BC condo on the market and went on to take the painful steps of going through years of her life and that of her life long partner, and her two children and five grandchildren who spent many happy years over their lifetimes.

We set a date, she bought my flight and the next chapter of the journey begun. 14 Oct 2011 I flew from Victoria BC to Kelowna.

At Halifax airport. Had an extra hour of sleep … although it does not feel like it …. Hard to say good bye to my mom. I had a great time and so glad to be able to assist her with this move. It was wonderful and bitter sweet. For so many years we lived only a very short distance apart … one hour always connected us either by flight for the past 6 years or by car for previous 20 plus years. Now living opposite parts of this great country. She is “home” and I am back to Victoria …. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to be with her throughout this emotional and stressful time. I will be updating my blog in a few days with travel journey across Canada. I hope you drop in and read a bit and share with me the experience. Have a great day …. With love Pam

Five glorious sea days. The first few were a bit chilly still but we found activities to keep us busy. First evening after dinner we attended the showtime in the Mondrian Lounge. Followed by some dancing and wandering around the ship. We took a look at our photos from embarkation and they are lovely.
We made plans for early the next morning. Up at 6, meet for a walk around the promenade for a mile at 6:30, followed by Fab Abs workout, Stretch and Relax at 7:30 and Tai Chi in the Crows Nest at 8 am. Followed by breakfast in the Lido for a lovely egg white omelet made to order. Several of us made the commitment and enjoyed all the fitness activities.
The day filled up with line dancing, port talks, guest speaks about Hawaiian Islands, geography and history. More dance lessons, afternoon tea and a wee bit of shopping at the wonderful boutiques on board. Too cold to lay out just yet, but a dip in the hot tub felt pretty good.
Every sea day from 1 to 4 there is an opportunity to quilt and get together in the Hudson Room. My friend brought a traditional Hawaiian quilt for me to work on, I had forgotten to pack my quilt project.

As the days go by the memories of particular moments fade into each other. It is relaxing and mindless as we arrive at the next day and the next. Nearly no activities that highlight one day from the next day. Very relaxing, repetitive and satisfying. We attended lectures of Hawaiian culture. We checked email in the Explorers Lounge. We attended two wine tastings. We had tea. We walked. We ate. We changed clothes.
We enjoyed dining together in a group of 10 of my personal friends and family traveling together. We dined in Pinnacle Grill as a group of 10 as well. Two tables of 5 each, we sat next to each other and enjoyed a lovely dining experience, complimentary for guests booking with me.
I have not taken the time to read or write, as on previous cruises. Partly due to the extra visiting with others in the group, and fitting in time to be with friends and family, as well as my husband. There are so many activities to be part of, and never enough time in a day to do them all.
Five days of no land, just water, flying fish, whale sightings and walking the deck. We continued to do exercise plan, starting with a mile walk at 7 am, followed by a quick check of internet and Tai Chi at 8 am. Off to breakfast, laying in the sun, relaxing, taking in the shows and port talks, lunch in the dining room and meeting new people.
Relaxed and mellow. Time changes come easily out at sea. Starting to build my tan and enjoying the variety of ways to spend sea days. Out of touch with the pressures of work, the stresses associated with being at home and balancing money, making meals and sticking to a schedule. Here at sea, the only rule is there are no rules. Food is available anytime, tea and hot water, walking, laying in the sun and enjoying music.
Chocolates on the pillow at night, turn down service and towel animals adorn the stateroom. Buckets of ice with Univera Xtra and Aloe Gold keeping chilled alongside a bottle of white wine.

Already a week into the cruise to Hawaii, round trip Vancouver April 2011. In fact, today is May 1 and we are preparing to disembark at the second port of call, Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii.
We departed on Saturday of the Easter weekend from Victoria, early in the morning and on the ferry, packed up and with reservations. It is a bit of a challenge to know how to pack on such an adventure. The weather as of late on Vancouver Island has been chillier than usual for this season. We had an overnight in Vancouver and then on a cruise ship sailing for 18 nights to very hot weather and back. Formal nights and resort casual dress are required. Personal products, bathing suits, jackets, many changes of clothes so that doing laundry is not required.
We had found staying at Accent Inn Vancouver Airport, while not top notch hotel, will allow us to leave our car parked there for the duration of the cruise. A great bargain and convenience with shuttle to the pier and back again post cruise. Very good friends of ours also took advantage of this great package and we spent some time with them before the cruise. My mom, aunt and uncle and family friends stayed in other locations in Vancouver, and we managed to meet up with them.
Eating at White Spot, and IHOP were fast, easy, and convenient.
Embarkation was smooth and very pleasant. We were close to the front of the line and we were on the ship by 11:30 am. We had our room keys, and found we had been upgraded to a fabulous full window ocean view stateroom on the port side, main deck. Lovely room. Our gifts of 3 bottles of wine, chocolate covered strawberries, a photo coupon and another for dinner at Pinnacle Grill were all waiting in our stateroom.
We had lunch with other Mariner guests in the Rotterdam Dining Room and then met up with other family and friends in other areas of the ship. A safety briefing at 4 pm after we had unpacked, then preparing for dinner at 5:15 pm. We had hoped to meet up with the whole group at that time. Although scattered to 3 different tables, we managed to meet and greet for that first supper.
More than 30 of us in total and many did not know each other. The central theme is they were booked by Bruce or myself. Some quilters and their partners and friends, some family and friends of Bruce or I. Everyone has someone to be with and share the excitement and adventure of this lovely cruise.

Already a week into the cruise to Hawaii, round trip Vancouver April 2011. In fact, today is May 1 and we are preparing to disembark at the second port of call, Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii.
We departed on Saturday of the Easter weekend from Victoria, early in the morning and on the ferry, packed up and with reservations. It is a bit of a challenge to know how to pack on such an adventure. The weather as of late on Vancouver Island has been chillier than usual for this season. We had an overnight in Vancouver and then on a cruise ship sailing for 18 nights to very hot weather and back. Formal nights and resort casual dress are required. Personal products, bathing suits, jackets, many changes of clothes so that doing laundry is not required.
We had found staying at Accent Inn Vancouver Airport, while not top notch hotel, will allow us to leave our car parked there for the duration of the cruise. A great bargain and convenience with shuttle to the pier and back again post cruise. Very good friends of ours also took advantage of this great package and we spent some time with them before the cruise. My mom, aunt and uncle and family friends stayed in other locations in Vancouver, and we managed to meet up with them.
Eating at White Spot, and IHOP were fast, easy, and convenient.
Embarkation was smooth and very pleasant. We were close to the front of the line and we were on the ship by 11:30 am. We had our room keys, and found we had been upgraded to a fabulous full window ocean view stateroom on the port side, main deck. Lovely room. Our gifts of 3 bottles of wine, chocolate covered strawberries, a photo coupon and another for dinner at Pinnacle Grill were all waiting in our stateroom.
We had lunch with other Mariner guests in the Rotterdam Dining Room and then met up with other family and friends in other areas of the ship. A safety briefing at 4 pm after we had unpacked, then preparing for dinner at 5:15 pm. We had hoped to meet up with the whole group at that time. Although scattered to 3 different tables, we managed to meet and greet for that first supper.
More than 30 of us in total and many did not know each other. The central theme is they were booked by Bruce or myself. Some quilters and their partners and friends, some family and friends of Bruce or I. Everyone has someone to be with and share the excitement and adventure of this lovely cruise.

How does OCEANIA claim to be the “best food at sea”? The answer: with simple, careful and deliberate attention to detail. Every morsel prepared from fresh ingredients. Presentation is alluring so the familiar becomes unique.

Fresh juicy berries atop crisp airy and light meringue teases the tongue; apricot and blackberry jellies laid out in checkerboard fashion to please the eye, sweet tart taste explodes with the first bite; whole east coast lobster with drawn butter, warm and prepared at the table accompanied by filet mignon grilled to perfection and melts in the mouth. Exotic balsamic vinegar and olive oils from around the world roll up in a cart, tasty tangy hot spicy sweet … I decide.

Connoisseurs will be impressed with understated perfection. Every experience goes beyond ordinary, satisfying the senses and calls for another.

A flash in time, a sensory memory that will hold power over my impression of this day, this cruise, this choice for my carefully saved dollars; this is the moment of truth. Thanks Jacques!!

— Pamela MacDonald
Cruise and Vacation Consultant

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Expedia CruiseShipCenters, Victoria
170 – 911 Yates St.
Victoria, BC, V8V 4X3
cell (250) 857 5518

E-mail: pmacdonald@cruiseshipcenters.com
Visit: http://www.PamelaMacDonald.cruiseshipcenters.ca

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Staying in a Quality Hotel?

In my 50 some years I have made this decision several times. Do I stay in a budget hotel as that really suits my income or …… do I choose luxury in my life?

As I sit in the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Vancouver tonight I reflect on this choice. I am now advocating for staying in as nice a hotel as your budget will tolerate.

Parking is free, there is a business center with complimentary access to internet and computer, including printer. The service is incredible. Several well dressed and attentive young men greeting the cars and parking them in some underground space, only to bring the car back at your very whim. One attendant opens the car door, one grabs the luggage and two open the huge heavy glass doors that expose the grand entrance way inside. High ceilings, plush carpet, chandeliers, comfy and coordinated couches with end tables and lamps make a homey feel and welcome all guests. The décor says “you matter to us”.

Up the escalator to the large front desk in the expansive and open lobby area. No wait. Immediately some soft spoken, polite, well dressed and groomed person is prompt and efficient with the check in process, then steps around the counter and is before me. Nothing between us, as I am explained the extra services I am to receive. I have been upgraded to a larger suite room, on a higher floor, with 2 large beds, “no charge for upgrade”. I am advised of the other extras, hours for the restaurant, location of business center and fitness area ….. all my needs are met and I have hardly uttered a sound. This is all beyond what I could have, would have asked for.

I enter the elevator and arrive on my floor, white painted walls and doors, clean and crisp. Well marked numbers on doors. I enter. Beautiful room and super comfy beds. Well placed light switches, upscale soaps and lotions, q tips and cotton balls, ice bucket and “turn down” service. The bathroom is spacious with very clean glass shower stall doors. Fluffy white towels and robes await me.

Very large screen TV that I don’t even turn on. I pod docking station on my clock radio. Mini fridge, mirrors full length. Padded head boards. Sound proof. All with an entire wall to wall window floor to ceiling overlooking the city streets and buildings in Vancouver. What a sight.

There is inside access to Pacific Center, a large downtown upscale mall. I can walk and shop my way to Robson street where I can experience the busy shopping street and area of Vancouver.

For the same price as a place that charges extra for parking and internet, I am experiencing a royal treatment. I feel lucky and special. I am pampered and well rested. I will remember this hotel and this experience. I want to share it with my family and friends, and advise them to stay here. I will come back.

I can recall the few very very special hotel rooms I have stayed in my life. The ones that were over the top and impressed me this way. I am glad they exist and I am thrilled when I decide that it is worth my money to treat myself in this way. Thanks 4 Seasons!