A ‘Day in the Life’ is a segment about my personal everyday experiences and lessons you may glean from them.  I’d like to share my experiences of attending a 10 day long silent meditation retreat at the Hermitage on Denman Island, British Columbia.  The Hermitage is a Buddhist Meditation Centre, situated on a generous acreage of wilderness.  I had complete a 5 day retreat, but it was recommended to me by a friend and Buddhist nun, to challenge myself with the next step.

How often do we have expectations of other people and situations?  Quite regularly in most cases.  And, what is the usual outcome - that our expectations aren’t met in some way and we are disappointed.  Let’s  examine this tendency further because it plays a huge factor in how happy we are with our lives.

How many times have you been sick with the flu or cold and complained about what misery you are going through?  Most of us do this automatically.  There is another way to look at this; that being sick gives our body the time it needs to take care of itself.  Sickness is a sign that in some way we are not aligned with our spirit.  By spirit, I mean our true self, our inner voice, or our soul - that part deep down that knows the truth of who we are and what is best for us. 

I felt compelled to write about the following story because it reminded me of unexpected generosity and the power of intention. I was walking my regular route in my neighborhood and noticed a large aquarium in someone’s garage. Now, I had wanted to upgrade my aquarium, but decided it was too costly at this point. I put the intention out to the universe about my desire. I visited the pet store to watch the fish in the bigger aquariums. I imagined what it would look like in my home, where the best spot would be, what fish I would buy - their colors, size and species. I pictured it full of plants, yet simply decorated, so as not to take away from the beauty of the fish. I had no attachment to when and how this intention would come about. I just knew it would eventually. I would then return home and enjoy my own fish (I have names for all 7 of them).

Hello Vancouver!  As a Life Coach, I know the importance of practicing regular relaxation to enhance your well-being. I routinely use this tool so my clients can ground themselves before, during and after the sessions are over.

Hello Seattle and readers from other parts of the world.  I hope you enjoy the universal message of this article.