More
Results with Less Clutter 
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Volume 3 | May 2006 | 388 subscribers For more information and to view this newsletter online go to our website now !
"Being defeated is often
only a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent."
Really, where does the time go? As always, a month filled to the brim with great people. Now, going back to our quote; when was the last time you gave up on something? Or better yet, when did you feel defeated and did not give up then reaped the rewards? I can think of a number of examples in my life. I had lunch with a friend this week where that was exactly the topic. I was feeling defeated or at the very least frustrated with a real estate challenge. As my friend and I talked more about it I was able to see that if I continue to focus on what I want that more solutions will rise to the top. I haven’t completely resolved my dilemma although I sure am far ahead of where I thought I would end up, I feel more positive about the outlook and I have begun to create a plan and some ideas around it. What I find so interesting is that the more we feel defeated the less we can “see” possibilities; and the more we stay with a vision we want, the more our brain joins in to help formulate ideas as well as all the options available. A good exercise when you are feeling defeated is to invite a friend or colleague into the situation and ask them what possibilities they see. Sometimes we just can’t see the forest for the trees! - Linda
Plan B – One Man’s Journey from
Tragedy to Triumph David and I were on a ferry last week where I picked up this book at the little gift shop. For those of you who are Canadian and specifically follow BC politics you will likely remember Mike Harcourt as both the mayor of Vancouver for three terms and the Premier of the Province of BC. For those not from BC your knowledge of Mike’s political life will have no bearing on whether you’d like to read this book or what you get from doing so. This is not a political read. Rather, it is a story of Mike’s personal tragedy at a time when he thought the world was his oyster (he had just retired) and his triumph in overcoming it. This is about how Mike uses his experience and relationships with others to inspire himself and create a plan and a focus to turn things around. What I found so inspiring in this book (couldn’t put it down as a matter of fact) is Mike’s relentless optimism and his clarity around creating and living the Plan B for his life. This book spells COURAGE in never giving up when life throws you a curveball. Funny, I just realized how our quote this month and the book report are eerily connected.
Isn't it time you put yourself first?
We continue to be surrounded nightly by a plethora of frogs singing us to sleep. Love that. We bought some bikes and have been out on the trails cycling a bit and noticing muscles we haven’t used in a while. Had a crew of about 20 here from the Cumberland Rotary club for muffins and coffee one early morning this week and it was wonderful to have so much space for all of us. David & I have been busy helping out with revamping a 100 yr. old apple orchard here in the Village. It looks amazingly beautiful and there are even some blossoms coming out on the trees. Just wait till the Fall, the bears will be in heaven when they visit the orchard (and hopefully not us). We never tire of this beautiful historic Village. There is so much to see in nature around us. In the last week I have seen two Trumpeter swans, a number of bald eagles, heard loons singing, came across two gardener snakes while in the Orchard and crossed paths with a few wee salamanders which apparently are a sure sign of new beginnings of Spring. The invitation remains open to come see for yourself. In the meantime it is burger night at the Waverly Hotel so I am off now for dinner. For
more information on the "More Results with Less Clutter"
programs, visit our website at
www.ascentcoaching.com.
If you would like more information on receiving coaching for yourself,
your staff, or if you would like a key-note speaker for an upcoming
event email us or
call
250-336-2636 or 1-888-391-2233. Feel free to forward this e-newsletter to your friends and colleagues. Your recommendation helps us grow and anyone can subscribe by visiting www.ascentcoaching.com or by entering their address in the following box and by clicking Subscribe. For any issues relating to technical support of this newsletter, please email Christina@ascentcoaching.com.
You may copy or distribute " More Results with Less Clutter"
as long as this copyright notice and full information about contacting
the author are attached. The author is: Linda Oprica and she may be
contacted at oprica@ascentcoaching.com |
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In this issue:
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April
was a big birthday month. Our grandson Cohen turned one year old on
April 6th. There was a big party in the backyard of Tania’s parents
home and we had a gang of Brad, Tania & Cohen’s friends and their
kids join us for the celebration. It was a blast. I think there were
a total of 15 kids who ranged from four months old to one year, plus
about six others who were a bit older. The little ones and their
parents played for two hours in the yard with but a peep from any
one of the kids. The grandparents looked after the BBQ and food and
the little ones when it was time for the moms & dads to eat. 
What
I particularly loved about this party was that Tania (our
daughter-in-law) had asked people NOT to bring a gift as Cohen has
more stuff than one, one year old could ever need. No fuss, no muss,
just great friends, good food and excellent weather. Here’s a pic of
Cohen with his birthday cupcake blowing out the candle. He learned
that at Grandpa David’s birthday last month. Also, a rare pic of
Cohen and me. Seems I’m most often the one that is taking the
pictures. It was also Tania’s birthday so we had a wee celebration
for her while visiting and sent her off with a bit of money to spend
just for her. Saturday is another birthday celebration here for a
dear friend of ours. We’ve had excellent weather lately so plan to
incorporate the weather into the celebration with our first BBQ on
our deck overlooking our latest completion at our new house. What is
it you ask?………..
The
answer is…. beautiful sod in our back yard. A real back yard.
Yeah!!! Quick, look here at the photos taken today. What a
difference sod makes. There’s a place for the compost, a large
raised garden bed for my mom, two garden beds next to the stairs for
flowers and stepping-stones to the basement entrance where David’s
workshop and storage is. I can’t believe how great it looks and how
it completes the back of the house. The front has been started and I
expect will be completed in the next two weeks. There’s no grass and
more landscaping in the front. Pictures available next month.:~)