This year, 2017, Canadians mark the 150th birthday of Canada. By world standards we are a young country. By human standards, 150 years is a long time to be alive. I was a young girl when Canada celebrated her one hundredth birthday. People of my generation can remember well the lyrics to songs like C-A-N-A-D-A by Bobby Gimby . By singing that song we all knew that we were 20 000 000 strong.
I’m such a proud Canadian. I am hoping that all Canadians take time this year to celebrate our incredible country; not only the majesty of the landscape but also the freedom granted to us as citizens. It’s pretty easy to take it for granted while we are slogging through our daily lives.
One of the things I am privileged to do as a coach is to listen to clients answer the question, ‘If time and money were of no concern, what are the things you long to do?’ This question can be answered in the context of business or personal life. The answers always inspire and amaze me. Then even more inspiration comes when I hear the answers to my next question: What else? The trouble is that once people have voiced their answers, they can always think of many, many reasons why they could not possibly achieve these dreams. Or sometimes, they think they can achieve them, but not right now; sometime in the future perhaps. My challenge as a coach is to help change that limited thinking.
I lived a great deal of my life, quite happily I might say, thinking that if I could not see solutions to all of the problems that could arise with all of the steps required for me to achieve a goal, then the timing must not be right. I believed that this was a message to me letting me know that sometime later in my life might be better. I realize now that I missed out on a lot of opportunities because my saboteur got in my head and convinced me to play it safe.
This year, the earth will circle the sun exactly once. I have decided that my mission this year will be to embrace Canada and as many of its treasures as I can during that one trip around.
When I am planning something my natural tendency is to get all of my plans down on paper, including the “how to” part. However, for this trip, I am going to focus less on how and why, and more on what and who. Two great questions I can ask myself are:
At the end of this year, who will I have become in the achieving of my Canada 150 goals?
And
What are the Canada 150 pictures I want in my Canada 150 Photo Album?
It is remarkable to notice how often, once someone declares that they are going to do something, people and opportunities appear (doors open) that help them along in their journey. You’ve likely had the experience of purchasing something like a new car, and then suddenly noticing all of the other similar vehicles on the road! Or if you mention that you heard about some obscure fact, sure enough someone in your group will have something to add to that fact. In just the same way, once people hear your goal, they will have tools to help you along. I know from experience that stating my intention and taking firm steps in the direction of those intentions is enough to set this Canada 150 odyssey in motion.
Last week I had been thinking about what we could do to kick off this adventure. My mind was running all over the country and my active saboteur was sensibly reminding me that this is all too much! But then I remembered that all I need to do is to take one step forward; one step in the direction of my dream. I opened the Calgary Herald and read that hiking up Johnston Canyon to see the ice falls was rated the #1 Winter tourist activity by one of the tourism companies. I have since since seen it ranked #7 out of 127 things and #3 out of 73 things in Banff National Park. We have hiked Johnston Canyon in the summer but had never thought of doing it in the winter. We hatched a plan to make our first day of Canada 150 Critchley style, a trip to Banff National Park. This National treasure is right in our backyard!
So last Friday, Jim and I played hooky, left early in the morning and drove west, watching the full moon set behind the mountains’ in front of us as we glimpsed a spectacular sunrise in the rear view mirror. We hiked Johnston Canyon, and then headed to Lake Louise to skate on the lake and to do some snowshoeing. Talk about celebrating Canada: it was a perfect start! Even my saboteur wasn’t able to convince me that -22°C was a good reason to abort the mission!
I haven’t figured out any of the details yet but I am adding to my list of Canada 150, skating on the Rideau Canal, seeing icebergs in Newfoundland and hiking at Whistler to name only a few. I have many, many ideas on my list. I am nervous even putting them in print. I am however, more excited than nervous. I know for sure that there is a great power in both saying things aloud and quietly writing them down. I’ll keep you posted. I have no rules about when or how or why; just inspiration based on what and who.
My question for you is, “What is it you are longing to do?”
My challenge is: Before the end of the first month of 2017, what one step will you take to get you closer to achieving it?
Be brave, my friends. Canada 150 may not be your thing, but surely life is!
A friendly reminder about the new workshop I am offering next month. The workshop is called. “2017: Passport to Loving Your Life”. I invite you to join me for the day of Saturday, February 11th, from 9:00am -3:00pm. It could be a year changer! See below for details.
I’m such a proud Canadian. I am hoping that all Canadians take time this year to celebrate our incredible country; not only the majesty of the landscape but also the freedom granted to us as citizens. It’s pretty easy to take it for granted while we are slogging through our daily lives.
One of the things I am privileged to do as a coach is to listen to clients answer the question, ‘If time and money were of no concern, what are the things you long to do?’ This question can be answered in the context of business or personal life. The answers always inspire and amaze me. Then even more inspiration comes when I hear the answers to my next question: What else? The trouble is that once people have voiced their answers, they can always think of many, many reasons why they could not possibly achieve these dreams. Or sometimes, they think they can achieve them, but not right now; sometime in the future perhaps. My challenge as a coach is to help change that limited thinking.
I lived a great deal of my life, quite happily I might say, thinking that if I could not see solutions to all of the problems that could arise with all of the steps required for me to achieve a goal, then the timing must not be right. I believed that this was a message to me letting me know that sometime later in my life might be better. I realize now that I missed out on a lot of opportunities because my saboteur got in my head and convinced me to play it safe.
This year, the earth will circle the sun exactly once. I have decided that my mission this year will be to embrace Canada and as many of its treasures as I can during that one trip around.
When I am planning something my natural tendency is to get all of my plans down on paper, including the “how to” part. However, for this trip, I am going to focus less on how and why, and more on what and who. Two great questions I can ask myself are:
At the end of this year, who will I have become in the achieving of my Canada 150 goals?
And
What are the Canada 150 pictures I want in my Canada 150 Photo Album?
It is remarkable to notice how often, once someone declares that they are going to do something, people and opportunities appear (doors open) that help them along in their journey. You’ve likely had the experience of purchasing something like a new car, and then suddenly noticing all of the other similar vehicles on the road! Or if you mention that you heard about some obscure fact, sure enough someone in your group will have something to add to that fact. In just the same way, once people hear your goal, they will have tools to help you along. I know from experience that stating my intention and taking firm steps in the direction of those intentions is enough to set this Canada 150 odyssey in motion.
Last week I had been thinking about what we could do to kick off this adventure. My mind was running all over the country and my active saboteur was sensibly reminding me that this is all too much! But then I remembered that all I need to do is to take one step forward; one step in the direction of my dream. I opened the Calgary Herald and read that hiking up Johnston Canyon to see the ice falls was rated the #1 Winter tourist activity by one of the tourism companies. I have since since seen it ranked #7 out of 127 things and #3 out of 73 things in Banff National Park. We have hiked Johnston Canyon in the summer but had never thought of doing it in the winter. We hatched a plan to make our first day of Canada 150 Critchley style, a trip to Banff National Park. This National treasure is right in our backyard!
So last Friday, Jim and I played hooky, left early in the morning and drove west, watching the full moon set behind the mountains’ in front of us as we glimpsed a spectacular sunrise in the rear view mirror. We hiked Johnston Canyon, and then headed to Lake Louise to skate on the lake and to do some snowshoeing. Talk about celebrating Canada: it was a perfect start! Even my saboteur wasn’t able to convince me that -22°C was a good reason to abort the mission!
I haven’t figured out any of the details yet but I am adding to my list of Canada 150, skating on the Rideau Canal, seeing icebergs in Newfoundland and hiking at Whistler to name only a few. I have many, many ideas on my list. I am nervous even putting them in print. I am however, more excited than nervous. I know for sure that there is a great power in both saying things aloud and quietly writing them down. I’ll keep you posted. I have no rules about when or how or why; just inspiration based on what and who.
My question for you is, “What is it you are longing to do?”
My challenge is: Before the end of the first month of 2017, what one step will you take to get you closer to achieving it?
Be brave, my friends. Canada 150 may not be your thing, but surely life is!
A friendly reminder about the new workshop I am offering next month. The workshop is called. “2017: Passport to Loving Your Life”. I invite you to join me for the day of Saturday, February 11th, from 9:00am -3:00pm. It could be a year changer! See below for details.
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