Category: Thought

Through the eyes of writing ~ blog 144

A Probe & Ponder Newsletter…December Issue

Exploring books, learning, travel, life experiences & adventure with author, Roberta E Sawatzky

Welcome to Issue #2 of my newsletter!

If you’re someone who’s curious, courageous, and eager to grow through fresh ideas, practical writing tips, thoughtful prompts, and real-life reflections, you’re in the right place. Here, I share my ponderings and discoveries with a community of readers and writers who’ve connected with me through my books—and who love exploring how writing shapes the way we learn, create, and experience life. Let’s dive in together.

My books: For ordering and book information visit my website.

What If…? Finding new adventures through life’s obstacles. Between Here and Where? Embracing life’s transitions.

“A writer, I think, is someone who pays attention to the world.”
—Susan Sont

Books & Podcasts

Podcast:
I love travel and I love books. Needless to say, podcasts that combine those two topics catch my attention. My recommend for this month is from Books and Travel with Jo Frances Penn. You may recognize the name J.F. Penn, a prolific author of both non-fiction, and the ARKANE series. Born from her love of research, Penn hosts authors who books have been inspired by their travels. Episode #110 is titled Ahchemical History and Beautiful Architecture: Prague with Lisa M. Lilly. If you have never visited the amazing Prague, this interview will certainly whet your appitite to pay it a visit. Lilly shares how her visit to Prague inspired her latest book The Skeptical Man.

You just never know where your next book inspiration will come from–and I’m not suggesting you have to travel across the globe for that inspiration. Might I encourage keeping your eyes open in your own neighbourhood, city, or country? Like Lisa M. LIlly, you might just see a book scene unfold before your very eyes.

Book:
There are many tried and true practices as they relate to writing. However, how often do we reach for the latest and greatest book on the shelf, just to find that ‘magic bullet’, the one to make writing seamless. If only that were true!

I am finishing up reading a classic book on writing. Originally published in 1976, but updated several times, the latest revised update in 2006, William K. Zinsser’s book On Writing Well is full of treasures for new and accomplished writers. As I look back through the chapters, my pages are splattered with yellow highlighting. Let me share some of the nuggets that caught my attention from just the first chapter.

“Ultimatelly the product that any writer has to sell is not the sugject being written about, but who he or she is“. “But the secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components.” When speaking of style, Zinsser shares, “Readers want the person who is talking to them to sound genuine. Therefore a fundamental rule is: be yourself.” That one really spoke to me. One more quote. “I write entirely by ear and read everything aloud before letting it go out into the world.” This became clear to me when I was recording my audiobook What if…? Finding new adventures through life’s obstacles. I had read through the book more times than I wished, had a professional editor go through it multiple times, and shared it with three beta readers. I was told by folks much wiser than I in the field of editing that the first read through will catch 80% of errors, leaving a mere 20%. Not too bad, but not what I would be happy with. After two more read throughs, 0.8% of the original errors would still go unchecked. I was good with that. However, as I read my book aloud for the recording, I was shocked by how many mistakes I still found, simply by listening–by using my ear. Mr. Zinsser, you know your stuff! So, this is a high recommend book from a wise man.

Capturing holiday memories in a memoir can be both meaningful and fun. The following tips and story prompts are designed to help you bring your family traditions, special moments, and unique celebrations to life. Let these ideas spark your creativity as you begin writing your holiday stories.

Writing Tips (for the holiday season)

  1. Start with sensory details
  2. Focus on meaningful moments
  3. Interview family members
  4. Use photos and keepsakes
  5. Write one memory at a time
  6. Embrace both joy and challenge
  7. Use prompts and story starters

Try these prompts to get you started:

  1. Describe a holiday tradition that has been passed down through generations in your family. How did it start, and how has it changed over time? 
  2. Share the story of a holiday celebration that didn’t go as planned. What went wrong, and how did your family respond?
  3. Imagine a holiday from the perspective of a gift waiting to be opened. What does it hope for, and what does it witness? 
  4. Describe a holiday season in the future or in a different setting (another country, another planet, etc.). How do traditions adapt?
  5. Write about a holiday celebration that brought together people from different backgrounds or cultures. What did you learn? 

Created with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot.

Writing Prompts (pictures from my travels):

  1. “I remember a time when we drank exquisite cocktails and talked about…”
  2. “This Christmas gnome made me smile because…”
  3. “As I sat in the chill of winter, gazing over the lake, my thoughts wandered to…”

What am I up to?

Last week I attended yet another Winter Market and shared a book table with a friend. I don’t know about you, but this is not my favourite way to market and sell my books. To be honest, sales were basically non-existent, and my feet and back hurt from standing so long. Perhaps it’s the memoir genre, or my poor sales skills. HOWEVER, I spoke to some wonderful people and heard their life stories. They were filled with heartwarming experiences, reflections of sadness and tragedy, courage, and hope. For me, as I reflect on the day, it was a success. It reminded me that I write because I’m passionate about sharing life with others in a way that will encourage, uplift, teach, and bring joy. I write because I’m a teacher at heart and have learned so much through books. I write because it provides a creative outlet that causes my mind to slow down and reflect.

In November’s newsletter I shared my thoughts on what my next book might look like. I did think more about writing a fiction, tried to come up with some creative ideas for story lines…nothing! I absolutely love reading murder mystery and suspense books, but writing one is outside my wheelhouse. And my love of storytelling about real life is what brings me joy, and from what I’m told, my readers find joy in reading my books. So that’s my lane, that’s where my voice is truly me. I’m now three chapters into a new work…stay tuned for updates.

“You don’t write because you understand life; you write because you want to.” — Anaïs Nin

Happy Holidays from our home to yours.

The Joys of Spring: New Life, New Perspectives…blog 142

I love spring!
It brings renewed hope, freshness, new perspectives, and the reminder that after the darkness of winter, the promise of new life always returns. I cherish every part of it—rain or shine.

Spring is also the perfect time of year to celebrate those women in our lives who have had such an impact. Whether or not you are a mother, or provide support and love for others…I celebrate you!

A Symphony of Scents and Sights

I don’t know where you live, but here in British Columbia, my bike rides are filled with the sight and scent of flowering trees and shrubs in full bloom.

The white, pink, lavender, and purple lilacs make even the finest perfumes seem dull by comparison, blending harmoniously with the sweet, honey-like fragrance of the Oregon grape’s yellow blossoms. Riding through it all feels like gliding through a fragrant flower shop.

Sunshine, Scotch, and the Simple Joys

Spring feels like emerging from the cozy comforts of indoors to breathe in life’s freshness.

Time to clean off the patio chairs, lay out the bright cushions on the Adirondack chairs, pour a shot (or two!) of scotch, sit back, and smile at the sun. Pure bliss.

Nature’s Reminder: It’s Time to Begin Again

Spring speaks of new birth.
We see it all around us: buds opening, grass once buried now sprouting fresh green blades, chubby robins tending to delicate blue eggs, and trees becoming concert stages for returning songbirds.

But I believe spring also invites us—as humans—to embrace new beginnings, fresh perspectives, and personal growth. Each new beginning is as unique as the person experiencing it.

A personal win: an audio recording and a second book

On a personal note, I’m excited to have produced an audiobook from my first book What if…? Finding adventures through life’s obstacles.

AND I’m thrilled about the upcoming birth of my second book, Between Here and Where: Embracing Life’s Transitions.The cover design is complete, and the final edits—thanks to the amazing Darcy Nybo—are done. Next up: sharing it with a few beta readers, then on to publishing!

Looking ahead: travel, connection, and ocean breezes

I’m also looking forward to traveling and exploring over the next few months. The thought of spending time with family and friends—creating new memories and building on shared experiences—fills me with joy. Add in some time by the ocean, and my anticipation reaches epic levels!

Embracing change and finding hope

Of course, life continues to throw us curveballs. Change and transition are part of the journey—sometimes beautiful, sometimes challenging.

But even in the tougher moments, those changes don’t define us. They invite us to dig deep, hold onto joy, and let the warmth of past memories and hope for the future guide us forward.

They remind us to live with a sense of expectancy for the good that life still offers.

A few questions for you

So, I wonder—
What are you hopeful for as you witness the wonders of new life around you?

How are you growing and learning in this season of your life?

What thoughts linger in your heart on those joy-filled days—or on days when joy feels just out of reach?

Welcome to a new year with Probe and Ponder…Blog 141

January 2025…how has the year started for you? Slow and steady? Like a whirlwind? Full of expectancy? Waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop? Are you excited about new beginnings? None of these outlooks are right or wrong…they just are. And that’s ok.

Mine started rather quietly – we slipped into 2025 without much fanfare. Like many people at certain stages of life, we were already in dreamland by the time the clock struck midnight!

That was until January 3rd. 

I love to smile, but recently I have been conscious of people’s reactions when they see a gap where until that day, a tooth lived. It happened like this:

I was meeting with a close friend, enjoying a great cup of coffee and a soft veggie wrap. We were laughing together, catching up on each other’s lives, and about to begin talking about a second walk together on the Camino de Santiago, when I felt the strangest thing…there was a hole where a front tooth used to be! My tongue explored it, my finger found the hole, and a selfie confirmed what I feared…I had lost a tooth. It split up the middle and was gone! I truly did lose it—it wasn’t in my mouth, nor was it stuck in the wrap…it was gone. Well, not completely lost, I had swallowed it!

As you can read in my memoir, life is not exactly stress-free when one’s husband has some major medical issues. So when this happened, I looked at my friend, recognizing my shock reflected in her face, and we both laughed! What else could we do? I immediately reached out to our dental office and shared my story of woe, and the receptionist laughed as well! Realizing her reaction may not have been overly empathetic, she quickly apologized. 

Within an hour I was sitting in the dental chair having x-rays taken, then setting up an appointment with my dentist for the following week (of course it happened on a day when the dentist wasn’t working!). Thus began the long process of having a tooth implanted by a dental surgeon…but first the remainder of my broken tooth needs to be removed. (There are many things I would rather do than visit the dentist…for any reason!)

So here was the dilemma I now faced. I was booked to be interviewed on a podcast (video, not audio), and present an Author Meet at our local library. I am also in the process of recording an audiobook. Do you know how difficult it is to pronounce ‘th’ and ‘f’ sounds when you are missing a front tooth? The recording mic is so sensitive the production guy could hear a plane passing overhead, a sound I couldn’t even hear! 

What to do? We were able to adjust the mic far enough from my mouth so as not to have the offending sounds pop the mic…one problem solved. But what about the podcast? If you have spent any time on virtual calls, you know how distracting it is to see your face on a screen just inches away. It can be disconcerting to say the least. Add to that the insult of seeing a very visible gap anytime you smile, multiplying the distraction. So the podcast appearance was cancelled. 

But what about the Author Meet? I seriously considered cancelling it as well, until I was hit with one of those epiphany experiences. That quiet inner voice reminded me that I had committed to be open and transparent both in my writing and in life in general. Having a tooth fall out is just part of life (at least my life). 

So here I am, missing tooth and all, ready to take on 2025. I look forward to openly and transparently sharing my probings and ponderings with you. Please stay tuned as I continue sharing my learnings from life and travel with you. Who knows what’s next? 

By the way, if you ever want to reach out for coaching, speaking events, or simply to say ‘hi’, here are my contacts:

roberta@samisremote.com | resawatzky.com | robertasawatzky.com | https://calendly.com/roberta20/complimentary-chat

As 2024 comes to an end…Blog 140

I’m sitting in my home office, gazing out at a very gray day. We had snow last evening, but mild temperatures and light rain have turned the fresh blanket of snow into a dull, mushy mess.

Winter isn’t my favorite season—my soul seems to hibernate, awaiting the awakening signaled by the first buds of spring appearing on the trees outside my window. These buds signal new life.

In summer, we slow down to soak up the sun’s warmth, shedding cumbersome jackets, socks, and ‘whole shoes’ (as our daughter used to call them) to make way for sandals, sundresses, t-shirts, and the ever-present sunnies. At times, the sun’s heat becomes oppressive, prompting us to seek the perfect shade under which to sip a cool beverage, dreaming of storing this glorious heat to be slowly released during the cold, frigid winter months.

Then autumn arrives. How I love this season! The summer heat fades, leaving warm days and nights that call for the cozy embrace of light sweaters to fend off the evening chill. The greens of summer transform into vibrant reds, ambers, and crimson leaves, drawing me in like the crackling flames of the fires my mum used to set in the evenings back in Ireland.

However, without the winter months that prompt us to hunker down and reflect on the gifts of new life, warmth, and harvest, we might miss the lessons nature offers.

I believe the four seasons—winter, spring, summer, and autumn—are a rich metaphor for life, especially when we consider the changes each one brings. Over the past year, I’ve been working on a book about change and transition. Initially, its focus was on transitioning from full-time employment to part-time, contract work. This transition would bridge the years between the workforce and possibly leaving paid employment altogether. As I wrote, I realized that life is, and will continue to be, filled with various transitions, each with its own intensity. This process has made me reflect on the many changes and transitions I’ve experienced and consider how successfully or unsuccessfully I’ve navigated each. Transitions stem from change; some are self-initiated, while others result from decisions made by others that impact us. Some transitions bring wonderful opportunities filled with adventure and excitment, while others may lead to loss, grief, and anxiety.

During this winter solstice season, as I reflect on the past year, I remember moments of joy and laughter, delight and pleasure, beauty and wonder, awe and curiosity, peace and stillness. I also remember moments of deep sadness and tears, anger and fear, loss and grief. This is life; these are the seasons of life that shape us into unique and wonderful human beings living amidst its messiness.

One of my favorite Broadway experiences was Rent. From the opening number, I was captivated by the stories of a group of young bohemians endeavoring to live fully. It chronicles a year in their lives. The opening song, “Seasons of Life,” asks, “How do you measure the value of a year in a person’s life?” A big question! But is it really? Looking back over 2024, how would you describe its value in terms of your accomplishments, contributions, and what you’ve received? What gauge or criterion might you use to evaluate its worth? I believe this question, posed by songwriter Jonathan Larson, provides a simple yet profound foundation for closing off a year and setting intentions for 2025, marking it as a year of great value.

What do you think? How might you measure the value of 2024?

Autumn, it’s the most wonderful time of the year…Blog # 128

I love Autumn. Always have, and always will. It was the perfect month for me to be born! (Actually, today’s my birthday!) There’s something about the feeling of the warmth of the sun filtering through the cool, crisp air. The light is somehow softer in the autumn, as sun rays are less direct. By early afternoon through early evening, the sun beats through my home office window. I have one of those oversize chairs by the window — my favourite place to sit and read, listen to an audio book, or even allow myself to have a short afternoon snooze while the sun serves as a warming blanket.

Every autumn, our city in western Canada treats us to a cacophony of fall colours as trees display their red, orange and yellow leaves. Who doesn’t love strutting through the leaves and hearing them rustling underfoot? While I appreciate the diligence of city workers and gardners as they rake these autumn carpets, I simply can’t resist gathering the leaves and throwing them in the air, then laughing at the shower they provide as, once again, they float to the ground.

I haven’t travelled since May, and even though I’m always ready to travel to some far-off place, my husband and I have thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of the Okanagan Valley. Have you ever walked around your area and looked through the eyes of a first-time visitor, or a tourist? Try it…I guarantee you will appreciate the surrounding beauty in a new light.

We can’t all live by the ocean (sad, but true), nor can we all live by a 90-mile-long lake (like we do), however, there is such beauty in a prairie sunrise or sunset. I will never forget my first visit to the Canadian prairies…how could anything be so flat?? On my first day I decided to brave the brisk early morning October air. Dawn was just breaking on the horizon and I witnessed the most spectacular sunrise I have ever seen. It’s awesomeness literally brought tears to my eyes. Then there are the spectacular views from atop a mountain or the sense of insignificance we feel when looking up at such majesty from a lush valley. I remember standing with a friend on Mars Hill in Athens and gazing over the expanse of the magnificent city spread out before us.

Who can forget their first experience of wonder when snorkelling in the waters of Hawaii, or Mexico? It is like entering another world, one that is peaceful, abundant with every colour of the rainbow, and occupied by the most amazing sea life that would give Dr. Seuss’s creative mind a run for his money!

You get the idea. Yes, travelling is wonderful, something never to be taken for granted. But so is the world immediately around us, in our backyard, across the street, on the other side of town, a day trip away, or a bike ride along a peaceful country road.

Sadly, there are times when beauty is destroyed by devastating events caused by nature, or man. My hope is that in the midst of such devastation, we are able to eventually see beauty…like a phoenix rising from the ashes. In the meantime, I’m happy to share nature’s beauty with you, looking through my eyes.

All photographs taken from right here in Kelowna, Canada. We truly live in a four seasons playground.

A trip to remember…Blog #122

Have you ever had the experience of driving into a city and laying your eyes on something that was close to the top of your ‘things to see’ list?

The Guggenheim Museum was that place for me, and it was every bit as stunning as I had imagined—and that was just driving past it! 

As we taxied from the Bilbao-Loiu Airport, each lost in our own thoughts and taking in the sights of a new city, we came down a hill, turned a corner, and there it was. I’d love to say the masterpiece structure constructed of titanium, limestone, and glass, stood in contrast to the deep azure blue sky, reflecting the bright afternoon sun…but alas, it was a cloudy, overcast day. However, even without the beaming sun and blue sky, this was a sculpture (not simply a structure), that held its own, rain or shine.  

And then we saw Puppy! A sculpture by Jeff Koons made from stainless steel, soil, and flowering plants, measuring approximately 41 ft x 41 ft x 30 ft. How else would you react to a gigantic flowering West Highland terrier, than simply smile. Puppy, ‘born’ in 1992 truly fills viewers with amazement and joy. Koons had another sculpture in the Guggenheim that also brings a smile to viewers, Tulips — colourful, gleaming, and made from stainless steel. 

There is much I could say about the Guggenheim’s displays, from the thought provoking exhibition of work by Lynette Yiadom-Boakye… Not Twilight Too Mighty, to the installation by Richard Serra called The Matter of Time  (I loved this one…I could actually touch and interact with it!). And of course  Louise Bourgeois’ amazing Maman sculpture (1999) of a  spider made from bronze, stainless steel, and marble eggs (filling a spider sac). It, again, is big— measuring over 30 ft high and over 33 ft wide. Believe it or not, this sculpture was an ode to the sculpture’s mother.

Bilbao was an interesting city, not unlike most European cities with its historical centre, Casco Viejo, beautiful Cathedrals and ornate theatres; Bilbao a city buzzing with people simply doing life. 

Then came San Sebastian. We hopped on a bus for the short, 60 minute drive along a really windy highway, amidst lush green country side, made all the more lovely under a deep blue sky (the one we missed in Bilbao). 

San Sebastian was another beautiful city with an Old Town called Parte Vieja, housing more Tapa bars than I could count, filled with thirsty tourists looking for the best pintxos (a type of tapa), beautiful buildings, churches…and the Atlantic Ocean! As we looked out the window of our hotel, our eyes feasted on the beautiful La Concha Beach. The ocean, the sand, the sound of waves lapping on shore were truly a salve for any weary soul…and their very tired Camino feet!  

Most enjoyable activities in San Sebastian: 1. Walking along the Paseo Nuevo (literally ‘the new promenade’) overlooking the ocean, 2. Seeing the El Peine del Viento (The Wind Comb) sculpture right on the ocean…amazing, 3. and the beach and ocean…the very best of all. 

El Peine del Viento

La Concha Beach is enjoyed mostly by locals. The simply joys of watching children play, dogs frolicking in the waves, and walking along the water’s edge was the perfect way to end our Camino vacation. And yes, I did actually go swimming in the ocean, although it was so cold I couldn’t catch my breath…but I did it!

After a train ride back to Bilbao, short flight to Madrid, and a very early 6am flight the next morning, we were on our way home.

I love travel, but I also love the joy and welcome of coming home. Our trip was great, we experiences amazing new places, met great people, challenged ourselves both physically and mentally, laughed but mostly at ourselves, ate great food, became quite addicted to cortados (a Spanish style coffee), and literally walked through aches and pains no feet should ever have to endure. But it was worth it.

The words of the late Anthony Bourdain certainly ring true:

Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts. It even breaks your heart. But that’s OK. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.

Anthony Bourdain

Stay tuned for more reflections as I probe and ponder experiences through life and travel.

If only my feet could talk…Blog #121

Walking down the cobbled road, decending the steps, walking through the tunnel and past the young man playing the bagpipes, then entering the vast Praza do Obradoiro, home to the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, we, my hiking partner and I, were both elated, and exhausted!

We had finished the walk from Sarria and arrived in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, in the early afternoon. The final task was to visit the Pilgrim Office to receive our official certificate, the Compostela. To earn this recognition we had to walk at least the last 100 km of the Camino Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, and collect stamps on the Credencial del Peregrino along the way (at least two each day) to verify we actually did in the walk.

Over our six days of hiking, averaging 20km per day, we were graced with perfect weather, while soaking in beautiful, lush, peaceful meadows, and fragrant forests of acacia and eucalyptus trees. At times we walked together, sometimes chatting with other pilgrims, and other times we walked alone, each lost in our own thoughts. And we climbed many, many long hills on paved, cobbled, rocky, gravel, and forest bed surfaces. Then down again. Only to turn a corner to find another hill daring us to reach yet another peak. 

At the end of the first day we humbly admitted that we had never been more physically challenged in our lives…and that was just day one! Day two boasted an unfathomable 24 km, 17 of which were mostly vertical. How would we ever complete another 4 days of this?   

But we did. At the end of each day we were rewarded with unique and wonderful accommodations, mostly dating back to the 1700’s. Each place had been refurbished while retaining most of the original structure and elegant beauty. Meals were created from locally sourced foods by skilled chefs — a delight to our tastebuds, and nourishment for our weary bones.

People choose to hike all or a portion of the Camino for various reasons. I really didn’t set out with a defined purpose. The thought of taking a break from a busy schedule and the demands of daily life was appealing. Getting away from technology was also something I looked forward to, however, without the use of a phone and internet with EU access, the journey would have been greatly impeded.

I had watched videos of the Camino and was certainly attracted by the scenes of serenity as pilgrims traversed trails that guided them through countryside and ancient villages, some seemingly uninhabited, others more vibrant yet quiet and peaceful. My experience certainly reflected the shared experiences of pilgrims that had gone before.

For me, this hike was more physically and mentally challenging than I had imagined. However, through texts, FaceTime, and daily handwritten notes of encouragement from my husband (he had written a note for me to open each day on my voyage), his message of “Dig deep, find that place of courage, strength and peace. You can do this!”, was food for my soul. Add to that the cheering voices of my kids, grandkids, niece, and friends — there was no way I was going to quit (much to the chagrin of my feet and their growing blisters!).

On day 5, while climbing yet another hill and reminding myself to breath, a moment of realization hit me; I still had the physical and mental fortitude to push myself to the limit, and walk (or limp) the St. James Way trek in my 65th year. I could do this…and more!

As I’ve written in past blogs, and in my soon to be published memoir, ‘What if…’ life is to be lived to the fullest, even in the face of obstacles. Age should never be the determining factor of what adventures we embrace. Pain, injury, health crisis, you name it, don’t necessarily have to change your goals, just the path you take to get there.

Currently we are riding a bus on a very windy road enroute from Bilbao to San Sebastián, Spain. In Bilbao we explored the Guggenheim — the architecture was every bit as mind blowing as I expected, walked the streets of Old Town and visited the Cathedral of Santiago. Unbeknown to us, our Credencial del Peregrino granted us free access (and another stamp) to take in the beauty of this structure. While wowed by it’s beauty I was once again saddened and left wondering why so many homeless individuals sat, kneeled, or lay prostrate just outside the doors of such obvious wealth and opulence, begging for money or food. One of life’s many injustices.

I am excited to arrive in San Sebastián and get my feet into the Atlantic. By the ocean, or sea, continues to be my place of rumination, a great place to sit, breathe, and reflect on what I’ve experienced over the past 2 week since leaving home. 

Stay tuned for more reflections as I probe and ponder experiences through life and travel.

Publish? Me?…Blog #117

Have you ever had something nagging in the back of your mind that is not so strong as to be hushed, but also not so quiet as to be ignored? I think that niggling (or whatever you might call it) has been my constant companion for a few years. Just to be clear, when I use the word niggling, I don’t mean worrisome, more like persistent. 

Monchique, Portugal Dec. 29, 2021

I found this quote in a blog called That Niggling Thought, it gives voice to what I’m endeavouring to say.

Sometimes a thought returns so incessantly it needs to be investigated. Learning to listen and to simply be open to trying is more challenging than we’d like.  

My niggling thought? Should I write a book? Of course, along with the idea has always come an inner dialogue with the potential to fast track me onto a roller coaster of reasoning that only a strategic thinker could conceive.

But, what if I did? What would it be about? Would anyone want to read it? Would anyone pay to read it? What if no one did read it, would it have been a waste of time and money? But…what if I did and it ended up being an encouragement to others? Perhaps even insightful? What if it made them laugh, or cry? What if it provided an enjoyable read as they relaxed on some spectacular beach overlooking the ocean on a warm summer’s day? Ok, that’s maybe going too far. But…what if?

Sometimes you just need to open that unknown door, and do it! That’s exactly where my niggling has led me. 

If you’ve been following my blogs for a while, you’ll know that my husband and I spent several months in Portugal and Spain while I was on an extended study leave from teaching HR and Management at Okanagan School of Business in Kelowna, BC, Canada. We expected it to be an adventure, and it was. We expected it to be a learning experience, and it was. We expected it to be amazing, and it was. We didn’t expect it to be filled with many challenges and shall we say, growth opportunities. But it was!

The years of niggling finally provided both the impetus and inspiration to write a memoir, which I did. Having finally submitted it to a publisher, a whole new learning journey begins.

I invite you to share in this journey with me. Hopefully it will be both informational and inspirational. Hopefully you’ll pay attention to whatever is niggling at you and step through that door to adventure and learning. And hopefully you’ll share your experiences of following the niggling.

The deepest satisfaction of writing is precisely that it opens up new spaces within us of which we were not aware before we started to write. To write is to embark on a journey whose final destination we do not know.

Henri Nouwen

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New page, new chapter…Blog #115

Do you remember your high school years? It seemed (to me anyways) the hours of boring classes, homework, exams, and tedious studying, would never end? (says the professor). But they did, and as I look back I realize they were just a tiny bleep in time. I feel a bit of deja vu these days–I can’t believe how quickly this year has passed! 

August 1 marked a year since I began my extended study leave (ESL); actually it marked the end of that ESL. Unbelievable! It was my main focus since beginning to prepare the proposal in Spring of 2019, and now it is becoming a distant memory. But what a memory! 

My blog posts have also been focused on preparing for, and living the adventure experienced with my husband, and as I now return to blogging, I’m having a hard time getting back in the groove. I’m still committed to writing about learning from life and travels, but feel like a new page has been turned in life, and I’m not sure what the next chapter is called, nor how to get there. 

Perhaps a bridge is needed. My last blog was posted mid-June, let’s start there.

June was basically spent getting back to being home, as in Kelowna, BC, Canada: wrapping up loose ends from my research, writing my Global Professional in Human Resources exam (which I passed…phew!), re-adjusting to life in Canada, catching up with friends, connecting with colleagues at work, and spending as much time as possible with our daughter and family. To be honest, June was a bit of a whirlwind (I did write a bit about it in my previous blog).  

July hit, and with the research and resulting papers etc. complete, it was time to let my mind and body rest before digging into preparing for another year of teaching HR and Management courses, and working with clients. July truly was back to basics…the 3-Rs, ok 4-Rs: reading, writing (not sure how this was labelled as an ‘R’), riding, and relaxing. The reading was light, mostly mysteries and the like; the writing was focused on my travel memoir from this past year (more about that to come); bike riding was a mix of both slow and pushing hard; and relaxing was well, relaxing. 

Enjoying wine and cream puffs at Arrowleaf Winery

The more we travel, the more I appreciate the beauty of the Okanagan Valley region in which we live. We are surrounded by mountains that house world class skiing, 30+ golf courses, approximately 182 wineries, and many lakes. The Okanagan Lake alone is 135 km long! So while we absolutely love to travel, we are fortunate to have a spectacular location to return to after each adventure.

But, my mind is already longing for more travel…yes, the more you travel, the more you realize how many more places you want to experience. Future travels will probably not be for such an extended time as this past adventure to Europe; however, there is still great value in a weekend away closer to home, taking a week or so to a drivable location, or a few weeks to more distant lands that call for a plane ride to jet you away to some new exploration. 

I have many memories and learnings from past travels sewn into the fabric of my heart and soul, and I invite you to reflect on them with me over the next weeks and months until the next yet unknown adventure presents itself.

A favourite spot to take in the Okanagan Lake.

Views and life perspective…Blog #111

As I start to write this blog, I’m sitting in the lounge of Hotel Centre, Cordova, Spain, a very lovely hotel with excellent access to the older part of town…and the view from the rooftop terrace is spectacular. 

I’m into views…rooftop views over the city (like this one taken from the roof of our Cordova hotel), views from the top of cliffs looking over the ocean or Mediterranean Sea. Then there’s balcony views over the goings on of life on the sidewalks and streets below. We’ve marvelled at views from the top of the Duomo in Florence, or Miguelete Bell Tower in Valencia, and will never forget standing on Mars Hill overlooking the impressive city of Athens. Views give you a much different perspective, they remind you to take a step back and see the bigger picture. 

For me personally, being with family can also give you that fresh perspective; it reminds you that you’re not alone in the world, that the children you raised have grown into adults who reflect the values instilled through their growing up years, and have acquired wisdom beyond anything we as parents passed to them. Then there’s the grandkids…oh my! Seeing your offspring and their spouses raise their own children, is the moment we parents can step back and know the future is in good hands. A beautiful perspective.

We are enroute back to Valencia from a 10 day visit to the Algarve in Portugal. Ten days of having emotional tanks filled, and new memories created with both of our children and their families. Our family has been split all over the globe for some time, so this was a treasured time to be together; time for European Uncle and Auntie to meet their new niece, and cousins to meet their Canadian cousin for the first time…it was mutual love at first sight all around. There’s nothing like relaxing on a beautiful Algarve beach, sun shining, water sparkling, while grandkids and Papa try to build a sandcastle, laughter all around…basking in the simple joys of life. Quite a view to behold.

As you’ll know from former blogs, my husband and I spent December through February in Albufeira before moving on to Valencia for another three months. For this visit back we stayed in Carvoeiro. We discovered Carvoeiro while staying in Albufeira, and found it such a delightful place. Now, after staying there for 10 days, we absolutely love it! The views are spectacular, the cafés and restaurants plentiful, and while most are Spanish speaking, their level of English communication really helps when your non-existing Portuguese language skills amount to bom Dia and obrigada! Carvoeiro is a central location for many day trips to many more amazing beaches, and offers incredible hiking along cliff tops. The views over the Atlantic are truly breathtaking. Just to give you a glimpse of what I mean, this is the view from across the quiet street at our vacation rental. We will be back!

I was thinking, what other places have we visited whose views so impressed that, when recalled, can transport one back to that special moment in time. The place that immediately comes to mind is Santorini, one of the Greek Islands. We visited there in 2013 with some friends. Incredibly beautiful. Now, we are really fortunate to travel with friends who love to plan travel. On this particular Greek Island holiday, Mr. W. chose and booked all our accommodations. Each location, Athens, Samos, Mykonos, Naxos, Santorini, and Nafplio were spectacular, but when we arrived at our cave house in Santorini, walked out to our private balcony, the view took our breath away. The Mediterranean had never looked so majestic, and we could sit out on our large balcony and take it all in. A close second was the view from our private balcony in Naxos overlooking the same sea, the town itself quaint beyond words with locally owned shops, cafés and restaurants tucked around every corner. And the wine! How can such inexpensive wine be so extraordinarily delicious (this was true throughout Greece)?

So what is it about views that provide such opportunity for reflection and refreshment for overwhelmed souls? Perhaps it’s simply the way such vistas, and time with family, cause us to slow down, stop, take in our surroundings, marvel at what we see, ‘bracket’ whatever is happening in our day to day lives, and cause us to whisper a prayer of thanksgiving to the Creator for what has unfolded before our eyes. Often, these moments come unexpectedly, just waiting to fill us with amazement and wonder. They certainly prompt me to pause, probe, and ponder! 

What is it that creates these moments for you?