365 Days of Gratitude - Day 358

Well, here it is. The last day I'll be posting my 365/gratitude blog on The Lessons of Life / my personal profile on Facebook. Let me explain.

Paul and I are headed off on a little adventure tomorrow morning. I've mentioned before that although writing a blog daily is easy, getting my phone (with photos) to speak to my iPad (where I do my blog writing) is a rather frustrating process when I'm on the road. 

At the idea of stopping the blog I first thought, meh, whatever, so I stop it a few days early. But then I realized, after my eldest son looked at me oddly that I would consider 'quitting' something, that that would feel (for me anyway) a little like I hopped on the bus with one mile left to go in the marathon. I don't quit things. 

Considering I don't want to give up one minute of my holiday to having my eyes focused on my phone/iPad instead of at the amazing scenery, I came up with a way that I can feel satisfied with my finish, and that you can continue the 365 journey to the end with me.

So, here goes.

Today is my LAST 365 post here on Facebook.

The final 7 posts will be made on my personal profile on Instagram. (@weezrider). Please feel free to follow along.

After that...well, it's me and Paul time. Meaning I doubt there will be any Lessons of Life posts for a while. Maybe I'll feel inspired to blog about our travels, and maybe I won't. Although I'll probably post some photos on Instagram (once the 365blog is over), I'm not putting any pressure on myself to do anything but soak up the adventures of life on the road.

Thanks for joining me on the 365 days of gratitude journey. It's been quite a ride!

Feeling hugely, hugely, hugely grateful,

Louise

P.s. I'm reachable as normal by text, phone, email, and Instagram. (Please no messages via Facebook - after tomorrow they'll go unnoticed for a while). 

We're making the middle as spectacular as possible

Ideas anyone?

365 Days of Gratitude - Day 357

One of my favourite things to do is go for a walk in the woods with a good friend. I'm not so much into meeting for coffee, and sitting and visiting. My 'visiting time' always seems to happen in conjunction with activity, whether mountain biking, skiing, hiking, or just going for a walk.

Today was tea, trees, and tracks with my bestie.

Feeling grateful,

Louise

Mmmmmm ginger tea

This is not a people trail - it's deer tracks only

365 Days of Gratitude - Day 356

I can see the finish line. Just a few more days and my gargantuan undertaking of posting daily gratitude will be complete.

Am I grateful for that? You betcha!

Not that I haven't had fun, I certainly have. I've learned a thing or two (like just how much my Samsung phone and Apple IPad DON'T really speak together well), and I'm feeling happy to have accomplished my goal.

The entire process has reminded me a lot of my marathon running days. In the beginning you're filled with enthusiasm and adrenalin.

Just before the half way point you start thinking, 'omg, I'm not even half way!!'

Then you get a second wind and Wowza it's clear sailing. Oh sure there are some tough spots along the way, but you breeze through them. I never found it hard to be grateful, but I did find it hard trying to get wifi while on holidays.

Nearing the end you start hitting the wall. You get a little sarcastic. Your humour is a little 'off' centre, and you start counting down the miles. With the gratitude blog I feel at times that people must be tired of me saying the same thing over and over and over. 

But that's gratitude. That's what living a grateful life IS. It's noticing the sunrise and being grateful for it every. Single. Day. It's getting a text from a child a hundred thousand times in the year and being grateful every. Single. Time. 

It's about friends, and family, and loving my husband dearly and then commenting on that gratitude every. Single. Day. And every single time.

I do see the finish line, and I'm excited to be finished with this particular race. Will I continue? Of course - I just won't be blogging about it. Not daily anyway.

Feeling grateful for those that came on this journey with me,

Louise

P.s. Stay tuned for another twist to the story which I'll explain in more detail on Friday (Day 358).

Here are a pile of old marathon and ultra trail race photos of mine. For old time sake.

Halliburton 25km, 50km

Lake Scugog 100 miler

Vulture bait 25km

Snowshoe Raid (I forget the distance)

365 Days of Gratitude - Day 355

Puzzling with this awesome gal this evening. Grateful that I can :)

My heart is full!

Louise

Mom busy working on hers

The one I'm working on

365 Days of Gratitude - Day 354

As temperatures finally hit the normal January lows of negative double digits, I, as usual, got itchy for some good ole outdoor escapades. Thank goodness I live in an area where crazy, winter-loving playmates are plentiful!

A quick text to my dear friend Sara from Ride Guides and we were set to go. She suggested a lil xc skiing to 'warm up' followed by a rip on the fatbikes. She has such a beautiful energy about her that time together in the trails is always precious to me.

I'm feeling pretty darn spoiled at the moment. With yoga tonight I think I mastered a winter triathlon!

Feeling grateful,

Louise

Perfect fatbike singletrack conditions

Making some adjustments before the xc ski

365 Days of Gratitude - Day 353

Always find time for things that make you feel happy to be alive. Yes, indeed!

I'm a firm believer in filling your calendar first with the things that make your heart sing, make your Spirit soar, and balance your mind, body, and spirit.

Then, add in the family commitments.

Finally, add the hours you require for your method of aquiring money (we live in a society that requires we pay for home, food, shelter, etc.). This would be your job.

When you finish adding these to your schedule, double check to make sure the first and last bring you great pleasure. This is important because some of your family commitments will involve disease, death, and difficult moments. You'll need to balance these out with great joy from your soul-balancing activities and from the way you 'get' your money. (And when the family commitments bring great joy, well that's a win, win, win). If your 'job' doesn't bring you great joy - change it. Fast. 

Many people will argue and say this method of scheduling your time is not possible. That only a dreamer can say such silly things. I beg to differ though, and I've experienced first hand how incredible your life can become when you think differently and learn to arrange your time differently.

Feeling grateful,

Louise

One of my soul-balancing priorities today - backcountry skiing with my besties

365 Days of Gratitude - Day 352

I blew a shoe snowshoeing today! It was bound to happen eventually as these shoes are pretty darn old. Paul bought them for me the first year Costco sold snowshoes. It's gotta be 10 years ago.

There's Dutch blood running through my veins and I don't replace pretty much anything unless it's broken beyond repair. I drive Paul batty with my long-term use of some things.

I've got a spatula in my drawer that was a shower present when I was getting married 29 years ago. The handle snapped off probably 15 years ago - but darn it - it still works, and is my fav spatula ever for cooking. It's the one I reach for every single time and no matter how many times Paul has suggested otherwise I refuse to toss it out.

Same with the snowshoes. These ones were old, heavy, clunky, super wide, and pretty old-school compared to the high tech ones you can get today. But they worked. And thus I loved them. I didn't care if they generated stares of disbelieve, I wasn't tossing them or replacing them!

Until today. One broke beyond repair :(

I'm feeling grateful for the 1000's of kilometres I put on those babies. They sure were good to me.

Louise

Oh dear!

My old spatula lol lol. I love it!

365 Days of Gratitude - Day 351

An incredible day of connecting with 2 young ladies that are an important part of my life.

My dear friend Rachel Summers and I spent a few hours catching up with a snowshoe through Copeland Forest, coffee, and sitting by the fireplace. This young gal came into my life when she was a wee thing who wanted to make a difference by volunteering at the Rebecca Run for SMA. 

Back in those days she was too little to do much other than sit with me and the 'big girls' helping hand out race kits. Years and years later, after her holding a most important multi-year volunteer position with the event, we spent the afternoon talking about life after university, adventure, and of course, love.

I also spent time today talking with my daughter Sydney. She had lost her dog last night and him being found led us to a heartfelt and meaningful discussion about life, Spirit, and soul-purpose living.

My heart is full!

Feeling grateful,

Louise

Rachel and I in a post snowshoe selfie

Making goofy faces

Sydney and her big boy Poseidon