Eve of Tuesday 2011 (Transitions)

This post is now firmly an annual affair. However, the writing this year has been more challenging as there are a number of posts I have started in the past three weeks, but none have made it to completion. Thus, this post, somewhat unsuccessfully, bears the weight of those, while trying to stay true to the Labour Day theme established in previous years (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010). The result is the following.

The Tuesday is nearly upon us and transition is in our thoughts and actions. Each Eve of Tuesday post in years past has made some reference to transition (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010), but this year the concept seems to be a particular focus. As you approach tomorrow’s renewal you likely have some thoughts and feelings of transition as well. The academic year, and sport seasons that so many of us follow, reach a point of change on this date or in the approaching weeks. As usual, it is important to take stock of where we have been. I know that so many of you have been on adventures again this summer. Some have left for new homes. Some welcomed new family members. Some went abroad. Some of you volunteered. Some of you set goals around health and fitness. Some of you spent quality time with family and loved ones. Some of you went into the outdoors. Many of us took risks, and experienced new adventures. Congratulations! I am so fortunate to know so many extraordinary people who strike out and engage in adventures and renewal! We shall carry our summer with us into the coming transitions. This includes carrying its victories, defeats, experiences of growth, celebrations, and trials. New jobs, new challenges, new schools, new teams, new relationships, fresh starts – all of these we will face with greater courage because of our summer, the past twelve months, and all the preceding years that have brought us to this point. We face times of transition not with mysterious strength, or merely depending on luck to steer us through unchartered experiences. Instead, we enter with the strength we have built through our past experiences, relationships, and previous transitions.

Perhaps one of the important factors of transition we are getting at here is growth. It is a topic that has been on my mind quite a lot lately. I was fortunate to go on an adventure this summer that allowed me to experience a completely new type of interconnected growth. In working with teaching colleagues from Canada and Kenya to further professional development, I experienced personal, social, emotional and professional growth. At the same time I witnessed, and was a part of other people’s growth in all of these areas, as well as the growth of community. However, I believe the effectiveness of this growth would not be fully realized if I was not able to capitalize on some transition time between that adventure, and beginning a new adventure tomorrow. The reflections, conversations, recuperation, and questions of that transition time have allowed the growth to fully set in. Now, as I transition into tackling the challenges and adventures of the next few weeks and coming year I know that I will call upon the new resources that this growth has provided. (The complete analysis of how growth and transition are interconnected is best left to another time otherwise this Labour Day post would turn into chapters).

For now, let us look towards tomorrow, the coming weeks, the twelve months ahead, and the excitement, nervousness and challenges that we are all no doubt faced with on some level. As usual, the foremost reminder is to be willing to turn to those around you for help. Times of transition are better managed with support. Further than this though, is recognizing what type of support you can give yourself. A few minutes ago I read an email from a travel mate – one who was an integral aspect of some much needed transition time I spent in London a couple of weeks ago. With the Tuesday and all the busy times of the autumn looming, a line in his email clearly reminded me to ask myself “What do I need?” It’s a question we should all be asking ourselves when we face transition, adventure, and challenges. It is not selfish to make sure we take care of ourselves. Often we remind each other “take care of yourself” “watch out for yourself”, but often we do not heed our very own advice – as more than one of you have reminded me recently. Transitions can be a costly event, but if we do not pay the price in taking care of ourselves during the time of transition – emotionally, physically, socially and mentally – then we will pay the price later in exhaustion, stress, or disorganization. The result will be an inability to be at our best, either for ourselves, or those we care about. In other words, at the time of transition, at the time of change, is when one should take the most care to ensure optimal health, and optimal growth.

Have a wonderful Tuesday. Take care of yourself and each other. I look forward to hearing about your coming adventures and experiences – please keep me up to date. I am excited about this year. While it may be sounding cliché, the words are true: we will accomplish a lot this year, together.

As has become the custom, some music will conclude our Labour Day post. Two songs this year. The first, a classic, speaks of courage, as that’s what we need sometimes to take care of ourselves. (The video also, begrudgingly subtly recognizes the Cup champs). Then, even with the holiday ending for many that read here, the second song reminds us to have fun!! (Come’on youz gotz to smile at playing with baby animals, regardless of the safety factor). After all that blah blah blah above, it’s a good take home message for tomorrow and beyond: have fun!

The Tragically Hip and Wezzer take us out then…

Peace and love – a bientôt,
IR

Short Safari Reflection

The definition of the adjective awesome is inspiring awe. I recently completed a four day safari in Kenya that was utterly awesome on a number of counts. Many times I was given to complete speechlessness at the beauty of nature and wildlife. Having grown up in British Columbia this says a lot, as my home province holds a great deal of unparalleled beauty. At the same time, reflection during the four days often left me in awe of the complete imbalance there is in our world in terms of opportunities. While I have certainly been familiar and aware of this imbalance previously, this experience drove it home in new ways.

I am appreciative of the means that allowed me to have all of the experiences of the past four days. This includes both the experiences that left me in awe of the world created regardless of humans, and those that left me in awe of the world we ourselves create.

My introduction to Kenya has been amazing. The people have been wonderfully kind, and welcoming. So many people truly express that they would like the world to visit. Simply from my introduction I am convinced that the invitation is well warranted. I am very much looking forward to the next phase of this adventure with Education Beyond Borders and learning even more about Kenya.

Terry Fox Run – Sunday September 19th

Thirty years ago this month, Terry Fox had to stop outside Thunder Bay, Ontario. This Sunday, September 19, 2010, you’re the one who gets to keep going, so get out there to a Terry Fox Run. From the Terry Fox Foundation website:

When Terry recognized that he would not be able to complete his Marathon, he instead bequeathed his mission to those very Canadians who kept him going day in and day out.

Ezra Holland and Steve Nash’s new documentary on Fox is to premiere at the TIFF.

Unfortunately, I do not need to impress upon you how deep this disease cuts through our lives, families, communities, and culture. Nor is there much more to be said about the place this young man, and his mission has within our nation’s culture. Thus, I will either see you at my local run, or hear about you attending yours. It’s not a race, it’s a calling. Walk, jog, run, ride, roll, bring a child, bring a friend, bring a family member. You do not have to pre-register – just go. Use the links I have listed below to find a run or donate. Please remember that the Terry Fox Foundation is a world leader in directing the percentage of funds raised directly to research. Looking forward to your pics and stories of a Sunday September 19th well spent.

• Find a local run by clicking here.
• Donate by clicking here.
• Find information about runs outside of Canada here.

Thank you – Merci

Olympic Review and Crosby Mirrors Lemieux

In the summer of 2003 when the 2010 Winter Olympics were awarded to Vancouver I had recently returned from a near year away. During that time I had been to Salzburg and witnessed the beauty of what appeared to be an ideal place for a Winter Olympics. Vancouver always has, and always will be the most beautiful, and amazing city to live in, in my tainted opinion, but I was a little bit skeptical about us hosting in 2010. As the years ticked down and the event approached, the skepticism gave way to ambivalence to be completely honest. As one can note, there was certainly little to no mention of the Games on this blog. Many people around me found this interesting, as sport, the culture of sport, cultural connections, and dreaming – all things intricately intertwined with the Olympics – are passions of mine. Looking back, the ambivalence grew not out of spite, disgruntelement, and certainly not out of ignorance. Instead, there was no personal connection. If anything, the aspects of youth sport and physical activity participation that I felt so connected to and involved in were being overshadowed or skewed by the approach of the Games.

On Thursday February 11th my perception changed dramatically. It must have been building before that, but – to steal an overused phrase – it was certainly the tipping point. On that morning some colleagues and I roused ourselves early, walked in the rain, and watched the Olympic Torch go through a local community. I spoke with a torch bearer who was so genuinely enthusiastic that my ambivalence quickly started to wash away. People with flags cheered, horns honked, I snapped photos like crazy, and then I stopped. I clapped, and realized that we are all choosing to do something together here.

Over the next 17 days there was cheering, there was Canada gear, there was a visit from a very close friend, there was taking youth on a special experience they’d never had before and likely never will again, there was time and laughter with my sister, there was watching the opening ceremonies in a small BC community theatre and cheering, there was enthusiastic talk with my parents and grandmother, there were friends being able to show-off their passions to a world audience, there was more cheering, there was lots of photo taking, there were so many languages, and all of a sudden there was a definite personal connection. The city I love and nearly everyone in it had decided to get behind something, and whether they knew it or not, that something was them.

I went to a knock-out round hockey game between Slovakia and Norway. The play, and the connection the Norwegians struck with the fans reminded me of what I personally miss about European hockey. It also showed that Canadians are amazing hosts, and when I jumped to my feet and thanked the Norwegians (and the Slovaks) I did so with thousands of others, and I realized that we have something here, and it’s collective.

My sister and I went to the cauldron when it was still fenced too heavily and a person in a unique position of authority, who had no business helping us, kindly took her camera and got an amazing shot for us. There were smiles, and a connection that it was okay, because afterall this was in our backyard.

I spent an amazing sunny day with an incredible friend and there was consistent statements and proof about what an amazing part of the world this is.

I was with friends downtown to watch the semi-final game vs the Slovaks. We cheered for women’s curling. We roared for gold in speed skating. Then we high-fived more people than I ever had in my life after we advanced to the final. Amongst the tens of thousands I would run into an American with a huge smile and flag and we would congratulate each other and wish for a good game on Sunday. We were all doing it.

I refound an enthusiasm and respect from my teens that I had lost, for athletes who toil away in four-year cycles of obscurity, but are people like you and I with dreams, friends, and personal connections. I was explicitly proud to be Canadian when Bilodeau was humble beyond belief in every word he said. Then when Hollingsworth felt the need to apologise I became honestly sad, and wished I could have told her personally that no one felt let down, and I was personally reminded that sometimes sport can mean too much.

On the last day of the Olympics I was in the same room that I was in when I watched the final of the 1987 Canada Cup, and with the same people. Not having been alive in ’72, that tournament in 1987 still stands above all else in my mind as an incredible moment in not only hockey history, but Canadian history, and personal history. I was so ecstatic when Lemieux scored, and remember the entire sequence of play so vividly more than 20 years later. Then, in 2010, another young Pittsburgh Penguin has the stage set for him. During the first shift Iginla and Crosby had in overtime it was obvious they were going to be the ones. During the second shift they made it happen, and like Hawerchuck’s gritty yet key little face-off win, Iginla’s gritty yet little key little pass led to Crosby’s historic goal. We all jumped and cheered just as we had done so many years ago, and we were all personally proud to be Canadian.

Yet, it would have been alright if he hadn’t scored. It would have been alright no matter what the medal count. Just like we made it an incredible two plus weeks to remember with the memories above, and so many other personal ones you and I had, we would have made it alright, and realized what is truly important. For the most part, as Canadians, we typically have. Perhaps because of that, it was so much more rewarding that it all seemed a success. It’s just important to remember that success doesn’t come from medal counts, or goals, or having the best Games, it comes from our own personal interpretations. It comes from how we feel we were treated, and how we treated each other during our experiences.

Thus, we certainly had an incredible half month of experiences, and now on the eve of the Paralympics I hope there are more to come. When I reflected on how something I was so ambivalent towards had become such a collection of amazing experiences and memories the reason for it all lay in the personal connections that I had during the Games. In the end, it seems to be another example of fortune that this wonderful city, my home, had an event which served as an excuse to do things, and create memories with people I care about. Hmmm, caring about people – I’d like to think that that’s very Canadian.

I came across this piece by Stephen Brunt, and it seemed to have some similar points, but also a bit of a different take. I might not agree with his perspective exactly, and everything in it, but I think it’s a view worth considering as well.

Terry Fox School Run Day

Many students across Canada will be taking time out of their school day later this week to participate in the Terry Fox School Run. You can be a part of this day as well. Please sponsor a child’s participation in this national event. Any donation or pledge is greatly appreciated, and will help younger Canadians realize that we all support Terry’s dream. It won’t be hard for you to get involved as the majority of students in this country are collecting money this week for cancer research. You must know a family member, a friend’s child, or a student in your neighbourhood who is participating. Every dollar counts, and it sets a fantastic example that this is a cause our children can expect support in, and should continually offer their support to, for as long as it is needed.

More information about students participating in Terry Fox School Runs is here, including how to donate.

Thank you – Merci.

2009 Terry Fox Run – Sunday, September 13

Twenty nine years ago this month, Terry Fox had to stop outside Thunder Bay, Ontario. Next Sunday, September 13, 2009, you’re the one who gets to keep going, so get out there to a Terry Fox Run. From the Terry Fox Foundation website:

When Terry recognized that he would not be able to complete his Marathon, he instead bequeathed his mission to those very Canadians who kept him going day in and day out.

Video below - however, just learned it may not appear if you're using IE. Use FireFox please.

Unfortunately, I do not need to impress upon you how deep this disease cuts through our lives, families, communities, and culture. Nor is there much more to be said about the place this young man, and his mission has within our nation’s culture. Thus, I will either see you at my local run, or hear about you attending yours. It’s not a race, it’s a calling. Walk, jog, run, ride, roll, bring a child, bring a friend, bring a family member. You do not have to pre-register – just go. Use the links I have listed below to find a run or donate. Please remember that the Terry Fox Foundation is a world leader in directing the percentage of funds raised directly to research. Looking forward to your pics and stories of a Sunday September 13th well spent.

• Find a local run by clicking here.
• Register for a run, if you would like, here, but you can just show up.
• Donate by clicking here.
• Find information about runs outside of Canada here.

Thank you – Merci

Once Upon a School

I have been meaning to watch this talk for a while, but as with many things it kept being put on the back burner. When L. encouraged me to follow through, I was glad that I did.

While I have enjoyed Eggers’ writing in the past, this was the first time I have seen him speak. He meanders in the beginning a bit, and admittedly I was worried about what type of impression he was making, but about half way through, and on to the end, he finally starts putting forward something you can grab on to. The main concept I took away was community building. We ask our schools to do so much, but how does the rest of the community stand with schools, or connect with schools, to help them achieve all we ask? This concept is certainly not the cure-all, but it is something novel, exciting, and perhaps the start of something greater. The idea also does not have to stay limited to English and writing. In every community there are people who have skills and expertise in so many different areas that could help teachers to inspire, support, or engage students. One of the key points he makes in this talk is that volunteers need not give up a lot of time, just that the time is quality.

Schools should spill out into the world, and the world should spill into schools. Besides, who doesn’t need supplies to ward off scurvy?

I particularly agreed, and identified, with his thought that a solid community comes from solid simple relationships, and that solid communities can lead to great things. I’m fond of saying big things come from little things. Be sure to let me know which parts you agreed with, disagreed with, connected with, or questioned.

If you haven’t read anything by Eggers yet, I certainly encourage you to do so. What would you offer to help students in if you had the chance?

On the Cusp

It’s the eve of The Tuesday again: the day after Labour day that signals the practical “new year”. A year ago on this evening I wrote a post about this time of year, this day in particular. WOW! It is crazy eery how everything I wrote back then seems to apply even more to this year, even though so many things are different. A whole new set of circumstances is at play for myself and many of you, but the point of that post seems to ring true even more now. My suggestion, there’s not a whole lot more to say, so be sure to click here and read that post. If you want you could just read it, listen to the song, and call it day, it pretty much sums things up. (At the bottom of it you’ll also see how I promised a “Fear of success” posting, and it took eleven months – cheesh :-S )

Still, there is merit in being current though, so a few new comments. So much has happened in the past year, the past season. Yet, here we sit, on the cusp of so many new adventures. The most amazing thing is, that most of the adventures that will come from Tuesday’s starting point can’t be seen right now. They may even be unfathomable. A new path, a different approach, a new opportunity, a new relationship, new travel, a new life. There’s also endless possibilities of what is already at hand, jobs could change, homes could change, relationships could change, plans could change. With all the ups and downs of balance in the past 12 months, what we can take away though, is that balance will still play a role in the year and the adventures to come. As I did a year ago, I encourage us all to remember, that we’re all in this together.

Remember, you can turn to people in your community – whether it be friends, family, co-workers, teammates, classmates. You can also hold them accountable and tell them they can turn to you. Sometimes we assume people know they can turn to us, but we don’t say it. If we actually mean it, then we should say it. Adventures can create unbalance, and that’s okay, it is exciting, and we can learn from it. Adventures, learning, life, all require some unbalance. Our community’s job is to help bring the balance back when we need it. You’ll be there, I’ll be here, and we’ll get this show on the road come Tuesday.

“The most beautiful adventures are not those we go to seek.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

Please keep me up to date on your adventures.

Ready or not, here we go.

Allez!

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New quotes from the summer added – click here.

Your Say On The First 200 Photos

I have reached the full quota of photos that can be posted on my free flickr account – 200. While I ponder whether or not I should make the leap to a pro account (and have unlimited photos on display) I figure I’ll ask for a little community interaction involving the first 200 shots. I am looking to put together a set of 10-20 photos out of these first 200 that I have made public to the world, and call it IR’s So-Called Best Shots (So Far). That title is a work in progress as well. To do this I’m looking for a little input from you and that other guy that actually read this blog or view the photos. Please have a look at the photostream on flickr, and then let me know which shots you like. There is no limit to how many you select, but I suggest starting with one, and not going over ten (seeing as I’m only going to put 10-20 in the set). But those are just guidelines. You can choose from a variety of methods, ranging in privacy, in order to send me your feedback and to let me know which photo(s) should be included in IR’s So-Called Best Shots (So Far):

• leave a comment at the bottom of this post
• email me
• join flickr (a cool thing to do anyways) and leave a comment on the actual photos there
• tell me in person

Regardless of the method, please include the title of the photo(s). After that, you’re more than welcome to say more, including why you like the shot, what could be better about it, ideas for future shots, whatever. You can also be honest and let me know if you think it is worth it to go with a pro account and have unlimited photos available for viewing, or stick with this 200 shots and then choose the best. (Clicking on the photos on the left over there also takes you to the photostream)

I saw other people around flickr with sets of photos they call their “best-shots” and I figured it was kind of neat, but why should I be the one to decide the best shots? But remember, the primary purpose of this is to foster a little interaction and friendly discussion, not to make me feel like some uber cool photographer – because I’m well aware that is simply a non-starter. There are no right or wrong responses, and there may not be any shots you like – which is totally cool. The photos and the blog’s posts are meant as pieces of the conversation, to foster more communication – not to stand as the whole communication. If you haven’t figured stuff like that out about this blog, then a little less subtlety may be required As the Autumn season kicks into high gear, I know my communities of people I like to interact with get busier and busier, so maybe you see this as the shameless hook it is to generate a little interaction during a time when people drift apart, and realize, in reality I could care less about the photos.

Let’s see how this works. I’m going to write down a number of how many people I think will actually respond in some way. Let’s give it a week or ten days or so. Looking forward to your response.

IR

Tuesday Eve, and We’re All In

Tomorrow is Tuesday, and the figurative end of the summer. Labour Day is an odd holiday. For many it marks the end of a season that officially has almost 3 more weeks to go. I have never been truly able to enjoy it as a holiday because it often falls on the eve of beginning a new adventure, or I’m on a recently started adventure abroad and don’t notice its passing (as most of the world celebrates this holiday on the first of May). Instead it stands as this preparatory day, the calm before the storm if you will. There is certainly credence to the history and symbolism of the day, (to be discussed at another time) but for myself, and the community of people I often find myself in, the day marks the eve of new adventures, change, a fresh start, and not a lot of sleep.

For some people the Tuesday after Labour Day will bring momentous change: travel, a new residence, a new job, new commitments to a relationship, or a new school. For others the day will be more subtle, reflecting on a calendar year that is two thirds done. For some there may be a shift in mentality about how the conclusion of the year should be approached. Autumn resolutions may arise, now that Summer and its frivolities are slipping away and a more serious state of being seems to set in with the cooler air. Personally, I have always looked upon the Tuesday after Labour Day as the start of the New Year. The roots of this feeling obviously lie in September being the start of a new school year and a new hockey season – the two calendars that my youth was organised around. Even with both of these factors playing a reduced role in my approach to the future, the feelings of freshness, and adventure, remain prominent at this time of year.

I know many of you will be starting new adventures, or returning to old adventures with new challenges. Some of you will also begin to think about the season and the special holidays ahead and will be assessing relationships and considering the adventures that lie ahead in pairs, with friends, or in families. All this rambling reminds me that we’re all in this together. We’re going to get more out of our adventures, new and old, go further in all our relationships, be keen to try new things, if we contribute to – and rely upon – the communities we build around ourselves.

On Tuesday, or later this week, or later this month, when you are being in, and having a new adventure or experiencing new things, and its getting a bit stressful, or the path looks unclear, or the direction of the relationship uncertain, I hope you remember that you’re not alone. The experiences you are going through are not meant to be conquered alone. The new adventures, the exciting experiences that follow Labour Day can help shape the rest of our “year”, the rest of our lives. It would be silly to think we should be experiencing them alone. When it gets tough (which is exciting) on Tuesday, later this week, month or even year, be ready to turn to someone else in your community, and be ready for them to turn to you. After all, it wouldn’t be much of an adventure if there weren’t other people around.

After all that, we’ll end with a little cheese, as I recall Ben Lee’s song: We’re All In This Together. It’s kind of catchy, kind of cheesy, but it fits – darn that non-threatening pop music There’s a slideshow that has some neat little images on YouTube using his song.

Have a great Tuesday, no matter where it finds you!! Hope to hear all about your adventures soon.

Coming soon:
-Confirmation of blog’s rationale
-A requested post about the “Fear of Success”
-Decisions about photographs
-La Vuelta