There are moments in life that are going to shape your future. Many of these are obvious; the day you got married, the birth of child but there are so many other moments that only in retrospect become recognizable as important.

The cross-country motorcycle trip I did with my brother when I had just turned 16 was definitely a defining moment for me. From that experience came a degree of confidence and independence that was far beyond my years. That trip matured me to the point that I related better with my older brothers friends than I did with many of my own.At the time I had no idea how profound the journey would be for me.

Another motorcycle trip that I made 10 years ago opened a door to a friendship that brought a bond that is close to what I share with my brother. After leaving from Vancouver with the intention of riding together to San Francisco the short ride turned into an adventure filled journey to Nevada, my first visit to Las Vegas, Utah, and Montana. Now Michael and I take a trip every year together and have ridden thousands of miles together, sharing unique experiences and trusting each other completely.

We make so many small decisions in life, never knowing at the time if they will lead to important changes or simply to be forgotten as just a passing event. The decision to try something new, to make a new start, to open yourself up to new possibilities can come around the corner at any time.

When a friend bought an inexpensive painting set years ago now and I saw what fun he was having with it, I was inspired to pick up a brush myself. Today painting is a huge part of who I am and where I see myself in the future. That moment triggered a decision for me and started me down a new path.

I made a decision a year ago to no longer be part of the West Vancouver Crossfit community. After coaching and training for years with them it was a very hard choice to make. I had many good friends there but since I was told I was no longer needed there as I coach I walked out of one door and into another one in Deep Cove. In that different location I found myself welcomed with by a warmth that astonished me. Now 12 months later I have made some very important new friendships that shape my outlook. Their support and love have allowed me to grow both as an athlete and as a person.

We all live with the results of the choices we make. Sometimes it is hard to make the connection between cause and affect but other times it does seem like karma comes rolling down on top of you.

In the end it falls back on you to do the right thing, to try to behave responsibly, be compassionate, to share your love, to be a good person. Those moments that can define who you are and what you are capable are, in fact right in front of you each and every day. They may not all lead to life changing decisions or profound new beginnings but they all help to guide you to making those right choices.

You never know when a defining moment may result from your actions so why not live as if everything you do is shaping your future. It’s all right in front of you.

1970 bike trip

    The summer of 1970 seems so long ago but the reverberations of that year still ring in my head.  We listened to the Hollies, Credence Clearwater Revival, the Moody Blues, the Rolling Stones but we picked Steppenwolf for our theme song, we desperately wanted to be ‘Born to be Wild’.

This was the year I turned sixteen.  I raced out the door on my birthday to write my learners test.  After successfully completing that exam I couldn’t wait to get home with the paper validation that would open up my riding future.  I had spent the past year working at part-time jobs to raise the money to buy my older brothers bike from him and now finally I could ride it.  He had moved up to a 1968 BSA 650 Thunderbolt.  And so my first motorcycle would be a 1966 Suzuki 250 X-6 Hustler.

I began riding that bike before I had the license to go along with it, sneaking it out for late night rides around the neighbourhood.  So by the time I turned 16, I was feeling pretty cocky.  That attitude was tempered somewhat by the gravel burnout I mishandled on that first day of legal riding which resulted in me dumping the bike and scrapping my arm into a bloody mess.

Beginner’s mistakes behind me, my brother John and I began to plan for a ride that would become a journey which would connect us for a lifetime. With maps spread out and notepads filling up with lists, we planned for our great adventure, to ride from our home in Toronto across the Prairies to the West Coast and back again.

High school finally finished for the summer and it was time to go.  So on a warm July 4^th evening we were ready to depart.  The entire day had been spent packing and repacking our minimal possessions and performing the final maintenance to our bikes.  A friend, Geoff Maher was joining us on his Suzuki 500 Titan for the first few days riding and after an early dinner the three of us rode down my parent’s street in Scarborough, an east end suburb of Toronto and headed for Highway 400.

Our first destination was not far, just 128 miles to our uncle’s cottage.  After leaving Toronto we headed north to Barrie where we stopped for tea and toast, what would be a staple to our diet on the trip.  After topping up our gas tanks, which for me meant .75 cents worth of Sunoco premium, we rode up Highway 11 to Gravenhurst, then 169 to McTier and Bass Lake.  We arrived just after dark and soon learned a lesson on parking the bikes.  We had lined them up in a row on the lawn and first the heavy Titan pressed its side stand into the grass and collided with the smaller 250 that then knocked over the BSA into my Aunt’s Chrysler.  Small pieces of wood were soon placed under the side stands, no real damage done except to our youthful pride.

We didn’t get far the next morning before mechanical difficulties stopped us.  My bike was sputtering along and while I had cleaned the plugs twice since we left Toronto, it was widening the point gap that finally cured the problem.  On our way north on Highway 69 we came upon an accident where two guys who had passed us earlier on a bike were now laid out on the road.  Both of them badly injured after apparently clipping an oncoming car and trailer on a curve.  We stopped and helped direct traffic until the police arrived, listening to one of them screaming as ragged flesh hung off his lower leg.  Solemnly we carried on to French River where we found a campsite at Grundy Lake Provincial Park for $1.50, having only covered 100 miles.  That night we lay under the stars and enjoyed the marvel of portable music via Geoff’s cassette deck.

     With an early sunrise and a desire to get moving we packed up our Canadian Tire pup tent then at a Sunoco station I filled up the 250 with $1.30 worth of gas.  Traveling into the grandeur of the Lake Superior region was fantastic.  We stopped past Sault Ste. Marie at the halfway point of the TransCanada highway for photos.  As we continued on the realization was sinking in just how big Ontario is.  The bikes were running well and I even managed a sustained run at 70 mph late in the day, with the X-6 only putting our 29 bhp this was high speed cruising.  We made it to White River where Geoff would be turning back and John and I would focus on our western goal.

During some time off in Whiter River we cleaned up the bikes and I discovered a missing spoke and several loose ones, no doubt a result of the accident I had been involved with in May when a GTO running a red light broadsided me.  When we arrived in Thunder Bay that afternoon we located a Suzuki dealer who could do a repair job the next morning.  We found a camping spot at Trowbridge Falls Campground and shared a site with a guy riding a Suzuki 500.

The wheel repair took an hour and a half cost me $9.50 plus a few extra spokes I bought just in case for .34 cents each.  Saying farewell to the Sleeping Giant as the Isle Royale National Park is known as at Thunder Bay, we hit the road again. Not far out of town we stopped to look at Kakabeka Falls.  Amazingly there were no fences and we walked out onto the rocky surface that the water flowed over before tumbling to the gorge below.  We had a good days ride until late in the afternoon a near mishap occurred.  John was in front heading into a corner when he saw a family of skunks crossing the road, so he jumped on the brakes but his army surplus pack had slid over the brake light and I didn’t realize he was braking.  I followed around the curve and now saw the skunks.  I applied all of the meager drum brakes’ stopping power and skidded to a stop where my bike stalled and I was left standing staring at the mother skunk now just feet away.  Fortunately maternal instincts took over and we parted company.

After spending so long to get through Northern Ontario we seemed to race across Manitoba.  There was no helmet law there so we rode for a little while without them but it felt too strange and exposed and we gladly pulled our protection back on.  Long straight sections of Highway 1 took us into Carlyle, Saskatchewan where we had hoped to stay with family friends.  We were told by the RCMP that the people we were to stay with had moved.  So we got a room in the CN hotel, rooms were $5 and the view outside was of a small town on Saturday where it seemed that drinking was the only activity.  Concern for our bikes meant we hardly slept and at sunrise we were carrying our gear down to load up the bikes.  By now the process of packing our bikes was simplified and performed efficiently without much thought.

We made it across another province and turned north at Swift Current on Highway 32 to ride through a string of tiny prairie towns, stopping in Abbey where our mother had grown up.  Further down the road we reached our relative’s farm where we would stay for a couple of days enjoying the western hospitality and the splendor of the wide-open spaces.

At this point we had traveled 1978 miles and our butts were feeling it.  With a normal cruising speed of 60 mph on the Suzuki we were not setting any speed records but we kept on going showing that what was missing in horsepower was being made up with determination.  Every now and then John would take off to enjoy the additional power of the BSA’s 52 bhp and push it over 90 mph.  I could only look on in envy and lay myself on the Suzuki’s gas tank and try to keep him in sight.  But mile after mile without the benefit of any wind protection on the bikes or our open-faced helmets we persevered, cleaning the bugs off our faces and jackets when we stopped.

While on the farm another broken spoke was discovered and with no bike shops available we did the repair ourselves.  Otherwise the bikes had held up well, the BSA was coasting along at these speeds.  A ride into the local town of Lemsford caused some interest from the old farmers hanging around the one store in town.  There we received the choice compliment from one weathered old guy who said, “those bikes are shinier than a hogs ass in the mud”.

    We left Lemsford and rode down to Medicine Hat, stopped in a bike shop there to check prices on a new chain but decided the $12 they were asking was too steep.  Once in Calgary we found a Suzuki dealer where I purchased a chain for $8.50 and installed it in the parking lot at the bike shop. At Calgary we had our first view of the Rocky Mountains, majestically poised as our next big challenge.  We stayed in the city and saw the Calgary Stampede, soaking up some of the cowboy flavour; a beaded headband was my big purchase there.

The next day we were into the mountains and seeing spectacular vistas around every curve.  After being awed by the incredible view of the green glacier fed waters of Lake Louise we stayed at a nearby campground.  In the night the campground was filled with noise as a mother black bear with a couple of cubs came looking for easy food items.  While campers jumped into their cars we moved into the covered cooking shelter and pulled our bikes across the two doorways into it and slept the rest of night in relative safety there.

Our day’s ride began with a detour to see Takkakaw Falls and on the way there two elk ran across the road in front of John.  We also saw our first moose, standing belly deep in a pond munching away on the water plants.  We stopped at the Great Divide for photos and generally took the ride at a more leisurely pace.  For a couple of teenagers from Toronto being in this ancient mountain range was nearly overwhelming.  In the late afternoon we were through Rogers Pass and watched the mountains retreat in our rearview mirrors.  We rode into Revelstoke, found a good campsite and enjoyed an evening by a campfire talking about the amazing roads we had just ridden.

For breakfast we stopped in a small diner attached to a gas station, typical of our eating places.  Inside there were another group, obviously on the road as well.  We got talking to them and discovered they were members of the Canadian rock group, Edward Bear.  This brief celebrity encounter pleased us both, especially the way they were impressed with what we were doing.  Bellies full, egos boosted and gas tanks refueled, we were ready to go.  Sticking with our TransCanada highway route we rode on through forest fires worried that the road might get shut down but eventually reaching Salmon Arm, then on to Kamloops, and then turning south at Cache Creek.  We reached Hope near dinnertime and inspired by the proximity decided to push on to reach Vancouver.  With the golden sunlight angling across the Fraser River we rode over the Port Mann Bridge and reached Vancouver just after dark, having ridden 412 miles that day.  We made our way to North Vancouver and eventually found Capilano road, off the then under construction Upper Levels highway.  A friend of John’s was staying in a basement suite near the private club she was lifeguarding at for the summer and we parked our bikes there.  The landlady who lived upstairs would not allow us to sleep in the house so we carried our sleeping bags across the street to an empty lot and slept under the stars.  We had done it.  We had ridden 3220 miles in 16 days.  Our final destination of Comox on Vancouver Island was within reach.

We spent the morning looking around Vancouver.  The ride through Stanley Park was impressive to two first time visitors.  After lunch we decided to catch the ferry to Nanaimo.  The fare was $1 for passengers and $1.65 for the motorcycle.  On the ride north we made a couple of stops to warm up with our staple of tea and toast for fifty cents and we were able to make it to Comox just after dark where we received a warm reception from an Aunt and Uncle.

After a couple of days rest we were ready to make the return trip.  Another 3,000 plus miles later we drove back into our own driveway, having accomplished what we set out to do.  Now we have families and responsibilities but we both still ride.  So much of the adults we became were shaped on the road together that summer and in the process created a bond between us that is still strong three decades later.

As the start of the Crossfit Games appears on the horizon I am thinking about competition and what it means to me. Like it or not we all compete all the time. We compete for the jobs we hold, for the parking space we search for, for the best seat in the restaurant. But we also compete for the affection of others, for the attention we desire, for the respect we deserve. Competition is a normal activity. So I think it is a good thing to hone those skills with physical competition but truly it becomes apparent that the measure of your character is not the competition but how you compete.

As children we are taught to respect the other team but as we get older that respect is often turned into aggressive dismissal, you don’t want to see them as someone else out trying to achieve the same thing as you but instead you become focused on beating them. When you put their defeat at the top of the priority list you create a shallow victory for yourself. Don’t get me wrong, I like to win. I like to out perform my competitor and I celebrate that performance in myself. The difference is I view my fellow athlete as someone who is going to help bring out the best not the worst in me. Their competition is going to help me push myself harder and in the end let the best athlete win. I will proudly cheer anyone who bests my efforts with their own because I know that if I put all that I had into my work then I can hold my head up just as high.

Stepping into any kind of competitive arena is nerve-wracking. Whether it is a chess championship or a boxing ring, you are taking yourself out of your comfort zone with the purpose of seeing how well you can do. In the years when I competed in Taekwondo tournaments I hated the waiting to get into the sparring ring. I wanted to feel the impact of my opponents attempt to score a point on me because then everything focused down into that single moment and may the best man win. It is a good thing to stand up to those butterflies in your stomach and instead of having them take control, you force them to fly in formation. You accept your nervousness but carry on.

In Crossfit we compete with ourselves all the time. We record the amount of weight we lift, how long it took us to complete a set of exercises and through all that we receive the support of the other athletes in the gym who are doing exactly the same thing. It doesn’t matter that I can lift more than someone else because there is always going to be someone who can do even more. What matters is that I do the best I can and then I turn around and encourage others to strive for their best. I love to workout with people who are better athletes than me, fortunately for me at our gym I’m practically surrounded by people like that. From the petite Lindsey who runs past like I’m going backwards to her muscular husband who gets better every workout while I feel my progress move at a snails pace.

What comes next is the willingness to compete; there is no failure, just failure to try. Signing up to compete in the Crossfit Open Games is a very simple means to measure yourself against your peer group. There is nothing to lose but there is a huge opportunity to win confidence in yourself. In the end you are competing against a scoreboard and when you complete your exercise you can look at your score and know that you did your best. And that is all you need to know.

No one chooses to have a black cloud come overhead. We are drawn to the light and to those people who seem to be surrounded by warmth. But bad weather hits us all sometimes. Without warning a storm can enter your life and leave you seeking shelter. That shelter can be any number of things, a need to make a change in your life, a resolution to a conflict or sometimes just a kind word.

I am lucky in that I seem able to move through life with very little bad weather crashing into me and when it does hit I’ve generally been able to deal with it on my own but not every time. When I received some sad news recently of the tragic early death of a very kind and gentle man who I had previously worked closely with at the newspaper I felt grief, anxiety, loss, and a slide into a dark funk. The blackness seemed to envelope me and I struggled to find my way back.

With my equilibrium off kilter I found it hard to bring out the good nature that I know lives in me. I was looking for shelter but didn’t know it. I made a comment on facebook, that source of social connectivity largely dedicated to the good times, and I had several comments made back to me that resonated within. Those words of concern and support came generously from people who didn’t know what was causing my downbeat post but recognized a need and reached out. A kind word, an unconditional declaration of support, an electronic hug, and shelter from the storm was offered to me. My metaphor about feeling apart from the team was turned around for me with positivity and notices of support that told me that I did in fact have ‘team mates’.

A note that it was okay for me to step back from leading and allow others to help was warmly received; it was generously presented to me that if I leaned someone would support me. I thank Daryn for that. I thank Amy for a hug that came from such a compassionate place at a perfect time.

Life is short but we do have the chance every day to help someone. It could be as simple as holding a door open, stopping at a crosswalk instead of racing through it, giving a compliment without expecting one in return, or offering a kind word.

I’ve enjoyed the support of friends and have been reminded what it can do for you. Now I want to make sure that I’m ready to extend that hand but more importantly, to be sensitive to those around me and recognize when that kind word is needed.

Pride

Sometimes pride comes to you in the strangest ways and just makes you want to explode with good feelings towards someone else. We have all felt the national pride when our athletes win big on the world stage or when someone you know is recognized for their achievements and you’re so happy that notice is finally given to them.

But that is not what has my heart soaring today. Tonight as I think back on the day’s events I struggle to express just how great I feel about everyone that came out and competed and also those who came to support all the amazing athletes at Pure Athletics for the King and Queen competition. What started with an idea I had for a fun afternoon with some back-to-back workouts for mixed couples to compete in grew into a full scale Crossfit event. My goal was simply to give something back, in the way of an event, to the incredible people at the gym that have welcomed me from the moment one year ago when I first showed up to workout and have now become close friends and people I love.

That the event grew into a competition where 36 athletes chose to put it all on the line to do the best they could is really no surprise because that is the calibre of the people training there. But to see the support from other athletes who weren’t competing, who came out and helped judge, took photographs, cheered and yelled and made it into something that was for the whole Crossfit community, that was amazing.

It was fantastic to see Jian and Kaitlyn win because they are both great athletes and to see Rich and Lindsey, Rob and Mandy, Gerry and Kristine all do so well and completely in the running for first place shows the level of athleticism at the gym. But to see the other competitors bring their full game, to try their absolute hardest was so impressive to witness. Every single one of them are heroes to me and I am beyond moved by their strength and character. When I watched them fall off the rower at the end of the final workout, exhausted but proud of their effort, it made my heart soar.

Ever pair will have their own story of how well their partner did but mine will resonate with me for a very long time because my partner, Roe, not only made the competition a real race (we tied for 5^th place) but she did it with that same remarkable glow that makes her one of the truly special people I know. Having a partner who will support you and keeping going no matter how tired they are is a wonderful thing to share and when we were passing those crazy stuffed bunnies during the first workout and her abs were screaming, she was still smiling, she kept going, she didn’t quit. I am so proud of her and so honoured that she was my partner. I’ll never forget that.

There were so many outstanding partnerships on the floor today, Sharon doing this event with her son, Travis was such a wonderful thing to see. Dave and Christina out there showing that they are both strong competitors even with a 5 month old daughter. Ally and Chris working together through every exercise, so supportive of each other was a joy to witness. Pete and Phyllis showing up in full costume then kicking butt on the workouts, always smiling, always aglow with the love they share, made me feel special just to be there and see it.

Pride isn’t always about how great you are or feeling good about the recognition you receive, it’s just not always about you. Sometimes, when you are lucky, you get to be a part of something that makes you so proud of the people you know and of their achievements. I was l lucky enough today to feel proud of a huge number of people. Their efforts made me feel like a better person for just witnessing what they accomplished. I am joyful for that experience. I am delighted call them all friends and to feel the warmth of their successes. Today was a day that reminded me what pride felt like.

I went to a retirement party recently for an old friend. It was great to see him and share in this celebration of the next phase of his life. On the drive home I got thinking about how long it had been since I’d last seen him and how easy it is to let routines and life in general get in the way of maintaining those old friendships. I drew on my commitment for the New Year and decided that I would do better.

There is a wonderful comfort level with an old friend, you know where you stand, there is no pretense because they already know what you’re really like and accept you for it. Sometimes it seems more exciting to spend time with new friends and not pay attention to the old friends. After all with the new friends all your stories are fresh again, previous misdeeds are unknown, and that goes for both of you so it’s a clean slate to start filling in with new connections.

Those new friendships we make are important, some of them will grow and one day become old friends but I know I have to do a better job at looking after my old friendships. Those shared experiences are a part of who you are and shouldn’t be forgotten. I recognize that sometimes life will send you on a different path than your friends and you see less of them because your common interests and connections have lessened over time. Then I think you can just enjoy those memories and remain friendly but not necessarily connected. However, like a path that splits in the forest to go around an obstacle sometimes it will reconnect further along and so can an old friendship.

I try to be a good friend whenever I can. To be someone you can depend on, the person you know you can call anytime to ask for help, to care. I want to be that person. I know that the friendships I make bring out the best in me, help me grow and increase my capacity to love others.

It isn’t that hard to stay in touch if you realize the value, it is when we take things for granted that they can slip away from us.

Why is it that we all have no problem with ignoring the limits that are placed on how fast we are allowed to drive but will avoid doing things that may challenge us because we have already placed a limit on our potential for success?

            We turn away from difficulties largely in fear. We are afraid to embarrass ourselves, we are afraid of failing, we are afraid to try. There are so many great experiences in life that require a leap of faith to bridge the gap between sitting on the sideline and actively participating. We are all to frequently having our route towards joy blocked by our own ego. Trying something new means accepting that you will not be good at whatever it is when you first try. The first time you pick up a bat and stand at home plate the odds are against you hitting a home run. But not excelling shouldn’t be an excuse to try. Everything begins with a first step.

            Being willing to fail is the first hurdle in the climb towards success. If you can get over yourself and make that opening move towards being a participant instead of a spectator then you have already won your first battle.

            Those first steps generally come with some nervousness and that is how it should be. My brother once said to me that when you are nervous it is not about trying to get rid of the butterflies in your stomach but instead its about getting them to fly in formation. Taking that nervous energy and channeling it teaches you so much about facing your fears and doing it anyway. I remember the first time I had to break a board with a punch when I was beginning my training in Taekwondo. I was terrified that it would be hand that ended up broken. I faced that fear and used all that nervous energy to deliver the force necessary to break through the board. Over the next decade I broke hundreds of boards, eventually moving on to breaking two inch thick pieces of concrete and finally stacks of concrete. When I stopped training I had gotten to the point where I was able to break through a stack of concrete 20 inches high. If I’d never risen to the challenge of breaking that first board then I never would have been able to discover what I was capable of.

            Every time I am faced with a new challenge or experience I simply say to myself, ‘what’s the worst that can happen?’ In almost every case the worst is only scary when it is imagined and not so bad when it is actually thought through. All too often the worst case scenario is more about looking foolish than actually hurting myself.

            There is no doubt that there are real physical limits that will stop anyone from going forward. But I’m not concerned about the fact that I will never be able to run a four minute mile. What does matter though is that I am willing to run a mile and check the clock to see how long it took, so that the next time I can work towards running it faster. I don’t care that other people will run it faster or that I may look funny as I struggle with my stride, as long as I am trying my best. If I give all that I have then there is nothing to be embarrassed about. And if I continue to run more miles then I know that I will get faster. I don’t say to myself I can only go this fast because the truth is just by doing the run I am already ahead and by committing myself to trying it again then I am preparing myself for future successes, regardless of physical limits because I know those limits are not set in stone. Those limits are moveable and I can push pass them if I try.

            Life should be about feeling free to try and not about being afraid of failing. Let your instinct take over and step up to the plate, feel the weight of the bat, the sun on your face and when that ball comes your way just swing away. You never know, you might surprise yourself and hit one out of the park.

We all come into contact with many different people. At work, at play, or just out doing whatever but I find it fascinating how some people will resonate with you. I think a lot of it is that sense of spirit that we all have. I do believe it exists in everyone but some people have buried theirs deep inside while others project it out to the world.

            There are people who have such a wonderful spirit that you cannot help but like them immediately. They exude a warmth and cheerfulness that cannot be ignored. Sadly there are not enough of them but maybe that is why they stand out so much. It is their uniqueness and joyfulness that we are drawn to.

            Letting that spirit come out is a gift not only to yourself but to those people you come in contact with. I think it’s a simple thing. It starts with a smile. An easy gesture you can share with anyone. That smile is like the signpost to your spirit, open it up and people will be interested in looking further to seek your friendship.

I’ve always been lucky and been able to connect with people easily, maybe I’m too open but I would rather open myself up to others than hold back and remain guarded about my conversation and behaviour. I’d rather be an open book that maybe gets a bit dog-eared from use than be a pristine book kept up on a shelf out of reach and out of touch.

            I love being around people who spread their aura like a golden glow when they walk into the room. That kind and caring nature shines like a spotlight guiding others to them. I have been very fortunate to come into contact with a number of people recently who have so much spirit that it spills out of them like a river that won’t be contained. I’ve enjoyed an almost instantaneous bonding with them that makes me smile when I hear their names.  They are all beautiful souls and they inspire me to be a kinder, more generous person so that I might live up to this wonderful gift of friendship they’ve given me.

            The chance to open yourself up to others has no time limit. You can start embracing those qualities inside you and sharing them with whomever you choose anytime you want. It can simply start with a smile.  

Life is full of random elements. We do something and it leads to something else. If you never took the first action then you probably wouldn’t have gotten to next one and your life would have been different because of it. Sometimes those actions build on each other like the ripples in a pond after you’ve thrown in a stone. I love those ripples. I love how they bring me to new discoveries and new connections.

            I find it interesting to look back sometimes and examine significant things in my life and trace the ripples back to the stone and wonder about how different things might have been if I’d never thrown that first stone. Putting yourself outside your comfort zone is a way of throwing a stone. Stepping forward to try something new on your own and being willing to open yourself up to the possibilities that come from the action.

            Ripples meet other ripples in this vast pond we all live in. It is amazing to me how we meet other people and how that person can become so important in your life and still it can be traced back to that random element of how you met.

            Some years ago a woman I work with, knowing I had recently bought a motorcycle casually mentioned that her husband had also just gotten back into riding. We took a ride one afternoon and then later on that summer decide to ride together to San Francisco. Well, we did that trip and for the next ten years have done other trips together every summer and now we are bonded together like brothers.

            I did my Crossfit training for years in West Vancouver and that caused ripples that connected me to some terrific people, and the strongest of those ripples still resonate in me. But sometimes a ripple will run its course and when I felt I needed to leave the conflict that had developed there with the owners I was once again a smooth stone ready to be thrown into a new pond. I was so lucky that I hit a bullseye when my stone landed in Deep Cove. From the first ripple of going into Pure Athletics to train in a few classes I was so warmly welcomed that I knew everything was going to work out. The opportunity to have my ripples cross over and meet the ripples of so many wonderful people who had made their own toss that brought them into this gym has been a remarkable experience. To have so many new friends, people I care about, who brighten my day and make me a better person just by knowing them is an incredible gift.

            I never would have received that gift if I’d settled for less and stayed in a situation that was not making me happy. If I’d been unwilling to start over and afraid to try something new then I would have denied myself the enrichment that has happened to me in the past year.

            You never know where the ripples will take you but one thing for certain is that if you don’t toss that stone then the surface of the pond will remain unchanged.