Family Travels.

With only one week into the two months of traveling, I feel like I´ve learned so much. I can´t believe how much you can fit in to a short matter of time.

Traveling with family is completely different. The last time I traveled I was in South East Asia with my best friend and a completely different purpose. We had an absolute blast. This time, however, the boozing, the schmoozing, and the more traveled areas are less attractive to me. This time, I´m ready for exploring parts of South America that isn´t traveled so much, and ready to spend some good time with my mum, who I don´t see that often anymore.

I know already that we are great travel partners. She´s as easy going as I am and is happy to have me plan the whole trip, which I have done and am doing. Instead of our crazy plans before of trying to get to as many places as we possibly can, we´ve decided to take the slow route in Peru and stay in the Cusco and Sacred Valley area for the 2.5 weeks we have in this country. Less stress, less buss, and more adventure was the goal and we have succeeded tremendously.

I feel really blessed to be traveling with my mum and to be able to have that opportunity. When I was 7 years old I traveled to China with both my Grandma and my mum and this time it feels similar. It almost feels like my Grandma is accompanying us on this journey, especially when we were in Macchu Piccu. Maybe because my Grandparents had been there at one point in their lives, maybe it was because it felt right to have the 3 generations back together again and traveling, maybe because this whole trip was a gift from my Grandparents after both passed away. I´m not so sure.

What I am sure of is that if you have the opportunity to travel with your family, to anywhere. Take it. You learn the other sides of your family that didn´t know existed and make you love them even more, even when you thought you couldn´t.

Living in the moment is multi-faceted. Family is one face and to be able to live in the mo with them is one of the most precious moments you can imagine.

Until I have excellent access to the Internet again. Adieu!

 

Tofino Tribe.

After forgetting to bring my earphones on the bus that was bringing me to Vancouver, I had some time to reflect on each individual in Tofino that I’ve had the honor to hang out with and get to know.

Each person brought their own shining light into my life and I can’t believe how blessed I am to have them as my friends and family. From surfing, jam sessions, friendship, community gatherings, hiking adventures, morning coffee and beach walks, etc., it became so fascinating to learn more about the qualities and histories of each individual and the stories they have to offer. Actually, not only stories, but lessons, teachings, and healing qualities that they can share with those around them.

I’ve experienced all of that with the people I’ve shared my time with in the past seven months. I miss home already, but I’m about to embark on a ridiculously awesome adventure with an incredible and very significant person in my life and I am so SO stoked. Time to take a step out of the comfortable boundaries and take a Leap of Life into the sweet unknown.

Travel offers so much and so many different kinds of adventure. Not only is there the physical side of adventure where everywhere you look something new and exciting awaits, there is the emotional and mental side where you begin to learn so much more about yourself. Questions you’ve been harboring tend to get answered, figuring out which life direction you need to take figures itself out, and people and things you take for granted become much more valued (as does simplifying life). Travel does offer this, however, it is important to keep the mind open to these life-changing gifts and sometimes it helps to just ask for it.

This is a blog of gratitude. Gratitude for my incredible Tofino tribe, for my family friends in Vancouver, for surfing and what it’s taught and challenged me to overcome, for the awesome wildlife the West Coast is home to, and for the incredible opportunities that stand in front of me.

Thanks to my beautiful Tofino Tribe. You people have helped me out in ways you don’t even know! Stoked for a seriously awesome summer.

Potentially Speaking.

What would happen if all of us were living at our full potential? Would we live somewhere else? What kind of impact would we be making on the people around us and far away? What would we be like as individuals? Would we work more together to create positivity for others as well as ourselves?

These are important questions you need to ask yourself. Potential means possibility exists. The only thing to reach that potential is pinpointing passion and then taking action towards purpose (haha alliteration for all you English nerds yew!)

So what do you need to do to get there? What’s your next step?

Food for thought.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkn-4yIlhPw

 

 

 

Pour quelqu’un qui a vecu.

These are some images of what I’ve learned and been reminded of in the last week from a young man who passed too soon and too suddenly in our community. He will be so missed and forever known for his incredible and animated smile that would light up anyone’s moment, his passion for surfing and living his life with childlike enthusiasm that reminded everyone how fun life really is and to live it completely and in the moment. Merci Gab pour vivre avec passion et je vous envoie mon amour a votre famille et vos amis.

life is beautiful. dream. love. live with purpose.

Pacific Simplicity.

A few images of a couple of epic times spent at a great spot. Reflecting on this day makes me realize what a wonder it is to simplify life. To see the incredible beauty in the moment and grasp what truly matters. On this day, the only thing that mattered were the people I was surrounded by, the fire that kept our chilly toes toasty, appreciation of an isolated beach (with a bit of a wave), the simple comedy of a labrador pup (Hoku), filling our lungs with fresh salty air, and sharing tasty home-made chocolate and treats. It’s important to understand that it’s okay to let the pressures of daily life slip away for a moment because it’s the present moment that takes priority and you’re the only thing that’s holding you back from enjoying it. It’s days like this one where happiness really shows itself in all its different forms.

                                                                                 

Home Base

love this place. love these people. love this life.

Positive/Negative Gallery Opening.

A close and extremely talented friend, Adam Lupton, who I grew up with is opening up his own art gallery in Vancouver on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 7pm. He is someone that had comfort and job security in his life, but then figured out that wasn’t what he really wanted.

He is someone making a committed effort to live his life at his absolute full potential. He is artistic in many different ways and has worked in many industries. Adam’s worked on his artistic skills for as long as I’ve known him and has always had the drive to develop them further.

I strongly urge you to check out his gallery opening in Vancouver.

Here is the link for the gallery opening: http://positivenegativegallery.com/

Here is the link for Adam’s website: http://www.alupton.com/

An epic tune for the website-surf roadtrip.

For the past five days I’ve been in Vancouver. It had been about four months since I made the trip to the city, and it was definitely time. I was beginning to feel the slow pace of Tofino catch up with my mind, which my soul loves and my heart adores, but isn’t exactly conducive to the progress of Leap of Life. Definitely a good time to get into a faster pace environment.

The purpose of going to Vancouver was to go to an event called “Hobiyee”, meaning “the spoon is full” (it is the First Nations’ Harvest New Year), as the photographer for Leap of Life’s sister company, Social City Networking. I wasn’t too sure what to expect and I wasn’t sure how much I could provide, but I knew Hobiyee was not something to be missed. Turned out, the photos on social media were a huge contribution and was a great lens into seeing what was happening for those who couldn’t make it and were too far North for the livestream to work. The second day I was asked to be the official photographer, which meant I was allowed on the stage. Heck ya I was going to do that! Knowing it was a very big honour, I stepped on to the stage, it was purified by eagle down…meant to protect the dancers. The small and light feathers danced around with the beautiful performers in their colourful and detailed clothing, blankets, masks, and accessories. I wish I could articulate the fascination and appreciation I have for this experience and for the First Nation’s culture. Words aren’t expressive enough sometimes. For more of an insight, please read my friend and co-worker, Helena Bryn-McLeod’s, summary of her experience at Hobiyee: http://www.facebook.com/notes/social-city-networking-inc/social-city-partners-with-nisgaa-tsamiks-society-hobiyee-tsamiks-edition-2012-wr/282822518449524.

On another note, the city. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. After spending a day with my dad, I hopped on the seabus and realized I hadn’t seen anyone (other than my pops) that I knew. This is something I’ve become very used to living in Tofino and I had a bit of a panic attack on the boat. Fortunately, I bumped into someone I knew right afterwards and continued bumping into people I knew all weekend long. You can create and find community anywhere you live, it was a great reminder.

Fast-pace, heaps of bussing, plenty of talking, constant noise, epic people watching, and receiving a few empty eyes when I smiled at a stranger (most likely because they thought I was hitting on them, and let’s just say it’s rare to meet someone who will simply put their ego aside and reciprocate)…all topped off by the incredible mountainous horizon to the North that serves as a reminder that there could be more than the “man-made” world. I say “could” because it’s so easy to get immersed in the every day city life, where coffee shops are full with mostly superficial conversations and disingenuous smiles, the street pavement is walked on by people who look like the only thing they love is their dog, and on transit literally every person is on their iPhones, Androids, or other high-tech gadgets. The mountains reminded me that the city can pull you in like Facebook can make you waste hours of time, just on a more “all-encompassing” macro level. For me, I must continue to practice self-discipline when it comes to balancing the coast with the city.

Some visuals.