Wonderful surprises await when you live in the moment and open yourself to the flow of life.  Cast aside yesterday’s problems and tomorrow’s worries to sink into the richness of mindful living.  Like bubbles rising to the surface of a gurgling creek, surprises reveal themselves in the most delightful way.

I recently enjoyed a mindful adventure with an elder named Grace.  Grace is an active little woman who is admirably approaching the league of octogenarians.  That’s the term used for people who have reached their eighth decade of living!

On the day of our adventure, Grace wore little black sneakers.  Bounding ahead, she lead me on a zig-zag course across two cities as we encountered numerous detours and unexpected surprises along the way:  an escalator out of commission, a ticket machine not working, and construction debris all put us on a maze towards the train station.

The first delightful surprise was the sight of a new train advancing our way.  Grace prefers new trains and voiced this aloud at the start of our journey.  The power of positive intentions brought magic not once, but three times over the course of our journey!

The next delightful surprise was a scrumptious lunch at a renowned Chinese restaurant, known for it’s unusual delicacies.  Snake seemed to be the common delicacy, quite possibly due to this being the Year of the Snake on the Chinese Zodiac.  Although we feared sharing our table with a snake, we agreed we could compromise and share our table with some other ocean creatures. Lucky for me, they came headless and without eyes glaring back at me!  Instead, they were neatly tucked into attractively crimped dumplings.  While feasting on our meal, I eyed the other tables nearby and breathed a sigh of relief, not seeing any snakes slithering freely about!

The third surprise was realizing our commonalities.  Even with a generation between us, we shared the same discerning eye for the finer things in life.  Grace led me to an upscale cafeteria, brimming with colorful foods artfully displayed.  I felt like a child in a candy store as the temptations were limitless.  Later, we perused women’s wear, searching for the perfect pair of casual pants for Grace.  We examined every pair of black pants that crossed our path, examining style, washability, fabric weight and pockets.  Too stiff, too loose, too heavy, too light, too short, too long, too narrow, too wide, too high, too low, too dressy, too casual!  It was like Goldilocks and the three bears, with no bowl of porridge that was just right.

This story ends up just like Goldilocks with the perfect place to rest and recharge ourselves from the day’s adventures.  Returning to the quiet comfort of her condo, we enjoyed a light snack and looked over old photographs together.

We have a lot to learn from the elders in our world.  They are a rich source of wisdom when we open our minds to receiving their deeper perspectives honed from years of life experience.  Take a break from our fast-paced digital world and nourish yourself in the presence of a wise elder.  The wisdom you gain will be from the memories of the time you spent together!

Magic happens before dark settles.  The changing light in the sky creates a show like no other.  On one particular evening of a blustery day, the clouds scattered sporadically across the sky amongst breaks of blue and bright, giving way to a glowing pink horizon. The tall evergreens provided sharp contrast against this dramatic backdrop.  Moment by moment, the changing sky revealed a glorious show of changing colors and patterns to behold.

At ground level, the trees and spring blossoms took on a different appearance against the darkening sky.  Standing below a tree and looking upwards, I noticed what looked like neon green lights on the tips of some branches.  At first glance, it looked like fibre-optic lighting but it wasn’t possible considering their breadth and positioning.  I puzzled over the source of these lights and scanned the environment.  Across the way, I spied a dapple of the same green on the leaves of a tall bush spilling over a fence.  I figured they must somehow be reflected from their original source, wherever that may be.

Life is a puzzle at times.  Problem solving through rational thought sometimes yields answers with conscious determination and deep searching.  The great thinkers before us applied this very process when they made scientific discoveries and invented modern conveniences we enjoy today.

There is a wealth of discovery awaiting you in our world.  Use mother nature as a launching point to sharpen your problem solving skills.  Grab your magnifying glasses and put on your critical thinking cap to uncover mysteries around you.  Who knows what you may discover!  Maria Ann Smith founded the Granny Smith apple at the age of 71 while experimenting with seedlings. What will you discover?

By the way, the source of the mysterious green light was from a motion sensor mounted high atop a second story window!

Spring has sprung in my neighbourhood!  Crocuses, daffodils and numerous tree buds have made their debut, boldly showing their bright coloured heads as if to announce the arrival of the new season.

A cascade of colors erupts from my garden to meet the warm afternoon sun.  Inch by inch, the plants grow taller and larger, revealing a vibrant display.  Bold yellows contrast deep purples amidst a luscious carpet of greens.  The rains from prior days have nourished their magnificence.

On one particular morning, I spied jewels upon the leaves and tips of tree branches.  Perfectly formed little globes shone like gems of untold brilliance, reflecting the beauty of the world around them.  Dew drops glistening in the sun are one of my favorite treasures on early morning walks.

Yesterday afternoon, I spied a solid little white clump landing on my freshly laid soil.  I looked upwards to the sky and saw nothing, feeling thankful I was not targeted!  Moments later, hundreds and thousands more came rushing down, creating a spectacular speckled spectacle!  Apparently, Mother Nature was not ready to bid farewell to winter as she showered us with this winter sprinkling.  Just as suddenly as the hail storm arrived, so too did the wind and rain, eventually giving way to blue skies and warm sunshine before days end.  Phew!!!

This is the extra in the ordinary.  Look closer, stay a little longer, observe with world around you with new eyes and curiosity.  Maintain a sense of awe and never cease to be amazed by the most minute wonders around you.

Surprises await you when you stop and pay attention.  Utilize all of your senses in the coming weeks and observe, listen, touch, feel and smell the many joys that come from changing seasons.  Although, change forces us to say goodbye to the past, there is nothing stopping us from heralding in the new with a fresh sense of awe and wonder.  Delight awaits you as you discover the extraordinary!

“Wisdom begins in wonder.”  – Socrates

Have you ever stood on the sidelines, watching an incredulous unfolding of events?  It may only be a few seconds long but it takes your breath away and leaves you awestruck in wonder.  This is what happened when I decided to have orange juice one morning.

The orange juice was in my friend’s refrigerator.  It had been sitting there for some time as the contents had separated and settled.  I decided that it needed a good shaking, so I rhythmically turned it end over end like a skilled bartender.  Let me tell you that shaking up orange juice in a pop top container is not a good idea!

What ensued was an explosion of Orange!  I stood dumbfounded as I watch orange juice spray a wide swath that covered walls, ceiling, floor, sofa, table, chairs, counter, wall art, IPad, and books.  Miraculously, there was not a drop of Orange on me!

The only thing I could do was laugh . . . and clean up the mess!  Life is just like that sometimes.  All you can do is respond.  Respond in a way that serves you well and involves no harm to yourself or others.  Orange happens and we deal with it.  The next time I have Orange juice, I will think twice before shaking it up!  Thankfully the only orange that remains are those on Ella, the Manx cat.

Pies are like people.  Each are unique in some special way.  They may be pale or golden, short or tall, dense or airy.  Some are deep, some are shallow but most are somewhere in between.

What differentiates pies, like people, is the filling.  The ‘insides’ reveal the heart and essence of pies.  Whether sweet or rich, wholesome or decadent, pies are food for the soul!

People crave pies.  The mere thought of one can make eyes twinkle, hearts flutter and mouths salivate.  Ahhh, pies . . . glorious pies!!!  What is your favorite pie?

I recently enjoyed the mother of all pies.  Actually it was the great-grandmother of all pies . . . a 92-year-old pie!  Although the pie was not really 92 years old, the woman who made it was.  She made a traditional French tourtiere; a meat pie filled with finely minced pork and a special blend of spices.  She made it entirely from scratch, with love, just as her mother would have made it.  I am sure her mother would be 130 years old if she were still alive today.

The crust was tender and golden, the filling smooth and hearty.  It’s velvety texture melted in my mouth, enlivened my taste buds and propelled my hand to reach for another forkful, without a single thought.

My friend tells me that no two people make tourtiere the same.  To prove this, she served a second slice of pie that was prepared by another elder in her community.  She was right.  The texture, flavor and experience was totally different.  I prefer my friend’s pie, the 92-year-old pie.

I begin the New Year with deep gratitude for mothers and pies; for friendships and gifts from ancestors long past.  Our cultural heritage and traditions are significant pieces of who we are today.  Although I am not French or a devout Catholic (as my 92-year-old friend is), our differences unite us in a beautiful way.  We come together to celebrate heritage, history, food and love for all things greater than ourselves.  Globalization and multicultural societies offer immense richness for us to explore and enjoy.  Let us all unite and enjoy a slice of pie together!