There was a bear in my neighbourhood last week.  It was a very big bear, most likely a Papa Bear.  Papa was doing what else but foraging for food … at 11:30 in the evening.  It must have been a midnight snack he was after.  Since tree fruit were far from ready, he sought something much riper.  In fact beyond ripe as he headed towards my neighbours’ compost cart.

Like we all do, early one morning each week, Papa bear maneuvered the cart down the driveway towards the curb but instead of setting it there for pick up, he proceeded to bring it to the middle of the road where he would have ample room to work and keep neighbours at bay.  Papa tried everything he could to open the cart which had been securely shut with two locking clips.  Although he succeeded in pulling out some tree clippings, his monster paws were just too big for the task.

Defeated by the cart, Papa left one lemon and numerous branches scattered about as he lumbered onwards to other homes in search of food.  Two lessons stand out for me here.  Number one: bears are smart, and number two: bears know when to quit.  We humans on the other hand are sometimes not as smart as we think.  Sometimes, we don’t know when to quit.  We may stress ourselves out at all costs trying to achieve a certain goal, perfection, or maintain ego.  Life is a humbling process as Papa Bear demonstrates.

If we take a lesson from Papa Bear, we know our limits and heed our inner alarm system when it is time to quit.  Accept that you have done all that you can for the moment and resort to plan B.  Employing an alternative approach or adopting a different goal is powerfully refreshing.

Bears always have a plan B, and C, and D, and E, F, G!  It is instinctive to them.  Follow your instincts and allow good judgement to guide you.  Self preservation is your reward, not to mention many more fruits in life just like Papa Bear.  You can tell he has earned many by the sheer size of his massive girth!

Cycling is one of my favorite recreational activities.  Cycling in nature enhances the experience exponentially with gorgeous views and vistas that command attention.  On a recent trek, I cycled along the KVR (the now defunct Kettle Valley Railway turned bike path) between Penticton and Naramata.  Rolling hills covered with vineyards overlooking Lake Okanagan provided breathtaking panoramas that literally stopped me in my tracks.  I paused for a moment to allow my senses to take in the enormity of it all.  A deep sense of gratitude washed over me, with appreciation for the sweeping views.

Further down the path, I saw a row of colorful lunch containers strung on vine posts.  Below some were little plastic footstools with backpacks perched atop.  Lunch break supplies awaited vineyard workers hidden deep within the rows of grape vines, 5 feet tall and more.  I paused for a moment to imagine myself a vineyard worker.  Heartfelt gratitude washed over me for nourishment awaiting in insulated containers and little stools to rest my weary feet.

Another mile along the route, a patch of wild flowers swayed in the wind.  Tall stemmed yellow flowers waved overtop a sea of delicate purples carpeting the ground.  Wild green grasses enveloped their habitat.  The sweet smell of wild blooms in the air seized my attention.  I paused for a moment to revel in my senses.  Gratitude washed over me for the gifts that mother nature bestows in surprising pockets amidst arid landscapes.

As the gravel path stretch onward under the blazing sun, patches of shade appeared sporadically, inviting me to stop for a moments rest.  I had come across the perfect spot next to a small rocky cliff, large enough to sufficiently cool my warm body.  Solid shade, no visible snakes or poison ivy beckoned me to sit for a while.  Sincere gratitude for no reptilian surprises or unfriendly plants, safety in the untamed wild.

In the last leg of my journey, I noticed head stones dotting a green hillside overtop.  Lush grass surrounded monuments in a cemetery and directly across the path, a small blue nondescript building housed within a barb-wired fence caught my attention.  The sign on the side of the building announced its purpose: Crematorium.  INSTANT GRATITUDE! for NOT being on either side of the path but for being ALIVE & WELL on the center of the path, enjoying yet one more astounding bike trek!

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