It’s funny how “Ha ha ha” brings visions of humour and “Ho ho ho” brings visions of a jolly pot-bellied man dressed in red, as if only pot-bellied men could produce the deep resonating sounds of long ‘ohs’.  We all know that isn’t true since we witness it every time we pass by a Yoga class.  The walls reverberate with this sound as scores of pretzelled people, of all body shapes and sizes, sit cross-legged in elf-tights on the floor (where did all the furniture go??!), chanting ‘Ohmmm.mmm.mmmm’ in unison.  The sheer sound of this brings tingles to my skin as I walk by.

Whether tingles or tickles, humour is no farther than the tip of your nose!  That’s right!  A recent walk around my neighbourhood confirmed this as I found Santa’s in a variety of precarious situations and wild animals cavorting on front lawns.  No more than two blocks from my home, I stumble across Santa hanging haphazardly from a roof and then another few blocks further, I spy a totally defeated Santa laying face down and spread eagle across a lawn.  Did I say defeated?  I meant to say deflated, totally deflated!  Next to him was a very smug looking Snoopy, all aglow and grinning ear to ear as if he had outsmarted Santa somehow.  It seems that shenanigans are alive and well in my neighbourhood whilst we humans slumber the night away!  Another few houses further, I happened to spot reindeer co-mingling with garden pigs.  Can you believe it??! The pigs were rolling happily in the mud while the reindeer looked on with great amusement.  The baby reindeer seemed particularly amused as they nodded their heads in laughter and not at all interested in joining them.  Rather they looked quite content grazing on clumps of frozen grass!  On my way back home, I spotted a license plate that summed it all up very well:

Humour and laughter are only a thought away.  Focus on what you want to bring into your life and as sure as the sun rises every morning, it will magically appear!  Find humour in your surroundings this holiday season and you will surely have laughter in your day!  Visions of sugar plums dancing will magically appear in your dreams as merry little mischief-making elves prepare to sprinkle your tomorrows with humour and laughter!  Ha Ha Ha!  Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!

There is much joy to simplicity.  Add a twist to simplicity and what do you get?  Joy with added delight!  This is the feeling I get when riding a bike and I find it especially fun when the weather and setting is right.  Now consider the twist; a twist to your bicycle.  Add another seat and another rider!  Yes, a bicycle built for two!  If you have ever experienced a tandem bicycle before, I am sure that you have stories to tell as I do now!

Riding tandem is serious fun and requires some skills in coordinating your ride with another.  Similar to a relationship, each person contributes something important.  The person in the front, known as the captain, must announce any hazards ahead as well as control the steering, shifting and braking.  The person in the rear, known as the stoker, must pedal in unison with the captain and help to maintain balance.  Just like anything else in life, communication is key to ensuring a positive experience, free of spills and filled with endless thrills!

Communicating verbally and non-verbally are essential for an enjoyable ride.  If you are the stoker, as I was, it is extremely important to be aware of the shenanigans your captain may engage in.  If you notice ‘him’ steering towards a slalom course, hold on!  If you notice him gearing up with immense speed, hold on!  If you notice him riding hands-free, HOLD ON!!!  Now this doesn’t mean that you are at the mercy of your captain.  No, not at all.  The stoker has some advantages as well.

The word ‘stoker’ originates from the mid-17th century Dutch, meaning to push or poke.  Stokers are generally known as the people who tend to the fire and that is where the balance in power lies.  The stoker can talk mercilessly into the ear of the captain and command the ride from behind!  The stoker can also secretly enjoy free uphill rides and engage in picture-taking in motion.  Most of all, the stoker can poke and prod the captain from behind, just like the real stokers on steamships!  You see, it all balances out!

Life is measured by the moments that take your breath away.  Make life’s moments count and seek meaningful experiences with others that bring joy and memories for a lifetime.  Live your life with no regrets and commit to making the most out of each day!

A few months ago, I wrote about an unfortunate incident where my laptop was stolen.  Even though it was a traumatic experience, I remained positive and hopeful that something good would come of it.  Now the story has concluded and I am pleased to share the favourable results.

The first joy came from family members.  A custom-crafted card resembling a slot machine with a little foam arm.  Three pulls of the arm and three tugs of the paper within revealed three MacIntosh apples.  Each had a bite removed, just like the logo for Apple computers which adorned my missing laptop.  I was speechless and overcome with emotions as I opened up three envelopes containing enough money to significantly contribute to the timely replacement of my stolen computer.  As a result, I have been happily enjoying my new laptop for the past few months!

The second joy came from my insurance adjuster.  He sent me an e-mail stating he would expedite my claim due to my efforts in compiling a very organized package for him to process.  He stated that I should expect to receive a cheque in the mail for the full amount soon.  I was so pleased that I responded immediately, thanking him for his decision and helping me to move forward from this incident in a positive manner.  In turn, he expressed appreciation for my appreciation, with open offers for any future assistance.  Our on-line conversations left me feeling satisfied and eager to share the good news with others!

The third joy came from a feeling of deep contentment within, knowing that a wrongful act had been rectified.  Allowing grief to run its course was an important part of my recovery as was the kind actions of others.  My faith that goodness prevails in the world remains.  I still believe that for every difficult situation we encounter in life, goodness awaits.

“Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come”.  ~Anne Lamott

Dawn has emerged.

I love to ride my bike because cycling brings me back to my youth.  I particularly enjoy riding on a variety of terrain, from open paved streets to dense forested trails.  Recently, I went on a very long bike ride through city streets into the woods.  Seeing nature always beckons me forth as it nurtures my inner child and instills great wonder and curiosity.

The trail leading in was soft and muddy having rained heavily the day before.  Small rivers littered the path along with the occasional deep puddle.  None were too deep though for me to pedal through and it was not long before I encountered a fork in the path, pointing to the “Flying Wheel” trail.  The name conjured up visions of myself and my bike flying freely down the hill, with wheels magically taking flight.  It seemed like an adventure too good to pass up on.

I launched into the trail and it was not long before I realized the hazards of my decision.  All wood surfaces were extremely slick, making it difficult to control my bike.  The experience made me realize that life is just like the Flying Wheel trail.  Sometimes you have control and other times you don’t.  Obstacles and barriers arise as twists and turns present themselves, dips and drops appear out of no where, and bridges and boulders abruptly command your attention.  Sometimes I needed to relinquish control and simply steer myself to safety and other times, I needed to use all of my skills and senses to complete the ride intact.

The sight of bear dung did not alarm me, at least not until I saw another 5 or 6 mounds.  To avoid confrontation and growing fear, I made noises and sang a positive mantra out loud:   “The road is approaching soon!  The road is approaching soon!”.  Sure enough, the road appeared within minutes and as I pedaled happily out of the forest, I looked back to see an incredible sight.  A very large and healthy looking black bear lumbered across the road.  I was thrilled to see it from a distance and happy that I was not his next meal!

The moral of the story?  Life is an adventure.  Make it a fun and rewarding journey where you can look back and marvel at the vista behind!

One month has passed since my silver laptop was stolen and I still remain hopeful for its return.  I was vacationing in Portland, Oregon, on my first solo journey when vandals broke into my vehicle and took several items including my laptop.  Although the incident was very disheartening, I have come to realize many positives for which I am grateful.        

Of these, I am most grateful that I was not harmed.  I am also grateful for the love and support I received from family and friends back home.  They, along with the many kind people who assisted me through the initial hours, helped me to turn a very distressing experience into one that was less overwhelming and more managable. I was very pleased that I was able to continue my vacation despite this setback.      

Other positives I am grateful for, include the fact that I still had my vehicle and all the necessary resources to continue on with my vacation plans.  I was determined not to give any power to this unfortunate incident and as a result, the following 4 days were immensely restorative.  Reconnecting with nature in dense rain forests and natural beaches became the greatest highlights of my vacation.     

Looking back, I am reminded of the importance of being prepared and having back-up plans, especially when travelling alone.  This includes having back-up people as well as knowing emergency routines.  Familiarize yourself with all the essentials in case of emergency so that you are prepared should misfortune cross your path.    

One final lesson is derived from creative problem solving.  Since I lost most of my clothes and backpack that held them, I improvised using a simple container for carrying the remainder of my belongings.  I discovered that Rubbermaid and Samsonite are virtually interchangable for road trips.  They are equally durable and convenient, with Rubbermaid being much more cost effective and waterproof to boot!