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!

Laptop computers come in all colors.  Mine was silver, with a little partially eaten apple decorating its lid.  It was a sleek little computer that performed beautifully and dazzled all of its onlookers, including I.

Last week, my little computer was stolen from my vehicle while I was visiting the Japanese Gardens in Portland, Oregon.  Nothing could have prepared me for the shock I felt when I discovered shattered glass all over the passenger side of my vehicle.  Nothing could have prepared me for the great dismay I felt when I realized that both of my backpacks were missing.  It was like I was thrown into a downward spiral of emotions, sinking deeper by the second.  The irony of the story is that this unfortunate event capped off a magical morning in a place of serenity and exquisite beauty.

Misfortune happens when we least expect it.  It can take our breath away and leave us dazed and confused.  Sometimes, we cannot make sense of what happens in life or control outcomes but we can always control our responses.  Once I overcame the initial upset, I chose peace over anger.  I chose to carry on with my holiday as planned and not end it early.  I mindfully chose to give no power to this unfortunate event or the perpetrators.

Ten days have now passed and I remain hopeful that my computer will be returned to me.  I hope that a good samaritan will turn in my belongings and that Portland’s police system will come through for me.  I hope for a joyful and positive end to this story.

This experience reminds me of how unpredictable life can be.  Sometimes, life presents you with a glorious golden cow and other times, it takes your silver laptop.  Sometimes life is wonderful and other times, it is quite unbearable.  Through challenging times, faith is needed to help carry us through.  Having faith allows us to relax and believe that better days are ahead.  I believe in the power of positive karma and that some good will come of this.  I wait with both eyes wide open.

Ha ha ha!  Ho ho ho!  Have you ever attended a Laughter Yoga session?  If not, you might want to try one because it is one of the best workouts you will ever get!  Laughter Yoga benefits not only your mind and body, but also your mood and outlook on life.  You can try it right now.  Take a deep breath and exhale with a ha-ha-hah.  Vary your exhalation with a ho-ho-hoh and maybe even a hee-hee-heeh!  Before you know it, you will be laughing your way to vitality!

Try to start everyday with a smile to start the ball rolling for a day filled with laughter.  Smile at yourself in the mirror and even let a chuckle come from within.  If the smile just doesn’t seem to want to come on some mornings, relax into the flow of life.  Mindfully practice gratitude and positive thinking.  Eventually a smile will come to your face.  Smile at everyone you encounter and chances are, your smile will be returned.  A smile is the universal language that breaks all barriers and brings unity to all people.  It has the power to lighten up even the darkest of moments in life and bring a glint of light to troubling times.  Smile and the world smiles back at you.

A smile is also the gateway to laughter.  Laughter is contagious.  Have you ever been able to resist joining in on hearty laughter?  Laughter piques people’s interest and brings them together.  Most want to join the frivolity.  Who can argue with good hearty laughter, anyway?

We are all unique.  Each of us have certain qualities that make us special and stand out from others.  Together, our natural gifts create the rich and vibrant world we live in.  Our world is a beautiful place because of the colourful ‘brushstrokes’ that each of us imparts upon it.  We each leave our mark in some way.  Leonardo daVinci, Oprah Winfrey, and little ole’ me, we’re all as different as can be!  Recognize your gifts and share them with the world!

Realizing our gifts and sharing them is fun but not always easy.  It sometimes takes confidence and courage to realize them, and then more confidence and courage to showcase them.  A recent visit to a tulip farm revealed this very lesson to me.  As I stood in awe overlooking fields of gorgeous pink tulips, I marvelled at the one yellow tulip that proudly stood out before all others.  I am sure if it could speak, it would say: “Hey, look at me!”

I also marvelled at the two daffodils that grew courageously in a well trodden footpath.  They too boldly called attention to themselves, fearless of what may come their way.  These flowers revealed an important lesson in life:  that sometimes we all need to stand apart from others to be heard or fully express ourselves.  If we look to these flowers as our role models in life, we can make our presence and natural gifts known.  We can contribute our unique ‘brushstroke’ to the world.  Whether you adopt a different role or choose to physically stand apart, I hope that you share your unique gift and shine as you were meant to!

Windstorms are powerful.  They can both destroy and purify.  Windstorms are Mother Nature’s way of cleansing our world, with strong gusts of wind that sweep old debris, weak branches and even trees from their roots making room for new growth.  Fresh air replaces old stagnant air as it renews and revitalizes the surroundings.

Windstorms happen in our personal lives too.  This is when turmoil enters and disruption and chaos take over.  Just as a storm dies though, so too does turmoil, eventually giving way to calm.  When the dust settles, peace returns as we take a deep breath and survey the events behind us.  It is here that clarity happens and life lessons reveal themselves.

I recently went through a few windstorms that took me by surprise.  I was not prepared for the enormity of the gusts that took my breath away and I worked hard to keep my feet firmly planted and my head clear about what was really important.  Equally surprising was the real storms raging outside my window.  The wind whistled and tree branches whipped to and fro like a fast-moving dance.  Just as the winds have died, so too have the storms in my life passed.  Just as the clouds gave way and the sun broke through, so too has the chaos given way to peace and clarity.  It is a wonderful place to be.

Here, buds are waiting to burst.  Light grows ever stronger and the magic of newness comes forth.  There are untold joys and revelations in the wake of cleansing.  Surviving turmoil makes you stronger, wiser, and better.  That is the irony of life and it seems that one must suffer in order to experience more joys.  Life is not flat and emotionless.  It is ever-changing with cycles of growth, beginnings and endings.  It is through deeper understanding that we come away with greater appreciation for life.

In the wake of my storms, I have come to fields of abundant flowers, bright warm sunshine, and the arrival of delicate blossoms burgeoning on trees.  I am captivated by the birth of new life and embrace it even more so, appreciating all the nuances of the world around me.  I am grateful for all that I have and all that surrounds me.  With both eyes wide open, I see the “bigger picture”.  I understand the lesson that life has provided to me.

Sometimes, life is confusing.  We may cry and laugh and we may laugh until we cry.  We may feel sadness and somehow, odd humour seeps in and tickles our funny bone when we least expect it.  Perhaps the late Gilda Radner said it best: “I wanted a perfect ending.  Now I’ve learned the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end.  Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next …. Delicious Ambiguity!”