You Can Teach An Old Gal New Tricks!

Music Brings People Together!

I picked up my guitar this week after many years of looking at it in the corner of my bedroom. I have to say it felt good! The last time I decided I was going to learn how to play was over 10 years ago. I forgot how much I enjoyed getting lost for an hour or so attempting to figure out the chords. It isn't easy. To have a sound come from my guitar that even remotely resembles a song, is no easy task!
When the notice appeared on the bulletin board at work for Guitar lessons I was excited! Its not everyday a person gets to learn the guitar while at work. Why attempt again after all these years? I guess for me , my love of music. I love how music brings people together. I love how I can incorporate music into my volunteering at the hospital and watch the joy it brings into some of my patients faces as we sing and dance. How as they listen it may bring them back to a place and time of joy.
I watched my father over the years pull out his guitar and play a tune for many who visited our home, and the fun times had as other instruments from the accordion, spoons, ugly sticks would soon appear. I've always wanted to learn how to play as well as my dad and  be able to play with him. I suppose that started my desire to learn over 10 years ago how to play this instrument.
I haven't been able to master it yet. In fact, I am basically starting from scratch again. The tops of my fingers are sore, ouch! My hands are still too small making it difficult to hit all the chords, and  I'm a lefty which adds another complexity when learning with a bunch of right handed players! Urghhhh! Its tempting at this age to pack it in and say forget it but that's simply not my style.

Truth is, I'm having fun! I love a challenge. It isn't about being perfect or sounding perfect.  I enjoy getting together with the bunch of learners in the above picture, have a few laughs and see what music we can make over the next few months! We have the C, G and D chords covered. To my surprise headway was made in just one hour with You are My Sunshine! Oh ya we are singing too...yikes!

If there is something you want to try- I encourage you to give it a shot! You are never to old to learn something new! Life is too short - Live it bold!

I'm Not Perfect

It feels like forever since I've felt like writing or painting.  This happens on occasion and the words simply aren't there or I can't be bothered to pick up a brush.
 To be honest, I simply get jammed up in my own head. I don't know if this happens to other people or not but I know for me..it happens a lot..getting jammed in my own head that is!!! I think far too much at times,  it hijacks my brain and robs me of my creativity. I can't help it..I'm a thinker.
Its frustrating because the very thing I know that brings me joy I can't tap into. The level of frustration I  equate it to is,  sitting with a rubicks cube , attempting for days to put that sucker together, ok who am I kidding , attempting for months with no success! Arrgh..FU@K!!
The most famous writers experience "writer's block" and painters don't feel like touching the canvas, it happens.
The more you fight it, the less it comes.  I don't fight it. I know it will come back because I trust my gift. I don't take it for granted.  I do feel pressure when the words don't come. I can't even begin to explain how the words come to me ..all I can say is when they come I have to stop everything.
I recently spent 5 wonderful  days back home with my best friend ,  exploring and sharing the culture in which I grew up. Sharing memories,  time at the ocean , in nature , moments with family and old friends , my heart was overflowing with joy.

Thankfully, my gift came back and shortly upon returning my heart was flooded with the following words:

I'm not perfect and that's ok
I've got people who love me 
Anyway
I'm not perfect and neither are you
Let's stop judging and shine on 
Thru
I'm not perfect and neither is my life
Ups and downs like a yo-yo guaranteed happiness throw in a little
Strife
I'm not perfect and neither is the world
Forever changing
Filled with hope
Tainted with badness
Glowing with desire
Edged in crazy
Embraced in hugs
Surrounded by beauty
I'm not perfect and that's ok 
I've got people who love me
Anyway
I'm not perfect 
But I love deeply thru it all.
Tracey ( August 2015)
Copywrite Yes You Can Coaching

Sometimes all we need to do is relax.  To step outside of our heads and let our hearts lead. Stop for a moment and breathe..slow the pace. Its not easy when every day life pressures want to keep you tied to the pace at which society thinks you should move. That's when you need to stop..remember your pace..remember what is important to you.
We all have a gift to share with the world..our purpose is to find it, embrace it , and allow it to bring us joy so that we can share it with others.

I hope you find your gift and share it with the world if you haven't already. Remember , when it gets lost , and believe me it will from time to time..hang in there..you will find it again. For those still searching to find their gift..if something brings you joy..keep exploring it.

Its one poem..I am grateful.

Next ..time to pick up the paint brush and see what comes.

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.”
― Rumi

SMILE UPDATE: Love is the decision to make someone else’s problem your problem” Dr. Bob Magee.

2015 SMILE UPDATE :  My personal campaign has raised 14 smiles to date. There is still a way to go with time winding down for the Canadian campaign. My goal is to raise as many smiles as I can and join a mission again this year.

I am in awe at the incredible work Operation Smile is doing around the world, the Dr's and Nurses who donate their time each and every year to bring a smile to a child's face. 

To support my Campaign and make a secure donation please go to this location.

http://cdnsecure.operationsmile.org/site/TR/OneSmile/OneSmile_TeamRaiser?px=1003262&pg=personal&fr_id=1070

 JJMP Canada is well on its way to reaching the 200 Smile Goal. In fact, I have a feeling we will surpass that goal.  155 smiles raised as of last week, this is thanks to the wonderful people I have the pleasure to work with who are supporting multiple fundraisers. The end goal is to raise as much as we can so children receive these life changing surgeries around the world.

In addition J&J’s CEO Alex Gorsky accepted Operation Smile’s Corporate Humanitarian Award on behalf of thousands of J&J employees worldwide who have given their time to this special organization. An excerpt from the message Alex shared below:

“Happy. Proud. Friendly. Joyful.

Without words, our smiles can speak volumes — conveying positive emotions or signaling a knowing connection with another person. Yet every three minutes a child is born without the ability to smile because of a cleft lip or cleft palate. For children with such deformities who don’t readily have access to safe surgical care, their life journey is often paved with ridicule and isolation. But thanks to the incredible work of Operation Smile, the world’s largest medical charity of its kind providing free cleft surgery and care, and the incredible dedication of Johnson & Johnson employees, there is hope.

Over the past 27 years, Johnson & Johnson has donated $25 million to Operation Smile and we’ve sent more than 500 of our employees to volunteer on missions. During that time we’ve helped improve the lives of 100,000 patients and their families. What’s more, J&J is the exclusive provider of sutures used in every Operation Smile surgical mission. While I’m incredibly pleased by this partnership, I knew we could do even better. That’s why it was my great pleasure to announce during last week’s 13^th Annual Smile Event Gala that Johnson & Johnson will be committing $25 million more in financial and product contributions over the next five years alone to ensure we restore even more smiles of children.”

Thank you to all who have supported my personal campaign or have supported operation smile in some fashion. You are making a difference and for that I SINCERELY THANK YOU! 

I Gotta A Feeling...

Waking up to an outdoor temperature registering -27 degrees C , the typical feeling would be damn it's cold out there. Yes even for a Canadian who really should be use to cold winter temperatures. In fact, I won't lie as soon as I opened the door to let my poor dog outside to pee, the thought was holy F$#k its cold. How crazy am I to think my little min pin who is all of 8 lbs would even consider wanting to cock his leg for natures calling. Poor little guy by the time he finishes, he can't decide which paw to hold up from touching the coldness of the snow. I can't even get mad at him for the odd accident inside, I wouldn't want to pee outside in this weather. That's a different story altogether!

In the midst of winter the gift of the blooming hibiscus warms my soul

 While the exterior might be projecting damn its cold out there.. on the inside the feeling of warmth brings comfort like a pair of warm long johns . Yes I GOTTA A FEELING...

I read this morning a beautiful piece from a book called Immortal Diamond that resonated so deeply with me. As Oprah declares the infamous "Ah Ha" moment.

It goes like this " Within us there is an inner, natural dignity. An inherent worthiness that already knows and enjoys. It is an immortal diamond waiting to be mined and is never discovered undesired. It is a reverence humming within you that must be honored." The finisher for me " Once in a while, this True Self becomes radiant and highly visible in one lovely place or person" 

When you experience that feeling, you know there is no turning back. How can you and why would you want to go back? How you see the world and everything in it changes. Its a gripping addictive feeling of the best kind.

Life is a reflection of what we believe, it determines what we can or cannot do. I think I've always known this to be true somewhere inside.

I am a firm believer that if we set our minds to something, there are no limits to what we can achieve. 

It may not be perfect. Why do we need perfection? It may not even be what others think it should be perhaps all that matters is that it is exactly what we believe it to be!! 

Honor yourself..honor what you know to be your true self, I promise you will know it when you feel it!