The Eve Before Commencement

Theodore Roosevelt, soldier, explored, and the 26th President of the United States once remarks that: "It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed."

Friends, teachers, and parents wish for us to have a good life. They want what is good, what is safe, and what is predictable.  A genetic flaw, in our rapid species evolution is the need to protect and cradle our  youth until old age. A mom, never stops being a mom. Our Parents; whom love unconditionally and wish us the  world of safe crosswalks, and friendly neighbors. Our parents; wish to protect us from hurt, heartache, and the scrapes of finding ones foot. As humans we find comfort in bubble-wrapped lives, if not for ourselves then at least for those we love.

Our obsession with protecting our young has already gone to such extremes of boycotting creepy crawlers and easy bake ovens.  Parent groups fought Hasbro toys for safer kid friendly alternatives. Parents protested with love, and good intentions.  While children suffer the ironic consequence of not experiencing the dangers of play.

I loved my easy bake oven-I'm sure I burnt myself half a dozen times, and know that I melted the plastic spatula beyond recognition. My parents never took away my easy bake oven nor the creepy crawler maker. In the long run the common sense I learned from baking mishaps has made me more efficient and creative in the kitchen. What was best for me, was learning to work through the consequence of "owwies."

What is best for you isn't easy, nor consequence free. What is best, (isn't necessarily good), and requires a willingness to dive deep into uncharted waters;  to learn to swim far from the shallow waters.

Teddy Roosevelt's mother dreamt of a profitable career for  her son as a doctor or lawyer. Both good careers. Teddy didn't want a good life, instead he wanted to try for the life of his dreams. On the eve of my academic completion; I pray for the courage to fight for and build the life and career that is best for me. I am strong, smart, sophisticated, and passionate woman, capable of achieving my hearts desires.

Trailblazin' Grandma

My grandma, who is a gem, and I had a lunch date at The Coup; in Calgary last week. My grandma; whom is now nearly 82, is a bit of trail blazer. Her father was a railroad attendant for CN rail. She grew up above the rail road with three brothers in the 30's. You would think, that growing up as the only girl in a household would make you a little more rough and trouble; which it did. My grandma is an intellect. She loves to read, draw, and think.

As a teen, my grandma dreamt of medical school. Her father; who was a practical man, did not necessarily see the value in education for my grandma. He gave her a choice; he told her he would either pay for an education, or that he would pay for her wedding. My great grandfather thought he gave my grandma the perfect ultimatum. He thought, no girl could resist a dream wedding.

My grandma chose an education. My grandma chose to become a Doctor. My Grandma was one of four women in her class. She graduated medical school with honors- and became a leading public health medical officer for the Alberta Health Board. At 82, I sometimes see past the brilliant and turbulent fight my grandma pushed through to challenge gender stereotypes. I would never classify my grandma as a feminist. She is classy, well dressed, and believes is traditions. My Grandma was, and still is a social activist.

I can only imagine the hassle and frustrations she had to deal with in her pursuit of happiness. I'm sure she was told more times than she can count that "medicine isn't for women." My grandma fought with pen and paper to prove more than her equality. She proved capable, resourceful, and brought uniquely female traits to health care. She rearrange her world in order to live her dream. My grandma inspires me to fight for what i want; and more importantly what i view as right.

Thank you grandma; for blazing a path in future woman professionals can continue to re frame their world to suite their goals.

Tone: Core, Tush, and Legs

Strength training are the exercises that truly transform your body. Through toning exercises you can re-model, and re-design your body; to create your perfect shape. I have been doing the "Tracy Anderson Method" for over a year now, and have never felt better about my body, or about myself. 

I am so grateful for Tracy Anderson, she has given me confidence, strength, and an internal respect for myself. I have always been active, and I have always tried to eat healthy- but with TAM; I am able to relax about the little thing. I enjoy my workouts, I enjoy my time to sweat, and I love how much stronger I am both internally and externally. Tracy, YOU ARE AMAZING. Thank you. 

I have transformed and been transformed by Metamorphosis. I am truly happy with my body, and because of my contentment with my body image; I am happier, and more optimistic. Tracy has given me the greatest gift of self love, through her method. I wish to pay the gift forward. 

I understand that finding the time to squeeze in a workout may be challenging- 

I understand that gyms can be full of distractions, and waisted efforts-

To change your body, you have to change your mind. Fall in love with working out. Squeeze in a mini workout during commercials or before bed. Just 10 minutes a day, can help give you the mental boost to grow you confidence and transform your life. 

The Cost of Honesty

I remember, not so fondly, the first time that I got in trouble for doing what I thought was right. I was eight, and at figure skating practice. Growing up in Banff, is surreal. The town is small; and there are only ever  50 kids per grade. Whenever a new kid moved to town, it was a big deal. In grade 3; a new girl moved to town who was an incredible figure skater. Michelle, the new girl had all the cutest skating outfits, warm-up sweaters, and the attention of the coaches. I thought she was so cool.

Some of the other girls grew dangerously envious of Michelle. One day at practice Christa Morrison was mocking Michelle to me. Christa made a stink about Michelle's cute sweater. A few minutes later Christa come back laughing like a maniac. She had gone into Michelle's stuff, and flushed Michelle's nice wrap sweater down the toilet. I was horrified. I immediately ran to the bathroom to try and save Michelle's sweater. I tried to dry out the sweater-I tried to make it right. I told the adults, I told Michelle, I told Christa. Yet somehow in my attempt to be honest and helpful I was served the blame.

Bloomberg Businessweek magazine featured an article on Dan Zwirn that reminded me of the lessons, and the  hight costs that can result of doing the right thing. Dan Zwirn was a financial wizard who by the age of 33 had amounted a small personal fortune of $700 million, and was managing a multi-billion dollar hedge fund. In the financial craze of the mid 2000s before the crash Zwirn's firm had been making purchases and expanding its market presence through the use and fee's of investor dollars. In 2005, when Zwirm began to problem spot some of the internal clogged gears he went directly to the SEC to self report the problems at his firm.

When Zwirn turned him self into the SEC, he was pegged as a criminal pleading guilty. Zwirm became a subject of investigation, that would precede for the next 7 years. Zwirm lost his fortune, his toys, and his hedge fund; but what Zwirm did not loose is his sense of self. Zwirm chose to report "creative" book keeping. He was reprimanded. He was fined. Yet at the end of the day Zwirm, can look himself in the eye and know he did he atoned for his mistakes in management.

Sometimes, doing the right thing is expensive. There may be trouble, and there may get blamed for a crime you didn't commit. I'm not angry for being cast the shame of ruining Michelle's sweater. Instead, I am proud of my 8-year-old self. I am proud of her because she tried to act in accordance to her morals. She did what she thought was right. At the end of the day, one has to be proud of oneself.  I don't care what other people say, and/or think about me. I care about how I see myself. I would rather like myself for living true to who I am, then to be so afraid of "hypothetical" consequences. On the windy trail of life it is easy to become distracted by shortcuts and lured by false promises. In the mist of hype a very real fall to earth will leave some bruises. The bruises will fade, and the fall will be remembered as a saving grace.

Revived: Extinction

The impossible is possible! This scientific break through fills me with a warm fuzzy-ness of joy and possibilities. I am so excited that through science, researchers have been able to bring back the deeply frozen/presumed extinct. I am in a state of re framing my life, in a quest to maximize my productivity and to find my definition of success.  This breakthrough proves that success is possible through an effort of rephrasing the problem and developing a mentality of high involvement and low attachment. (To steal a phrase form Christine Hassler.) Through active involvement, problem recognition and solving techniques can be developed and refined without emotional heart ache; which causes a lack of focus on the actual goal. 

Extinction, might soon find it self extinct due to modern science. Russian Researchers have successfully revived an ancient plant that has been on hiatus for the past 32,000 years. The fruit awoken was found buried 124 feet deep amongst prehistoric squirrel in Siberian Ice.The resurrected fruit plant, is the oldest viable multi cellular living organism and the only living organism thus far that had been revived from a state of permafrost; according to a study published early this week by the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."

Scientists are ecstatic by the possibilities of specie re-introduction via vegetation that this latest green thumb break through inspires. Approximately 20% of the earth is covered by permafrost, Canada, Russia, Alaska, and Antarctica have the largest reserves of permafrost. This scientific breakthrough could help us to not only revive extinction but to improve our understanding of prehistoric times, and ice age vegetation. The Ice, holds unknown and unclassified potential. The discovery made by science raises the possibility of reviving other frozen organism with prehistoric gene pools.

The prehistoric plant was brought back to life, via a horticulture technique called micropropagation. Researchers were able to grow the plant from the fruits tissues in a test tube rich with nutrients. The sprouted prehistoric plants were then transferred into modern pots where they continued to grow, and flower.

The blooming of this prehistoric plant, is symbolic in a sense that disproves impossibilities. To bring back a species from extinction is possible, Thus proving that no goal is truly impossible. Dream Big!

Horse around creatively

Staring at a wall, blankly, for hours on end, will burn only an image of the wall into your mind. Staring at a wall with ideas, possibility, and an openness will inadvertently cause you an influx of creativity. One day, years ago, I was crying about something ridiculous and complaining to my dad, about how creativity is void in our lives/world.

 He looked me in the eye, and said: " Kendra, creativity is all around us. A doctor can be creative when finding a diagnosis, a business man can be creative in strategy execution, as an artist can be creative with the colours and textures in their paint box. Creativity is simply a willingness to explore the unexplored frontiers of your mind and the problem at hand. Creativity, exists when you ignore previous judgments and look at a tired problem with afresh perspective." 

Creativity is play. The lost concept is all around us; waiting to be engaged. For every action in life there is a chance of creation, and creative exploration. To be creative; is to not fear failure, and to not fear the snickering behind ones back. Other peoples opinions of us, are none of our concerns. People snicker because they don't understand. Personally, I rather be a page ahead as opposed to ten behind.

The discovery of North America, was a creative exploration gone horribly wrong. Columbus was searching for a shortcut to Asia when stumbling upon our content. If Columbus had not feared the exploration, maybe North America would never have been discover. SO...Create, create, create, there are opportunities at every glances. You Just need to open your eyes. 

My Little Pony Hair might be a lost a exploration
Or a radical Find. 

Creativity is the possessions of the creator. Creations, or Art of
any sort matters most to the creator. Other opinions,
Virtually meaningless.

Puppy Love

Within chaos and confusion there is order. Life's biggest lessons aren't learned in the classroom; instead they present themselves in obscure ways. To learn, is to observe and listen for the subtleties. Knowledge is gained through experience and a willingness to take risks. 

Inspiration and support may find you when you least expect it. They may present from the least likely of creatures. While scanning through the headlines this morning I found....

The maternal instincts of the Dog took over any fear or species"isms." 

If the animal kingdom can so easily overlook judgement then too shouldn't we?