“This day couldn’t get any better could it?” asks 8 year old Paula, as we walked barefoot in the rain in the woods in October. Then she says “or could it?” Just then I hiked up my skirt, and said “let’s run!” She let out a gleeful squeal, igniting my inner child and we splashed through the puddles in our bare feet. There … Read More
2014 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog. What a stylish way to share with the world that my writing has staying power. It looks like blogging will be more of a focus for 2015! Enjoy! Here’s an excerpt: A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 680 times in 2014. … Read More
Moved to tears by all of you
This weekend I was moved to tears by all of you. You people who come together for a common good. A common healing, with wholesome intentions and good connections. And then just now, I watched this post I guess this guy who calls himself the “Goshfather” recognizes a moving experience too, and not only did he acknowledge it, he added to … Read More
“I smile” by Jamie Black
It is time that I slow down, and be in gratitude. Gratitude for all that is, all that was, and all that will be. This past weekend, I had a very grounding journey in a friend’s VW Westfalia. I just know that someday soon a Westfalia will be gifted to me, so that I may do my masters … Read More
The Essence of Exploration in Nature vs MineCraft
The essence of exploration lies in the unknown. August 30th 2014, my sister, mom and I embarked on an adventure to Jedadiah Island, in this great archipelago near Nanoose Harbour off Vancouver Island. Although it was a short three day, two night outing, the essence of exploration became apparent in regards to my research proposal. I have decided to start blogging about my … Read More
Seeing Mind Traps as Opportunities as a Director
Seeing Mind Traps as Opportunities as a Director is a skillful way to affect change. In environments involving human interaction, traps and miscommunications are inevitable. We may go into an environment with the best of intention, and yet our own motives may skew our view of a common goal. Meadows (2008) defines these traps and offers the way out that … Read More
Simulation Models for a simple mind
What is situational modeling anyway? When I was reviewing the class notes and learning about situational modeling, I didn’t understand why anyone would want to graph what they were graphing. I didn’t understand how you could turn something into data related to an X and Y axis that was worth looking at and deciphering. Maybe this makes me simple-minded, but … Read More
“In the cosmic scheme, people are vital” Wade Davis
I have to keep reminding myself, why am I doing this Masters? Why am I stressing myself, expanding my brain, understanding, then not understanding, knowing and then not knowing, and then feeling overwhelmed? Then I remember the drive that urged me to sign the application form. I have a dream… that people are the solution. By create more opportunities … Read More
Nature is my meditation… my medicine.
Yesterday, my head was spinning from all the worry, the change, the anxiety, the uncertainty the embarrassment and the fear. Something reminded me to go outside, into the unknown, the unimpeded beauty of nature. So I went to James Bay in Victoria and walked this beach. Ocean crashing… … Read More
Who am I being that your eyes are not shining? Ben Zander
Who am I being that your eyes are not shining? Just in the past couple of days I have watched the sparkle leave your face. What have I done? I do not want to live that way! Ben Zander’s TED TALK has tickled my senses and I feel more aware: helped this concept hit home for me, and I am … Read More
Compassion for Schizophrenia
Today I was reading my class readings in my Masters of Arts in Environmental Education and Communication, for EECO 504 Course, Systems with Pille Bunnell. Her website is http://www.sympoetic.net/Cognition/coordination.html and this week the topic is Cognition as Coordination Closed Nervous system Relational domains Emotioning Boy are these ever striking a painful cord in my heart. Cognition. Nervous Systems. Relation/Relating. Emotions. And then … Read More
Humanness in it’s messiness
I love that my prof Pille Bunnell has a website called “Ecology of Humanness as a Matrix of Ideas” This to me implies that there are no right/wrong answers, and that it is a process of understanding that will never end, a matrix that is just created, developed morphed, changed and then interpreted in all sorts of different ways. Just … Read More
Why can’t we call it Magic?
Why can’t we call it Magic? Why does it have to be scientifically proven, or based on a belief structure. Why can’t the magic of nature be just that? Why am I on this journey of a Masters to “prove” the magic of nature, and how it alters lives? With over 13 years of experience in the field, I have … Read More
The physics of the quest… Eat Pray Love
I have watched Eat Pray Love over and over and over and OVER again. I am obviously trying to get something. I am on a quest to find what I am looking for, and I don’t know what I am looking for. It is funny… I feel pretty balanced in my world for me with me as me. “The Physics … Read More
Empathy shows itself to me yet again… maybe I should listen.
I woke up this morning reflecting on a pickle that I experienced at work. And it wasn’t the pickle that hit home so much, or the fact that I felt incompetent and embarrassed. What it all came down to was, how I dealt with this pickle, and the honest feedback and reflection that I received that smacked me in the … Read More
Shinrin Yoku & Gardens
Today I had the privilege of having lunch with Gardener, Lecturer, Presenter and Mentor, Paul Allison. I met him during our residency when he toured us around the gardens with such passion and love that made me want to literally eat what he said. 😀 Today, when he shared his presentations, and what he does, he suggested I look him … Read More
Let’s go on a journey through the eyes of beauty
Image credits here. Let me take you on a journey through the eyes of beauty. Today, while paddling the Finlayson Arm, I began reflecting on why I am doing what I am doing. Why I choose to be connected with nature… Why I have a job in a Nature House… why I am taking my Masters in Environmental Education and … Read More
Today I paddle the Finlayson Arm
Today I am going to paddle the Finlayson Arm. I have been craving this for weeks, since I moved to this little cabin on the mountain, and I keep looking out at the arm, wondering what is around the bend… “Just around the river bend, I look once more just around the riverbend, beyond the shore… I am exhilarated by … Read More
What other people think of me is none of my business! Gary Oldman
Right now I feel like there is SO much that I am learning! In my Masters, I am diving deeper, learning about curriculum development, learning styles, teamwork, and communication. And the key item that relates directly to my work at the moment is this concept of… “It’s not so much what you say that counts, it’s how you say it… … Read More
Get out into Nature and Hoo do I see?
Even I need to remember to get out into Nature. A Nature Educator. This morning I woke and reflected on my days passed, of what I learned, what I saw and what I remember. I came to realize that I was graced with the presence of a beautiful Barred Owl and in the stillness of his gaze, he spoke to me. Yet my … Read More
Jamie Black is learning Advanced 2 Beat Weave from Play Poi
My online learning experience with Intermediate Poi. After fending for myself for years with awkward online learning, I fell in love with this approach from Play Poi: Watch this video of Jamie in practice. 1. As a learner, I found PlayPoi’s teaching methods very inviting and effective. I attained the results I was looking for, and appreciated that … Read More
Mommy is learning how to belay through Guided Discovery
Today my Mommy is learning how to belay through Guided Discovery. I am so proud of you Mommy! For the past week, I have spent a few hours using a Guided Discovery teaching style to teach her how to belay. Mom has got a new set of climbing gear and wants to come climbing with me, but before I can … Read More
A Sensé once told me “You are Master of NOTHING!”
It is true, he did say “You are Master of Nothing”… and I believe he said this to me to inspire me to Master something. At the time I was training in Kung-Fu. My Sifu was training me privately to become a teacher for him, because I was good. I was so good that he wanted me to continue the … Read More
Until I am as good as I want to be.
I am taking voice lessons to improve my voice, until I am as good as I want to be, to get my songs recorded… what are you learning right now? I’m watching a youtube video about how to learn anything in 20 hours. I’m skeptical, and yet VERY curious. If you want to watch first on your own, check it … Read More
What kind of learning style do I have?
I am learning about what kind of learning style I have. In my Masters of Arts in Environmental Education and Communication at Royal Roads University, I am taking EECO 508 “Learning Theory and Program Design” taught by Professor Milt McClaren. So far I have found Professor McClaren’s style and resources very intriguing. I can tell that he is catering his … Read More
One CAN believe impossible things
“One can’t believe impossible things.” “I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” This is the second time today that Alice and Wonderland literature has crossed my eyeballs on the great search for … Read More
Branwen Daughter of Llyr – Mythical Story of the Celts
This morning, I was looking for insight from my Druid Animal Oracle Deck, and I picked Black Bird, upside down. Black Bird is known as Druid Dhubh. Enchantment, The Gateway, The Inner Call. He calls to us from the gateway between two worlds, urging us to follow a spiritual path or to become more self-aware. He calls to us in … Read More
Do It Yourself’ers at “Trout Gulch” a Hobbit Movement
DIY means Do It Yourself. There are people labelled “DIYers” in an area called Trout Gulch who are in a Hobbit Movement… it makes me think of Erringtonians and the like-minded interest of being able to do it ourselves in a communal kinda way! There are some interesting stories being told about people who milk their own goats, and live … Read More
“Scholarly Monologue gives way to Collegial Dialogue.” ~ Em Griffin
Today I study “What makes interpretive theory good?” I have a paper due in a couple of days, and I need to choose a topic to do a literary review on and review it in the context of communication theory. It has been an interesting process to define what theory relates to my personal topic of interest. My topic has … Read More
It takes a village to convocate a MAEEC Student!
The MAEEC program has become my village, and the students have become my family. The professors, my mentors much akin to me, and the laboratory of 260 hectares of marvelous beauty is willing me to do more, be more and educate more. Today was a wonderful day of exploration and appreciative inquiry as we stepped across the multitude of tide … Read More