An Advent Calendar – Page 5 – SOAR Coaching and Personal Insights

Advent Calendar – Dec 11th: Settling Into a New Neighbourhood

Change is a good thing. It makes you more resilient, and increases your ability to deal with unplanned events and adapt to the changing world around us. My husband and I have certainly become more resilient to change since 2013, when we sold our house and belongings of 20 years, and uprooted ourselves to Halifax,Continue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 11th: Settling Into a New Neighbourhood”

Advent Calendar – Dec 10th: My Battle

« The first step towards getting somewhere, is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are. »Unknown While I have been sharing my stories of travel, family and what matters most to me with you, there is a journey I undertook this year, that has had the greatest impact in my life andContinue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 10th: My Battle”

Advent Calendar – Dec 9th: Humans Need Connection

Travel should be about helping you connect with the people of the countries you are visiting, to understand their culture, their economy and their history. What I like about cruising is that we get that opportunity, not only in port, but also with the people we meet on board. There are typically over 60 nationalitiesContinue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 9th: Humans Need Connection”

Advent Calendar – Dec 8: Priceless Family Traditions

St. Nicholas was a Bishop who lived in the fourth century in Turkey. He was a kindhearted and generous man, and because he had inherited large wealth from his parents at an early age, he developed a reputation for helping the poor and giving secret gifts to people who needed it. The stories of thisContinue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 8: Priceless Family Traditions”

Advent Calendar – Dec 7th: One For the Bucket List

Let me take you back to the summer of 2019. The air is warm, people are out and about and you are sitting out, possibly enjoying a refreshing beverage, listening to the sounds around you. You hear the birds of course, maybe a light breeze rustling through the trees and general murmurs and clatter peopleContinue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 7th: One For the Bucket List”

Advent Calendar – Dec 6th: Conceive it, Believe it, Achieve it!

My 15-year old self woke the 56 year old me from a deep sleep at 4am, to tell me that there should be more successful career women coming to grade 10 classes to talk to them about how to prepare for the workplace realities. You know how you get these Eureka moments, or as OprahContinue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 6th: Conceive it, Believe it, Achieve it!”

Advent Calendar – Dec 5th: Feeling Good

I have been unbelievably blessed all my life and I give thanks everyday for my good fortune. I try so hard not to take anything for granted and treasure my family and our good health, and my precious friends. I am aware that one’s good fortune can change in an instant, and that many experienceContinue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 5th: Feeling Good”

Advent Calendar – Dec 4th : Beyond Shore Excursions

I have written before about cruising and until our recent trip to Mexico, preferred vacations on ships rather than resorts. I would say that for a vacation in the Caribbean, a cruise is still my preference. This year, we took 3 Caribbean cruises, visiting islands of the lesser and south Antilles (St-Thomas, St-Marten, Barbados, St-Lucia,Continue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 4th : Beyond Shore Excursions”

Advent Calendar – Dec 3rd: Once a year, go someplace you have never gone before

We all know that travelling gives us an opportunity to expand our knowledge and gain a better understanding of other cultures, and countries. Beyond this, the benefits of travel are quite tangible, physically and psychologically. I walk more when I travel, and my stress level goes way down. The fresh air stimulates endorphins, putting meContinue reading “Advent Calendar – Dec 3rd: Once a year, go someplace you have never gone before”

Advent Calendar Blog- December 2nd: Baby Its Cold Outside!

How is it that we travelled in the summer and the fall to all these warm places, and then made it back just in time to go through another winter in Ottawa? What is wrong with us? Most Canadians that have the travel bug fly south for the winter, but we seem to do thingsContinue reading “Advent Calendar Blog- December 2nd: Baby Its Cold Outside!”

Advent Calendar Blog – Day 1 – It Was In The Cards!

We have had a wonderful year, and as I reflect on our blessings, it occurs to me that I have not shared much on our blog, despite having a great year filled with discovery, dear friends and family and new journeys. Many of you have asked about the next instalments. Not all journeys involve travelling.Continue reading “Advent Calendar Blog – Day 1 – It Was In The Cards!”