Skid in Broadside screaming 'WOW, what a ride!"

There are quotes in this life that offer instant perspective, that allow us to feel from the heart an adrenaline rush of "YES! This is how I view life, how I want to live each and every moment. And YES! I most certainly can embrace this and live it NOW."

This one's mine...what's yours?

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out and proclaiming. "Wow, what a ride!" - author unknown but sometimes attributed to motorcycle racer Bill McKenna.

What will get you up at the crack of dawn to BE your highest version of yourself to ACT on your keenest heart's desires. I'd love to hear.

Wishing you WOW... need I say more.

Jennifer

Sparkle Thoughts for Thanksgiving

A chilly night, not nearly as bitter as our Thunder Bay winters will become, but chilly for one sleeping amidst the stars to be sure. He leaned against the light post holding the sign 'Hungry, Traveling and in need of your Kindness.' My husband honours my nature by taking the few dollars from my hand, rolls down the window and says, 'Hi, could you use this?' "Yes, sir. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving." I reflect the refrain, but it's drowned out by my sons from the back seat shouting "Happy Thanksgiving!" Precious.

"Mommy why does he need money?" "I'm not sure honey, but he does and Mommy feels when someone needs our help we give it. What do you think?" "I think so too Mommy. But I didn't get a chance to give him anything. Can we go back so I can give him some money?" "Well my sweet Liam, we don't really need to go back. You can send him your Sparkle Thoughts of Love from right here right now. Would you and Nathaniel close your eyes with Mommy right now?" "Yes," they chime in. "Okay, close your eyes. Now picture a beautiful, loving, while-light hug from God surrounding that sweet man and let's send him a thought... 'Remember, you are loved.'" "Remember, you are yuuved," they repeat.

And my heart is full, with the glorious connection we can have in thought, offering love, knowing we are all one in our journey. I invite you to find those in need of your Sparkle Thoughts Of Love today...and remember you are loved. Happy Thanksgiving :)

After a Day of Rain

Anyone notice how particularly brilliant the world seems after a torrent, cleansing rain? Rain in nature, as with turbulent experience or quiet tears in life, initiates a deeper understanding of the brilliance of sunlight, of the gift of joy in light. Today the sky is a brighter blue, the sun a keener shade of yellow and the trees dressed in vibrant green sway with a fresh knowing. What rains have you embraced that have empowered you to live anew?

YES! Moments in the Sauna

The steam rises and friendly conversation ensues. Who knows where casual moments like these will lead? In a matter of moments the discussion shifts from weather, to travel, to lessons learned. And then...The penny drops; a discovery made. We both recognize this is a kindred soul and there is something 'destined' happening here. Suddenly Kyla shares "You know these past few months have been agonizing. My daughter died in April and ever since I have had this hole in my chest." Her hand makes a large circle on the spot over her heart. I feel a tug at my own. She shares the details of surreal shock, the denial, the pain, the transition to hope and daily conversation with her spirit to simply hold on. "I know it sounds crazy, superstitious or something, but ... she loved butterflies and on the day of her funeral a huge white butterfly soared into the room where family and friends were gathered. It flew around my head, my daughter's head and she said to me, "There mom, look, Tina is here with us."

I felt a calm flow through me and the light bulb glowed.

"Kyla, I think I know why we met today. My mom loved dragonflies and shortly before her funeral my sister and I shared a moment on a Muskoka dock. A dragonfly joined us. It flew around my head and hovered between us, then around my sister's head and hovered again. "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" we said to one another. We had little doubt she was gently reminding us she could still hear every word.

"Kyla, perhaps we met today to confirm, skepticism aside, that our loved ones are with us always...in so many amazing forms." Kyla glowed. As strangers-come-friends we parted with a warm embrace of kindred knowing.

We all need hope and a gentle opening of heart and mind in the possibility that those we love are never lost, that we still communicate if but in new and glorious ways. This was the YES! of Thursday last. And since that moment, and sharing the story with my husband Todd, we have seen 'Tina' (in her beautiful white butterfly form) 13 times over the course of our weekend. WOW and... YES!

Any 'coincidences' you care to share?

Close your eyes and make a wish

He held the penny tight in his little hand, eyes scrunched, brow furrowed deep in thought. Making a wish at 3 1/2 is hope in flight because wishes, wished hard enough, most certainly come true. Ready and willing to toss he opened his eyes, turned back to fountain sputter and let that shiny bit possessed with heart's desire fly. "Well mom, I did my best," he said with a little shrug. "No doubt you did my boy." I smile and avoid the deep desire to ask, in honor of that silly 'no telling to ensure fulfillment' superstition. But, at dinner that night wise Grandpa asked, "So Liam what did you wish for?" I gasped to myself, but kept quiet as my want to know outweighed any concern. "I wished I could be an astronaut." "Wow," I thought. So clear at 3 1/2 and so capable of believing in any and all possibilities." "Well my dear grandson, I have no doubt that should you wish it enough, you can certainly have that one." As I joined Liam at the dinner table he leaned close and whispered, "I also wished I could be a skateboarder mom." As you can imagine I laughed out loud.

Such openness to life, such balance between the sky's-the-limit desires and kid-wants, such power in innocence and keen knowing that if you wish it, it can be. When was the last time you held a penny in your hand and knew that when you let it fly your dream could take you to the stars and beyond? I think it's about time, don't you?

I can't wait to hear your YES! Moment for today.