There were so many wonderful moments, like when we stepped into our exquisite Parisian apartment overlooking Notre Dame, finding myself crying as we stepped into the gardens at the Rodin Museum – it was the moment when I really knew we were there, in Paris – the scale of everything from the Louvre in Paris to the Pope’s Palace in Avignon to the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, eating fresh churros from the market in the Marais, the flower market in Nice and its flavoured sugars, café crème, the Salade Marcel at the Tartine place in Avignon, the look on Justin’s face when he first saw the waters of Nice, walking by myself along the Seine, the gardens of Versailles, breakfast in the private garden at our Nice Hotel, eating a picnic lunch overlooking the Rhone, dancing sur le pont d’Avignon. We did it. We made it happen and we will cherish the memories forever

And I’m so proud of us for getting there and for savouring the journey because we also faced a whole lot of challenges right from the beginning, right from our plane being delayed because it had been struck by lightning – yes, by lightning! I’m scared of flying anyway so wow, that was tough. And when we arrived in Paris, it was 8 degrees and pouring rain with a wind that devoured umbrellas. We had rain just about every day and it was so cold that the one sweater I brought was pretty much my Parisian uniform. It helped a little but not enough because on the second day I got very sick. We actually considered cutting our trip short and coming home after Paris but just couldn’t bring ourselves to do it. Instead, a trip to the pharmacy, lots of naps and keeping positive got us through. But when we arrived in Avignon, again in the pouring rain, and Justin broke into a fever, I felt pretty defeated. When the proprietor at the hotel gave us the keys to room 13, Justin had “Are you kidding me?” written all over his face.

But the next day was sunny and Avignon is beautiful and as we found ourselves meandering gently up the Rocher des Doms and having a picnic lunch underneath trees overlooking the Rhone, with the most idyllic view imaginable (pictures to come), I trusted that there would be healing. We slowed down a lot at this point. We had to. And we looked for and savoured every single moment of beauty, of pleasure, of delight, of wonder, of inspiration and deliciousness. And there were many.

I’m sharing this with you because it’s so important to know that dreams can ask a lot of us. This trip certainly asked a lot of me. I was aware of bumping up against my limitations for a lot of this journey. I was challenged by the traveling itself, arranging and then figuring out different modes of transportation, from connecting flights to the high-speed TGV to the metro in Paris. I was challenged by French, a language I adore and have a history with but am far from fluent in. I was out of my comfort zone every day as I asked for help at the pharmacy or tried to understand signage or negotiated ordering dinner.

And outside my comfort zone were also extraordinary experiences and moments of wonder. I could have gazed out over the Rhone for days. I could walk along the Seine or the pebbly beaches of Nice day after day after day. I could lose myself in the art and the beauty forever.

And though I can honestly say I would have loved it if we had gorgeous spring weather and if we had been healthy throughout, I loved this trip. I’m thankful for every precious moment and so proud of us too. Even with the rain and the cold and the illness, this was a dream come true.

Today I’m sharing with you the Paris part of our journey. I hope you enjoy coming along.

This is one of my Vision Cards from January 2010 – and here we are getting ready to go to Paris, Avignon and Nice this year! It really is a dream come true. As we get closer to the date, I’m continuing to learn and honestly getting a bit more nervous than excited. Sometimes that happens when you’re on the edge of a dream – especially one that’s quite a stretch!

The Stretchy Bits

Ever since I started my Becoming a More Confident Traveller adventure, it’s been amazing how the trips have gradually added a little challenge here, an extra stretch there, really helping me grow at a pace that has felt manageable. Thank you, Universe! In this journey, there are several new stretchy bits.

• Language. This is our first trip somewhere where English isn’t the native tongue. Well, we did go to Holland, but Justin’s dad really negotiated all the Dutch, introducing us to everyone, including every waiter, as his kids from Canada! I know a lot of people will speak English where we’re travelling but I want to be brave about using the little French I have and doing my best to immerse myself in the sounds of France.
• Multiple Locations. This is also our first time travelling between destinations. We have purchased our train tickets from Paris to Avignon and from Avignon to Nice and negotiating the rail travel will add a whole new level to growing our confidence! Oh, and it will actually also be my first connecting flight!
• Apartment Living. In Paris, we have decided to stay in a lovely apartment instead of a hotel. This is a first and we’re pretty excited about it. We checked multiple reviews, read up lots about staying in apartments (especially on Tripadvisor) and had very good contact with the person who manages the space. We’re crossing our fingers it lives up to our hopes.

What I’m Learning

• Pacing.

Have you ever been to a gallery or a museum with someone who doesn’t have the same pace as you? It can be so frustrating! I remember being a kid and thinking it was nuts that my dad would read every single word of every single display before he moved on. Didn’t he see that over there? Or that? Or that? Come on! Now, as I watch myself become more like my dad, I have to laugh.

Justin and I share a great pace when we’re on the go (except for when my little legs just can’t keep up with his 6’2″ way of walking!) But for this trip I learned that pacing matters for preparations too. Justin didn’t want to start poring over guidebooks too soon, when we had tons of other things on the go (like Christmas, etc.) Because I didn’t want to forge ahead without him, I kept my early immersion light. But as we get closer, I find myself unsettled. I wish I’d spent more time listening to French podcasts and reading books about Paris and devouring travel blogs. Good learning there! Next time, I’ll go at my own prep pace.

• Packing.

I love packing light. I’ve managed most of my trips with a carry-on and that’s h0w I prefer it. It honours my values of freedom and independence! This time, however, that seems a bit unrealistic. Two weeks with likely unpredictable weather suggests being a bit more prepared so we’ll be carrying a little more. We’ve bought one bigger piece of luggage and are going to see if we can manage with one bigger one that Justin will manage and a carry-on with all the necessities that I’ll take care of. Maybe it will feel luxurious to have all that space – including room to bring treats home!

• People Love Paris

Every mention of the trip elicits sighs, dreamy looks and travel envy. Every indication is that Paris is a very special place.  On TripAdvisor they even warn against PPD – Post Paris Depression. In fact, I started to get a bit nervous about falling in love with the city and never getting to return because there are so many other places on our travel wish list. In fact, I had to do a little preemptive strike with Justin to assuage my pre-Paris-love fears and ask, ‘Hey, if we fall wildly in love with Paris, we can go back, right?” The answer was yes.

My Favourite Bit of Recent Advice

Holding the line with customer service at Old Navy, the sales rep and I got to chatting. I mentioned the trip to France and it turned out that as a girl, she had spent all her summers in Paris with her grandparents. I asked for her very best bit of advice and without hesitation she said, “Eat cheese.”

I plan to!

As I put away my Full Cold Moon Dreamboard, I noticed just how many dreamboards I have made. I’ve been dreamboarding for decades, but I just had to tuck into my records and figure out when that became Full Moon Dreamboards. Originally the event was held at my sister Suzie‘s but she passed the torch in January of 2009 and I’ve been hosting ever since. It’s amazing how a regular practice like this keeps you so connected to your heart and reveals to you not only your dreams but also your personal aesthetic – your colours, your symbols, your shapes.

This board is still really fresh for me but here’s what I notice right away:

• The beautiful dewy freshness of the opening green flower. When I sit at my desk, this is the image that is right in front of my eyes, reminding me to bloom – and also reminding me that I don’t need to do anything to make that happen. I simply have to bloom.
• I notice there are several women on the board, at varying ages and stages. The woman with the ponytail is inviting me to get out and run  this month.
• The unfurling fiddleheads are my reminder that yes, spring is coming. It’s coming. Hang on.
• And on that note, the quote up on the right, which you probably can’t see,  is, “An optimist is the human personification of spring.” Susan J. Bissonette. It, combined with the clock, reminds me that spring is a state of mind not a time of life.
• An image that’s on my dreamboards all the time now (and that I might start collecting on Pinterest) is the long table and many chairs. This represents creating together – workshops, art journal days at my place, entrepreneurial buddies. One of my favourite parts of putting on a theatre production is the early days when you meet around the table – doing readings, working with designers. It’s such a fresh, collaborative time, right at the beginning.
• “Get in the ring” is a bit of a calling forth (as we say in coaching lingo). It’s time to step up and put myself out there in a brand new way. I wonder what that’s going to be!

I’m in love with this board and looking forward to the fresh, bold and beautiful places it will guide me this month!

Find out more about dreamboarding or share your own dreamboard here.

Here are my other years…

• Project 365: 2010
• Project 365: 2009
• Project 365: 2008

I find the time between Christmas and New Years magical. It’s my favourite time to slow down and connect with myself, to tuck in with my journal and my imagination and envision the year to come. One of my very favourite ways to do this is to create Vision Cards. I start with identifying areas of my life that I want to focus on (e.g. Home, Love, Creativity) and perhaps a couple of big projects I want to take on and then I make a card for each one, a touchstone to keep me connected to the heart of my desires for the year. I love to turn them into a video so that I can revisit them easily whenever I need a little inspiration infusion.

May 2012 be all that you dream of and more.

For a full guided adventure to making your own Vision Cards, check out my e-workshop at Wish Studio.

Big dreams mean big plans and that’s what I got up to last week! Armed with ideas and inspirations plus loads of stationary supplies, my sister Shannon and I booked a planning day together. Though I adore lists and calendars and making things happen, I can also crack under the pressure of over-planning. But this year, it seems we found a way that felt just right. I’m excited to share it with you and hope that our experience can be helpful as you plan the next year of your creative life!

What We Brought

• Markers
• Pens
• Index cards
• Sticky notes
• Big newsprint pad
• Big calendar
• Journal
• Journal questions
• Coffee
• Water
• Snacks
• A good friend with a keen eye

Our Schedule

• 9:00 – 9:30 Journaling
• 9:30-12:00 Jamie
• 12:00-1:00 lunch
• 1:00-4:00 Shannon
• 4:00-4:30 Revisit journaling

What I already knew:

• My focus. For this planning session, I was looking specifically at Jamie Ridler Studios in 2012
• My grand vision. This session was about bringing that vision to life by creating a plan and choosing actions that would move Jamie Ridler Studios in the right direction.
• My weekly schedule. I have an ideal schedule for my week. I revisit it regularly and have been refining it for the past couple of years. I’m excited about the current version because it includes more writing and project time and daily dedicated pockets of time for communications, including email and social media.
• What’s on my plate. This schedule includes all of my regular commitments from coaching to preparing Wishcasting to recording the podcast and interviews, what I affectionately refer to as “the regs.”
• My rhythm. I’ve designed my week to take advantage of my natural rhythms. My schedule is front-loaded with client work because that’s when I’m best able to be present and support clients with ongoing coaching. At the end of the week, I dedicate some half-days to projects and writing. This gives me a good block of time to create something like Soul Reflections or Sparkles.
• My commitments. I had all the dates and details for things I have already committed to for next year.
  

What I was looking for:

• To set my priorities for next year.
• To be sure the activities I choose for next year reflect those priorities.
• To plot out a schedule that supports my productivity and progress while enhancing my joy and ease.

How We Planned The Year Ahead

Shannon and I set aside the entire day and booked an awesome little room that’s a part of a local Starbucks. It was free, relatively private and gave us lots of space to spread out. We arrived with our supplies, set up our table and, with coffee in hand, dug in.

Journaling

The first thing we did was some journaling, to connect us to what was truly important to us. This is such an important step, otherwise you can end up designing an entire year filled with things that just don’t mean that much to you! Shannon and I had compiled a series of questions that included: “What am I currently loving?” “What do I want to let go of?” “Where do I want to upgrade?” “What are my financial goals?” “What’s one big wild ass dream I’d love to come true?” “Where do I need to grow?” “What do I want to spend my time on? “What do I spend my time on?” We gave ourselves one minute per question and actually used a timer.

The Current Picture

Next we pulled out the big newsprint pad. You can get these at art supply stores as well as stationary stores. For around $2.00, this is an invaluable tool. With markers and newsprint, I poured out onto the page and to Shannon what my business looked like right now and also where I saw it headed. I had made three index cards to represent three major over-arching goals for the business. I had also made index cards for each current aspect of the business, from products to podcast, colour-coded by subject area (e.g. blue: client work, green: workshops, yellow: communications, red: content creation).

What’s Next?

Then I started to talk about the things I was hoping to do, the ideas I had for what’s next. If this was something brand new, I created a new index card for it. If it was an improvement or development of something I was currently doing, I added a post-it note to its index card. I didn’t edit here. I just let ideas and possibilities flow out of me, some that I’ve known about for a long time and some came up in the moment.

How Much?

This stage is the first opportunity to start the editing process. Having all of the possibilities in front of you, each taking up its own space, it’s easier to get a sense of “whoa, that’s probably too much for this year.” Shannon asked me how I think of my year and I said in seasons (i.e. fall, winter, spring, summer). I decided to limit myself to one or two priorities or projects each season, especially because these are on top of my “regs,” which are extensive. I also know that if I got them done earlier than expected, I can always add in more! One or two projects per season is enough to make me feel like I’m accomplishing something without pushing me to overwhelm or keeping me so busy I can’t say yes to opportunities and ideas that come along.

Choosing

Looking at the index cards, I started pulling out those which were probably going to wait. I made two piles for those things: “maybe next year” and “later.” I also pulled together the ones I wanted to complete this year. Then I started to play around with the remaining ones, shuffling them into varying combinations of spring/summer/winter/fall. I asked myself, “Would this combination move me powerfully towards my big vision for Jamie Ridler Studios?” “Does this combination motivate and excite me?” I finally narrowed it down to between 8 and 12 things I wanted to put on the list for 2012. Yes, already exceeding the limit I’d given myself but with one more sifting process to go through: scheduling.

Scheduling

Then we pulled out the big calendar. This is often where I get totally tripped up. I start to get all squirrelly and uncomfortable when life gets scheduled in too much detail. Who knew that for me the answer would be: sticky notes! Being able to explore possibilities and get a picture of things without committing to them was instrumental in feeling out my year.

First we put in notes for all my travel dates. We didn’t plot in all my regs but had a good sense of my schedule in mind. We did put in regular commitments that had an irregular schedule. Then we worked with the projects I’d chosen for each season, looking at where they might fit in. Doing this with the tangible, physical object (the sticky note) once again made it clear when things were getting too full. When that happened, I made a choice and I moved a project or priority to a “if I have time” category.

Before I knew it, my year was planned and instead of feeling cramped or tight or rigid, I felt grounded, confident and excited about what was to come.

Some Things I’ve Learned About Planning

• “Say no more frequently so you can say yes more fully.” Laura West
• When you schedule in a commitment, also schedule in the time it is going to take you to prepare for that commitment.
• In order to feel excited, I always need something new and wonderful scheduled for the upcoming year.
• It is possible (and a really good idea) to take some time off to replenish and fill your well.
• Don’t fill the schedule too much or be too rigid. Leave space for wonder and magic. Leave yourself room to be able to say yes to unexpected and wonderful opportunities, not to mention time to breathe!
• When this is your life’s work, you don’t have to get it all done by Friday.

Yesterday I took you with me through the first half of our trip to the east coast to visit with my sis and her honey. Today the story continues, starting at Pier 21, an important location in Canadian history and our own. Many future Canadians arrive in this country for the first time through this pier, including Justin’s mother and father as a young couple looking forward to their future and my mom, as a little girl escaping war-torn Latvia with her mother, who was pregnant with my aunt. It felt important to stop and remember where we’ve come from.

Just a short walk away was a complete treasure, the Halifax Farmer’s Market. We had a wonderful time meandering through everything from overflowing bushels of apples to colourful displays of amazing art.

And what a treat to meet artist Shelagh Duffett of Alice in Paris loves Art and Tea. Alice was so kind and sent both Suzie and I home with a beautiful postcard of her work! Thanks, Shelagh.

The art was captivating! I knew immediately that I wanted to bring home Sad Unicorn by Jono Doiron. Jono and I had a lovely chat about his work, about the significance of all the tagging behind the poor unicorn whose sign reads “Need a Rainbow.” There’s so much sadness in this piece but for some reason it evokes hope in me – perhaps because I believe in rainbows (and unicorns). Jono also has a blog you might want to check out.

We continued our journey, next meandering down the boardwalk by the water. I’m not sure if you can see it but I managed to get all of us in this shot! You can see me, Justin and Reg all in Suzie’s rock star sunglasses!

And what’s an adventure without the unexpected? I certainly didn’t expect to see Theodore the Tugboat, never mind with a group of musicians on board! That chorus they sing was stuck in my head for the day!

That called for some ice cream! Unfortunately Cows world’s best ice cream was so good, it was illegal – and Suzie the Foodie got caught! ;)

Of course, we had to end up in a local haunt for a good meal and more good company!

As we walked back to the car, Suzie (aka Spooky Suzie – she is, after all, co-host of Hexed: Sisterhood of the Supernatural along with our sister Shannon!) whipped out her camera looking for orbs in the local cemetery! I love this pic of my intrepid sister!

After all that adventuring, we spent the next day hanging out, chatting and drinking lots of tea. As always, Suzie pulled out all the foodie stops and served this incredible butternut squash soup (and I’m not a squash fan!) complete with pumpernickel bat with hot sauce eyes! How cool is that?

This is one of my all-time favourite photos, right up there with one just like it taken years ago when the four of us had just gone whale watching! Here we’re all beaming. It was such a great trip. Suzie and Reg truly are the most gracious hosts ever. We have such a wonderful time together. I feel so blessed they’re family.

The hardest part of every trip is saying goodbye. It never fails; as soon as I turn away from Suzie I start to cry. I miss her so much and I’m just so glad that we had this visit.

And on a totally different note this is just one of the many pictures that affirmed a major revelation of this trip: I am not as tall as I think I am!

As sad as it always is to leave, there’s always something lovely about coming home.

You can come with me for Part 1 of this visit here.
And you can experience some of Suzie’s take on the trip here.