Beingness…all “beings” are born with it. But few of us actually enjoy the pleasure of it. A few months ago I went and visited the local Exhibition and found my favourite place amongst the bright flashing lights, mind-numbing amusement park rides and loud pop music: the traveling petting zoo. I suppose it’s focused towards the younger of us who enjoy the fair, but a place of clarity for me.

A peaceful, messy and absolutely beautiful Alpaca was in a gated enclosure with three goats, two Jacobs sheep’s, a baby pig, and two white geese. He was the only of his kind. A mixture of grey, white and hay coloured with long bangs covering his large eyes. He was completely aware. Entirely conscious. Wonderfully present.

When I first walked by, the Alpaca was relaxed in the middle of the many other creatures (animals and humans) who were all rushing about, feeding, laughing, and talking. He was just laying in the center of the space. With no desires, no attachment, no judgment of what was happening around him.

The next time I came back I had brought some coins to buy some feed…I would be delighted to get to touch him. With many other hands to choose from, the Lone Alpaca wandered over to me to chat. He peacefully enjoyed my meagre offerings. He was taking his time to enjoy every bite, unlike the nearby goats who were devouring their food as quickly as possible. Just standing there in front of me. Relaxed. Not fearful in any way. Exactly the way that I would love to be. It was not long until the other animals started butting at him and requesting their share. I stood a while longer and tried to reach to the Alpaca but he gracefully stepped away. Back into the distance away from the others and back into place of non-attachment. I was there. I fed him. It was time to move on. 

The conversation in my minds eye went a little like this…

The Lone Alpaca: “Hello Amber. How are you today? I am just here because I am here. How about you? I am eating and I am not eating. I am being and not being.

Me: “Dearest little Lone Alpaca” I said “are you sure you don’t want to do? go? worry? think? as we all do"?”

The Lone Alpaca: “I would rather just be.” he replied through his long straggly hair “ Wouldn’t you?”

Me: “Hmmmm…..”

The Lone Alpaca: As he is shuffled off into the trailer for the night the Lone Alpaca replied “ Ahhhh…now I will go be in a different place”.

How often do we choose the path of constant thought. Chaotic thought reels of judgments, ideas, worries, concerns, fears, and what we are going to eat next.

Now that the leaves have all fallen, it doesn’t quite seem like Autumn any more. Winter comes early in Northern Saskatchewan and there is Snow in the forecast. Even so, I was able to find a few hidden gems among the grey city tones- here are a few of my favorite photographs from my walk.

There were bright greens and rich browns. I looked for the places in the underbrush where the morning light just peeked through the bare trees. It was amazing how much colour I found. And there was hope. If you look closely, there is a photo of a tiny evergreen tree and its roots breaking through the soil. Make me smile. I hope he makes it through the winter…Please enjoy!

Amrae xxxx

I had another epic dream last night. I dreamt that I should wake myself and write down what was happening, but I couldn’t quite be bothered to.  My dreams are frequently dramatic and could be compared to any action adventure film out of Hollywood. When I wake up I feel as though I have fallen asleep from my night second-life…as though I had experienced a whole other day. Always searching, running, escaping, finding, swimming, diving, surviving. I find that the only times that I do not have these dreams is when I am abroad traveling in unknown places. I suppose that would be because I have had enough excitement in the daytime. Back in the comfort of my home however, my subconscious mind is roaring to go.

Have you tried meditation? An interesting suggestion by many people. In a calming state of mindfulness and meditation may be the only time that my mind is a rest. However hard it may be to settle it down. Then I quickly fall to sleep and then awake on the other side. By morning I can’t easily evoke memories of the day or even week before…but have flashes and memories of the nights adventures.

In the process of updating the format of my blog. Please forgive me and my madness…there is so much going on in my head and I just don’t have the technical skills to do it as fast as I would like to!

Amber

1. Somebody else did it better

 I have to say that as much as I avoid it, I can be  a jealous person. It seems to me that the world is full of talented and interesting people and I am just sitting her in the sidelines waiting for my big moment. I always imagined I would find this great talent at something that would blow everyone away. Nope. Hasn’t happened yet. Do you feel this way? Then you know exactly what I am saying. Your friends are fabulous mothers, yoga gurus, photographers, artists and even just media marketing genius’ with thousands of fans/followers/groupies. Shucks, what about us little people…the fans/followers/groupies of the big timers?

2.Somebody else thinks we can’t

 They mean well, our family and friends…they tell us that we have given ourselves too many options, that the world isn’t ACTUALLY that accessible, even though as kids we could “do anything we want to”. Well, actually, I think there are people who did take on the world and do great things; I bet that they had nay sayers telling them they couldn’t do it either, but did it anyways. Even so, it’s a hard thing to get past. Those records in your head of the “reality checks” that everyone around you feel the need give you when you start to “dream” of bigger and better things. In the end, we realize that maybe they are right, and as we get older, and each opportunity to achieve our passions passes by, we see other people trying to reach for their dreams and….yes….feel the need to give them a “reality check” that the world isn’t that accessible to them either. *Sigh*

3. It’s out of our comfort zone.

Oh don’t you just feel safe there, tight in your little cocoon of a world? I do. It’s lovely here. I’ve got oodles of tea, BBC radio 1, and salted almonds to hold me over till 2012….plus I don’t even have to see anyone if I really don’t want to. Now, out there? Scary place. People are rude, criminal, cruel, and ignorant. They aren’t interested in what anyone has to say and drain the life force out of you faster than a dementor. So, faced with the option of GOING OUT THERE and taking on the challenges in order to achieve that dream of yours…opening a café, becoming a photographer, or moving to New York City….is a very, very scary idea. I prefer tea and “authentic” self-denial myself. Maybe tomorrow I will be braver….

4.We might fail.

Thats right…you started to do what you have always dreamed of doing. Frick. It all went wrong. You lose your business, your partner leaves you, your dog dies and your car breaks down. Sounds like a bad country song doesn’t it? The closer we get to taking the first step, the closer we are to the possible disaster at the end. I understand the common self-help theory of NOT imagining the worst case scenario, but come on, if you don’t think of the possiblity ofailing…you can’t be prepared for the worst people. However….just imagine the glory if you succeed!!! You will be living your truest life, in the place you love, with people you love, doing things you love all the time!

5.or worse. We might succeed. 

1 year, 5 years, 10 years…you take a large chunk of your energy, time, and money to do what is truest to your authentic self and then realize, you left some of your family or friends behind to get there. The guilt that comes with succeeding is sometimes worse then failing..because you were the one to go all the way despite all the challenges. In the end, you can be left feeling like you should have stayed home and helped with the family business, got the University degree like your dad told you to, stayed at home with your children and went to bake sales and a home-cooked meal everynight. Which side are you on?

 Why Becoming an Imperfectionist Makes You Successful and Happy

“Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.”
~ Julia Cameron

How much stuff do you think about doing?

How many things would you love to try but stop yourself because you don’t know how to begin?

Do you avoid projects because of the pressure to do them well?

If so, feel free to join me and some of my most successful friends in our exclusive club of very special and talented people:

We call ourselves the Imperfectionists!

What’s an Imperfectionist?

• An Imperfectionist is often a recovering perfectionist.

• An Imperfectionist knows that getting something done is better than sitting back and waiting to do it perfectly.

• An Imperfectionist knows that being a Perfectionist is simply an excuse NOT to take action.

• An Imperfectionist congratulates herself for taking small steps.

• An Imperfectionist buys herself flowers when she accomplishes something – even if it’s not quite up to her ego’s high standards.

• An Imperfectionist knows that getting a scary thing done IS the reward. Not the kudos or adoration.

You Might Need to Become an Imperfectionist if…

• You tell yourself you need to get “just a little more information” before you’ll try something.

• You have a case of the “Used-to-Be’s.” (“I used to be so good at this!” Or “I used to be so thin!” Or, “I used to write everyday and now look…”)

• Your mantra to the world is: “I’m just so overwhelmed! There’s too much to do! It’s so hard to be me!”

• You call friends and co-workers to get sympathy for how hard it is to accomplish your goals and dreams. They often agree, citing how special you are because you have been given so much talent – and how it must be quite a burden.

• You spend more than one hour per day on Facebook, watching television, or not fully engaging in other addictive activities.

• At the end of every year, you wonder why you never seem to move any further towards your dreams.

• You are waiting for your POTENTIAL to finally kick in.

Why Becoming an Imperfectionist Makes You Successful and Happy

Being an Imperfectionist is an Intention.

When you become an Imperfectionist, you finally recognize your ego voice exactly for what it is: Your own personal Success Prevention Expert.

When you become an Imperfectionist, you finally realize how many Success Prevention Experts exist in the world.

When you become an Imperfectionist, you lower the bar – or better yet, remove it altogether. You can then create in the moment without any grade or standard. Ironically, this allows for such freedom and joy that you might end up doing a great job. (Or at least having a great time!)

When you become an Imperfectionist, you place your creative attention on the project or activity itself. You don’t waste it on obsessing about the outcome. (This paradoxically leads to a higher chance of greatness, and a definite outcome of happiness!)

When you become an Imperfectionist, you get things done imperfectly. You then learn that you can tweak and fix and try again. This process makes you Unstoppable.

When you become an Imperfectionist, you finally understand that there are no mistakes. Just judgments.

Becoming an Imperfectionist doesn’t mean you don’t become a master of your craft or your passion – but that’s not the starting goal.

How to Become an Imperfectionist

1 – Imperfectly pick one thing you keep telling yourself you want to do.

2 – If you read #1 and think, “I can’t possibly pick just one! There’s too many!” then do not proceed until you have picked just one.

3 – Get a timer, and set it to 55 minutes.

4 – Walk away from your computer right now and spend 55 minutes doing that very activity.

5 – Repeat #4 again tomorrow.

6 – Repeat #4 again every day after that until the item is complete.

7 – Celebrate the item’s completion with chocolate, flowers, or a manicure.

8 – Go back to #1 and start over.

An Imperfect List of Things You Can Do Imperfectly

• Imperfect Writing

• Imperfect Meditation

• Imperfect Yoga

• Imperfect Romance

• Imperfect Hiking

• Imperfect Vacations

• Imperfect Scrapbooking

• Imperfect Cooking

• Imperfect Dinner Parties

• Imperfect Bowling

Add your own items to this list as needed. Find a way to let yourself experience them without judgment. And listen to this recovering perfectionist when she tells you that your success is guaranteed when you live by this principle!

Disclaimer: The preceding article should be ignored by the following people:

Brain surgeons.
Commercial airline pilots.
Skydivers.

Performer, songwriter, and creativity consultant Christine Kane publishes her ‘LiveCreative’ weekly ezine with more than 11,000 subscribers. If you want to be the artist of your life and create authentic and lasting success, you can sign up for a FRE*E subscription to LiveCreative at http://www.christinekane.com/.

When I visited this lovely holiday area on the West coast of Malaysia, I discovered something refreshingly delightful….I was one of the few western tourists enjoying my time there. It was not that it was particularly quiet, was a long weekend and the beach was crowded with interesting and diverse Malay families from around the country! It was such a rare pleasure to be free of the mainstream beach resorts which attract countless numbers of western backpackers and see truly Malay tourists. One particular morning, after a wonderful breakfast of Roti Penang and fresh fruit juice, I settled in along the shore to enjoy a day of sunshine and people watching. A father, mother and two little girls sat just behind M and I. Sharing the little shade along the beach, they seemed like a lovely family, and we started to chat. The man introduced himself and said that they were from Kuala Lumpar and they had come to Penang for a weekend away. Just like a family vacation to the lake here in Saskatchewan, I had a glimpse into a reflection. We always see differences when we travel, and rarely see the similarities which bring people into perspective…into REAL people. For the rest of the afternoon I watched as the many Thai and Malay families enjoyed the tourist-activities (quading, water sports, horseback riding.) There were many children, and families with large picnic blankets and baskets full of food. Though, they were filled with naan bread and tasty curries rather than burgers and chips! I really enjoyed seeing the unravelling of these peoples day on the beach. Because Malaysia has a large majority of Muslim families, many of the people who had come to enjoy the water swam fully clothed. I even saw one woman remained covered in her Abaya and a Boshiya while riding a jetski with a friend. Just an example of the contrast in our traditions! I thought this was amazing, she must have been very hot and weighed down by the water….but I am glad she still got to try the jet-ski!

Children enjoying the beach!

The tan can wait!

In regards to the cultural differences between western travellers and the places we visit: When I visit a place where the socially acceptable norm is to be decent and covered, I respect this tradition. I usually wear a one piece swim suit with a light shirt overtop to enjoy the beach, not only does it protect me from the sun but I am less likely to insult the locals. Just because I was born in North America and have light skin does not make me feel as though I have the right to flaunt my body in front of everyone. Especially within a culture which feels that it is disrespectful. I am always very disappointed to see women in tiny bikinis walking along the beach in front of women and men and children who may not be comfortable seeing it. Surely the tan can wait, and if not, there are so many holiday resorts which cater mainly to western tourists (which do not have Muslim families trying to enjoy their day) that one can go to instead. I guess all I can say is that if you are travelling to a country that has traditions that differ from your own, please do your best to respect their beliefs, even if you do not agree with them. This is a key part of travel- being culturally sensitive and experiencing a different place fully.

The last of the sunlight...mother and children. Photo by Amber Chalus

I took this photo at the end of a small boat ride I took on the Mekong Delta in Vietnam during 2009. Each boat had two paddler’s, one in the front and another in the rear. Two friends and I ended up in a boat with a young boy and an elderly lady who looked well into her late 80’s, a look which the harsh sun perhaps had a great deal of impact on. The poor soul was exhausted was much too old for hard labour in the scorching Asian sun. So the three on us grabbed the extra paddles and helped the boat through the narrow canals. I understood that this was her way if making a living, but it definitely makes you think about how much a blessing it is to have the opportunity to save, retire, and sit around while your grandkids play around you.

The social status of women in poverty in some South East Asian countries is a very sad situation in my mind, and my heart goes out to these hardworking and strong willed women. I just don’t know if I could do it. In many Vietnamese cities, young men could find work as taxi drivers, tuk tuk drivers and other jobs which really have no hard labour impact on their young and strong bodies. Meanwhile, it was the norm to see a women of all ages carrying or balancing 2 EXTREMELY heavy baskets on a stick across their shoulders all hours of the day and night, transporting goods and selling fruit to the street stalls. It broke my heart to see these honest, hardworking women who should be laughing and enjoying life as strong independent women. But because of their impoverished position and low status in society, they must do these jobs to support themselves and their families.

We are so lucky in the west to have the opportunity to make a decent living and actually have respect as women in our society. Although I feel the need to change the way things are, the rights of the elderly and specifically of women may never change due to the social customs, norms, government corruption and extreme poverty many of these countries.

Ever since my favourite author left this lifetime in 2008, I have been searching for a book that could fill my need for excitement, interesting story lines and great writing of Michael Crichton’s books. I may be naïve, and perhaps lame to some people, but I have always been addicted to Crichton’s writing. His non-fictional book Travels fed the travel fire deep inside of me and sent me searching for interesting and exciting experiences ever since I was young. I look forward to a lifetime searching for my truest self and living my truest life through great travel, books, people and adventures.

Just reading an article in the star phoenix np about Toronto residents driving to Buffalo to get cheaper flights. Now, being deeply involved in a retail business, I am all about supporting local Economy and business; especially when it comes to Canadian business. But the market in Canada for both domestic and international flights is hardly competitive and highly taxed. So I am not surprised that people choose the cheaper route by going to the States to fly, and if I didn’t live so far from the American border I would be tempted myself. I have often thought about the lack of competitive pricing in the Canadian market. West Jet or Air Canada, those are our options, which is quite the monoploy when you do not live near an international (Toronto or Vancouver). You can pay more to get from Saskatoon to Toronto then from Toronto to London. Therefore, having taking that journey numerous times, I dream of a day when flights with ac and wj reach a less exessive rate. Most people in Saskatchewan can’t complain, because they haven’t felt the freedom of European and British airlines….flights for a quid, low cost airlines that can take you to ANOTHER country for near nothing. What a joy! Maybe I should move to Toronto and fly out of buffalo from now on! Such an effort.

Amrae’s photo of the day:
I took this photo in Angkor Wat, Cambodia last spring. Such an amazing place, very hot and super crowded by tourists. I would recommend anybody travelling there, to seek out the less popular temples and enjoy a quite moment alone. Only thn can a person truly appreciate the beauty of the arcitecture and spirituality of the Buddhist monks in meditation.