Cobras and Dancers and Pigeons... Oh My!

I am constantly “censoring” my blog posts - my parents taught me nothing if not, “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all!”

So here is an idea, that probably didn’t start off so nice in this pretty little head of mine, but it has become much nicer in the last few days…

As you will see, I have much more time to think on my 30 minute walk to yoga (which replaced my 30 minute first nap of the day to work on the ttc!).

I can safely say that each of my most challenging yoga poses reminds me of… One of my clients!

There’s all of the back strengthening poses… Cobra, Locust, Plow… These are multiple clients I found incredibly challenging, almost impossible at times. The backbending, excruciating stretching in all directions… And then you get it. A good meeting. A job well done. As you lay back down, and breathe in deeply, you think to yourself, maybe it wasn’t so bad, maybe I can try it again!

Then there’s my dancers pose client. It’s so tough to get there. I know I can do it! I’ve got the training to do it. The drive to do it. So challenging, yet when I get it right - incredibly rewarding

!And what about that pigeon pose client… Can’t say I like it, until I do it right, and realize that through this work (pose) I am growing (or stretching!) in ways that I need to in order to move forward.

(will stop here with the comparisons before I get myself in trouble!)

Since I have dedicated myself to 5:30 AM yoga, I’ve found that these poses are (still hurting!) but becoming infinitely more comfortable. So, not saying that you should work at 5:30 AM to become comfortable with client work - but there’s something to be said from doing… and learning… and keeping at it!

That said, a girl can always dream for an easy going, tree pose client, can’t she?! But then, really, where’s the challenge in that!?

x’s & o’s,

L

Stolen Words...

...via VING-NATION

I lied...

Tumblr's sweet & simple - but I missed the original H & A.

I also miss blogging in general, so burnout or not - expect more to come!

So coffee in hand, I'm off to take on the world.

x's & o's,

L

Current Listen:

Check it out. Obsessed.

Waving Flag - Young Artists for Haiti

Au revoir!

Catch y'all at H & A 2.0:

http://msellebee.tumblr.com/

x's & o's,

Leslie

Lessons Learned!

Since I promised myself a blog for each day of my 26th year in this world (and I have currently failed at this 4 days straight) here's one for ya! And a belated happy birthday to myself!

So. I am consistently told by my mom. My dad. My friends. My boss... "One of these days, if you do not stop using your blackberry while walking, you are going to walk straight into traffic!" WRONG! But maybe not so far from the truth!

This afternoon, while at the Shopper Marketing Forum, I learned more than key trends and metrics in the in-store environment. I learned my lesson... Multi-tasking is not your friend!

While walking to the washroom (one of those washrooms with one door but a walk left for women's and walk right for men's) and frantically trying to get through multiple emails about soccer balls, vuvzelas and creative (oh my!)... I lock myself into the stall, and then my outside perception tunes in. And I hear men's voices. Men's voices that are way too loud to possibly suggest I could be anywhere but the men's washroom! Men's voices who are not so much talking, as laughing. As in, "did that just happen? Did this girl just walk all the way by the sinks (and the urinals!) in a washroom with more than 5 men, and not notice anything out of the ordinary?!"

Whoopsies.

But this girl doesn't ever hang her head in shame. So out I walk, with a smile (small cringe!) and a wave and a quick, "sorry boys!"

Oh, and an apology to my boss and colleague for their embarrassment at having to sit at the table with, "that girl." As in, "did you hear about the girl that was in the men's washroom?"

Lesson learned!

It's Friday, kids - and the stage is set for a big night! A night from which, I am sure, multiple blog posts will stem!

x's & o's,

Leslie

Share the Crazy Cheezy Dream!

So you learn a new thing every day, and today, my friends - I learned how to embed a video care of Mark Stewart!

Now ladies and gentlemen, Mark Stewart is on a mission. And, because I am exhausted from 5 days of Olympic'ing... I am going to steal his words. Because why change something that works!?

It may not have the most appealing name, but the mission of the DoRightos “Crazy Cheezy Dream” is simple.

The good folks at Doritos are once again promoting a contest to name their latest tortilla snack creation. And this year, they’re calling it Doritos Viralocity. Basically, you name their new flavour, make a video – and attempt to make it go viral (get watched by lots of people).

And that’s where the DoRightos “Crazy Cheezy Dream” mission comes in.

I want to win the contest in honour of my mom who passed away from cancer 3 years ago and donate the potential grand prize of $250,000 to Canadian charities that support cancer research, along with The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada – a charity close to my mom’s heart. How’s that for a contest you can feel good about helping someone win?

See a list of the charities the prize money will go to.

How can you help? Again, that’s pretty simple as well. Just watch my Doritos Viralocity “Crazy Cheezy Dream” video, share it with your friends, post links to the video on your social media sites of choice – like Facebook, Twitter, or Digg…basically, spread the word like I’m trying to do. Or you can check out the Doritos site and see what they’re suggesting for tips to make videos go viral.

And for the negative types, I’m happy to sign a contract to prove the prize will be going to these charities…but pretty sure that the public admission here of my motives should hold up pretty well in court Sure, winning the money and keeping it would be great, but that’s not what I want to do.

There’s basically a big bag of cash sitting there, and since an individual’s chance of winning are really small – by spreading the word about the DoRightos “Crazy Cheezy Dream” – we can all win by doing something right for Canadian charities and those in need of our help.

Thanks for making this “Crazy Cheezy Dream” come true – I really hope we can accomplish this together.

http://dorightos.wordpress.com/

http://www.doritosviralocity.ca/Gallery/VideoDetails.aspx?v=6435

So do it, do it right now. Great video. Great cause. Spread the word!

x's & o's,

Leslie

On the brink...

Fave? Maybe. Exciting? Definitely.

If I were to describe life these days, I'd only need three words. On. The. Brink. Sometimes on the brink of the next exciting project. Sometimes on the brink of a thrilling new adventure. Sometimes even on the brink of a breakdown.

Being on the brink may be tiring, it may be challenging and it may be (very very) fast paced. But I must admit, that when I stand up straight and look around, I could never say that it isn't stimulating.

So give me the choice between living on the brink, breaking down and then rising again or living life as a slow moving person?

Shoot me onto the brink any day!

x's & o's,

Leslie

It's about time...

For another post.
But lately, I'm all out of words.
Actually, untrue.
These days, I feel like I'm all out of public words.
These days, I could fill endless diaries.
But I want my blog words to be great.
Like I want to do great things.
Like I want to be a great person. Do great work. Live a great life.
I want to be a great friend. Be a great teammate. Be a great co-worker, colleague, employee, and manager.
I think lately, I have stressed out so much about these aspirations, stressed out so much about the destination, and stopped enjoying the journey.
So now, it's about time to enjoy the journey.
And share the journey.
So tomorrow, it's back to blogging.
But tonight? Well tonight, is for sleeping.

x's & o's,
Leslie

Currently listening (literally just came on the radio, but quite fitting I'd say):

When the day is long and the night, and the night is yours alone. When you're sure you've had enough of this life, well hang on. Don't let yourself go, 'cause everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes. Sometimes everything is wrong. Now it's time to sing along. When your day is night alone. If you feel like letting go. When you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on. 'Cause everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends. Everybody hurts. Don't throw your hand. Oh no, Don't throw your hand. If you feel like you're alone, no no no, you are not alone.

Everybody Hurts - R.E.M.

New Years Resolutions...

While I kept approximately 6 of 25 resolutions from 2009, I think twenty ten will have a way higher success rate!

So, since New Years Resolutions are a fave... Here goes!

In twenty ten I will...

...Be more decisive

...Ask more questions

...Be less defensive and more patient

...Read the newspaper daily

...Always have neat, polished nails

And for each week, I am going to make mini resolutions for each of the following:

Heart, Health, Family, Friends, Work

So, here is to a fantastic twenty ten. For one and for all!

x's & o's,

Leslie

New Years Eve!

Fave! Kind of. Though I always anticipate NYE so much that it always feels kind of like a let down, you know?

Anyways, I only have 30 minutes to get this out before rushing to this years NYE extravaganza, so here goes!

To take a page out of my bosses book... Look at us hitting a new decade!

With #10yearsago trending on Twitter, I wanted to take some time (now approx 24 mins. to look back on my last decade. Because twentyten is a big one. Not only is it a new decade, but for me? It's the big 2-5!

So here goes...

Ten years ago, I did not appreciate anything enough.

I did not appreciate the great family I have. The great friends I have. The opportunities that seem to fall into my lap.

Or my flexibility. And no, you're still looking at a pretty high maintenance girl. I mean, literally, my flexibility. If it has taught me nothing else, the past two months of yoga have taught me to appreciate how much easier it was to throw myself into a bridge 15, 10, even 5 years ago!

Ten years ago, I thought I could plan out my life. Complete with two point four kids, a white picket fence and the love of my (high school) life. Ten years ago, I hadn't learned how to love myself, or how to (properly) love others (come to think of it, I'm probably not completely there yet, but I've got some handy clues from the last couple break ups and the living life to the fullest that followed!).

If I could travel back, to ten years ago, with the knowledge I have gained from my past ten years, I am certain I would live life differently. But I'm glad we can't go back. Because I'm proud of the past ten years. I enjoyed the past ten years. I lived them. And I'm going to live the next ten in the same way. Not repeating the same mistakes, but ready to learn from every experience - small or large.

So yes. As always, I have tons of New Years Resolutions, and I am sure I will share them in the light of the new day (year). But for now, I'm just going to appreciate today. Or, more like, tonight!!

So have a happy and safe new years everyone!

x's & o's,

Leslie