Dear Sis,

Well here I am, at week two of being home from Bali.  I still feel different.   It is all a state of mind.  For the last so many years I have been personally working to get to this place.  Joyful.  The best part is that there is no going back.

Recently I heard someone describe a soulful holiday as a, ” Delicious Experience.” That is exactly how I would describe my time in Bali.    It is the layers of energy with all the different cultures, languages, food,  colours, smells, sunshine.   In that kind of diversity, everyone is free.

I am going through my days now, more comfortable with whom I am.    I actually believe to get to a place of true bliss,  one needs to really bond with their inner being.  It is moving yourself to a place where the only thing that matters is feeling good.  It is also very important to not worry about what other people think.  Do what is best for you.

One also needs to create their own experiences.  There are adventures everywhere.  “Always look outward and ahead.”

Saying no has always been difficult for me.  I have always been a “people pleaser”.   While I was in Bali, I worked on setting boundaries.  There were several invites I declined as I simply wanted to purchase my peanut butter caramel salted gelato and wander down to the beach.  It was such a feeling of freedom.  When you realize this, life becomes so much easier.

Someone asked if I was going to continue blogging when I returned from Bali.  I responded, “Absolutely.”  I remember when I first started blogging I thought, “What am I going to write about?”   Well if one pays attention in this world, there are endless stories surrounding you.   Just because you feel you are living the same day over and over, you have the potential of making those same experiences more enriching each time.  You have the power to do that.  You control how you feel.

When I was in Bali, I received such a kind note from Lynn, the wife of Simon, a past friend of mine from my CP/Fairmont days.  Simon and I worked together at Chateau Whistler and then we both moved to the Waterfront Hotel.   He is known for his sense of humour and sarcasm.  Everyone likes Simon.

In April 2015,  cardiac defibrillation during gym work out (cause for heart stoppage never ascertained) suffered prolonged lack of oxygen.   Three weeks later MRI confirmed anoxic brain injury with 0% chance of meaningful recovery.

The last time I saw Simon was in November 2014.  We all danced together at the 25 year Chateau Whistle reunion.  How quickly everything can change.

Simon is now confined to a bed or wheelchair.  He is 100% reliant on aid for all daily activities.  There are days he can’t say a word, other days just a few.

I remember meeting Lynn in the past however we have never been in touch personally.  Lynn mentioned how she saw my blog noted on Simon’s FB page.  She starting reading them and she said that so much of what I write resonates with her.  She said, “I lost the husband I new but on the flip side my relationship feels so much richer now, and focused on what really matters.”

When I asked Lynn if she would read some of my blogs to Simon, she said yes.  After her visit with him one day she sent me this note,  “Well, just leaving my visit with Si, he nodded in recognition of your name, I read him our messages which he seemed moved by (he kept squeezing my hand when I got choked up) and I told him the background to your blog.  Asked if he wanted to hear any of the stories, nodded yes, started with your 12 hour tour and decided to save the rest for later.  A calm fell over him, he loves listening to stories so I think your blog is going to be a regular for us”.

Simon, how nice knowing that as I continue to write you will be following along the way.  I will try to be as entertaining as possible because I know you like to laugh 🙂

The picture below was taken at the Chateau Whistler reunion.  I love this picture of you Simon, Kerri, John and Bill.   Not sure if you know that John and I have stayed very close friends since our Whistler days and I think you know Kerri has remained one of my besties.  And Bill, we all love Bill.

Lynn, when you sent me this note, “I too have found that being open, real, honest and authentic about the journey it has brought wonderful people and their stories into our lives”,  it made me smile.

We cannot plan as to how our life will unfold.  But we can plan or choose to be happy.  I also believe one needs to live their life with gratitude.

This is one of my favourite quotes….

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.  It can turn a meal info a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

Thank you Lynn for reaching out…and Simon I hope to see you back on the dance floor!!! xo

I love you sis,

Kathy xo