Look around you and you will see some amazing things happening

These are just a few examples of amazing people in my circle embracing change, having fun and making the most of this time. They inspire me, and they remind me to live in the “now” because we don’t know what tomorrow will hold for us. So after some internal debate, a few bottles of wine and some solid pep talks from friends I decided to go for it.  I launched this blog and I am tailoring it to what’s happening here and now. Take a look at your circle of friends and family and I bet you’ll see some pretty amazing things too.  And I believe there’s no reason why you can’t be a part of it. If I can redirect my life while self-isolating in my little townhouse with my cactus and a bottle of tequila then so can you. (Feel free to switch to tea, wine, a jalapeno cucumber margarita… whatever your go-juice is.)

So how DO you know it’s the right time to start something new?

I don’t think there’s ever really a perfect time, because I believe in continual personal growth. I always have at least one project on the go, usually more than a few if I’m being frank.  At this moment I have 3 main projects, 4 books and a TV series on the go. Don’t even get me started on how many browser tabs I have open in Chrome. That being said, this is a unique time across the world where a lot of outside distractions have slowed down, or stopped. This could be an ideal time to really evaluate where you are in your life and figure out what’s missing.

When you look 5 years into your future what do you hope it will look like? Close your eyes and picture your ideal future. What job do you hope to have? Where do you hope to live? What do you hope to have achieved? Use that hope to decide what you need to do now in order to bring it to fruition. Then make a plan.

Just don’t wait too long! Lockdown restrictions are starting to ease in select areas around the world and this pause may be coming to an end soon if we can move forward carefully and responsibly. I hope you’ll look back at this time with bittersweet feelings knowing you made the best of a tough and bizarre situation. Most importantly I hope you’ll look back and remember this time as the break you needed in order to launch yourself towards something greater.

And look, if you’re already at the point where you are doing everything you can –  I get it. The stress we are under right now is tremendous and some people are struggling more than others. If it’s already taking every ounce of strength you have to show up for the day then be kind to yourself. This isn’t a productivity contest. The last thing I want is for you to add more stress to your life because this is about making life better, not harder.

My hope for the future is to live a happy, balanced and adventure filled life. I want to have more time with my family and friends, I want to see the world, and I want to work for myself doing things that make me happy. I hope that I can be proud of who I become in 5 years time and help other people get there too.  In short this blog is the start of a much bigger plan in action, and I hope you will be a part of it.

What can you do from home?

Personal growth can mean something different to everyone. Whether you want to work on your goals, life balance, learning new skills or finding new ways to express yourself there are infinite possibilities. I put together the list below to give you some inspiration on what you can do now from the comfort of your own home. Best of all a lot of these options are quite cheap and some are even free. So have fun!

• Learn a new language. Check out my favourite language app Duolingo. It’s how I started learning Spanish… well that, and trying to impress a cute Spanish Officer on one of my ships.
• Go back to school. Colleges and Universities have dramatically increased their online options for certificates and degrees.
• Learn to sing or dance with online lessons.
• Upgrade your business skills with online certificates.
• Write the book you’ve always dreamed of.
• Volunteer with a local organization like Food Banks Canada, or Kids Help Phone.
• Get healthier by creating a healthy meal and exercise plan.
• Try out new recipes or learn to cook something new! There are thousands of cooking shows, blogs and YouTube Channels to check out.
• Start a Blog (or maybe just subscribe to a new one hint, hint)
• Take up a new hobby like painting, sewing, pottery or gardening.
• Redecorate your house. Most home reno stores have online ordering and curbside pickup so you can transform your home.
• Update your landscaping. Make your backyard an oasis you can escape to – no plane ticket needed!
• Start a YouTube Channel.
• Start a Podcast.
• Learn to play an instrument. YouTube and sites like Udemy have oodles of tutorials.