I am off today for ten days surrounded by the reds and golds and umber of autumn leaves falling in eastern Canada. C.C. and I are catching a noon plane to Ottawa and then travelling 2 hours west to Barry’s Bay where we will spend the week by the lake.

I am happy.

I am worried.

The timing is not the best. In fact, it probably couldn’t be much worse. A website launch for Calgary Counselling Centre set for October 1. Organizing for National Depression Screening Day — both the Day itself and a morning breakfast co-sponsored with the Calgary Chamber with the Mayor and various dignitaries in attendance and a panel of 3 speakers set to kick it all off– yup. really bad timing.

But… this is an annual trek for C.C. and me. A week with dear friends in their summer home along the lake. A week to kick-back and just be in the presence of friends — good times, food, conversation, wine. They’ve got a dinner with their neighbours planned for us, a day of traipsing through art studios during the community Art Walk. Boat rides. Reading. Relaxing. And, oh yes, keeping up with my emails and such.

It cannot be avoided. Taking my laptop so that I have access to my Counselling Centre desktop. It is important.

When faced with a choice, decision or opportunity always choose in favour of your passion — and my passion is to do my best. In this case, my work at the Counselling Centre takes precedence. I can’t ignore it — too much rides on ensuring the events go off without a hitch.

Choosing to feel stressed won’t help. Choosing to let anxiety override both my holiday plans and my decision to stay connected to the office won’t make me feel better — in fact, it will just make me feel worse.

And so,  I breathe into the moment and choose to take my laptop knowing I am committed to checking in every morning with the office and then be present to the world around me the rest of the day.

Sometimes, the choices we make need to be centered on creating harmony — in spite of the chaos and busy-ness. For me, that means accepting, it is important I fulfill on my commitment to the Centre and it is important I am present with C.C. and my friends.

which means, I choose how I turn up — with anxiety or with harmony.

I choose harmony.

So much better to create harmony in my life than discord.

So much better to be accepting of what is than to be consumed by what I’d wished it to be and isn’t.

I am off on a holiday this week. Being present. Being at rest is important. And, to be at rest I know I must be conscious of my commitments here. I have a great team pulling the final details together. And, I am responsible for supporting them as best I can to ensure they know — I am committed to their excellence too.

How I look at things always makes a difference.

Choosing harmony over discord is always my favourite path to making the difference in my life be one of grace and ease.

And… I’ll be checking in here, writing every day and sharing photos of the changing leaves and my awareness of the world around me — and the difference I see in every day. Tomorrow is Heroes in Our Midst and on Sunday, Jodi Lobozzo Aman from Heal Now and Forever Be In Peace will be the guest blogger — exciting times await! Hope you’re along to enjoy them too!

Namaste.