Michelle Candland

We’re all beautiful in our own way –

My husband and I recently had the opportunity to visit the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador.  It was an amazing experience that allowed us to see animals and volcanic formations that have been around for thousands of years.  One particular critter in abundance was the Marine Iguana … it wasn’t the most attractive creature I’ve ever seen, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right?

It reminded me that first, we all need to be comfortable in our own skin, and second, we should all respect others for the skin they’re in.  The Iguanas were everywhere, lounging along the black volcanic rock, posed proudly, soaking up the sun.  The males were very protective of their territory and the females were being very selective about the “One” they allowed into their space.  Much like people!

I left with a new found awareness of “self”, a deep respect for nature and a burning desire to do lots more exploring of places off the beaten path.  Get out and enjoy!

Do you feel like you’re under water?  Sometimes there’s so much going on around us we become weighed down by the lack of prioritizing.  All it takes is a few minutes to sit down, take a breath    and make a list (yes, on paper) of all the things, large and small, you need to get done.  Then put a number beside each item based on it’s level of urgency.  “1” is the most urgent –  don’t confuse urgent with important – some things are certainly important but they can wait a day or a week, while others are urgent and time sensitive.   Then arrange your list by number and voile’, you have your priorities!  Now put your list where you can refer to it and start checking things off as you accomplish them – the checking off part is it’s own kind of reward.

Don’t forget to come up for air once in a while – there’s nothing wrong with giving yourself a break between tasks… just don’t get distracted for too long.  Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Just when you think you’ve figured out your path and you’re building momentum, you encounter all sorts of curves, obstacles and distractions and before you know it, you can’t see the forest for the trees. We all become sidetracked from time to time; some for a blink of an eye and others for what seems like an eternity. In either case, the secret for getting back on track is very similar – stop moving, take a conscientious accounting of where you’ve been and where you are, refocus on your goals and point yourself forward. Take one step at a time – no need to rush. You can even give yourself permission to enjoy your distractions; it’s amazing what you can learn when you’re not trying! At the end of the day, it’s really all about the journey isn’t it? After all, if our paths were straight and predictable, we would be bored in a hurry.

I’ve been meandering for a while and now I’m back on my path – the scenery was great along the way but I’m anxious to arrive at my next destination and plot my future adventures. Where is the new year going to take you?

What brings you joy? Not necessarily the “I hear symphonies” kind of joy; the kind that puts a smile on your face when you weren’t trying – the kind that brings a tear to your eye as the instant comes and goes – the kind that surrounds you like a bubble of happiness. Joy isn’t something you go searching for like an Easter egg – it’s something that finds you when you put yourself in a receptive frame of mind, a feeling that pours over you when you put yourself in an environment conducive to positive energy. Joy is a gift some are given often and a treasure that eludes so many more on a daily basis. I choose to find joy (or joy finds me) in places and things that some people might consider trivial – orioles visiting the garden in the morning, a grand child’s hug, or simply sitting next to my best friend and husband at the end of the day holding hands. I spent a fair amount of time in my past in physical and emotional places surrounded by negativity or fear, places joy avoided like a fever. Once I made some conscious decisions to change my focus, change my environment, upgrade my self worth and celebrate my existence, joy became a frequent visitor, and for that, I remain grateful. Find your place where joy feels welcome!

Have you ever taken the time to actually read the wrappers of the food you eat? A number of products are more than just nutrition or sheer satisfaction; they’re also little snippets of wisdom wrapped around organic something or others – take for example the message on a Clif Energy Bar penned by Gary, the founder and Owner of the company. He talks about trekking in Nepal and associating the climb to business and life – “each campsite is a beautiful destination in itself – not simply a means to an end” … and how about some of my favorites that appear on the inside of the Dove chocolate wrappers , which by the way I have taped to the bottom of my computer screen – “Find your passion” and “Be fearless.” They call the messages Promises Messages – like promises you make to yourself. It doesn’t matter where you find your inspiration – just get inspired! About life, about people, about giving back, about making a difference, doing your part, being present. I believe we’re all on this earth for a reason – we all have a gift and we all have something to contribute. We may not know exactly what our purpose is but we should all embrace the concept that our gift matters. Whatever your gift may be, don’t waste it!

Good Enough Accumulates!
My husband and I recently built a garden – that’s the precursor to actually planting a garden. The ground around our home is filled with rocks and it made more sense to build something above ground than to punish ourselves by trying to dig out all the rocks; we began with purchasing all the lumber – redwood of course, because we wanted it to last as long as possible, then we ordered a load of amended soil so the plants would have a fighting chance of surviving and then began the construction. My husband had the plans all arranged in his mind and began measuring and cutting and I became the carpenter’s helper. We started at one end and occasionally a joint wasn’t quite tight, a length of lumber was just a smidgen short, the ground was a little uneven but the thought was, what the heck, it’s just a garden. As we continued to assemble the pieces it became more apparent that those little “oh wells” at the front of the project were quickly becoming “what the heck happened here’s?” and by the time we got to the gate, we were a good three inches off! It confirmed one of life’s lessons we have all experienced at one time or another – good enough accumulates – it reminded me that no matter what we do, we should be striving for the best we can muster from the very beginning. Settling, in any situation will always produce a less than desired result whether it’s building a garden, starting a career, finding a partner, being a parent or whatever you’re working on at the time. Good better best, never let it rest until the good is better and the better best!

Last weekend culminated a year of planning, working, organizing and sacrificing by many people in order to make a 2-½ day event come to life. Rotary Club 33 has been hosting 80-90 high school juniors for the past 35 years for lunch, then busing them to the mountains for two days of speakers, presentations, breakout sessions, entertainment, a talent show, outdoor recreation, all topped off with a competition between teams of nine students each – it’s called Camp Enterprise. They not only came up with their own unique business but they learned how to develop a business plan, create a financial projection, select a management team and dream up a marketing strategy. I have been fortunate enough to be a part of this effort for many years and as difficult as it may seem, it just keeps getting better. The students are smart, creative, motivated and quickly acclimate to their task at hand. The goal is to help students understand the positive side of business, help them to appreciate the work that is required to start and operate a business and build the confidence they will need to be the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Those of us who have had the privilege of working on this committee over the years have truly been the winners; we have all learned something new, been encouraged by the potential of those who hold our future in their hands, enjoyed the fellowship of our Rotarian friends and know in our hearts that we’ve made a difference in the lives of the students who came to camp. Some of the students have never been away from home, some are from exclusive private schools, some are from low income urban schools and some are nervous or apprehensive. All are strangers when they arrive yet when they board the buses to head home, there is seldom a dry eye to be found. Hugs are exchanged along with email addresses, telephone numbers and promises to stay in touch. I’ll take a breather for a week or two and then it’s time to get back to the drawing board and begin planning for next year’s camp – I can’t wait!

I recently attended the 12^th annual “In The Company of Women” luncheon, proceeds from which go to benefit Becky’s House, Passages and the Cortez Hill Family Center, all programs of the YWCA of San Diego County.  It brings together a melting pot of about 800-900 women (and a scattering of brave men) to celebrate an individual’s journey from victim to survivor and educate the audience on how they can help.  This year’s keynote speaker was Leslie Morgan Steiner , author of “Crazy Love”, a powerful memoir chronicling her story of a highly educated woman, her whirlwind fantasy courtship, and her years as a severely abused spouse.  Her message included a strong plea to everyone – don’t keep secrets – if you’re threatened, leave!  And be a friend and confident to others to help keep them safe.  The theme of this year’s luncheon was “Supporting Hands” – reach out for them or be one of them.

Although my physical wounds didn’t compare to Leslie’s, my emotional health was on life support more than once.  If only I had felt comfortable enough with those around me, if only I could have reached out for help without fear of embarrassment or shame, my path could very well have been different.  My message echoes Leslie’s – be an unconditional friend, be in tune with yourself and others, be there to listen (not judge) or  help if called upon; avoid the safe excuse of “I don’t want to get involved” – it could save someone’s life.