That’s what I texted my brother after attending The Minimalists’ “Everything That Remains” Tour at Shelf Life Books in Calgary. Belief is a strong word and almost gives ‘minimalism’ its own dogma. In some ways, I think it’s a truth that results in a happier and more peaceful state of being.
Minimalism is all about getting rid of the physical stuff that does not add value to one’s life.
It’s a lifestyle that clears the clutter, leaving room for health, relationships, and passions.
Chris Guillebeau of “The Art of Non-Conformity” and creator of the World Domination Summit. Photo: Armosa Studios / Chris Guillebeau
inspiration [inspəˈrāSHən], noun: the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative
A few months ago I was feeling fairly blah in my job. As a statistical analyst in rheumatoid and osteoarthritis research, there’s always something new to learn, but a sense of complacency seemed to seep into my day-to-day work spirit. What if there were other paths to take? If there are many people travelling the world and making a living abroad, or even while doing the 9 to 5, then surely I could work my way toward a similar goal, right? I took to the interwebs, and perhaps I Googled how to not conform because somehow I landed upon a book called The Art of Non-Conformity, by Chris Guillebeau. The premise: don’t live your life the way others expect. It’s something that I know logically, but reading this book re-emphasized that I really could do what my heart desired, even if that meant having to take an unconventional approach. I highly recommend the read! By happenstance, I stumbled upon an event in Portland, Oregon called The World Domination Summit (WDS), also created by Chris. It’s a bold title. I didn’t really know what it was about, but it looked awesome! So I signed up. Continue reading “World Domination Summit: An Inspiration Punch to the Face”
Jadah Sellner of Simple Green Smoothies. Photo: Armosa Studios / Chris Guillebeau
“Take Imperfect Action”– Jadah Sellner
One of my favourite talks of the World Domination Summit 2014 was by a woman named Jadah Sellner, the co-founder of Simple Green Smoothies (www.simplegreensmoothies.com). At one point, her and her husband were living pay cheque to pay cheque and both had multiple jobs to provide for their family. Jadah had the entrepreneurial drive but a few businesses failed to take off. When she gained weight due to stress, she began drinking kale and spinach smoothies each day. She felt better. She felt healthier. And she wanted to help others benefit from her recipes. Fast forward less than 2 years later, Simple Green Smoothies is empowering hundreds of thousands of people to put their health first. It takes determination and perseverance to make your dreams happen. Jadah’s wise words were delivered in 3 ideas: Continue reading ““Take Imperfect Action” – Jadah Sellner”
A gorgeous view. I’m pretty sure that sharp peak is Mount Potts.
Looking for an Awesome Scramble in Kananaskis? Try Opal Ridge!
For some reason, the south peak of Opal Ridge is a scramble I had forgotten about, so when a friend suggested we hike it, I was total on board. Four of us headed to the Fortress Junction Service Station on Highway 40 in Kananaskis and geared up, ready for a long day. From the north side of the parking lot, we headed north through the grass and crossed over the drainage creek to start the ascent on trail that leads to the top (Note: You want to be on the left side, or north, of the drainage as you ascend). This one has it all: a steep ascent, loose and large rocks on which to scramble, lovely wildflowers, a grassy meadow before the last push (equipped with the perfect rock on which to have lunch!), and then a final hike up to the south peak with views of the surrounding valleys and mountains that will leave you breathless. As an added bonus, you can scree down parts of the descent. Squeee for the scree! Photos don’t do it justice, but it’ll give a pretty good idea of the awesomeness to expect. Continue reading “Opal Ridge (South Peak): In Photos”
In January, I made a declaration that I would achieve “Elite status” with a frequent flyer rewards program at some point in 2014. At the time, I wasn’t sure what that would look like or how I’d get there. Would I focus my efforts on Aeroplan and increase my points there? Do I fast track to Star Alliance Gold via Aegean Airlines’ Miles & Bonus? And once I achieved some sort of status, what does that mean exactly? Continue reading “Aeroplan: On My Way to Elite!”