I had the pleasure to join some women last week on what I call a “back-to-rhythm” hike. It was a group of moms that I know through various friends and it was a quick little jaunt up and down La Dôle. A morning out to signal to our mind and body that the school year had begun again and it was time for us moms to get back to more of a rhythm.

This group was of course a group of expat women, some have been here for a long time, others not so long. We managed to cover many topics, and several in depth, as one does when you live this sort of transient life. We were quick to get to the good stuff in a conversation rather than stay on the surface. In this lifestyle we are never certain how long our friends will be living in the area so we make the most of every conversation.




GIVING BACK TO MY COMMUNITY
trulyBalance supports ESCA at the 2014 Dragon Boat Races

   

 

A few weekends ago I took part in the Arc`teryx Chamonix experience. I signed up for Introduction to Glacier safety and hiking on day one. I did not realize at the time that I was going to have to climb down a succession of rather long ladders (250m worth to be exact) that are bolted to a shear rock face. 

You must also move from one ladder to the next on a rocky lip that is not as wide as a boot, or barely. There are rails to clip to as you move along to the next ladder. Going down I seemed quite fine, even though being a past sufferer of vertigo. I did belay the first two ladders but then felt fine and went the rest of way ropeless. On our return, after a day on the glacier and trying out various techniques for scaling ice walls above a glacial river, we had to ascend these ladders. This is when my mind went a little wobbly. 

 

Last week we had world “Happiness” day, which coincided with the first day of Spring. Spring is a time of new beginnings and it would be a new beginning if the world was truly happy. In my Reiki training I have experienced Shamanism, as my Reiki teacher is also a Shaman. In Shamanism they believe that the energy from out thoughts impacts a web of energy that surrounds earth (I am really simplifying this). The belief is that we all impact the state of world happiness and peace.

So what makes people happy? There are several list floating around on what makes people happy. I think this is personal for most of us. Over the next few blogs I will touch on as many of these “happiness lists” that I can. I will start with my personal favorites. These are attitudes and actions that have helped me be able to keep a positive spin on most experiences that have come my way.