Chasing Dreams

Woooo hoooo!!!! I passed the National Knowledge Exam for my Canadian Human Resources Professional Certification. After 5 years of courses, studying, papers, reading texts books, group assignments and all that jazz, it is finally over or maybe just begun. Now I admit if I hadn’t sold all my text books so I could get to Vancouver, before I actually needed them to study for the exam I probably would have passed with more then 1% room for error. Either way I passed!!!!

Dave Thomas, Sir Richard Branson, The Wright Brothers, Walt Disney, Quentin Tarantino, Johnny Depp, Nicholas Cage, Jim Carrey, Christina Aguilera, John Travolta, Chris Rock, Tom Petty, Mary Kay Ash, Halle Berry, Michael Dell, Henry Ford, Bill Gates, Rachel Ray, John D. Rockefeller Sr., and Steven Spielberg.

So what do all these people have in common.  I will get to that later.

Well I have been doing some thinking about my own dreams and what it will take to get to them.  Currently I am a student working on getting some skills I think are important to make the next step in the process.  I do believe that any time you have an opportunity to learn, be it in an academic setting or from the school of life you must embrace those moments.

A story that relates to where I am going with this.   During “Return of the King” Arogon is told to set aside the ranger embrace his true self as King of Gondor.  The role of king was both a right because of birth and also the time spent developing the necessary abilities to be king.

My wrestle really comes to the need to feel qualified through vast knowledge vs passion to accomplish some major tasks.  Does anyone else wrestle with this one?  The truth is everyone wrestles with the fear of the unknown.  It’s funny I have been going through the photos I took at the games in preparation for a photo exhibit at the St. Thomas Public Library (which I am thrilled for) and I was flooded with so many great memories.  From one little step of buying a one way ticket to Vancouver (which Adam reminded me scared me something fierce) has led to photos on the front page of the news paper, creation of my book 23 Seconds, to the photo exhibit.  It only took the first step of actually moving forward on a crazy adventure.  With all this said I am beginning to plan my next steps and let’s see what happens.

Oh what they have in common is that they either dropped out of high school or have no formal training in there chosen path just sheer desire.

You have to love those experiences reserved only for that great time of the year.   Those experiences were you look forward to them all day at work.  Those experiences that you can plan for weeks or just let happen spontaneously.  Those experiences that you allow to linger and you talk about for several days after.  I am of course talking about the process of having every meal prepared on the bbq.

I filled up the bbq 2 weeks ago.  I think I have had 10 meals so far from it.  I enjoy the fact that I can walk to Foodland and get something to throw on the bbq.  So far the selection has included ribs, chicken, pork chops, veal, steaks, sausages, squirrel, and of course hamburgers.  Anyways just wanted throw it out there bbq is the best way to make food.  I am going to try and make Kraft Dinner at some point this summer.  What is every one’s favorite bbq memory?

After a long pursuit I caught up to the flame

Have you every felt like a 00 agent?  I sure did tonite.  I had sat watching the opening like 23 million others watching it on TV.  Ashley and Daryl had been talking with via texts all night long.  Well when Gretzky was about to leave for the outside cauldron, I received an urgent message.  It read your mission should you choose to accept it is find “The Great One” and photograph his mission as proof of his success.  Knowing I was the only agent in the area I was off like a flash.  Engaging in a full out sprint I took off in pursuit of “The Great One”.  My cell was beeping every secound with an update of his where abouts via the satellite tracking system being monitored by agent “BeLoveServe”.  Gasping for breath, I made contact with my handler by calling to get a better grasp of how to find this “The Great One”.  “BeLoveServe” informed me that a helicopter was on it’s way to pick me up to transport me to the rendezvous local.  This shut is the after I jumped out of the helicopter and used this flag as a parachute.

Outside Hockey House

Well here we go, Canada, this is our game, in our back yard.  Gold is the only acceptable result.

I am looking forward to adding a new Hockey Canada Memory and Favorite Player.  For me I have a few memories that stand out.  The 1996 World Cup (if you ask what is that don’t worry it’s Bettman’s brain child that is hard to find) and a goalie named Cujo was dominate in goal.  Now a high stick goal by Bret Hull (I am biased but it’s my site so I can say whatever I want   ) may have deprived us of a win but definitely started my love of Canadian hockey.

So audiance particapation time.  What is your favorite hockey memory? Who is your most beloved player who dawned their county’s jersey?

A view of the village

Anyone up for Russia in 2014?

Cool shot I saw

For my next trick I will blow this balloon to a size of 6 feet, then put myself in to it.  Well now I have seen everything.  The crowds loved this act.  Nothing is funnier then watching a guy dance with a 6 foot balloon on his head.

Today was a day filled with street performing.  I watched another guy performing card tricks. His tricks were alright but his ability to interact with the crowd was amazing.  He had a very sharp British wit to him.  Using the cow bell I bought earlier in the day I did my part when he needed noise from the crowd.  “I need more cowbell” he would yell to me.  My favorite part is when he was trying a stunt with a metal spike and was going to drive it in to his head, which could mean his certain doom, I rang the bell very loud.  He turned to me and said you would want that you sick bastard.  LOL.

I also took in some delightful music from a woman named Tracy who was singing on the street.  It was nice to take a few moments and just slisten to someone wear thier heart on thier sleeve.

Starbucks was the perfect way to finish the evening off. My friend Karrie, had given me a gift card so I thought now was as good time as any to start using it.  What I enjoyed about my iced tea was just the moment it allowed me to purposefully slow down for 30 mins and think about what is I want to experience here in Vancouver and what I am going to bring back.

Day 2

Well here we go.  The torch is getting really close now.  It was interesting seeing the difference in 2 torch relay celebration (Richmond and St. Thomas) I would say that even though Richmond was 3 times the size, they both were about the same in excitement factor.   The cool thing was seeing Rick run in the torch.

I also saw some of the venues today.  You can see people doing a lot of work these last few days to get the city ready.  Seeing the energy explode when the torch got to Richmond last night I can only imagine what it will be like when the games begin.

Yesterday I was able to gaze upon the lives of two great men who lived their own dreams to the fullest.  They were Terry Fox and Rick Hansen.  As I walked through the BC Sports Museum, I took my time through both of their exhibits and really soaked in what it meant what they accomplished.

Let’s start with Terry.  A young man at 19 who finds out he has cancer and decides that he won’t let that get him down. He decides that he will raise awareness of cancer and help fund the research to find a cure by running “The Marathon of Hope”.  The distance he ran every day is something that even the most seasoned runner can’t do.

As I read over a copy of the letter he sent to business looking for donations you see a youthfulness in the way he asks for support.  It is not a flashy fundraising campaign but just a guy asking for help for something he believes in.  I don’t think Terry could have ever imagined what his dream would become.  Thanks to Terry there have been numerous developments for the fight against cancer.  I am glad he started it because I know that extra time we got to spend with Nani before she succumbed to cancer can be attributed to him.  She would have been thrilled for me going on this trip because she always wanted to come out west to Vancouver.  When I do get to the beach to see the ocean I will definitely take a moment to remember all the great times I had with her.

The amazing thing about Terry Fox is that he never gave up.  He still believed that when he stopped in Thunder Bay it was only temporarily a set back and not the end of his journey. It is that spirit that pushes millions of Canadians to continue on the work he started.

Rick Hansen showed the world that there are no limits to people. 30 years ago he set out on “The Man in Motion” tour to raise awareness about people with spinal cord injuries and how being in a wheel chair does not take away from life.  Over the years he has worked hard for the benefit of others.  I was glad to see him light the caldron last night.  That is what the Olympics are about.  The Para Olympics ironically enough end on what would be the 30^th anniversary of the start of The Man in Motion tour.

Like I said seeing how these 2 great men lived their dreams was very inspiring.

How many people do something they really believe in? I wish people would realize that anything is possible – dreams are made if people try – Terry Fox

If you believe in a dream, and have the courage to try, anything is possible. – Rick Hansen

Rick with Torch at Richmond

Yesterday I was able to gaze upon the lives of two great men who lived their own dreams to the fullest.  They were Terry Fox and Rick Hansen.  As I walked through the BC Sports Museum, I took my time through both of their exhibits and really soaked in what it meant what they accomplished.

Let’s start with Terry.  A young man at 19 who finds out he has cancer and decides that he won’t let that get him down. He decides that he will raise awareness of cancer and help fund the research to find a cure by running “The Marathon of Hope”.  The distance he ran every day is something that even the most seasoned runner can’t do.

As I read over a copy of the letter he sent to business looking for donations you see a youthfulness in the way he asks for support.  It is not a flashy fundraising campaign but just a guy asking for help for something he believes in.  I don’t think Terry could have ever imagined what his dream would become.  Thanks to Terry there have been numerous developments for the fight against cancer.  I am glad he started it because I know that extra time we got to spend with Nani before she succumbed to cancer can be attributed to him.  She would have been thrilled for me going on this trip because she always wanted to come out west to Vancouver.  When I do get to the beach to see the ocean I will definitely take a moment to remember all the great times I had with her.

The amazing thing about Terry Fox is that he never gave up.  He still believed that when he stopped in Thunder Bay it was only temporarily a set back and not the end of his journey. It is that spirit that pushes millions of Canadians to continue on the work he started.

Rick Hansen showed the world that there are no limits to people. 30 years ago he set out on “The Man in Motion” tour to raise awareness about people with spinal cord injuries and how being in a wheel chair does not take away from life.  Over the years he has worked hard for the benefit of others.  I was glad to see him light the caldron last night.  That is what the Olympics are about.  The Para Olympics ironically enough end on what would be the 30^th anniversary of the start of The Man in Motion tour.

Like I said seeing how these 2 great men lived their dreams was very inspiring.

How many people do something they really believe in? I wish people would realize that anything is possible – dreams are made if people try – Terry Fox

If you believe in a dream, and have the courage to try, anything is possible. – Rick Hansen

Rick with Torch at Richmond

Wow!! This city is Beautiful!!!

Look for more posts later on tonite about BC Sports Museum, Some interesting people I met on the street and of course the Torch coming to Richmound.

Well that was a fun day.  More like sensory overload.  It still really hasn’t set in to me that I finally made.

There is so much to take in.  I am not finding the city busy yet.  However you do sense there is a buzz about what is about to come.  Something interest that crossed my path was this sword shop that teaches you how to sword fight. www.swordplay.com I think I may swing (and yes I am using a play on words) by at some point and take a workshop on sword fighting.  Also have to say that the free sample of a muffin at Bon Chaz was very much appreciated.

Turns out when you are getting the direction to home you should pay better attention. So I may not have actually heard the house number or street name as to where I was staying when my host went on to do her own thing.  “Oh ya I know where I am going and don’t need to write it down”  Well walked for 10 mins the wrong direction then turned around walked the 20 mins to the street I should have found then walked by the house by about 20 mins then realized I was by it and had to walk back.  Up note now know where the house is and every thing in the neighbour hood.

I am excited to go to Richmound today to see the torch arrive.  The St. Thomas experience was amazing.  This is going to be 10X as cool.  Rick Hanson is lighting the caldron at Richmound so that will be amazing to see a man who accomplished so much.

Well I am off for the day to continue living the dream,
Brian

Well today I thought I would start this Journey off with an exploration of the Northwest Territories Pavilion.  It was an interesting experience.

There was a presentation on the Northern Lights.  The science was really intriguing on how the northern lights works.  www.astronomynorth.com was the site for the speaker on how the science works.

northern lights

A collection of shots from the plane.

Hard to believe I did this earlier today.

Have you seen them yet? You know those great looking mittens that everyone is wearing.  Those bright red mittens that are all the rage.  It is the way that most people are choosing to embrace the spirit of the games. Seriously.  I sat in a Timmies the other day and counted 6 pepople in an hour and half come in wearing those same mittons.  Take some time and count how many people you see during a day wearing the mittens.  You will be amazed on how many people have them.

WOOOOHOOOO!!!!!

Here we go, the goals for this coming year. It’s always been said you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take so I will lay out my ideas and hopes.

Vancouver
Experience the Games to their fullest
Share those experiences through chasingdreams.ca, a book, and speaking engagements

Pursue Thought Provoking Challenges
I want to end the year having grown through various challenges (no point in doing stuff I already can do) and be stretched in different manners of reflection and thought.

Academically
Finish off Career Counseling program by taking last 2 courses
Write the CHRP exam
Enroll in the program at Brock in Sept

Be in a position to buy a house in 2011 – This also could be move my van down by the river as well

Find true love

Continue in the process of maintaining a healthy life style and better mange a balance in life

Develop deeper relationships with the people in my life

Win my fantasy baseball league

Check off a few more ball parks off the list

See something breath taking

and  Say What I Need to Say

Plus whatever else I come with from here on out.
Carpe Diem