Relational Faith

I have spent so much time on my own traveling, hiking, going for meals that independence is my comfort zone. I am able to do what I want when I want, I do not need to worry about the judgements of others asking why I do certain things or giving me any hassle.When I am out in the world on my own I come across fascinating people that I meet just sitting on the beach, standing at a bus stop or in the airport security line.  I love meeting new people because these relationships always start from a clean slate. There are no preconceived notions of how I should act, who I should be or what I should look like. This is when I truly feel most calm and relaxed. However, more and more I feel that to continue to learn about myself and my place in this world I am searching out longer term relationships. Instead of running away when I don't meet eye to eye with someone or I start feeling uncomfortable because I think my independence is getting sucked away I am consciously practicing developing my direct communication and my emotional connection without losing my true self. I have reached a point where solo traveling does not satisfy me like it used to. I now look to travel with loved ones where we can share special moments like an Indian Sunrise, a Hawaiian Sunset or a Galapagos moonrise together while embracing the pure contentness of the present moment. 

I recently spent 10 days traveling with a new friend of only a few moths despite us feeling like soul sisters. It was a great learning experience for me to practice my communication skills. I have a habit of internalizing my true word and running away when I cannot handle it anymore. With my friend I was challenged and inspired to speak my mind. I take what I learned these past 10 days as friends and translate that into a romantic relationship. I feel much more clear about my true personality and what sort of partner I am looking for to compliment me, teach me and allow me to grow. 

My friend said it very well, "In a true relationship you are loving and supporting the one you are with while still honouring your own truth." 

Ebb and Flow

My self image confidence comes in ebbs and flows. I try to rid my negative thoughts through my poetry. This came out this morning...

Upon the city I stare

Looking to leave this place I dare

I search for love and nature

The outdoors is my savior

Feeling beautiful amongst the trees

The forest is all I can see

This is my happy place where I can confidently show my face

I've had it with the judgment I just want to be confident

Without a reason why

As I sit there alone and sigh

I search for love unconditionally knowing that it must first come from me

Naked Ankles

I want to be vulnerable, I want to take a chance and have my heart broken, I want to shed these walls and remove the barriers between myself and another. I put up a front and I have learned to be independent to the point where it inhibits my relationships.

 

A Customer Service Revolution

I am a Travel Advisor dealing in the luxury market. Being of service to others is the platform of our business. It is very rewarding to work with people and bring their travel dreams into a reality. Whatever you want we can arrange it, so don't limit your thoughts. It may only be your bank account that limits you from having that hot air balloon over Cappadocia in Turkey while you propose to your future fiance! Keep dreaming though because I like to think it will happen one day through the power of positive thought.

When we work with clients who are grateful of the services we provide and realistic in terms of quality to price ratio then both parties are happy. I am always completely transparent with my clients on what is going on with their trip because we are working together and doing collaborative travel planning. I want to know my clients on a personal level and build a relationship because travel experiences are meant to be built specific for the client's desires. Everyone is happy when it all goes well but what about when there are complaints? I find when the client's are looking for a transactional agent instead of a transformational agent  then there can be discrepancy's between what the client thought they were getting and what they are in fact getting. This can happen all across the customer service industry (restaurants, hotels, retail clothing to name a few). And it is those people that complain that seem to get "more". The people who complain generally complain often in their life. The "cold soup" is just another avenue for them to get something extra. I'm not sure what is going on with their thoughts but I hope the people who complain are not doing it for a reason such as a free dinner, an upgrade on an airline or complimentary hotel nights.

I recently was talking to two employees from a Luxury Cruise Line who work in the compliants department. They were very kind people and they were able to laugh off some of the conversations they have had with past guests. To that, I salute them. I would find that to be a very tough and heavy job. They told me that each complaint they have gets filed and they make a note of the extra amenities or free cruises they give out to these complainers. Some people have even been blacklisted for complaining too much. The fellow that I was talking to brought up a wonderful point, "Why do the complainers get a free cruise? What about the client's who have booked 50+ cruises with them, what do they get for being so loyal?"

I think it is time to have a Customer Service Revolution. How can we stop rewarding complainers and start rewarding loyal, trustworthy consumers who appreciate our products and service? What would be the repercussions of this approach?

Everyone Everyday

Find humour, love and inspiration in the day to day! View the world with an objective viewpoint and have compassion for all people you come across including yourself. We may have different ranks or titles but our souls have come from and will end up in the same place. As quoted from my friend Andrew Stevens, "true class is the ability to accept everyone as equals". 

Effective Honesty

Everyone deserves honesty. Sometimes we are deceiving with our word because we do not want to "hurt" the person on the other end of the conversation. However in doing this, we have created drama. We think the other person (sorry ahead of time for the quote of a movie line) cannot handle the truth. We think they are not strong enough or they will be upset. However this sort of approach does not give the receiver any moral credit. You have now put them in a 'poor me' category. I believe it is important to spit out the facts, have courage and tell the truth, all the time. No matter what the situation and no matter what 'you think' will be the outcome. TELL THE TRUTH.

I speak of this through experience. I know we have all been in a situation where you just wanted the truth. Since we cannot control what others are going to do or say, in order to make this a reality in my life I have done my best to start living my truth. I speak my feelings, I act accordingly and I let others know what I am thinking. I am not a mind reader and not many of us are. Thinking that others know what we want is only going to end in disappointment. You are not being selfish if you put in your opinion...and don't forget we are all entitled to our own opinion.

Effective honesty is to be used in all situations in life however I am going to take one example in terms of romantic feelings. Romance is an area in our lives where so much drama is created. Situations are dreamt up, expectations are not met and we are all trying to live up to finding "the one". I do not beleive we have just one "soulmate". There are so many people in the world... in our Country, ok wait...in our very own city and neighbour who we are compatible with. I do not believe that if we speak of truth then we are spoiling any magic, actually I think the opposite... truth allows the magic to reveal itself. 

I recently approach a friend with romantic feelings. The feelings were not mutual but I had to put my feelings forth in order to let them go. It was a great decision as now our friendship has developed stronger. I have been able to move past any story I had created in my mind. I often find myself listening to my girlfriends chat about their dating scene and I throw my two cents into the mix about being honest. "Why don't you just tell him the truth?", I'll say. This is received often with a, "No, I could never do that!"

I find that when I am honest, it takes up a lot less of my energy. Living in the city, working in a service industry and exercising daily adds enough stress and strain to my body, I do not need to add stress on my body through created drama. It is important to our mental wellbeing to let our feelings flow instead of bottling them up inside and hoping or wishing that something will come from it.

Connecting Through Visceral Experiences

When we are young we hear the following saying numerous times from adults "Don't talk to strangers". I don't believe I was ever told this as a child because talking with "strangers" is one of my favourite things to do. A few months back I saw a post from Richard Branson writing about the importance of 'Talking to Strangers' and I completely agree. You can never can guess where a simple Hello will take you. I have made so many lifelong friends by just talking to a person who once was a "stranger". It might have been on public transit, at a restaurant, on an airplane or hiking a mountain. I find when I truly commit to the moment it is at this time that I open up. I am not thinking about what I need to cook for dinner, the emails I need to answer once I get to work or the credit card bill that is due tomorrow. I am aware of my surroundings smiling and making eye contact with whomever will accept it. I would like to share a couple of my favourite stories:

1) I was waiting at the Canada Line station and I noticed the only other person waiting for the train. I began talking to him (I told him he looked very handsome...I like to say what is on my mind) and it turns out he was from Liechtenstein. There is only a population of 36,000 in the whole country. The odds of meeting someone from this country is less than winning the lottery! He ended up coming over for family dinner a couples days later. 

2) I was working at a retail store as a greeter. I began talking with a fellow who looked around my age (I think I made a comment about his sunglasses). He just gave off fabulous energy. We exchanged information met up a couple days later and now I have met so many new people through him that I don't what my last year would have been like if I hadn't met him. 

3) I went for a swim in a glacier lake with my sister. As we came out of the water a gentleman came over to us and asked how cold the water was. We began talking and found that we connected instantly. I now have a friend in Missouri!

I understand some people are not as outgoing and will not just start talking to someone they do not know. I believe a trick to meeting people is to keep a sense of that childhood innocence with you. The knowing/thought that all people are good and are doing their best to do 'good' in this world. Children do not judge, they become friends instantly with people because they carry no previous judgement with them as their ego has not developed yet. I met one of my most cherished friends til this day when I was 5 years old. This person has had a tremendous impact on my life and forever will. I truly don't know what my life would be like without her. And it all started when I went over to her on the swings and I said I like your sweater (to add she was wearing a pretty righteous full burgundy roots sweatsuit!).

Meeting new friends does not mean that you give up your old friendships, or that these old friendships are not as important anymore. Building new friendships allows us to cooperate and build connections in a world that can seem lonely at times.