A little while ago I photocopied a number of my favourite quotes and hung them from my bookcases. The idea was to be able to turn my head and get a blast of inspiration whenever I needed it. I had everyone from Thoreau to Emerson to Helen Keller urging me to be the best I can be. The quote above from Tagore caused a friend of mine to smile quizzically. Maybe he was picturing me in a skirt that was wildly flapping in the wind. While I appreciate his skewed sense of humour, having one myself, I think Tagore was offering a lyrically powerful message.

He is suggesting that "grace", or as one author called it "unmerited divine assistance" is available to us all the time if we would just stop to heed it's presence. I had occasion today to witness an act of grace.

During the creation of this website I was under the impression that life would stop until I was finished. The venue I had tentatively booked for my first public speaking event had, in my absence from the "real" world, been taken by other presenters. When I learned of this today my first reaction was to lay my head on the keyboard and moan, "why". My second act was to put on my sneakers, take the book I was reading (Norman Vincent Peale's "The Power of Positive Living") and head to the nearby park to read and think.

I returned home, logged on and went into the site of a wonderfully motivating speaker Dr. Elaine Dembe who will be presenting at this weekend's Lifefest at the Metro Convention Centre. The website I accessed was not hers though. Mistakenly I opened another one that had to do with public speaking. So I read and and in the course of reading wondered if this organization could help me find a new venue for my first speech. I wrote a short, polite note asking for advice and then logged this exercise in my mind as, "well, I did something anyway". A couple of hours later I received a reply from the CEO of the public speaking organization. Her gracious response and generous advice lifted my spirits and humbled me. She invited me to call her if I had any further questions and I will do exactly that.

When I sat in the park today and lifted my face to the sun, I was also silently asking for help. The winds of grace accompanied me home and because I was open to inspiration, the help I had been seeking found me.

So raise your sails and be prepared to travel where the winds of grace take you. If you're willing to step off the path you're on and take another, you may still end up where you are going.

I am dedicating my first blog to my family and friends. I thought about starting off with some lofty observations or a highly spiritual treatise on enlightenment; but, there's always tomorrow for that.

Instead I want to give thanks to everyone who supported my desire to create for myself a happier, more meaningful life. My greatest joy has always been the "people" in my life. My Dad was the one who taught me how to "dream"; my Mom was the one who showed me how to live a dream with grace and joy; and my sister has within her the same burning desire to live a life of purpose and to dedicate herself to enriching the lives of all those she meets. And from my beloved grandmother, I experienced unconditional love. She was a woman who believed in me and believed I could do ANYTHING.

To the friends who have accompanied me along the first steps of my new journey, I give my blessings and thanks. There have been "angels" and "devils" sitting on my shoulders through this whole process. To the "angels" I send my ever-lasting gratitude for your unwavering support and your ability to ride the waves of my alternating euphoria and fear with patience and love. To the "devils", I send the same because your reasonable doubt and constant questioning spurred my dedication to stay on path and on purpose. My life would not be as rich without the friends...angels and devils all...I have been fortunate enough to find, or who have found me.

And lastly, I dedicate this to my nephew and niece; bright, beautiful souls just starting their amazing journey. Last week I took them to the place where I'll be giving my first speech and they had fun arranging where I would stand for optimum effect. My nephew is one of the most decent people I have ever met and if he stays true to his path of non-judgmental delight and deep compassion for all souls, he will become a man amongst men. My niece is an old soul with god-given talents to create beauty and spread joy; and a deep well of courage that will enable her to share those gifts when she becomes the woman I know she will be. Her reaction, when I read her my "mission statement" took my breath away...for it is precisely THAT which I want to accomplish. She said, "Oh Auntie, it makes me want to follow myself inside."

I urge you to follow your hearts and follow your dreams...follow yourself and if you need help...I am here.
xoxo