GORD'S GAME FOR ALZHEIMER'S

Alzheimer's Disease devastates families and has remained a "hidden problem" in households for centuries. Once the source of bittersweet humor, Alzheimer's is starting to get the attention that it needs. As the population ages, we can all expect to be touched by this at some point. A few courageous people are bringing it out into the open including our friends, the Strandlunds. Congratulations to Gord and Brenda for making a difference in the world!

RAINY DAY

Today's nature quote seems very appropriate as it continues to rain here. The summer in Western Canada continues to be wet and cold while the rest of the world suffers from incredible heat. Labour Day weekend seems to filled with, well...labour, since there is not much we can do outside other than complain.

Just an update to some friends who have been following this space for some time (and if you haven't been following - why have you not subscribed to get the updates???).  You may remember that we were putting together a golf tournament called Gord's Game, with proceeds going to Alzheimer's research. This was created to acknowledge the challenges faced by my friend Gord and his family and it was held last Thursday. Thursday turned out to be a postcard perfect day in the Rockies with absolutely ideal golf conditions. According to the pro shop staff, it was one of about 5 days all season that was this nice.

The event went off without a hitch and we raised over $21,000.00 that has been donated to the Alzheimer's Society of Calgary to continue research into a disease that will touch each of us in some way - if it hasn't already. Thanks to all of the friends and associates who helped out with donations and attending the event and here is hoping that we will do it again next year.

VIDEO UPDATES

I have updated some of my videos and that requires republishing them. I apologize if you have received a notice of a new video and found something that you have already looked at. I was trying to edit out some of the "weird" moments at the beginning, which I just learned to do. One person described those awkward seconds of silence as "creepy" and we just could not have that - could we?

INSPIRATION

Inspiration is that deeper part of our spirit that emerges when we give ourselves permission to live our dreams

JUST SAY YES

The adventure in life often begins with the word, "yes." I was asked a few months ago to be a guest speaker at 8 different Calgary Library branches this fall and said yes. The topic is based on my book of a few years ago, "THE WEST COAST TRAIL: One Step at a Time." What they are interested in is the adventure and how it affected me and what changes have occurred in my life as a result.

I have been busy creating and promoting a new workshop called "Write your book in 48 days" and have not given the Library talks much thought over the summer but a few ideas are beginning to percolate. All adventures have the word, YES at the beginning whether they are outdoor travel trips, life changing decisions or simply expanding the horizons of our mind. Many of my audience members will be seniors and I think I will title my talk, "JUST SAY YES" and encourage them to join the conversation that is going on all around us.

Many of us spend our later years watching the conversation as it grows larger and larger through new media sources with new ideas and methods of distribution. Yes, I am talking about the internet and Facebook and the hundreds of other conversations that are being held on YouTube and other places like blogs. We do not need to understand how it works, but just know that it does, and it allows all of us, young and old, to participate in the world and be part of the conversation.

Rather than stand idly by and watch television, I will invite and encourage my audience to join in and JUST SAY YES.

STORY BEHIND THE PICTURE

As a book writing coach, I am intrigued by the stories of people and their pursuits. A business person wants to increase sales or introduce a new product or service and often realizes that writing a book will create authority and credibility to support the endeavor. Professional speakers usually have a unique story to tell and a book is a vehicle that lends instant cache to their speaking topics and results in a nice additional source of income and more speaking engagements. My office wall is covered with pictures of various times and events and like the ones on your wall, there are stories behind all of them. the video that I have posted explains one of the stories on my wall.

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YES OR NO

WHAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IN YOUR LIFE IF YOU HEARD "YES" MORE OFTEN THAN "NO?"

WHAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IN THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND YOU IF THEY HEARD "YES" FROM YOU, MORE OFTEN THAN "NO?"

as a friend of mine says, "Yes is the answer, what's the question?"