Tag Archives: musings

Be The Reason, Not The Excuse

“I don’t have time.”

“My children are too little.”

“My work is too difficult.”

“I don’t have a bathing suit.”

“My home is too far away.”

Excuses pouring through our thoughts and out of our mouths.

Another excuse to do something that you really want to do.

At 6:15am this morning.

My son taught me about the importance of turning my excuses into my reasons.

At 6:15am this morning.

Looking like this carrying his towel and goggles into the swimming pool:

IMG_4782[1]

He had watched me compete in a triathlon on the weekend.

He decided he wanted to start training too!

At 6:15am.

Imagine if I had used my children as an excuse not to train.

Imagine if I would have used my busyness as an excuse not to sign-up.

Imagine if I would have used my body as a excuse not to put my shoes or bathing suit on.

My children, my life, my body are MY REASON!

This is why I do what I do!

What excuses will you choose to turn into your reasons?

Imagine what possibilities could happen!

WOOOOOOAH.

Smooch, Joanna

IMG_4787[1]

As always, feel free to join in on the action on Facebook! Share your reasons!

Be Giving a Gift of Being 

I am in constant flux everyday moving from being a human doing, doing, doing while try to be an awake, present human being. 

  
As I have been journeying through this ‘beingness’, I have pondered and sat, ran and rambled and create a free gift to add value to those that want to wander and wonder as a human being.  

I have created a sixty day set of emails and videos that will be sent randomly throughout the time to your inbox.  Some wonderings may surprise you, others will make you smile and chuckle, but my hope is that as a collective group of likeminded people we will live through sixty days as present, awake human beings. 

Come join us… Checkout www.joannacann.com and leave your email! 

I wonder as I wander…. 60 days together! 

Be ‘Flow’ 

A word for you.

A word for me.

A word to sit with,

To help me be.

Prayer.

Freedom.

Are a few words I have pondered.

In 2016, I definitely know

That my life will be about

Find flow.

Flow with others.

Flow within.

Flow with finances.

Flow to begin.

Each day.

Each moment.

Each thought.

Each deed.

Finding flow flowing over and around and through me.

Being me.

With flow.

In flow.

Flow.

Be Doing Imperfectly Great Things

Striving to be “perfect”?

Without flaws.

Without mistakes.

Living the perfect life.

Making the perfect decisions.

Constantly striving to live in a state of “being” perfect!

Are you exhausted just reading that?

I feel fatigued just writing it as I think about my former mindset and my former decision-making process.

I am now striving to do imperfectly GREAT things.

Just doing the do.

Writing.

Talking.

Loving.

Being.

Present to whatever comes my way and knowing that I will NEVER be free from flaws nor mistakes, but I have a depth of spirit that will allow me to apologize and change course as needed!  I am easily adaptable because of the grace that I am constantly given and the grace that I can give others.  I know that great things come out of just being present and imperfect.

IMG_3908[1]

Tuesday and Thursday mornings are the time when I have all three boys in school. I fill my time with a bit of exercise, writing, and connecting with people.

This morning, I awoke to one sick, JC, my current sidekick for the day!

Previously, I would feel deep anguish over the plans for my day having to be adjusted.  I would feel stress in my shoulders and a turning in my tummy as I pondered how to make the day work.

Today, I felt InCrEdIbLe! An opportunity to hangout with my oldest.  My “to do” list was thrown out into the abyss to be pondered for another day.   I love being able to spend time with each of my boys together and individually.  My “doing” can always wait, but my “being” is the greatest gift that I can give to myself and others.

Being present.

Doing great things.

Through the imperfections of life.

With flaws.

With mistakes.

Loving.

Being.

(Toque courtesy of UofAlberta Alumni!  Huge hugs going out to my UofA Panda Alumni that are celebrating the retiring Panda volleyball players this Saturday and are hosting an Alumni auction in Edmonton, Ab. Drop in and bid on something if you are close to the game!)

Be a Super Nova 

One more peruse of facebook as I lay my head down on the pillow.  

One scroll. 

One glimpse. 

With shock and awe I read this incredible comment from Jodi who has just finished my book.  She told me she had to share this quote as it reminded her of me: 

  
For any fellow human being to take the time to send me a quote, I am honoured. 

I have had three beautiful peeps forward “word love” my way this week! 

The greatest gift we can give each other is time.  

Time to shine light.  

Time to share inspiration. 

Time to share words. 

Time to be our sparkly star-shaped selves. 

Time to pray and sit holding space with each other. 

Time to embrace our ridiculous awesomeness. 

Time to shine like a freaking supernova. 

Love a duck! 

A supernova. 

Me? 

Gotta love the “facebook love” as you lay your head down to sleep. 

life, 

Be Creating a Culture of Honour (Panda Style)

When you desire a culture of honour and have the privileged to see it face-to-face, it is humbling.

Win or lose.

Good or bad.

Honour stands.

It gives freedom.

It shows respect.

It is empowering.

It involves healthy discipline not punishment.

Culture of honour for me is thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Honour.

Freedom.

Respect.

Empowerment.

Healthy discipline.

IMG_3684[1]

My CC, was able to sit in a circle of honour last weekend.

Surrounded by warrior athletes, who sacrifice to help their team become its best year after year.

They are led by their empowering coach, my coach from many years ago when I played Varsity volleyball.

Despite losing last weekend’s match, my son was welcomed into the fold to stretch, hangout and be amongst these warrior women and coaches.

Being present.

Creating space.

Growing.

Allowing being.

culture of honour)

I am reading this amazing book as I seek honour.

Within myself.

With my Sexy Neck.

With my boys.

With my family.

With my friends.

In my community.

Within my business.

Culture of honour.

Honouring myself, which honouring every person who comes across my path.

Be a Dream Car

I fell in love with a car!

Way back in 2001.

I had the great privilege to commute with an amazing group of human beings to a small outlying “VIlle” to teach.  I taught  thirty-three grade six and seven students and had a third of the school in my class, even though there were 6 teachers on staff.  The school was declining in size!  I was fortunate to learn many new things, fall in love with my students and the staff and find my dream car.

IMG_3638[1].JPG

Is it weird that I had never had a dream car before?

Is is strange that my dream was a van?

Perhaps, God knew about the brood of boys that were coming into our life six years later.

I have fallen in love with how he prepares me for “events” in my life.

Day by day.

Person by person.

Story by story.

In 2001, we commuted in a brand, spanking new 2001 grey Honda Odyssey.   On those 5:45am pick-ups, this vehicle was luxury.  With its captain seats and personal water bottles, I thought that I had it made! And that was how my dream was created.

One day.

Some how.

I would own a 2001 Honda Odyssey.

Ten years later, in 2011, we decided to look for a Honda Odyssey as we awaited the birth of our third and three car seats would not fit in the back of our current vehicle.

Enter stage left, a beautiful grey 2001 Honda Odyssey that we could pay cash for and enjoy every day until last Friday.

She decided to stop on the side of the highway.

Just like that!   She sat there for three days while we pondered and prayed and wandered and wondered.

A few friends sat together in our wonderings.

And we are so grateful!

This van taught me how to dream, about cars.

Now she is reminding me how to dream in others ways.

Perhaps our life is meant to be with one car?

I wonder what will happen in the next weeks so that we could pay cash for a new car?

I am excited.

I am leaning in with anticipation.

I am dreaming.

I am so grateful for this dream car!