Connoisseur de la Vie

The charms of San Francisco boil down to the creative and entrepreneurial spirit whether it’s the people, food, coffee/tea (choose your vice) and culture. In some ways Vancouver and San Francisco are similar, with multiculturalism and love of diversity, laid back lifestyles and environmentally sustainable reputations. But, these cities are so much more than that.

What makes San Francisco unique is its endless creative bent and innovative culture. I see that in Vancouver too, on a different scale. I certainly hope that this creative energy continues to thrive here as well. I see the hustle here more in the analogy of a duck on calm waters, with its feet paddling wildly underneath to move serenely to its destination.

When I found myself on a 4 day trip in the Bay area recently, I couldn’t be happier to to discover places to relax, rejuvenate and reconnect with my own creative side (too many photographs to count), as well as connecting to the community, which I’ll be sharing with you in the next few posts. It almost feels like a home away from home in many ways. For now, here is a serene image of the famed Golden Gate Bridge for you to enjoy.

In January I talked about reaching long term targets by setting up attainable short term goals. Using micro-goals for the month, I’ll be well on my way to reaching my longer term target of, “living my best life,” as Oprah would put it.

Coincidentally with the onset of spring, April is as good as anytime to start a personal challenge month. And so is every other month of the year (another words, no excuses), if you are looking for a method of encouragement, a catalyst for maintaining a healthy momentum, or a way to explore intellectual, professional, athletic, spiritual or behavioral aspirations.

I tested the theory by starting the month off with health and wellness. This past week I changed up my exercise regimen. Usually, I choose one convenient activity to attend every week, just enough to maintain my energy level. But, this time around, I began the week with a hatha session, radiating positive thoughts after decluttering the mind in yoga. Every other day after that I mixed it up with elliptical intervals and weights, and tried to walk as much as possible between errands and activities. All of which, will eventually lead me to my kickboxing bootcamp class with this inspirational view.

By breaking up my usual exercise routine, I was able to become noticeably energized. Higher energy levels tends to be correlated to better productivity, so it’s really a win win situation. One obstacle was finding the time to incorporate more activity. To easily overcome this hurdle, only slight scheduling adjustments in the mornings and evenings, combined with more flexible workouts (hitting the gym or going for a hike is more flexible than taking a class for instance) was all that was needed.