The year has just turned to 2020…what a lovely odometer year! Those who have followed me for awhile know that I am a fan of odometer moments. Turns out that I have several posts that explain this love of mine. If you need a laugh or two, check them out here. As we set our sights on the first sunrise of 2020, I am reminding myself that every moment is new. There is always possibility. We can always start again. Redirect. Make a new plan. Stay the course. Dig deep. Release. Take the other fork. Turn right. Turn left. Stop. Yield. Merge. Look for doors shutting and windows opening. Paths that weave between trees. Roads wide as concrete. Skies as deep as oceans. Ride the wave of this new year towards your big dreams and big goals. Even if that big goal is getting out of bed in the morning. Our mountains are our own. What is an Everest to one is a molehill to another. We can’t stay on the summit forever, we must return to the valley to rest and muster energy to climb again. Whatever you are climbing, be kind, be mindful, take good care, bring others along and up, and make each step (and word) with compassion. Here’s to the climb, whatever it is and wherever it takes you! Happy 2020.

Every Moment is New

Originally Posted on January 8, 2012 

We woke up yesterday and looked up towards Signal Hill and noticed a strange new cross looking item plastered to the side of the hill. We knew it was new and knew it must not have been there long and wondered what it was. The sun was out and as soon as we finished out yummy breakfast, we headed out on the hill to check it out. Given the location of our quest, we took a new route up to get to it and I was tickled to realize that after 600 or so ascents of Signal Hill, there was a new route to put together from bottom to top (I’d been on all the parts/trails we used-just never used them together to get from the bottom to top).

When we arrived at the “cross”, it seems like it might be a new lookout or outdoor drama space and it’s more of a ship’s mast than cross. It was different looking down on the city from that angle and location (just across from the Geo Centre-in the background with the blue roof). Anyone know what’s it supposed to be?

We continued up the hill to the Queen’s Battery and enjoyed some photography and views from there. It’s always good to look at a place (and ourselves) from new and different vantage points.

We headed down the backside of Signal Hill and then decided to do a “winter ascent” of Cuckhold Head. There’s no snow at the moment but the main ascent gully is full of a decent bit of ice so we climbed the steep section out of the gully on the left. We looked down on Quidi Vidi and some of the new fishing stages.

From Cuckhold Head, you get a very different look at Signal Hill and Cabot Tower. An eagle flew over our heads while we looked about and I swear, 2012 will be the year I finally get it together to camp on top of Cuckhold Head.

I found this benchmark on top of Cuckhold Head. They are placed by surveyors and it’s the first one I’ve found in the province. I was amazed that with the number of times I’ve been to the top of Cuckhold Head, I hadn’t spotted it. I appreciated that there was lots of new things to see if I truly open up my eyes to look. Every moment is indeed new and though I may have walked a certain way before, each time can be fresh and new. And that’s how I’m hoping to unfold 2012…with fresh and new eyes, thinking and moving.