The Warriors Voice

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. ” – Ferris Bueller

After reading 2 friends blogs and their ‘annual reviews’ I was encouraged, nay Inspired, to write my own annual review. I believe that this practice will help me to keep some perspective on my life and to realize, just how much has life has happened to me and how much I have happened to my life.

It seems like just yesterday, but for the latter part of 2007 and January of 2008 I spent a great deal of time putting together a ‘Mens Workshop’. This was created as a first step around mens work in the personal development arena in Calgary as I was one of a few men who I knew was doing it and I felt that I needed some mens time. However before this came to fruition I was informed that I was not qualified to call it a workshop. Ok, well we went ahead and had the mens seminar in January with 3 of us there and some of the most valuable learning I had received.

February brought me time to enjoy one of my christmas presents a glorious massage and a new kitchen sink with a FRED. FRED is the nick name for my sink disposal unit and stands for F*#cking Ridiculous Electronic Device. This was the first kitchen sink I installed and the first new circuit I have run in my house. Gotta say that I love new experiences.

In April I teamed on another MKFacilitations workshop, The Dance of Partnership, and began really pushing getting Facilitator training started. Facilitator training came from 2 places. 1) I wanted to be able to create workshops and not just seminars and 2) I had requested support from the company I work for in getting leadership training. I had looked at several possibilities from various sources and also had been ‘pushing’ MKFacilitations to create a program.

By May I began writing the proposal for my Leadership training and sent it in to my boss for approval and began working with MKFacilitations and Alan (who is also taking the training with me) to find dates and times to do this work.

In June I was talking to my brother who indicated that he was going to carry out dad’s last wishes (as far as he could) which was to sprinkle my dad’s ashes on Mt. McPhail where my father liked to go hunting. I asked to come along to be apart of Dad’s last wish and as a result decided that I also wanted to go hunting. My father only took me hunting once as his health could not longer endure the strain by the time I was of age to go hunting and so I haven’t been out since I was about 16. I had a lot of catchup to do. I needed to get my PAL (Possession and Acquisition License) so that I could own a rifle. I studied and took the exam in June passing with a 98%.

Also in June I teamed ‘Hourglass of Change workshop’ in radium and attended with Tarra. This was an awesome experience as I had not been in workshop with Tarra since 2006. We spent the weekend together and I feel found a deeper level of connection.

It was a bit of everything in July. From a raucous Stampede Party, to a short film festival; from a gig in the park in the rain to a lesbian wedding; from Brennan’s infamous birthday party to Mystery Science Theatre 3000 evening.

August was a big month for me. I attended my first MKFacilitations Retreat in Golden BC called “Pathway to Purpose”. This week long intensive was amazing. I spent the week discovering my self at a much deeper level going places that I generally refuse to go in my psyche. I spent the week living in a Tee-Pee (no I didn’t have to I chose to stay in the Tee-Pee, and no it’s not as ‘roughing it’ as it sounds ) I met some new friends, some old friends and some parts of my self that I didn’t know were friends.

I can’t talk much about the retreat as it is something you have to experience. Even if I told you about it and what happened for me, it would not be the same for you. I recommend looking at MKFacilitations if you are even slightly interested. They are not offering a retreat this summer, but they are offering it next winter. (http://www.mkfacilitations.com/events.htm#Retreat)

The August retreat was one of the largest kickoff’s to several events in my life. I quit smoking 12 days after the retreat ended, made many renewed commitments to Tarra which spawned a great 4 month finish to the year. The retreat also was the ‘symbolic’ start of my Facilitator training.

Facilitator training is a 2 year commitment of study and practice ending in approximately August 2010. During this time I will work with private clients in my practicum to hone my skills and style as a facilitator, create and facilitate workshops and part of a retreat. It is an area that I’m finding very challenging and truly exciting.

September saw a great deal of physical change around my house and life style. Facilitator training provided an immediate opportunity to create a healing space in my house. This means Tarra and I have dedicated one room in our house to be a sanctuary and peaceful where we can go and meditate, read books quietly, it is wear I meet with my clients, and were we have massage sessions (Tarra is very adept at giving massage, and I’m learning).

October came and along with it Thanksgiving (in Canada) and along with it things to be thankful about. Thanksgiving 2007 brought me a new friend, Brennan, with whom I’ve had some amazingly fun times this year. Not to be out done Thanksgiving this year brought me a new friend Aaron. This man is kinda like my evil twin…actually I’m the evil one cuz I have the beard (reference to Mirror, Mirror – Star Trek). Aaron and I have already begun plotting, scheming, and laughing Maniacally. October also means Halloween when I attended on of the fun-est halloween party’s ever. Who knew that Mystery Science Theater would have prepared me so well.

November brought with it a hunting trip with my brother and his eldest son. The 3 of us spent a day up in the mountains stalking a deer or two and scattering my dads ashes. This was one of the most magical experiences I’ve had yet. To see the moon set and the sunrise while sitting on the edge of a mountain, surrounded by more mountains. I took pictures, but again it’s something that needs to be experienced.

The month of December was full of hustle and bustle. Along with working on my practicum in the evenings and weekends, my work moved offices (no small feat), and there was christmas in there too. I had a great Christmas Day and then on the 28th my whole family, 16 of us, all went to Radium for a few days to have a family fun time, which it was. Then back for New Years Eve with some very good friends and some impromptu Karaoke. A great way to wind up a fabulous year.

Overall for the year It was a very steady and continuous journey into the unknown for me, and one which I’ve enjoyed. I thought I’d summarize and make lists of some things from this year.

Books Read or Reading
- Laws of Spirit Dan Millman
- Iron John: Robert Bly
- Fire in the Belly: Sam Keen
- Law of attraction: Michael J. Losier

Movies Watched
- Into the Wild
- The Dark Knight
- Speed Racer
- Quantum of Solace
(for those that know me, they know I’ve seen way more movies — on average I watch about 3 movies a week)

Podcasts
- The New Man
- The Mind of Men

Have a great 2009….I know I plan too.

Walk in Peace,
Warrior Jevon:In-Service