CURRENT MISSION

To enjoy every day - see it as an opportunity - make the most of my life - be present, awake and aware - to laugh as often as possible.

ABOUT ME

As someone who teaches youth, I consider every day a chance to practice what I preach. Turns out they watch what I do vs. what I say!

I love to travel and meet new people and go on adventures as often as possible. I have lived abroad in Ireland, England, Australia and done some long trips across Europe, Thailand and India. I am not a 'resort type'. I like chances to interact with the community and get to know how people function within their environments.

I am newly a marathon runner - exercise and eating well is an important part of my life...although as a lover of all things yummy, I am sucker for fresh made anything and local beers and wines :).

And if we are being 100% honest here, I spend way too much time on facebook... please don't judge me.

Cheers to your adventures and perhaps we shall cross paths soon!

PHILOSOPHY

I think that it may be best to put my 'BE Commitment' for my life that I set in January. I commit to this - I lead this way - I interact as much as possible this way - it helps me to love and recognize how sacred life is every day.

BE COMMITMENT 2010

1. Shamelessly open my heart – speak from it, feel from it and most importantly share it fearlessly.
2. Ask the hard questions. Ask for what I want. Trust that I’ll know when and how.
3. Take every opportunity to deepen the human experience. Remember that everyone holds their own unique and sacred truth.
4. Noone needs fixing. Everyone is creative, resourceful and whole. The need to fix is about me.
5. Whenever awareness strikes me, step to the right side of the brain - the side that allows for curiosity and compassion rather than meaning seeking, categorizing, theorizing and judgment. The state of presence can be effortless.
6. Laugh when my ego appears. It is ever present.
7. Find time daily to be quiet. Revel in this whenever possible. Silence breeds space.
8. Every day is worthy of celebration. Every day is an opportunity. Every day is perfect.
9. Breathe.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I want to surf but the chance to offer surfing space in my place is extremely limited - in an effort to live minimally I have moved into a bachelor that is seriously minimal in size. Although I would be happy to host a day outing!

As for what I doing to build my community??? I work with a youth council in the city, I volunteer for the cystic fibrosis chapter in Vic, I play squash, I run, hike and love buying local. I am Fernwoodian - new to the community and loving the feeling of community here!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Official Newbie

Interests

Yoga, camping, outdoorsy anything actually, running long distance, eating healthy local food, wine, single malt scotch, local beers, cooking, communication, ted talks (www.ted.com), teaching, learning, bursting through my comfort zones! Also endeavoring to learn Hindi lately...mera naam Jen - getting there!

• dining
• cooking
• wine
• beer
• exercise
• yoga
• marathon
• running
• traveling
• hiking
• camping
• surfing
• racquetball
• volunteering
• squash

Music, Movies, and Books

Music - love it all especially love. My current faves are Neko Case, Royal Wood and Carolyn Mark. I dig on local music and get out to see it as often as possible. I am also stumbling through learning acoustic...wish me luck.

Movies - let's just say, I am a Jedi. Yep - definitely. Otherwise, outside of film festival stuff, I usually hear about movies from friends...documentaries are great but I don't even have a TV! Would rather be outside anyday.

Books - in a book club at the mo. Reading all kinds of stuff - from travel accounts (good ole Bill Bryson) to books on yoga philosophy (BKS Ivengar is my hero) to funny stuff (like one called Fruit - HILARIOUS!). Reading - always have a few books on the go and it is my nightly sleep aid...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

ONE??? Ok - well - lets go with the most recent...

I handed a graduate certificate to a youth on Friday who told me that she had never committed herself to anything in her life. Love it when life comes up to remind you that you can do ANYTHING!

Teach, Learn, Share

Wowsers...ok - well....I teach communication skills. Although this is a life long process, I would be pleased to share all that I know. I work primarily with young people that are deemed 'at risk' - lots of anger issues and anxiety - so I am so pleased to share all that I know and what I have learned.

Also - I would be so pleased to find ways to create more community events around Couch Surfing...what a remarkable way to support a diverse and creative global exchange!

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada

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