Entries by Tricia

First Readers

Each time I’ve started to write this week’s blog I’ve floundered. My mind settles on the unimportance of it all, the “Why should I bother?” A few days ago I got word that a woman I admire and cherish is in the hospital in critical condition. One day she was fine, the next in a […]

A Black and Cold Friday

For those who follow my twitter feed, @TriciaBarkerMEP, you will know I was in Seattle this past weekend helping a client complete the Seattle Half Marathon. We finished the race in fine form and had fun tweeting pics about our mascot @runspirrelrun1. It was a joyful time with the added benefit of being in the […]

Santa Shuffle

My twitter feed asked a question that gave me the answer to what I would blog about this week… Why do I run the Salvation Army’s Santa Shuffle every year? On December 4th, 2008 I went to visit Dad. He was not well and the dementia was looming large. We somehow managed to chat about […]

Politics

I love politics. I love human nature. I love when someone exceeds my perception of who they are. Last Friday I was in a meeting to learn how to be a scrutineer for the NPA Political Party. I was there to support their candidates in the Vancouver municipal election. I like to expose myself to […]

Rain or Shine

A barometer on someone’s character can easily be measured by asking them about the weather. This seems to work if it’s a perfect, sunny day or in the midst of a long rainy spell. You can test the theory on people around you, or better still, test it out on yourself. I think this idea […]

The List

Edward is a very good friend but Edward is starting to really bug me. Almost every time we chat he asks if I have written “the list” yet. You see, Eddie knows that one day I will die (note to Eddie… we all die). He has been asking me for years to put a note […]

Hope and Fear

I was in the presence of the Dalai Lama and sitting with Lama Tara when I opened the email with the shocking personal news. I cried. Lama Tara comforted me and said, “We live lives of fearless hope and hopeless fear. You have felt both”. With a new reality dominating my synapses I switched gears […]

True Happiness

Every step I take, every thought I think, every word I speak, every moment of my life… My religion dictates how these should be done. More often than not I fall short of the lofty expectations and vows. I live my life in the shadow of the Buddha’s teachings. And tomorrow I will get to […]

Bedside Manner

More people should be taught about the benefits of a good bedside manner. This morning I had an ultra-sound. First of all, let me say that I am thankful to live in British Columbia, Canada, where our health care system allows me to have the ultra-sound without an invoice afterwards. I also feel blessed to […]

Run Squirrel Run

I rarely write blogs about my day job- personal training. The mantra I follow is “it’s personal”, so my training with specific people doesn’t usually equate to others. We are all individuals with specific wants and needs. Another thing I rarely do is give someone a nickname. This blog will be different. A client needed […]