How powerful is this thought/feeling connection that can move us from tears to laughter so instantly? We seem to be at the whim of each thought, or each act, as it’s under the spotlight.

Things aren’t, however, what they seem. We’re neither a captive audience nor an unwilling participant in this mental big top. We’re the circus master, the creator of every moment. And, as much as it may seem otherwise, we truly write the script, not of the events but rather of our experience of the events. As much as we might resist the idea that we have a choice and can change our perception, truth is that we can. We have free will.

It’s easy to point to worst case scenarios and “what if’s.” Of course life is a series of ups and downs, of wins and losses. It’s not that we’re likely to walk through this journey without some adversity. What we do know, however, is that we have an innate resiliency and a profound capacity to choose well-being and wisdom regardless of past or current circumstances.

When we feel gripped by worry or anxiety, by self-doubt and insecurity it’s the perfect opportunity to see how seriously we’re taking our thinking. We’re believing the script. We’re seeing the world through the lens of a thought. It’s then that we can see the myriad options available to us. We can recognize the habits that we’ve innocently developed and we can let them go.

It’s a lifelong discovery that continues to surprise and delight as we realize that we can free ourselves from thinking that doesn’t serve us. We can recognize the feeling that tells us, loud and clear, where we’re going with an unwanted thought. We can continue to peel away the layers that keep us from our true nature, one of compassion and love.

We can feel deep gratitude for the gift of our innate health, that capacity to live in a good feeling more of the time. And we can decide where our thinking will take us.

As Sydney Banks reminds us in The Missing Link, “We are all just a thought away from a good feeling.”

They remain elusive until the sun begins its quiet descent behind a stand of trees. It’s nearing 5 p.m.; air bubbles appear in the still waters and move in the direction of the lodge. I’m anticipating some great photography as I sit motionless on the banks of the pond. My camera’s mounted on a tripod and ready to shoot. Suddenly, head, eyes, ears and nose peek out from the chilly depths. I’m about to photograph a true Canadian icon—the North American beaver.

The light’s perfect for photography at this time of day and I spend 20 minutes enjoying the beavers as they go about their business weaving and jamming branches into strategic places throughout the dam or on the lodge.

Tranquille Creek, located just outside of Kamloops near the Tranquille Wildlife Management area is a birder’s paradise, day hikers dream and for me, a beaver watcher’s extravaganza. If you’re looking to get in touch with nature and spend some time exercising your photography skills, Tranquille Creek’s the place. I’ve often walked the trails in the area and always enjoyed the antics of the beavers. It didn’t take long to realize that this was the spot for early morning and late evening beaver watching.

Beavers influence lakes and rivers to meet their own needs. If an agreeable pond isn’t available, they’ll make one. Trees are cut, dragged to the water and pushed into place. Gaps and holes are filled with mud and stone. Only when the water level has risen to the height desired is a lodge built. Living space is made above water level and emergency, or escape, holes are made under. Occasionally, beavers will forgo the lodge and simply dig holes in pond or stream banks.

In autumn, the beavers begin the harvest to get them through colder winters with an adequate food supply. They anchor bits of tree in underwater channels, leaving them jammed into the mud until needed.

I’ve experienced some amazing feats by the resident beavers at Tranquille Creek, but one stands out clearly in my mind. One of the larger beavers studied a towering tree and a regular trail it used to get back and forth to the water. It then proceeded to cut the tree down. To my amazement, the top of the tree fell exactly on the beaten path made by the beavers. Could this be skill or just luck? Well, I’ll leave that to be answered by the experts, but I must say it was quite the spectacle.

During my beaver watching, I need to be still and quiet as these Canadian icons spook easily. It is however, a true joy to watch them. I highly recommend that you visit this area, take a few photos and watch for beaver signs along the trail.

Have you ever decided to achieve a goal and then tried, and tried, to do it but it just never came to fruition? Me too!

When we say we are going to try to do a task, in our sport, our business or our relationships, the word “try” implies to the unconscious mind that we’re just as likely to fail at our task as we are to succeed. It’s a 50:50 mental energy split.

Star Wars’ Jedi Master Yoda hit the nail on the head when he said, “Do, or do not. There is no try.”

How does that help us? What’s being said is: decide to do something or decide to not do something. None of the middle ground gets you anywhere.

To train yourself to attend to this focal shift, consciously be aware over the next seven days of how often you use the word “try.” Take a pen and list how many times over the next week you use that word. Remember, each time your subconscious mind is told to “try” it ranks success or failure in the situation equally. Your mental energy is diversified.

Each time you find yourself in this position of diverted mental energy, declare what it is you want to achieve in positive terms.

An example would be, “I’m going to try and beat this month’s current target by 20 per cent.”

Change your phrasing to: “By this time next month I’ll have generated a 20 per cent increase which will ensure that I’ll be working at greater capacity and generating greater reward and results.”

Using this technique day by day, you’ll begin to take greater command of how you communicate with the most powerful piece of equipment you will ever use –your own mind. You’ll identify old habits and replace them with new, and more powerful, habits. As with everything we do, the skillful use of a new habit comes with determination and repetition. If you want to try and have an amazing day, go ahead and have and amazing day.

Train yourself to have an awesome day!

After competing in Europe and a brief return to Sun Peaks over the holidays, Elli Terwiel is back on the racing circuit, competing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Skiing Championships at Sunday River, Maine.

Terwiel’s NCAA season got off to a strong start; she finished second in the GS and won the slalom event by 1.2 seconds.

“It was a great start to the season,” says Terwiel whose racing season continues in the weeks ahead. “I’m excited to continue racing in the NCAA races and then to go to Vail, for the Nor-Ams!”

To keep track of Terwiel’s racing, follow her at www.elliterwiel.blogspot.com

Nordic skiing has boomed this winter with season pass sales doubling over the last two years and a new attendance record set on Sun Peaks’ trails in December.

This success may be attributed to the resort hiring Phil Youwe, Sun Peaks’ first Nordic coordinator. Youwe is a long-time Nordic skier, whose relationship with Sun Peaks goes way back.

“In ‘93, a friend and I owned a twin track, and we came up and said would you mind if we set some track for our kids to cross-country ski. Since then we’ve gone to 31 kilometres of groomed trails and a well-established and growing Nordic program,” said Youwe.

The increase in Nordic skiing patrons goes hand-in-hand with a more comprehensive grooming program for the cross-country terrain at Sun Peaks.

“There used to be scheduled maintenance of just one or two days a week, and now there’s someone out there every day,” said Seth Worthen, slopes manager for Sun Peaks Resort.

“The work done in the summer months to cut back the shrub growth has meant groomers can get out there on opening day of the ski season producing a great product,” he explains.

This consistent approach to grooming has been well received by the Nordic skiers.

“When you’re out on the trails all everyone says is, ‘This is awesome,’” commented Youwe.

Jim Kenney, rentals manager for Sun Peaks Resort said the interest in Nordic skiing has also transferred to record number of Nordic rentals at Elevation Bike, Ski and Board.

“We’ve noticed a definite increase in the last couple of years for Nordic Ski equipment, particularly skate skis,” said Kenney. “There’s been an increase of 15 to 18 per cent on last year.”<br>

Youwe has coordinated a Nordic program with the local school, the Discovery Centre, as he believes it’s important to get people interested at a young age.

“We’re introducing a Nordic Program to their curriculum in February which will consist of three sessions,” he says.

He hopes the school program will promote Nordic skiing in the community and provide enough support from the children and parents to start a Sun Peaks Nordic Club, and establish a dedicated Nordic Centre.

“The club, which would originate from the community, presents the opportunity to have races, social activities and have a strong core of Nordic skiers which could result in a development program for young kids,” said Youwe.

The expanding Nordic program at Sun Peaks this season has included full moon skiing to McGillivray Cabin, a Nordic Ski Camp running Jan. 28 and 29, and the return of the Holy Cow Nordic Race on Feb. 26.

“(The Nordic Camp) is two full days of Nordic instruction. The intent will be to improve your skills, hone your technique, develop some methods for training, and the chance to have some video analysis of your technique,” explains Youwe.

“(The Holy Cow Race) is a unique race, as it starts at the top of the Morrisey Express with some mid-mountain loops and ends very near to the village.”

The fourth annual Adaptive Snow Sports Festival at Sun Peaks unfolds Feb. 3 to 5. The event features a “Meet and Greet,” equipment demonstrations and opportunity to take a lesson on Saturday, and the popular Guesstimation Race on Sunday, followed by a wind-down and awards at Masa’s Bar & Grill.

“Disabled students guess what time they’ll finish their own individual slalom race (in the Guesstimation race) and the closest to their time wins an award at our medal ceremony,” explains Veronica Connors of the Adaptive Snow Sports Program (ASSP).

“Nancy Greene often has a race with one or two them and tries to match her guesstimated time. A crowd lines the fence with cow bells to cheer them all on. A highlight is the race with their able bodied family member or friend which they’ve never had the chance to do,” says Connor.

Last year 25 racers competed in the Guesstimation race, and many more disabled guests test drove the specialized equipment and took mini lessons offered by ASSP volunteer instructors.

“So many wheelchair bound prospective students wanted to try out the sit-skis (last year) we were crazy busy,” says Connors. “They’re hooked on skiing now and rebook each year for the series of eight weekly lessons we offer to locals.”

Adaptive snow sports are on the rise, especially at Sun Peaks with the expanded instructional options offered through the ASSP and Snow Sports School. Keep your eyes open for sit-skis, Sno-limos, outriggers and sliders on the slopes.

Adaptive Sports at Sun Peaks Society (ASSP) is establishing a Sno-Limo service at Sun Peaks for both recreational and instructional use and is currently recruiting drivers.
The Sno-Limo is a sit-down apparatus that allows anybody, regardless of ability, the opportunity to experience skiing in a safe, comfortable and environmentally friendly manner.
ASSP is looking for fit, healthy individuals who enjoy people, and winter activities and who appreciate the opportunity to enable guests to enjoy this unique experience. Previous ski ability or certification is not required, however, the program does require two to three days of training which begins Monday, Feb. 6, 2012. To register for training or for further information contact: Gerry at 604-805-0227, or Dick at 250-372-7322(H), 250-852-1805(C)

In this generation of carbon-copied sounds, where many an artist wallows around in a pool of similar-sounding artists, it’s exciting to witness a musician develop a signature sound and top the charts with it.

Skrillex, or Sonny Moore, has managed to use a number of influences—from Aphex Twin to Marilyn Manson—to create a controversial musical formula. There are possibly as many Skrillex haters as there are fans, but the same can be said for a lot of really good bands. For some reason, people seem to really love Skrillex, or really, really hate him.

Bangarang, Skrillex’s fourth EP, still borrows from Moore’s library of signature sounds—creepy chipmunk vocals, grinding bass, and huge dub step drops. Ellie Goulding, 12th Planet, Kill the Noise, and yes, The Doors are all featured on the album, though they’re all barely recognizable. Skrillex has a knack for taking vocals and melodies, and shredding them to create a more distorted song that sounds as if it’s ripped on nearly too many energy drinks. Bangarang is definitely going to be club-friendly.

“Breakin’ a Sweat,” featuring bits by The Doors, including Jim Morrison’s electronic music prophecy, is one of the better tracks on the album. The song builds, then drops where you’d expect it to, and blows “Light My Fire” out with some skinny white-kid swagger.

“Bangarang” may feel a little nostalgic to fans of the film Hook. The title was the battle cry of the lost boys. The song aims to appeal to 1980s children, ending with, “Hey-yo, I’m eating Fun Dip right now.” Those were the days, right? It’s a light song, with heavy sound that will have kids shaking to the ground.

One track sounded out-of-place, and was surprising considering that it was a collaboration with 12th Planet and Kill the Noise. “Right on Time,” with its overused synths and relentless beat, sounds fit for a high-school rave.

Whether you like it or not, Bangarang is a tight, well-produced album. The tracks jump around a little from trance to dub step, all with a heavy hand of glitch, but they all carry Skrillex’s signature sound. With a solid tour schedule, and artists lining up to be remixed by him, Moore has a bright future in the next generation of music.