Instagram Confessions

Confession:  I'm kinda one of those people who pick only the best parts of their day on instagram aaaannnddd, I'll take this one step further to say I sometimes semi-pose things to make sure they're 'instagram worthy'.  

Now, I know I'm not the only person doing this but, one thing I really appreciate in life is a little transparency.  I don't totally have my shit together - and I don't expect you to either!  Win-Win!

In an effort to provide a little transparency (especially since the blog has been light and my instagram feed has been heavy of late) I'm gonna tell all.

....annnd now.....for the rest of the storrrryyyy....

I went out to take this photo - because really I don't have too much to photo at sea.  White caps and Coffee.  The highlights of my day.  As soon as I went out to snap a photo the wind whipped all the froth off my coffee and straight onto my jacket.  I was a total flipping mess!

I took the photo on the left - and then decided my leg looked fat and white - so I took the photo on the right.  Then, I didn't post either one because I was scared someone would ask me about FitMermate and my exercise intentions.  I'm like an ostrich with my head in the sand....no one can see me not exercising out here if I don't post it on instagram!

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I may have mentioned that I never went ashore in Japan....I slept instead.  That being said, I posted this photo of our approach to Yokohama with pretty clouds.  In actuality I was bundled up on the bow because it was raining and I was semi miserable.  I docked the ship, got off watch, ate and slept.  Total false advertising.

Alright, I know I already posted a coffee photo but, this photo took me about 6 tries.  I had to take many, many photos individually and then pick two that I wanted to marry.  Then I tried many, many times to get just the right border with my A Beautiful Mess app.  Time consuming would be an understatement in this case.  Incidentally, if you want to get more followers on instagram hashtag #aeropress.  No lie.  Coffee Lovers Unite!

I've got more where these came from.  I'm thinking I'll save them for later.  I mean, we should be honest more than just once in a while, right?

In the meantime, you can find me on Instagram:  @nautiemermate  - Instagram has become something I love - a source of inspiration, aspirations and what ifs.  Find me so I can find you!

Having a Life Coach - Some Thoughts

About two weeks ago I mentioned on the blog that I had found myself a Life Coach.  You guys were curious!  I was kind of surprised - I thought I'd put up a little blurb for my own benefit and you'd roll your eyes.  This has majorly not been the case!  I've received tons of notes asking for more info which has made me realize that more people might visit one if they knew more.

If I know one thing about myself it is that I don't do well with zero accountability.

When thinking about what's next - a career change, switching up some of my routines, meeting some fitness goals - I knew I needed to develop a system of accountability in addition to exploring options and setting goals.

I began looking for a Life Coach (because it was a term I had loosely heard tossed around) but really wasn't sure what I'd find.

In a nutshell, a Life Coach will help you manage different parts of your live.  For example, 'I need to develop a work / life balance' or 'I'd like to loose some weight'.  A Life Coach will help you establish priorities, develop a plan, set some goals, provide accountability and help to change the plan as required.  

I found something slightly more unique in that my Life Coach also specializes in Career Transitions.  Meaning, we spend time exploring my strengths and weaknesses, discussing what I'm looking for, assessing things that interest me (weighing the pros and cons), and then researching different career paths.  

How exactly does this work?  Well, I have weekly meetings (actually in my case I've set up more than one meeting a week to fit in more before I go back to work) where we discuss / explore my priorities.  My Coach then assigns homework to complete before my next appointment.  These assignments are often times really easy like, find a yoga video you like and can do on the ship or, check out this book.

I've had three appointments and I will honestly tell you, I've discovered that I'm far more interested in certain things than I realized!  I've also realized that maybe I'm not as discontent as I feel at times.

There is never a perfect situation though, right?  It can't all be roses and sunshine, I've found some things frustrating and figure it wouldn't be fair to not share those things.

It's not a quick process.  I am a creature of immediacy.  I would have loved it if I had walked in and my Coach had said, 'you'd be a great maritime lawyer - you should quit your job - complete law school - you'll get married along the way and this will be perfect because you'll be ready to have a baby'.  Spoiler:  instead she told me to get an exercise video to manage stress and asked me lots of really hard questions like, 'what do you think you're naturally good at'.

One hundred percent transparency is required for this next one....it's not cheap.  It costs as much as visiting a well regarded psychologist.  I tell myself that I'm investing in my future I grit my teeth and pay the bill.  I realize this could definitely be cost prohibitive for some.

Here's what it boils down to for me:  I'm willing to invest in change.  

I love exploring possibilities (in fact it's one of the things I listed as things I'm naturally good at). I love trying new things.  I love writing.  I love the sea.  I love adventure.  I love growth.

I'll drive your golf cart...for free!

I've never played golf...or really had any desire to play golf.  When my cousin asked me to play golf with him I pretty much rolled my eyes.

Then he said, 'you don't have to 'play' play...you can drive the cart and drink a beer'.  Done.  

Let me tell you Nautie Friends, I'm happy to drive any of your carts anytime anywhere.  Do I get to bring my Kindle?  Even better!

I ended up at the Sandpiper course in Harrison Mills, BC. The course was beautiful.  I mean like full on natural splendor everywhere you look.  I don't play golf but I highly recommend this course!

The Time Oregon Won My Heart.

Confession:  my Dad is from Oregon...and most of his family lives there....and I can kinda take it or leave it.  I like to go see them but, I never leave Oregon thinking, 'aw man...do I have to go so soon?!'.  My family has a big piece of land we call The Farm around the Corvallis area.  I've camped at The Farm - hung out at the river - walked through the fields - picked plums in the orchard - roasted marshmallows over the fire - watched the bats come out - but, if you ask me where my favorite hang out is on the West Coast I'll almost always pick British Columbia.  I'll even pick BC over Seattle.

Then something weird happened.  I was driving through Oregon on my way to Corvallis and I pulled over at a rest stop.  As I was getting ready to get out of my car I noticed a trucker wearing a cowboy hat and boots...walking his cat on a leash.  He let me pet her and then told me all about their life on the road.  As I left them to their walk I headed towards the bathroom and realized there was a free coffee stand.  Ummm...hello....coffee and free....love it!  I take care of business and am heading back to my car when I see a woman.....letting her ferret out to play.  Said woman let me touch her ferret.  

I got back in my car and thought, 'Damn Oregon!  You're pretty cool!'.

Why the camp fires, black berry picking, river floating never got me, couldn't tell ya.  Suddenly, every where I stopped / looked I saw things I thought were great.

I pulled into Grants Pass and headed to Rogue Roasters.  It was customer appreciation day.  Win!  I got three backs of coffee for a bargain - where I might add they micro roast their beans!  

I stopped in Portland and walked to Stumptown with a girlfriend.  There were roses everywhere!  Everyones garden was amazing.  Win!

I met up with another girlfriend and we chatted and had fresh eggs for breakfast - like fresh from her yard.  Win!

I hung out in Corvallis with my cousins and had Ahi Tacos and Lilikoi Kamikazes.  Clearly thats a....Win!

Oregon - you're pretty much kicking summers butt.  I'd like to thank you for instilling in me a new found appreciation for your loveliness. 

Passion Projects & Life Coaches

I might be a yuppy but, today I'm going to visit a Life Coach.  I KNOW.  A.Life.Coach.

Here's the thing.  I don't want to be one of those people who wake up at 85 (too ambitious?  alright fine.  75.) and realize they don't really know what they're passionate about.

I love being at sea.  I love learning about new cargoes.  I love visiting new ports.  I love a lot about shipping.  

Of course there's a BUT.  Those things feel incredibly unsustainable.  Especially when you consider that you invest in your passion.  I've invested a lot in my career and It'll never be just mine.  Just mine to nourish or change.  There is always the possibility that I could start my own shipping company and then yes those things would be just mine.  

This is the reason I'm ready to start nourishing my own passion projects.  I'm ready to invest in something that feels sustainable and more importantly something that feels like it belongs to me.

So off to the life coach I go.

How do you nurture your passion?

Nautie Randomness VII

I've been working on getting my ship together (see what I did there?).  I've been writing thank you notes, running errands, reorganizing my car and suitcases, laying on the couch watching so you think you can dance, making kale smoothies, trying to eliminate milk from my coffee, organizing photos, working on future blog posts (hello slacker-ville) and text messaging friends and family of future sightings.  Whew.  I'm exhausted and maybe a little hungry.  

Other randomness, you ask?

My auntie has three chihuahuas and they're hilarious.  They make funny faces and run around the yard.  They've definitely been providing some comedic relief.

California needs some water.  It's dry.  My lips and elbows are chapped.  Let's hope for some rain and in the meantime I'll have another glass of water.

Don't ever go into a bead store if you don't actually need beads.  I spent a crap ton of money on beads...and now I'm looking at them thinking when the heck am I going to have time to bead?!

I took a roll and tone class yesterday at a yoga studio.  Have you ever heard of such a thing?  There was a big foam (like hard foam) roller and we rolled our bodies all over it for kind of a full body massage meets core work out.  It was maybe a little harder than I expected.  Who knew it was gonna hurt like a bitch when I rolled my buns over a foam roller?!

The photo I put up there is a cactus that we saw near Joshua Tree National Park....I'm gonna make it part of a series that I'm kinda looking forward too.

I'm really hoping that this little post here resets my creative juices and gets me back on the blogging band wagon!  Come ooooon creative juices!