This quote has been on my heart recently:

"Twenty  years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you  didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail  away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore.  Dream. Discover."  — Mark Twain, American author

It has gotten me thinking of what I want to achieve with my life.  It is exciting to come up with ideas.

You miss 100% of the shots you never take, right? Well, when one of my sisters presented me with this offer to join her on vacation, I had to go. I’m so glad I did.I recently returned from a trip of a lifetime with my sister to Britain and Ireland. We loved it so much.  My sister and I spent three weeks touring these beautiful countries on a coach with a tour group. It really was a special time, and I’m blessed that I got the opportunity to do this trip, especially with my sister.

My sister and I haven’t seen each other much in the last several years due to living in different cities for school.  Since we both had recently graduated, we thought we would take an adventure before we start the next steps in our lives.

I learned so much on our trip! Here are the top ten lessons I was taught while on vacation:

I'M BACK! Sorry if I didn't respond to your comments and emails. I will soon :)  I have been away for the last three weeks on an adventure to Britain and Ireland.  It really was the trip of a lifetime. Instead of updating my blog every night, I decided to disconnect and write down what I was learning in my journal.  I travelled extensively with a wonderful group of people and gained so much insight.   I'm really excited to share my stories and pictures ( I took over 2000) with you all.  I will be back to posting regularly soon.  I just need sometime to recover from the journey and to get my thoughts down.

Claire Carver-Dias is an Olympic medallist in synchronized swimming, freelance writer and business coach (www.impactconsultinginc.com). She has a B.A. from the University of Toronto and a M.A. from McGill University. She is currently working on her PhD in English. Recently, Claire put the final touches on her debut novel, a literary thriller called "The Games" (www.thegamesnovel.com) which is now available for purchase.  Click here to find out more! Claire aspires to write more books and eat more baguettes (preferably while lounging in a Parisian cafe). She lives with her husband and three children in Oakville, Ontario.

I just saw the story of Mallory Weggemann and had to share it with you.  She is such a beautiful person inside and out.  The world needs more people who live life the way she does. I had to showcase her story in this series.  I would love her to do my interview someday :)

Julie Parker is a certified coach and clinical counsellor for women who want to shine with passion, confidence and unshakable self-respect - and take magnificent strides towards beautiful bodies, beautiful businesses and beautiful lives. Through 1:1 sessions, both in person in Melbourne and virtually around the world, Julie’s clients sift through their dreams, set crystalline goals, dissolve limiting beliefs and celebrate their successes as they begin to live their song. At Beautiful You, Julie shares inspiring images and empowering words to help women cherish their bodies and claim their brilliance. She just recently created the Beautiful You Coaching Academy to help mentor life coaches.  So exciting. Find her online at BeautifulYouCoachingAcademy.com, Facebook, and Instagram.

Last year, I went with an amazing friend to our local Lululemon store to browse their products, which we both love. While there, I saw vision boards on display which the staff had created. I thought the boards were really interesting, so my friend and I went up and looked at them closely. I have wanted to make a vision board ever since my hairdresser told me about it a few years ago. The boards on display were so beautiful that I was inspired to make a vision board myself, as I was just about to graduate and had so many dreams I wanted to pursue.

Bethany Butzer, Ph.D. is an author, speaker, researcher and yoga teacher who helps people create a life they love. She offers tools, techniques and resources that promote wellness on all levels: mind, body and spirit. She serves as a catalyst for positive change and a guide on your path toward living in authenticity. Check out Bethany's book, The Antidepressant Antidote, follow her on Facebookand Twitter, read her blog posts on Positively Positive, and join her whole-self health revolution here.

I'm so proud to be a Canadian, especially with the Olympics coming up in less than a month. I can't wait to cheer on all our athletes and watch them GIVE THEIR EVERYTHING!! I didn't chose a song of the week yesterday but it would be "O Canada." In honour of this special day, I thought I would show you my favourite parts of this wonderful country I call home. It is such a beautiful country from coast to coast! Here is a very small collection of pictures from my travels all over Canada.  I still have so much more to see.  Enjoy!!!

Sharleen Hoar (Ph.D.) has been supporting elite and aspiring performers of all ages to achieve personal and performance excellence since 1996. She is a member of the Canadian Sport Psychology Association and is the mental performance lead with the Canadian Sport Institute - Pacific working with Olympic and National team athletes, coaches, and sport science and medical professionals. Sharleen attended the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2015 Pan American Games, and supported clients through three Olympic games including the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver (Canada) and Sochi (Russia), respectively, and 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).   

I have always been fascinated by rocks – to the point that my friends and I even started a “rock club” in elementary school.  To this day, I have a rock jar that consists of beautiful rocks from the various beaches I have been to; each was associated with a great memory.  Every time I look at the jar, I think of happiness and the lessons learned. Many individuals view rocks as a source of strength, but they also have deeper meaning for me.  They are symbolic of being solid as they are resistant to damage and hard to break.  You may have heard of the terms “rock solid” or “solid as a rock”. However, when the rocks are broken; true beauty is exposed. 

If you asked Jacqueline, “What is the most important goal in your life?” She would answer, “To follow my heart every step of the way.” Her heart has taken her to some pretty phenomenal places, including living in China for 3 years, one of them in rural Hunan when she didn’t speak the language, to working on a ranch in Montana, to San Francisco, in the midst of a recession, and to many others. 

Nearly 3 years ago, she began writing a blog called 6 Months to Live, which started out as a life experiment and turned into a life philosophy. Jacqueline’s vision is to create a community of people who support and inspire each other in choosing meaningful and authentic lives. Life is waiting. Will you join her?