Family Power

Have you ever noticed that you have an inner characteristic that did not come directly from your parents?  Do you ever feel a surge of power inside and wonder : “Where the heck did that come from?”

I have, that’s for sure.  When I was growing up my parents often described me as impulsive and head strong.  I got an idea into my head and I wanted to make it happen!!! Amazing characteristics to have as an adult, but as a kid I’m sure I drove my folks a little more than crazy when all they wanted to do was put their feet up and pour a glass of wine after a hard day at work.

Since my Dad passed away in 2012 Mom and I have visited Germany and Germany has visited us too!

One of my Dad’s sisters loves coming to visit and she feels very at home in Canada, her English is perfect and she’s very athletic. Mountains, lakes and bike trails are the perfect landscape for her.

The more time I spend with her, the more I see where I inherited this power of a strong will! How is it possible that you can live oceans apart and still see yourself in someone else?  I suppose that’s genetics or, as I like to call it family magic.

My Tante Karin and I have had 3 amazing adventures together in the last 4 years.  All of them included our favourite thing. A bicycle!  First along the Rhine,  then Niagara on the Lake and this weekend it was cycling from the cottage to where Lake Joseph and Lake Rosseau meet.

How many of you are in that 40 and up stage of your life?  You feel aches and pains you never had, hear your bones crack, energy levels plummet?  Yup…we all have that stuff.

Wise words from my Tante Karin are: “You can never ever stop moving!  Your body is telling you to move.  It needs this every day.  Start slow if you want and then go fast, but do something”.

She has always had this attitude and that’s what has made her do things that most people over 70 would never dream of – cycling tours, climbing mountains, ski weekends with her family. Then add in all of the good she does for her community, she helps refugees and teaches them German, she is the Editor in Chief of The Alpen Verein’s mountaineering magazine. Click HERE to check that out!

She is a beautiful multi-faceted woman with so many interests.  A person who never wakes up bored and lives a LARGE and fulfilling life.  Just like us, her life has had many ups and downs but she chooses to see the world outside of herself.  She makes choices to make a difference.

I don’t think you’re ever too old to admire and to look up to your family members.  Tante Karin always teaches me something new when I spend time with her and most importantly – I feel her power and my own.

Be proud of your good constitution and if you have relatives who live far away you might just want to go visit, you’ll be surprised how much you can learn about yourself.

Monica XO