Here are my observations from traveling in California:

1. I’m often surprised and touched by the kindness of strangers in cafes, in stores, on trains and planes, and the synchronicities that can unfold when you start with “hello” and have a conversation.

I speak to the man beside me on the plane from Calgary to Seattle. He is Japanese, now living in Seattle, and was a chef in restaurants for many years. The head of his company is Mr. Ishii (no kidding) and I end up with a phone interview with his boss for a potential job.

A woman in a coffee shop was reading an Untethered Soul, a book that I love, and I started a conversation with her. We had a lot in common though she was on the other side of the country from me. I will stay in touch with her.

I spoke with a store clerk and an interesting couple from San Clemente in a store in San Diego.I ended getting a ride back with them from San Diego to San Clemente, where I was staying,and they provided me with good tips about places and restaurants.

It turns out that the man beside me on the train from Ventura used to live in Montreal for 10 years with his family and he was also going to Saint Juan Capistrano. He drove me from there to Dana Point where I was catching the #1 bus along the Pacific Coast Highway and gave me a nice tour of the area before I caught the bus.

2. Letting go of expectations.Traveling is all about being with what is, not what I want it to be. I’ve encountered people, places and things that were not what I expected and I had the urge to run, give up, turn away. I wanted things to be different, I wished I was somewhere else, I thought of better times in the past or future.

On the trip, I tried another way of being and would ask myself questions when I would get into this negative speak. What is the real situation without my filters on it? What can I do about it and not? What could make the situation better?

This new approach put me into being more in the present, thinking of next steps instead of being in the future looking back at poor me or in the past wishing I could skip the present.

A place I booked online was not what I expected. I wanted to run away. Instead, I decided not to spend much time there, and why would I anyway, with the beautiful weather to soak up and ocean, beaches and area to explore. In the end, I had so much fun during the day that when I came back at night, I didn’t care that much about the place, I was so happy and exhausted to be in a bed.

I decided that this would be an ideal time to start my gratitude practice. It’s hard enough to remember when everything is going ok, but when things are not, then I need it more than ever. I was grateful for having shelter, a bed to sleep in, the ability to come to this beautiful part of the world, and to be healthy to enjoy it. I did this upon waking and going to bed. The result?

I became more content with my place. Not overjoyed, not ecstatic, but good, content. I appreciated that the place was close to the ocean and town, that the owner was carefree and easy going, that it was an ok place to stay, maybe not my ideal and what I expected, but fine.

3.Sunshine, warm weather, the ocean, the beach, the people, the free spirit. It seems to go with one package that you tie with a bow that has southern California on it. Now whether you have the time to appreciate it and be grateful for it is another thing.

People here often said to me that they are too busy to go to the ocean and beach. When there are overcast skies with the sun poking through and the temperature in the 70s F someone might say that it’s not a very nice day to be outside. I was surprised by that comment. In Toronto or Ottawa, people yearn to be out on a patio enjoying the warm weather and whatever rays they can get coming through the clouds.They would squeeze everything they could from the day.

This brings me to appreciation and gratitude.It is normal to take for granted the beauty in our every day lives if it’s there every day? If we changed weather patterns (nice thought but there would be some pretty pissed people) for one day in late November, let’s say southern California and Toronto, what would happen?

4.Surf culture. I’ve had a blog post on how much I’m loving observing the surfers, the surfing, and the way the surfers seem to live in and out of the water so I won’t go on here.

5.Adventure and possibilities. I love travel for the adventure and possibilities that await each day. I am more curious and alive to all the new things in front of me. How I can keep this spirit alive when at home? How can I put on new lenses every day that make me feel that my life is an adventure and there are possibilities?

One way I know is by going for the change, risk, and the possibilities in our lives. Though it’s very thing that most of us shy away from. When I look back on my life, these are the very things that have brought me some of the greatest moments of fulfillment and joy, even though I was scared shitless before and during. Do what you fear every day they say. So what is it today?

6. Dog culture. Besides surf culture there is real dog culture here with day cares, spas, bakeries, clothing tailored for dogs, in particular Halloween costumes are hot right now, and patios for dogs and their masters.Many stores have dog water bowls outside and some even provide treats for their canine customers.People love dogs and then they love people who own the dogs, in that order. People love cats too, but here dogs seem first cats second.There are posters, plaques, key chains, magnets, and trinkets galore with sayings about dogs.

“Be the person your dog thinks you are,” is my favourite saying as I saw that in a store window after I had to put my best friend and dog Olga to sleep and I was heart broken. I comforted myself with the thought that it could be a message from her. Dogs provide so much unconditional love and think the best of us even though we are not often at our best with them. How can I live up to this saying in memory of my dog Olga has been my journey since then.