If you’re like us, we like to vacation to warmer climates in the winter to get a dose of bright sunshine and to relax on the beach.

The Nature Portrait below was created after a visit to Sanibel and Fort Myers, Florida. You can watch this video anytime you’re feeling like you want the relaxed tropical vibe . . .

Brand new ambient music, On the Beach, serves as the soundtrack to the video, available here for download.

Do you have trouble getting to sleep?

We keep hearing from people that lack of rest is one of life’s major disruptions. So, we decided to create a guided meditation that can give sleep assistance to others.

The video process incorporates simple techniques to relax the body and mind. In addition, you’ll bring your waking hours to a close with appreciation for your life and the events of the day while releasing any racing thoughts.

You may close your eyes at any time during this guided meditation and just listen to the audio.

When you finish the video and get into bed, you may continue to use the technique in which you imagine writing down your thoughts and setting them into the river. Or, you may just follow your breathing in and out as you drift off to sleep.

Please remove all distractions from the area where you watch this video to experience the full benefit.

There is also an audio-only version of this video on the Creative Mentor page of our website.

Sweet dreams :)

I’ve always liked this timeless quote by Lao Tzu:

“Only those who know internal peace can give it to others.”

It’s a great gift to give peace to others. It’s become one of my dominant intentions. What about you?

I’m not sure about New Year’s resolutions, but if I have one for this year, I think that quote embodies the essence of how I wish to live life in 2012 and beyond.

As I write this post, I’m sitting in our travel trailer following a week long vacation to Florida’s west coast. The two of us had a wonderful time with our cats in the warm weather at the beach. We took photos, shot video, read books, watched sunrises and sunsets while enjoying moments of blissful leisure.

It’s easy to experience internal peace under such external circumstances.

Here’s where it gets interesting.

I’m happy (and somewhat surprised) to say that I still feel peaceful even though yesterday took an unusual turn for us. We were driving though Orlando, Florida on our way home when our “check engine” light came on. After consulting the manual, we decided to find a nearby dealership and get the code checked.

The diagnosis was surprisingly pessimistic. We were told that our transmission would fail and that we may or may not make it home to Ohio.

Guess what? it failed…20 minutes before we arrived at our destination in South Carolina on pitch black roads on New Year’s Eve. With an overheating van, erratic shifting and not much around, it was easy to feel stressed.

We hobbled to our destination and managed to hook up the trailer when it dawned on us that we weren’t sure how to get home or when we will be able to do so.

The odd thing is that we felt a certain sense of calm. We suddenly had no idea what we would do on New Year’s Day and there was a certain freedom to that realization. No car dealerships or repair places are open on a New Year’s Day that is a Sunday, so we were “carte blanche” (blank slate) for the first time in many years.

When is the last time you had a day in which you were totally unsure about how it would unfold? Does that make you nervous or does that seem appealing? How many of us would choose such a day?

We didn’t choose it, but it has really opened my eyes to a new perspective. I’m an improviser who began learning how to create spontaneous jazz piano solos around the age of 12. But, I’ve come to realize that improvisation in the creative practice does not always lead to improvisation in day to day living.

I think the peace I feel right now comes from the fact that there was no plan and total surrender today. This was a big lesson and I plan to employ that wisdom.

I felt compelled to share this story, perhaps to inspire others to consider ways to experience internal peace regardless of external circumstances.

Peace and joy to you in 2012!

Our latest multimedia innovation is designed to help people perform music with confidence. Most people who play or sing music wish to express themselves fully to others through this universal form of communication.

However, many people worry about being judged, compare themselves to others, and get anxious about making mistakes while delivering their musical message. Their focus turns away from the joy of expression to the fear of performing and being vulnerable.

A simple guided process, this brand new video was created to give both amateur and professional performers:

1. self-acceptance
2. self-confidence
3. freedom of expression
4. the idea that music is a universal language of connection
5. tools for mental preparation

For full instructions on how to use the video, go to the video’s page on YouTube and look at the description below the video.

As performers, Candice and I have used all of these techniques and experienced fantastic results. We also teach these concepts to our students. But, this is the first time we’ve organized the system in such a comprehensive, yet concise package.

If you know anyone who would like to be more peaceful and expressive while performing, feel free to share this video with them.

This video is the first installment in our brand new series entitled, GC Meditation Series. Upcoming videos will address topics like sleeplessness, goal attainment, public speaking, appreciation, exercise and health, abundance and forming an effective practice habit.

Greg, our two traveling cats and I spent Canadian Thanksgiving weekend (2nd weekend in October) on the Canadian side of the Thousand Islands in Ontario. We were enthralled by the quiet beauty and uniqueness of the area.

There are around 1865 islands in a 50 mile span of the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario that vary greatly in size. Some smaller ones have a charming house or two on them with small bridges connecting a couple tiny islands. Imagine living on your own private island! The Iroquois referred to this area as “Garden of the Great Spirit”. And this IS where Thousand Island dressing was created.

We accessed the Thousand Islands from Gananoque, ON, a lovely little town (pop. 5285) about midway between Toronto and Montreal. We were so impressed by the friendliness of the people. The optimal time to see Fall colors is generally the 3rd weekend in October. Here are some of our trip highlights and links for more info:

In order to see the islands, it’s best to take a boat cruise. The Gananoque Boat Line offers journeys of various lengths including a 5-hour Boldt Castle Stopover Cruise. The 1-hour cruise ($20 per person) was a perfect length for us. We happened upon the boat just as it was departing and since we missed the ticket counter, the dockhand trustingly let us on without tickets. We did buy them afterwards, and it saved us a 1.5 hr. wait for the next boat. The Gan Boat Line gift shop was offering 40% off most items for the holiday, and the cashier was very informative about the area.

For lunch, the gift shop cashier recommended the Ganonoque Inn and Spa for their waterfront view and wi-fi. We tried one of the Inn’s restaurants, Muskie Jake’s, which features delicious casual fare and generous portions. Try the lemon beer-battered fish and chips or veggie wrap. For Thanksgiving weekend, they serve a special all-inclusive turkey dinner for $20 on Sunday night by reservation only. Good deal!

Only 25 minutes away, Kingston sports a pretty waterfront reminiscent of Vancouver’s marina with some nice pubs along the river.

Visit 1000 Islands Gananoque for places to stay, like the picturesque Athlone Inn, and more activities. For campers, there are many nice resorts, including 1000 Islands Camping Resort which is quiet, pretty and has full hook-ups. The 1000 Islands/Ivy Lea KOA has Thanksgiving dinner and Trick or Treat this weekend, but it books up early.

If you want to access this area from upstate New York, click on Visit 1000 Islands.

Happy travels!

Recently, we got a private tour of a tranquil little spot in Northeast Ohio. “Stebbins Gulch” is part of Holden Arboretum.

This newest Water Film provides you with an experience of this amazingly peaceful slice of nature.

If you enjoy the soundtrack for this film you can download it here.

Press play and enjoy!

You can also watch it on YouTube in HD.

Our Water Films DVD, with over 2.5 hours of content, is also available on Amazon.

Sitting here near Niagara Falls right now, I’m amazed at how many times one can return to this spot and be amazed. The aquamarine color of the Niagara River and the power of the falls are always a sight to behold. We caught a double rainbow as we were leaving Horseshoe Falls!

We tried out some new experiences on this trip that were quite rewarding. We hiked the rugged Niagara Glen, visited the amazing Butterfly Conservatory and hung out in quaint Niagara-on-the-Lake (the deep blue of Lake Ontario can be seen below at the mouth of the Niagara River).

Here are a few of the 250 photos we captured from the weekend. We also gathered lots of video footage for future Water Films and music inspiration.

Enjoy! Be sure to scroll all the way down to see one of the butterflies from the conservatory.

Last weekend, we took our first trip to the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Because we visited a “bear ranch,” we saw more bears there than our summer trip out West :) One of our favorite male black bears is pictured below.

As is the case whenever we travel, we gathered many water and nature images which will appear in future Water Films and guided meditations. These experiences provide creative inspiration for our music and multimedia creations.

Here are some of the highlights from the trip, including Tahquamenon Falls (one of the largest falls east of the Mississippi), Lake Superior and nearby Sable Falls, plus sunset over a small lake in the Lower Peninsula.

Kananaskis Country is just outside Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. The peace, quiet and grandeur of the area inspire awe and a deep sense of calm.

This new Water Film also features music inspired by the lakes.

If you enjoy the soundtrack for this film you can download it here.

Press play and enjoy!

You can also watch it on YouTube in HD.

If you wish to purchase Water Films on DVD, they are available on Amazon.

Last week, we visited a lovely little natural spot in Northeast Ohio — Stebbins Gulch, part of Holden Arboretum.

We got a private tour of this very peaceful spot that featured a clear stream, waterfalls, a swimming hole and huge rock formations on either side of the ravine.

The area is unspoiled and amazingly quiet, considering its proximity to suburban surroundings. We heard nothing but rushing water and wind during our time there.

As I reflect on that hike, the thing that struck me was how hard I was working at keeping my shoes from getting wet for the first 25 minutes of this rugged trek. I was carrying a tripod, camera bag and backpack, so I felt the need to stay completely out of the water. Candice and my fellow hikers already stepped into the water and just let go of the idea of staying dry.

Meanwhile, I was slipping all over the place on moss covered, partially wet rocks that were more slippery than a lot of ice I’ve experienced. You see, there was no trail. The creek was the trail.

Finally, after slipping and falling in a more dramatic fashion, I decided to follow the line of the trail that was sometimes submerged. As soon as that first shoe dropped into the stream, I felt relief.

A new kind of freedom emerged from the simple acceptance that my shoes were going to get wet.

What’s that about?

Why would I be so concerned about wet shoes? The effort spent in keeping them dry took my focus away from fully enjoying the experience. Without getting my feet wet, I wouldn’t have been able to scale a few waterfalls or get some really nice water closeups with the video camera. But, most significantly, I wouldn’t have experienced the freedom and peace that came with just allowing the situation to unfold with wet shoes.

Ok, sure, I might hike in my Teva’s next time, but this struck me as a perfect metaphor for life.

All of us have these fears that can govern our daily lives along with patterns that are programmed into our psyche. We believe these concepts or “road rules” will keep us safe or on the right track…or whatever it is that we believe.

However, these ideas frequently keep us from experiencing freedom, joy and adventure. I’m not suggesting that we all go out and do risky activities, but awareness of our subconscious patterns can powerfully change our daily experience from mundane to invigorating in a matter of moments.

It may seem inconsequential, but putting my feet in the water that day was a small step, promising greater awareness and big changes in my outlook.

(I stepped in right around here)