The STU-PENDOUS BLOG!

Letting go is one of the hardest things to do. For a mom to let go of her child when they move out. For a man letting go of a failed business idea. For an athlete letting go of a sporting career. For childhood friends who have grown apart. For a man in love with someone who doesn’t love them. For the person who can’t clean out their closet. Those friends that are no longer sharing your new set of beliefs. Letting go is never easy.

Today we ended our third session of camp. Half of the campers have moved on, half will stay. I watched today as tears filled the eyes of some as they realized they would have to let go of their second home; summer camp.

Here is the thing. Letting go is hard, but is can also be a good release. A chance to start a new. You need to look at all that you have learned leading up to the “letting go”. The good and the bad. It will make you stronger. Sometimes when we let go it opens up many new doors. New opportunities for greatness.

The challenge many of us never know when to move on. We can hold on so long that we destroy relationships or miss great chances to do amazing things. We can get up in a web of routine. A comfort blanket. Try. Don’t be afraid to let go. You may be surprised how rich your life will become.

Here is today’s question… Read it, write it, answer it and of course PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE share your thoughts through the “comment” link on below.

What is that one thing you could let go of today that would move you forward?

Today’s picture is of a butterfly at camp that got caught in the spiders’ web. Don’t be afraid… let go!

For more information on YLCC Summer Leadership Camp or Stu Saunders Speaking please contact info@ylcc.com

The other morning while I was at camp, one of my campers said to me after I asked them what their favourite part of camp was, “Learning I can accomplish my goals. In fact learning that I had a goal!”

Powerful stuff. This young lady was 14 years old. Imagine being fourteen and having just finished ninth grade, and you have never even thought you had a goal. Going through the motions. Each day, waking up, going to school or work, coming home and then going back to bed. Sounds almost hive like. Isn’t that what ants and bees do? They are all working towards the same goal. No one has a different goal, unless of course you are in a Disney movie, then you get to be that rogue ant or bee. Chasing a dream, wanting to be different.

Each year about 600 or more campers come to YLCC. My goal is to one day have about 1000. My goal is to open more YLCC’s around the country and perhaps the world. Why not? I need to only find the passion behind my reason and I can do anything. It is my opportunity each day to live beyond that hive mentality. Be more then a worker bee. I can also choose to bring others along with me. I know it WILL be a very exciting journey. I don’t know all of the destinations and stops along the way, but that’s what makes it so brilliant… I get to find out. I get to fail, succeed, learn and grow. I only wish that more 14 year olds knew that they can reach for true magnificence. I also wish more 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 year olds knew that too.

Wow… I just got excited again. About what? Living. I am off to work on my journey. I am pumped… wanna come along. It’s like a really huge road trip. Wooo hooo!

Here is today’s question… Read it, write it, answer it and OF COURSE SHARE your thoughts here on the STUpendous blog!

What is that first step you can do today to begin that journey. Break that cycle of routine and push yourself to greatness?

Interested in YLCC or Stu Saunders speaking contact info@ylcc.com or call us directly at 705-326-2433

Each day at camp I spend about 30 minutes doing reflection with our campers and staff. I ask a journal question each and every day. I am trying to encourage our campers to go deep. To dream while they are awake. to push their boundries and increase their awareness. It is a wonderful and very interesting exercise.

Our residential campers range in age from about 8 to 18. What I find most incredible is that when I ask a question, the youngest of our campers are the first to answer. Yesterday was all about trying to discover our inner treasures. What talents that each of us possess. You see we are all good at something. Our Leadership Discovery campers were the first to answer.

One said, “I am great am finding what’s great in my friends.” another said, “I can make people laugh”, still another shouted out “I’m great at hockey, I help my team win!”

It seems so easy for our youngest to recognize what is great about themselves. I only wish as we become older, wiser we wouldn’t seem so dense to the obvious greatness we possess. The answer to all things great is actually truly simple. It’s right there in front of us. We only need to look a little closer. Try, now… you can start whenever you want.

Here is today’s question… Read it, write it, answer it and of course share your thoughts here on the STUpendous BLOG! I hope all of my week one campers are reading this!

What are your inner treasures? What is it that you are great at?

I wanted to share a picture of our NEW rockwall… Thanks to Hillary, Derek and Rich for their hardwork. It is truly a great new addition to camp!
 
For more information about YLCC (we still have some room this summer) contact us at info@ylcc.com or call us directly at 705-326-2433

I am the first one to admit that I am not the “hippest” guy on the planet. What I do know is that I am in the industry of hanging out with very cool people. Who? Well the future leaders of the world.

This week marks the start of the 2007 summer camp season at Youth Leadership Camps Canada. This year 600 campers from around the world will descend on Orillia to learn, laugh and lead. In fact this week we have campers from Taiwan, Germany, Czech Republic, Spain, USA and all over Canada. These campers arrived last Sunday many not knowing anyone. Many never have been in Canada before this week. There are discoveries happening every second of every day.

I am constantly subjected by the adult world asking me why the youth of today are so apathetic. I want to respond with the answer, you only need to look in the mirror. It is said we only borrow the planet from our children. So how are you acting today? What daily investments are you making in tomorrow?

I am excited about my summer. I am confident that there will be a thousand great stories that will be created. Friendships and dreams will be created. That’s what we do. We try and inspire and to teach. That’s what leaders do.

Here is today’s question… Read it, write it, answer it and of course share your thoughts here on the STUpendous BLOG.

What can you do today to make YOUR world a little better? What investment in yourself could you make now that would brighten your future?

For more information on YLCC and how you or your children can attend this life altering program contact info@ylcc.com