i'll never forget what she said as long as i live.

it was the summer of 2010 and i had packed my bags to move to penticton, BC for a few months to help my friend manage her home while her husband was away for school.

though i spent most of my time cleaning, making mean shepherd's pie, hanging out with her two 16 year old foster boys, biking through the mountains and sitting by the lake (tough life), i needed to find a job.

'WANTED: ONE AMAZING, FUNNY, BEAUTIFUL, DOWN TO EARTH FEMALE TO RUN MY KAYAK SHOP', the ad read (okay, okay, maybe i made that up), but it had something to do with being by the lake all day so i (obviously) sent in my resume.

a few days, later, i was sitting at a picnic table lakeside having a pretty relaxed conversation with ms. kayak herself.

she asked me the typical questions, where i'm from, what brought me here, what i liked about my previous jobs etc.

and then? then my friend's two foster boys walked by (they were spying the whole time) and waved.

"who are they?", she asked, and i answered (that's the way Q&A's work, people).

a big smile came across her face.

"you know, paula", she said. "when you were talking about your previous experience, you did so in a passionate manner, but when you talked about those boys and youth, you lit up. i would love to hire you, but i would being a disservice to you and the world".

i have never heard such a powerful and uplifting no in all of my life.

and you know something, she was right; when something brings us life, it shows. when something makes us feel alive, other people see it.

“don’t ask what the world needs. ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” (howard thurman).

what makes YOU feel alive? put the kayak down and get to it! (unless kayaking’s your thing, of course).