R E S P E C T

Yesterday was “Pink Shirt Day”, and so I am inspired to write about something that I strongly feel is a key in fighting, not just bullying, but also ignorance; racism; and other phobias that modern society faces.

I support the Anti-Bullying Campaign wholeheartedly. But let me suggest that this year’s motto of Being Kind is not just a one day thing, but a life-long, everyday way to live.

From my perspective, there seems to be a lot of “it’s all about me” (and if it’s not about me then why should I care) mentality, in recent times.

I strongly feel that if we encourage, teach and live with Respect, (as defined in the dictionary: valuing other people & property; consideration; thoughtfulness; courtesy and politeness), we could have a huge positive impact on all of these problems!

But “bullying” doesn’t just happen to children or youths, and no matter who you are it is unfair…

Have you ever used your position at work as a superior to force someone a lesser position to do something that was not their responsibility or hinted of a reprimand if they failed to comply? Have you ever been disrespectful to a server, store clerk, or bus driver, just because you are having a stressful day? (Were they not quick enough? Did they make a mistake?) Have you ever been rude or needlessly dismissive to a child just because he/she was bothering you?

I am embarrassed to admit it, but I have occasionally treated someone like their feelings just didn’t matter to me. But I have also taken the time, when the situation has allowed, to go back and apologize for my bad behavior at these times. Although I am aware that apologizing does not fully mend the feelings that I have offended, it is at least it is an acknowledgment that at that point in time I was wrong. I also continue to make intentional daily effort to be respectful despite my mood or circumstance, and usually manage to succeed in this area.

Imagine people feeling good about the way people have treated them and in turn treating others fairly & politely. As an added bonus people would begin to feel good about their selves too, which would escalate into more caring about others; more people caring about them; and so it continues to grow!

If we can learn to respect not only ourselves, but other people too, there will be less needless hatred, hurt and shaming.

So to end this blog I want to encourage you to #BeKindAlways

 

 

 

To the laughter we will miss.

Tags

love, robin williams

As I reflect on the tragic passing of a man who brought joy to the lives of millions, possibly billions worldwide, I am reminded of how fragile we, as people, really are.

Imagine being able to make people laugh in almost any circumstance, or at almost anything; imagine being so effortlessly able to make people feel at ease that they are not daunted by your immense stardom. Then imagine the greatness of these gifts being intertwined with the hidden story of a man that fought loneliness and depression for years. This is the same man that struggled multiple times with substance abuse but could somehow translate this sadness in such a way as to make it entertaining for the rest of us.

As I think of this, I am drawn to wonder… did he know how much he was appreciated by all of us that needed his spontaneous gift of humour to make our lives a little less serious and stressful; did he know how much we cared? And the more irresistible question, at least in my mind, is would it have made a difference in his if he did?

Why is it that we often wait until people are passed on to compliment them; share our feelings about them; or just to honor them, their lives and their special talents? Maybe it is because we often don’t realize how important they are to us until they are gone  – whatever the reason is – Could we make even one person’s life better with a little praise face to face, a pat on the back, or a simple hug?

So my point today is twofold:

1. My thoughts and prayers go out to the personal friends and family that are mourning the death of a one-of-a-kind talent and real person (father; husband; friend), in this time of sorrow.
2. Don’t wait to share your true feelings, appreciation and caring with someone until it is too late to tell them… it might have the power to change their life, (but even if it has only the limited effect of brightening but a single day for them, it will certainly have the ability to remove a future regret from yours.)

***

 May you rest in peace Robin, you will be missed!

Thank you for years of laughter!

 “I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone, it’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel all alone.”

~ Robin Williams (World’s Greatest Dad)
“No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change this world.”

~ Robin Williams (Dead Poets Society)

 

A Little Christmas Spirit Anyone?

I must say that my heart is breaking more this year than any other year that I have seen…

In years not so long past I have packed the family into our van and driven around the city singing Christmas carols while we stared at all the pretty Christmas lights, but this year there are blocks and blocks of houses without so much as a single string of lights. (It used to be that even apartment buildings had lights on almost every balcony but now they are just dark, cold cement towers in the skyline.)

This year I have been bombarded with all kinds of retail advertising telling me to selfish; and how much I deserve something special for Christmas, and worst of all how I should get it for myself because of all the hard work I am doing. Btw…the hard work is called life. (It is our responsibility as people to care for others, not just at this time of year, but especially and more so at Christmas!)

I have been to the busy shopping centers and endured the line ups trying to find that perfect little something that will light up the face of someone I care for. I have stopped at my favorite coffee shop; grocery store; bank; and even greeted my regular bus driver, but not once this season has anyone wished me a “Merry Christmas”? (Are we not supposed to be even friendlier at this time of year? Is the joy of this season not supposed to remind us to care; to share; and to be happy in doing just that?)

Here it is 10 days before Christmas and I just want to stand in the middle of a crowd and yell, “Merry Christmas,” at the top of my lungs! “And while I have your attention, can I just remind you all that this holiday is about love! It’s not about buying the latest and greatest and most expensive things, (things which will be obsolete by next year anyway…but that’s for another story about consumerism…lol). The Christmas season is not about spending until you drop and worrying about how you are going to pay for January’s bills; it’s not another excuse to buy a new outfit and stylishly go to all the parties – it is about spending time with family and friends to share memories of the past, while making new ones that will carry you through the times when life gets in the way of enjoying these pleasures”.

Turn on your radio and listen to the words of the old familiar Christmas carols…hear the meaning; watch an old classic Christmas movie or cartoon and remember when you were a child…even I, who didn’t have much of a family life, looked forward to the Christmas holidays. (We never got spoiled, actually my family was never on the leading edge of technology or fashion trends but we were a family, if only for that one brief time of the year!) I even remember the playful smile on my father’s face when we opened our brand new game system, only to find out that our parents had been playing it every night after we went to bed for that last month. I miss dinners at my grandparent’s house, even though they always wrapped all the presents at once and then forgot which package was who’s when they went to label them. I have tried to share these values with my kids… we decorated cookies and made funky ornaments for the tree and yes, even as adults, we still sing Christmas carols! These are the special things and happy times that I want to share with my new little grandson, but I am scared that in a few more years no one will remember any of the holiday cheer and traditions that have been part of Christmases past since our parents and their parents were young.

So to all of you, no matter what your background or religion, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and may your New Years be full of Joy, Peace and Love!

Reflections

Tags

Christmas, family, parenthood

I cannot explain fully the emotions running through me last night…

Picture a peaceful evening in the living room in front of the fire, my husband and I decorating our Christmas tree while Christmas music plays in the background. My youngest son, now 20, joined us only to fall asleep and nap on the couch beside us.

The lights on the tree are twinkling now, and I wish for the days when my children were young and at home with us every holiday. As we hang up handmade bobbles one by one, I remember how happy they were as we made the holidays special together. We decorated, shopped, drove around the city looking at pretty coloured lights and singing Christmas carols, and on Christmas Eve we prayed together in church.

I remember being able to fix all their problems by holding them tight and kissing them better. They were so innocent, so easy to make happy and so mine to protect, (and I did to the best of my ability). Now they are grown, making lives of their own, with their own mistakes and triumphs along the way (and all I can do is watch and hope that I did enough for them; taught them well enough to help them along their journey through life).

As tears of sadness mixed with tears of joy, I laughed and smiled with my husband as if he knew my thoughts and shared my feelings of longing to recapture years gone by. Time goes by so quickly and things that change are beyond our control. This year our oldest is spending Christmas in her new home 13 hours away, (my sister lives near her). My other son lives 4 hours away, (part by boat and part by land); his job will keep his visit short this year. And even as I think about it the time is coming near that I may have to share even the precious time we have with his girlfriend’s family, as I am sure one day they will be my in-laws.

I think again of Christmases not so long ago, with all our family gathered here, faces that we miss (both living and those no longer here on earth), the times of joy and laughter, and love beyond compare.  My littlest child, now fully grown, I see sleeping like an angel, all his cares and stresses washed away as he peacefully rests after a hard day. Someday soon he will take to life on his own, (though I do not know yet where his life will lead him, I am optimistic that he will be okay as he makes choices and deals with life’s ups and downs, as do we all).

I can no longer keep them close, nor protect them, the only aid I can offer is to pray for what is best, and hope that they remember as fondly as I the times we used to share!

The tree is complete, we now sit together admiring our handiwork and anxiously await the coming of Christmas Day. My husband and I, together and happy to be so in love; I am sure that even when we are old and grey we will sit on our couch together, one wonderful evening in December and admire the decorations, as we wait for the holiday to start (and perhaps the patter of grandchildren come to visit us)!

Written with love… to all those I hold near and dear in my heart forever!

 

My Christmas Prayer

Tags

christianity, Current Events, encouragement, joy and peace, mercy and grace, poetry, thankful hearts

I thank You, Lord, that I am blessed with love and joy and peace;

I thank You, Lord, that I am learning humility, mercy and grace;

I thank You, Lord, that both on earth and in heaven I have a place.

I pray that all would realize the true meaning of this holiday;

I pray that with thankful hearts we not pass by any in need or lonely;

I pray that no one fights, and that all people would be free;

I pray that children everywhere can fearlessly play and live;

I pray that every heart would have hope and believe;

I pray that amongst the gifts that we receive, all may know the gift of giving.

I pray for a Merry Christmas for you and yours, and everyone!

A World We Seldom See

Tags

adventure, inspirational, sharing and caring

Although I have been to Mexico a few times, I did something different this time…

Yes, I did the beach; the poolside bar; and the tacky souvenir tour around the city, but I also took a trip to the countryside. I visited some small towns and villages and saw some amazing things…

There were brightly coloured small homes, all in a row; a beautiful old cathedral in the middle of a town of less than 500 people; young children shyly peering out from behind their mother while she baked in a brick oven; an old man working outside (30 Celsius heat, plus humidity) in open shack, covered in palm fronds, making floor tiles the way they have for centuries; dilapidating adobe huts that looked uninhabitable; undernourished, but friendly, dogs running free all over the villages; brilliant flora and fauna everywhere, including growing out of the adobe and red clay buildings; and a group of young boys, dressed in little more than what we would consider rags, who spend their spare time making tiny carvings out of scraps of wood just hoping to sell them for a few pesos to anyone who wanders by.

There are so many common, everyday things that we tend to take for granted as being our right to have, that are unaffordable luxuries to many people both here and all around the world. Have you ever woken up and thought “I am so glad that I have electricity; a place to live with a solid roof; or a car to drive me where I want to go”, or as you were figuring out which shoes to buy to match a specific outfit, have you ever wondered “what if I couldn’t afford to have even one pair of shoes”?

I sometimes find it frustrating that our culture (North American culture) has become so self-absorbed; so focused on our own wants that we rarely even give a thought to those with less, or those in need. The sad truth is that we often feel denied if we can’t have everything we want. When I look at my beautiful puppy I cannot imagine not being able to get him medical help at the local vets, if he needed it – how could I ever imagine not being able to take my child to the local doctor’s office? When I get up in the morning and turn on my coffee machine, my computer, my TV I never stop to think what life would be like without any of them.

I know what you might be thinking, and this letter is not intended as a dig at our social/economic development, but it is meant to remind me of how lucky we really are! (Let me explain that my family is not rich, or even well off, instead I would say that my family is of average income and means, which is still far better off than many others.) I sometimes watch the news and am temporarily saddened when a disaster or unfortunate event is broadcast; and like many others I give to charities; I even sponsor a child in a foreign land, but in my day-to-day life I often forget that there is a whole big world out there, and many people just aren’t as fortunate as we are.

I guess the point that I am leading up to is that my vacation made me feel more inspired than ever before to see how many ways, (both big and small; in my country and far beyond) that I can give back; get involved; and contribute to a better world for everyone.

There is so much more I can do! And my wish would be that all of you could join me, but if for whatever reason that is not possible, at least I know that I have had the pleasure of being able to share these thoughts with you.

I went on vacation and looked beyond the traditional tourist spots to life in the country, the real country, and left with new eyes…

Be blessed and be content!

The 2012 Olympics, in London

Tags

sports

For the past 16 days, I have been enjoying our Olympic efforts… and I must say that I couldn’t be any prouder of our athletes even if we had placed higher in the medal standings.

It is not the winning but how we competed that is worthy of accolades. The actual act of qualifying for the Olympics is plenty difficult enough, and it should please our “spectator pride” that we had so many athletes accepted to compete in so many sports. Despite some unfortunate circumstances, in a few cases,… many of our athletes competed at personal best levels, and others finished just shy of the podium, (both of these accomplishments are noteworthy and something to be proud of! ).  To win a medal at the competitions is all very lovely and obviously the goal of most of the competitors world-wide, but the personal triumph of being allowed to compete and the knowledge that they have gone out there and laid it all on the table should be worth more than gold, silver or bronze ever could be.

In keeping with the theme of the Olympics… All I can say is that I am proud to be a Canadian, and that when asked my heritage that is exactly what I answer, without even a second thought as to whether I am originally European, Caucasian or any other defining term. I am simply Canadian. (I do not ever want to lose the sense of friendliness; helpfulness and welcoming that Canada has built its reputation on all over the world.) We are truly a great country, and that shows through in how we present ourselves to the world!

I hope that our athletes are just as proud of themselves and the country that they have so eagerly and honourably represented.

Congratulations team Canada!

Looking forward to watching it all again at the next Olympics.