Being grateful - 20120610

I am grateful for forgiveness.

Sometimes you meet ignorant and silly people, and sometimes those people aren't the nicest to you and do horrible things. It's a good thing that you can forgive these people and it's also a good thing if you can teach them a thing or two, in a nice way.

Being grateful - 20120511

I am grateful for the spread of good things.

One of my favourite bloggers, nienie (Stephanie Nielson of The Nienie Dialogues) just released her book, "Heaven is Here" (review/feelings to be posted soon!) and was on Anderson today. She was actually on several shows this week, taking New York by storm, and I was able to catch one. I was a superstar and put both boys to sleep in time to catch the show and to have complete silence during her segment. The show was on Moms and she was featured as a mother who overcame all odds in a deadly plane crash burning 80% of her body and coming back as an even better wife and mother than before. It's so nice to be a follower of a blogger who leads such an amazing life and is a wonderful example of how we should live ours, and to see that the media wants to spread her amazing story.

Being grateful - 20120420

I am grateful for turn arounds.

Let me explain what this is first. You're having a bad day, and you purposefully and willfully turn it around into a good day. It's an active choice and decision and it's hard to do at first, but when you've done it enough times and have had good practice and results, it's easy to do.

I had a long To Do list today, where all the items were past due. For example, I went to apply for a new passport today. My last one expired...in OCTOBER. Anyway, I needed to apply, not renew, because I wanted to update my last name on it.

Because of all the things on my mind about all the things I had to do today, my mind was everywhere. That caused me to make trips back home while on the road because of things I forgot and also caused Brother, my guarantor on my application, to go back home to give me his passport number because I forgot to put it on the form...in NOVEMBER, even after asking him for it several times. I had just deleted the text he sent with that info from NOVEMBER because I thought I should clear out some space on my phone. Anyway, after many, many wrongs, I found myself crying twice in public, once where a man was doing that try-not-to-look-but-can't-help-it-because-he-feels-bad thing. Ugh.

Anyway, it turned around. Mr.S reminded me that I could do that. People were no longer walking through the handicapped doors and instead were pressing the button for me and W in stroller. Lines weren't too long. D was okay and having a fun time with my parents. There were no issues with my passport application. W's hearing was fine. Chatted with random strangers. I finally changed my address on my license.

I got things done today. It was nice.

A White Blanket

Mr. S and I took a few days off work and headed to NY this weekend...BUFFALO, NY to be exact (just when you started picturing a post full of pictures of Times Square, Central Park and Serendipity yummies...). We did some crazy Christmas shopping and it was so pleasant. The malls and outlets weren't packed, people were in good spirits and we got a lot done. Excellent trip. We high-fived to that several times. (We high-five to everything good.)

As we were closing in on our shopping trip before leaving for home, we overheard some fellow shoppers talking about the snow outside. SNOW?!!? We took a glance out the windows of the next set of doors we walked by and there it was -- snow, and lots of it, coming down fast. This would certainly slow down our trip home, we thought to ourselves. We haven't gotten our snow tires yet and we haven't seen what Natalie (our car -- I never did write about her, did I?) can do in the snow.

We made our last purchase--scratch that, second last--(because a few minutes later, we found ourselves in Target buying a snow brush) and headed outside. We weren't parked far at all and by the time we got in the car and closed the doors, we were covered in snow. Mr. S tried to get rid of as much snow as he could with his sleeve and I opened and closed all the windows to minimize his need to do this. We sat in the car, thinking about how this was our first snow experience of the upcoming winter and how it's so strange that it was now, of all times and how it was so heavy so quickly.

Then we remembered that this white blanket that was draping itself on us was yet another sign that the baby's coming and coming fast. When this blanket decides it's been here for a long enough time and begins to melt away, our little baby will be here.

The drive home really wasn't bad afterall. It was kind of nice, warm and toasty in our seats, listening (and singing haha) to Christmas music (the Jackson 5 Christmas music was especially amusing to sing along to), admiring the snow falling and the drivers' extra caution all around us. And what do you know, crossing the border took us 30 seconds.

Let it snow.

India.Arie

Hands down, Best Concert Ever. I think it was because

1. she's my fave
2. because she's awesome
3. it was effortless for her
4. it was all very casual -- she just spoke to and sang WITH the audience

But for the real stuff

1. the acoustics were good, the mics weren't too great at first

2. the opening act was Laura Isibor, who is also AWESOME.

2. there was a guest appearance by Gramps Morgan (I'll admit that when she mentioned a guest singer followed by "he", I thought Musiq was gonna walk onto the stage...and then I briefly fantacized that they were back together and traveling in their tour bus like it was a road trip taken by two soulmates -- I'm crazy)

3. she plays at least 3 instruments: piano, guitar and flute (all of which I also play, it just so happens)

ABOVE ALL, the entire experience was spiritual, at least for me. She opened with a prayer and closed with a prayer, but for me, the entire concert felt like one long, soulful prayer. It was beautiful (she didn't sing Beautiful though). I cried like a baby.

I'll post more videos on Youtube and link them here eventually.

Sticks and Stones

I'm really enjoying today's BE newsletter from Goop. Check it out!

Question:

I’m curious about the spiritual concept of “evil tongue” (speaking evil of others) and its pervasiveness in our culture. Why do people become energized when they say or read something negative about someone else? What does it say about where that person is? What are the consequences of perpetuating negativity or feeling schadenfreude?...

Too cool

Read this and this.

World Water Day

Sunday is World Water Day.

World Water Day is an international day of observance and action to draw attention to the plight of the more than 1 billion people world wide that lack access to clean, safe drinking water. Celebrated since 1993, World Water Day was designated in 1992 when the United Nations (UN) General Assembly passed a resolution. With each passing year, the observance has grown larger and stronger.

In many ways though, World Water Day is still a relatively unknown event. Even with the support of the UN and efforts by leading non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and committed individuals, World Water Day is today at a similar stage as Earth Day was in the early 1970’s – important but relatively unknown.
-Taken from http://www.worldwaterday.net

For more information about World Water Day, visit www.worldwaterday.org

Please make sure to save as much water as you can – turn off the water when you’re brushing your teeth, lessen the amount of water you use when washing the dishes, use a reusable bottle for your water – little things matter.

On Sunday, as part of my regular runs and training, I'll be running 6K, which is the average distance to walk to get water in the developing world. If you'd like to join me, give me a call or email me!

Have a happy World Water day!

Morning

On Sunday morning, I woke up much more easily than I do on other days, whether weekday or weekend. It was late enough that the sun was up and it hit my face in such a way that I was reminded of one fateful morning that was like no other, except like this, where the sun hit my face and woke me up the same way.

It was the morning of my wedding day. There are some parts of the day I remember a little blurrily, but other parts that are so vivid. The morning was one of the vivid parts.

I had initially thought that I’d wake up and run around the house screaming but instead, when the sun hit my eyes, I felt humbled. Today was going to be a huge change for me. Yes, it meant a change in my lifestyle, a change in my independence, and of course, a change for us, a step forward in this journey that we’d been on for so long, but that wasn’t long yet at all.

On this particular morning though, I felt a change in my spirit, deep down in my soul. Today would change me so deeply, I couldn’t even imagine.

But Sunday morning was different. I turned over and found my change lying beside me.

It was a good morning.

Before you get into the shower,
Before you worry about your hair,
Baby give me one more hour,
I want you to stay right there,
I don’t wanna lose a moment,
I don’t wanna miss a kiss,
If I could plan the perfect day, love,
Then I would start it just like this,

Good morning,
Good morning love,
It's my favorite love song,
I waited all night long,
For morning,
Good morning love
Before we start the day dear,
I'm whispering in your ear,
Good morning.

-John Legend, "Good Morning" - my morning alarm, sometimes from my cell phone, sometimes sung by my husband

Follow up: A Positive Minute

Funny, I just found this in my inbox from a few days ago and didn't open it until now.

A quality you should look for in people to join you on your journey is loyalty. Although this alone does not ensure success in another person, a lack of loyalty is sure to ruin your relationship with him or her. Think of it this way: When you're looking for potential leaders, if someone you're considering lacks loyalty, he is disqualified. Don't even consider taking him on the journey with you because in the end, he'll hurt you more than help you. So what does it mean for others to be loyal to you?

They love you unconditionally. They accept you with your strengths and weaknesses intact. They genuinely care for you, not just for what you can do for them.

They represent you well to others. Loyal people always paint a positive picture of you with others. They may take you to task privately or hold you accountable, but they never criticize you to others.

They are able to laugh and cry with you as you travel together. Loyal people are willing and able to share your joys and sorrows. They make the trip less lonely.

They make your dream their dream. Some people will undoubtedly share the journey with you only briefly. You help one another for a while and then go your separate ways. But a few—a special few—will want to come alongside you and help you for the rest of the journey. These people make your dream their dream. If you find people like that, take good care of them.

* * *

Today, show gratitude to the people who are in your inner circle.

Katrillionaire

(Now I have that Lil Wayne Milli song in my head. Oops.)

This weekend was excellent. Having spent each day of it with most of the people I love dearly (I’m sorry to have missed the rest of you), I found myself counting my blessings this morning. It’s nice to do that and lose count. Try it!

Here are some highlights:

• I can tell my friends and I are getting older – our girl talk isn’t merely about boys anymore (but I’m not saying we don’t talk about boys at all!). Our much-needed and much-missed gabfest put many things in perspective for me and I felt just as nourished as I hoped I would. I also felt that I did some growing up at that table.


• Streetfighter – it’s nice to collectively want to defeat Seth using Ryu. So much encouragement, so much solidarity, so much Streetfighter, so many injured thumbs. Fortunately none of them are mine, and fortunately, there’s Kevin.


• My cousin and her husband are having their baby in a month. We celebrated this weekend with their shower and it was so much fun. I didn’t win a prize, but Husband and I did get a treat for bringing our special dip :) I love showers as most people know, but what I loved even more was pressing my ear to her belly to hear “bubbles”, a heartbeat and feel a little kick telling Tita Trina to wait a little bit longer.


• March birthday blitz shopping with husband rocked…Yay for good deals, seeing things we want but don’t need and having the self-discipline to walk away. AND I found my onesie. AND yes, I bought it, AND it’s got the “trap door”, AND it was on sale, AND I got an extra 20% off, AND it’s red, AND it fits well even though it looked huge on the hanger, AND I have to wash it before I wear it to bed. Cheers to no more looking for ones online!


• Crispy. Ginger. Beef.


• Finally got to watch Watchmen. When I bought the IMAX tickets online on Saturday for Sunday I didn’t realize that they were actually for a Saturday show…until we were walking into the theater yesterday after waiting for 45 minutes in line. The ticket-taker was nice and let us in when I told him I had just noticed that the tickets were for the previous day. Hopefully us being there didn’t mean that there were two other people forced to sit on the floor or something.


• Got to hang out at my sister’s house for my brother(-in-law)’s birthday and although we came late, I thoroughly enjoyed myself (but of course!), especially when the kids saw me when I said hi and were genuinely happy to see me. (“YAY IT’S TITA TRINAAAAAAAAAA!!!”) Ugh, each time, I melt, even when it’s followed by “Can I check how tall I am to you?”. The best part though, was when everyone turned off all the lights and unlocked the front door so that when we arrived and walked in, they yelled SURPRISE! Hahaaha, that’s such a “them thing to do”!


• Beautiful weather.

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

How much I need India.Arie

Yes, I realize that this is my third post referencing India. I will openly admit that in my dramaless and drama-attracting-less life, I’m going through some things and I’m finding that in all this haze, India and her music are proving to be a huge inspiration in a somewhat inspiration-lacking time.

I think if I wanted to be one those people who would write a singer about how much their music has changed and helped them through life, she’d be my first choice (Cece Winans at a close second). Her music feels like a nice cleanse and comes just in time when things seem a little grim.

I sit here, somewhat robotic, on a grey Friday morning, while these earbuds that seem to cancel out all noise simultaneously stretch out my small ear canals, and am reminded that yes, This Too Shall Pass.

January 20...so far

It's 9:26AM on January 20th. Everyone knows today is history-in-the-making. It feels like a good day already.

And this morning, I was told I am spectacular.

Yep, this is gonna be a good day!

For the love of wonderful people

I pulled a first in 2009 this weekend -- I went to a mall. But that's not important...

So this weekend was automatically a good one for two reasons: 

1. My future sister-in-law's bridal shower, that my Mom-in-law, cousins-in-law and I have been working on...I LALALALALALALALALALALOVE showers!
2. I took a trip to Michael's.

Now, any avid Michael's lover knows two things:

1. There aren't enough locations in the GTA
2. You can't go without THE coupon in the flyer -- because they won't just give you the discount anymore :(

Because I don't live near any Michael's, I don't get the flyer, so when I go, I go in hopes that I will find a flyer lying around somewhere near the entrance or left on a shelf or maybe there'll be one right by the cashier. The last time I went, I totally forgot and as I walked out, I saw a flyer and remembered, but figured "Aw heck, I paid already, and maybe someone else who needs it more will take it", plus I didn't have anything expensive that would have made the coupon really worth it. And then as I walked to the car, I realized they over-charged me for one of my items and I went back in so they could adjust it. 

ANYWAY, when I went this weekend, I found no flyers anywhere. I was quite sad but went around the store adding stuff to my cart in hopes that maybe when I'd get to the cashier, they'd let me have the discount since I don't get the flyer...and if not, that was okay too because everything I was picking up seemed to be on sale...except my paper cutter. Oh mama, I'd been eyeing it for a while, especially after seeing my sister do magic with hers and developing a liking to the rotary ones over the guillotine ones. Given that I had a lot of cutting to do this weekend, I really wanted it. So I added it to the cart, keeping in mind what I was hoping would happen at the cash, and if not, I could always come back some other time and for the time being, make do with an exactoknife and self-healing mat (booooo).

So after roaming the aisles, I found myself lining up and so I asked the cashier...then she directed to me flyerland.com. WOMP WOMP. So much for that. So I took the papercutter out of the cart and told her I'd just come back for it.

THEN, just as a frown started to form, I heard, "Are you looking for the coupon? You can have mine." There was an older lady behind me in line pulling her flyer from her purse and she was handing it to me! I told her it was alright so that she could use it for herself but she insisted that I take it. Afterall, her basket was just full of balls of yarn (seriously).

A total stranger just gave me $32. How sweet is that?

I paid for my purchases and then continued to thank her profusely.

And now, for anyone else who may want it, print this out before you go!

GOOP

My cousin introduced me to a website that is quite inspiring.

GOOP

It's a website by Gwyneth Paltrow and it has all sorts of things. Things to make. Places to go. Things to get. Things to do. Things to be. Things to see. Make. Go. Get. Do. Be. See.

Here's what she said about it:

"[GOOP.com is] a collection of experiences [of] what makes life good. My life is good because I am not passive about it. I want to nourish what is real, and I want to do it without wasting time. I love to travel, to cook, to eat, to take care of my body and mind, to work hard. I love being a mother who has to overcome my bad qualities to be a good mother. I love being in spaces that are clean and nice."

"Make your life good. Invest in what's real. Cook a meal for someone you love. Pause before reacting. Clean out your space. Read something beautiful. Treat yourself to something. Go to a city you've never been to. Learn something new. Don't be lazy. Workout and stick with it. GOOP. Make it great." From justjared.com

Isn't that so cool? Now go sign up for the newsletters.

Just remember...

...what's important.

I was very kindly reminded by my husband last night that at times when I'm feeling vulnerable, unaccepted, paralyzed, out of place, uncomfortable and/or not myself, to remember what's important...to keep what I value most in my life most valued, to remember what matters most and to always keep in mind that whenever I feel this way, that I have him and those who love me, always. He also reminded me that I know I'm the best me, and that I don't have to try so hard all the time to be better.

You should try this next time you feel they way I did/do sometimes. You're loved and really, that's something that really matters.

(STARBUCKS) RED

From November 27 to December 1, if you purchase a Peppermint Mocha Twist, Gingersnap Latte and Espresso Truffle, Starbucks will give a portion of the proceeds to the Global Fun to help save lives in Africa. Get yours!

If You're Out There

This is one of John Legend's new songs on his new album, Evolver. It's definitely one of my favourites (I liked it even before I knew it was inspired by change that was promised by Barack Obama) and it seems to be my anthem these days...



If you hear this message, wherever you stand
I'm calling every woman, calling every man
We're the generation
We can't afford to wait
The future started yesterday and we're already late

We've been looking for a song to sing
Searched for a melody
Searched for someone to lead
We've been looking for the world to change
If you feel the same
Then go on and say

If you're out there
Sing along with me
If you're out there
I'm dying to believe that you're out there
Stand up and say it loud
If you're out there
Tomorrow's starting now
Now, now

No more broken promises
No more call to war
Unless it's love and peace that we're really fighting for
We can destroy hunger
We can conquer hate
Put down the arms and raise your voice
We're joining hands today

Oh I was looking for a song to sing
I searched for a leader
But the leader was me
We were looking for the world to change
We can be heroes
Just go on and say

If you're out there
Sing along with me
If you're out there
I'm dying to believe that you're out there
Stand up and say it loud
If you're out there
Tomorrow's starting now
Now, now

Oh now, now

If you're ready we can shake the world
Believe again
It starts within
We don't have to wait for destiny
We should be the change that we want to see

If you're out there
Ooooh
If you're out there
And you're ready now
Say it loud
Scream it out

If you're out there
Sing along with me
If you're out there
I'm dying to believe that you're out there
Stand up and say it loud
If you're out there
Tomorrow's starting now

If you're out there
If you're out there
If you're out there

If you hear this message, wherever you stand
I'm calling every woman, calling every man
We're the generation
We can't afford to wait
The future started yesterday and we're already late

Obamarama

I’m not much of a follower of anything political anywhere unless I have to be. I will admit though, that I did at first join the bandwagon of Canadians following the American election closer than the Canadian one, and even way before one was announced in our country. For the past year or so, I enjoyed watching the race between Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton, and then even more so when John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his VP. I think we all enjoyed that…or moreso, enjoyed watching Tina Fey as Sarah Palin.

With all the excitement going on especially in the months and weeks that just passed, I found myself watching the results yesterday, more intently than if Fringe was actually on. As more and more results were announced, I sat on my couch in tears. I was full of hope. So hopeful for the US and for the changes that’ll take place there, that no doubt, will affect the whole world. Positive change is coming and it’s something we’ve needed for a long time.

John McCain and Barack Obama’s speeches were both amazing. Obama’s gave me goosebumps though. It was such a positive speech.

Cheers to change!

Philosophies

I like to say I lead a pretty good life...so far, at least. I didn't get to be where I am and who I am without some adversity, some loss, some not-so-favourable experiences. I think I could have gone down ugly paths, which probably in many cases could have been the easier paths, but because I've always liked a good challenge and also because I'm incapable of being at peace with war, I enjoy the high road. It may sound like I'm bragging, and I swear I don't mean to, but I encourage everyone to consider your own philosophies about life --those that need some work and those that are well established--and consider adding some new ones or tweaking some old ones...then share them. We can all benefit from a little learning about life.

Here are some of the philosophies I hold close -- some are my own, some are learned:

• A very good way to honour someone you weren't able to honour while they were alive may very well be to do things that would have made them proud while they were still here, and heck, it probably still does anyway.
• Life is too short to hold grudges, have arguments, give silent treatment, or anything along those lines -- communicate and give love, even if it may be difficult.
• Apologize only if you mean it and only if you know what for, not because it seems like the right thing to do or because you want to get it over with.
• Love unconditionally, because that's what real love is -- unconditional.
• Always remember yourself and you'll never get lost.
• Inspire people -- they'll pass it on.
  
• Stay positive and believe in possibilities.
  
• Be a good example -- someone is ALWAYS watching.
• Embrace every new day, even if it's your 47th birthday and you really don't want to keep lying about your age, or even if you have to go to work and you really don't want to -- it's another day of life and another chance to show the world what you've got.
• Take care of yourself -- spend your days being healthy and taking care of the only body you've got.
  
• Set goals for yourself and believe that you will meet them. Work on it and keeping this belief makes meeting your goals that much easier and that much sweeter.
• Make a list of things you'd like to do before you die and consult it often -- it helps you remember what you think is important...and it feels awesome when you get to cross things out.
• Put yourself in other people's shoes.
• Look at the big picture.
• Listen to your body. It's trying to tell you things all the time, and if you ignore it, you'll pay for it later.
• Be grateful, be appreciative -- thank, thank, thank.
• Everyone's level -- everyone's better at something than someone and everyone also needs some work.
• Say what you mean and mean what you say.
  
• When things look down, pause and check out what's up.
• Try your best.
  
• Things work out, no need to worry.
• Work towards being fearless -- take chances, do things.
  

I think that's enough for now. I could go on and on. I'm human, so I don't remember all of these things all the time and I make mistakes, but I try. Now you go try!