Breath of Fresh Air

There's a lot of politics in the media these days. I recently sat through half a TV debate of four middle-aged men running for mayor in our city. Nobody cracked a smile... Everyone was angry... None of them spoke as well as I had hoped.

That's why I was excited to read this story of a young man running for city counsellor in my former hometown, Kelowna BC.

His signs made me smile...

His instagram account was full of details of how he'd like things to change in the city.

He seemed approachable. 

(Hopefully his enthusiasm won't wane now that he's been elected.) 

He's a breath of fresh air in city politics... I wish him well!

Balanced Life in Retirement

I recently came across this bit of wisdom about living a balanced and active life in retirement...

Whether we realize it or not, we do have structures to our day - regardless of how old we are or what stage of life we're in.

Mine begins at dawn - or even earlier now in our shorter daylight hours. I don't want to miss anything!

As I drink my first two glasses of water and then, the two cups of coffee that help me wake up, I read, reflect and pray - writing my prayers and gratitude in a journal notebook. I also note the weather for the day on my phenology calendar. 

At some point early in the day, as I think of it,  I write down what I'd like to accomplish that day. Terry and I, at some point early on, have a "meeting" - and talk about our personal goals for the day and make a meal plan.

Then we get up and start!

I should add that more often than not, I don't accomplish all I had hoped to do - but then, there's always tomorrow!

Healthy Aging

My daughter recently sent me an article on Canada's oldest woman - 110 years old.

She became Canada's oldest when a 110-year-old man passed away.

Her children said that she was thrifty - of the "waste not, want not" generation (much like my parents). 

And she urged her children to love everyone. 

I love that precept! A loving, accepting attitude is sure to create a lightness of heart. That surely helps one live to a ripe old age!

Book to "Nibble" On

I often have a number of books around that I'm not so much reading - as "nibbling" on.

Here's one: The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days.

I heard about the author, Kate Bowler, from my daughter - who listens to her podcasts. 

She's about my daughter's age - but a life- changing cancer diagnosis a few years ago made her reflect more on life.  

A thought that made me pause and ponder is found in the introduction: "We have days that shimmer... We know how fleeting these moments can be. Some days are filled with fireworks, yes, but most are not..." So true.

After the flood, the basement cleanup preoccupied us. No shimmer there...

I'm thankful that the water is gone and the walls are drying out. But we have a long way to go before we get our living space back.

So I look out the window to brighten my days. The flowers in my garden - and the beautiful sky bring me joy. I'm so thankful for them!

By Example!

Whether we realize it or not...

Whether we like it or not...

We all learn - and teach - by example...

Giving It Up For Lent

Today is the beginning of Lent, the 40 days before Easter, a period of time when many Christians give up a guilty pleasure for 40 days. A kind of fast from something they normally enjoy.

I've never succeeded in completing this discipline for all 40 days - but this year I hope I will.

I plan to give up reading Apple News - or watching CNN - or Fox - or any news program that focuses on people's unkindness to each other.

I am so tired of nastiness.

As my daughter says, People need to make an extra effort to be nice and kind these days, when there is so much anger and negativity in the world already.

I totally agree!

Don't Worry!!

They say: Don't judge a book by its cover... But I sometimes buy books because of their covers - often because I find the title and/or illustration interesting or inspirational.

A case in point is the cover of this book I recently pulled out as I sorted through my books, wondering if I should get rid of any.

I've had it for years - but I've never read it. It's apparently about childhood abuse - a topic I don't enjoy reading about.

As a child, I was surrounded by a large, loving family - especially my mother's 10 siblings whom my brother and I were very close to. There were a lot of "cheerleaders" around us.

But as a child, I was also a worrier - I'm not sure why... Maybe it's a trait I inherited from my grandmother... And I tend to worry still.

The cover of the book - which I now have sitting out where I can see it - reminds me to focus on RIGHT NOW - not on an uncertain future. Everything is fine TODAY. Looking at it gives me comfort.

DON'T WORRY!

(But I do envy those born with a carefree spirit!)

Doggy Wisdom

I haven't lived in a household with a dog since I was a teenager and still lived with my parents and my brother. Our dog "Moochie" - our family pet - brought a lot of laughter to our lives for many years. Thinking about her still makes me smile.

When I saw this list of things we learn from a dog, I thought it was worth sharing...

It occurs to me that this list doesn't totally describe Moochie - because she did hold grudges. After one particularly bad experience with a mailman, she was never kind to anyone wearing a postman's uniform. And she did "show her passion with gusto."

In searching (unsuccessfully) for the author of this, to credit them,  I discovered a lot of "doggy wisdom" out there. Our pets can teach us a lot about life!

I should add that I've been hunting in vain for a photo of Moochie. I know I have at least one. Then I remembered that my mother tossed out most of our pictures of the dog because my dad was inconsolable after she was gone.

As she explained it to me: When our daughter and son left home, he didn't shed a tear - but every time he saw a picture of the dog, he started to cry.

Moochie and my dad shared a special bond.

The Sad Mystery of War

War has been on my mind recently - the war in the Ukraine, where my mother was born. And now this war in the Middle East, where I spent so many years.

Benjamin Franklin had it right when he wrote, in 1783, that "There never was a good war or a bad peace."

His reasons hold true today, so I have included them in three screen grabs - from his letter, as found online.

As Franklin said: War causes so much human heartache and misery... If you think of how much good could be done with the money wasted in war, it truly is a mystery why wars occur at all.

Thanksgiving!

Today is Canadian Thanksgiving - always celebrated on the second Monday of October.

Being thankful is an antidote to all kinds of sadness...

We probably need a daily "Thanksgiving" moment... or maybe two ... EVERY DAY- when we wake up...   

And another at the end of the day!!

Wise Words

I always find it interesting to hear advice from people who have lived long productive lives, regardless of their life experience.

So I was interested to read recently that one memorable piece of advice US President Jimmy Carter gave to his grandson Hugo Wentzel, was: FINISH WHAT YOU START. 

(Sound advice that reminds me that I have a few projects I need to finish!)

President Carter's words remind me of the graduation speech where a retired US navy admiral told grads that his best advice was: MAKE YOUR BED.

I guess he means: Be proactive. Develop good habits. 

Interesting - and perhaps no coincidence - that both these men - President Carter and Admiral McRaven - had long, active careers in the US navy!

Practice!

Back in the day, we used to say: "Practice makes perfect."

And that's true.

But I like this saying better: "Practice makes progress." That's the key to learning.

I'm not a perfectionist. There are a lot of things I'll never do perfectly - according to someone else's standards.... My knitting and quilting are perfect (or imperfect!) examples. And that's okay!

I can still ENJOY new challenges... and achievements - without the tyranny of being "perfect."

Remembering Difficult Days

A friend recently came across this picture of Terry in our second year of marriage. He doesn't look too happy!

We had just moved from Montreal to Toronto so that Terry could continue post-graduate studies. We missed our community of friends back home. To make matters worse, the program he had enrolled in wasn't what he had hoped it would be.

Had he made a mistake?!

It was definitely a stressful time for us both!

But (as a singer I admire says): We don't learn from our successes. We learn from our failures... We need to talk more about the benefits of failure. (Ed Sheeran)

From my own experience, I'd add that times of sadness can be great motivators for change... life changing!

That year of study that had started out so disappointingly ended up being an important educational step for Terry - one he's now glad he had.

But first we both had to struggle through difficult times.

Play!

I recently came across an article online about the importance of PLAYING EVERY DAY.

As I browsed the article, it occurred to me that we all "play" differently. For some people I know, board games are an important kind of play. For others, like Terry, watching sports - and getting excited about who's ahead - is play. For me, knitting - as well as writing blog posts - are play because I enjoy them. 

Play relaxes us.

It also occurred to me that I should - unapologetically - be playing more!

Treasure Found in Sorting

Hot summer days - smoky summer days - or even cool summer days - can be perfect for SORTING stuff that has collected in the basement. 

(I like to do it in small bits so as not to be overwhelmed by years of memories!)

I recently came across this plaque that was given to Terry in the busy days of his career in social work - working with children and their families. He must have brought it home when he retired.

I love it! So true! Important to remember. 

I think it deserves a place on the wall, where we can see it often.

Boomerang!

My daughter was deleting files when she came across a quote that I had shared with her in 2012. She passed it on in a social media account.

All these years later, before deleting it, she sent it back to me! I'm glad she did. It's good to be reminded of wise words.

Walking...

Several months ago, we stopped getting our daily newspaper delivery - even though we have a paid  subscription. When Terry complained, we were informed that our early-morning delivery person had quit and they hadn't found a replacement. But - they added, your subscription includes online access. So you can read the newspaper online.

Terry wasn't happy. He likes a physical paper but he has adapted - a bit. He does read our local paper online now, but he's always happy to get paper copies from our son whenever he can.

Our son isn't the only one supplying him with real newsprint. A friend, who subscribes to the weekend New York Times has also supplemented his reading by giving him her copies of the weekend NY newspaper when she's done with them.

Recently, in the NY Times, Terry came across this article on the benefits of walking and he passed it on to me.

Entitled, "Whatever the Problem, It's Probably Solved by Walking," the article has a lot of quotes about the benefits of walking or meandering (and thinking).

I found it so interesting that I'm going to cut it out and keep it.

My favourite walking quote is attributed to the famous physician, Hippocrates, who lived 2,500 years ago: "Walking is man's best medicine," Hippocrates apparently said. He didn't mean merely physical ailments. "If you are in a bad mood, go for a walk. If you are still in a bad mood, go for another walk."

I love it!!

Q1 Self-Evaluation

In January, on a blog I often read, I saw a list of "good habits" to develop... (Was I hunting for some useful "new year's resolution" ideas?! I don't remember.)

I may never have posted the list, but here are some of the items on it:

• Dream big
• Plan ahead 
• Stay focused
• Get up early
• Invest in yourself 
• Read more books
• Avoid time wasters
• Take calculated risks
• Write down your goals
• Live on less than you make
• Make your health a priority
• Do work that matters to you
• Learn from people you admire
• Develop an attitude of gratitude 

Looking at these "good habits " again, three months into 2023, I think I was attracted to the list because I value these things. In fact, already do a lot of them. I do plan ahead - though I love to be impulsive as well. The joy of freedom!!

Am I dreaming big? I used to but I tend to be more cautious these days. Is it my current age and stage of life? Or simply the pandemic, that has taught me to hunker down, stay safe? The pandemic has made me more cautious. I wonder if my life will ever go back to the way it was before.

In spite of the pandemic - and being retired - I still  have goals. From time to time, for years and years now, I have regularly re-visited them, writing them down and reflecting on them - just to remind myself of my hopes and dreams, or as one friend calls them - my soul's sincere desires....

Keeping them in mind, I still try to spend my time doing meaningful work - even in retirement. This may be why I'd only get a D in house cleaning. Maybe a B+ in knitting and crochet - and other creative endeavours.

I love to do them, but I'm not a perfectionist. I might get an A in reading and reflecting. My only A+ would be in willingness to take scenic drives, hunting for adventure! I value everything I do.

Things to work on?? After years of Terry reminding me to "count my blessings,", I'm still trying to develop an attitude of gratitude. I wish I had a naturally sunny disposition - but this is probably more common in children who are the youngest in a family. Maybe even a middle child. We "first borns" were always expected to be responsible. That expectation sticks with you for life!

Do I plan to do a Q2 re-evaluation? Unfortunately (or not) most of my habits are pretty ingrained. So there may not be much change!

Interesting Realization

For a long time now I've enjoyed exercises in stream of consciousness writing. The practice was suggested by two writing teachers I admire - Natalie Goldberg (Writing Down the Bones) and Julia Cameron (The Artist's Way). 

I recently started a new series of personal reflections - using this prayer journal as a take-off point.

Each chapter started with a Bible verse to reflect on in stream of consciousness writing. I was enjoying it...

... until this verse came along...

I'll skip it, I told myself after reading it... and moved on. 

This happened several times... What don't I like about this verse? I wondered.

Then it struck me! 

I was never encouraged to be gentle and quiet in my whole life! There was no "Children should be seen but not heard" in our family.

Instead, my parents encouraged my brother and me to speak out and give our opinions. Family is a democracy, my father would say.

It wasn't really - not when parents hold the purse strings. But, looking back, I'm really thankful my parents were always interested in hearing our points of view. It taught me to think for myself - and to be assertive. 

(Which is why I have never ever in my life wished for a gentle and quiet spirit!... I guess that's a confession!)

Candy Store Message

Love this candy store display - and message!

I’m trying (with great difficulty) to lose a few pounds - so it’s not that “sweet” for me!