With gratitude...

Gusts of gratitude for my lovely warm jackets, sweaters, boots, hats and mitts during this frigid cold snap we are experiencing:)

Love Letter to the World

Missing Newfoundland

On Sunday morning, as I lay in bed with my curtains drawn, I heard what I thought was the sound of a bank of snow falling off the roof of the house. I imagined I was in my Dad’s home in Glovertown and that it was a glorious, white, snow abound, winter wonderland outside. (Really it was only a towel that had fallen off the back of my door). Nevertheless, I spent the morning reminiscent of my winter experiences in Newfoundland. Banks of snow falling off the roof were a common sound – as were the sounds of skidoos zippin around on the frozen ocean in my backyard and also up and down the street in my front yard. The best though were all those school cancellations! If I try hard enough I can still feel the anticipation I would feel when Ran, Lar and Deb from OZFM would announce the winter-storm warnings and/or school cancellations. It’d be 8am and the phone ringing off the hook with friends making plans for skating or ski-dooing or both. It was nice having all that snow. Here, in Calgary though, we don’t see too much of it unfortunately and fortunately. Cities and snow don’t mix as nicely as small towns and snow do. I very much look forward to the day when I have that unlimited, abundant cash flow and I live in my Dad’s house for one month every winter! :o)

Challenges

The problematic situations in your life are not chance or haphazard. They are specifically yours, designed specifically for you by a part of you that loves you more than anything else. The part of you that loves you more than anything else has created roadblocks to lead you to yourself . . . it doesn't want you to lose the chance. It will go to extreme measures to wake you up.
-A.H. Almaas

A ray of sunshine

There’s something about a smile from a stranger.

I’ve been riding my bike to work since the spring. These days though, with fall more closely resembling winter, I’m a little surprised with myself that I’m still going. (I can do it, I can do it!!) However, for some reason or another, in the past 3 weeks I have chosen to take the bus twice. The lovely happenings that transpired on the two separate occasions are the inspiration for today’s blog posting:)

On bus ride #1, I was the lucky recipient of the world’s warmest and brightest smile. Dazzling, sincere, and awesome - it was love at first sight for this little ray of sunshine!

At the bus stop, 2-3 weeks later, prior to ride #2, there stood this lovely ray of sunshine shimmery and smily again! Lit up and blissed out, I obey my heart’s command and strike up conversation with her. Through chat while waiting for the bus and then while on the bus, here’s what I learn: Naydele is a grade 11 student who moved to Calgary 7 years ago. She moved here with her parents from a refugee camp in Sudan where her older brother still resides. Calgary is very cold compared to dry, dusty, dessert-like Sudan. Naydele enjoys school and is thankful for the Canadian government for paying for it for her. She wants to be a surgeon someday and then hopes to return to her country to help her people. I shared with Naydele the reason I felt so compelled to speak with her, and thankfully so, as in return she blessed me with the world’s warmest hug! My new friend is a very special individual. She could light up a city with that mega-watt smile. I told her to keep on smiling. I hope she does.

At work that day, I just couldn’t take my mind off of Naydele. What was life like for her and her family in a refugee camp in Sudan? What sorts of struggles had they been through or paid witness to? What was the immigration process like for them? Is it right for me to assume they are of the lucky few that get to become residents of this country? And, how did they get selected? What is her brother’s life like? What is Naydele’s life like? Do her parents have a sustainable income? As immigrants, what are some of the challenges they face in a country that is not native to them?

The culture of the Sudanese and the answers to these questions, are topics I hope to educate myself on - thanks to Naydele.

Prior to meeting Naydele, an African country that has been occupying a piece of my mind for some time now is Somalia, not far from Sudan. Reason behind this is Amanda Lindhout. Amanda, I’ve just learned, is my hero.

Amanda Lindhout, an Alberta native and freelance journalist, spent 15 months hostage in Somalia. Shackled with chains around her ankles, all alone in a pitch black room, forbidden to move and forced to lie down, and having endured every type of abuse imaginable, Amanda survived. One year ago this month, her supporters paid a ransom and she was set free. Does she look back in anger? The answer is no, not at all. In Amanda’s darkest moment she came to understand something of her captors’ lives – they were victims themselves, their suffering was greater than her own. They had known nothing but conflict and war from the time they were born. They had never been given opportunities – like an education. In that moment, Amanda vowed if she ever got out alive, she would do her part to make Somalia a better place. Since her return to Canada, she’s proved her commitment. Please visit her site: http://globalenrichmentfoundation.com/ 

Best song of life!

These are the lyrics to what has been my absolute favorite song for 3 years now! I simply just cannot tire of its wonderfulness. The lyrics are as lovely and beautiful as the tune. Here you go!

Two Shoes by The Cat Empire

One day one woman asked him
‘what do you to survive?’
he said ‘oh my dear listen here’
and this is what he cried

On my feet I wear two shoes for dancing
‘dancing to be free’
my feet they’re paying tribute to
the Bobby Marley legacy

My knees they’ve got some cuts and bruises
from skating all my days
when i’m skating with my friends
my troubles drift away

I say my legs they’re wearing baggy pants
I like to move around
cos getting down and jumping up
these are some good things that I found

Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
boom shak the empire be rising
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
boom shak we making some lovin
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
boom shak the greedy men running
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
boom shak got two shoes for dancin

My waist it’s got a slinky belt
with a clip that’s quick to open
because loving is the sweetest thing
and from my waist it happen

And my stomachs got some tasty food
that’s making me feel good
cos sharing some meals is something
i wish the world could do

And my chest it wears a singlet
ah my chest it beating proud
my chest suggest I am a man
that no institution can knock down
And around my neck is superstition
hanging from a chain
because i’ve got my gods but in the end
I make my own way

My mouth it’s got a great big smile
that shows some great big teeth
to friends it brings a happiness
and to enemies it means defeat

And my eyes they’ve got some vision
that can see through many lies
ah my eyes they look for better things
the better things to see in life

And my ears are wearing head phones
that do play my favourite songs
not music i’m told to like
but the songs that make me dance along

Cos on my feet are shoes for dancing
‘dancing to be free’
my feet they’re paying tribute to
the bobby marley legacy

Reminder to self

Life is meant to be one delightful romp from experience to experience.

I love the simplicity of this statement and the truth it emanates. Just a reminder to self to not take this life too seriously.

Take time everyday to laugh, love, smile, breathe, and just be.

Watch the thinker – and do so non-judgmentally. Practice will bring space between thoughts.

Find time for stillness as it will strengthen inner peace.

Listen to your heart and trust that life will unfold naturally and effortlessly as it always has and always will.

And, while counting my blessings is a very thoughtful practice, it’s time to move beyond gratefulness for experiences, people, places, and things to gratefulness for existence itself. There is not a single moment in your life when you do not have everything you need to be happy.