WHERE THE HECK IS THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS!

Christmas should be no different than any other season, but unfortunately, people have created so much pressure on themselves to have the “Christmas Spirit” that they dread the season.  If by Christmas week they have not decorated their house or baked cookies, they believe something is wrong with them.  

I try not to think about Christmas as separate from other days. Each day is a gift, including Christmas. And it is important for me to appreciate the wonder of the season because after all, I am alive. Indeed, Christmas is unique, the Christmas decorations, lights, trees, sparkling and dancing, and let’s not forget the music.  All of this I appreciate, but it is still just another day. 

More than anything, I enjoy the camaraderie of family and friends that the season brings, and I wish people felt this everyday. Even strangers, are more free with their smiles. When I recall Christmas past, I remember family and friends. I remember the music, smiles, and laughter.

I remember things like the warm feeling of being loved.   The last couple of days, while in Alberta on business and to attend a family funeral, I have met up with some of my family and really felt the love. It is not about the gifts, is it?

Still, we, as parents, think we have to give our kids the best and most popular gifts to make their Christmas special.  I believe this is what creates the pressure, stress and unhappiness we feel at Christmas especially if we can’t afford it. Of course, my mind always goes to those who are less fortunate. Christmas Eve, please give to Rose. 

It was Christmas week that my brother Billy died three years ago.  And when people have this type of loss, it can be difficult to get into the Christmas spirit.  It is natural to miss someone close because you want to share this special season with them but they are no longer here with us.  This can leave a void in us, and it does for me. It is best to remember those who we loss fondly, think about the happy experiences you had with them and give thanks that they were part of your life. As for my late brother Billy, I remember his smile, which always lit up the room. When I remember that smile, I feel happy. 

To have a stress free Christmas, do this. Think of Christmas like any other day, one that you can appreciate and be grateful that you woke up to enjoy.  Think of it as the first day of your life. If you do that you’ve have spent this day very well. 

Begin by seeing things through the eyes of wonder and happiness as though you are seeing it for the very first time. The beautiful colors of the the season, the lights, and see them with pure enjoyment. Look up, look down, and all around you, we so rarely really see what is in our environment. This day, right now, is unique. This day will never happen again.

Better still, call someone on the phone, or skype,  and have a conversation about how much you appreciate them. If you don’t have anyone to call, call me. We all have an incredible story to tell, listen to it, hear it in their voice. And on this day, all the people that you meet, all that life, is like pure joy. Open your heart and smile because you embody the Christmas Spirit.  XOXOXOXOXO

Merry Christmas!

Happy Holiday!

Happy Hanukkah!

Peace on Earth!
  

A Christmas Mystery

Riddell Drive, Ottawa, ON, Canada

I enjoy a good mystery.

This is interesting. Someone decorates this tree every year around Christmas.  I look forward to seeing it as I drive by each day in December waiting for it to be decorated. I am never disappointed because inevitably it will be all deck out with shining christmas balls and old cds glimmering in the sunlight.

I wonder, who does this each year, and do they know it brings a smile to my face when I see it. There is a story here and I want to know who is behind this tradition.

Birthday Wish!

December 7^th is my birthday!

The best part of celebrating birthdays is the cake and making a wish!!! The more chocolate the better. I’ll tell you a secret about myself, you can’t have chocolate around me for long.

Thinking about my birthday is interesting, especially, as I get older and wiser. Imagining myself as a little girl in northern Alberta, Canada, is like remembering a movie.  I was fortunate to be born into an amazing big family where there is no shortage of adventures to remember. However, being born into a large family also means we have our share of tragedies and hardship.

As the years pass, time appears to be quicker and I find myself taking notice of this. When I meditate, sometimes time seems to slow down, almost stops. On the other hand, it never fails when I am on the computer, time does not stand still at all!!!

Recently, I posted on social media, “Are you living an extraordinary life?” Someone commented, isn’t every life extraordinary?  Indeed, it is.  However, I was referring to our actions. What actions are we taking to make positive footprints? What will our legacy be? 

I decided, after asking myself these question, to have my actions be the difference I see in my world.  To begin, I took action to help one of my sisters, who I have blogged about previously.  She just can’t seem to catch a break and everyday her life is a struggle to survive. 

I began a fundraising project to help her out.  I am so overwhelmed and thankful for the donations so far. Please click on the link to read about her situation.  

'inkonze,' and the caribou spirit

Although, it is early, I found it is interesting that the first people who step up to donated to her cause are women. (Hubby donated, but he is the only male thus far) I believe, it is because we women can relate to Rose, a mom, grandmother, and residential school survivor. Her story is about overcoming adversities and about being strong without showing weakness.  She has a difficult life, raising three boys on her own, her eldest son discovered his dad shortly after he committed suicide, being homeless, her grandchildren are denied visits with her, and if that was not pain enough she is a breast cancer survivor. We understand her situation and can imagine ourselves, our moms or sisters in her predicament. It is in our DNA to be nurturing, to comfort and offer our assistance.  I know, in time, men will also donate to her cause. 

I choose to help Rose because if not me, who? I want my actions to mean something, to give back to society, to make a difference in someone’s life, however small my gift is. 

So, what's my birthday wish? I could wish for world peace or diminish world hunger, but my wish is on a smaller scale but maybe more meaningful.  

My wish is that whoever reads this blog, is moved enough to make a donation and at the same time, have an opportunity to win a beautiful indigenous painting that I am donating for this cause. Pay it forward, it feels good. J  #walkingmytalk 

Is Social Media making us Hardnosed?

It doesn’t matter to me what you believe about politics, religion, or finances. I don’t care who you support politically and I won’t hate you if we disagree.

So what if you’re a vegan, vegetarian, or a carnivore?  It simply has nothing to do with me. More importantly, if you’re Christian, Muslim, Atheist, or Agnostic, if we’re friends or family, I will look past our differences and look at what we have in common. Moreover, I will listen to you with compassionate and empathy.

You can post whatever you want, wherever you choose, and I am ok with that!  

That said, if I feel you’re open minded enough to have a debate, I might debate with you.  But trust me on this, I won’t unfriend, unfollow, or disown you if we disagree.  I enjoy a great debate and I won’t hold your opinions against you regardless how heated our debate might become.  The truth is that no matter what our differences might be, it has no bearing on me personally. I won’t take your opinion personally because it has nothing to do with me, even if your comments are directed at me. It is merely an opinion.

Since the Paris terrorist attacks on Friday, November 13^th, 2015, social media have been flooded with personal opinions. There have been numerous comments on the event and the fallout on social media was swift. Many people have unfriended each other based on what these comments meant to them. To be sure, there were some very ugly comments in the newsfeeds. Emotions were volatile and by and large people held very strong opposing opinions. Terrible things were written, and shared widely, largely to people who didn’t even know each other.

Which begs the question, is social media making us inflexible and jerks?  Are we becoming more egocentric, in that we believe our opinion matters and is paramount? I think, yes we are and yes, we most certainly do. 

And, I also think social media gives us a false sense of courage, and ironically our anonymity online makes us feel important. The fact is because we are not face to face, looking into the eyes of a person, that we have the courage to espouse our unfiltered and sometime knee jerk reactions to something we have read online but really this can be an act of cowardliness. Furthermore, more often than not we are not held responsible for the fallout that ensues after certain comments are posted. We can simple disappear from the conversation or troll silently following the discussion thread, feeling self-important.

If we exercised a sober second thought about what we write on Facebook, Twitter and blogs, we might never even post online. For me, this is certainly true that I delete more comments I begin to write after thinking about it than I actually post. This is particularly true if I am commenting on something that has annoyed me.  Sometimes, I will read something online and say to myself, “OMG!” “idiot”, “Does that person not fact check”, “WTH”, etc. Then, I will quickly write a critical and judgmental reply.  But then, I have trained myself to pause and decide whether or not to delete my comment because my opinion on social media to virtual strangers in the greater scheme of things, does not matter!  

Thankfully, humanity is culturally diverse with varying points of view. I can’t imagine what this world would look like if everyone thought like me. Well, I can, and it would be pretty awesome.  But, I digress! 

On the whole, my opinion is that if you want a simpler life and keep your blood pressure in check, don’t take everything you read on social media as a personal affront to your character, integrity, morals, or ethics.  The more you let go of your ego, the freer you are and the less of a jerk you become.  And if you are tempted to lash out in haste, it is very therapeutic to put down in words exactly how you are feeling.  But take a deep breath and then delete it! 

The foregoing was my personal opinion and hopefully was not an affront to anyone who reads it. That said, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t comment. LOL