What a perfect day for my 200th post. Remembrance Day.
I can’t believe it’s been 200 days since I started this journey blogging about special moments from each and every day. For better or for worse, I’ve managed to find a special moment that brought a smile to me for 200 days. I won’t lie. Some days were much harder than others to find that moment that brought me the warmth of a smile. Other days there were many, many moments to choose from.
Today, as I find myself exhausted from a long, late evening of fun, I am slow moving and my mind is quietly reflecting upon my journey of the past 200 days and when it dawned on me that this milestone is shared with the timing of Remembrance Day….I smiled.
While I have learned much in the past 200 days of writing, one thing has become ever apparent. There is a tendency for people to be self-centered. I don’t know how we managed to find ourselves down this path of entitlement and I don’t think most are even aware of it happening. But then I think to myself, “Where would we be if we didn’t have those on the front line fighting for our freedoms?” They keep us in a place that is safe and they are doing it for the greater good. I am thankful to those selfless souls.
I know it isn’t easy to step outside of self and to think of others. The everyday creeps in and often overrules the bigger picture of honour and respect. My wish, my hope, is that today, Remembrance Day, may inspire more moments of selflessness. Honour your words. Honour your actions. Honour those around you. Yes it takes time. Yes it takes energy and awareness. But, isn’t that why we are here? For one another, not self? Who are you if you are not with others? (Just another good reason to surround yourself with the best people!)
So in this shared moment I want to look beyond my personal toils, pains and ultimate growth over the past year and remember those who fought to allow me the safety of being here to experience this life.
Let us remember the past and look to the future.
Let us remember the people in our lives matter while being true to self.
Moments for others.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Moments D199: First aid
Today ended up being a day of waiting. Waiting for answers. Waiting to head out for the day (or as it turned out for the evening). A test of patience if ever there was one. But, once the wait and drive out of town was over the fun kicked in. This was no night for gentleman Jack….just the regular everyday version. Jack and I were quick to reacquaint ourselves. I had time to make up as everyone at the party was already up to speed…..
As a side bar - What a fantastic group of people and I’m so happy to have met them this past summer. Playing baseball with the lot, or just hanging out over a beverage - these are good peeps. I’m glad I was able to have one last hurrah with them post-baseball season.
Sadly even athletic, good peeps can be klutzy. This was the case of one of our teammates. After surviving a slippery hot tub/pool visit (the mamma bear in me (and being the most sober) had, admittedly expected the worse there), it was the shower that took him out. He arrived back at the “party room” his finger held tight by his other hand. He was bleeding pretty good after cutting himself shaving.
Fortunately I travel with a first aid kit. Yes, yes, I know. Make fun of me if you must, but THIS time, it was handy to have. I immediately kicked into gear and cleaned, wrapped and taped up his bloody finger. The wrap job was so good that it lasted all night. That made me smile.
I’ll take the teasing. I’m just glad we didn’t need to rush out and find band-aids. Instead we were able to just focus on the task at hand and take it all in stride.
Moments to be prepared.
Moments of fun and silliness.
As a side bar - What a fantastic group of people and I’m so happy to have met them this past summer. Playing baseball with the lot, or just hanging out over a beverage - these are good peeps. I’m glad I was able to have one last hurrah with them post-baseball season.
Sadly even athletic, good peeps can be klutzy. This was the case of one of our teammates. After surviving a slippery hot tub/pool visit (the mamma bear in me (and being the most sober) had, admittedly expected the worse there), it was the shower that took him out. He arrived back at the “party room” his finger held tight by his other hand. He was bleeding pretty good after cutting himself shaving.
Fortunately I travel with a first aid kit. Yes, yes, I know. Make fun of me if you must, but THIS time, it was handy to have. I immediately kicked into gear and cleaned, wrapped and taped up his bloody finger. The wrap job was so good that it lasted all night. That made me smile.
I’ll take the teasing. I’m just glad we didn’t need to rush out and find band-aids. Instead we were able to just focus on the task at hand and take it all in stride.
Moments to be prepared.
Moments of fun and silliness.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Moments D198: Highway Video
Today as I was driving home from shopping for a new down filled winter jacket (oh ya - success!), I was on a highway that I don’t typically frequent. The lanes were filled with vehicles, but we were moving along quite well. As I went under one of the underpasses I looked up and saw a gentleman with a video camera on a tripod capturing the flow of traffic.
In that brief moment as I passed under his camera I smiled and I wondered what it was he was doing. Why he was capturing this footage of cars and trucks on the highway. What was he going to use that footage for?
A silly moment, but a moment none-the-less.
Moments of wonder.
Moments to dream.
In that brief moment as I passed under his camera I smiled and I wondered what it was he was doing. Why he was capturing this footage of cars and trucks on the highway. What was he going to use that footage for?
A silly moment, but a moment none-the-less.
Moments of wonder.
Moments to dream.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Moments D197: Veterans
Today I had two moments before I even made it into work. The first was as I was getting into my car. A lovely older (likely retired!) gentleman was just getting out of his car to have a round of tennis with his mates. Given that there was frost on my car, I had to smile. These guys were hard core! As he walked away from the cars, he turned back and said “Have a great day!”. I couldn't help but smile as I returned the warm thought back.
Then as I drove to work I noticed a sign in front of one of the retirement residences.
It made me smile. How smart of the building/landlord to put up such a message in front of a retirement home. And it worked. I stopped and though of the vets that fought for us for the freedoms we enjoy today. And I smiled.
Two warm smiles before the day began. I suppose that’s a sign of a good day to come?
Moments with shared words.
Moments to remember those who fought for our freedoms.
Then as I drove to work I noticed a sign in front of one of the retirement residences.
It made me smile. How smart of the building/landlord to put up such a message in front of a retirement home. And it worked. I stopped and though of the vets that fought for us for the freedoms we enjoy today. And I smiled.
Two warm smiles before the day began. I suppose that’s a sign of a good day to come?
Moments with shared words.
Moments to remember those who fought for our freedoms.
A quote to share
“In all of our lives there are days when we die a little, when we are wounded by loss or failure, or by fear, or by seeing the suffering of others for whom we are powerless to aid but are able to offer only pity.”
| — | Dean R. Koontz - “Odd Apocalypse” |
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Moments D196: Bird Man
Today’s smiling moment came early as I drove to work.
On my way to work there is a house that is often covered in perched pigeons on its roof. I never understood why. The houses adjacent to this home have a few misplaced birds, and the houses beyond those neighbouring the “bird house” don’t have any pigeons perched upon their rooves. It was always perplexing to me. Why pigeons upon that one house?
Well, today the answer was revealed. As I slowed for the red street light ahead, I watched in wonder as the pigeons suddenly started to flock to this house. As I crept closer in the stopped traffic, I realized why.
There, from the second floor window, was a bare-breasted man leaning out into the cold morning with a small white bucket. From this bucket he was tossing seed to the roof in front of him. The birds swarmed and swooped and filled every inch of the roof of his home. This was a man who was happy to be feeding the birds. He had a huge smile upon his face as he watched them dance around him. This was not a man worried about what kind of damage the birds might do to his home (or to his neighbours’ homes). This was a man in the moment enjoying the moment with the pigeons.
And I, from afar, enjoyed watching him and his birds. He is now officially dubbed “Bird Man” in my world. And I know that every day that I pass his home from this day forward, I will smile.
Thank you Bird Man for this moment.
On my way to work there is a house that is often covered in perched pigeons on its roof. I never understood why. The houses adjacent to this home have a few misplaced birds, and the houses beyond those neighbouring the “bird house” don’t have any pigeons perched upon their rooves. It was always perplexing to me. Why pigeons upon that one house?
Well, today the answer was revealed. As I slowed for the red street light ahead, I watched in wonder as the pigeons suddenly started to flock to this house. As I crept closer in the stopped traffic, I realized why.
There, from the second floor window, was a bare-breasted man leaning out into the cold morning with a small white bucket. From this bucket he was tossing seed to the roof in front of him. The birds swarmed and swooped and filled every inch of the roof of his home. This was a man who was happy to be feeding the birds. He had a huge smile upon his face as he watched them dance around him. This was not a man worried about what kind of damage the birds might do to his home (or to his neighbours’ homes). This was a man in the moment enjoying the moment with the pigeons.
And I, from afar, enjoyed watching him and his birds. He is now officially dubbed “Bird Man” in my world. And I know that every day that I pass his home from this day forward, I will smile.
Thank you Bird Man for this moment.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Moments D195: Closing Doors
Today was an interesting day. Today I chose to firmly close the door on a dream I've had since I can remember.
The process of getting to this point has been challenging. I’ve dug deep into myself and asked some tough questions over the past two months when this opportunity first presented itself.
In the end, I came to understand a couple of key points about myself.
First, I fully recognized just how important my family is to me. (Don’t get me wrong, I obviously love these people but I’m fortunate enough to like them too.) The thought of relocating and seeing them even more infrequently was not something I wanted to really wanted experience. It was a major draw back for me. Even so, for the right opportunity, I would have tested that theory and I was ready to.
But then I dug a little deeper and I realized that I love living in a city that is busy and vibrant and full of activity. And digging deeper yet I realized that I have worked too hard in my life to take a step backwards. Not only does that realization fit financially, but also emotionally. I realized that I've already taken a big step backwards emotionally this past year and I've been struggling to move that forward. There was no way that I was willing to add taking a step back financially as well.
So while, on the surface of it, this opportunity seemed like a dream come true, once I peeled away some of the layers I realized that it wasn’t a good fit overall. I deserve the right fit. I deserve something that better fits my key needs.
And yet, as this opportunity came to a head and an ultimate decision was shared, I was saddened to close the door. Letting go of dreams can be hard. They can also give you room to breathe and grow into new dreams.
So, do I see it as a lost opportunity? No. I smile knowing that I did my due diligence. I dug and asked tough questions of myself. It wasn’t a good fit and that’s okay, that’s life after all. I’m happy to know that I will continue the good fight of personal evolution and I’ll be closest to those I love most.
Moments of self-reflection.
Moments of choosing a path.
The process of getting to this point has been challenging. I’ve dug deep into myself and asked some tough questions over the past two months when this opportunity first presented itself.
In the end, I came to understand a couple of key points about myself.
First, I fully recognized just how important my family is to me. (Don’t get me wrong, I obviously love these people but I’m fortunate enough to like them too.) The thought of relocating and seeing them even more infrequently was not something I wanted to really wanted experience. It was a major draw back for me. Even so, for the right opportunity, I would have tested that theory and I was ready to.
But then I dug a little deeper and I realized that I love living in a city that is busy and vibrant and full of activity. And digging deeper yet I realized that I have worked too hard in my life to take a step backwards. Not only does that realization fit financially, but also emotionally. I realized that I've already taken a big step backwards emotionally this past year and I've been struggling to move that forward. There was no way that I was willing to add taking a step back financially as well.
So while, on the surface of it, this opportunity seemed like a dream come true, once I peeled away some of the layers I realized that it wasn’t a good fit overall. I deserve the right fit. I deserve something that better fits my key needs.
And yet, as this opportunity came to a head and an ultimate decision was shared, I was saddened to close the door. Letting go of dreams can be hard. They can also give you room to breathe and grow into new dreams.
So, do I see it as a lost opportunity? No. I smile knowing that I did my due diligence. I dug and asked tough questions of myself. It wasn’t a good fit and that’s okay, that’s life after all. I’m happy to know that I will continue the good fight of personal evolution and I’ll be closest to those I love most.
Moments of self-reflection.
Moments of choosing a path.
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