Archive for April, 2009

Right now in an Iranian prison sits a woman alone and scared. A 31 year old Iranian – American journalist who was ripped from her life in Tehran and detained on false charges that have ran the gamete between buying alcohol, working without press credentials to being a spy for the United States of America. She was sentenced to 8 years in prison after a one day trial in a closed court. There was no evidence to support any of these allegations but that is not required in a country who has a history of silencing, imprisoning and even killing journalists and any other persons who are seen as a dissident.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has reportedly asked the prosecutors to allow Ms. Saberi to present a full defense. It is hoped that this carries some weight but at this time nobody knows. With President Obama’s support and many others who have joined the legal and civil rights teams, you would hope her release will be soon. Dr. Shirin Ebadi, a lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize winner (2003) will be defending Ms. Saberi. She knows all too well this process; not only as a lawyer but also having been sentenced herself to prison. The sentence was later over turned but she has continued to fight on behalf of human rights and reform.

We, in Canada, know the story of Zahra Kazemi. An Iranian-Canadian freelance photographer that took photos at demonstrations and was subsequently arrested, convicted and remained in Evin prison until her murder. This is the same prison where Ms. Saberi now sits. Ms. Kazemi was raped, tortured and killed; her body becoming a source of another political battle as she was buried in Iran instead of Canada.

So, what do these women have in common? Why is (and was) their freedom important? Roxana Saberi and all the other women and men who have seen the inside of those prisons are there to protect freedom of speech. They are the eyes and ears that report the stories we may not want to always here, but must for our own personal evolution and collective survival. They are citizens of the world that bring us the stories that need to be told, not what is trendy or watered down for our palatability.

What makes them a threat to countries like Iran, is that they show the truth.

Strong countries are built by leaders who embrace freedom for its citizens; the silencing of any one’s voice only demonstrates its weakness and fear. If Iran and other countries were truly wanting to be in their power they would not have to be afraid of women like Roxana Saberi, Zahra Kazemi or any other man, woman or child. Only a coward needs to hide behind an army or court in order to secure his leadership. A true leader and a strong country knows its power, intelligence and future is in the people!

Iran hints jail term could be revised

This is one of my most favorite quotes:

“Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging” Joseph Campbell

I always shared this quote with my “Transitions” students, these wonderful people were finding it most difficult to transition back to work due to their disabilities. When they arrived the first day you could always see the despair, so much loss, confusion and even anger. Life as they knew it had either suddenly or over time changed and the self they once knew no longer stood before them in the mirror.

Over the course of the days we would spend together in the workshop I would see the personality of each individual change, the thick skin that had encased them, slowly began to soften and shed. Emerging was incredible people with feelings that are valid but often misunderstood. There were thoughts and ideas that had been previously shelved slowly bubbling to the surface. Smiles could be seen more frequently and even laughter, especially when they could laugh at their own transformation. Recognition of skills and talents became easier as the hours and days past.

Time after time I saw people who worked hard to awakened themselves from what seemed like a nightmare of circumstances beyond their control. Regaining control over their life and taking time to dream about the possibilities became a priority. This is when the quote seemed even more appropriate…as I write this a shiver roles down my body.

Opportunity to truly know self and the powers we possess may not come in the form we would have likely chose, but it is the power in all its glory. It is by no accident, in my estimation, that we find ourselves throughout life being asked to look deeper. There is so much to know about life and your unique self; if you have the fortune to know them intimately you are truly a lucky person.

Challenge makes people rise up to meet their greater self! Your skills are infinite, your health is important, your friends and support network are brought closer. In essence, through challenge you are more alive than you may have ever been!

PART TWO OF MY INTERVIEW WITH WENDIE WENDT. YOU CAN ALSO READ THIS TWO PART SERIES AT TIMEFINDERS MAGAZINE – WORLDLY WOMEN COLUMN:

http://timefindersmagazine.com/selffamily/worldly

Why do you believe it is important for women to be informed about world issues?

It is important because it gives us perspective on our own lives and how we live. Having that kind of information is essential to being well informed on various issues, it broadens our horizons. How do other people live their lives? What are other people doing in other countries?

Do you think that today’s younger generation or working Mom’s with a little free time on their hands, are interested in world issues and particularly causes such as this one?

We are in a really good time for the younger generation to step up, especially as it relates to the environment and the emphasis on global warming. It’s amazing when you talk to people, even when I talked to my godson about buying a car, I know a couple of years ago he would of been buying the fastest, coolest, car out there, now it has to be a hybrid. It is actually kind of hip to be involved in environmental issues and causes.

The Trust has a lot of appeal, who can’t look at these baby elephants and not want to be involved? Even after the airing of 60 Minutes I had a call from a woman in Manhattan, who is very successful but she and her family are taking a hit economically. She felt that at least one day a week she could try to do something and help.

Now for the working mom, who is a single mom, the sole breadwinner; there is a lot of pressure to raise her children and pull in the money, she may have more difficulty finding the time for something like that. But there are women out there who work or raise children who do have time left over for causes they feel are important.

It is all about the type of person you are and there are so many different reasons why people volunteer. Some people do it to fill a need within their selves that is not being met, find their place in the world or for networking and a non-profit organization can facilitate that.

If a woman wants to get involved with making the world a better place, where would you recommend that she start?

Once you have identified the organization, contact them to find out what kind of programs they have available and how you can help out. Many organizations have volunteer programs and they are excited about getting more volunteers, like Boys and Girls Club or Big Brothers/ Big Sisters, they run off of volunteers.

You just have to find an organization and look at whether they have a program in place, if they don’t, try to create an opportunity. I created my opportunity with the Trust, because they don’t have a volunteer program. It took me awhile, the first few times I was met with resistance because they hadn’t had such a call before, they didn’t know me and I’m halfway around the world. We get a lot of people who were very interested who fade into the background once they find out the requirements. When you find the right place, think about creative ways in which you can get involved.

If you don’t have the time, you can still make a difference, money is always appreciated, especially now with the economy the way it is. When the economy is down people start looking for ways to cut and the first cut is usually donations. Some people are donating to fewer charities at this time, but when they give, it is more money to selected organizations. I give all my volunteer energy to the Trust as well as money and I have other organization that I donate to.

What would you say are the rewards you have experienced in the philanthropic work and how has it changed you, personally and professionally?

Well without question, I feel like I’m making some small difference in the world. I think elephants are so important to Africa’s environment. For me personally, I’m contributing to that, it helps me feel like I do have a place, in this area of my life, a place where I am putting that energy. It has been such an exciting experience, eye opening on so many different levels. When I go over there, I meet the people; get a feel for the culture. I see the baby elephants that were at the Trust and now out at one of our release places, getting ready to go back out into the world on their own. It makes you feel good, and it’s fun, exciting.

If there was one thing that you would like to say to the women reading this what would it be?

I think it would be to try to volunteer or get involved in something that you are passionate about or that you feel connected to, because it is so rewarding. It opens up your life to different experiences and possibilities, especially for people who feel like they are doing the same thing every day. They get up, they go to work, they come home to their family, everything is great but they want something just a little bit more. To give a woman something that is her own, her own focus, for herself and the organization.

As long as you get with the right organization, and it is something you feel passionate about or connected to, I think it makes a huge difference. It can open up avenues to things you never thought were possible. When I talk with women who are depressed I try to suggest they get involved with something, involved in an organization. Step outside their life for awhile, and do something, shake it up a little bit. Try something new, you can’t keep doing the same thing every day and waiting for something to happen to make you feel better. You have to go out there to try to make it happened for yourself. There are many ways in which you can do that, this is just the way I found most helpful.

Thank you for taking the time to speak with us -

Feeling inspired by Wendi and The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust? Visit their website www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org and research all the projects that make this organization worth supporting.

As well as the work that they do for the animals the Trust also has excellent community outreach programs that benefit local children from various schools.  In addition to providing desks and sporting equipment, the children are treated to field trips that allow them to see elephants and other wildlife; this also serves to educate the children on the importance of conservation. There are employment opportunities for local people who commit five years of their life as an elephant caretaker and other community initiatives that benefit Kenya.  If you are not sure which one of their projects are in need ofyour help, let the Trust decide where your donation is most needed.

Worldly Women acknowledges the great vision and dedication of people like Dame Daphne Sheldrick, Wendie Wendt and everyone involved with The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

When I was a child I learned a song at my school. For years this song has come into my head without me ever knowing the title nor the writer. I don’t know why I have not looked it up before now, but today I awoke and felt the need to investigate. Does it really exist? If so, who wrote it?

So, I typed into Google a line from the song “Weeping sky we bring the sun” and there it was…

Neil Diamond’s – Childsong.

Weeping sky
We bring the sun
To make you glad
And fill you with the day.

Quiet tree
We have the wind
To make you dance
And fill you with our play.

And you shall be glad
And you shall dance
And you shall come
To hear our song
And learn its tune
Before it fades away.

1970 Prophet Music, Inc.

In my own way, to celebrate Earth Day, I went back to the song that always sent me off in a dream communing with nature. I drifted to a rainy day and the smell in the air I love so much that follows when the sun warms the earth.  It was the quiet tree though, that truly captured my dream. A willow tree, my mind’s eye would watch it dance happily for the wind and I felt that happiness go right through me. I still have that imagination that my child self conjured up for that song and I know that is a good thing. I do not know what the inspiration was for Mr. Diamond to write it, but I do know it inspired a girl, now a woman, to be thankful for mother earth. (photo taken 2008 on our trip to Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC)

After one of our worst winters for cold, the arrival of daffodiles, hyacinths and crocuses are a welcoming site. The pilgrimage begins for gardeners to the nearest nursery, loading their carts full of colour and hope. The hope that this years garden will swiftly awaken from its long, cold sleep. The hope that this years plants that were so carefully picked to join the garden will add new life and a new way to enjoy the landscape before us.

Yesterday, was a good day to take some time to leave the office and place my hands in the dirt. To place my flowers in their new home, grab a watering can and give them a drink to help them along. I am by no means an accomplished gardener, in fact, if it wasn’t for my mother I wouldn’t know where to begin. Her gardens of the past were so English, a beautiful display of controlled chaos. Things grew where they should not, a profusion of colour wrapped around her home and little gems would pop up in tiny spaces. She has adapted now, at this stage in life, to container gardening and that too amazes me. A patio that draws the eye to beauty and whimsy with little solar statues that light up at night to remind us her garden is there.

I can only aspire to see a garden the way she does, but at least the effort is there. In walking out into my garden of late I am reminded there is life, death and rebirth happening year after year. The story unfolds every year and it is good to stop and take it in, get your hands dirty, feel the grass under your feet and bathe yourself in the brilliance of it all.

In a previous post I spoke about the fundraising efforts to equip fire trucks with pet oxygen masks. The masks are designed to fit both dogs and cats, proving a more effective when your pet has suffered smoke inhalation. Here is an update from Chris Booth DVM regarding the Pet Oxygen Masks.

Thanks so much for your interest in equipping fire trucks with oxygen masks for pets. We hope this great idea can spread throughout BC! Most of the work involved, is bringing information to your local fire station, and explaining what the device is. Then find out how many fire trucks they have and organize fundraisers to purchase them. The common product we used was Surgivet Recovery Oxygen Masks. These were purchased through McCarthy and Sons Service, (403) 291-3640. If you buy 6 at at time the price comes down to close to $124.00 for a set of 3 different sized masks. They gave us a nice bag for free with each mask set. The bag is very important because fire departments can’t have loose masks in the trucks. We then took the bags to a local “Dogs Ears T-Shirt Shop” and had the bags stenciled with “Pet O2 Masks.” Hope that helps and Good Luck!

I encourage everyone, no matter whether you live British Columbia or anywhere. Find out if your local fire department has Pet 02 Masks and then see if a distributor near you can be the source for saving our pets.

Communication, Relationships, Abundance, Self Esteem, Empowerment and Self Awareness.

What if you had the opportunity to obtain a better understanding of yourself through personal exercises, all from the comfort of your own home or office? I recently had the great fortune to talk with Sheila Radha Conrad about Life Mastery Skills, a program she has developed and offers through her website.

I was amazed how much information and support was provided on the site including free exercises to assist anyone who wishes to begin their journey inward. Upon speaking with Sheila Radha Conrad, I knew why she had chosen this route to reach people. This is a woman with an extensive background in Counselling Psychology; her wisdom runs deep and her spirit is generous, as you will see in the following excerpts from our conversation.

I really enjoyed your website and the exercises you provided. Can you tell us more about Life Mastery Skills?

Life Mastery Skills allows people to develop the practice of going inside to access their inner wisdom and their inner knowing. Usually, if we have a problem we go outside of ourselves to get the information that will help us, but this is how to go inside. Because, within each of us we really do know the answers once we learn how to access it. I’m sure because you have done this for so many years, you know that the secret is knowing the right question.

Read the rest of this entry »

Too much recession talk, is there anyone out there thinking positively about the near future?

The word “recession” is getting attached to almost everything in life. “Recession proof your marriage”, “Recession recipes”, “Recession fashion”, “Recession protection for your job”, recession, recession, recession! Ahhhhh!

The word itself is making money for anyone who can work it in to their portfolio. As long as we have an audience who bathes in the doom and gloom, the Internet and TV  will be primed for any bad news. People scanning for information on how to protect themselves from what is here and coming, they will awake to “recession” everyday.

“Depression”, is also bantered around. This word has a whole other power; debilitating, the end of the world type power. The vision of black and white pictures begin rolling, previously only seen in history books or movies, are now shown with regularity to feed the appetite of doom seekers. 

Breaking News: The dawn of the new and improved Great Depression. We will be better at it than our predecessors as we have more to lose.

Stop already!

There are services available that were not available in previous times. Crime is not rampant and unemployment is not at its all time worst. If you want to arm yourself with anything, it is a good support network and turn off the doomsday forecasters. Try to replace the word “recession” with the words we used to attach to our daily life challenges.

* My fashion choices are thrifty and stylish.

* My recipes are good for more than one meal and freeze well.

* My marriage is important to me, we’ve chosen to maintain healthy communication,”for better or for worse.”

I don’t need to keep up with Joneses and never really wanted to. I didn’t need most of what I have purchased over the last few years, I just wanted it. This is a unique opportunity to learn lessons I may have missed before.

Build up your self esteem with solid networking, help your self and others by changing your language right now, move away from the word “recession”. Put on the good news and turn off the bad. I’m not asking you to bury your head in the sand, but its easier to get clarity if your mind isn’t being bombarded by negative messages. Talk the right talk and you will walk the right walk.

Before I begin my rant on the lack of coverage for the Women’s World Hockey Championships, here is a little background.

I am a hockey fan! I have been watching hockey since I was probably eleven years old. (That by the way, is a long time ago) A die hard Vancouver Canuck fan, closet Calgary Flames supporter and yes, I love spending my Saturday evening watching Hockey Night in Canada. I can’t wait to here what Don Cherry has to say and especially delight in seeing what suit he will be wearing. For those that don’t know at all what I’m talking about regarding Don Cherry, that is OK. Just go on line and you will see plenty of examples of talk and personal style. Very entertaining.

We are heading into the play-offs for men’s hockey and the news coverage is brisk, every day we get a run down. We see clips of men’s junior hockey, golf, baseball and soccer; in fact we can cover Canada, US and England all in one sports news bite. What wasn’t available on my local Global News station was up to date coverage of the Women’s World Hockey Championships.

The US won the gold medal over Canada in the finals this past Sunday in Finland, but it was obvious that those games were less news worthy. This became a topic of discussion at our Easter dinner, two generations of hockey fans questioning why there was next to no coverage of this event? Why do we not hear about the womens games all season?

That lead me to thinking and then questioning aloud: Are any women golfing right now, I keep hearing about the Master’s championships, do women not compete in a championship match? Is there soccer teams for women? Where are the women in sports?

Thank goodness for the Internet! It seems there is more to find on what happened at the Women’s Hockey Championships in Finland, and incredibly interviews with some of the women. What a great idea, actually covering what they have to say. I am disappointed by my local news station (s) I really feel they missed the boat and continue to miss it.

There are probably many stories of girls and women out there who are making some interesting plays and in-roads in the world of sports, but I am hard pressed to find weekly mention of them. Instead I listen to multiple interviews and see plenty of highlights from the world of male sports. I surely hope I don’t have to wait many more years to be able to see better media coverage. It is really hard to expect boys and girls, women and men to truly respect each others contributions when predominantly only one side of the story is being told.

I’m sure it was a hard fought battle on the ice by our team and I congratulate the winners! Next time I hope to see more of your teams in the spotlight!

Here is a link to some coverage of the Finland game, if you want to become a little more informed.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5j0XHZimoDVjlPDqwSKn6AVJUar4Q

During the week I try to avoid over-exposure to the news. Even if I don’t watch it somebody else does and I get the scoop. Most of the time it is bad news, but last night I watched a great story on Pet Oxygen Masks for fire departments throughout British Columbia.

As a pet lover, especially dogs, I would want that assistance readily available for my pet in the event of smoke inhalation from a fire. This story inspired me to get more information about supplying our fire departments with this equipment.

Dr. Christopher Booth D.V.M was featured on our news broadcast and I was touched by the story. Just thought I would send a big thank you and shout out to Dr. Booth for taking this on.  This is a good news story! You can check out their site at http://amblesideanimalhospital.evetsites.net/site/view/148644_PetOxygenMaskFund.pml

I’m hoping to set up a link to this site on my Charities Page. So my friends, if you are interested in donating to this cause let me know or email Ambleside Animal Hospital to get more information.