Archive for the ‘Life Reflections’ Category

At a time when most people say they don’t know their neighbours, I am so proud to say I know at least one and that relationship is truly valued. My husband and I live next door to a couple who truly are wonderful. It is not that we get together in a social way but we are there for each other. What makes a good neighbour is someone who cares about your well being, that if you called they would be there for you and that is exactly how these people are.

Many years ago there was a great wind storm that thrash the coast leaving widespread damage. Both our property and our neighbours became casualties of that storm when a 100 foot + tree tore a swath from another backyard through ours and into theirs. Buildings, car and property all damage with one fall. Despite their own tragic circumstances my neighbour was the first to arrive to make sure I was OK. The person, whose tree caused the damage, didn’t show up till late that afternoon and provided no support to either of us in that moment or in the future as we cleaned up and rebuilt structures.

Last week, I thought our water pipe had burst but it turned out that a faucet had been left on and the seal to the hose mount broke.(that’s the best way I can describe it) Out poured water in the middle of a snowy, cold day. First on the scene, upon my call, was my neighbour. He discovered the problem and we both had a laugh. My visions of our crawlspace being  flooded were calmed, it was a minor situation, thankfully. What I remember distinctly was just how fast he came up the driveway to help.

His wife is such a warm person, she gives hugs and talks so sweetly. When were about to go on a trip she sent wishes that the “travel angels will take good care of us.” They kept an eye on our place while we were gone as we will do for them. They have offered help with our garden; he is a very talented landscaper. Recently, he decided he wanted to change the look of his frontyard, which is beautiful already, but larger beach rocks were about to be replaced by smaller ones. “Easier maintenance”, he said. This could not have been more fortuitous as we have wanted to use the large rocks for our property. Without hesitation he offered them to us, if we were willing to remove them from the pile he had already created, we could have them. Though he wanted no payment, we sent over a card and small gift certificate for the garden centre. It was the least we could do.

Peace of mind comes when you know your neighbours. A sense of community is built on making that first effort to say “Hi” or smile. When I walk down to my local stores I make a point of acknowledging as many people as possible with a smile or greeting. In the worst situations it is not emergency crews who will be first on scene, nor family, it will be your neighbour. It is so comforting to know that I live in a home that has the added bonus of being right next door to good people, caring people! I hope you have the same in your neighbourhood.

I watched the opening of the 2012 Golden Globes just so I could see comedian Ricky Gervais. The guy is brilliant! One sentence roles out of his mouth and I was laughing. Why would I say it was a golden performance? Because no actor in film ever has to do their act with restrictions, hostility and indifference directly facing them and still remain centered on their performance.  On an actors set everyone bends over backwards to support them; that doesn’t appear to be the case for Ricky.

It was disappointing that we weren’t going to see too much of Ricky and I assume it had something to do with the stick in the mud audience he had to work with. My God! I don’t know why they even film these awards? The camera panned around looking for signs of life but it seemed rather odd. Without the added humor of Gervais all we would be doing is watching a bunch of egomaniac actors sit around eat, drink, walk around and yack throughout most of the show. (Up until their names are rattled off and then they are suddenly fixated on the proceedings)

Humor like art is subjective. There was some laughter for his opening monologue but it seemed somewhat awkward, maybe some attendees feared they might be in the line of fire and be roasted or they still have unresolved feelings from last year. Some actors did take exception to his humor; felt like he had trashed them. So, this year they might have opted to show whose boss by either ignoring him on stage or giving him the hairy eyeball. Bunch of babies!

Since the show, I have heard countless people on radio and TV bring up their opinions around his hosting. They talk about how he is off to England after a ratings bomb and they focus on who he offended. In fact, the ratings were on par pretty much to last year with over 16 million viewers. I’m not sure who all these people are that create such controversy around his appearances but either Hollywood doesn’t have a sense of humor, the media is searching for a story or a Brits “tell it like it is” talk is too much for United States sensibilities. Maybe the ratings aren’t really going anywhere fast because there are people like me who would rather watch paint dry than sit around watching Hollywood’s elite dine, booze it up and then drone on endlessly about who to thank for their good fortune. Just a thought.

Thankfully, Ricky takes it in stride and will continue to make us laugh.

Check out Ricky Gervais Website

As I head out of the Christmas break and into this new year there is always two things I can count on…

1. That surprise look on my face when I get my Visa bill.

2. The sluggish pace by which I move as I head into the new year.

The post holiday bills really seem to hurt the most. I don’t see myself as a huge spender but still somehow that bank of mine seems to get a few hundred out of me every month and at Christmas it jumps again. I don’t know about you, but I have to go over each item just to remind myself “What the heck did I buy?” Some of it is pre-payments for gym membership and business needs but other items are low NEED, high WANT things that are already done and gone before I even fully pay for them.

The post holiday blues is not so much down in the dumps thinking but more so I can’t get myself to WAKE UP! I got used to wearing my sluffies (otherwise known as pyjamas or yoga pants) for days on end. Shutting down my office for two weeks I was without clients and able to turn my brain off. Now, I need to ramp it up again and my body is saying “What are you trying to do here, I’m resting.” Intellectually, I know I have to get busy but I’m a tortoise in a hare world right now.

Least I know I’m consistent. Come January 2013, I will be facing the bills and blues all over again – my money fast out of the wallet and my body not so fast out of the gate.

Imagine you have spent your life becoming an accomplished violinist, dedicating hours of practice to the music until one faithful day a reaction to a vaccination, renders you paralyzed. At the age of 18 this is exactly what happened to Eric Wan. However, this is not a story of pure tragedy, instead you are about to learn how a quadriplegic managed to continue to do what he loves and how that love of music now touches a chord with other persons with disabilities.

I want to direct you to my sister’s blog post Mobility Through Music which shares the most incredible story about the partnership of Eric and a team of talented individuals whose technology brings joy to children. Watch how the children’s movements make music and see how effective this music therapy can be!

By no accident – we all have purpose. Greatness, vision and possibilities are endless!

I don’t know how many times I have edited my posts but it’s a lot. At the best of times I find it hard to see my own mistakes in writing but as my dear editor husband pointed out, it’s bad this week. Trying to get the contents of my head out onto this blog while I cough and sniffle is not going so well. Yes, I will disinfect my laptop after every use. So, I’m apologizing in advance for any abnormal spike in mistakes or nonsensical sentences as my cold has taken over and refuses to allow me to continue what I love to do. Happy Flu Season Everyone!

I don’t know why but the first thing that came to mind when I thought about entering 2012 was two words “Challenge Yourself.” From there I saw a line drawn in the sand symbolizing something I either have been told not to cross or simply a line I have drawn unconsciously myself, I don’t know which. The lines in the sand visual may be a feel the fear and do it anyway thing or rebellious move to distance myself from others who have been negatively impacting decisions or better still it could be just childlike curiosity to see what happens if I put a toe over the line.

This isn’t about New Years resolutions, as those things never work for me, it is a simple message to challenge myself. The answer as to what that is or how many times I will challenge myself is yet to be revealed and funny enough, I’m not concerned by my lack of specifics at this point. The new year, even without resolutions, always comes with promise. When the clock strikes midnight we might not show any outward recognition of expectations but I really believe that internally many of us see it like opening a curtain on the next stage of our life. There just has to be something good behind there…let the show begin!

I don’t know about you, but I feel when you get a message so strongly as I did this one, it should be given a chance not to fade into the backdrop of every day existence. Maybe you have experienced an intense dream or thought that stays vividly  in your mind for minutes, hours or days on end. Is it worth paying attention too? “Challenge Yourself!” Both personally and professionally I can think of multiple things to do that would be challenging. However, I think I’m going to let it manifest organically… when it feels like it might be a challenge I will say “YEAH!”

If you have a line drawn in the sand by yourself or someone else maybe it is time to cross over, meet the challenge and see what happens.

Nothing is exciting when you know what the outcome will be ~ Joseph Campbell.

How will you challenge yourself in 2012?

One interesting thing about gathering over the Christmas season is watching what happens when multiple generations come together. While children run around like buzzing bees high on the sweetness of candy and presents, the adults catch up on life. My husband and I had the opportunity this Christmas to spend time with family and their friends who were much older than us. I discovered there are a few things that separate us and more things that don’t.

First: Even if you are considered a senior in the eyes of society, how you see yourself can be completely different.  If you are fortunate to be in relatively good shape well into your senior years it appears, like in your youth, your mind has no concept of age. Where you place your focus is key to feeling OK. Changes in health and mobility are inevitable but even though the body may change the mind still has a choice…become negative or find the positives in living. How our older generation is participating in life is so different than generations past; the label of senior is only as limiting as one makes it.

Second: We all have a story. I think it is so important to listen to our elders, they have lived through some of the most challenging and eventful times. The stories are fascinating! What we read about in books is their life story. Wars, childhood mischief, educational pursuits, first loves or only love,  financial upheavals, career advancement, raising children, differences in male/female roles in society, relationship joys and challenges, changes in sexuality, appreciation for art, music and even travel stories. There is a solid thread through every story that is relevant to today’s living and learning. We should be respectful of that story and hold it dear to our hearts.

Third: Times, they are changing. If you really think about what has changed in their lifetime it is astronomical! We have advanced at such a speed over 80 years it can be both exciting and confusing to them. In our travel with my parents I found I had to explain a lot of things that we breeze through but you know, sometimes so called efficiency does seem to take longer. It sounds counter intuitive but there were times where even I thought “Wow, all this questioning, typing, waiting and processing for every little thing we do.” So called, efficiency can be mind boggling for all of us. Our technological and gadget filled world, diversity of foods for dining, the array of things available to us in general is overwhelming to those who have not kept up or prefer a more simplistic way of living. 

Fourth: We should all strive for civility. What I noticed was just how civil our older generation can be. Where middle aged adults and kids lose the art of conversation, preferring instead to operate their devices of communication, the seniors delight in a good chin wag. Seniors, for the most part, still engage in civility. Their world is not immersed in anything other than face to face conversation and even if they are techno savvy they know the appropriate boundaries of its use. They are forever conscious of our enjoyment “Can I get you anything?” Respectful of our space “Excuse me.” “Please” and “Thank you” flow far easier from their lips than many younger people. Helping each other put on coats or opening a door and being aware of who is going through behind them is also common place in their civilized, etiquette driven encounters.  So many examples of a seemingly dying way of life that cultivated relationships and still attempts to exercise considerate conduct.

The gap between us is not a vast as one might initially think. We each desire to matter, to be heard and appreciated. We don’t want to be irrelevant or to have the world forget to market or cater to us. We want happiness for ourselves and our loved ones. We have certain comforts we will fight tooth and nail to keep because it represents so many wonderful reasons for living. We, several times over, feel the need to recall and tell our story of when we felt most alive, healthy and useful. We are happy in the company of our own peers and enjoy the ease of common understanding. When we look in the mirror, where signs of our aging is evident, none of us can fully comprehend the number that gets attached to us each year. We each long for something unattained and revel in the delight our own accomplishments. We each want love and need touch.

So, as you spend the next few days or even weeks in the company of multiple generations find that common ground. It may be in the playing of a game with a child, exploring an interest of a youth or bridging a gap to follow a life well lived beyond your years.

As we head into our Christmas and other celebrations that bring family and friends together I would like to offer a very simple post.It goes without saying that many around the world will need us to send our good wishes. As we give to each other it would be nice to quietly or collectively take a moment to send a conscious message saying “I’m thinking about you.”

It may go to the child that is begging on a street in Africa, South America or Asia. It may go to the parents who is feeling down about not being able to provide for their family due to the economy. It may go to the children and/or women who are being prostituted, for which celebration never comes. It may be for the entire family that huddles as bombs drop around them. It may be for soldiers far from home.

To take that moment out is to celebrate humanity and offer compassion which is far better to give and receive than anything that will pass from hand to hand this Christmas.

All the best is wished for you all. May health, happiness and success rise up in 2012 for you and yours.

Is it possible to ask Santa for Candice Olson? Followers of Esteem Rising will fully know what I’m talking about…I’m a big fan of Candice Olson – Interior Designer. I believe I have watched all of her shows from both Divine Design and Candice Tells All but on a couple of occasions recently I came across episodes that seemed unfamiliar. Boy, was I excited!

I know I’m not the only one out there that enjoys her show but I’m also enjoying looking at the  Candice Olson Collection website that features different lines of home decor products. Today, I perused the throws, pillows and rugs that were featured and found some really beautiful designs and colours. There is quite an array of product to choose from and each link should come with a warning “The viewing of these products may cause evaluation of your own home decor choices, dizziness from all the possibilities, urge to purge your existing home furnishings and fatigue from rearranging to accommodate new purchases.”

No sooner did I get on the site when my mind was picturing the pillows on my chairs, the rug on the floor, the art on the wall, the throws draped elegantly, the lighting casting a glow, the new couch positioned perfectly and coffee table ready to receive not only creatively placed items but treats. (My imaginary world always includes dark chocolate treats)

So, I guess I better get my letter off right away to Santa asking for Candice Olson to come to the West Coast. It has been over a year long campaign but like any kid in a design store I remain hopeful one day I’m going to hear the words “Yes, little Jennifer there is a Santa Claus and Candice is coming to town.” If Santa would also be so kind as to bring the items on my wish list from the Candice Olson Collection, then he’ll be really working the magic.

With all the seriousness of the world and some of my topics, I love sometimes to delve into the things in life that give pleasure. We all have our escapes from reality and all of us try to do what we can to help others throughout the year. I encourage everyone to think right now about what or who brings you joy and bask for a moment in the feeling that brings.

Hope everyone reading this enjoys their Christmas and dreams big this coming year!

Today, was the day my husband and I chose to put up the Christmas lights. I can tell you first hand that next to gardening, hanging Christmas lights is my husbands least favourite job. Still, he indulges my need to string up festive lights across gutters and along the deck fencing, accompanied by fake bows.

Having found that some of the bulbs were burnt out he was back up on the ladder replacing them with new ones. As he made his way up the ladder I could distinctly hear some rumblings, grumblings and expletives that will not be repeated in this post. Of course, there are two sides to a house and so once completed on the front we proceeded to pack up the ladder and commence decorating in the back.

First, was the large shed that meets you at the end of our driveway. Here it was quickly discovered that the blue LED lights were not enough to make their way fully around. One more string, that’s all I need and it will be perfect! Next, set of White LED lights on main house, also was not enough! So, first I improvise with another set of non-matching lights in the middle to see if I could use what we had.

Husband – “Yes, that looks fine.”

Me – “I don’t know if I can live with it.”

Husband – “Why don’t we just live with it tonight and see what it looks like.” (Code for I don’t want to take these things down, hopefully she won’t say anything and will just learn to accept it)

Me – “No, I just can’t do it…I have another idea.”

Up hubby goes again to replace the mix-matched lights with a string that doesn’t quite make it but looks better than the alternative. He quickly plugs everything in and says,

“See, that looks OK lets just put everything away now and have some lunch”

Noting that I may be pushing my limit especially when dealing with a man with an empty stomach, I agreed it’s time to quit. However, now that I think about it…if I just go out tomorrow buy more blue lights for the shed and more white for the house I should have just the look I wanted. “Oh, husband I think I solved our lighting dilemma…”