I don’t know about you, but I can’t believe how time flies. The older I get the faster it seems to go.
In Toastmasters I have given two speeches on the monarch butterflies in my back yard this summer. I was happy to win best speaker twice! I had not done a speech in a while so was happy to have not only given one but two. The idea was to give the same speech a second time with improvements given by the evaluator. I actually felt calmer the second time round and more confident in my presentation. It was interesting as in my first speech I showed a milkweed pod. In my second speech I would actually show the little parachutes with the seeds attached as the seed pod had opened up. Nature can be fascinating.
Last Saturday my former psychiatric nursing partner from Oshawa General Hospital days came with her daughter up to see Jim and me. We had a blast catching up. We went to Pinecroft for lunch and walked around the beautiful pond. The day though cold was beautifully sunny. We also saw the two swans nearby. So glad we had made a reservation as the place was packed! The food as well as the gift shop is so wonderful. Sometimes it seems like yesterday that we were working together. There were so many stories and so many sick people who got well through time and caring. Psychiatry all took time. There was never a quick fix. Doreen was not only my work partner but my true friend who was there through thick and thin in my life. I have always been eternally grateful to share my life journey with her. She has continued to work part time in Oshawa. So glad there are no age restrictions anymore. I chose to retire early instead as I was tired after 40 years of full time. I am so glad I did as now I can choose where I put my energy.
Last Friday I just finished a six week program where I was a co-leader with Darren from the South West Management Program. We were teaching people how to cope with chronic pain. There was meditation, visualization, action plans, exercise and a lot of interactive work together. We meet every Friday for 2 ½ hours. We had a lot of laughs as new skills were shown and implemented. All the members were supportive and encouraging of each other. In fact we are getting together in December for coffee. Group support is so awesome to watch.
As you may know I volunteer giving Reiki at Wellspring at the downtown YMCA. It has been almost four years of doing this. I totally love helping people with cancer or their care givers to feel better. We are going through a transition as Wellspring is expanding into the space next to it. It will be so amazing to have more room and to have Wellspring updated as well. We truly run out of a very tiny space. In spite of that so much loving care and support has been given. Wellspring runs completely on donations. Most of the people who work there are volunteers. There are only 3 staff members who organize and run the various programs. They just had their craft sale and in the Fall there was the run for Wellspring. If you know of any one who has been diagnosed with cancer and could use some support please look us up. All the programs are offered free of charge. There is a library, yoga, swimming, Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, Wellness groups, makeup, knitting and most of all peer support. Free toques or scarves are available as well. All it takes is a phone call or come in to speak to someone. If you are a care giver to someone who has or had cancer you are welcome as well. I wished that I had been aware of this group when my parents needed so much help for their cancer journeys.
Well we are getting very close to our biggest of holidays, Christmas. Jim and I will be travelling to Barrie to share in this celebration with family. We love to watch the little ones who get so excited as they open their gifts. We will have hors d’oeuvres Christmas Eve. Always love that. Christmas dinner is always so delicious. Sharing with family makes everything so special. We will get to watch a video of our grand children on the East coast as they open their Christmas box. We are so grateful that we live in a time where you can Skype or Messenger your family in real time. It is not as good as being there, but it definitely helps.
I want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas. Whatever holiday you personally celebrate may it be an amazing time spent with family and friends. Sometimes your friends are your family. Celebrate who you are and all you have achieved. Know that if today is not so great, there is always tomorrow. Start again, start fresh and acknowledge every accomplishment. Sometimes just getting up out of bed is a major accomplishment! Set reasonable goals for yourself for example if you can only walk for 7 minutes just do the seven minutes. Don’t overdo it. Build up slowly. That is how we can be successful in our lives. If you can, do things with a buddy. This holds you both accountable. Most of all don’t give up. You are so worth it!
Happy Holidays to all!
