Happy New Year

It is difficult to believe that 2010 is almost done! The year went by so fast - did we really have live through four seasons already? No doubt, 2010 will be known as the year of extreme weather and of breath-taking events. From the devastation of the earthquake in Haiti, to flooding, fires and heat waves through-out the world, it seemed that each day brought more bad news. However as each new tragedy occurred, kindness and compassion grew and people reached out in a manner never seen before. The most poignant event to me was the rescue of the Chilean miners. I watched spell bound as each miner was brought to the surface and shed tears for each one as they embraced their families. On my computer at work, I have pictures of several of the miners as they emerged from the earth. When those pictures flash across my screen, I am reminded of the strength of the human spirit, and how hundreds of people and dozen of countries worked together day and night for weeks to save these men. If anyone had any doubts of man's survival instinct or the compassion humans have for each other, the events of 2010 surely erased those doubts. Knowing that out of the ashes of bad events rose human compassion and resourcefulness . . . it's a good thing!

Skid Row Santa

Some people are just nice! For the past thirty years, every Christmas season, a lawyer has been handing $10 bills to thousands of people on skid row in Los Angeles. The lawyer, now sixty-nine years old and retired, has remained anonymous. He estimates that he has given away $20,000 of his own money every year. He says he does it because he is so moved by the appreciation and gratitude shown by homeless people when they receive his gift. Destitute people line up for hours ahead of time to meet the generous man and receive his donation. People like this man make the world a nicer place in which to live. Knowing that good people are taking care of the less fortunate . . . it's a good thing!

A Close Shave

I don't, as a rule, wonder about simple items we use every day. I don't wonder where they come from, how they are made or who made them. I did come across a story about the inventor of the Gillette disposal shaver that I thought was worth passing on. It is a story of perseverance and believing in yourself when no one else does. King Camp Gillette had a dream of creating a sharp but disposable razor. You would think that having a name like "King Camp" would have been hardship enough, but he set himself up for ridicule from investors, metal engineers and experts at MIT by pursuing his vision. Gillette laboured for four years creating a razor that was sharp, but yet inexpensive enough to be disposed of when it became dull. It took another six years before Gillette razors reached store shelves. Ten years of Gillette's life were devoted to creating something no one else believed in! When it finally reached stores, only 51 blades sold the first year, but in the second year, over 90,000 were purchased. Within the next few years, Gillette's disposal razors were in most homes and his creation changed the shaving industry forever. So, the next time you use - and dispose of - a Gillette shaver, take a moment to think about King Camp Gillette and his determination and belief in his himself. Knowing that sometimes even the craziest ideas are brilliant . . . it's a good thing!

Operation Nice

In June, 2008, Melissa Morris Ivone of New Jersey did something wonderful: she launched a website called "Operation Nice". The purpose of her site is for people to share stories about kindness. The idea came to her one day when she was not feeling particularly happy or kind. As she waited to enter an elevator, a gentleman told her to get in ahead of him. While in the elevator, they made small talk. As she left the elevator, Melissa realized that small gesture of kindness put her in a wonderful mood and she enjoyed the rest of her day. She knew she was onto something, and "Operation Nice" was born. The mission of Operation Nice is encouraging individuals to be positively nice. How simple, and yet how extraordinary, is that? Besides sharing stories of kindness, Melissa creates "nice" assignments. Her latest assignment is to write five favorite things about 2010. What a great idea! I'm sure the entire year was not all pleasant for everyone, but by focusing on the good things that happened, the not-so-nice stuff is not so important any more. If everyone followed Melissa's example and focused on being nice and doing nice things, the world would be a better place. If we all took part in Operation Nice, our little part of the world would be brighter. Thank you Melissa for sharing a wonderful idea. Melissa's blog can be found at http://www.operationnice.com/ . Making our world a happier place by taking part in Operation Nice . . . it's a good thing!

Finger Lickin' Good!

Harland Sanders had a great little business going in Kentucky. He had a small restaurant where he sold his chicken and he made a good living. He lived off the profits of his chicken throughout the 30's, 40's and 50's and most of the 60's Construction of a new road which bypassed his town put him out of business in 1967. Because of the popularity of his chicken, Sanders decided he would sell his "secret recipe" with its 11 herbs and spices and begin franchising his chicken. To his surprise, he could find no buyers. He went to over 1,000 buyers before he finally found someone who was interested! Together with that buyer, Sanders opened his first Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet. In a few short years, there were franchises all over North America. Seven years after selling that first franchise, at the age of seventy-five, Colonel Sanders sold his fried chicken company for $15 million! This story proves once again that truly successful people never give up on something they believe in. Believing in a finger lickin' idea . . . it's a good thing!

Just Be Friends

Janice Taylor and Mona Crandell are two incredible women from Regina. The two have been best friends since they were twelve years old, growing up in the north end of Regina. Inspired by Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King's long friendship, Janice and Mona decided to create a website called "Just Be Friends". The site is used by women to find friends. Their site took off very quickly as more and more women joined. Just Be Friends now encourages women to buy locally "Just Be Local", to support local charities "Generation Give" and to share information "Just Be Informed". Taylor and Crandell were picked by Oprah Winfrey as one of her "ultimate viewers" and invited to tale part in an Australian trip with Oprah and Gayle King. Janice and Mona, along with the other women chosen by Oprah, spent twelve days in Australia. This was a trip of a life time for the two women and it was made even more special because they shared it with their best friend - each other. Taylor said, "We really want women to understand that friendship is the most important thing in their life". By starting a web site to encourage other women to find friendships, they ended up going on a dream vacation with Oprah Winfrey! Their Australian journey will be aired sometime in January, 2011. Their web site is: http://www.justbefriends.ca/. Cherishing your friendships with other women . . . it's a good thing!

Band-aid Solution

Husband and wife Hanoch and Meladee McCarty wrote a book called Acts of Kindness: How to Create a Kindness Revolution. Since they have published their book, many people have shared with them their stories of how acts of kindness changed their lives. One story they were told was of six-year old Susie of Chicago. Susie's mother told her that their next door neighbor was very sad because she had just lost her daughter. Susie's mother told her that their neighbor had a broken heart and needed extra care for a little while and so she was making her a casserole. Susie decided she also needed to find a way to take care of her neighbor. Later that day, Susie knocked on her neighbor's door and presented her with a band-aid. She explained to her neighbor that her mother had told her about the death of her daughter and how sad she was. Susie told her that the band-aid was for her broken heart. The neighbor tearfully hugged Susie and thanked her. She assured Susie her kindness would help a lot. The neighbor eventually bought a small key-ring with a plexiglass picture frame. Rather than place a picture in the frame, she placed Susie's band-aid. She carries it with her all the time and it has helped her in her healing process. One small act of kindness by a little girl which helped a grieving mother begin to heal . . . it's a good thing!

Christmas Cops

It seems we always hear about the bad things police do. The media is quick to report on the latest abuse of authority or a bad judgement call of an officer in a tense situation. However, two constables of the Victoria Police Department in B.C. prove that there are also good stories to come out of police stations. Last week, Constables Jan Malinowsky and Rebecca Pollock responded to a 911 call from a shopping centre and discovered a confused elderly man. They took the ninety-five year old man home. When they go to his apartment, they found he had no heat or electricity. These two officers took it upon themselves to check with BC Hydro and were told that he was behind in payments, so his hydro had been disconnected. Yet when the officers looked around his apartment, they discovered several uncashed pension cheques. The officers assisted the man in writing a cheque to BC Hydro, they deposited his pension money into his bank account, paid his bill and arranged for a volunteer from Victim Services to sit with him until the power came back on. It doesn't end there: the next day, the officers returned to bring him groceries! These two police officers truly made this a Merry Christmas for a lonely and confused gentleman! I note that these two officers were women - I'm just saying. Knowing that two wonderful Christmas Cops serve on the Victoria Police Department . . . it's a good thing!

Making a Life By What We Give

Winston Churchill once said "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." No one lives by that statement more than Celeste, a friend I have come to admire and respect. Celeste is one of the most generous and kind people I know. As well as her social conscience, Celeste is a tireless environmentalist. In addition to all of this, she is a wonderful and caring mother to her three children. She is a musician and has a beautiful singing voice. Celeste earns her living as - of course - a social worker. What else could someone like Celeste do but help other people in her work place just as she does in her personal life? She is always giving of herself and of her talents. She sings at her church and at many benefits and fundraisers in our city. Everything that Celeste believes in, she has taught her children by example and by doing things with them. This Christmas, she and her family have done an incredible thing, something which proves that her lessons to her children did not go unheeded. Celeste and her family did not exchange Christmas gifts this year. Instead they gathered gifts and food for a Christmas hamper and gave to those who are less fortunate! (Her children, by the way, all all under the age of thirteen. I don't know many children who would make this sacrifice). What an incredible person and what an incredible family! Thank God for people like Celeste! If we truly make a life by what we give, Celeste and her family have created a wonderful life for themselves - and for others. Knowing that the more we give, the more we receive . . . it's a good thing.

Christmas With Family

This year, some members of my family were unable to be with us for Christmas Day. So, instead of having our usual Christmas Day meal, we held it a week early. This was a different experience for us - we have always celebrated together on Christmas Day. I love the large, noisy family who comes into our home and this year was no different. Our house rang with laughter and joking. We enjoyed that comfortable and peaceful feeling that comes from being with family who know each other better than anyone else ever could. I always marvel at the inter-generational exchanges and how age doesn't matter at a family gathering. We all have something in common: each other. It is always amazing to see young people deep in discussion with much other relatives, and older relatives taking interest in the lives and gossip of younger people. That is the magic of a family. I was concerned that this year Christmas would not be the same without the Christmas Day family meal, yet I was pleasantly surprised to find that it actually extended the Christmas season for me. We had the big family meal a week early, then on Christmas day, my husband and sons and I had our own Christmas meal. This was something new for us, and we enjoyed it very much. Celebrating Christmas with family - no matter what day . . . . it's a good thing!

James Earl Jones

Most of us first heard of James Earl Jones when, in the Star Wars movies, he was the voice of Darth Vader. With that distinctive bass voice, he went on to voice many other classics such as the Lion King, the CNN tagline and guest voice appearances on The Simpsons. He has a deep soothing voice and his speech seems effortless. What most of us do not know is that James Earl Jones had such a severe stutter as a child that he was considered functionally mute! He did not speak for the first eight years of school. In high school, he met a teacher who was determined to help him out of his silence. Donald Crouch discovered James had a talent for writing poetry. Mr. Crouch insisted that James write poetry to help him gain confidence. He also insisted that this functional mute and severe stutterer recite a poem in class each day! Eventually, James overcame his stuttering and went on to great success using his voice and words! Sometimes, it's not enough to believe in yourself - sometimes you need someone else to believe in you too! Special teachers who give us confidence to be the best we can be . . . it's a good thing!

Operation Beautiful

I am finding that, like me, many people are looking for positive and good things in their lives. We are learning that by thinking positive thoughts, our world becomes a more positive and happy place in which to live. I recently came across a site called "Operation Beautiful" launched in June 2009 by Caitlin of Charlotte, North Carolina. Caitlin's mission is transforming the way you see yourself - one post-it note at a time! Her goal is to end negative self-talk. Caitlin believes that negative self-talk is toxic and it hurts you emotionally, spiritually and physically. She has come up with a truly unique method of fighting destructive self-talk: she began leaving positive messages on the mirrors of public restrooms everywhere she went - work, the gym, the grocery store. She would leave notes saying whatever came to mind at that moment: "You are beautiful" or "You are amazing". Her goal was to leave as many Operation Beautiful notes as possible to encourage people to love themselves and to take care of themselves. Through her website, other people have joined her crusade and now "Operation Beautiful" post-it notes are being found across North America. Many of the notes include Caitlin's website address at the bottom, so that more people can search out this site and learn from it. Many of the people posting the notes or finding the notes are taking pictures and submitting them to Caitlin's web site. I love Caitlin's wonderful idea! Not only does she inspire us to be more positive about ourselves, she has given us the means to encourage others to do so as well. Thank you Caitlin! Caitlin's website can be found at: http://operationbeautiful.com/ . Loving who you are - and encouraging others to love themselves . . . it's a good thing!

Post-It Notes

I love post-it notes! I use them all the time! I stick them on my desk at work, on my computer at home and at work and on my dresser mirror. I never forget anything - as long as I have my post-its! I have several different colours because after a while one becomes "color blind" to the notes and you need the shock of a different coloured post-it to ensure you focus on the reminder. I was interested to find out recently that 3M almost didn't produce the little sticky notes at all! The powers that be at 3M did not believe people would buy them or that they had any kind of future. Art Fry, the inventor, so believed in his little sticky-notes that he kept handing them out to people to try out. Enough people liked them that 3M decided to produce them. The first marketing attempt failed! Art Fry did not give up and eventually talked 3M into giving it one more try. And the rest is history - post-its became a phenomenal success. No office or home is complete without them. They now come in a variety of shapes, including hearts, bows and animals. Way to go, Art Fry! Thank you for never giving up and ensuring that I had some way in which to organize my life and remind myself of the important things that I simply can't forget. Post-it notes - a simple little thing making everyone's life so organized . . . it's a good thing!

Sally's Story

This is a story of determination and belief in one's self. Sally was a young woman who wanted a career in broadcasting at a time when no radio station in the United States would hire her because "a woman could not attract an audience". So determined she was that she paid her way to Puerto Rico and then onto the Dominican Republic to cover and sell stories on the uprising occurring there. She continued to pursue her goal in the United States and was fired eighteen times! She remained convinced that this was her calling and finally persuaded a TV executive to hire her. He offered her a job as a political talk show host. She knew nothing of politics, but she knew how to carry a conversation that people could relate too. She began her first program by talking about what July 4th meant to her. She invited listeners to call in and express their views. Her viewers loved her and eventually her own television program became a huge hit. Sally went on to win two Emmy Awards and her television show reach over eight million viewers daily. Sarah Jessica Raphael never gave up on her dream and reached incredible success. Knowing what you want and never giving up until you achieve it . . . it's a good thing!.

Good Friends

On Saturday, we had friends over for a Christmas social. Most years, Christmas is such a busy time, we just never have taken the opportunity to entertain friends. Yet, this is exactly the time of year when one should show friends how much you appreciate them. We had a lot of fun. There was much laughter and kinship. Some of the people who came are people we normally only see through work. It was nice to get to know them on a more casual basis. Others are very good friends we see all the time, yet because this is Christmas, the occasion was more special than other times. Some who came have been our friends for many years, others are newer friends. There is something about Christmas that makes socializing very important. People who are alone at Christmas tend to be lonelier than other times of the year. Those of us who have family and friends to gather with should be very thankful. We should take advantage of the fact that we have people who care about us by making sure we get together with them and enjoy their company, especially during the holiday season. Having good friends to make Christmas even more magical . . . it's a good thing!

Positively Present

Dani had lived most of her life with a negative attitude. At the age of twenty-five, she realized her negative attitude was keeping her down and decided to turn her life around by thinking only positive thoughts. In 2009, Dani launched her blog "Positively Present" . Her blog is dedicated to living positively in the present moment. Dani says "Positively Present means living in the moment and searching for the positive in every situation". Dani believes that now is all we have - we can't live happily in the past or in the future - so why not make the present as happy and positive as possible? There are daily posts on Positively Present to help you focus on all things positive. Dani's site provides tips and advice on being more positive. Her posts help you to become more positive. She shares insight on how to share positivity. Dani truly believes the quote "If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought". Dani's site can be found at: http://positivelypresent.com/ . Thinking positive thoughts and living Positively Present . . . it's a good thing!

The Things That Make You Happy

I came across a site about a book called "14000 Things To Be Happy About" by Barbara Ann Kipfer. What an intriguing title! I searched out a little more information and was amazed by what I discovered. Barbara started keeping a list of things that made her happy when she was in the sixth grade, and continued adding to her list for the next twenty years! She started recording her list in a little spiral notebook, which she later replaced with large notebooks and she finally graduated to a computer. Why would a six-grader start keeping a "happy" list? I wonder what went through her mind. What gave her the idea to keep this list? And how interesting that she continued to do so for the next twenty years! Her list grew to 14,000 things and has now been published into a book. The entire book is simply made up of her lists - page after page of lists of things that have made her happy through her childhood, her teen-age years and her adulthood. Interestingly, the author says that she now uses her own list to cheer herself up on a "grey day" or when she wants to plan a fun thing with her son. I love this quote from Barbara Ann Kipfer: "Happiness comes from noticing and enjoying the little things in life". Noticing the things that make you happy and appreciating them . . . . it's a good thing!

Christmas Lights Over-Kill

There is a house close to our street that absolutely shines every Christmas. I don't know the owners, but I see them for days at a time, out in their yard, setting up their Christmas yard display. They are out there working, no matter how frigid the temperature. By the time they are done, there is hardly a space that is not lit up. Their yard sparkles with Santas, Christmas trees, wreathes and trains. There is a Santa with eight reindeer on top of their house. Three snowman take up residence on the front of the house, just above the bedroom windows. Reindeer made up of white lights prance across their yard. As you near their house, you see brilliant reds, yellows, blues and greens. Every morning when I drive by on my way to work, I shake my head and wonder about the "over-kill". Each time I drive by I think to myself these people need to find a life! However, I have noticed something the last few nights. Every time their house with its brilliant lights comes into sight, I find myself smiling. If I have had a busy day, the decorated yard reminds me to enjoy life a little. As I drive by the twinkling reindeer, I am suddenly in the mood for Christmas! So, to my unknown neighbor, thank you for taking so many hours each Christmas season to set up your spectacular display. Thank you for braving the cold and for climbing up your extension ladder to the your roof and thank you for the love and care you put into your decorations. Although you think your neighbor might be going just a little overboard with Christmas decorations, when night falls and lights shine brightly, you appreciate the Christmas spirit it creates . . . it's a good thing

Mrs. Richard's Christmas Village

When I was a child, my Mom and Dad were friends with Mr. and Mrs. Richard. They spent a lot of time together and visited back and forth a great deal. One of my most vivid memories of Mrs. Richard is of the Christmas she invited my family to her house for supper. She had many beautiful ornaments, but the one that caught my eye was her Christmas village. The houses were beautiful, each one beaming brightly through the darkness. Lights shining through stain-glass windows captivated me. With their interiors lit, I could see each detail of the little village. Through the windows, I could see the interior of the church, of restaurants and of homes. I had never, in my short life, seen anything like it. I loved Mrs. Richard's village and I decided that I would have one too when I grew up. I kept that promise to myself. The pictures show a small portion of the village I have collected over the years. Most of the pieces were gifts given to me by my family - I love each house, store, restaurant and the people who inhabit the village. Every Christmas season, one of the first things I do is to set up my beautiful village. As I plug in each house and place each character, my mind wanders back to that little girl who gazed so lovingly - and longingly - at Mrs. Richard's creation. She is long gone now, and never knew how her winter scene would stay with me and that someday I would have my own village, just as I had promised myself so many years ago. She would never guess that, after all these years, I think of her each Christmas as I set up my own village, inspired by hers. Remembering people who had an effect on your life, especially at Christmas . . . it's a good thing!

God's Guest List

Is it possible that every person in your life is here because of a divine purpose? Debbie Macomber’s book “God’s Guest List” claims this is so. Macomber firmly believes that everyone – even the “prickly people” as she calls them – are sent to you for a purpose. A person may need something from you, or you may have something that person needs. Someone may come into your life because there is something he or she can teach you, or that you can teach that person. Macomber says that whether someone is a life-long friend, or someone you only maintain contact with for a short while, there is a purpose for the friendship. Most life lessons are learned from these people. She says that even people you don’t like, people you simply “put up with” are a gift sent to you in order to learn any number of traits: patience, tolerance and sometimes even a prickly person can become a valuable friend. Macomber says that we should “welcome those who influence our lives”. She further explains that even people we don’t particularly care for have something to teach us. Her book caused me to examine my own life and the people who have come in and out of it, and the people who have been permanent fixtures in my life. I think Macomber might be onto something! Even not-so-nice people in my life have been there at a time when I needed their skill or talent or even guidance. The people I love have given me strong support when I needed it most. Even precious friends who have passed away, were a part of my life when I needed them the most. All of these people – friend and foe – are part of the “guest list” of our lives, and we should appreciate each and every one of them. Knowing that some greater being has picked out your friends and your “prickly people” and sent them into your life when you needed them the most . . . it’s a good thing!

Random Acts of Kindness

I have blogged about people who do good things. I love those kind of people! In Saskatoon, Brenda has performed the ultimate act of kindness. Brenda decided she would do one act of kindness a day for one year, starting in October. She did little things like visiting senior homes, writing letters to soldiers and dropping off treats for kids at the Cancer Clinic. While at the Cancer Clinic, Brenda met Argie, who was from the Philippines. She had come to Canada, alone, to make enough money to help her family back home, but her big dream was to send for her seven-year-old son and bring him to Canada. She had not seen him for two years and desperately wanted to reunite with him. Sadly, Argie was told in October that she had terminal cancer and was advised by her doctor to return home to spend her final days with her family. Because she deteriorated quickly, it became clear that in order to fly home, she would need to be accompanied by a nurse. The cost was too much for Argie - and that's where Brenda stepped in. She organized a fund-raiser in her home and raised over $4,000 and added $1,000 0f her own to the fund. However, when it was time for Argie to leave, she was too ill and everyone soon realized she would live out her days in Canada, thousands of miles away from her family. Brenda decided the only alternative was to bring Argie's family to Canada. She was able to cut through the red tape in time to bring her son and sister to Saskatoon last week. It was an emotional reunion. They were able to spend five days with her before she died - five days they never would have had if Brenda had not taken it upon herself to do a good deed for a stranger. Because of Brenda, a little boy will have a memory of his mother and a sister will know she was there when most needed. Knowing there are people like Brenda in the world who go out of their way to perform a good deed. . . it's a good thing!

The Baby In The Picture

Isn't it strange how, when looking at a picture of yourself as a baby or young child, it feels like you are looking at a picture of a stranger? It is difficult to even feel a connection with your own baby picture. I think a person feels that way because you have no memory of the picture being taken or of that particular time in your life. The only way we know ourselves as young children is through the pictures other people took of us. When I look at this picture of myself, I don't' really know who this little girl is. Of course, I know it is me because I have been told it is. However, if someone were to show me a picture of someone who looked like this girl and I was told it was me, I would believe it, even if it wasn't me because I don't know the little girl I once was. When I look at this picture, I wonder what I was thinking, what I was feeling, and who was I? Is there anything of me at all in that little person? Why is it, that when I look at it decades later, this picture holds no memory for me at all? I have come to the conclusion this is precisely why it is so important to have photos of your children - so they will know who they once were. Although sometimes it is like looking in the eyes of a stranger, your own baby pictures tell you who you were and who you have become. Learning about the person in your baby picture . . . it's a good thing!

Snow Day in Europe

The news coverage lately has focused on the unprecedented snow fall in Europe. While there are many sad and even tragic stories emerging from the unusual weather, I would think that by now, children in Europe are enjoying what children in Canada look forward to every winter: Snow Day! In Canada, Snow Day means we get to miss school, skip work and just stay home where it is warm and safe. In Canada, children look forward to those days when they can miss school and watch TV or play video games all day long. For many European children, this is a brand new experience. European children are no doubt also learning how to make snowmen, snow caves and to slide down slippery hills. Although the Eiffel Tower in the picture looks a little sad covered with snow, there is a smiley snowman standing in front it it - proof that a couple Parisian children enjoyed their snow day! Learning to live with snow and taking advantage of Snow Day . . . it's a good thing!