FEBRUARY-THE SHORT MONTH FULL OF LIFE

With February coming to an end there is optimism that Spring is around the corner. Weather predictions however tell us it will be a colder than usual March. The good news is the fact that winter is coming to an end. A short month-February brought some joys, some sadness and lots of time to work indoors. It is one of the worst months for depression. Many people need to know this fact so they can normalize their feelings. Those that do not normally experience depressive episodes, well the weather wore some down!! Heart month and the campaign to be heart healthy! Exercise helps the heart but how to be outside in the frigid weather with all the ice! A time for sweethearts! A time for family dinners! A time to invest in your RRSPs! February let's know that 2014 is really the year to concentrate on accomplishing something! It is a month that allows the dormant trees to start to produce some buds for Spring. So if you look closely at the trees there are little nubs starting to emerge! Oh February and all its ups and downs-just glad to continue to plod along with my projects! How about you? Have you finished some? Are you looking forward to the end of this month? Are you ready to move along?

SO WHAT IS A HEALTHY DIET?

Healthy eating is all the rage! Or is it? Since my late teens I have been aware to eat healthy. I was one of those people before I became pregnant I started to review my diet so the food during pregnancy would be healthy. Basically all food groups according to the Canada Food Guide. Yes I still eat meat but not every day. Yes I eat carbs but limit the number I eat every day. Yes chocolate is a food group!!! Many diets and food groupies like vegans, vegetarians, never eat carbs, never eat meat etc. claim they have the answer and will live the longest!! Really. Ponce de Leon tried to find the fountain of youth and well he did not make it. Eating all the minerals and vitamins needed for your body is what really counts. Have you ever found people on the latest diet eliminating a food group often can be crabby? Diabetics with low sugars can be crabby! Being hungry makes a person crabby! Do you ever feel people are obsessed with their eating and their bodies? So why am I writing this today! Perhaps I am a little bored of all the judgements floating around on what a person is eating! Do you ever have a friend that says-we are eating healthy now! Okay what were you eating previously? Eating lots of fruit and vegetables is good. Some fruit juice is okay too. Recently fending off a cold, I drank orange juice because one orange would not cut it for me. Actually it was hot orange juice. A hot drink always soothes the throat! Remember don't drink coffee or wine and now it is discovered appropriate amounts are actually good for you!! So is there a secret! Perhaps just a good old fashioned balanced diet with the occasional dessert! The two Canadians I knew who lived well and over 100 years old had this kind of diet. Not Mediterrean or vegan or whatever but just an ordinary one! Hum-but they were active and threw in some moderate exercise! So eating balanced and moving! What a novel concept! So perhaps I should market it! What do you think?

NANA SAYS TIME TO PLAN FOR MARCH BREAK

With February coming to a close, parents are scrambling to plan for the upcoming March break. To go away or have a staycation. Can time be taken off work or do other babysitting arrangements need to be made. It is the time of year where the cost of a vacation is at its highest. The beaches in southern locations are filled with people especially vacationing children or even college kids! Are family vacations necessary? You bet. Time together without all the running around of lessons, school, homework and lunches-well you understand- gives a family time to regroup. A third generation of working mothers teaches us that Moms need time to chill without the double duty of home and work. Watching children on a beach is very different than all the other stressed faced daily. Dads need time to enjoy the children differently. Vacations can bring a different kind of stress. Without all the busyness, people do get bored of each other. So some planning for  those moments may be necessary. Time away from I-phones, I-pads, tablets etc. so some real face to face time actually talking and doing may be difficult. Many families can be seen in droves all looking down at the electronic devices in their hands! For stay at home Moms the break is necessary too! Being out of the home in a new environment gives renewed energy to everyone. Major cities have copious amounts of entertainment for those staying home. Movies galore where the matinee can be attended so everyone can be home for dinner. Oh March break-that time of year where the weather is dubious and more needs to be planned. But stopping and enjoying the family life is so necessary. As I have said many times, your children will not be young forever so building those memories with them means being with them. So let me know about your March break plans.

NEED A LIFT?

Do you need a lift in life? Do the problems you carry need some outside help? For many people the emotional supports that are around them give strenghth to keep going. What aids do you require to keep goinin? 

A SWEET END TO THE OLYMPICS-A CANADIAN HOCKEY GOLD

A sweet end to the Olympics with the hockey win and a  few other medal surprises. The Own the Podium program has really helped our athletes to be elite. It is not just a 4 year endeavor. Encouraging people of all ages to partake in sports has life long effects. Knowing how to participate on a team. Children  have heroes to emulate and know that hard work may pay off. Not just to get a medal but to have a discipline and skills for the future. Olympics inspire us and make each nation proud  celebrating medals and personal bests. It they also teach us that the youth of the world can come together and participate in a larger humanitarian meaning that we can get along as a world. Winning hockey was great but seeing our country unite coast to coast to coast was beyond words. Goodbye Winter Olympics for another four years! See you at the summer ones in 2. Now back to the usual household tasks and routines. What will we talk about now at work? Maybe just work again! Are you a little sad the Olympics are over? Or are you glad to get back to the normal routines?

DARKEST BEFORE THE DAWN

Darkest before the dawn sometimes sums up a crisis in a life. Just hanging in there! Keep going! Making it through the night! Dawn always brings a new day! A chance to begin again! Knowing there are second chances sometimes is all that is needed to survive! Are you facing a new dawn?

SOCHI MADE CANADA PROUD-THANKS

As the Winter Olympics at Sochi head into the final days, it has been an incredible run of triumphs and disappointments for many athletes. I am always amazed at the level of excellence with all the participants. Elite athletes are a different group that inspire generations of people. The difference between first and tenth can be very little. Those that make it to the podium honour their home countries. As a proud Canadian those medals mean so much. However for other Canadians who did their best we can be proud for them as well. To the people of Russia and the community of Sochi-thank you for a great Olympics!!

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY

So what makes you cry? It's funny I feel more emotional at weddings than funerals. If it is not my loved one, the grieving should happen with the family. I am just there for support. Sometimes sadness can overwhelm us when there is a tragic story. Especially about children! Even tough people melt when a story is about a child. Stubbing a toe can make some people cry or hitting a thumb with a hammer! Personal injuries really hurt and can bring tears. If you are taking the wrong medications, your mood can be off. Depression can cause some real tears. What makes you weep? More than a little tears but real grief! How there been times in your life where you found yourself weeping? They say tears cleanse the soul and get rid of some toxins in our bodies. Of course cooking and peeling onions is a sure thing!!

NANA SAYS COUPLES SHOULD EXPERIENCE THE BIRTH OF THEIR BABY FIRST

How many people should be in the Labour room? This question gets debated. There are some people that want many family members present at the birth of the baby. I have my views. Firstly, it is the couple's experience at becoming parents. They are going from 2 to 3 or welcoming additional children to the family. Secondly, if there are any complications-well family members are briskly asked to leave. In most Birthing Centers there are nice waiting rooms for family to wait. After the event as many family members as wanted can see the newborn fairly soon after birth. My children wanted their special moment and it was just fine with me. I saw all my grandchildren quite soon after birth. It allowed my children and spouses to be with their child alone. Besides there are years to come in enjoying the grandchildren. Extended family is a great support team. Allowing new parents a chance to discover their baby is vital. I know in some cultures the baby is passed to the mother-in-law to be in charge. Personally I do not agree. The baby needs the parents first and the support team second! Over time let the child decide to love all the folks in his/her life. Women's bodies have not changed. So the whole birthing process is individual. Yes there can be difficult births as that has not changed either. Letting the care team do what they have to do without interference is critical to both patients-the Mom and baby! Yes have those cameras ready for those first pictures-no problem. So what do you think?

MORE SNOW MORE WINTER

Winter continues to drag on. Snow, snow and more snow in the forecast. Taking a camera and seeing the beauty gives some clarity to it all. Lovely photos to put in a blog help to break up the winter. However, it is hard to believe that under the 5 foot snowbanks the spring bulbs are getting ready to emerge in a month or so! The nature does have a way of coping. Perhaps lessons can be learned from her! Spring really does follow Winter!!

A SILVER LINING WITH HEART AT SOCHI

Tessa and Scott gave us a flawless performance. With judging, the best does not always win! Proud Canadians accept the end result as we do not have sour grapes. We are a polite and caring nation. The clouds have a silver lining! When someone gives us their heart, appreciation and love follow. For them, they felt they did their very best. Thanks Tessa and Scott for making us feel on top of the world!

FAMIILY DAY IN ONTARIO 2014

Family day in Ontario is a welcome mid-winter long weekend. Originally people wanted Flag day-February 15th to be celebrated as it was the day back in 1965 we adapted the red,white Maple Leaf flag as our national flag. The stores are actually closed. Even some that open 7 days weekly!! Nice idea to stay home and enjoy the family or go to some tourist attractions that are open. For this weary, worker, a day to enjoy and putter around the house catching up on some cleaning and writing. A project for work-a poster to present at our Social Work week in March about a conference I attended last May. Sorting some piles of paper that seem to accumulate without notice-heh how did that pile get so big! Watching a new DVD or 2 either on the big screen in the family room or my little DVD player by the piles of paper to be sorted. Maybe better by the piles of paper, so work actually will get done. If it snows which is forecasted, a little physical break to shovel some of it. I actually have a system and can shovel the driveway in under 30 minutes!! Having a Monday off is rather pleasurable. It gives a 4 day work week which in itself is a break. I do enjoy my job but am finding time away helps to give me some renewed energy. In other parts of the country the day may not be celebrated at all. To those in Manitoba enjoy Louis Riel Day! Hum-may be the theme of another post as he was a Canadian character worth writing in detail!! Whatever you are doing today, enjoy or work or have a nap! Since it is Family Day, maybe spend some time with the family!!

LIFE IS LIKE A CONSTRUCTION SITE

Construction sites are busy, interesting places. Machines, workers, drawings and supervisors make the action happen. What becomes noticeable is the time it takes to lay a proper foundation with all the infrastructure. A need to go down before the top can be built. Lessons for a person. We all need a strong foundation to grow up!!

VALENTINE'S DAY 2014-ENJOY

Happy Valentine's Day! One of those days that sweethearts are supposed to declare their love for each other. Little children exchange valentine cards at school. Boxes of chocolates and flowers are bought and exhanged in droves. Restaurants have a good turnout as it is one of the busiest dinners to attend. The red brightens up the winter snow. It is a fun day to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day! So what are your plans! Well mine are simple. With some food gift cards to use, Adolph and I are getting a takeout chicken and ribs dinner to eat at home to continue to watch the Olympics. He bought me some beautiful red roses for my birthday recently so I advised him that we could wait for the Easter and Spring flowers! It is that little winter break to give us an excuse to celebrate! Celebrating life, love and chocolate can only be good! Thanks to that Italian saint- St Valentine that was martyred around 269 - the patron saint of lovers. Enjoy your day! 

WILD LIFE CLOSE TO HOME

Wild life in my backyard is interesting! Can you see the hawk I captured in a photo in the middle of the tree? When I took it I did not see the squirrel on the lower branch! What a vantage point the hawk has! It's like being in a high place and observing the world differently. Perhaps if I used a telephoto lens it would be a better capture. Maybe next time! Do you have wild animals or birds in your yard?

NANA SAYS SOCHI OLYMPICS HAVE MANY LESSONS FOR CHILDREN

The Winter Olympics in Sochi does not just teach children about sports but many other aspects. Across this country in copious classrooms of all ages, children are celebrating Sochi. Pretend Olympic ceremonies with fake torches children are participating. World maps on the walls showing the countries where athletes originate. Learning where Sochi is and more about the country of Russia. A map of Canada with the hometowns of our athletes are teaching little Canadians about Canada. Sportsmanship and the need to respect each other are  paramount too. An example, the Canadian cross country ski coach running on the track to give the Russian skier a new ski so he could finish the race he had lost with dignity to cross the finish line in front of his home crowd. The spirit of the Olympic with its original intention that people participate together and may the best one win. Even just finishing the race is so important too. Knowing the athletes are elite. Knowing that hard work pays off but does not always make one a winner. Seeing children and youth inspired by the whole event makes this Nana smile. Learning about feelings and what it meas to feel patriotic is now in their conscience. Winter sports can be fun and rewarding! For young girls seeing women compete in similar events as the men inspires as well! Yeah Sochi! An added note, this writer now knows where Sochi is located and am actually revisiting Russian history learnt in High School! Good for children of all ages!!

CANADA IS A LAND OF WINTER SPORTS.

Canada is a land of winter sports. Over the years the number of people skating, skiing and snowboarding then to the indoors-curling it is indicative of the reason our country is doing so well at Sochi. We are the leaders but let's enjoy it as it may not last. Number one spot if only for a brief moment. Olympics has its stars, its disappointments, its underdogs winning. A return Olympian like Alex! What an exciting moment for Canada and his family! Are we a proud nation-you bet? Can we honour other athletes-you bet? Do you know that Alex helps poor Russians with equipment to help them to develop their skiing? What a heart! And how Canadian? We are enjoying the Sochi games! However, the Russians are putting on a good show for the world. The hospitality and safety is world class! Yeah for them! Okay-Canada keep it up. Oh I must calm my energy too! The excitement is really getting to me and those around me. Go Canada Go! Thank you Russia!

A FADED ROSE HAS A STORY

Even a faded rose in the midst of winter can have beauty. Do you ever really look at some old people? Can you see the beauty of the person? Listening to a person's story and validating it can be rewarding. Do you have someone old in your family? Write down their story. If you have not started your family history then there is no time like the present to record it. Don't have time to write, then just videotape your family member. With our obsession with youth and beauty, the lifetime achievements are often overlooked! Remember every wrinkle you see on a face represents living.

LIFE IS LIKE A GOOD BREAD STUFFING

When making a stuffing for a turkey, there must be the right ingredients. Planning, shopping, preparation then the chopping and blending adding some salt, pepper and the sage! Of course stuffing the turkey, the cooking and the result is delicious! Life needs similar components. It can be interesting and with the right flavours, we can have great moments. Life can happen without planning but like a good stuffing, if an ingredient is missing it just doesn't have the same taste!

SOCHI SOCHI-LOVE OF THE OLYMPICS

Are you an Olympic groupie? I love the Olympics. In the last 20 years it has been more enjoyable to watch them with Canadians actually winning medals. Despite any negative press about how ready Sochi is, I like Lisa La Flamme's enthusiasm last night on CTV news. She was positive and looking forward to the Opening Ceremonies. It makes me wonder how much world bad press there was about our amazing Vancouver Olympics. Calgary hosting in 1988 was quite incredible too! I believe the Russians will be great hosts and showcase their culture well. Oh yes since 1972 there has to be realms of security-such a pity. But the crazies of the world use a positive world event for their cause. Here's to all the athletes, coaches and parents who make this happen. I know where Sochi is on the world map and am learning more about Russian geography in that area. Here's to Sochi-let the games begin! I am sure there will be lots of thrills. Since there has been a worry about snow-here in my area we have snowbanks full of the white stuff. So you can come and get some of ours anytime. To my Russian readers-some friendly competition-let's see who will win the Hockey-it is a Canadian invention!

NANA SAYS CAN WORKING MOTHERS HAVE IT ALL

Work and home. Home and work. Most working mothers feel the pressure of accomplishing both. Being the third generation of working mothers, i.e. those who work outside the home as all mothers work for their families, not much thinking has changed. What has changed are some of the supports around those mothers. Like more convenient healthy foods that can be bought at any supermarket. Nannies are more prevalent. Women have better paying jobs. Cellphones to connect quicker with others in the family system. The pressures have not changed. Even with the view that Dads are doing more, the reality is men often are not. The women still picks up the slack for meals and household tasks. Getting a cleaning lady may help but who cleans the clutter in between the visits. Little children are lots of work. As children get older they assist with household duties. Until the teen years where they may rebel, not even wanting to tidy their rooms! So what is having it all mean! What does it mean to the average working mother! Over the generations there have been different definitions. Supermom!  Martyr Mom! So what kind of new definition will there be! Take a step back and remember you waned to be a mother, a parent. Staying organized really helps. In my day I even lectured and wrote some articles on having a balanced life-work and home. There are more books out now on the same old themes. The feeling of being pressured has not changed. The reality is-there is pressure and it is hard work. So stop trying to be everything all the time. Remember take a step back, deciding what is important for now. One example I give. When my children were preschoolers, I let the bed and clean kitchen  go unattended before I left for work. We would have a 15 minute cuddle time on the couch before getting ready to leave. Oh yes I came home to a mess but so what. It was only for a few years. Now it is not an issue-I do not have two little kids to cuddle every morning. I have grown up children that love and respect me as I do them. What is the important balance for you? Look around to older mothers in your midst! We did it too. The work, the home, the lessons and we remember how hard it was. So don't try to pretend your harder is harder! Perhaps dialogue with the other generations on how they did it and felt. I find myself listening to younger women and offering support that way. Not preaching or telling them anything unless asked. Parenting is not a fairy tale where you marry your princess, live in a castle and live happily ever after! The castle still needs cleaning and the children need meals. So make a decision to enjoy those little children. If you can afford-hire the nanny, the cleaning lady, take the clothes to the cleaners and for some people the grandparents pick up all the slack of babysitting every day. Or you can do it yourself just priotizing what is most important for now. For what it is worth-I did not have a nanny, cleaning lady or a real backup plan when the kids were at day care so I do remember how tough it was. Yes I am a good listener. 

IS HAPPINESS A STATE OF MIND?

I found an interesting quote on one of those inspirational lists-"Most people will be about as happy, as they decide to be." Too preachy for you? Actually, I think it holds true. Many days if I put on my game face and a smile greeting others with some joy I actually feel positive and well happy. No I do not have all the things I would like at this stage of my life, but I do have many things and especially people that help me to be happy. You noticed I did not say they make me happy. No one can make you feel anything. You chose to feel. Events can stir up feelings but you feel the feeling. Happiness is a state of mind then! Be careful though happy people can annoy the hell out of others who chose to be miserable and complain about their lot in life. Happy people are not necessarily the ones with the most money, best looks and well things-the biggest house etc. For example, Monday is a stressful work day. Coming off the weekend most people are not ready for Monday. I am one of them. However, I have been unemployed several times in my career after being laid off. So anytime I feel-oh it's Monday- I remember the horrible feeling of watching others going to work when I was looking for a job!! Put a skip in my step and remember the day can be bring joy or perhaps just work but like other events the day will end and home again to do my stuff!! So can we chose to be happy! Yes! Finding people and things and activities that put a smile on our faces. Seeing the silver lining in the clouds. For me lately with the never ending winter, I keep saying we are one day closer to Spring. Then I grab my shovel and go outside to clear the driveway and use the winter snow for some much needed exercise, finding the winter not to be so bad. Honestly though I do not always feel happy but I chose not to dump my negative feelings on others!

LIFE IS LIKE A CASSINO

Life can become stale and full of mediocrity. But it is safe! Less worry! Less heartache! Taking a gamble at something new and different gives us different odds. Are you thinking about a new job? Just get your resume together and send it out. Maybe you will be the 1 in 50 that gets it! Are you thinking about taking a course or going back to school? Apply! Do you want to swirl your "honey" around the dance floor? Then enroll-take some dance lessons. Do you have an idea you want to market? Like beautiful photos taken! Like a craft item! Put out feelers and get started. Often the gamble we want to take starts with just- well getting started. Give yourself realistic steps and goals. Sometimes like a walking buddy, someone to help keep you on track! If you play your cards right, you can be a winner. Not necessarily everytime but at least you stayed in the game.Like walking into a cassino. You can play the slots, or go to the card table or just stay for lunch having some fun. How you want to gamble is your choice.

FEBRUARY-RED WITH LOTS OF HEART

February the month with Heart! All things red to contrast the white of winter. Valentines and sweet messages. A long weekend to break up the month. A short month but often feels longer as the prelude to Spring. Time to finish indoor projects. Perhaps even time to start some outdoor plants in little containers. It lets us know it is not really a new year anymore. We are into the second month! Or is it relief we survived January and the winter blahs! Are we now into the winter rahs? Is there a feeling-we will survive!!! I just know the days are getting longer. Still light at dinner time! The sun seems a little brighter in the sky. For some reason a sense of happiness to be able to face another month. The beginning of any month does bring some sense of hope that good things can happen. I put the previous month to bed and let it rest! How about you? Do you have plans? Do you have some optimism about the month? Do you have plans? I look forward to red, white and pink valentine crafts with the grandkiddies. To what are you looking forward?

SAY WHAT-A GROUNDHOG PREDICTS THE WEATHER

Only in North America would weather be predicted by a groundhog. February 2 or groundhog day is just a fun event. Here in Ontario it is Wiarton Willie who by the way saw his shadow so there will be 6 more weeks of winter. Shubenacadie Sam in Nova Scotia did not! As well as Punzsutawney Phil in the USA saw his shadow-so 2/3 means 6 more weeks of winter. It takes us to mid-March. Actually Spring does not start until March 21 so it would be unusual not to have more winter. The predication for our area is to have seasonally cold and snowy weather for February. Great! After my workout this morning shovelling the driveway, it is good to know that any extra calories will be burnt off! The smart groundhog just stays sleeping until Spring! So what is the prediction from the little guys in Manitoba and Alberta? Haven't you already had enough winter?