So a story from a terrible time in modern history.
I bought 6 copies of this book in 2022. Donated one to each of my grandchildren's schools and kept a copy each for your families.
So poignant with what is happening in the world today.
Lily wants us to have love, hope and peace.
Wonderful message isn't it??
#lily'spromise#auchwitz#hopeforthefuture#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro
How many times do you share a story?
An event?
And just want to share it when someone pipes up with I have done that and better.
Active listening means to hear the person's story. Not to jump in with your story.
For example ,I went to an FC game a couple of years ago for the first time. I love the jumping fans. Thought it was so special for me. Well didn't the person I was telling have to say, we went all the time. We had season tickets. Whatever!
Each person's experience belongs to them.
It is why when a child is sharing for the first times to listen. Encourage the conversation even if you have done it a hundred times.
I learnt this skill as a student supervisor of counsellors, social workers and others in the field. The student needed the first experience of learning a new skill. Yes for me I had done so much so many times. Active listening and validating.
A good friend listens to the story. An acquaintance can become a friend by just listening and validating those positive experiences.
Anything you can do I can do better is not said aloud but it is implied when someone jumps in with a better one up!
It is why sometimes I do not want to share anything unless it is to very close people that care. When I am listening to their stories to remember to listen and not jump in!
Yes it is always a struggle to practice what you preach!
How about you? Any thoughts! Stories to share! Are you a good listener?
#anythingyoucandoIcandobetter#activelistening#rememberingtovalidateothers#agoodfriendtrulylistens#teachingotherstheskillofactivelistening#itisastruggletobeanactivelistener#reflectivthoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro
Have you ever been blind sided?
Something out of the blue. Unexpected.
Like a curve ball isn't it?
We are like the batter at home plate.
The curve comes.
Sometimes it is a miss.
Sometimes it is a hit.
Sometimes the ump calls ball and we have another chance.
Even if we are struck out, we will have another turn to return to the plate and try again.
#curveballsinlife#blindsidedbylife'schallenges#unexpectelifeevents#sometimeswestrikeout#sometimeswehittheball#reflcetivethouhgtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro
Can't be all blue. One niece has a birthday today.
Martin Luther King's bday.
So yes the bills need to be paid from Christmas but all in all it is just a really cold day for many people in Canada.
So Blue Monday came and went. It is now Friday.
Not so blue after all.
How was your week?
#bluemonday#gettingthrouhghardtimes#fridaygetsusthroughtheweek#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro
In genealogy it is called hitting a brick wall when a family line is stuck.
But in life we often feel we have hit a brick wall when our problems become insurmountable.
Approaching problems one at a time is a start.
Try not to be overwhelmed by everything.
Taking a step back to see the larger picture.
Often when the little details overwhelm us it can be difficult to see a way around them.
Asking for help can be a good approach.
Other eyes on a problem can give a new perspective.
Sitting with the problem and giving time works as well.
Do you have strategies for working through your brick walls of LIFE?
#brickwallsinlife#strategiesforworkingthroughbrickwallsoflife#askingforhelpinlife#findingsolutionstobrickwalls#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro
Am I lonely? Not really. Just more isolated, I guess.
Funny but I do enjoy my own company. And my independence. I have learnt when to ask for help so I do not hurt myself.
January is the month after Christmas. So not so much hoopla and planning and sometimes fun and sometimes stress.
The house returns to normal which after the colours and fun stuff of Christmas seems very dull.
Bad weather keeps me and so many others home.
It is a time to go through the house and clean those corners.
My genealogy is one. Putting all those new items in the proper place. The binder. The Evernote file. Write up another story? Review former stories written and determine if more can be added.
Putting people on my list to call. Hearing a real voice is much better than just a text or email.
I did one family email to Italy with some Di Mambro photos from 1955ish. I wanted them to identify the people in the photos. Not much of a response.
Connecting with family. Going to hockey games. Helping with driving. Knitting toques to keep my hands and mind busy.
Social isolation is huge for mental health issues. So not only doing instrumental tasks but making sure human connections are made.
In writing posts, trying to find some stimulating ideas and topics. Maybe another poem or two.
So pushing myself to keep going. Pushing to write. My community activities are few this month so time to find speakers for one group. Just need 4 for the year. One group is dormant until May, yeah as I almost resigned from that one anyway.
Almost half way through January and I am still here.
How is your January going? Are you lonely? Busy? Depressed? Happy?
Tell me your thoughts.
#winterweatherkeepsushome#januaryactivities#keepingbusyinwinter#organizingmylife#areyouorganizingyourlife#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#craftskeepmebusy#socialisolationisbadforyourmentalhealth#howtoreduceloneliness#pushingmyselftokeepbusyandgoing
I have so many supplies in my home.
From food to craft items to business supplies.
So deciding to use my resources at hand I am making my way through those supplies.
I have knit 4 toque hats using some of my supply of wool. Feels good in the dismal days of January.
I am dividing my extras in my stamp collection into 6 small collections for my grandchildren.
Sorting through my various piles of documents I am working on downsizing some of my family history binders. I can scan and upload to my Evernote files so do not need duplicates of everything.
My photo albums will be another project. There are photos of people that I can send to those people. Years ago I sent one nephew most of his baby and childhood pics. I felt he and his daughter would enjoy them more. I only needed a couple.
I know retail therapy can help in these dismal days but using up stuff is the opposite of shopping and feels very good knowing I can use up supplies. So therapeutic in its own way.
Of course all those meals I froze over the last month are being eaten. On those days when the thought of cooking is burdensome, having a nutritional meal ready to heat in the microwave saves the day. Like the Sheppard's pie pieces I made from leftover Christmas dinner mashed potatoes, carrots, peas and used fresh ground beef.
I confess though I made a deliberate trip to Longos( a wonderful local supermarket with many products and an amazing bakery) yesterday to buy a steak, Caesar salad-just have to mix the precut ingredients and a piece of cake- better than buying a whole cake- for Friday night dinner. I had a baked potato from another meal. I really wanted to eat out but it sufficed for me. Plus a few other grocery items.
So what other resources do I have in my home. Probably I have just touched the tip of the iceberg.
How about you? Do you have resources to use in your home?
#usingyourresourcesathand#makingprojectswithitemsaroundthehome#usingfrozenfooditemsforaquickmeal#stampcollectionbeingdividedforfamilymembers#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro
Sometimes I feel badly that I do not do real winter sports. Skiing in my youth. Used to skate but now not very good at it.
I decided that snow shoveling is a real winter activity.
I use several muscle groups that I am now feeling.
Our snowfall last night of several inches became very heavy wet snow.
So shoveling it off the driveway into little snowbanks gave me a good 30 minute workout.
I do have a system that I push the snow and do not lift as it is probably not good for my heart.
My arms feel like I have done a minor weight workout.
So I feel that I can now brag. Yes I have a winter activity. Shoveling and salting my 6 car driveway.
#winteractivity#snowshovelingcountsasawinteractivity#workingthosemusclesinthewinter#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro
Grandparents love their grandchildren.
Some are more hands on than other grandparents.
For some it is a show. Look at me and all my grandchildren. Talk is cheap.
I like to be part of their lives.
So looking for ways to be engaged.
I took one granddaughter to see the Nutcracker. Lovely day out. Subway ride and being in the City.
Wanting to take the older boys to the PWHL first game. But it was sold out. Then I found a way to do it. Bought tickets for the NHL All Star weekend. Tickets had already been bought so I have two extras for the event.
For the littles I bought some tickets to the local theatre for a Spiderman movie during their March break.
Of course ordinary sleepovers, going to hockey games, drives from school and to appointments keeps me embracing the nana role.
They are my people and I love them.
Nana says embracing the Nana role is really special.
#nanarole#embracingthenanarole#beingpartofthegrandchildren'slives#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro
January 7th will always be a special day in our family.
Sonya and Andrew were married this day. They started dating on the 7th of January so wanted to be married on the day.
It is also Adolph's birthday. I always think that his Mom was pregnant at the same time my mother was pregnant with me. Opposite sides of the world.
Celebrating always shoos away those January blues.
Having cake is never a bad thing.
So wherever you are have some cake today to celebrate whoever you want!!
#januarybirthdays#january7thaspecialdayinourlives#rememberingaspecialdayinJanuary#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro
I was watching a segment on Breakfast TV.
The guest a fitness instagramer with 4 children- Phil Mackenzie said he embraces the chaos of having 4 children.
It reminded me that my daughter says the same thing about her family.
Roll with the chaos.
So families with many children seem to feel the same way.
The family chaos.
As a Nana, I must admit it is is good way to parent.
All the parenting advice is good.
But life can have some chaotic moments and well with children in the mix it simply can not be helped.
There are so many ways to parent positively.
Consistency.
Love.
A positive safe home.
Parents that love each other.
Healthy choices in food, environment.
But knowing that chaos can occur so why not embrace it.
#embracethechaos#positiveparenting#rollwiththechaos#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro
The 150 sign moved around Richmond Hill or the Hill as we call it.
Art Walk and the amazing City crew helping with the Plaza sign and set up.
Happy New Year everyone.
A quiet celebration with a married daughter and family.
Then watching TV at home with a sweet vermouth.
Tried to stay up but the fireworks and cheering in my neighbourhood woke me up.
A text from another daughter was good.
Okay back to sleep and up at 530 to start the New Year.
Funny but I have already done some January planning.
I had said that I would enjoy the Christmas break and I did.
Along with Christmas celebrations, I took my littlest granddaughter to see the Nutcracker- National Ballet of Canada.
Subway ride, downtown Toronto- what a fun day.
Not great photos as I could not use my Nikon but at least I took a couple from the day.
It was raining outside so not an outdoor pic of the theatre right at University and Queen Street. There is an underground walkway that goes from the subway right into the theatre.
So 2024 a time to get going and doing and being. Time to embrace all in my life in a different way.
It is what Adolph would want for me and his family.
#2024#embracingallthatlifegivesme#nutcrackerballet#downtowntoronto#beingwithfamily#embracinglife#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro
