MILANO OLYMPICS AND THE CANADIANS GET A ROUSING OVATION AS THEY ENTER THE STADIUM

 I love the Olympics.

I love my Canadian athletes.

Watching the opening ceremonies was so much fun.

But when Canada entered and got one of the loudest ovation it said something about our place on the world stage.

We are loved.

So Carney's speech and standing up for world peace and middle strength countries has given us such a voice.

Crowds do what they do. Other countries were booed. Individuals have the right to express their feelings.

Thank you Milan for the support and love.

VIVA ITALIA! FORZA BENE!

Now let's go and compete in a respectful way.

#olympics#gamesbegin#canadagetsagreatovation#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

FEBRUARY-THAT SHORT WINTER MONTH

 I have plans for February. To get the activities done that did not get done in January.

Photos organized.

Clean clutter corners.

Work on future planning and trying to resolve one major issue that is taking just too long.

More social events.

Flowers and chocolates for me for Valentines.

Working, Exercising. Reading. Writing. Just keeping busy as I have been a little too complacent and not doing much.

So how about you? Do you have plans?

#february#feburarythatshortwintermonth#watichingmyfavouriteshows#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

"CANADA THRIVES BECAUSE WE ARE CANADIAN"-MARK CARNEY

 What an amazing response to the rhetoric from our southern neighbour.

It is a rallying cry for all of us.

Canadians can agree to disagree. We are not a cult. We are not robots.

But we do respect each other. We can tolerate regional differences.

The west hates the east. But those of us in Ontario love the west. So there. Just saying.

We help others as needed and are helped.

Forest fires have crews crossing borders and even oceans to help each other.

Our hydro crews have helped other provinces as needed. They have gone south to help as needed.

So Prime Minister Carney, keep it up. We do thrive because we care.

Canada thrives because we are Canadian.

#canadathrivesbecausewearecanadian#markcarney#tiredofsouthernrhetoric#canadianssupportingcanadians#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#keepbeingcanadian#supportourcanadianathletes#beingproud#strongandfree

WHY MARK CARNEY'S SPEECH RESONATED WITH NOT ONLY CANADIANS BUT THE WORLD

 So as a Canadian I felt so proud of our OM on the world stage.

You don't have to vote for him in the next election but be proud of what he said.

As Canadians we can have our differences and can agree to disagree.

But when push comes to shove we must stand our ground.

So let the negative Canadians come forward with their thoughts.

Conservative- You can't eat a speech. A little jealous Pierre. Why not just say it was good for Canada to shine on the world stage. Up there with Zelensky.

Australia liked it and invited the PM to visit.

So Students memorize his speech. It was a good one.

#carney'sspeech#thejealousyofconservatives#mostcanadiansloveditandaresosproud#soproudtobecanadian#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO HAVE A CIVIL DEFENCE FORCE- MORE THAN JUST GUN OWNERS

With the geopolitical climate heating up, Canadians can not be complacent that no one especially our neighbour to south would not invade us.

History has shown us that the average person can take part in protecting their nation, their community, their family.

With Carney's speech at DAVOS, it really is a call to arms. To be ready.

It will be tough before it is peaceful again.

So Finland is an example of how they resisted the Russians in World War Two.

Guerilla warfare. Learn about it and how it works.

Resistance during World War Two throughout Europe. When the Allies arrived, the plan was there from the Resistance movements in France, Norway, Netherlands, Denmark and other countries.

Viet Nam. Afghanistan. Examples of wars America did not win.

Look at the resistance in the Ukraine. Russia thought they would take it in two weeks.

Canada has Rangers in the North. We have a military base in Alert.

We are tech savvy. We have the population that would resist.

Look at the small movement of buying Canadian. Avoiding travel to USA. Supporting Mexico.

The Kentucky Bourbon industry has been hurt.

There are some sarcastic tweets that what would we use- NERF guns. Silly people.

Women are here. Canadian women that are mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and more than willing to protect our own. 

New trade alliances. New partners. Reinforcing the old partners.

NATO. British Commonwealth of Nations. Pacific nations. We have friends and alliances.

So what do you think? What ideas do you have? BOTS please stay away with your negativity. So let us keep our eyes and ears to the ground. What do you need us to do?

#carney'sspeech#newtradealliances#Canada'scivildefenceforce#protectingourpeopleandcountry#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SO DOES THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR PETE HOEKSTRA TO CANADA UNDERSTAND WHY CANADIANS FEEL THE WAY WE DO

 Recently the American Ambassador to Canada- Pete Hoekstra- was disappointed that Canadians are not embracing and welcoming a close relationship with the USA.

It was like a parent or teacher or preacher telling us we were bad people. Like how dumb are we to reject American alliances.

He seemed to scoff at the idea that Canadians are still upset over the 51st state rhetoric.

Well sir look at the meme map by your President January 20, 2026 of an American map over Canada, Greenland, Venezula and Cuba looking like the USA owns all of us.

Leave Greenland alone.

Leave Cuba alone.

Leave Canada alone.

Stay in your lane.

Leave the EU alone.

Do you understand why we are not laughing or taking the knee to your current Administration?

We can and will protect our own country. We will protect our Artic frontier. We will stand strong and free.

As a sovereign nation along with many other sovereign nations in the world, we are tired of the rhetoric.

Your nation's love of Putin and what he is doing to Ukraine is so pitiful.

Our current Prime Minister- Mark Carney said it all. The old world order is over. We have moved on to supporting and enhancing our own nation's support of our people. We are making new alliances and making old ones stronger.

Canada is not a perfect nation. We have regional differences. We agree to disagree. We support each other.

We will find new partners on the world table. Maybe we will still invite you to a meal or not. I just wish we were not your neighbours.

#canadaisasovereignnation#notlaughingattherhetoric#petehoekstra#leavegreenlandalone#leavecanadaalone#leavecubaalone#leavevenezulaalone#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

DARKEST BEFORE THE DAWN

 

Early morning with its eerie look.

The sun comes out and the world looks better.

so hang in there. And wait for the light in your world.

#darkestbeforethedawn#waitforthelight#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

2026 WITH A TERRIBLE START IN OUR GEOPOLITICAL WORLD CLIMATE

 Venezuela invasion.

Threats to Greenland. Canada established a Consulate. Germany is sending a military ship.

Threats to Cuba.

Threats to Columbia.

 Escalation in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Iran protests.

ICE increasing their threats on domestic people. One death.

The administration is operating under chaos theory. Have many stokes in the fire to distract from ulterior motive. Keep everyone looking everywhere.

Canadians more concerned about the US threats to our life.

I just feel our peaceful but not perfect nation is under fire. 

We did not ask for this fight with our southern neighbour but we will be ready.

What to do? Pick one issue. Pick one conflict. Get each of your 20 friends or people you know to pick one conflict. Get a team for that conflict. Share results.. So instead of looking everywhere and becoming dizzy, the focus is concentrated with your own results. And what you can do. Every small effort combined with other efforts gives us a fighting chance.

So are you ready?

I know I will be. How about you?

#2026startedwithturmoilfortheworld#toomanyconflictsintheworld#beingreadyforafight#canadian'speaceisatstake#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#beingreadyinwhateversmallwayyoucanbe

2026-TIME FOR HOPE FOR A BETTER YEAR FOR ALL CANADIANS

 2025 brought so many political challenges.

It brought a solidarity across the country to buy Canadian which is continuing. Hopeful.

New world allies. 

Not travelling to USA in droves. Yes some people have a Florida residence so feel compelled to go there. I am glad I do not have any property there.

So being aware of defending our sovereign nation from one major foe that used to be a friend.

We need our own foreign policy. We need to make the Artic more defendable. 

Being kinder to all Canadians. Embracing Social Justice. Yes I am fine being Woke as it means I believe in Social Justice.

Go Juniors in the Hockey Tournament.

Looking forward to the Olympics. Looking forward to World Cup games in Toronto.

Canada coast to coast to coast.

So if we stand up for Canada in the world, we also stand up for the world.

So let's hope that Canada will stand up to all the challenges presented. One Canadian at a time.

#wokeforsocialjustice#socialjustice#canadaembracingcanadians#weareasovereignnature#defendingcanadafromcoasttocoasttocoast#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

FAVOURITE IMAGES OF 2025-JUST COUNTING THE BLESSINGS IN MY LIFE

 One of the biggest highlights was the COLDPLAY concert last July. My granddaughter and I were on one side of the stadium. Sonya, Andrew, Brody and Tyler were on the other side.

Sonya took this photo of us.

The other side of the stadium.

50th Reunion of graduating from the University of Toronto in 1975.

January was my 75th birthday.

Grandsons playing hockey.

Terry Fox Ride of Hope through Richmond Hill.

McMichael Collection in Kleinburg. Became a member so I plan to attend more shows and outings.

Grandson playing soccer.

I need to hunt for more photos.

#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#favouriteimagesof 2025#hockey#mcmichaelcollection#soceer#rideforhopeforterryfox