CANADA-FOREST FIRES DESTROY LIVES

As the fires rage in Fort McMurray Alberta it is a grim reminder with all the beauty of the forests we have in this great nation, forest fires are always a real threat. Every province and territory has crews and disaster plans for such occurrences. Today in Alberta all Canadians send their love and hopefully support in whatever way they can. I usually donate to Canada Red Cross. Those close to the situation may offer shelter, food, gas or whatever they can. Losing not only your home but your community is too painful for words. So the question, what else can we do? How can we help?

YOU LOOK BUT DO YOU SEE

Good observation skills are vital in many jobs and useful in every day living. Recently on a weekend away, I spent some time looking at the view from my hotel window, writing what I saw. It is a good exercise to do periodically. In my work, listening and observing are clinical skills that have been developed over the years. Yet when I looked at the scene from my window, I missed the lake in the background until I realized it was there. Did not take a picture but it would have been a good activity to test other's skills. Seeing means to look again and sometimes to look again several times. Our first impression may not take in everything that is relevant. Like the picture above do you sometimes miss the forest for the trees?

HURRICANE SEASON

As the Maritimes braces for Hurricane Earl and what he will bring, it reminds me of a childhood memory- Hurricane Hazel. That Hurricane in 1954 was one of the worst natural disasters for the Toronto area for decades. It is the reason there are deep ditches in many parts of the GTA in case there is flooding again. My main memory at age 4 is my mother's panic and having to go to the basement. I think that is why she was always afraid of storms. I thought it was just my mother who had that phobia until my 30's when I had a neighbour who would come to my house if she was alone during a thunderstorm. Every area of the world and home here in Canada can be affected by natural disasters. Manitoba has its periodic floods, tornados that have touched down coast to coast, the terrible forest fires in British Columbia and of course many winter blizzards that rain havoc. Back to Hurricanes. We are usually unscathed by them. However, history does tell us otherwise. What is your memory of a natural disaster that impacted your life? Do you try to be prepared in case of an emergency situation?