THE LONG WORK WEEK

No more stat days for a month or so! To begin the 5 day weeks in winter is where creativity and endurance must prevail. It tires us out. Winter working with the stress of bad weather saps energy!  The darkness of winter nights invites an early bedtime or long sits on the couch watching TV. Pushing through these feelings to plan, organize, create and to use the idle winter nights in a positive manner allows a sense of accomplishment. January the beginning of a new year always puts some pressure to do something different! Why not just finish the many things started in the old year or to continue with the pleasurable activities? Of course weather watching becomes a fulltime activity with the fear of bad roads on the way to work! A good working furnace to keep us warm! Winter brings an added stress at a deeper level of our consciousness! Like the preparation for the winter of our lives! No wonder most of us like Spring better! Are you struggling with the long winter? Are you finding it difficult to energize and do needed tasks? What strategies work for you?

A POSTCARD FROM LA BEFANA

January 6- Ephiphany on the Christian calendar where Christians of Eastern Orthodox, Russian Orthodox and others celebrate Christmas. In my husband's home country- Italy, there is the legend of La Befana. The story goes that when the Magi- the three wisemen were lost they stopped at an old lady's house asking for directions to find the Christ Child. She was busy so did not go with them but then regretted her decision and forever after went searching for Jesus by visiting houses with children looking for him. Children in Italy put a stocking for La Befana by the fireplace or the door.She visits January 5 the night before Ephiphany. If they have been bad they get a lump of coal but if good some candies and other treats and presents! When our children were little, a local Italian banquet hall- Cassino Place- would have an annual Befana dinner/dance. It was fun to take the girls as well as my mother-in-law as it was another celebration for them. Of course I do not know where La Befana lives now and do not have a real postcard from her but I am certain she has probably made some "bambini" very happy today!

#labefana#january6#italiantraditions#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

HEARTY WINTER SOUPS

As many people know my husband Adolph has a cooking/food blog. Of course, I type and take the photographs for it. It has been fun helping him with his posts. However, the best advantage is the smell of good food cooking and being able to enjoy his culinary delights. January- the month for soups! Soups are a good way to have some liquids, nutrition and to eat less calories! As much as I write about his cooking, he is sure appreciated in our family circle. One thing I have learnt, is watching someone cook and actually knowing what goes into the dish do not always coincide. When I draft a recipe for him, I have made mistakes as he tells me what has been left out of the recipe and the correct directions. It is like anthropology- observing a culture and knowing how to be from a culture are two different points of view!
So  the next time you enjoy some good food, thank the cook! I know I thank mine every day!

http://granpalovestocook.blogspot.com

THE WIND OF CHANGE

As the night winter wind was howling, disturbing my sleep, it was a reminder that life can be jostled by such events. A windy day! A hurricane force wind! A gentle breeze! Same system, just a different effect! Some winds more welcome than others, especially if one is a sailor with a big sailboat! In weather, winds do bring change. Nature does not like a vacuum so does not allow it. Do we also not like a vacuum and must fill our days with something?

PROJECTION-THAT SELF REVEALING DEFENSE MECHANISM

We all have ways to protect ourselves and our feelings. In the counselling process, helping the client to understand his/her own issues is a major part of the interaction. In daily life, with friends and colleagues listening and talking are different processes. However, it is easy to start to understand how others defend themselves. Projection abounds everywhere. How we talk and criticize others usually tells us a lot about ourselves. It is okay to dislike bad behaviour or criminals or con artists. The little criticisms we make about people are very revealing. "Her hair does not suit her- why do you care, it's her hair?" " I really would not want to be the manager- nobody likes you! So you don't like the manager" " She is always so critical of everyone! How critical are you?" " He thinks he is the biggest and most special person! Do you want to be that person?" There is one colleague who always tries to find the achilles heel with everyone- way of finding power! Powerless in the job but power in putting down others- in a joking way, of course! How often do you hear- you are just taking things too personally! What's the matter can't you take a joke? Or " that person is so unhappy in the job! " Is it the other person or the person who is talking that is really unhappy? If you put I in your conversations and take ownership of what you think or feel, then projection goes out the window. " I don't like critical people. I work hard at trying to stay neutral. I don't like myself when I am too critical." In our material world, there are lots of jealousies of how much money people make and what car they drive and how big their house is and the list could go on!! Projection can appear in these conversations all the time. " Most rich people are really unhappy and make terrible parents!" Usually the person talking would not admit, he/she wants to have all those things and more. Why not admit it? Why- it is easier to pretend that the person talking has it all together! " I have no faults but everyone else does!" Those faults you describe in others may be your very own!

NANA SAYS LEARINING TO SKATE IS A CANADIAN TRADITION

Remembering my childhood when I learnt to skate on a little patch of ice on a driveway at a local school around 3 years of age, watching my grandchildren acquiring the skill is a happy moment. The important aspect  is balance which means the little one can stand on the skates. Skating is such a Canadian thing to do! Not everyone will become a hockey player-although street hockey and fun games occur everywhere- or a figure skater, it is a fun activity for all the family. Indoor and outdoor rinks are scattered across the country along with ponds and river surfaces. The Rideau Canal in Ottawa is the famous one. Locally we have the Mill Pond which freezes over in the winter attracting children of all ages. Since one of the grown children have a rink in the backyard, maybe even this old kid will don skates again and have a go!!

2013 IN WITH THE NEW

Each January 1 brings hope of a good and successful New Year! Looking forward rather than looking backward! A new calendar on the desk or the wall with a total clean slate for the year ahead! Putting away Christmas items cleans up the house. Returning to those unfinished projects and picking up those books to read during the winter months. The days are really starting to get longer again as the Sun  returns to us. For me there is not much new but renew! No resolutions- just continue with my goals! Write! Photograph! Exercise! Healthy eating! Read! Craft! Knit! Crochet! Sew! Play! Love! Connect! Travel! Explore! And yes- work- at home and work! What about you? Any resolutions? Or just continue as is? Are you finding new activities or renewing?