NANA SAYS USE THANKSGIVING AS A TIME TO TEACH GRATITUDE

Counting our blessings should be a daily occurrence even in the midst of any hardship. Children learn by example. So if your energy is negative children learn to complain and be negative or may want to avoid you! Thanking people! Recognizing thoughtful acts! Just feeling blessed to be alive- enjoying something about each day! So thanksgiving themes are a good time to talk, teach and show our children and families gratitude. I remember on what little outing with the grandchildren- I asked as I always do- what did you like best about the day. Then I asked what do you think I liked best about the day. One of my little grandsons said sheepishly- I know Nana. It was being with us!! When children know they are one of your greatest blessings, well the message has been delivered hasn't it!

DON'T LOOK TOO FAR DOWN THE ROAD

Planning and having goals in life are important. Being aware of pitfalls in financial and retirement planning are thrown at us constantly. In my work, however, when someone has received a poor diagnosis, these rules of life change. Putting affairs in order if they are not already done can be important. Then suggesting- don't look too far down the road! People want to know if they will be cured, is there a time frame- well you get the picture. Living for today and planning for tomorrow's appointment become the new norm. Going for treatment and waiting for results are part of  a new life. But having a big party and events that bring meaning are equally important too. How does one want to spend the rest of his/her life? So does this advice hold true for most of us every day! Yes would be my answer. Do you know how often I hear someone in their 30s saying- I can't wait until I retire! I can't wait until the children are older! Do they not realize he/she will be 20-30 years older? Really, one wants to be 20 years older!! Now! Today! I wanted my littlest grandchild not to hurry and get older! Staying a baby just a little bit longer would be my preference! She has insisted on crawling and wanting to grow- go figure! Another reason not to look too far down the road in life- do we all really want to know what waits for us? If we all knew how much time we have in life, would we use it well anyway? Or would we just fret and fret some more! I like preparing for events by being methodical.  clean one room at a time. Food organized. But I also like to live each day. Put meaning in it. And don't look too far down the road! Remember you could miss what is right beside you and it could be a missed opportunity!

AN ONTARIO COUNTRY DRIVE IN OCTOBER

A quick drive around some roads near our home brought some pleasurable images.

Fences, fields and a view of the trees changing colours made the Sunday jaunt full of photo opportunities.

End of season flowers ready for seeds to be saved for the next year.
In another week the trees should be even more spectacular to see. How are your country drives? Canada sure has some pretty scenery to see and photograph. Don't wait- get out and take some pictures.

#fallinanontariocountryside#sunflowers#fencesmakegoodneighbours#fence#fieldswithcolour#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

CANADIANS KNOW ABOUT EMERGENCY PREAREDNESS

Being well stocked with household items is a Canadian tradition. Preparing for the cold with lots of supplies like the pioneers who made sure the wood shed was full of logs for those winter fireplaces. In modern times, we are told to have many emergency items in the home like batteries, a flashlight, bottled water and it would even help to have some cash in case the bank machines are done. There is a logic to emergency preparedness. However every situation can not be anticipated. Just having the essentials to survive may or may not be enough. Natural events surprise us. A summer storm could create a flooded basement on a quiet street away from any river. Winds any time of the year from any kind of storm may bring damage. Years ago we had a wind storm that bent my wooden fence in the backyard. Strange, eh! Emergencies make us react quickly! The impact can leave emotional scars that may heal or not! Life can have many times where the unexpected happens! To try to be prepared for everything is not real. Having insurance helps! Getting our flu vaccine every Fall to try to fend off the flu. Finding the balance between living for now and preparing for the future can be disconcerting! So a home with  supplies for many seasons may be the answer. How do you prepare for the "unexpected" events in your life? What emergency stocks do you keep?

OCTOBER IS A MONTH FOR PRODUCTIVITY

October is a good month. Time for Thanks with Thanksgiving around the corner. Garden cleanup and bags of yard waste to the curb. Some Fall cleaning with donations to charities of clothes and other household items. Hoping for those wonderful Indian Summer days. The markets have the Fall vegetables like apples, squash and lots of pumpkins for pies and Halloween. Continuing with projects and starting some new ones. The indoors needs lots of attention because the outdoors always is so much work. Finding all those little and big dust bunnies in the house to clean. Organize for the busy days ahead. You know the C word!! Taking time to babysit the grandchildren to help those working daughters and spouses- giving them a little break. Planning and doing activities methodically gives an ebb and flow to life. Putting simple, ordinary activities in my life, well gives me a life. Yes, I put work in between all of this. These home projects keep me sane. When work is exhausting and emotionally draining, the simple projects bring some peace to my life. At this stage of my life, I am looking to what legacy do I want to leave my family and this world. So working on different projects, step by step, it comes together. The legacy does not have to huge. So in your life, what gives you a life? Are you trying to find a legacy to give the world? Have you already contributed something and feel good about it? Why not use the month of October- in between summer and Christmas to reflect, review and renew!!

FALL LEAVES AND THEIR SPLENDOUR

The Fall with its colourful leaves everywhere brings many images. Yellow, orange and red! The swishing sound when walking through them taps the senses. Children collect leaves for school projects. Everyone can find a pressed leaf or two between the pages of a thick book on a library shelf- memories of past endeavors. Raking them off the lawn and putting them on flower beds to cushion the bulbs deep in the soil from the blast of winter snow. Time to explore the city and country for the splendour of the Fall!

NANA SAYS FUND RAISERS GIVE CHILDREN A CHANCE TO REMEMBER A LOVED ONE

Participating in fund raisers for special causes, give children of all ages a chance to run, jump rope, walk, play road hockey or paddle a dragon boat for the event. Letting children know our loved ones are not forgotten opens the door for dialogue about the people who left our lives. That's why the Ice Bucket challenge brought so much awareness to ALS-Lou Gherig's disease- without being preachy. Right now there are so many Cancer events. it is easy to join one or just give a small donation to sponsor someone. Pick another cause or hospital or organization- calling it your own!  It is not necessary to try to cover all the causes but focus on one gives your children a chance to begin to see the community and their part in it. For example, in Canada the Terry Fox run has become a popular one. Schools across Canada hold small runs in Terry's honour so on an individual basis so the children can contribute to the bigger cause.  February can be jump rope for Heart and Stroke. The list goes continues. So in little ways children are learning to be part of the larger causes that can have lifelong lessons for them.