FALL IN LIFE'S JOURNEY

Older people are usually accused of being set in their ways. Not liking change. Really the problem is there has always been change. Life can throw curve balls and no matter what your life is changed. Needing to roll with the flow takes energy and courage. Courage to keep going no matter what. Fall is so metaphorically good as a stage of life. Fall as the end of summer- like the end of little children, an empty nest, retirement or thinking about retirement, downsizing, moving, health issues and many new aches and pains. Fall can have lots of colours and fun but can be the realization that winter is coming- the end of the seasons. Sure there is botox and tummy tucks to try to look younger. But no one can recapture youth! Embracing Fall with gusto and some A2W can help! Lots of life-just not at the same pace and with a few naps!

OCTOBER AND ITS FUN EVENTS

Yes Halloween is coming. But it means the end of the month. Still 2 weeks to go of fun and outings. Especially those farm trips. Buying the big pumpkins for carving and decorating is a Canadian traditiion coast to coast. For this tired nana, a liitle pumpkin is all that can be mustered. It's the meaning that counts, not the size!

CAN'T SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES

Sometimes in life we are caught up in activities. The larger picture escapes us! Too much, too little time. Being busy. Being tired. Then the the light bulb goes on and life becomes manageable. The forest presents itself loud and clear.

ONTARIO FALL IMAGES

A Canadian image. A lane way with Fall colours. One of my little jaunts that brought this lovely image! Where is it leading?

One of my favourites! Pumpkin man on the Willowtree Farm- near Port Perry Ontario.

Lake Scugog getting ready for the season ahead!

There can never be enough pictures of fallen leaves. Such a common image in the Fall.

Along the side of many roads.

Just take a country drive anywhere and enjoy the Fall colours. The Fall that season after summer. Often dreaded as the prelude to winter. Like the Fall of our lives there is so much to see and enjoy. Relishing the good. The harvest. The colours. The seasonal weather that can be warm enough. No boots or coats yet. Ontario in the Fall is so beautiful. Like other provinces in Canada that have so many beautiful images to offer.
#ontariofallimages#pumpkinman#adriveringthecountry#fallleavesmakebeautifulpictures#ontariofallisbeautiful#treesandalltheircolours

NANA SAYS PARENTS CAN LEARN FROM EACH OTHER

New parents. Parents with bulging families. Parents of teenagers. All phases and stages of parenting bring challenges but also lots of joy and memories to be made. In my time books and journals on parenting assisted as well as a degree in psychology. Several courses on child psychology in fact.. Remember the principles propagated today are based on psychological principles. Just ask me and I could tell you the theorist. I digress. There are many supportive internet sites for parents- Yummy Mummys is one. Of course the magazine Parenting with lots of insight and tips, strategies to help get one through the day. Remember there is the wisdom and experience of older people in families- grandparents, aunts, uncles! The important thing is not to approach parenting as a job but a journey. The relationship between parents and children builds character, shares love and is what family entails. Talk with other parents, share moments, bitch, commiserate, laugh about children's exploits. Many parents have their hockey buddies,dance buddies, soccer buddies or whatever activities their children are doing can bring new friendships. Sharing means caring and helps with the overall stress of being a modern parent with modern demands. An important trick to learn would be how to overcome being so tired all the time!!

OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

Adversity- according to the dictionary- the condition of adverse fortune. Misfortune. Sounds so trite doesn't it? But anyone who faces misfortune of any nature will tell the world it is not trite. Depending on the misfortune, there may not be much support from anyone. You didn't get the job, try for another one. Suck it up! Be a man! Be a woman! Get over it! Do we need support to move on? Probably. At least to have the event acknowledged! Large events like the death of a loved one gets immediate attention but over time if the person grieving is not healing the support wanes. A lost job and trying to find a new one wanes too. Immediate support of others helping to network goes away.It is too hard to be around the down behaviour and mood, so people move away from the sufferomg person. Offering counselling services, groups or intensive therapy do help some people. Support with others going through the same circumstance. The fact is clear that sometimes people do not come back. Their lives changed forever. The messages or movie playing in the head will not go away. for example, if the love lost was the love of one's life, a choice may be made to stop really living. Getting stuck in one's misfortune often leads to bad choices- drinking too much, drugs, overeating. Even prescription drugs can become a crutch. Situational depression can become clinical depression. Why do some people bounce back or just work really hard at moving forward? Why do some people become stuck? Is it in the gene pool? If advesity has not come your way, it is very difficult to understand the journey of another! One strategy is to get up every morning and put one foot in front of the other. Start with some daily goals. Find some meaning, no matter how small. Embrace the people who love you. Keep going. Do the dishes. Put out the garbage. Wash your hair. Go for a walk. Read. Write. Paint. Increase your activities. Push negative thoughts out of your head. Can't go it alone- get some professional help! Know too that many people chose not to understand your situation so find positive people in your life who really care! If you can be the positive person to another, then be there!

THANKSGIVING REFLECTIONS

Sitting down for a great meal with adults and children is a challenge. No matter how wonderful the food children often are picky eaters not wanting to try it. Of course the adults can not get enough of a good thing. Just being together eating, talking and sometimes laughing is what any special festive holiday brings. Making time for each other. Thanksgiving brings the joy of thanking and thinking about life. Unlike Christmas with the month of hoopla, Thanksgiving is quieter and less hectic. So that makes it special. Glad to be together. Some families are experiencing their first one without their family member. So it is a prelude to bigger events in the future. For most workers, Monday a stat holiday. A day away from work. Of course, some stores chose to be open which spoils it for some people. Being in October, depending on the weather still time to be outdoors. Or like some people cleaning the garage and putting stuff on the curb. Making room for the car when the snow flies! For the hostess a day to eat leftovers, put away the holiday dishes and enjoy the quiet. Putter and reflect!

#thanksgivingreflections#childrenarepickyeaters#beingtogetherwithfamilyforthanksgiving#reflections#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro