ST PATRICKS-THE LUCK OF THE IRISH

 Irish like the Italians have immigrated to the 4 corners of the earth.

Many landed in North America and well here in Canada.

Toronto has had a long history of Irish culture and descendants.

I am one. I have some Irish blood.

So mini celebrations with a cupcake or cookie will be enough. 

How are you celebrating St. Patrick's?

#stpatrick's#celebratingIrishtraditions#weallhavealittleirishinus#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

MINDFUL ENTERTAINMENT- INDIGENOUS LECTURES AND MUSIC WITH A PURPOSE

 It is always important to learn and sometimes relearn.

So two talks and one musical gig all featuring Indigenous people.

Heather O'Watch from Saskatchewan presented.Ancestral Voices: Tending to the Fire: An Offering for Storytellers. She spoke about Kindling needed for a fire and equated to Kin in our lives.

Daniol Clair Coles in a local Speaker Series presented- Sharing Indigenous Worldview: Reflections Of metis History and Experience. Family from Selkirk Manitoba, he now lives in Cambridge Ontario. His family stories of great great grandparents and their experiences. One family member a doctor was instrumental in developing a Cowpox vaccine for Smallpox in the 1840s vaccinating many indigenous people and saving lives.

Adrian Sutherland from Northern Ontario- Attawapiskat First Nation and Cree presented along with Chris Gormley at the Richmond Centre for Performing Arts. He was in the Group Midnight Shine previously. It was his first Single tour.

What I really liked was the confidence of all three. No chips on their shoulders despite the history and life experienced in their families. 

It felt good to support Indigenous people doing their art and work. Hearing their stories and music and supporting their efforts I feel is part of the Reconciliation journey.

Canadians supporting Canadians. 

#indigenous#indigenousentertainers#indigenousspeakers#supportingCanadians#supportingIndigenousartists#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

WINTER ENDING, SPRING BEGINNING-MARCH THAT IN BETWEEN MONTH

 Three snowfalls in a week. 1/2 of all our winter snow.

March is more like January.

Too early to try to see those spring bulbs poking their heads out of the ground.

However, the birdies are singing.

I am seeing flocks of birds returning. 

When I see a robin then I will know for sure spring is really around the corner.

This is what I want to see.

Not this. Enough of the snow already.

#springaroundthecorner#flowersinthespring#waitingforspring#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SOICAL MEDIA HAS CREATED WANNA BE CELEBRITIES-THAT 15 MINUTES OF FAME IS NOT ENOUGH ANYMORE

Conversations with my daughter and others who write brings up the fact that so many think they are celebrity worthy.

Tic Tok has become a world where anything goes. People with copious followers are celebrated for doing nothing of real significance. A dancing dog. Changing clothes. Pose after pose. Did very little to earn all the hoopla of notice.

Instagram.

Facebook. 

Easy ways to put yourself out there. And in many cases ways to share with others.

There are many interesting and relevant sites with good information and fine writing.

Do people know they can buy followers for their sites?

So when someone brags about all the followers, are they real or marketed to them?

One celebrity can give a friend his/her followers.

Are we in such a world that our worth is rated by how many followers we have?

Like Friends on Facebook. My number is 139. It could be so many more. But I limit it and have not accepted every friend request. Especially from obscure men from over the globe I do not know. It is not a dating site.

What is a celebrity anyway? More important than regular folks, whoever we are? I do not think so.

Covid did not teach us much. So many are still caught up in superficial things. Oh I love the shoes on one Instagramer! Never responding to anything with true meaning.

For example, if I post a picture with family at dinner I get many responses. If I post something of meaning, very few responses. 

Have we become a world of trite?

What do you think?

#socialmedia#havewecreatedasuperficialworld#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

arethefollowersreal#buyingfollowers

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF WOMEN-REMEMBERING STRONG WOMEN

 History has strong women.

Monarchs like Queen Elizabeth II.

Actresses. Scientists, Teachers. Writers.

But often our own families have strong women.

My daughter Sonya wrote a post about her Nonna/Concetta for this month which is Woman History Month.

House of Kerrs

Her point was not needing to look farther than women in her own family.

The whole WHY NOT slogan from 1975 still stands today!

So who are the strong women in your life past and present?

Do you consider yourself a strong woman?

#internationaldayofwomen#strongwomen#beastrongwoman#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

COVID INTO YEAR THREE- WHAT ARE OUR SURVIVAL STORIES

 I know everyone is tired of the Covid word. Everyone wants to think it is over.

Who would have thought three years later it could be an issue?

Studies of how people survived after having covid. 

Vaccines and more vaccines. I have had the first and the booster. Plus flu shot. Updated tetanus.

So far so good.

Know of several deaths from covid. Know of some long haulers from covid.

Know of some deniers as they exist. The y really exist.

So what did we learn from it all.

Some learned alot.

Some are back to self centered behaviours and life. 

Art from a child. Just thanking.

Children could not play in the playgrounds.

Signs thanking our hard working people until some in the public turned with anger and frustration.

I wrote a photo journalist story for my family and gave a copy to the Central Library in Richmond Hill.

Well everyone has a Covid story.

So as we march into another year. Maybe an annual shot like the flu shot is part of our life's now.

#covid#covidthreeyearslater#whatisyourcovidstory#signsthankingfrontlineworkers#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

MARCH-LIFE MARCHES ON

 Did March come in like a lion or a lamb?

A little of both. Over a small winter storm and roads are clear.

The temperature is cold but not freezing.

So is Spring around the corner??

March with its in between weather. The start of Spring cleaning.

March Break and trips south for many families.

Staycations for others.

For this retired Nana- just more of the same.

Or is it? Time to get into March marching so to speak!

#march#marchmarcheson#springcleaning#gettingrevedforwarmerweather#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro