FEBRUARY THE MONTH OF LOVE AND FUN AS WELL AS DEPRESSION

 My February is off to a good start.

I went to the All Star Hockey event in Toronto with the family. A nice dinner before the event at the Scotiabank Arena.

There was the All star draft with celebrity captains. Justin Beiber and Michael Buble were two. Fun for my granddaughter.

For me the thrill of seeing the 1967 Maple Leaf team and my teen hero Dave Keon. 

Like my fun sign.

Taking the subway with my grandson is always an adventure. Just being downtown was great.

A doctor's appointment and all is well.

Working on community group publicity.

Some more organizing of my stamp collection and 6 small collections for the grandchildren.

With all the activity it is a month with little sunshine which does not help the mood.

So pushing to go out and be around others is good too.

February-a time to love, live and be.

#February#justinbeiber#michaelbuble#allstarhockeyweekend#davekeon#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

LILY'S PROMISE- A STORY OF HOPE IN THIS MODERN TROUBLED TIMES

 

History can repeat itself if we let it.

So a story from a terrible time in modern history. 

I bought 6 copies of this book in 2022. Donated one to each of my grandchildren's schools and kept a copy each for your families.

So poignant with what is happening in the world today.

Lily wants us to have love, hope and peace.

Wonderful message isn't it??

#lily'spromise#auchwitz#hopeforthefuture#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

ANYTHING YOU CAN DO I HAVE DONE BETTER-TIRED OF HEARING THIS, WELL I AM TOO-BE AN ACTIVE LISTENER

 How many times do you share a story?

An event?

And just want to share it when someone pipes up with I have done that and better.

Active listening means to hear the person's story. Not to jump in with your story.

For example ,I went to an FC game a couple of years ago for the first time. I love the jumping fans. Thought it was so special for me. Well didn't the person I was telling have to say, we went all the time. We had season tickets. Whatever!

Each person's experience belongs to them.

It is why when a child is sharing for the first times to listen. Encourage the conversation even if you have done it a hundred times.

I learnt this skill as a student supervisor of counsellors, social workers and others in the field. The student needed the first experience of learning a new skill. Yes for me I had done so much so many times. Active listening and validating.

A good friend listens to the story. An acquaintance can become a friend by just listening and validating those positive experiences.

Anything you can do I can do better is not said aloud but it is implied when someone jumps in with a better one up!

It is why sometimes I do not want to share anything unless it is to very close people that care. When I am listening to their stories to remember to listen and not jump in!

Yes it is always a struggle to practice what you preach!

How about you? Any thoughts! Stories to share! Are you a good listener?

#anythingyoucandoIcandobetter#activelistening#rememberingtovalidateothers#agoodfriendtrulylistens#teachingotherstheskillofactivelistening#itisastruggletobeanactivelistener#reflectivthoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

WHEN LIFE THROWS A CURVE BALL-SOMETIMES POSITIVE, SOMETIMES NEGATIVE

 Have you ever been blind sided?

Something out of the blue. Unexpected.

Like a curve ball isn't it?

We are like the batter at home plate.

The curve comes.

Sometimes it is a miss.

Sometimes it is a hit.

Sometimes the ump calls ball and we have another chance.

Even if we are struck out, we will have another turn to return to the plate and try again.

#curveballsinlife#blindsidedbylife'schallenges#unexpectelifeevents#sometimeswestrikeout#sometimeswehittheball#reflcetivethouhgtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

BLUE MONDAY OR IS IT JUST ANOTHER DAY IN JANUARY

 Can't be all blue. One niece has a birthday today.

Martin Luther King's bday.

So yes the bills need to be paid from Christmas but all in all it is just a really cold day for many people in Canada.

So Blue Monday came and went. It is now Friday.

Not so blue after all.

How was your week?

#bluemonday#gettingthrouhghardtimes#fridaygetsusthroughtheweek#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

GETTING AROUND BRICK WALLS IN LIFE-WHAT ARE THE STRATEGIES?

In genealogy it is called hitting a brick wall when a family line is stuck.

But in life we often feel we have hit a brick wall when our problems become insurmountable. 

Approaching problems one at a time is a start.

Try not to be overwhelmed by everything.

Taking a step back to see the larger picture.

Often when the little details overwhelm us it can be difficult to see a way around them.

Asking for help can be a good approach.

Other eyes on a problem can give a new perspective.

Sitting with the problem and giving time works as well.

Do you have strategies for working through your brick walls of LIFE?

#brickwallsinlife#strategiesforworkingthroughbrickwallsoflife#askingforhelpinlife#findingsolutionstobrickwalls#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

WHY DOES WINTER CREATE SUCH LONELY MOMENTS OR IS IT JUST TIME TO REGROUP AND PLAN

 Am I lonely? Not really. Just more isolated, I guess.

Funny but I do enjoy my own company. And my independence. I have learnt when to ask for help so I do not hurt myself.

January is the month after Christmas. So not so much hoopla and planning and sometimes fun and sometimes stress.

The house returns to normal which after the colours and fun stuff of Christmas seems very dull.

Bad weather keeps me and so many others home. 

It is a time to go through the house and clean those corners.

My genealogy is one. Putting all those new items in the proper place. The binder. The Evernote file. Write up another story? Review former stories written and determine if more can be added.

Putting people on my list to call. Hearing a real voice is much better than just a text or email.

I did one family email to Italy with some Di Mambro photos from 1955ish. I wanted them to identify the people in the photos. Not much of a response.

Connecting with family. Going to hockey games. Helping with driving. Knitting toques to keep my hands and mind busy.

Social isolation is huge for mental health issues. So not only doing instrumental tasks but making sure human connections are made. 

In writing posts, trying to find some stimulating ideas and topics. Maybe another poem or two.

So pushing myself to keep going. Pushing to write. My community activities are few this month so time to find speakers for one group. Just need 4 for the year. One group is dormant until May, yeah as I almost resigned from that one anyway.

Almost half way through January and I am still here. 

How is your January going? Are you lonely? Busy? Depressed? Happy?

Tell me your thoughts.

#winterweatherkeepsushome#januaryactivities#keepingbusyinwinter#organizingmylife#areyouorganizingyourlife#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#craftskeepmebusy#socialisolationisbadforyourmentalhealth#howtoreduceloneliness#pushingmyselftokeepbusyandgoing