Welcome

Inspiration for this blog came from my cousin Roy. His daily reflections of the events in his life have been thoughtful and interesting. Family, friends, colleagues are welcome to read my blog.



Monday, March 24, 2025

POEMS AND OTHER SHORT IDEAS DURING THE WINTER OF 2025-REFLECTIVETHOUGHTSBYBARBARA

 Sometimes ideas come to me.

Sometimes I try to write some poems.

Without revisions here are some winter ones.

______________________________________________________

Feb 20 2025

So much snow

And no place to go

Shovel shovel make a pile

It will take quite awhile

Cold wear your mitts

Be careful of snowball hits

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January 17 2025

I see the Sun

    shining from the East

Making my backyard

    snow glisten

A sign of hope

      or just wishful thinking

Oh Sun shine on

       give the world hope

As you rise each day

       as our nourishment

Our anchor in the universe

      our source of warmth

____________________________________________________________

October 2024

The Red Eyes go over

A pleasant sound

Normality

The flights are arriving

Who is on board

Coming home

Business travel

a tourist

Visiting family

A plane full of many stories

________________________________________________________________

February 13 2025

It has fallen

White, soft and deep

Snow

Seeing the small Plow

Lights on at 5 am

Out working 

to clear that parking lot

Making it safe

For those using that space

Winter and all

The hill close to home by the Library

Will have children with sleds and circle toboggans 

Going down the slope

Gleefully squealing 

Hitting the bottom

Then running up the hill

To go again

The Plow

The Hill

The Snow

______________________________________________________________

My house is on a street close to Yonge Street. There are two businesses beside me so I could see the parking lot being plowed. Up the street is the Central Library with a good hill to sled.

Every morning around 6 am the planes from the West go over. Thus the name the red eyes.

I try to take in t he images from my environment. It is great to travel and see new things but being present in my world is also important. My world can be as small as I want or as big with may landscapes and larger views.

I hope you enjoyed these short poems and reflections of some moments in my life.

#poems#poemsaboutsnow#reflectingonmyimmediateworld#writingdownmythoughts#tryingtostaypositiveintroubledtimes#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SHOW KINDNESS AND COMPASSION IN THESE TROUBLED TIMES

 Like most of us I am tired already of the Orange Orangutan in America.

Yes I am buying Canadian, supporting all that is Canada strong and free.

But it made me think about the need to be kind and show compassion to all that I encounter.

Remembering the issues that are still very important.


Think of the shadows we create in life

MMIW, Our indigenous communities.

Health Care. Need for more doctors, nurses and other professionals.

Truth and Reconciliation.

Services for elderly, disabled, special needs children.

Education and work opportunities in every community.

Fixing potholes in our roads.

Planting trees as they will save our environment.

For those facing adversity, grief, loss look for the helpers as Mr. Rogers would say.

#kindnessinadversity#rememberingtohelpothers#MMIW#healthcare#everyoneneedsafamilydoctor#truthandreconciliation#servicesforelderly#servicesfordisabled#servicesforspecialneedschildren#educationisthefoundationforakindersociety#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

Friday, March 14, 2025

CREATIVE IGNORING IS THE BEST SOLUTION WITH ALL THE TRASH TALK FROM THE ORANGE FACED GUY

 There is too much talk about the threats from the USA towards Canada's sovereignty.

Talking with NATO- "Canada is like a state."

Getting icebreakers. " If a state could get more."

Well you have all heard the rhetoric. 



I am buying Canadian and products from our known allies. Like Mexico. Like the EU. Like Brazil. Like India. Like Australia. And so many more.

I have decided emotionally and intellectually to curb any visceral reaction to the Orange guy and his cult.

Even the trolls in comments about Canada are  so mean spirited. So I will not read the comments. Not to get sucked into all that negative thinking. Weed out the negative losers.

So starting to take the high road. Like how a mom reacts to a toddler temper tantrum. Sees it but does not react.

Protecting our emotions while systematically with intelligence continue to support Canada, Canadians and Canadian values is important.

The politicians are handling the big stuff. We will handle the local, daily stuff. One purchase. One talk. One item at a time.

They have our backs and we have their backs by leaving up to our strong and free. In order to be free we also must fight for what we believe. If Canadians collectively continue to fight and be strong there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Remember David and Goliath. We do have the bigger sling shot. And know the vulnerable spot.

Canada strong and free.

So creative ignoring of all the crap and focus on the positive. Focus on what you can do.

#creativeignoring#positivethinkinginthesenegativetimes#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#don'treadthenegativetrollcomments#




Tuesday, March 11, 2025

COVID- 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE START OF THE PANDEMIC

 The Pandemic.

Shaped us for so many years.

Changed the way we looked at life.

Affected our children.

Sad deaths in hospital.

Signs.
Restricted playgrounds.

Churches thanking people.




Stocking up on goods.




Homemade masks before they were so available.


Covid assessment centre at Mackenzie Health-Richmond Hill.



Rainbow of hope on trees by the hospital.

So many thoughts and memories of that time. I wrote a 100 page story with photos and thoughts.

What are your memories?

#covid#thepandemic#toughtimesbehindus#rememberingcovidandallitshardships#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

Thursday, March 6, 2025

IN THESE TROUBLED TIMES LET'S BE KIND TO ALL OUR FELLOW CANADIANS

 Like many Canadians I am very angry at all the foolishness coming from America.

The hurt to our workers, families and communities.

For what. Tell me. There is no reason really. 

So America wants to be a fascist state now. Not a democracy.

But to try to bring Canada down. Bring Mexico down. Both nations are stronger than that.

Leave Greenland and Panama alone. They are strong as well.



Ukraine is showing the world the way. We must support them as much as we can.

So with anger comes my need to remember to be kinder. To be kind to everyone I encounter.

Kindness is not weakness. It just brings hope. It brings communities together.

We must carry on. We are strong and free. It may hurt a lot. For four years, maybe. Hopefully not.

We do live in hope that Americans will wake up to the tyranny in their land. And Russia as their ally now.

Kindness to my family. My community. My country.

And to do whatever I can in my corner of the world.

Sending love to everyone.

#ukraine#mexico#greenland#panama#bekindtoeveryone#kindnessisnotweakness#beingangrydoesnotgetusanywhere#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#bestrongandcarryone

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

MARCH AND ALL THAT IT WILL BRING-CAME IN LIKE A LION, WILL IT GO OUT AS A LAMB

 I think Zelensky is one of the bravest men we will ever know. He stood up to the tyranny in America by confronting the fat guy in the White House.

Canada loves him and want Ukraine to have a fair end to their war.

So with the trade tariffs starting last night at midnight Canada has tighten our seatbelt and we are ready for the rough ride.

March came in like a lion but we are hopeful it will go out like a lamb.

We will be the true north strong and free.

I hope my fellow Canadians and allies around the world, be very strong about the new order that has happened in the world.

America deserting Ukraine and just wanting their minerals is despicable.

I stand for Canada. I stand for Ukraine. I stand for love and freedom.

But if I must fight I will.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. So we are going to make it through all of this hard times.

How about you? How are you feeling about the world and all its calamities right now? If worried be with a loved one?

Monday, March 3, 2025

GASLIGHTING ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE-IMAGINE ACCUSING THE INVADED COUNTRY OF STARTING A WAR

Gas lighting  was seen front and center last Friday in Washington.

Well guys. The world was watching and has called you out.

To gaslight a President for working so hard to protect his country and people.

Wear a suit. You are on a propaganda tour. You didn't say thank you to America.



Well we all saw it and I know I felt so disgusted with the interaction.

Of course the minions in the government thought their guy was great and the one- Velensky was the bad guy.

Disgusting and embarrassing for all that saw it.

Ukraine must be supported at all costs. They are the gateway to Europe.

So call gas lighting out wherever it occurs.

#ukraineneedsourloveandsupport#zelenskyisahero#gaslightingdoesnotwork#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro