DO YOU LIKE TO BE EARLY?

Arriving early at the community centre recently to wait for my daughter and young grandsons to arrive, I thought about this concept. It can be said if you are early you are anxious while if you are late than you are aggressive. It really does not fit. I am usually early as I like to be not only early for events but definitely on time. While I was waiting I was able to take in the whole scene. View the road, the stores, the parents coming and going with their children as well as reassuring my daughter I was available to her. She did not have to wait for me!! At a recent workshop downtown, I could experience the ambience of the streets-even taking some photos, find a comfortable chair in the meeting room and scan the area for the participants arriving. Rather than rushing and being frazzled, being early gives time to calm my energy and be aware if the circumstances change. Recent flights west let me be early! Find the washroom, sit near the ground agent in case of flight changes, read or just contemplate life! At any dinner/dance with an appetizer bar, allows for the best selection of food! Perhaps it is annoying to my spouse who does not like to wait! Why wait at home? But if we have somewhere to go why be late and arrive on the dot!! Being early gives flexibility for any change of plans and the ability to roll with it!! Like traffic!! How about you, do you like to be early? Do you run late for events? Do you think if you are early you are anxious? Is it just good and efficient time management?

IS VANITY A SIN?

Or just human nature? Do we care more about our looks than our health? With critical health decisions such as breast cancer, some women opt for the saving of the breast with a lumpectomy or minimal surgery rather than a full mastectomy that may save problems down the road. Not everyone thinks Angeline Jolie did the right thing-she was being preventative, chosing longevity. The new ostomy-- the bag that rests the colon and often gives life is not necessarily welcomed as a life saver. Yes critical health issues can be devastating but the surgical interventions give life! For some it is not good enough as the appearance has changed. The elderly person refusing to wear a hearing aid as it would make him/her look old!! Consider the number of very young women using botox and getting their lids done- cosmetic surgery has skyrocketed. In some cultures, a nose job is a must- heaven forbid anyone has a natural nose. Vanity- where does it come from and where does it start! So I have wrinkles and my hands look like hands of an aging person. Yes I like to dress nicely but life brings changes and one of these changes is the body! Would I be so vane to change looks over a life saving procedure? Would you? Would your life be over if you had to face such a decision? Who is really looking at you? If a man whistles at a woman, he has probably whistled at several others during the day. Your loved one should love you for more than your looks. If you are just a trophy wife or a trophy husband than it is just vanity. Has vanity caused more problems than it is worth? Can we be a little vane and still be sane? For some like I feel, vanity is put aside for other factors such as good health, feeling loved, creativity, and just the joy of having an ordinary life! However, it can be difficult to be around vane people day in and day out. Is it fair for me to label them vane? It helps as it allows me to distance myself from those qualities. I can accept the person as he/she is without needing to judge. I make the decision to feel good about myself even with gravity affecting my parts. Otherwise, I can be the wise woman- knowing aging is better than the alternative! There is still so much to do and to love in life! Vanity-an interesting word and concept! But is it a sin or just human nature- look at Helen of Troy or Cleopatra!

NANA SAYS WITH JUNE COMES THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR ACTIVITIES

One Mom recently commented she could not believe June was here. For a Nana it does not impact me very much, but for working parents it means the winding down of a school year. For those going to High School, the graduation and where they will go for the next school year. For the little ones leaving Kindergarten and facing Grade 1 in the Fall there can be anxiety all around. For the big ones deciding on which university or college the anxiety is heightened as there are worries about the final marks and scholarships-well you get the picture. The schools all have parties and end of year activities. The dance recitals and even a birthday or two in June can cause the most grounded parent to feel the stress. Needless to say, take it a day at a time and find some joy that there are memories to be created. I still remember the sweet "little graduation" ceremony when one of my children was graduating to Grade 1. The pictures on the front lawn in their dance outfits! Too often the focus is on the stress and not the event! Breath deeply and stop-maybe not to smell the roses but to view what is happening in front of your eyes. Of course with all the I-phones, cameras, videos and other gadgets there will be lots of pictures but really take time to take in the moment! It seems the busy-ness of little children will last forever but it does not! Do you want your children just to remember how rushed you were or do you want them to believe you enjoyed them? Make meal preparation simple or perhaps one of the activities has food involved so you can eat there. Try to make it fun! Make it meaningful! June can be the transition month to the summer. So as May winds down and June revs up- be prepared for the ride! Of course, if needed use those willing grandparents as your backup! Even an aunt or uncle or two is there when you need them!

THE IRIS BRIGHTENS THE GARDEN

As the tulips begin to lose their tops, the Iris begins its colourful show! With a variety of colours it is another welcome perennial in the flower bed. Once established, there is little work to be done. Like other flowers it does not last long enough. The green leaves give the brown spots a go! Perhaps it is time to take the camera and grab some more pictures of this beautiful example of Canadian vegetation!

LIFE FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE

While sitting at my kitchen table near the door at a different spot where I normally sit, the view of my house and garden changed. Sometimes changing the view gives a different perspective. Imagine what the baby or toddler sees from their angle! A Triangle with its 3 points often lets us graph a problem! By seeing things from each of the points, it helps to find solutions. In a planning group, there is always someone who wants to play the "Devil's Advocate" to see the flaws! In any argument, trying to understand the opposite viewpoint is a challenge. Lawyers are good at it! Trying to see life from a different angle can make it interesting! Helps with the boredom factor! If everything stays the same all the time, well you get it! Too much change is too difficult! I do not mean grief change but little things in our daily life that we may want a different angle. A new route to work! Trying a new market! Checking out a little community! Adding a new colour to the wardrobe! In a relationship, trying to see life from the partner's perspective. Men and women understanding there are differences-trying to see the other's view of life. Men like sports and women like romance movies! Now what do you do with the points on an octagon! Lots of different angles!!

A WITCH HUNT-ONLY IN CANADA

Is anyone else tired of hearing about the Senate spending scandal and the allegations against the Mayor of Toronto? Yes politicians must be accountable for their behaviour-no questions asked. However, the relentless pursuit by the media of these two issues reminds me of the witch hunt in Salem Massachusetts in 1692. Both governments have business to do and the citizens to represent in a timely fashion. Does it take away from the economy? Does it allow for the larger issues to be addressed? I often question who really wants the answers. Whose vested interests are behind it? By the media concentrating on these two stories it almost makes me turn off the News! Are you interested in these stories?

WEEKEND- A TIME TO HANG OUT!

The nice weather attracts us to country settings and lakes and boats! Hanging out together is a favourite Canadian past time. Once the garden is planted, there is time to enjoy and maintain it! Backyard barbecues give a relaxed atmosphere. We can join the herd or spend time by ourselves contemplating life. How do you like to hang out?