REMEMBERING A PRINCESS

Hard to believe how many years have passed since Diana died. The People's Princess! The sea of flowers in London! August 31, 1997! Too young! Just 36 years old! We remember what we were doing when we heard the news!

END OF AUGUST

Even though we have 3 more weeks of summer, August ending always feels like summer ending. Stop it- we have 3 more weeks of summer. Get out and enjoy. Do that last August trip. Go to a market. Go to a pool! Enjoy! Admire your garden. The last legs of summer.

DON'T PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET

Diversify! Diversify! Diversify! Don't put all your eggs in one basket! Life can bring changes. By having a variety of activities, interests, friendship groups- adjusting to change can be managed. If one area of our lives is suffering then we have other areas to keep us going. Our investment portfolio should include diverse funds. Our work-life balance should be diverse. Not depending on any one person or thing can help us to stay strong through rough times. Try not to be the strong one in all situations as there are times we all need support from others. But strong people can be the dumping ground for everyone else too. So if we have strong people in our lives remember to check in with them that they are doing fine. If you are the strong person, learn to step back and let someone else take the reigns if you are exhausted! So maybe not a basket of eggs, but a variety of fruit is good for a pleasurable afternoon!

THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

Sometimes when bogged down with commitments or difficulties it is hard to believe there will be an end to them. The light at the end of the tunnel starts to shine brighter and brighter as solutions evolve. What a wonderful way to look at life! Keep trudging along until you see the light! Keep hoping things will get better or the problem resolves itself! Life goes on and before an eye is blinked out into the sunlight at the other end. Are you stuck in a tunnel today? Keep looking for the light! It's there!!

NANA SAYS BE KIND TO PREGNANT WOMEN

Regardless of new technology and advances, women give birth to babies. So if on the subway or in a store, be considerate to pregnant women. They are creating a new human being. Remember after the baby is born, the Mommy needs time to heal. Hot meals, spend time with the baby to give her time to shower or sleep or whatever else may be needed to give support during the first few months. Many Dads too need lots of support especially if there are older children. The rule for Mommy is to sit if able or to lay down to rest the body.

REFLECTIONS IN LIFE GIVE INSIGHT

Reflections are a good way to check ourselves. Reviewing our work. Reviewing our lives can give us grounds to see where we came from, where we are and where we might like to be going. What worked. What didn't work. Not necessarily improvement but change.

They are everywhere when we really look to try to find them.

We can get a true reflection of ourselves occasionally. Do you reflect about your life? Do you find ways to feel good about where you are right now?

CHANGE-DO YOU EMBRACE OR LOATHE IT?

Change in our lives can bring up many feelings of trepidation. There is change for the good and change for the bad. Sometimes thrust upon us while other times the choices are ones we make. Even planned choices can bring stress and worry. Summer to fall brings many changes for us. The back to school stress along with the planned lessons and leaving summer jobs to a new routine again. Thinking about when to close the family cottage which often happens closer to Thanksgiving. The older we get the more changes we need to make. It can be why we often have favourite things in our lives we do not want to relinquish because all life long changes were imposed on us. Work often comes up with a new way of doing our job. Encouraging all staff to embrace it. Get modern! Get with the times! Throw out the old. Politicians campaigning talk about all the new programs and new ways things will get done. Rarely do we get asked- do you really want any changes or do you like the status quo? Challenges can keep us on our toes. Make us stretch ourselves. But sometimes just doing some things the same way bring peace and comfort. When change is coming my way I find my head starts to get a little fuzzy. Making lists of what needs to get done- helps but it is not the whole solution! The mood can change to real anger about all that needs to get done. Trying to stay grounded can be difficult. Young people often accuse the older generation of not changing but actually it is the opposite. Older people often say- done that, been there. Like the young parents with how stressed we are with work and the lessons. My generation did the same thing. It is why there is greater sensitivity and a willingness to assist family as much as possible. The understanding of how stressful it really can be. The older generation gets it! So change and all it brings- do you embrace or loathe it? I am not too sure how I feel today. Perhaps I'll give my answer another time!!