I am not a teacher, nor am I an elected government official. I am a taxpayer, and a parent of three children--who should be in school. My oldest son has a diagnosis of PDD-NOS, and ADHD, which is a challenge to his learning and behaviour at school. I am not perfect as his parent, after all he didn't come with an instruction manual or warning labels. It can be trying to deal with him, even though he is a good kid! I know he is extra work for the school, but I was assured his diagnosis assured him extra help. I appreciate the work and effort of the individuals who have been assigned to him throughout his school career.
What I do not appreciate is the current state of affairs in our fine province. The provincial government and the British Columbia Teachers' Federation are locked in a nasty contract dispute. This dispute has dragged on for some months now. At the beginning I tried to be patient and understanding, but at this point it seems all we are hearing is propaganda from both sides. I am now using the situation as an example of how adults (educated ones at that) shouldn't go about resolving their differences.
I will say, I agree unions have their place. They are instrumental in making sure qualified, hard-working employees receive fair wages and benefits to enrich their lives. What I fail to agree on is tactics to push your employer for wage increases, when the employer says it is unaffordable. (I can't imagine going into my employer's office and pushing the matter after being told no.)
If both parties have truly put the most they are willing/capable of on the bargaining table, it may be time for that oh so adult word, COMPROMISE!
The bargaining parties seem to have lost sight of what's truly important here--educating our youth.
I respect that teachers have unique training and skills to do their jobs, but I also say as a working person, that I too am good at the job I do, and if we all strike because we're unhappy--everything would come to a screeching halt!
To the government: Cut some redundancies or waste, and I am sure a fair, affordable deal can be reached.
To those who say the $40/day offer to parents is a bribe. A bribe to do what, exactly?
It's not like I suddenly "see the light," and believe the government is right.
I am personally being inconvenienced as a result of this dispute. I don't see how they have the right to turn everyone else's life topsy-turvy. I cannot work the hours I would like to, and as a result I am losing household income? Are my kids worth it? A resounding YES! The $40/day stipend will likely go to school-related expenses, and possibly some RESP contributions.
So, please to everyone involved, try to find some common ground to work from, and let's just see if we can"t get these kids back into their classrooms where they should be. Until then, this Mom will be holding you up as a shining example of what NOT to do when you can't reach an agreement!
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Friday, July 18, 2014
The Big Idea?
I think I have finally done it! I have an idea I can actually write a book length story about. I always thought I was going to get an idea from a dream, as I usually can reap all kinds of details and bizarre story lines from my time spent in a slumber. This idea, however, was born of one of my daydreams, if I can really call it that. I have always heard the advice "write what you know". This story is going to have many elements of things or events I have experienced myself, so I should have no problem making things believable and hopefully, interesting. This idea started as a seed of a thought, as a what if? What if someone in a similar job to mine did this, or why is their life path taking them in a certain direction? What would make my fictional character want to work hard at her job? What is she trying to rise from? There has to be driving forces to compel this character to move on from her starting situation, so I plan to start this thing off with a bit of a bang!
It will be interesting thinking of the directions this character could chose and where she ends up going. I know for certain I have to write a compelling flashback in the story so readers will see why she is almost obsessed with one leg of her goals. A road trip will definitely be written in, have to have characters go the miles, even if they aren't real. I will have to do a lot of research to compliment the knowledge I already have, as I don't know some of the finer points of what will happen on my character's journey.
I have already decided on a name for this fictional girl. After all, she is sort of my "baby". Her name is Leah. Leah is wise and mature in many ways, but like many of us, she has things lacking in her life. The story I am going to write will be Leah forging her own way in the world, trying to right some of the glaring deficiencies in her life, and in some ways making peace with events from the past. After some brainstorming, and research, it looks as though this story will probably be over a span of five to six years in her life, maybe even longer, but that is still in the planning stages. I am not going to be writing a "mush" story. I don't think I have the descriptive abilities to make it interesting or enjoyable, so I will mostly be sticking with my main character and having her interact with a broad variety of supporting characters.
My research will be somewhat factual, looking up specifics of medical conditions and terminology, but I don't plan to just offer up medical conditions as they appear in a textbook. I am after all, imagining Leah as a real person to make her story and journey interesting to more than just myself as a way to while through a mindless task. That's where the root of the idea really started. It was a thought in my imagination during a time I was doing something which didn't require vast amounts of gray matter to accomplish.
Like others, I will adapt things I have observed from everyday life and use them as background and key elements in this story.
The next decision I need to make is if I should write it out by hand, do some editing, and THEN type it in to the computer, or if I should skip the whole "old-school" thing, and do everything, (other than my planning pages and research) on the laptop. I feel I need to hand-write some of it, as that is how I have always done my short stories, etc. (To date, I have only one story--a current work in progress, that I have typed up entirely on computer as a first draft.)
I will finish by saying I am excited, daunted, hopeful, and feeling inspired as I embark to write this story. I'm not looking to write a blockbuster best-seller, but I want to see if I can write a novel length story, keep it engaging and interesting, and hopeful leave potential readers with a feeling. I want a reader to see why Leah will make the choices she does, and feel good about them. There will be a wide range of emotions to write through, but I am looking forward to this challenge. The time is right.
It will be interesting thinking of the directions this character could chose and where she ends up going. I know for certain I have to write a compelling flashback in the story so readers will see why she is almost obsessed with one leg of her goals. A road trip will definitely be written in, have to have characters go the miles, even if they aren't real. I will have to do a lot of research to compliment the knowledge I already have, as I don't know some of the finer points of what will happen on my character's journey.
I have already decided on a name for this fictional girl. After all, she is sort of my "baby". Her name is Leah. Leah is wise and mature in many ways, but like many of us, she has things lacking in her life. The story I am going to write will be Leah forging her own way in the world, trying to right some of the glaring deficiencies in her life, and in some ways making peace with events from the past. After some brainstorming, and research, it looks as though this story will probably be over a span of five to six years in her life, maybe even longer, but that is still in the planning stages. I am not going to be writing a "mush" story. I don't think I have the descriptive abilities to make it interesting or enjoyable, so I will mostly be sticking with my main character and having her interact with a broad variety of supporting characters.
My research will be somewhat factual, looking up specifics of medical conditions and terminology, but I don't plan to just offer up medical conditions as they appear in a textbook. I am after all, imagining Leah as a real person to make her story and journey interesting to more than just myself as a way to while through a mindless task. That's where the root of the idea really started. It was a thought in my imagination during a time I was doing something which didn't require vast amounts of gray matter to accomplish.
Like others, I will adapt things I have observed from everyday life and use them as background and key elements in this story.
The next decision I need to make is if I should write it out by hand, do some editing, and THEN type it in to the computer, or if I should skip the whole "old-school" thing, and do everything, (other than my planning pages and research) on the laptop. I feel I need to hand-write some of it, as that is how I have always done my short stories, etc. (To date, I have only one story--a current work in progress, that I have typed up entirely on computer as a first draft.)
I will finish by saying I am excited, daunted, hopeful, and feeling inspired as I embark to write this story. I'm not looking to write a blockbuster best-seller, but I want to see if I can write a novel length story, keep it engaging and interesting, and hopeful leave potential readers with a feeling. I want a reader to see why Leah will make the choices she does, and feel good about them. There will be a wide range of emotions to write through, but I am looking forward to this challenge. The time is right.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Four months... Lessons Learned
So, I may be flogging the proverbial dead horse here, but I have been mulling over what recent events seem to be telling me. During the past four months I have witnessed what looked like the almost certain end of someone's life, only to see the strong character of said person pull them through. Many times on hospital visits I remarked that I thought their recovery was a miracle. For the most part this was shrugged off. Even though I did not really think I could do anything to help, I found myself making regular visits. I did it partly to ease the boredom of hospital routine, and for the selfish reason that I needed to see for myself that all continued to go well. Very soon I found myself wanting to do little things, like bring coffee and cookies, as I saw how much these little gestures were appreciated. When a transfer to another hospital for rehab became necessary, I found myself plotting what I could do, and planned a little surprise, that was well received. I think I had as much fun planning and executing the details though. More time went on once rehab was completed and the patient returned to the hometown hospital. Coffee, cookies, and chats at least a few times a week as the schedule would allow.
Discharge wouldn't happen until housing was found, and anyone who has lived in Smithers recently would understand how that can be a sticking point. I honestly don't know how the town expects singles, and various folks on fixed incomes to be able to get by decently.
The hospital too, started pushing us visitors, as if it were solely our responsibility to help our friend. How is an elderly patient expected to find housing when he has no access to a phone, or more importantly in this day and age, a computer? Our friend here has family, but like many of us they are working, and live far away. It was then bore by us locally. I started taking an immense interest in anything that looked like a safe, affordable place for a single person to live.
As there were more than one or two of us taking up the search, I felt it necessary to compare notes often to make sure we weren't duplicating and asking on behalf of the same person multiple times. Patience and perseverance wins in the end. Three and a half months in, I was scrolling through Kijiji during a visit, Admittedly, I was even looking in rental categories I wasn't sure about. I mentioned one that sounded great, just a little too far for walking to town. I guess the seed was planted, because when I returned the next evening with the fresh weekly edition of the local paper, I was greeted with a rather animated and excited questioning in regard to the ieffort was worth it. I even got (what I consider) to be the honour of getting our friend out of the hospital where he had been waiting for so long. The funny thing was I went to spring him, and he was napping! Obviously, he was ready otherwise. I called out his name, hoping not to scare the s**t out of him, or otherwise give him any other reason to extend his stay at the hospital any further!
As I left that night, there were other kind-hearted souls helping him to settle in. I couldn't help but feel happy for this man, who almost four months to the day was not expected to live, or make any kind of recovery.
So, what I have learned, in addition to what I have mentioned is: Do not doubt the power of the human spirit, be willing to help someone if you can, be willing to take someone as family if they are important to you, and that you don't always get to choose who you cross paths with, but enjoy and appreciate the people you do have a bond with. You may not know what attracts you to certain people, but there is a reason, and if you are meant to be in their life you will be.
Maybe it's just life experience, but I have also learned that there is nothing wrong with loving someone, and that it is not a source of embarrassment, rather a source of strength and inspiration if you are willing to own your feelings instead of thinking they need to be hidden.
All in all, an inspirational end to the past four months!
Discharge wouldn't happen until housing was found, and anyone who has lived in Smithers recently would understand how that can be a sticking point. I honestly don't know how the town expects singles, and various folks on fixed incomes to be able to get by decently.
The hospital too, started pushing us visitors, as if it were solely our responsibility to help our friend. How is an elderly patient expected to find housing when he has no access to a phone, or more importantly in this day and age, a computer? Our friend here has family, but like many of us they are working, and live far away. It was then bore by us locally. I started taking an immense interest in anything that looked like a safe, affordable place for a single person to live.
As there were more than one or two of us taking up the search, I felt it necessary to compare notes often to make sure we weren't duplicating and asking on behalf of the same person multiple times. Patience and perseverance wins in the end. Three and a half months in, I was scrolling through Kijiji during a visit, Admittedly, I was even looking in rental categories I wasn't sure about. I mentioned one that sounded great, just a little too far for walking to town. I guess the seed was planted, because when I returned the next evening with the fresh weekly edition of the local paper, I was greeted with a rather animated and excited questioning in regard to the ieffort was worth it. I even got (what I consider) to be the honour of getting our friend out of the hospital where he had been waiting for so long. The funny thing was I went to spring him, and he was napping! Obviously, he was ready otherwise. I called out his name, hoping not to scare the s**t out of him, or otherwise give him any other reason to extend his stay at the hospital any further!
As I left that night, there were other kind-hearted souls helping him to settle in. I couldn't help but feel happy for this man, who almost four months to the day was not expected to live, or make any kind of recovery.
So, what I have learned, in addition to what I have mentioned is: Do not doubt the power of the human spirit, be willing to help someone if you can, be willing to take someone as family if they are important to you, and that you don't always get to choose who you cross paths with, but enjoy and appreciate the people you do have a bond with. You may not know what attracts you to certain people, but there is a reason, and if you are meant to be in their life you will be.
Maybe it's just life experience, but I have also learned that there is nothing wrong with loving someone, and that it is not a source of embarrassment, rather a source of strength and inspiration if you are willing to own your feelings instead of thinking they need to be hidden.
All in all, an inspirational end to the past four months!
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Inspiration
There is a saying telling us that inspiration is everywhere. As part of my ongoing plan to grow within myself, I have been trying to stay open to sources of inspiration. I have been consciously finding things to be grateful for throughout the day. Sometimes it can be as simple as changing my perspective on a situation. For example, when I don't hit the lights just right driving through town, I take the opportunity to take a deep breath and think about something I am grateful for. I have decided life is good, as I have lots to be grateful for, and sometimes I will be grateful for the same thing over and over again!
I have been taking lots of opportunities to visit with the person who was the inspiration for my post on regret, (see, no chance for regret there ever again!) He makes this easy for me now, as he is residing at the local hospital until such time as he can find suitable housing. Still, even after this phase I will be making sure my visits continue! This man is an inspiration to me! Even if he doesn't know why he made his "miraculous" recovery, I am inspired that even though he is elderly, he did not give up on himself, and that none of us really did either. If I make it to that age and I am in as good a shape, I will definitely be grateful! I am inspired by his tales of his life, and his enthusiasm to keep going. It amazes me how easily I can sit and talk with him for hours and come away with much to consider.
Anyone who has taken a gander at my previous posts knows I dream quite vividly. Even if a dream is wildly disjointed and convoluted, I can come away with material to ponder and either build on or create a story. Sometimes I feel as if I am experiencing inspiration overload if I have several vivid dreams during the course of a week. I am working on a story based on a dream I had that felt like a movie while it was playing through my sleeping body. It would be impossible to write it exactly as it happened, as it would make no sense to anyone but myself. The dream itself was my inspiration, but my own imagination and personal experience fill it out nicely! My current stumbling block is where to take the story to finish it. I feel there are multiple ways it could go. As of this moment I feel like the writers of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" series must feel. I could write all kinds of alternate endings, yet I feel there can be only one true ending. Definitely need to see where the inspiration is going to take me on this project!
I am feeling inspired by the thought that this life is good, and that the choices to make it good are mine. I'm still not sure what all the steps I need to take to get to where I want to be are, but I do know that I can be open to inspiration wherever it may happen to find me.
I think the key to this will be keeping an open mind. I think that's where a lot of affirmative expressions must come from--one's need to be open to what may inspire them to flourish. For me I believe this is true of "Never say never", as I may be closing the door on an opportunity which may later lead to (gasp) regret! Unlike the Choose Your Own Adventure books, I can't just return to page I was at and choose another alternative. I have to forge ahead from the point I am currently at, even if I have to double back or take the long way to get to where I am ultimately going. This life is a journey, and for better or worse, I am here to live it, learn it, love it, and and some point, look back on it.
Hope I am not getting too mushy here, but I would like to express my gratitude to those in my life who inspire me with their character, actions, and convictions. I do not have to agree with everything people do, but I can be inspired by the spirit with which they carry out their actions. Thank you to the people who pick themselves up to try again, those who keep trying, and to those who seek out a better way. I read an interesting quote that read along the lines of choosing to find happiness in this life is about the only thing one truly has complete control over. No one can take that from you--unless you choose to let them. Hmm, I find that thought oddly inspiring!
I have been taking lots of opportunities to visit with the person who was the inspiration for my post on regret, (see, no chance for regret there ever again!) He makes this easy for me now, as he is residing at the local hospital until such time as he can find suitable housing. Still, even after this phase I will be making sure my visits continue! This man is an inspiration to me! Even if he doesn't know why he made his "miraculous" recovery, I am inspired that even though he is elderly, he did not give up on himself, and that none of us really did either. If I make it to that age and I am in as good a shape, I will definitely be grateful! I am inspired by his tales of his life, and his enthusiasm to keep going. It amazes me how easily I can sit and talk with him for hours and come away with much to consider.
Anyone who has taken a gander at my previous posts knows I dream quite vividly. Even if a dream is wildly disjointed and convoluted, I can come away with material to ponder and either build on or create a story. Sometimes I feel as if I am experiencing inspiration overload if I have several vivid dreams during the course of a week. I am working on a story based on a dream I had that felt like a movie while it was playing through my sleeping body. It would be impossible to write it exactly as it happened, as it would make no sense to anyone but myself. The dream itself was my inspiration, but my own imagination and personal experience fill it out nicely! My current stumbling block is where to take the story to finish it. I feel there are multiple ways it could go. As of this moment I feel like the writers of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" series must feel. I could write all kinds of alternate endings, yet I feel there can be only one true ending. Definitely need to see where the inspiration is going to take me on this project!
I am feeling inspired by the thought that this life is good, and that the choices to make it good are mine. I'm still not sure what all the steps I need to take to get to where I want to be are, but I do know that I can be open to inspiration wherever it may happen to find me.
I think the key to this will be keeping an open mind. I think that's where a lot of affirmative expressions must come from--one's need to be open to what may inspire them to flourish. For me I believe this is true of "Never say never", as I may be closing the door on an opportunity which may later lead to (gasp) regret! Unlike the Choose Your Own Adventure books, I can't just return to page I was at and choose another alternative. I have to forge ahead from the point I am currently at, even if I have to double back or take the long way to get to where I am ultimately going. This life is a journey, and for better or worse, I am here to live it, learn it, love it, and and some point, look back on it.
Hope I am not getting too mushy here, but I would like to express my gratitude to those in my life who inspire me with their character, actions, and convictions. I do not have to agree with everything people do, but I can be inspired by the spirit with which they carry out their actions. Thank you to the people who pick themselves up to try again, those who keep trying, and to those who seek out a better way. I read an interesting quote that read along the lines of choosing to find happiness in this life is about the only thing one truly has complete control over. No one can take that from you--unless you choose to let them. Hmm, I find that thought oddly inspiring!
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Things I Have Learned From My Job... Stuff I Can Use!
It can be quite remarkable where inspiration can come from, (I thank you friend and fellow blogger!) it got me thinking about my own job and what it means to me. I have been working at the same job for nearly nine years--minus a couple of maternity leaves. I realized my job provides me more than something to do AND a payday. I'm not denying those two are the main reasons for working at a job. I am considering more of the little things that make a job interesting, things that make me want to continue working there. I have compiled a short list, with my reasons for why I will continue to work at the job I am in.
The People. My workplace is a mix of veteran and recent additions. Some people don't stay long for whatever the reason, but others have been there so long, they're almost fixtures in the place. They all have their strong points, which is what I would like to focus on. I think I can safely say I have learned something from everyone I have worked with. Some people have a knack for doing things faster, more efficiently, or just plain better. I like to think I can get through my workday just a bit better now because of routines or tricks I have adopted from others.
Let's not forget the reason I am at work is people needing a place to stay to do what they do to make their living, or they may be taking a break from all that! No matter what the reason, many of the people I interact with have their own stories or concerns. There have been many times I take something from those conversations or interactions as well.
The Variety. As I mentioned in my first point, my job is heavily people-oriented. My day may follow a basic pattern, yet everyday is still different. I definitely do not work in a cookie-cutter job! That variety is truly the spice that helps to keep my job interesting. I can be in the middle of a mundane, yet necessary job, and suddenly be called to do something far more stimulating at a moment's notice.
The Reputation. I feel a certain amount of pride feeling that my work is contributing towards the upholding of a respected reputation. (Even though the work attire isn't to die for). I do feel as if I am a vital part of maintaining the image and reputation the establishment has built.
The Appreciation. I am fortunate enough to work at a job where management does tell us we are appreciated, and I feel for the most part as a staff member, treated well. Guests as well show their appreciation, whether it be the occasional tip, positive service survey, or a direct face to face compliment or "Thank You" (even if I am just doing my job).
The Flexibility. A late entry to the game after it was all said and done. I realized I had omitted a fairly major reason I like my job. The place is a 24/7 operation, which allows more flexibility than say an office with the standard 9-5 business hours (Which I find funny, as this isn't the way the world runs anymore, it seems.) I can start later in the day, be available in the evenings, and for my own personal situation, work part-time for the time being. You can be sure I do offer to work the shifts I can do, if they need me to work more often, and I don't complain(much!) about working stat days. It's all part of the flexibility. They let me work the later shifts and less days, so I in return try to be accommodating when asked. All about the give and take, and I can feel good that I'm not just taking!
Personal Satisfaction. I enjoy having a job where I can go, do my day's work, and feel in my own way I got something accomplished--even though I have to go in the next day to do it all again, albeit in a new form, perhaps with different people, and circumstances. Talk about job security! I say this having done this job both on a full and part-time basis.
I have done other jobs to keep the money flowing, but looking back, they were jobs I did for the most basic reasons on does a job.
One last point I would like to bring up. I have learned that even on the very rare day that everything seems to be going wrong, a workday is only eight hours long, and that I can leave it all behind when that time is up. It's no longer my concern then. I can put some space between before I head back in for another shift.
Seeing these points displayed in front of me makes me realize that although we know change is inevitable, and can be good, I see no reason to change jobs when I know that like any attempt made in life, I am experiencing a continual learning process.
The People. My workplace is a mix of veteran and recent additions. Some people don't stay long for whatever the reason, but others have been there so long, they're almost fixtures in the place. They all have their strong points, which is what I would like to focus on. I think I can safely say I have learned something from everyone I have worked with. Some people have a knack for doing things faster, more efficiently, or just plain better. I like to think I can get through my workday just a bit better now because of routines or tricks I have adopted from others.
Let's not forget the reason I am at work is people needing a place to stay to do what they do to make their living, or they may be taking a break from all that! No matter what the reason, many of the people I interact with have their own stories or concerns. There have been many times I take something from those conversations or interactions as well.
The Variety. As I mentioned in my first point, my job is heavily people-oriented. My day may follow a basic pattern, yet everyday is still different. I definitely do not work in a cookie-cutter job! That variety is truly the spice that helps to keep my job interesting. I can be in the middle of a mundane, yet necessary job, and suddenly be called to do something far more stimulating at a moment's notice.
The Reputation. I feel a certain amount of pride feeling that my work is contributing towards the upholding of a respected reputation. (Even though the work attire isn't to die for). I do feel as if I am a vital part of maintaining the image and reputation the establishment has built.
The Appreciation. I am fortunate enough to work at a job where management does tell us we are appreciated, and I feel for the most part as a staff member, treated well. Guests as well show their appreciation, whether it be the occasional tip, positive service survey, or a direct face to face compliment or "Thank You" (even if I am just doing my job).
The Flexibility. A late entry to the game after it was all said and done. I realized I had omitted a fairly major reason I like my job. The place is a 24/7 operation, which allows more flexibility than say an office with the standard 9-5 business hours (Which I find funny, as this isn't the way the world runs anymore, it seems.) I can start later in the day, be available in the evenings, and for my own personal situation, work part-time for the time being. You can be sure I do offer to work the shifts I can do, if they need me to work more often, and I don't complain(much!) about working stat days. It's all part of the flexibility. They let me work the later shifts and less days, so I in return try to be accommodating when asked. All about the give and take, and I can feel good that I'm not just taking!
Personal Satisfaction. I enjoy having a job where I can go, do my day's work, and feel in my own way I got something accomplished--even though I have to go in the next day to do it all again, albeit in a new form, perhaps with different people, and circumstances. Talk about job security! I say this having done this job both on a full and part-time basis.
I have done other jobs to keep the money flowing, but looking back, they were jobs I did for the most basic reasons on does a job.
One last point I would like to bring up. I have learned that even on the very rare day that everything seems to be going wrong, a workday is only eight hours long, and that I can leave it all behind when that time is up. It's no longer my concern then. I can put some space between before I head back in for another shift.
Seeing these points displayed in front of me makes me realize that although we know change is inevitable, and can be good, I see no reason to change jobs when I know that like any attempt made in life, I am experiencing a continual learning process.
Monday, January 6, 2014
More than a Resolution... Time for a Change!
Of course it is that time of year when we all resolve to make the coming year our best yet. I have made a decision to make more than a resolution. I realize I have been sitting in my own rut for so long that I haven't really made any progress on what I want out of life. I am not looking to make a radical sudden change, as I don't think I can sustain that. About two years ago, I did make a resolution, and that was to try to see more of the positive in life. I was getting to a point where I could see that buying into negativity was bringing me down. I do know that the emotions and flow of energy around me has a power, for either good or bad. I have had enough of the bad. I don't like how I feel after being around people who have absolutely nothing good to say about anything, so I am making a choice to not be a part of that. I'm not talking about random complaining or critisism that may actually make things better. No one can be up all the time, me included! I am talking about people who seem to have a perpetual dark cloud following them, and everything bad seems to happen to them. I remember feeling somewhat surprised when I did a reading based on birth signs and according to it, I have been living through a period of what is considered to be bad luck. Reading further, it claimed that my luck and prosperity would vastly change around 2015, and it looked to stay that way into the foreseeable future. I know this reading was just entertainment, but it got me thinking about luck. Until that point I didn't consider myself to be an unlucky person. I suppose it must all be in the perception. I know nothing except my own experiences, and in my own summation I thought I was reasonably lucky, or maybe I am just seeing the positive where I can. (It will be interesting to see if anything happens in 2015 to support any of this birth sign reading). At any rate, I am not going to mump about 2014 thinking I'm unlucky!
After much reading on the topic of self-esteem, I realized this is an area of my life I could use improving in. For as long as I can remember, I always thought people were better than me, and therefore I pretty much gave up my right to speak up, to be treated fairly, or to take a stand. Despite this, I always managed to have at least one or two people who were good, true friends. These people are still important to me, and made me feel lucky, even if the stars say I am not!
I feel that everything that happens in life can teach a lesson, provide insight, or just add the spice of experience to the pot.
I look back over some of the posts I have done, and realize exploring them is part of the tapestry of life. My post on regret made me realize that we don't have all the time in the world to figure things out, so we really should grab opportunities when they present themselves, or an avenue I need to explore, making my own opportunities.
I am realizing as I grow older (yikes!) no one has the right to make me feel like crap, I am responsible for my own happiness, which I plan to be! At the same time I am not going out of my way to judge and put others down. I may not agree with or understand others' actions, but sometimes it just isn't necessary. The world is an ever changing place, so why can't I be an ever changing and evolving person? I can still be fundamentally the same person with some new, and improved thrown in for good measure.
Although most of the changes I want to make will come from within, it is time I addressed the outside a bit too. Having kids changed my body somewhat, and I'm sure metabolism, activity level, age, etc. is also playing some part. I remember telling myself that during those years I didn't really give a crap what shape or weight I was. I'm not looking to be one of those super-thin or ripped looking women, but I would like to loose some of the extra mass I have accrued.
I'm writing this post planning to get some things accomplished that I have been holding back on. The kids are getting older, and by September I will have all three of them at school. Sure, I will probably work more, but I am hoping it will also translate into more time for me to do "me" stuff. I am not always going to put myself on the backburner, as I feel that is in part what is compelling me to want change.
In summary, I am hoping for a period of time to learn, explore, create, and have fun. The other big thing I want to continue with is to make sure the wonderful people in my life know how much I love and appreciate them, especially if I don't get the chance to express it as often as I should.
Life can be a bitch, but it can also be compelling, exciting, and intriguing! I want to feel it all!
After much reading on the topic of self-esteem, I realized this is an area of my life I could use improving in. For as long as I can remember, I always thought people were better than me, and therefore I pretty much gave up my right to speak up, to be treated fairly, or to take a stand. Despite this, I always managed to have at least one or two people who were good, true friends. These people are still important to me, and made me feel lucky, even if the stars say I am not!
I feel that everything that happens in life can teach a lesson, provide insight, or just add the spice of experience to the pot.
I look back over some of the posts I have done, and realize exploring them is part of the tapestry of life. My post on regret made me realize that we don't have all the time in the world to figure things out, so we really should grab opportunities when they present themselves, or an avenue I need to explore, making my own opportunities.
I am realizing as I grow older (yikes!) no one has the right to make me feel like crap, I am responsible for my own happiness, which I plan to be! At the same time I am not going out of my way to judge and put others down. I may not agree with or understand others' actions, but sometimes it just isn't necessary. The world is an ever changing place, so why can't I be an ever changing and evolving person? I can still be fundamentally the same person with some new, and improved thrown in for good measure.
Although most of the changes I want to make will come from within, it is time I addressed the outside a bit too. Having kids changed my body somewhat, and I'm sure metabolism, activity level, age, etc. is also playing some part. I remember telling myself that during those years I didn't really give a crap what shape or weight I was. I'm not looking to be one of those super-thin or ripped looking women, but I would like to loose some of the extra mass I have accrued.
I'm writing this post planning to get some things accomplished that I have been holding back on. The kids are getting older, and by September I will have all three of them at school. Sure, I will probably work more, but I am hoping it will also translate into more time for me to do "me" stuff. I am not always going to put myself on the backburner, as I feel that is in part what is compelling me to want change.
In summary, I am hoping for a period of time to learn, explore, create, and have fun. The other big thing I want to continue with is to make sure the wonderful people in my life know how much I love and appreciate them, especially if I don't get the chance to express it as often as I should.
Life can be a bitch, but it can also be compelling, exciting, and intriguing! I want to feel it all!
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Getting the Creative Juices Flowing...
As the end of 2013 came closer I found I wasn't having many creative thoughts to ponder. I don't know if if was preoccupation with Christmas and all the associated emotions that go with it. Fast forward to the new year and BAM, just about every night I am back to having vivid, interesting dreams that leave something unanswered. Sometimes I would love to be able to somehow hook up my brain to download what I seen during my slumber, just so I could show people what I am talking about. This would only work with some of my dreams, as the majority of them are disjointed, lack structure, or would just be too weird to share with others. Some of them stick with me and are just begging to be written down, moulded and shaped into something that would make an interesting story. These are the type of dream I have been experiencing of late. A large percentage of these have involved a common element: planes. Some of them have involved watching someone else get on a plane, others involve helplessly watching a plane plummet to earth, sometimes exploding, sometimes staying surprisingly intact. The last type of plane dream involves being on one, not always knowing the destination, and letting the adventure unfold as the dream progresses.
The last plane dream I had involved a plane that was very wide. The back row was ten seats across, and the whole top half of the plane was made of clear material--assuming it was glass, but the point is, that it was see through. The seats could be turned, and I can remember turning to face the passengers sitting along the back row. Most of them were people I knew. I could see the high tail of the plane from my seat, as well as everything above and on either side. The runway looked as if it had been cut through a forest, as there were trees as far as the eye could see on both sides. I remember the takeoff, as we rose above the treeline. The entire flight continued above forest. No bodies of water, and very little evidence of elevation until about what seems like an hour later. We the passengers are all engaged in conversation. No one says anything about where we are headed, yet no one seems to worry about that detail. At this point, a voice comes over the loudspeaker to tell us we are landing prematurely, no reason given. We circle around a forested area, then land on a runway that looks like a clearing. As we slow we see a hangar, and what looks like a small office building beside it. Once at a stop, the passengers disembark, and we all line up outside the hangar. A few crew come out and put the plane we arrived on inside, and close the doors. The flight crew stay with the aircraft and our group is just left standing there. We stand about for a short time. Someone pulls out their phone, and attempts to figure out our location via GPS. Moments later, the man walks away. The rest of us discuss the situation briefly before copying the first man. The phones do little to help us, other than to show an aerial view similar to the one we viewed just before landing. I flick the screen over and over, trying to get a sense of where we might be. I see what looks like a sparse grid of roads to the north of our present location. The group we started with breaks up based on the information their phones provide. Some people head west with enthusiasm, others to the south. Some of the people just disappear. I find that three others think the information I saw seems promising, and we all head that way, looking for a road, anything to get a sense of where we might be...
It goes on, but this is an example of despite my best efforts to describe what I saw, no one else will imagine it exactly the same way. This dream was relatively straightforward with a couple of weird moments or twists, that my imagination threw in. Some of the other plane dreams I've had are so discombobulated, that all I can do is separate out the pertinent elements and use my imagination to fill in the rest like a story.
Thanks to my overactive dream state, I now have more material to use creatively for quite some time. In fact, right now I have more material than I have time to process it all. For now I will be writing out material as an overview and put down details in point form to keep it fresh until the day that I will have time to revisit it.
This is just me dealing with the dream on a surface level. I should also be digging beneath the obvious to see if the dream was merely entertainment or if my subconscious is actually trying to inform me of something. During my waking hours I will admit I find flight interesting. I enjoy flying on planes for the most part, while being wary of the fact the pilots and the aircraft are all that is keeping me that high up. I also love the speed of flying, that I can go one thousand kilometres or more in a fraction of the time it would take me to drive it. 2013 was the first year in a long time that I did not personally take a flight somewhere. I know without having a dream that I want to change that for 2014. Like my dream I do not know where I would want to go at this exact moment, but I have ideas. We'll see, the year is young yet! Maybe I need to take a flight to further spur my creative juices--worth a shot!
The last plane dream I had involved a plane that was very wide. The back row was ten seats across, and the whole top half of the plane was made of clear material--assuming it was glass, but the point is, that it was see through. The seats could be turned, and I can remember turning to face the passengers sitting along the back row. Most of them were people I knew. I could see the high tail of the plane from my seat, as well as everything above and on either side. The runway looked as if it had been cut through a forest, as there were trees as far as the eye could see on both sides. I remember the takeoff, as we rose above the treeline. The entire flight continued above forest. No bodies of water, and very little evidence of elevation until about what seems like an hour later. We the passengers are all engaged in conversation. No one says anything about where we are headed, yet no one seems to worry about that detail. At this point, a voice comes over the loudspeaker to tell us we are landing prematurely, no reason given. We circle around a forested area, then land on a runway that looks like a clearing. As we slow we see a hangar, and what looks like a small office building beside it. Once at a stop, the passengers disembark, and we all line up outside the hangar. A few crew come out and put the plane we arrived on inside, and close the doors. The flight crew stay with the aircraft and our group is just left standing there. We stand about for a short time. Someone pulls out their phone, and attempts to figure out our location via GPS. Moments later, the man walks away. The rest of us discuss the situation briefly before copying the first man. The phones do little to help us, other than to show an aerial view similar to the one we viewed just before landing. I flick the screen over and over, trying to get a sense of where we might be. I see what looks like a sparse grid of roads to the north of our present location. The group we started with breaks up based on the information their phones provide. Some people head west with enthusiasm, others to the south. Some of the people just disappear. I find that three others think the information I saw seems promising, and we all head that way, looking for a road, anything to get a sense of where we might be...
It goes on, but this is an example of despite my best efforts to describe what I saw, no one else will imagine it exactly the same way. This dream was relatively straightforward with a couple of weird moments or twists, that my imagination threw in. Some of the other plane dreams I've had are so discombobulated, that all I can do is separate out the pertinent elements and use my imagination to fill in the rest like a story.
Thanks to my overactive dream state, I now have more material to use creatively for quite some time. In fact, right now I have more material than I have time to process it all. For now I will be writing out material as an overview and put down details in point form to keep it fresh until the day that I will have time to revisit it.
This is just me dealing with the dream on a surface level. I should also be digging beneath the obvious to see if the dream was merely entertainment or if my subconscious is actually trying to inform me of something. During my waking hours I will admit I find flight interesting. I enjoy flying on planes for the most part, while being wary of the fact the pilots and the aircraft are all that is keeping me that high up. I also love the speed of flying, that I can go one thousand kilometres or more in a fraction of the time it would take me to drive it. 2013 was the first year in a long time that I did not personally take a flight somewhere. I know without having a dream that I want to change that for 2014. Like my dream I do not know where I would want to go at this exact moment, but I have ideas. We'll see, the year is young yet! Maybe I need to take a flight to further spur my creative juices--worth a shot!
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