The last glass half full day

I started this blog on November 20th with the goal of getting to full, whole and complete by being inspired and inpsiring to others.

Here we are six months later, and I'm delighted to tell you last best experiences that will close out this blog, as its personal goal has been met.

A former colleage I met over lunch a couple weeks back commented afterwards that I was a completely different picture of who I was / who she knew. I was happier and more aware and calm. What I took away from that, and others with similar observations, was that focusing on others and other things - the essence of spirituality - is what opens your mind and frees your soul.

And then this week, I buried my mother; stricken with a debilitating 6-year battle with vascular dementia / Alzheimer. It was a blessing. My last memory was taking her to the annual BBQ at the home, feeding her a big lunch, watching a balladeer sing Johnny Cash's "I Walk The Line", and witnessing an ear-to-ear smile, laugh and what appeared to be tears of sheer joy at being a part of it.

It's only fitting with such two very special oooos and ahhs, that the need to seek random acts of kindness and a generous spirit is no more. I am of that.

As a started this blog with a pic "that started it all", I end with one that draws me to conclude there is joy in human failure, there are lessons to learn, with spirituality wakened in me. There is deep meaning and core purpose in my life, and a tremendous sense of joy and contentment. I am experiencing more of what I want in my life, and less of what I don't want.

A new chapter unfolds.

Goodbye Mom, I will love you now, forever and always.

Incredible what we'll do for a Tim Horton's!

Was driving out of a Tim Horton's drive-thru for my java jolt and noticed a rather zaftig woman on a battery-operated wheelchair, hooked up to an oxygen tank, struggling to get over the curb into the driveway. I parked my car on the road, got out and asked if she wanted help. "Yes!," she said, "I would love some help... I want to get a Tim Horton's coffee!" Along came an itsby bity young gal and an elderly man. Together, we pushed her into the coffee shop and waited to get her back to where she was going... back to the hospital where she was waiting for some testing. What we do for our Tim's, huh?

Pay for parking this way, ma'am

It was taking a while to self pay for parking today. Why? Seems someone was having a hard time figuring out whether the stripe of a credit card was up or down, or to the right or left, or before or after the ticket. A few times over. Rather than watch my time tic, toc to a second 1/2 hour @$2.50, I excused my way to the front. Even though the lady was struggling through with instructions from the invisible man on the 'help' line, I offered to assist, and voila!, she was paid and out, with a receipt to boot! "Thank you so much for your help," she smiled. "You're most welcome. Happy Monday."

Oilageddon in the Gulf

I know, I know.... what kind of positive title is that to write about. Here's the rub. We have to be a voice for birds, mammals and wildlife. Who else will? BP? They consider the death of wildlife and animals to be collateral damage. The cost of doing business. What's the price of a pelican, frog, jellyfish, otter, shark, dolphin or manatee?

So yes, while BP says it will pay for cleanup of birds and wildlife, their resources simply aren't enough TODAY for the oilageddon we are witness to in the gulf region, now and in days, months and years to come. Even the thick-skinned of us can't stomach the videos and photos held back till now. Wakey, wakey. Let's deal with it.

For that reason, I'm doing a tiny part by way of donations and offering to help the wildlife organizations, such as NWF, or The Audobon Societies, or even the Dophin Research Centre now booming to protect the lagooned dolphins in the Keys. Folks on the ground are working hard to preserve life and beauty of nature we every once in a while stop from day-to-day madness to enjoy. (As are all the people on the rig trying to cap it, close it, stuff it, top it...) Blessings to you.

Prayers also to the region. To lives and livelihods lost. Bless your souls.

If there's any glimmer of a positive outcome to this oilageddon, it's awakened and united us around the globe. Arctic? Tar sands? I'm watching you.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”.--Mahatma Gandhi

Goodness, weeeeee, indeed - Thursday, 3 June 2010

Was on my way to a girls-who-lunch-after-mani-pedi outing in my kitten cork (clomp, comp) mules when I noticed a little old lady ahead of me struggling with her buggy and climbing down the subway stairs. "May I help you with that?" (I kind of wondered as a clomped along in platform mules whether I even could... but hey, baby, I still got it.) The reward? A warm,endearing smile and a 'thank-you' to make my day.

PS my feet and toes are rockin' in these mules... hello, gorgeous little piggies... as I weeeee'd all the way home.

Would you like my seat? Friday, May 28, 2010

Commuted by t.dot red rocket midday for my downtown mtg. As I looked around me, I noticed the avg age of my fellow riders was around 24 if not less. Then a lovely pregnant lady waddled her way in from the underground heat. Hmm, deliberately I wondered if anyone would offer her their seat? When no one did, I did. Lovely pregnant lady smiled, said thanks muchly for offering, but declined saying she was getting off at the next stop and if she dared sit down, wouldn't get back up in time. hee hee. It did amaze me that no one else even looked up or noticed... so busy on texts and catching up on beauty sleep. (Mind you, I caught me a couple winks too, and missed my stop, so took the long way but got to my appt in time and included a stop for a Starbucks!)

Can dog poo deliver a good deed? - May 20, 2010

Was enjoying a delightful outdoor patio lunch with a friend at a busy swishy spot in the chi chi part of town when lo and behold, this woman is strolling her little Jack Russell alongside the walkway where we're eating when the poor guy has a bout of kaka-loolly poop... right... beside... our... table... eeeeewwww. What would you do?

It occurred to me that if I didn't offer to help, we'd not be enjoying our swishy lunch so much. The lady didn't appear to have a poop bag and seemed content to keep walking. Seeing that, and rather than rip out, 'pick up after your dog!', I suggested she needed to go into the restaurant and ask for napkins or something. And while she'd stoop and scoop, I offered to hold her dog. She did just that, and on saying goodbye, told us the dog's name was Willie... HE did it. Willieeeeeeeeeeeee, stinky pooper.

Bonus good deed: On my return home, I had a few bags to struggle with through all the doors from the underground, upstairs... it was refreshing that a young woman actually rushed and came up behind me to open, hold the doors, push the elevator button, and say, "have a good evening!" Ah, sweet. I then put all the stuff in my unit, grabbed my dog Boris for a walk, and on my walk back into the building, here's this same girl dashing out heavy with luggage and bags for the long weekend. It was my turn to say, 'one good deed deserves another', and opened up all the doors for her, even to her waiting cab. She beamed.

I feel good.