2021 was an extremely challenging year for me. Loss, Covid in many of my family members, eye issues (plenty of those), plus many other unpleasant life experiences, so I need a new story for this next chapter. I need to bring passion back into my life. Life will always bring us tough times, some years more than others.
In 2022,
I will look forward to each day, creating new ways to find hope for myself.
I will do new things.
I will change my story to one of true acceptance of all the things I cannot change.
I will focus on opportunities instead of obstacles.
I will give more love to myself and those around me.
I will remember to be grateful that I am alive and acknowledge that I have much to look forward to.
I will choose to live fully as much as humanly possible each day.
I will be a better version of myself.
I will recognize that I am human and will have sad times, but I will not stay in those feelings.
I’m not finished yet and neither are you. It’s a new year … it’s a new day to really live. #walkalongwithme
Even though I sometimes say I don’t, I know I do take life for granted. Living through a pandemic makes you examine and reflect on your life. I know there are too many things that I have taken for granted. What about you?
Taking living life without a pandemic in it for granted. Now, listening to the sickness and deaths and tragedies of so many around the world and feeling powerless to stop it, but doing your part as best you can.
Not being able to see your best friend F2F.
The joys of inviting whoever you want for dinner.
Spending time with family and friends and not worrying how close you are to them or of they will get sick.
Walking around freely, not carrying the worries of the world on your shoulders.
Going to work, loving what you do without thinking that what you do could lead to someone being sick or worse.
Thinking your children have finally made it in the world, only now you worry about their security and what their future and the future of your potential grandchildren will look like.
Living life the best you know how, realizing you have reached retirement, but never imagining how the world would turn out in your lifetime.
The joys of having a girls weekend or a shopping trip or other small pleasure that you like doing..
The simple pleasures of going to a farmers market.
The small mundane things that are no longer mundane.
Life as you used to know it and so many other things that you still take for granted.
While these and many more things can be difficult , I choose to embrace every day and remember I can live life in the best way possible given some of the things I took or take for granted. I will seek out ways to enjoy what is, as it is for today.
Every now and then I can get off track and do not celebrate each day. I think most of us know how precious life is , but sometimes we take it for granted. I have experienced too many losses in my life not to be fully cognizant of the value of each day. Each day I am reminded of the people in my life that have struggles and life may be cut short for them due to medical concerns.
Today, I embraced life fully. I appreciated all the moments of this beautiful day. I did not think of the sorrows, but of the joys of living and I need to remind myself to do this as often as possible. There are some I know who look at life as if they are dying instead of truly living. I want to always truly live each day no matter what life places in front of me.
“Everything you do has an impact. Who you are – that you are – actually matters. In an interconnected world (the only kind we have), our actions and the actions of others are inextricably linked- we are always and forever in a dance of mutual influence with those with whom we directly and indirectly participate. It is the unavoidable reality of being social creatures, only magnified by an ever-increasingly complex and interwoven societal structure. We matter to each other.” – Paul Greiner
This sums up my feelings about so many people and about so many things. Today I sobbed as I viewed the faces of all those lost in the Vegas tragedy. They mattered to so many people and today they mattered to me even though I did not know them.
Life is truly fragile and I am ever reminded of this. I try very hard to live every day as if it is my last. Am I always successful ? No, but I really wish to live life as fully as I can, love those I can and let the people in my life that I am closest to know they matter. I don’t want to wait til someone passes away for them to know that they really matter to me.
So if you are one of those precious people in my life reading this , know that you do really matter to me and I am so grateful to have you in my life. So today and every day let others know that they matter and hopefully you too will see as Greiner says that in this complex interwoven societal structure we matter to each other.
“If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul”
Rabbi Kushner
picture by Laura Cormier CB, Nova Scotia
Many days I scurry through life with a million things I think I need to do, but sometimes life takes hold and tells me to slow down.
I have had many things happen in my life that have forced me to slow down, reflect and pay attention to the moment.
Two of my close friends were diagnosed with breast cancer, Today they are doing great. Some of my closest friends and mentors have passed away as a result of breast cancer. My doctor who I adored lost her fight to breast cancer.
In 1999 I had my own scare with breast cancer that turned out to be non life threatening fibroadenoma.
My friends husband passed away because of brain cancer.
Two of our friends and colleagues lost their children under the age of 30 to tragic vehicle accidents. One was our mechanic.
My accountant and his wife a dear counselling friend ( who got me my job in private practice) died suddenly within a short span of each other.
A close relative died by suicide.
Students who I adored have passed away from suicide much too young. Students I have worked with have died way too young and left me deeply saddened.
Family members and friends have been diagnosed with cancer. My old roommate lost her fight after battling cancer twice.
My principal and friend who I laughed with every day for five years was killed suddenly and tragically.
My first love died at too young of an age.
I have relatives with the dreaded disease of Alzheimers.
I have had many friends who have lost parents and family members.
I was diagnosed with keratoconus (a progressive eye disease).
There is more , but you get the idea. Many of us have experienced similar challenges and losses , yet we recognize that there is so much to be grateful for. We know we need to live each day as fully as we can because really one never knows what is around the corner.
In my experience, people are never more real or uninhibited than when they or a loved one are seriously ill or near death. I know that is true for me. Losing people I have deeply cared about and for has stopped me in my tracks. Made me reflect on life and death and what is really important.
Sometimes we feel like we have very important things to do with a very important job. We get caught up in the small things that happen and what is expected of us, but what really matters in life is not the things, the job, the title, the day to day little things that can eat at us. They are all small stuff and really of no significance.
People matter most
Not money, not assets, not things … certainly not stuff
Friends, family, relationships our connections
What really matters in life is the health of the relationships we have with the people we love. Tell those people that you love them. I try to do this as often as possible and if you are reading this and I haven’t told you lately remember I do love you and am very grateful you are in my life.
I am going to invest my energy in those people … because they are worth it, they are important and they matter most.
If you have shared a laugh with me … I am grateful
If you have shared a meal with me … I am grateful
If you have taught me something … I am grateful
If you have had a cup of tea with me … I am grateful
If you have graced me with your time and presence … I am grateful
If you have helped me in any way … I am truly grateful
I am grateful for each new day I am alive and if I get to connect with you all the more grateful I am.
So … be grateful
Grateful that you don’t already have everything you desire
If you did , what would there to be to look forward to
Grateful that you don’t know something
It provides an opportunity to learn something new
Grateful for the difficult times
During these times you are often transformed and grow
Grateful for your limitations
They provide opportunity for improvements
Grateful for each new challenge
They build strength and character
Grateful for your troubles as they can become your blessings
Grateful for failures
They teach us way more than our successes
I am truly grateful I have had a career that I continue to love and am surrounded by people who lift me up and make me a better person.
YOU are what really matters to me and always will.
Counsellor Talk : Creative Collaborative Connections 