Where is Spring?

This winter in Ottawa has been less than pleasant. It started out pretty good then it decided to turn into a Winnipeg winter. It has been cold, windy, and the snow keeps coming. It's breaking my spirit.

I always get mopey after Christmas. It's hard to get excited when you are always cold and the sun never shows up. This year seems to be a bit worse. I have have been skipping a lot of workouts, which makes you want to skip more workouts. It's so cold in the morning, I don't want to take the six minute walk to the gym, even through I know that going will make me feel better.

You may be thinking that it's all in my head and this winter is no worse than normal. For that I call shenanigans. Today, the Rideau Canal Skateway has been open for the most consecutive days ever. Usually it warms up a couple of times and they have to close the canal for a day or two. Not this winter. It's been open for 47 consecutive days. It won't warm up. 

There is usually a warm day when it rains and washes a bunch of snow away. Not this winter. the snow is piling up. It looks like Winnipeg with all the accumulated snow.

Today, it felt a bit like spring. It was sunny and warmer than it's been for a while. It cheered me up quite a bit. I felt like living a bit more instead of just existing day to day. I think spring is coming but it can't get here soon enough. 

When spring arrives life gets better. Everyone wakes up out of the drudgery of winter. Food starts to taste better. Colour returns to the landscape. You can smell more than diesel fuel when you are outside. People don't feel the need to watch the sidewalk when they walk, and you aren't dressed in fourteen layers.

I like spring. I like spring a lot. It is the start of the three livable seasons and everyone seems to be a bit happier. Who doesn't want their life to be a bit happier?

Pass It On

Like most weeks I was on the road last week. From time to time I use it as a good time to text a friend or two and catch up. When you travel a lot it is easy to let things slip by. So, a week ago I texted a friend who had her first child about a month before Christmas. I was curious about how it was going so I asked sherif she had this parenting thing all figured out.

Let's be honest, babies don't come with a manual so along with her husband, they are figuring it out on the fly. She told me there were good days and bad days, just like anything else.

I responded as anyone else would have and told her that both parents were wonderful people. I then went on to say that if their child picks up the self-worth of the parents, not to worry, she would thrive.

As a new mother, she really appreciated the encouragement and said so. However, for me, I think I have simplified what we should be doing with childrearing.

At this point I should mention that I don't have children and have never attempted to raise any so I may be way off base. However, when I look back at growing up and I look at people who do a better job at transitioning into adulthood there is one thing that really stands out.

The most important thing to do for your children is to give them a sense of self-worth.

People with strong self-worth approach the world from a better frame. They think about how they will do things when they are in the position not if they are in the position. People with self-worth believe they will succeed and make a difference.

People with self-worth are more resistant to bullying. They see it for what it is. They see it is actions by insecure people and it is a temporary situation. They don't give bullies the power they seek. They don't seek the approval of bullies because they don't need it.

People with self-worth have courage to make change. If you believe in yourself, you can do it differently.

People with self-worth don't want to join gangs or become radicalized. If you believe in your self, you see these choices for what they are, foolish.

I don't care how you raise your children but I strongly suggest your raise your kids to have self-worth, because with it, everything else will fall in line.