For the first time ever, I didn't spend Christmas Day in Manitoba or with my family. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it or not. Because I changed jobs a couple of months ago I had to work on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. There wasn't time to head back to my home province.
It turns out I had a pretty good day.
I had breakfast at friends. It's always nice to be included. I FaceTimed with my parents, and received a whole bunch of messages and texts from people wishing me all the best of the season.
All in all, Christmas left me with the best gift of them all. I have an overwhelming feeling of optimism. I think 2014 is going to be a great year for the world and for me personally. I don't know what it's going to look like but I know the people who choose to be around me are great people. I know that there will always someone to lend a bit of support when I hit bumps in the road and that fills my heart.
My life isn't perfect, in fact it's not exactly what I want it to look like at the moment. I am ok with that. I have come to terms with twists and turns, in fact, I welcome them. It makes life interesting, especially when you know great people will be around you and check in from time to time.
I got some very thoughtful presents but this overwhelming feeling of optimism about where things are going is a wave worth riding as far as I can. A year ago I wasn't feeling too excited about the future but now I can't wait for whatever is next and that's a great place to be.
I hope everyone who reads this takes some time to reflect and count up all the good things that you have in your life because you probably have more than you realize and it will probably give you a very optimistic outlook.
Showing posts with label reflection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reflection. Show all posts
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas On The Prairies
After moving to Ottawa and briefly living there I have returned to the prairies for Christmas. I have noticed a couple of things in returning.
It is dry on the prairies in the winter. I have always known it is dry but it has always been a gradual transition. Returning to Winnipeg and proceeding to Brandon has quickly dried me out. It is what it is but I now better understand why so many people comment on it.
The pace of life is slower on the prairies. I don't find the pace in Ottawa to be overwhelming. In fact it is just the pace that is. However, I have always found Brandon to move a bit slow and now it seems to be even slower. I have definitely become a city person. I have known this for years. It was reinforced when I moved to Ottawa. The slow pace is nice for a few days but I don't want to live this way.
People get excited for Christmas everywhere. The Christmas spirit is prevalent in both places. This is probably the most important point. It is important to take time for the important people in your life. It is important to reflect and look forward. We can become so busy with the day to day stuff that we forget to look around. The holidays are a time to do that. They are a time to take stock. They are a time to set priorities. They are a time to be thankful for what the world has given you.
I'm spending Christmas on the Prairies and I'm happy to be doing so.
It is dry on the prairies in the winter. I have always known it is dry but it has always been a gradual transition. Returning to Winnipeg and proceeding to Brandon has quickly dried me out. It is what it is but I now better understand why so many people comment on it.
The pace of life is slower on the prairies. I don't find the pace in Ottawa to be overwhelming. In fact it is just the pace that is. However, I have always found Brandon to move a bit slow and now it seems to be even slower. I have definitely become a city person. I have known this for years. It was reinforced when I moved to Ottawa. The slow pace is nice for a few days but I don't want to live this way.
People get excited for Christmas everywhere. The Christmas spirit is prevalent in both places. This is probably the most important point. It is important to take time for the important people in your life. It is important to reflect and look forward. We can become so busy with the day to day stuff that we forget to look around. The holidays are a time to do that. They are a time to take stock. They are a time to set priorities. They are a time to be thankful for what the world has given you.
I'm spending Christmas on the Prairies and I'm happy to be doing so.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Elevator Conversations
I live in a rather tall building. I'm on the 20th floor and there are still a few above me. As such, I routinely ride in an elevator. Sometimes I'm alone, often there are other people. Sometimes nothing is said but other times there is a conversation. At times I am part of the conversation but often I am not. The conversation may have started before the participants entered the elevator or may only be in the elevator.
Elevator conversations give us a snippet of society. A small window into what is happening around us or even a barometer on how things are out there.
You hear a cross section of everything in elevator conversations and oftem they can be very interesting.
In the last few months there have been two converstations that have stuck in my head. One I cannot seem to forget and one prompted me to write this entry.
The first one took place last fall. I believe it was in November but I can't say for sure.
It was a typical day. I had arrived home from work in my uniform to find a group of a few people already waiting for the elevator in the basement. I joined them in waiting. It eventually arrived and we started loading up. There was a woman who arrived just after everyone else had already got on the elevator. She was obviously in a hurry and was having what appeared to be an important converstation on her cell phone.
I understand I have been there.
She only wanted to go up to the main floor. When we arrived on the main floor she paused her cell phone conversation and turned to me (remember I was still in my uniform) and said, "Thank you for everything you do for our country."
She didn't have to say anything. She didn't have to interrupt her cell phone conversation. For whatever reason she was compelled to thank me, and the rest of the CF, for what we do.
Although very brief and completely one sided this elevator conversation had an impact on me. I'm sure it had some kink of impact on others in the elevator.
The second conversation was very different but made me think as well.
I was headed downstairs on a Saturday around 7pm. The elevator made a couple of stops along the way and picked some people up. One of the stops There was a man and a woman that I would estmate were in their early twenties and were dressed to go out for the evening, quite possibly to a party or to meet friends.
Their conversation had started before they entered the elevator an continued as we headed down. They were discussing music. The young lady indicated she only enjoyed some parts of the the artist in questions music while the young gentleman replied inidcating that he had not really thought about the significance of Flo Rider and his place in popular culture.
I found this conversation interesting because it was being held on two different levels. There was obviously some debate going on and I don't know everything that was being said however, it was a window, not necesarily clear, into the conciousness around me.
I was one of those moments that makes you go hmmm.
An elevator conversation is an interesting thing. It is brief. It is incomplete. It lets us into the world around us just a wee, wee bit. It can be entertaining, interesting, scary, or moving.
It is unique, and I see so much to learn from it.
Elevator conversations give us a snippet of society. A small window into what is happening around us or even a barometer on how things are out there.
You hear a cross section of everything in elevator conversations and oftem they can be very interesting.
In the last few months there have been two converstations that have stuck in my head. One I cannot seem to forget and one prompted me to write this entry.
The first one took place last fall. I believe it was in November but I can't say for sure.
It was a typical day. I had arrived home from work in my uniform to find a group of a few people already waiting for the elevator in the basement. I joined them in waiting. It eventually arrived and we started loading up. There was a woman who arrived just after everyone else had already got on the elevator. She was obviously in a hurry and was having what appeared to be an important converstation on her cell phone.
I understand I have been there.
She only wanted to go up to the main floor. When we arrived on the main floor she paused her cell phone conversation and turned to me (remember I was still in my uniform) and said, "Thank you for everything you do for our country."
She didn't have to say anything. She didn't have to interrupt her cell phone conversation. For whatever reason she was compelled to thank me, and the rest of the CF, for what we do.
Although very brief and completely one sided this elevator conversation had an impact on me. I'm sure it had some kink of impact on others in the elevator.
The second conversation was very different but made me think as well.
I was headed downstairs on a Saturday around 7pm. The elevator made a couple of stops along the way and picked some people up. One of the stops There was a man and a woman that I would estmate were in their early twenties and were dressed to go out for the evening, quite possibly to a party or to meet friends.
Their conversation had started before they entered the elevator an continued as we headed down. They were discussing music. The young lady indicated she only enjoyed some parts of the the artist in questions music while the young gentleman replied inidcating that he had not really thought about the significance of Flo Rider and his place in popular culture.
I found this conversation interesting because it was being held on two different levels. There was obviously some debate going on and I don't know everything that was being said however, it was a window, not necesarily clear, into the conciousness around me.
I was one of those moments that makes you go hmmm.
An elevator conversation is an interesting thing. It is brief. It is incomplete. It lets us into the world around us just a wee, wee bit. It can be entertaining, interesting, scary, or moving.
It is unique, and I see so much to learn from it.
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