Weekend September 11-13, 2015: building character

New and good:

1. We went out to Congee Queen for my mom's birthday. I got to spend time with my sister without any kids driving to get the fresh mango cake. Expensive but delicious!

2. The rain outside, and a new roof atop our house. Thank you, Universe!

3. The plumber came and fixed our bath faucet. Yay for bathes and showers in our own home again!

4. A challenging Sunday. Putting one fire out then the next (not literally).  From a hyperactive, heavy and forceful Little R, bowel movement in the toilet with a whole roll if toilet paper in the not-so-flushing-well toilet, to dumping of water and a school-made sprinkles in jar all over my bed and my daughter's rug, and a toddler who cries like screaming... I really had many opportunities to practice my calmness in the midst if chaos.

After I saw the stuffed toilet paper stuffed in the toilet over the water and poo, I yelled.  My daughter quickly made the comment that I never tell at Little R.

"Now you have to switch the bracelet to your other wrist," she said referring to the  21 days of being complaint free from Reverend Will Bowen's book a Complaint Free World.

I smiled. My outer world is merely a reflection of my inner world. When I change my inner world, my outer experience will be different.

I often tell my daughter that if I am angry because they don't do as I ask, maybe things are messy, dirty, or we're running late - it's my choice on how to respond.

Being responsible is being able to respond. I am always striving to respond more effectively, and the first thing is to know that no can can make me feel in any way unless I allow them to.

My children continue to my biggest challengers to promote my personal development.

Thank you!

Kim

Thankful Thursday, September 10, 2015

New and thankful for:

1. Sitting at the Farmers' Market eating lunch enjoying an unusual peace.  Then I realised that King St was closed off for Street Festival!

It's incredible what a difference it makes to have NO motorized vehicles around.

A man the apple booth also gave me a new apple!  

When I got home, it was snatched and enjoyed by Little R.

2. Little M said "I wuv you, Paupau" to my mom on the phone.  It's the first time I can make out him saying "I love you".

3.  Brian Tracy's No Excuses. Today I understood an old concept in a deeper way: you reap what you sow.

So this means that whatever you experience now is the harvest of what you had sown. To get a better crop, you must sow now new seeds. 

Wednesday, September 9, 2015: simple

New and simple treasures:

1. Coming home to savouring a beautiful sunset as we got out of the car, my daughter and me. It was so clear and blue in the middle of two sheets of greyish angelic clouds. They sun was going to China.

2. I RAN to the Union Station, up the stairs to the track 24 I arrived only to an empty area with no waiting passengers and no train.

To my luck, someone announced that the train ha been moved to track 7! 

Again, with no time to lose (1.5 minutes or so to departure), I flew in the direction of all the other tracks.

I made it! Sweaty and all, but it didn't take me long before I recovered. Another sign of good heart health :)

3. I ate lunch on a picnic table outside of the St. Lawrence market. Hardly anyone was sitting outside since it had been raining earlier in the day, an the benches were still somewhat wet.

Lucky me!

4. Listening more to Dr. Wayne Dyer's I Can See Clearly Now and to Brian Tracy's No Excuses!

Goodnight,

Kim

Sunday, September 6, 2015: hot and humid

New and good:

1. My Blackberry was drained of battery even after I had charged it for over 5 hours... Which led me to use a 'new' phone :) now it's bigger and has more functionalities.

2. I managed to take 7 spiders out of my room and out into the hot and humid front yard.  Cleaning, tidying and rearranging does good for the body and the soul.

3.  I have a day to look forward to before the start of another school year. I want to relax, clean up, organize and get clear about goals.

4. I got to see my very good friend Jennifer and her beautiful family yesterday in Toronto. Although the hornets made it challenging to have a picnic, it was awesome to see each other.

Next year we'll need to choose an indoor area away from the flying bugs.

What situations have you encountered that at first you thought sucked but then turned out to be a blessing?

Here's a breath of cool breeze for the hot anticipated Labour Day!

Kim

Fantastic Freedom Friday, September 4, 2015

Highlights:

1. Overflowing with emotional gratitude for all my mentors past and present - writing down special people and what they did or said to me that I hold dear.

2. Helping a frustrated client who in the end thanked me for my patience, and that he had learned from me today. He was deeply grateful for my help. 

Be generous and sincere with your words. His sincerity sent me a wave of warmth and gratitude over the phone.

3. I received recognition from a co-worker for helping her and a client.

4. Listening to Brian Tracy's No Excuses audiobook.

5. Having an overnight dream of either an out of body experience, or and experience of massive energy movement like shock circuits buzzing from my extremities exiting through the crown of my head.

Maybe this was induced by listening to Dr. Wayne Dyer's last book I Can See Clearly Now. This book totally resonates with me.

What are your highlights if the day?

Garlands of love and sunshine,

Kim

CHOOSEday, August 25, 2015: fun with family

Places we went today:

1. I took Little R and Little S with me to the NDG bakery early when it opened at 9 am. I didn't know how much of a physical feat it would to carry three huge slabs of "NDG" pizza (pizza with just tomato sauce on top) with my arms out in front of me. Makes you think how much weight you instantly gain by eating a pizza! ;)

2. We hopped in the metro to go to the BioDome. On the metro, Little S have up her seat to an elderly man. He kept looking at us and smiling until we got off when he waves and said 'bye.' :)

On the way back from the metro, Little R sat in a seat beside a mature woman who clearly was uncomfortable with him sitting beside her. She kept holding into her bags while Little R vocalized with his mouth open, eyes focused in an angle downward and his fingers forming a continually opening and closing open fist.

Then there was more family that came over to the house.

Wonderful Wednesday, September 2, 2015: busy day!

New and grateful for:

1. Message from a friend to know she and her child are safe.

2. The roof overhead

3. Meeting Little R's new school teacher and vice principle. Awesome to know that he will be encouraged and expected to do chores and take charge of his own personal hygiene :) :) :)

4. Meeting Little M's new daycare ECEs. He started off frightened and wouldn't get out of the wagon. I led the way into the fenced yard. He tagged along quickly but was very hesitant and other kids and the friendly staff.

He started warming up once we were able to go inside to the centre where he used the sensor operated washroom sink. When the other children came in, one group of kids gravitated to the snacks table while another group to the play-doh making table.

I knew that Little M loves play-doh, so I sat down at the table close to the ECE. He would not sit beside her yet. But the started to get more comfortable after she gave him (and the other children) some raw flour to play with.

The ECE asked him what colour he wanted it to be, "green or red?"

"Red," he replied twice.  The other children agreed.

Soon, he sat down and started playing with the homemade play-dough. As I saw he got more comfortable, I sat my bag down beside him and stood up behind him. He looked up, turned around, saw me and then calmly went returned his focus on playing.

I moved away further gradually until he couldn't see me anymore and started crying.

By that time I believed our visit was done, but he decided he wanted some snack. He chose breadsticks and yogurt (first day trying yogurt). He started to like it there but still held onto my thumb.

"I want more, peez," he requested politely. This time he decided to dip the breadsticks into the yogurt.

I feel great about him going to this centre with the staff and other children. It's close by and very clean.

What blessings are you counting today?

Sunshine and smiles,

Kim