Wishes Fulfilled Wednesday, February 3, 2016

What a wonderful day!

I first started out with my sacred sip in silence ritual followed by my daily total body gymnastics routine, my apppeberry Power Shake before making lunches. When you start your day this way, you feel so much more peace, calmness and enthusiasm for the whole day.

I love my morning alone time.

Cool things about my friends and family today:

1. My eldest son's school had sent home a dance-a-thon fundraising form and envelope. I took it to work the last three days but forgot to take it out. This morning I remembered to do so.

Well, I didn't even say much to my wonderful co-workers... I told a couple of ladies that my son was doing a dance-a-thon, showed up them the paper, then left for lunch.

Soon after lunch, I was wondering where my envelop had gone. Well, within two minutes of that thought (you've gotta love synchronicity!), a colleague came up to me with the form and a filled up envelop!

Collectively, we have already raised $26.50! How amazing is that. And people wanted to do it.

So thank you very much, my friends for your generous support. The funds raised will be used toward the purchase of educational equipment.

2.  My daughter gradually became resistant to practicing piano over the last couple of months, and today she wouldn't even go in with her teacher.

This opened up am amazing opportunity to talk. The moment she walked into the music school her face was closed looking down. She shook her head for almost every question like "are you ready to play?"

As the Universe would make it, three piano teachers she had had were there at this talk in the waiting area，which normally would jave been full of other parents.

She wouldn't look at any of them. She kept her eyes low except to throw me some attitude glances.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"I don't know," she responded.

"No one is going to make you do piano if you don't want to. Mommy always wanted to take piano lessons as a kid. So if you don't, I will take the lessons."

"But you already know. You taught yourself."

The conversation contained I ttle snippets of how her teachers came to teach their instrument of choice. It was a great chance to learn about these gifted musicians.

Well, since the lesson was only half and hour, our five person chat soon came to an end, but we still had not reached a resolution.

Her teacher told her warmly that she hopes to see her next week.

Before heading out, we chatted with the school director. Just in talking, my daughter came up with the idea that she would watch me play with her teacher and then I would watch her for the rest of the lesson!

She was very excited about that.

"The you better write that down or else you are going to forget," she said.

Deal. Fellow readers, if I forget, please remind me! ;)

3. After leaving piano, the little girl decided that we would go to Giant Tiger because she wanted to get Daddy, Little R, Little M and Mommy (that's me) each a gift... Interesting because she had made a Bracelet Promise that she wouldn't spend any of her own money... Anyway, that is another blog post.

Well, when we got to the discount store, I picked up a couple of new pillows to replace the barf-destroyed ones, and then to her to hold.

Her state had shifted. She was more open and happier. Soon she forgot that she was there looking for presents for other people... But she came to the cookies section of the store. She asked me if she could have Oreos and other boxed snacks.
She would pass them to me for inspection the ingredients. This is typical, but this time I turned it to her to read the fine print.

"Your eyes are very good, so coukd you look out for a few words to avoid? They are 'hydrogenated', 'colour', and shortening'."

So with that she would pick up every boxed snack that she thought that she wanted and looked for those words. She would put back anything that contained any of those words.

Soon she was able to predict that colourful 'foods' contained colour in the ingredients. She could pronounce 'hydrogenated' so she would call it the H word.

By letting to do that instead lecturing, she felt empowered by deciding for herself. She found two packages that she liked that didn't contain any of the three words.

I bought it for her, and agreed to give her the unhealthy snack for the rest of the week.

Apparently she gets two snacks a day at school. The morning one is a healthy snack while the afternoon one is an unhealthy snack.

I am not not doubtful that snacks at her school are actually unhealthy, but how unhealthy is  acceptable?

In any case, I am thrilled I will be joining her for piano and that she will now start to read the labels for herself and decide.

And tomorrow is Thankful Thursday... What is on your list?

Goodnight,

Kim

ChooseDay, February 2, 2016: Family and Friends Month

Hi, there!

I had been thinking about just reaching out to family and friends in the month of February to let them know how wonderful and important they (YOU) are, and this year I started it off by declaring to a friend that it's Family and Friendship Month.

Why?

Here are a few reasons:

1.  In the provine of Ontario, where i live, Family Day (a statutory holiday) falls in the month of February.  This is a day tor families.

2.   Saint Valentine's Day also falls on this day.  This is supposed to be a day to celebrate love... who actually knows about the history of Valentine's Day?  Feel free to comment!  It actually seems like another day that candy compies use to sell more sweets!

3.  In Mexico, there is dia de la amistad - friendship day.

4.  it begins with the letter F, and i think that makes it more fun to say ;)  February is Family and Friendship month.

5.  February is typically the most depressing month for  people who live in the northern climates since it's cold (not really this year, though), blustery, short month... no fresh fruits or veggies locally... you get the picture.

6.  It is a wonderful way of taking the time to let each other know we are appreciated and thought of.

So, what i intend to do is call someone every day during my walk (once it gets a little less noise from passing cars) home from the train station. 

I am curious how you enjoy your February.

Keep having FUN!

Kim

Thankful Thursday, January 28, 2016

Where do I begin?

How about from where I am right now... On an early GO train heading into downtown for work grateful to be able to sit up, keep my eyes open albeit somewhat sore, writing this post.

Then we got to see the full bright moon! On Christmas day early in the dark morning I had gone out to experience the full moon (it was the first full moon in Christmas day in 38 years!)

I have a lot to be grateful for.  More recently in this month of January, and at the tail end of December 2015, my family has been sick with some strong virus's resulting in missed school and work.

Although, it is not exactly fun (cleaning up barf is one oft least favourite things to do) to be sick, it really gives me that contrast to experientially know how much I appreciate being well!

What I am grateful for:

1. Saturday, my daughter had a wonderful, peaceful, happy birthday celebration with my sisters and my Mother-in-Love visiting. We ate pizza, popcorn, chatted, played some games and took pictures. We laughed and just enjoyed the time together. We have a lot of fun!

2. Sunday, my daughter was able to go skating for the first time ever. Many thanks go out for the parents and children who made it possible. Last year, Little S was very much looking forward to the skating party only to barf that very morning! So, very glad she was able to enjoy the experience this year.

3. My eldest, Little R barfed before his respite worker came. So the timing was just right. Although gross, I prefer cleaning up his vomit in my own home. Grateful for the paper towels, spoon and Lysol wipes (I would prefer something else, but all the same grateful to have those wipe). 

So, with Little R in bed and Little S at skating party, I was able to do laundry, cook, clean and even play with Little M.

Isn't it wonderful to be able to do all those things!!!

4. Whatever the virus was, it seemed to have attacked my muscles, joints and drained my energy overnight Sunday to all day and night Monday. I was very grateful for my bed, the covers, the shelter over head, the solid ground beneath... And I felt so weak, that I just slept most of the day getting up a few times to go to the toilet.

And now to think back that I often would feel that way growing up, I realise how much my health has improved!

Thank you.

Have you been? How's your health? Does getting sick once in a while remind you how awesome it feels to be well?

Blessings,

Kim

Thankful Thursday, January 21, 2016

Tiny pieces of an awesome day:

1. Listening to a retiring co-workers words of wisdom and regret. Her message was that 26 years pass just like that. The thing she wishes she had done more of was taking a coffee or having lunch with fellow co-workers. She was a workaholic... and she urged us not to be like her.

2. Listening to training calls on the train (no pun intended ).

3.  Watching my daughter smile ever so brightly as she tread water for the first time.

4. Having my mom over to help watch the kids.

5.  Bringing my dream with me to bed.

Sweetest dreams... and daydreams, my friends.

Kim

Saturday, January 16, 2016: moving forward

Glad for:

Little R's general smile and lightness of heart. It warms my soul putting him to bed and kissing him goodnight. I am grateful to him for blessing my life, shifting my perspective to a broader view. 

An older iPod that still works well to upload blog posts like this one ;) my new phone is unable to do so... Or I just haven't figured it out yet.

A loving family. We may get annoyed at times, but we all love each other.

A job that helps financially provide for my family. Also giving me the means to practice my passion (promoting health, wealth and joy!) while travelling to and from work, during lunch as well as during little co-worker chats.

A bed to rest my body.

A great day with the Little M. He is speaking more and more as well as understanding more. He can discern between things and is upfront about it. For example, I may be using a banana as a phone but he would correct me "it's a nana, not a phone!"

Today at Almost Perfect, he held a Hot Wheels Pez car at the cash... I didn't mind getting it for him, but also thought he already had a lot of toy cars at home. "Long Long, day bye-bye, car. Have a nice day, car," I gently instructed almost expecting he would respond with a "n".

Well instead, he happily returned the product to the hook perfectly and said good-bye to the car!

Amazing :)

Getting a hot water bottle for little S to help help with her belly ache.

While she was sick during the Holidays, she followed me downstairs to my room. She sat lethargically while I folded the laundry.

So there I asked her a question I really love asking, "why are you here!" I was referring to being here on this planet.... Then it occurred to me it might have been a too deep or difficult philosophical question for a kid who likes playing with My Little Pony.

As it was too late to bite my tongue, she responded innocently without needing to thinking, "because I love you, and I want to spend time with you."

How pure and how simple: because I love you. That is indeed the truth.

Moving Forward:

What is my motivator?

My husband showed me a picture of myself a few years ago at my mother-in-law's house. He said I was two times me now. It will be very interesting to see pictures of me at different sizes.

I have found my body fat balloon again over this Holiday season. Perhaps it was one too many cookies, chocolates or just due to more inactivity triggered by sickness and eating junk.

I have felt tired in the last two days yawning and dragging my body. This is not what I want.

Moving forward, I am eating only real food.  I know what this means for me, and I feel good about this decision that will shift the direction of my life.

Let's move forward together! So, where do you want to go?

Thankful Thursday, January 7, 2016: Resolutions

Health

Being not so well gives me opportunity to understand how good it feels to be well! It is a reminder to listen to the body.

Boring

My seven year old has been home sick with some virus since last year.  She told me on the eve of New Year's eve that her brain felt weird.

New Year's Eve 2015: a year in review

As I was walking in the very quiet dark morning to the train station, I was overcome with such a grand overflowing feeling of being blessed.

I looked back in a year's time, and I could visibly see that my wheel of wellness was more rounded out than just a year ago.

Just some awesome highlights of my 2015:

1. My assertion of myself has improved greatly.  I can see how this applies when I speak with my spouse and other members of the family. The cool thing is, there is space for improvement!

2. My financial situation has greatly improved. There aren't many individuals I am grateful to for helping me get to where I currently am.

3.  In the course of this one year, I have switched over to two new phones. My current phone allows me the convenience of working on this blog that you are reading as well as provide me with great music I can choose easily! Wow. Technology has quickly evolved in the last 20 years or so.

4.  My relationships have improved.

5. I have adopted a morning sacred sipping ritual as well as an exercise routine that has helped shape my body from flabby to more defined and lean. 

I have also discovered the company, Purium Health Products, which helps me stay on track with providing my body with raw organic whole nutrition.

6. My youngest child has started speaking in some small sentences. He is so cute!

7. We got to visit with my spouse's family this past winter as well as in the Summer. We got to see his brother and his family at Thanksgiving as well, so it has been a good year of family get-togethers.

8. My grandfather survived his brain aneurysm... His going into the hospital brought me in with cousins and family that I do not see often anymore.

9. I surpassed my goal of reducing my weight (I was 167 pounds around this time last year) to 148 by my birthday. I managed to decrease the weight to 146.5 before my birthday.

10. My eldest is sleeping better at night. He doesn't make as much noise as before, and he sleeps mostly uninterrupted.

11. My daughter started learning piano and swimming, and has gained in both areas.

My list goes on, but now I would like to share what I am looking forward to.

Looking forward to:

1. Increased financial freedom!

2. Better health: more vibrancy, energy, improved vision, mental focus, adequate sleep, lightness, flexibility, lean muscles, clear skin, presence, etc.

3. Furthering my career in health coaching via blogging, conference calls, book writing, group trachings and one-on-one coaching.

There is something in the near future called the One Ton Challenge that I am very excited about!

4. Leaving Canada for a short 'vacation'.

As well, I am excited for what surprises the Universe has to present me. Let's go with the flow :)

What is on your list?

Wishing you peace, prosperity and personal power in 2016!

Kim