International Woman's Day - Celebrating the accomplishments of women is easy in Ottawa; I am surrounded by some incredible, intelligent, passionate and compassionate women. This city is teaming in them - they are here to make a different and have the tools and tenacity to actually do it! Ottawa basking in an abundance of dynamic women who are ready to effect real change.
I also know some wonderful women in Canada and around the world - I will not list them all, or this will be a boring post and I don't want to accidentally leave one off. They are blazing trails and sticking to their guns - not just in careers that excite them, but following their hearts and never letting barriers stand in the way of pursuits that keep them balanced, be that travel, mountain biking, teaching, skiing, climbing or volunteering. Our jobs alone no longer define who we are or how we make an impact.
Recently I have received e-mails from friends scattered around the world who muse giving up their jobs and having babies. Part of me is sad that they are leaving behind the potential to make a difference, but I suppose it also gives me hope ... if these fabulous women choose to raise children, then there is hope for future generations. I find that my baby-friends seem to be a lot more level-headed and pragmatic than others I have crossed in past adventures. Spending a lovely afternoon with such a couple and their very well behaved 13-month old really made this point.
To all my wonderful women friends - keep doing what you are doing. Make a difference in the way you need to and continue to inspire me. I learn from you all and I know the world is a better place because of you all.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Winter driving - This was the first year in a while that I have not changed my own tires. I like changing my tires, there is something empowering and meditative about it - plus, I like to practice so that if I am in a situation where I actually have to change them in winter, I know what to do. I do a lot of winter driving. Apart from heading to the ski hill as often as possible, I have also done the trip twice to my parents place since Christmas. The drive - while beautiful - is remote and deserted. I learned just how remote and deserted ten days ago.
The drive over was long. Traffic leaving Ottawa really slowed me down and resulted in the "interesting" parts of the drive all being done in the dark. I have been lucky enough not to have done the first parts of the drive in the dark in a long time. And so there I was driving in the dark on a very windy night. And then outside Bancroft I hit the first of two white outs. Driving along at 20km, not being able to see the road and hoping you are on the right side of the road when cars head at you can be terrifying, especially when you don't have anywhere to actually stop to let the weather blow over.
A few when driving in conditions like that - test breaks and tires to see how slippery the road really is, never use the high beams, be hyper aware and know that you have to trust your passenger side mirror, lastly, love the way that on-coming traffics' lights play off the snow in the sky and light every thing up.
The drive took six hours (90 minutes longer than usual - it could have been worse). I figured on the way back, things really couldn't be any worse, right? Wrong! The road was dry and fast until the half way mark when I hit light snow and conditions slowed down, but it was still very drivable. Soon after I pulled onto Highway 41, I picked up a pick-up truck and followed him until we ended up on the scene of an accident. The two of us were first on the scene.
It was a roll-over. A car heading in my direction had hit black ice and skidded into oncoming traffic pulling a full 270 and in the process hitting an SUV full on. The SUV ended up in the ditch, on its side, the driver strapped in and hanging from her seat belt. As the men extracted her from the vehicle, I called 911; but there was no service. We tried to move her into my car, but decided it would be too hard to get her in and out, so instead she spent 40 minutes on the tail gate of the pick-up truck wrapped in my jacket and blankets as we waited for the ambulance. While others dealt with getting traffic through, I sat with Shauna and tried to calm her down.
An ambulance was called by a passing car from a house down the road and eventually the fire trucks arrived as did the police. Once Shauna was on her way to the hospital, I was given permission to head out - following the ambulance, after removing the inch of snow that had accumulated on my car since I had pulled over. The total drive home took 5 and a half hours.
There is no moral to the story, or learning. Just a reminder that the roads are dangerous in winter and that we should always stop and help.
The drive over was long. Traffic leaving Ottawa really slowed me down and resulted in the "interesting" parts of the drive all being done in the dark. I have been lucky enough not to have done the first parts of the drive in the dark in a long time. And so there I was driving in the dark on a very windy night. And then outside Bancroft I hit the first of two white outs. Driving along at 20km, not being able to see the road and hoping you are on the right side of the road when cars head at you can be terrifying, especially when you don't have anywhere to actually stop to let the weather blow over.
A few when driving in conditions like that - test breaks and tires to see how slippery the road really is, never use the high beams, be hyper aware and know that you have to trust your passenger side mirror, lastly, love the way that on-coming traffics' lights play off the snow in the sky and light every thing up.
The drive took six hours (90 minutes longer than usual - it could have been worse). I figured on the way back, things really couldn't be any worse, right? Wrong! The road was dry and fast until the half way mark when I hit light snow and conditions slowed down, but it was still very drivable. Soon after I pulled onto Highway 41, I picked up a pick-up truck and followed him until we ended up on the scene of an accident. The two of us were first on the scene.
It was a roll-over. A car heading in my direction had hit black ice and skidded into oncoming traffic pulling a full 270 and in the process hitting an SUV full on. The SUV ended up in the ditch, on its side, the driver strapped in and hanging from her seat belt. As the men extracted her from the vehicle, I called 911; but there was no service. We tried to move her into my car, but decided it would be too hard to get her in and out, so instead she spent 40 minutes on the tail gate of the pick-up truck wrapped in my jacket and blankets as we waited for the ambulance. While others dealt with getting traffic through, I sat with Shauna and tried to calm her down.
An ambulance was called by a passing car from a house down the road and eventually the fire trucks arrived as did the police. Once Shauna was on her way to the hospital, I was given permission to head out - following the ambulance, after removing the inch of snow that had accumulated on my car since I had pulled over. The total drive home took 5 and a half hours.
There is no moral to the story, or learning. Just a reminder that the roads are dangerous in winter and that we should always stop and help.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Kung Hai Fat Choi - It is now the year of the rabbit and this week will see the forth edition of my annual Chinese New Year dinner. It started small enough; a few friends wanted to try "real" Chinese food and seemed to think I could do it better than the restaurants down-town, so I offered to try to cook for them. A weekend with my mother finding recipes and a panicked night of calls, I was able to pull off a decent meal for about 20 people.
The first year was intimate, people didn't know what to expect - I didn't know what to expect. How much food to cook? How long will it all take? Will people like the food? Will I have enough dishes to serve it all? The humble evening has turned into an annual tradition where I currently have 40 RSVP's and people start asking in early January when the dinner will be held.
The rules of engagement are simple; bring something to drink, a bowl and chopsticks (forks are OK - but I will judge), try a little bit of everything, meet new people and have fun. Bring friends, significant and insignificant others, but let me know so that I have an idea of numbers. People now know not to ask if they can bring anything and instead ply me with wine and stories. House rules include only three people in my kitchen at any one time - I count for two to ensure people stay out of my way - and I often ask for a donation to a charity of my choice (this year is a non-perishable donation for the food-bank).
For my part, the planning is actually very simple. I write up the menu and an ingredient list, then head to the local stores and hope I don't forget anything. Last year I decided to try to make dumplings from scratch, which was a great idea until 9:30pm on Thursday night when I realised that I forgot to get wrappers and had to make the dough too! Every year I try at least one new dish and 90% of the cooking done after the first person walks through the door. Prep happens on Thursday night, and apart from that I love knowing that people are looking forward to eating. The secret is that Chinese food looks impressive, but can be quite simple and quick to make, you just can't be squeamish!
The first year was intimate, people didn't know what to expect - I didn't know what to expect. How much food to cook? How long will it all take? Will people like the food? Will I have enough dishes to serve it all? The humble evening has turned into an annual tradition where I currently have 40 RSVP's and people start asking in early January when the dinner will be held.
The rules of engagement are simple; bring something to drink, a bowl and chopsticks (forks are OK - but I will judge), try a little bit of everything, meet new people and have fun. Bring friends, significant and insignificant others, but let me know so that I have an idea of numbers. People now know not to ask if they can bring anything and instead ply me with wine and stories. House rules include only three people in my kitchen at any one time - I count for two to ensure people stay out of my way - and I often ask for a donation to a charity of my choice (this year is a non-perishable donation for the food-bank).
For my part, the planning is actually very simple. I write up the menu and an ingredient list, then head to the local stores and hope I don't forget anything. Last year I decided to try to make dumplings from scratch, which was a great idea until 9:30pm on Thursday night when I realised that I forgot to get wrappers and had to make the dough too! Every year I try at least one new dish and 90% of the cooking done after the first person walks through the door. Prep happens on Thursday night, and apart from that I love knowing that people are looking forward to eating. The secret is that Chinese food looks impressive, but can be quite simple and quick to make, you just can't be squeamish!
May the year of the rabbit bring you prosperity and may you eat many a meal in the company of friends.
King Hai Fat Choi!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Living the winter - at 5:50pm last night I was at the bar for my regular Friday after-work drinks and less that 90 minutes later I was on the ski hill! Winter, for me, is really about as much snow time as possible. It was a random last minute trip. At 5:30pm last night, when asked my plans for the evening, my response included a home cooked meal and catching up on reading. And while Friday night at Vorlage was not "epic" it was really the perfect way for me to finish a week.
The first time I tried a carving board, I couldn't stand up on the thing, my shins were chewed up from the ski-boots I was using and I spent more time on my ass than on my feet, but I couldn't stop smiling. There was something about the grace and speed that just made me feel alive and I wanted more. Last year I bought boots, was using a very old and stiff board and borrowed bindings. And then my board "found me". I was not in the market - but I described my dream board to a few people. One day I was lent a board to demo which was the board, my board! I now believe in love-at-first-sight and sole-mates! I ride a Coiler, it is a hand-made Canadian carving board and is covered in flowers, big blue flowers. I am convinced that my board is the sexiest thing I own!
Last Saturday, friends texted me wishing me a great day rocking it up on my carving board - but I wasn't there (I avoid weekends because of the number of people, unless I can be there for first run). But they knew that was where I wanted to be, the know where my heart is this winter - starting a run on my beautiful Coiler and just listening to the wind run through my helmet. Even riding solo after work in the cold with terrible run and terrible run, there is no where I would rather be.
I know I might have a problem ... once the snow starts to fall and we sink into January, all I can think about is when I will be on the hill again, I lust over going fast, carving, feeling the board find the edge and curve around flexing under my boots. I fall asleep wondering when I will on the hill again - and I am now doing something I have never done before - I just go out alone for a few hours of snowboarding after work! I have found a fire where for a long time none existed. Something I wake up for, something I crave, something that makes me happy, something that is mine - something I can do and it doesn't matter how good or bad I am, I just love every second out there pushing it hard.
Tuesday I went to Tremblant with my sister for a day, next week I am driving to Osler (about 6.5 hours away from Ottawa) for a day of carving with 60+ other carvers. I am hoping that I can take some more random mid-week days off to hit more hills, to just be. It is my moment, where I am just me ... nothing else and no one else exists (apart from that skier snow-ploughing slowly down the hill in front of me). I am.
I love my snowboard - I love carving. I love winter ... and no; I will not break anything this year - so you all owe me dinner!
The first time I tried a carving board, I couldn't stand up on the thing, my shins were chewed up from the ski-boots I was using and I spent more time on my ass than on my feet, but I couldn't stop smiling. There was something about the grace and speed that just made me feel alive and I wanted more. Last year I bought boots, was using a very old and stiff board and borrowed bindings. And then my board "found me". I was not in the market - but I described my dream board to a few people. One day I was lent a board to demo which was the board, my board! I now believe in love-at-first-sight and sole-mates! I ride a Coiler, it is a hand-made Canadian carving board and is covered in flowers, big blue flowers. I am convinced that my board is the sexiest thing I own!
Last Saturday, friends texted me wishing me a great day rocking it up on my carving board - but I wasn't there (I avoid weekends because of the number of people, unless I can be there for first run). But they knew that was where I wanted to be, the know where my heart is this winter - starting a run on my beautiful Coiler and just listening to the wind run through my helmet. Even riding solo after work in the cold with terrible run and terrible run, there is no where I would rather be.
I know I might have a problem ... once the snow starts to fall and we sink into January, all I can think about is when I will be on the hill again, I lust over going fast, carving, feeling the board find the edge and curve around flexing under my boots. I fall asleep wondering when I will on the hill again - and I am now doing something I have never done before - I just go out alone for a few hours of snowboarding after work! I have found a fire where for a long time none existed. Something I wake up for, something I crave, something that makes me happy, something that is mine - something I can do and it doesn't matter how good or bad I am, I just love every second out there pushing it hard.
Tuesday I went to Tremblant with my sister for a day, next week I am driving to Osler (about 6.5 hours away from Ottawa) for a day of carving with 60+ other carvers. I am hoping that I can take some more random mid-week days off to hit more hills, to just be. It is my moment, where I am just me ... nothing else and no one else exists (apart from that skier snow-ploughing slowly down the hill in front of me). I am.
I love my snowboard - I love carving. I love winter ... and no; I will not break anything this year - so you all owe me dinner!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
MaoAversary - This week I celebrated my three-year anniversary with my buddy, Mao. I replaced a boy-friend with a Mao. My mother has called it my up-grade. The role is roughly the same; I feed him, drive him around, clean up after him and in return, he is very independent, in need of a lot of personal time, and affectionate when he chooses.
For a few years I had wanted a cat, and while I would ask "can we get a cat?" the answer was inevitably "really? Why would you want a cat?" Well, my housing situation changed and suddenly I found myself living alone for the first time in my life. Once again I asked "can I get a cat?" and the answer this time was "sure - you live in your own place!" but then I had to reflect ... did I really want a cat, or was I asking because I knew the answer would always be no! Did I really want a cat?
I spent two months thinking about it and decided that I would adopt an older cat from the Ottawa Humane Society shortly after Christmas. My thinking was that everyone wants a kitten and there is usually a deluge of animals after Christmas as people "up-grade" their pet choices; leaving older animals in need of a home. The issues associated with cats never really dawned on me; jumping onto surfaces including kitchen counters, digging in plants, chasing birds, trying to attack my fish, scratching my furniture .... a cat was a little beast that slept at the end of my bed, keeping my feet warm at night, or snuggled next to me while I read.
On Saturday January 12th, 2008 I found myself at the Humane Society looking for a new house-mate.
The cages were filled with cats of all shapes and sizes. How to choose which animal I should take home with me? How was my arbitrary criteria going to find me the "perfect" cat? I looked at all the people playing with the kittens and walking away with them, I circled the cages with older cats and then I saw a little tabby-cat; much older than I was expecting. He was depressed, hiding at the back of his cage which had been his home for over six weeks, but when they put him in my arms he snuggled, started to purr and then licked me!
He loves to snuggle and follow me around the house. He doesn't jump on any hard surfaces, ignores the fish, doesn't touch my plants and has only killed one bird - a very impressive feat for a de-clawed house cat smaller than most of my hand-bags. He isn't too bad in a car which makes it easy to drive the 4.5 hours to my parents place, and he has learned to hang out with dogs. He snuggles in the morning, and curls up around me feet when I am reading. He loves people and is curious when I have parties, meeting new people and melting into their lives. He can be a bit of a slut and as soon as someone new arrive at my house Mao has a new best friend, and occasionally he is vocal about his desire to hit the deck. But honestly, I couldn't ask for anything more in a cat.
He is my plug-and-play cat; I brought him home and he just was perfect. In the lottery of adoptions I have hit the jack-pot! I have the best cat in the world..
For a few years I had wanted a cat, and while I would ask "can we get a cat?" the answer was inevitably "really? Why would you want a cat?" Well, my housing situation changed and suddenly I found myself living alone for the first time in my life. Once again I asked "can I get a cat?" and the answer this time was "sure - you live in your own place!" but then I had to reflect ... did I really want a cat, or was I asking because I knew the answer would always be no! Did I really want a cat?
I spent two months thinking about it and decided that I would adopt an older cat from the Ottawa Humane Society shortly after Christmas. My thinking was that everyone wants a kitten and there is usually a deluge of animals after Christmas as people "up-grade" their pet choices; leaving older animals in need of a home. The issues associated with cats never really dawned on me; jumping onto surfaces including kitchen counters, digging in plants, chasing birds, trying to attack my fish, scratching my furniture .... a cat was a little beast that slept at the end of my bed, keeping my feet warm at night, or snuggled next to me while I read.
On Saturday January 12th, 2008 I found myself at the Humane Society looking for a new house-mate.
The cages were filled with cats of all shapes and sizes. How to choose which animal I should take home with me? How was my arbitrary criteria going to find me the "perfect" cat? I looked at all the people playing with the kittens and walking away with them, I circled the cages with older cats and then I saw a little tabby-cat; much older than I was expecting. He was depressed, hiding at the back of his cage which had been his home for over six weeks, but when they put him in my arms he snuggled, started to purr and then licked me!
He loves to snuggle and follow me around the house. He doesn't jump on any hard surfaces, ignores the fish, doesn't touch my plants and has only killed one bird - a very impressive feat for a de-clawed house cat smaller than most of my hand-bags. He isn't too bad in a car which makes it easy to drive the 4.5 hours to my parents place, and he has learned to hang out with dogs. He snuggles in the morning, and curls up around me feet when I am reading. He loves people and is curious when I have parties, meeting new people and melting into their lives. He can be a bit of a slut and as soon as someone new arrive at my house Mao has a new best friend, and occasionally he is vocal about his desire to hit the deck. But honestly, I couldn't ask for anything more in a cat.
He is my plug-and-play cat; I brought him home and he just was perfect. In the lottery of adoptions I have hit the jack-pot! I have the best cat in the world..
Sunday, January 2, 2011
New Years Resolutions - 2011 and everyone is making resolutions! I have only made one resolution that I have ever kept; to stop making new years resolutions! So here are my reasons for why new years resolutions are a bad idea and I no longer participate in the annual ritual:
1 - If there is something you are committed enough to resolve to change it in your life, why wait till January 1st? If it is important; do it. Waiting is just an excuse and January 1st is an arbitrary point in time. Why is any day better in the year to decide to make your life better ... I like the idea of not procrastinating and just doing it; not waiting around for some magical date on a calendar.
2 - How many people do you know who have actually kept new years resolutions? By setting definitive goals, I am deeming myself to fail and will end up feeling bad! Change is hard and proclaiming on January 1st that I will do (or will never do) something in definitive terms with no wiggle rooms is basically a proclamation that I am not going to succeed, seen from a glass-half-empty point of view; it is a proclamation that I am going to fail! Change should be introduced slowly as new habits take time to form. I find it far more rewarding and I am more likely to be successful if I go slow and not beat myself up for slipping up now and then, instead of failing on my resolution in the first few weeks (or day).
3 - Suddenly embracing a new life-style at the same time as everyone else puts a huge strain on the system! This is me being selfish, but I hate yoga in January ... because suddenly everyone else is there. Or how about trying to get food at the grocery store, suddenly all the good stuff is gone because everyone has resolved to "eat-better this year". I find starting a new habit is easier at other times of the year. In the gym, the place is empty in the spring so I can slowly get comfortable, and set-up my routine. Or I can be healthy with my shopping habits starting in the summer, where there are so many options and making use of local food is easy.
4 - New years resolutions suggest that life isn't great the way it is. Sure, we all could look in the mirror and identify things in our lives that could be improved and we can all kick ourselves for not doing something about it sooner. But most people are doing an OK job of living life and loving themselves, and most people hate winter. Why kick yourself when you are down? Why, ten short days after the shortest day of the year, do people become all introspective and start to battle with winter and themselves?
I resolve instead to love winter (and myself) and take opportunities to reflection when they come. If you do read this blog on a regular basis, you are probably thinking that my new years resolution should be to bring a little more sunshine to this posts! Well, you are in luck - I promise (barring any nightmares) that the next post will be all passion and optimism ... until then; good luck with your resolutions, but don't come crying to me when in February you realise you have broken every one of them and feel miserable for it!
PS: Passion and optimism; no brownie points for guessing what the next post will be on!
1 - If there is something you are committed enough to resolve to change it in your life, why wait till January 1st? If it is important; do it. Waiting is just an excuse and January 1st is an arbitrary point in time. Why is any day better in the year to decide to make your life better ... I like the idea of not procrastinating and just doing it; not waiting around for some magical date on a calendar.
2 - How many people do you know who have actually kept new years resolutions? By setting definitive goals, I am deeming myself to fail and will end up feeling bad! Change is hard and proclaiming on January 1st that I will do (or will never do) something in definitive terms with no wiggle rooms is basically a proclamation that I am not going to succeed, seen from a glass-half-empty point of view; it is a proclamation that I am going to fail! Change should be introduced slowly as new habits take time to form. I find it far more rewarding and I am more likely to be successful if I go slow and not beat myself up for slipping up now and then, instead of failing on my resolution in the first few weeks (or day).
3 - Suddenly embracing a new life-style at the same time as everyone else puts a huge strain on the system! This is me being selfish, but I hate yoga in January ... because suddenly everyone else is there. Or how about trying to get food at the grocery store, suddenly all the good stuff is gone because everyone has resolved to "eat-better this year". I find starting a new habit is easier at other times of the year. In the gym, the place is empty in the spring so I can slowly get comfortable, and set-up my routine. Or I can be healthy with my shopping habits starting in the summer, where there are so many options and making use of local food is easy.
4 - New years resolutions suggest that life isn't great the way it is. Sure, we all could look in the mirror and identify things in our lives that could be improved and we can all kick ourselves for not doing something about it sooner. But most people are doing an OK job of living life and loving themselves, and most people hate winter. Why kick yourself when you are down? Why, ten short days after the shortest day of the year, do people become all introspective and start to battle with winter and themselves?
I resolve instead to love winter (and myself) and take opportunities to reflection when they come. If you do read this blog on a regular basis, you are probably thinking that my new years resolution should be to bring a little more sunshine to this posts! Well, you are in luck - I promise (barring any nightmares) that the next post will be all passion and optimism ... until then; good luck with your resolutions, but don't come crying to me when in February you realise you have broken every one of them and feel miserable for it!
PS: Passion and optimism; no brownie points for guessing what the next post will be on!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Ba-humbug (my Scrooge moment) - I am going to start this by making it clear I hate Christmas! I hate cheesy Christmas carols that blare from speaker systems everywhere you go, the over emphasis on buying stuff because you need to give gifts, the crowded malls, the forced "vacation" and expectation that this time must be spent with family, the over-eating, the canned merriment, the uncomfortable work parties and other people's children. See - I am a real Scrooge.
But there are things about the season I do love - I love giving gifts for the sake of giving gifts. I often have my Christmas shopping done months in advance because I see something that makes me think of someone and I get it. I love sitting by the fire and watching it snow with my stereo playing Canadian independent music. I love the meals my mother cooks and her cookies. I love everything that society has stolen from Christmas when Hallmark took over the holiday.
Christmas is a stressful time of year. There are expectations on how it is supposed to be, where you are supposed to be and how you are supposed to feel. And generally at this time of year I need to break out of the box more than usual, rebel against how commercial the season has become and I find it hard to embrace the spirit. I really hate Christmas.
... and then there was Tuesday night ...
Tuesday the weather was perfect; snowing all day and not too cold and I got back on my board and rode for the first time this year. I pushed it and had some fantastic runs, breaking out of my usual routine, I did it for me and for the thrill, I did it to get out of my head - to break from the box. The snow was falling, I got home late; tired and sweaty with my snowboard gear strewn across my dinning room. There were carols on the radio - but not the overdone ones that sound tiny and hollow - real carols, old fashioned carols, sung without accouterments. And instead of going straight to bed, I sat for a while with a tea, listened to the carols and watched the snow fall. It was a magical moment and really what I think the season should be about. I had a Scrooge moment.
Instead of running around and trying to create the perfect Christmas. Instead of getting hung up on the food, and the gifts, I am going to sit and be. Listen to music, watch the snow fall, take my time and spend it focusing on the magic of the moment. Time that I am not going to impose expectations on, time to just let life happen.
But there are things about the season I do love - I love giving gifts for the sake of giving gifts. I often have my Christmas shopping done months in advance because I see something that makes me think of someone and I get it. I love sitting by the fire and watching it snow with my stereo playing Canadian independent music. I love the meals my mother cooks and her cookies. I love everything that society has stolen from Christmas when Hallmark took over the holiday.
Christmas is a stressful time of year. There are expectations on how it is supposed to be, where you are supposed to be and how you are supposed to feel. And generally at this time of year I need to break out of the box more than usual, rebel against how commercial the season has become and I find it hard to embrace the spirit. I really hate Christmas.
... and then there was Tuesday night ...
Tuesday the weather was perfect; snowing all day and not too cold and I got back on my board and rode for the first time this year. I pushed it and had some fantastic runs, breaking out of my usual routine, I did it for me and for the thrill, I did it to get out of my head - to break from the box. The snow was falling, I got home late; tired and sweaty with my snowboard gear strewn across my dinning room. There were carols on the radio - but not the overdone ones that sound tiny and hollow - real carols, old fashioned carols, sung without accouterments. And instead of going straight to bed, I sat for a while with a tea, listened to the carols and watched the snow fall. It was a magical moment and really what I think the season should be about. I had a Scrooge moment.
Instead of running around and trying to create the perfect Christmas. Instead of getting hung up on the food, and the gifts, I am going to sit and be. Listen to music, watch the snow fall, take my time and spend it focusing on the magic of the moment. Time that I am not going to impose expectations on, time to just let life happen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)