Friday, August 31, 2007

The Weekend to End Breast Cancer

This is my final week before I start a whole new journey. Next weekend I am walking 60 kilometers (36 miles) to raise money for Breast Cancer. The reason I chose to do this is because I believe that I owe it to my sisters out there that are dying everyday from this disease. We never know when our number will be called, and it is nice to know that people are out there trying to make a difference.

Two weekends ago I was doing a tag day. A tag day is when you sell Breast Cancer items to raise the mandatory $2000.00 you need to do this walk. A woman came up to me and she had a scarf covering her head where her hair used to be, and said "thank you for walking for me, I have Breast Cancer, and am currently undergoing radiation." I started to cry on the spot. It made it so worthwhile to be doing this.

This is my first year attempting the walk, and I am getting rather excited for it. SO many people have told me it is a life changing event. On one part of the walk, we stop at The Princess Margaret Hospital (the Cancer Treatment Hospital ) here in Toronto. I can not even begin to imagine how inspired and motivated I will be when I see the patients lined up on the street cheering us on. They are the real heroes!

I will update you all on how this walk affects me personally. Please send me well wishes and cheer me on, if in thought only as I walk the most important walk of my life.

If you would like to Donate to help me reach my $ 2000.00 goal the following link will take you right to my page.
http://www.endcancer.ca/site/TR/Events/Toronto2007?px=1973880&pg=personal&fr_id=1202

Peace

Joanne

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

It's a great day!

Woke this morning to a note in my email box that everyone is safe in Belize. Thank goodness for that. I am in Florida now, and the weather is hot and wonderful. We arrived last night and I am up early using the Internet in the hotel lobby while the family is still sleeping in the room.

Today I am taking my kids to Universal Studios and I think that I am more excited then they are! I love to see them laughing and smiling. I have one of my best friends Bettina with me, and am meeting another wonderful woman from work, Allyson and her children early this morning.

I just went outside and the weather is hot. Better bring lots of water! Will update next chance I get.

Peace
Joanne

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Hurricane Dean

One of my best friends, Laurie, aka http://www.tacogirlblog.blogspot.com/ and her partner Paul live on the the island of San Pedro, Belize. I am a little worried as I read the blog and can hear them through their blog entries preparing for the Hurricane that is heading directly toward the island. I know she is prepared, have enough food and water . They have a good safety plan in place, yet I am still a little concerned. I believe that they will be okay and really make the term "weathering the storm" literal for me. If you would like to send positive energy, well wishes and prayers, you can click on her link above. You will also hear the most up to date news of what is happening from someone that is on the island. Laurie and Paul, sending you lots of love and be safe, and know we are all thinking about you.
Love
Joanne

Thursday, August 16, 2007

It's a busy life

I realize that I have not been blogging nearly as much as I should, but it's a busy life. This month has been one of the fastest months of my life. In 3 short weeks I am about to walk the WEEKEND TO END BREAST CANCER. I made this my personal goal for a number of reasons. The first reason of course being that I want to help women, and help them to detect breast cancer early. In a way though, this is a personal thing for me. I have been a smoker off and on for about 24 year. I thought walking with all those heroes, all those survivors will motivate me to be the best I can. I am looking so forward to this walk. It is 60 Kilometers (36 miles) and takes 2 days to complete. In addition we each have to raise 2000.00, so I have been busy at local grocery stores and liquor stores asking for donations. I am walking this walk alone this year. This is my first time. I want to really be able to focus on the reason I am there, and meditate along the way. Everyone tells me what a life changing experience it is, and I bet it is!

Another wonderful thing happened this week. In the mail I received a few courses that will finish my final year at university!!!! Finally! I am hitting the books again and cracking down. I have come to realize that a degree can be quite important towards my goals of travelling abroad, and will open many more doors for me. In the past I have been someone that started things and then quit right before the success came. I vow not to do that anymore.

Alas! Another blessing came this week! My second speaking engagement was confirmed for October 3, 2007. I started to gather all the supplies I will need to present my DREAM REBUILDING WORKSHOP. I am very motivated to help people change their lives and I think I have come up with a good beginning tool.

I am also getting ready for my family vacation next week. Next week at this time I will be riding some Rollercoaster in Universal Studios with my kids. My kids will be so excited that they can't sleep. See how life changes? It was just about 8 years ago when my ex used to constantly say " Disney" is just a pipe dream. Well this year it is Universal because last year it was Disney!

I will close with my favourite poems. I hope you get as much enjoyment as I do.

THE OPTIMIST CREED By Christian D. Larsen
Be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
Talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
Make all your friends feel there is something in them.
Look at the sunny side of everything.
Be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
Give everyone a smile.
Spend so much time improving yourself that you have no time left to criticize others.
Be too big for worry and too noble for anger


SUCCESS by Ralph Waldo Emerson
To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty,
To find the best in others,
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Friends

Last night before I went to bed I spent some time listening to someone whine and complain. I said please don't let me be like that. Thank goodness I remembered when I woke up this morning.

I thought about my roommate Bettina, whom I often complain about. Then I thought how grateful I am for her. How good she is to the kids, how helpful she is when we are sick or need something. I decided to call her and let her know how happy I am that she was my friend.

I started thinking to myself, have I shown enough appreciation for my friends? When I arrived at work, I thought about the awesome boss I have. How I get to laugh all day and enjoy myself, and how blessed I truly am to be paid to have the opportunity to work with a man like him. So I thought how can I show my appreciation to him. I decided would be a good idea to go and buy him lunch, since he had no time for a break.

On my way home from work, I thought I would drop in and say hi to another friend, Shawn, who has become increasingly important, and somewhat of a mentor to me in this changing time of my journey and growth. When I got there she had an invitation to her wedding! What a great day! She gave me some great advise on my public speaking engagements, and I am very excited to find out how we fit into each others lives down the road.

Then I came home and spent some time with my eldest daughter. She has turned out to be a wonderful girl. I am very proud of her accomplishments. She is getting excited for our trip to Florida in ten days. I can't wait to ride the rollercoasters with her. I will have to make a mental note to make sure that the cam is working. I am often forgetful about the camera issue.

After that I decided to go to the Y and get some exercise. My friend Laura of 31 years, met me there. She is trying to help me to achieve my fitness goals. While I was there I bumped into another friend, Judy, who is also very inspiring. She is a woman that has many illnesses including, MS, and needs the aid of a walker, and still manages to TEACH yoga. How wonderful is that?

My youngest daughter joined Tae Kwon Do today, and she got her little uniform. I can't remember what they are called, Gees, or something. She looked so cute doing her newly learned moves and stances.

When I got home I had another 2 calls from old friends, and a secret admirer message on my phone, " I know you want to leave me, but I refuse to let you go," were the lyrics that played on the answering machine.

I am very lucky. Sometimes people feel bad that all my family members are deceased. I am not unhappy about that. Sure I miss my mom and dad, but they left me in good hands. I am forever grateful for the wonderful people I am surrounded by.

Sunday, August 5, 2007

The Peaceful Warrior

Tonight with a few hours on my hands, I went to the local video store and watched a movie I have been meaning to see for months. The Peaceful Warrior, based on the book by Dan Millman is definitely an add on to my favourite films.

I have read all of Dan Millman's books in the past, but needed a refresher course in how to be a warrior. Some of the messages that resonated with me during the film were so powerful that I just had to get out my pen and paper and start jotting down and thought I would share them with you.

Knowledge is knowing something, wisdom is doing it.
You need to take out the trash ( trash is the stuff we store in our minds)
Trash is the only thing keeping you from what matters
Sometimes you have to lose your mind before you can find it
Give up addictions
the first step in being a warrior is knowing that you will not know all things
Everything has a purpose ~~~ even hardships~~~ and it is up to you to find it
There are No Ordinary Moments
Service to others is KEY
A warrior does not give up what he loves
There is no stopping or starting there is just NOW
The journey is what brings the happiness, not the destination.

That last statement is hard to really comprehend fully. I mean, I get it, BUT DO I GET IT?
I will have to work on that concept more. TO remind myself to be happy in the moment, to do what counts in the moment, and not worry so much about the long term, the final goal.

It is a hard hurdle to get over. I seem to always be thinking that when I get something accomplished, when something happens that I will be happy. Rather than being happy right now. Enjoying the film in the moment. Enjoying the warm weather in the moment.

Tomorrow I will see if I can remind myself throughout the day to enjoy the moment. When I laugh to enjoy it. I think that this will take some serious training, but it seems so worth it. Because NOW is all we really have isn't it?

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Healthy Living

This healthy living things really is hard work. I have to be mindful of everything I put in my mouth, make time to take care of my body, and squeeze time in for rest so that I have energy. It is a bit of a struggle for me right now. I have far to go, but try to measure the milestones daily. Rather than look at the big picture, this is the one thing I have to just look at small measurable amounts for success.

I noticed today in the class I was attending at the local YMCA, how obese I am right around the middle. It took being mindful, to remind myself, that this is a great body, that it is reliable and gets me where I have to go. I also noticed reminding myself that this body is working for me right now. It was a good experience able to separate the moment of thinking how far I have to go, and focusing on what I have already done. It is nice that my long time friend of 30 years has joined the gym with me. It makes me feel accountable and more motivated to go. I also enjoy spending time with my friends, and this is agood way to get that accomplished.

A silent reminder that things take time, and a little motivational inner dialogue of " you can do it, just keep going!" is helpful as well. Two months ago I had 100 pounds to lose to be a healthy weight. Not be superstar model weight, but something that is strong and solid. I should really commend myself that I am now closer to having only 80 to lose. This is my challenge I work on daily. Send positive thoughts my way as I strive to be a healthy individual living a healthy life.
Peace
Joanne