The Upside to the Down Side

There is a downside to technology. There are numerous items that are awesome but there are times where it can fail. I had one of those moments this afternoon but there was an upside to it.

Darn Tough Again

It has seemed like a bit of a stretch. For the past 15 or so months I’ve had a

The Last Time

Let’s hope that history doesn’t always repeat itself. The last time I had myself organized early I ended up losing my

Count Down Update

I’m not very into new apps and I dislike when I update my phone and it adds on some app I’m not likely to use.

BUT today I downloaded this free app so I could be on top of the time frame as everyone keeps asking me how much time left.

I have some old school items to take care of though as well. I’ve received my snail mail package of info that needs to be reviewed and submitted. It needs 3 months so that’s up next!

Still a little more home work as we should review health coverage options. Who knew retiring was so much work!😉

Bernie

Accountability

I have to call my own accountability into question. I just did a quick blog review and confirmed my suspicions. I have totally forgotten about the third quarter report card. If I was making excuses it would be that August and September were jam packed full to the brim.

I’m now well over a month late. It hardly seems worth while to do a full report when in 10 weeks it’s year end. What??? 10 weeks, only 9 before Christmas!!! Isn’t it crazy how quickly a year can go by?

So in a nutshell (which is a challenge for someone who likes words as much as I do) here is my self care report card number 3.

I am still bothered occasionally with insomnia; I’ve never figured out why but I am now taking a combo of natural stuff to try and get into a bed sleep habit.

I’ve gotten into better nutritional choices and have made a decent dent on some weight loss. Obviously I have more to lose but this feels so much better. I’m not going to lie; it’s not easy.

Most other items I’ve held my own on; dental hygiene, work life balance, hugging and rejuvenation items.

I’ve been sadly lacking in stretching and any fitness at all. The work injury turned into something bigger and then it went a little crazy for a while. I’ve been cleared to resume and am slowly working my way back into my regular routine. Very slowly, especially if Little A is walking with me!

Creative time hasn’t been a huge item but did manage a few wedding projects and some baby gifts. Absolutely love the time I carve out to spend in my attic. I did get creative with our outside planters so they have some colours and textures for the fall and winter.

I think, perhaps maybe, that I’m seeing the bigger picture. That might be my pre retirement brain talking but I’m trying not to stress the small stuff so much. Still working with the litmus paper of “will it matter next week or next year”.

Encore Careers

The countdown is getting serious and I have to keep my attention from wandering. I want to go out strong from my

This speaks volumes

I saw these words and they resonated in my heart. On many levels and for many reasons.

Food for thought because sometimes the way ahead seems hard: so cherish what is here now.

Bernie

Deep Roots

I spent the weekend surrounded by music; most of the hits from the 70’s and 80’s. Songs we could sing along to or that brought back crazy memories. I’ve never been a huge music person, perhaps because I am tone deaf. Don’t ask about my time playing a flute because it’s not a pretty picture. Don’t ask me what band plays what song as I fail that game quite spectacularly.

But every once in a while I connect deeply to a song. Which is guess is, for musicians, is what it’s all about. Just like writers want the words to resonate within the soul of the reader.

The lyrics of this song absolutely speak to my roots. The musical notes actually pull my feet to move and inspire me to sing, although that’s not a good thing.

Plaid dirt, white shirts, blue collar roots

Still runnin’ through my veins

I was born small town, deep roots

Mud on these boots

I wouldn’t change a thing

It’s how I was born and raised

(born and raised, born and raised, born and raised)

Born and raised

It’s how I was born and raised

The connection that I feel stems from the fact that this family group are farmers from southern Saskatchewan. A skip and two hops from where I grew up. The shared backgrounds, work ethics and love of county music means I feel a powerful connection to their work.

Born & Raised

Bernie

Ps. Pretty stoked we have tickets to see these young lads sing!!

Silver Lining Words

Perception is very important and how which word is applied is very important. Take bossy for example. It comes across as negative but if you use assertive it changes the perception. You can insert several different words into the same sentence and try it out to see the change that viewing it turned around imparts.

Darci Lang, author of Focus on the 90% had an excellent September blog post. Her site won’t let me link  but can be found here at http://www.darcilang.com/blog.  I am giving her  direct credit here so I am reposting her timely post.

It seems like almost everyone I have talked with this month is stressed. People are using words like “crazy, busy and insane”. What can we do to make September a happier month?
#1. Stop using words like crazy, busy and insane. Replace them with positive words. I know I am too damn happy but I say “blessed” a lot. When people say, “Oh you must be so busy!”, they are right, but my response is “I am and that is a blessing!” Feel grateful for the abundance of work and the luxury of going to school.
#2. Sleep and eat well. Every year, I enter September realizing the need for the basics to be done really well. You can’t possibly expect to have great outcomes at work, within our schools or in our homes if we don’t feel well. Look after your whole self.
#3. Make “today”, “this week” and “this month” lists. I still write everything down…old school. There is something euphoric about being able to cross things off. Just dig in and get it done!
#4. Avoid all toxic people. I know, easier said than done. Do all that you can do to protect yourself from anyone who has the power to rent space in your head. Negative people are in every workplace, classroom and community. They rarely change. Let’s get really good at making sure they don’t win and affect our performance.
#5. Look at what you are complaining about and ask yourself,” Is this something I knew would be a stressful part of my leadership role, job or schooling?” Chances are yes, you knew. Complaining is a habit, change the habit.
#6. Unsubscribe, direct deposit and don’t touch a piece of mail more than once. Look at every area of your life and ask, “Can I get rid of this?”
#7. Set serious personal boundaries. I could work 15 hours a day but I don’t. Set clear defined boundaries around when you are done work and when you take time to stop studying.
September in our office is flat out, back to work, speaking two or three times a week in different cities now until the end of year. Aren’t we blessed?
Happy September!
Darci

I recently had a gentle reminder that I need to find my 90% glasses at work. Maybe we all occasionally need a reminder that, despite the issues we might be facing, we are indeed blessed. Let’s face it that anyone reading this blog is literate and has access to a computer. That also implies that there is free access to read whatever sites you’d like to read and that the writer is not being censored.

I fully recognize that many people are dealing with difficult issues such as mental health struggles, death of loved ones or loss of health to name but a few. Which maybe means that we have to dig deeper to find the word that chances perception. Or as my mother said yesterday we should all try to be a little kinder to each other. My act of kindness today was birthday cake; turtle pecan cheesecake.

Bernie

Rolling Stone Supper Date

It’s amazing how doing something once makes it a tradition. Although this time internet research was done and yet we ended up back at the same place. Because you know, it’s tradition now. It’s one of those