Go to the Water

This little fact filled image was on Facebook. When I read it, I realized I never look at the overall effect of changing a habit and the results it will have in a year. I started to think about the habits that make a difference, not only over an entire year but in managing life. Most of my small habits are for my convenience and for a feeling of well-being.   How does a person consciously save $8/day. Giving up buying coffee has always been the front runner for saving money every day. Picking up a coffee on the way to work is a habit many people have, and I doubt they want to give up. I am not sure if this happens, but  I do wonder how many parents stop on the way home from school to get a treat for their kids. Switching that out for a homemade treat would certainly be a way of saving money every day.   I am not someone who reads a book very often. For some reason I have aspired to be a reader, but it just doesn't happen. It is hard for me to realize that by rea...

Neelin High School in Brandon was the scene of a hate crime. A 16-year-old attacked another 16-year-old student with a sword. The victim fought off the attacker and as a result nearly lost 7 fingers among other injuries. He is now at home recovering from his physical injuries.  The attacker will face charges of attempted murder, uttering threats, possession of a weapon and wearing a disguise.  Premier Kinew and Deputy Premier and Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara visited with the victim in his family home. Kinew gave the student, who is a Nigerian Canadian, the Premier's Challenge Coin. This coin is given to deserving individuals at the premier's discretion. Kinew also apologized on behalf of the Indigenous people for the attack. He told the family that he had to do that because he had to take responsibility.    Kinew's message was that this province is for everyone. No one should fear for their safety because of the color of their skin. No child should feel unsafe in a...

I recently attended a competition at my gym. By attending I mean I simply watched and volunteered. The CrossFit competition was called the "Grit Games" which explains how grueling it was. The competitors were in a zone and did their absolute best to finish what they had started. The competition was a timed event and as they neared the end of their time and the tank appeared to be empty, they just put their head down and did it. Not one single person quit, that was not an option.   Waves of Hope recently had a practice day which started in the morning. We got in the boat, and there were a few more waves than usual, so the decision was made to paddle to the other side of the lake, where it was calmer. It is moments like that where I am in absolute awe. The steersperson is in position at the back of the boat calling the shots. The coach has her voice turned up. The long-time paddlers are set and ready to go. I have to say one more time, I have the utmost respect for the long-tim...

I am not sure if everyone is like me, but Mondays are a big deal. It is the day I actually look at the calendar and think about what is ahead for me in the week. The majority of the times it is dismal, with only the usual written on it. You would think after some time of doing the same activities on the same day, I wouldn't have to write gym, Monday coffee, volunteer and paddle on the calendar, but I do. At the start of every month, I faithfully write my routine on the open little squares on the calendar.  Although I seem busy, there would be very little in the squares if I didn't write my routine.  Quite frankly my calendar is not only boring, but also very messy. If I have a booked appointment, I just squeeze it in somewhere on the little square. I should consider highlighting it because it can go unnoticed and has in the past.                                         ...

I grew up in a small-town community and I lived in that same community for many years as an adult. I just took it for granted that when there was an event, everyone was there and helped out in any way they could. There was huge excitement when it finally got cold enough for the natural ice to freeze, and the rink was ready to go for another season. The booth was always open. You could ask anyone in town to send a crock pot full of soup or a puffed wheat cake and it just arrived. There was no social media to make sure everyone knew what was going on, I guess word of mouth and a poster worked, because the rink was always full. It was the same when the ball diamonds were ready to roll in the spring. Teams were always supported by the community.  I have spoken before about how incredibly generous this community is. Raising a huge amount of money in an evening seems to be easy for them. The annual "Hoe Down" in the rink raises thousands for the community needs. Financially support...

On May 28th, Manitoba was declared in a state of emergency because of forest fires. A state of emergency is active for 30 days and can be continued. It ensures that provincial, federal and local resources are used in a coordinated way. Manitoba's premier Wab Kinew asked the Prime Minister, Mark Carney for military help to quickly move 17,000 people. It is being identified as one of the largest evacuation of people in Manitoba's history.  Twenty-seven communities are evacuated and 21,000 people are relocated.   To date, the fire report stated there has been 116 fires. Of those fires, 100 were human related, only 7 were a result of natural causes and the rest are being investigated. Currently, there are 29 active fires, 10 of which are out of control. One of those fires was described as seven times the size of Winnipeg.  The minister for EMO has asked people in Canada not to visit Manitoba. They want to keep the hotel rooms free for evacuees. Only essential travel is b...

I just heard a saying, "you have to believe it to achieve it". I probably have heard someone say that dozens of times but this time I paid attention to what the words meant to me.  Have you ever wondered why some people are so successful and others aren't? When I say successful, I not only mean in business but in life. Everything they do works out for them, they succeed. In all my wisdom I think it is because they just believe in themselves. They start out with the attitude they are going to do whatever it takes to be successful, and they go from there. They work hard and they never for a minute think it isn't going to happen. They expect issues to arise but are ready to deal with them. On the flip side, we all know people who think about doing something but by the time they decide to do it, they have developed a long list of things "that could happen" or "why they shouldn't do it". Some people feel they have the worst luck, which keeps them fr...

I love rhubarb anything, and right now it is abundant and delicious. Rhubarb has been around since the beginning of time; it appeared in North America in the late 1700s. It was imported from China as a medicinal plant. They felt it was good for whatever ailed you. Rhubarb is filled with vitamins and minerals. It is especially high in antioxidants, fiber, Vitamin A, B, and K. Here is my favorite fact, rhubarb is a vegetable. What better way to get your daily requirement of vegetables than to take on a rhubarb dessert. Rhubarb is so popular it even has its own day; January 23rd is National Rhubarb Pie Day.  Every homestead had a rhubarb patch. Even if the buildings are gone, and it is just a site, I bet if you searched you would find rhubarb. I can only imagine the delight for the pioneer women when the rhubarb was ready. They would make sure they kept their patch picked down making desserts and stewing rhubarb. Throwing it into a freezer for later was not an option for them. I don't...

Today is "Cancer Survivor Day" in Canada. If you are a cancer survivor, make sure you do something to celebrate "you" and "your survival".  When I started my career nearly 50 years ago, the cancer rate was 1 in 33 people. Today in Canada, approximately 2 in 5 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. About 1 in 4 will die from it. The number of new cancer cases and deaths continues to increase due to the aging and growing population.  There are signs of improvement in survival rates for many cancers especially blood cancers.  Some of the most common cancers are lung, breast, prostate and colorectal. Nova Scotia has a higher mortality rate for all types of cancer. Ontario has the highest number of new cancer cases. BC and Alberta have the lowest rates of cancer deaths.  When I joined the Waves of Hope Dragon Boat team I was introduced to not only a new activity, but dozens of breast cancer survivors. These women are so inspirational. I had ...