Thoughts to Live By...

A friend of mine recently wrote this, and it had such an impact on me that I wanted to share it:


I am abound with inner strength



I believe in myself


I am a kind and caring person


I am working every day at improving myself


I am hopeful about my future


I am in control of the present


I am at peace with that I cannot control


I am at peace with the past


I am proud of my actions


I am not afraid of my thoughts


I am not afraid of my actions


I am not afraid of speaking my thoughts


I am not afraid of acting


I speak the truth


I speak openly when needed


I listen when needed


I listen because what is said to me is important


I listen because I enjoy what you say to me


I listen because I wish to learn


I will have a full and happy life


I have grace


I have strength of character


I smile with my eyes


I have self worth


I believe in myself


I have endurance


I have persistence


I have a purpose


I have strength


I have determination


I have courage


I have clarity

These words speak for themselves.  They resonated with me, and I hope to live my life from a perspective like this.

Pistols and Parachutes - When I Fall

Our talented son and nephew! :-)

Believing in Impossible Things...

" 'There is no use trying', said Alice; 'one can't believe impossible things'.

 'I dare say you haven't had much practice', said the Queen. 'When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.' "


Lewis Carroll in Alice in Wonderland

Jim Cuddy - Pull Me Through

We've always been big Blue Rodeo fans, so when Jim Cuddy did a solo album this became a favorite. This song is one that I could listen to over and over and over....

An oldie but a goodie :-)

In going through some old files and books in my office, I came across this little nugget of wisdom.  I remember first reading this when a prof handed it out to one of our social work classes in the late eighties.  It was originally written by Virginia Satir in 1970.  Anyone who has training in social work/counselling has probably heard of Virginia Satir, as she was very well known as a pioneer, especially in her work with children.  If I am remembering correctly, this "Declaration of Self Esteem" was originally meant for kids but I think it is filled with thought-provoking wisdom for all of us.  I know as I re-read it now, twenty-some years after I first read it, it had an impact on me once again.

My Declaration of Self-Esteem



I am me.


In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me. There are persons who have some parts like me, but no one adds up exactly like me. Therefore, everything that comes out of me is authentically mine because I alone chose it.


I own everything about me – my body, including everything it does; my mind, including all its thoughts and ideas; my eyes, including the images of all they behold; my feelings, whatever they may be – anger, joy, frustration, love, disappointment, excitement; my mouth, and all the words that come out of it, polite, sweet, or rough, correct or incorrect; my voice, loud or soft; and all my actions, whether they be to others or to myself.


I own all my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears.


I own all my triumphs and successes, all my failures and mistakes.


Because I own all of me, I can become intimately acquainted with me. By so doing I can love me and be friendly with me in all my parts. I can then make it possible for all of me to work in my best interests.


I know there aspects about myself that puzzle me, and other aspects that I do not know. But as long as I am friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously and hopefully look for the solutions to the puzzles and for ways to find out more about me.


However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time is me. This is authentic and represents where I am at that moment in time.


When I review later how I looked and sounded, what I said and did, and how I thought and felt, some parts may turn out to be unfitting. I can discard that which is unfitting, and keep that which proved fitting, and invent something new for that which I discarded.


I can see, hear, feel, think, say and do. I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive, and to make sense and order out of the world of people and things outside of me.


I own me, and therefore I can engineer me.


I am me and I am okay.


Virginia Satir. December 1970.

What we fear most...

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Marianne Williamson

Christmas Traditions

We finally got our tree decorated!  Woohoo!  We wanted to wait until Carlin was home to do it.  It has always been a tradition for our family to decorate the tree all together.  Since this is the first year we have launched one of the kids out of "the nest", we didn't want to lose that tradition yet.  It was so nice to have Carlin home for a few days this week while he was studying for finals.  We put the Christmas music on and did it together, just like we have always done since they were little.

I was asking the kids about what they remember about our Christmas traditions.  They remember that when they were little, after we would decorate the tree, we would shut off all the lights and watch the patterns the flickering lights on the tree made on the ceiling.  They also remember late night services at Sacred Heart and lighting the advent wreath.  We also have made a habit of watching "It's a Wonderful Life" on Christmas Eve.  When the kids were little, Darrin used to say, "What's George Bailey gonna do, kids?"  So now they tease him with that before he can get it out.  But, what surprised me is that the most consistent memory they have is how every Christmas morning Dad makes them wait as long as possible to open presents by sleeping in.  They know he is teasing them, and that he is getting great enjoyment in pretending to be sooooo tired for as looooooong as possible, but they always get right into the spirit of nagging and bugging him until he finally gets up.  Then, he has to have his cup of coffee, take his time, etc.   It's in the Parkin blood to love to tease you know, and what better time than Christmas morning?

Those are the little things that bind a family together and are so precious that they are easy to take for granted.  This Christmas, it is my commitment to myself to not take one small, precious moment for granted.... but to savour each and every one.....