Cattitude and Gratitude

I'm tackling another topic off the The Thirty Things List. This one isn't that easy as I'm not that good at tooting my own horn but if I don't, who will?  Here goes: Compassion and empathy for others I like to think I have compassion and empathy for others and the struggles they go through. The wisdom of age and my own struggles have given me more insight into how others feel. After the death of our baby girl due to forceps injuries, I saw loss in such a different light and am more touched by others’ grief than before when I felt distanced from it. Now I know truly how they feel since I’ve been there and I try to take action and be supportive. Creative I think I am a very creative person and I came to the conclusion a while ago that this creativity is part of who I am and needs to be expressed or I feel like a drudge. I love all the arts and have been involved in writing, art, music and drama all through my life. I feel this connection to my soul and time st...

Whining, negative people who find fault with everything but never lift a finger to make the world better. Get off your butts and help change things if you don’t like it. Selfish people who talk, talk, talk about me, me, me and never listen to what anyone else has to say. Shut up already, let others talk and listen for change. It isn’t always all about you! Rude people who butt in line acting like you’re invisible or talk loudly on their cell phones again acting like you’re invisible. Fake people who only act nice when they want something from you. Otherwise they could care less about you. The workplace is bad for this with so much sucking up and pretense going on. Snotty people who like to act superior and full of self importance, acting condescending towards others. You’re no better than the rest of us. Hmm, can you tell I get annoyed about inconsiderate people? Okay, now for something completely different. Stray socks drive me crazy. I can’t stand trying to match up stray so...

I’ve loved music right from childhood and I sing in a choir, play flute accompaniment with the choir, and with a community band and with my harpist friend. I can’t imagine life without music. It fills me with such joy and passion like nothing else does. Music is such a personal thing. I’ve always been fascinated by how a piece of music can touch me so deeply while to another person, they are bored or turned off by it. It’s definitely something for scientists to ponder but I prefer to think of it as something magical and mysterious.   I've seen "Les Miserables" twice and would love to go for a third time. The music is so passionate and clever and I have so much admiration for the talented composers who created it. I loved the film's technique of having them sing right there in the scene instead of recording them in the studio and then having them lip synch later. It brought a gritty realism and emotion to the story that enhanced the film so much. I lo...

I decided to have some fun with the next topic on the 30 things list. http://cattitudeandgratitude.blogspot.ca/2013/01/the-30-things-list.html What is your dream job and why? I’ve never had a dream job so don’t know what they’re like. I’ve had lots of drudge jobs but I’m sure you don’t want to hear those Cinderella stories. I have a good imagination that works overtime, so I can imagine what a dream job might be like. The morning breaks to a lovely warm summer's day without any humidity. I have my hunky chauffeur Andre drive me to work. He’s such a great guy. Must give him a raise one of these days. And he’s a good driver, too. *wink* I stop at Starbucks to get a Grande Skinny vanilla Latte and then I take the elevator and arrive at my writing job in my elegantly decorated office with my name in gold letters on the door. My office is full of tropical plants and flowers,  decorated by the best designer in town, sparing no expense. And I love how my desk faces th...

1. List 20 random facts about yourself. 2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears. 3. Describe your relationship with your parents. 4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could. 5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now? 6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced? 7. What is your dream job, and why? 8. What are 5 passions you have? 9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how. 10. Describe your most embarrassing moment. 11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have. 12. Describe a typical day in your current life. 13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have. 14. Describe 5 strengths you have. 15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why? 16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments? 17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at? 18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive? 19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?...

Taking another prompt from the list, I decided to write about the hardest thing I've ever experienced. I would have to say the death of our six-day-old baby girl from forceps injuries causing a brain hemmorhage, was the hardest thing. It was twenty one years ago this February and I still think about it. Laura died mysteriously in her sleep one day after bringing her home. We never even knew anything was wrong with her which made it that much more shocking. Even now it's hard to understand why it happened. I've come to think of it like a car accident, unexpected and tragic. At one point, I was consumed with anger but I've had to let it go in order to go on. We have been fortunate to have two healthy boys since then, both good deliveries. I know other parents who have not been so fortunate. Over the years, I have written countless journal entries, articles and poetry expressing my grief and coming to terms with the loss. I have also befriended other bereaved parents...

I was a very shy and overly sensitive teen who would have benefited from this list. Often I held back from trying new things because I was afraid of failing or looking stupid. And when I did fail, I’d wallow in self pity for ages instead of getting on with it.  I still have a tendency to be this way but the wisdom of age has helped a lot and I’m willing to put myself out there more often. If I mess up, so what? It doesn’t mean the world has ended.  These days as I get older, I feel a sense of urgency to enjoy the moment more, worry less, laugh more and recapture that inner child where wonder and imagination live. Ten things you would tell your 16 year old self if you could. Be happy with who you are and don’t try to be like someone else or compare yourself to them. They have their burdens just like you and no one’s life is perfect. In hard times, remember that they will soon pass and keep faith that you will get through it. Ask for support if you need it. No...

I got this idea from the 30 Things List I saw on this woman's blog. Since I love prompts to get me writing, I thought I'd give it a go. http://cherishinghopesanddreams.blogspot.ca/2012/01/30-things.html I debated whether to post the first one as it does seem a bit narcissistic to write a list all about me, me, me. IT'S ALL ABOUT MEEEEEEEEEEEEE! *Head swells to the size of a football field. Snaps back to reality and am alone in my living room with only the cat for an audience* Uh, where was I? People have the choice if they want to read this or not so I thought I'd post it. At least these prompts get me writing again. I think I'll try number 2 next. I like having a topic to write about rather than looking at a blank screen waiting for divine inspiration. Prompts work well for me. How about you? 20 Random Things About Me 1. I am shy and introverted but am prone to embarrassing outbursts of extroversion on occasion. Just ask my teen sons who are embarrass...

Freewriting seems like a good place to start at the beginning of a new year and when you’re in a slump, doesn’t it? Time to put the fingers to the keys and let her rip. Also I deleted my old blogs, except for my Malamute, Loup's blog. He wouldn't like it if I deleted that even if his blogs are sporadic. Kind of like clearing out the clutter. I had mixed feelings as I did that. Relief mixed with a twinge of sadness. That old me is gone and now I’m someone else who is older, maybe a bit wiser (though I'm not so sure some days) and similar but not the same as yesterday, a constant work in progress. Something about this time of year puts me in a slump and I need to work hard to get out of it. Perhaps it’s the anticlimax of all the Christmas activity. Maybe it’s the lack of light in the Northern Hemisphere. Or it could be the lack of colour with the monochromatic bare trees and dirty snow that makes me want to forget all about writing and just eat chocolate, Facebook lurk,...