Cattitude and Gratitude

I remember reading about the problem of homeless people and suggestions to give them knapsacks with food and warm clothing in them. Negative naysayers (they’re everywhere!) said that wouldn’t solve the problem and they would still be homeless. My thought was that even if doesn’t solve the bigger problem, at least it touches another human being and shows that someone cares. Isn’t that worth something? Being so fortunate to live in a peace-loving country like Canada, it’s hard for me to imagine what people in war zones go through. I can’t help thinking about recent victims of war such as the Syrian refugees, especially the orphaned children, so lost and alone. What can I do to help them in their plight? Like the homeless people, I can’t solve the huge problems that the refugees face, but surely I can show I care in some small way. I found it so uplifting to read about Letters of Love , an initiative started by 23 year old Pooja Pradeep, an engineering student in India. He...

Feeling stuck and at a loss I stare at the screen in dismay, Writer’s block makes me cross I can’t think of what to say, Does anyone notice if I write? Does anyone feel my despair? Does anyone understand my plight? Does anyone really care? My muse has left me in a lurch I’ve gotten right off track, Like a lone bird on a perch I wait for my muse to come back, My muse is goofing off again She likes to taunt and tease, Like a stopping starting rain Or a fleeting breeze, My muse was out dancing on the lawn Now she’s gone on a shopping spree, Muses can’t be counted on I have to count on me, Maybe I don’t need the muse I’ve found my writer’s voice, All I have to do is choose And be positive in my choice,   Tap, tap, tap, I start to write I let go of fear and guilt Little by little, my writing takes flight Gold nuggets emerge from the silt.

  I’ve always loved butterflies with their symbolism of freedom, hope and rebirth. They are such beautiful creatures who seem so fragile with their paper thin wings and delicate bodies. Butterflies are deceiving in their fragility as they are so tough, able to endure the elements and able to fly huge distances.  It amazes me that the fragile-looking monarchs fly all the way from Mexico to Canada each spring. I don’t see as many monarchs as I used to when I was a kid and that makes me sad. I did see one this summer on a bike ride around the farms where I live and I took lots of photos of it to commemorate the day.  I loved one photo so much I've been making cards of it and have it up on Zazzle as poster and a card. http://www.zazzle.com/monarch_butterfly_poster-228835928153598471 http://www.zazzle.com/monarch_butterfly_card-137302463310809577 It’s incredible to think of the transformation butterflies go through in their life stages from a pupae to a ...