 A Winter Present
Everyone needs a good snow storm. There is something magical when the sky opens up and brings with it a fury that lasts for days. In our neck of the woods we had been enjoying a beautiful, no snow on the ground, dry road, above freezing kind of November and parts of December. Uncharacteristic for these parts... When you are known for your hardy nature just by geography, we were beginning to feel like winter frauds. We were becoming comfortable... Until last Tuesday. Winter storm warning. Blizzard forecast. No big deal. Our nature is to persevere and with that comes great compassion for our family, our neighbours and total strangers. For the most part, people are nicer, more helpful and more friendlier...and the weather gives them another conversation to have with total strangers. Drive times to work become badges of honour. Hours of shoveling are challenges to conquer. Grocery shopping becomes last ditch attempts to fend for our families. Random acts of kindness are rampant when Mother Nature turns on us. We dig out our neighbours, we drive kids to school. We push out busses and vehicles all in the name of showing we will not be beat. And that's when our BEing Present project becomes a lesson for everyone without them even knowing. So while in between curses thrown by some at the misfortune they have been dealt, others slow down and become grateful for the very small details in their lives. We pause to reflect how grateful we are for a house and the means to stay warm when so many in our city do not. We are grateful for the ability to get where we need to or just stay put because we want to. We put the comfort in comfort food. We embrace warm hugs. We wrap ourselves up with loved ones. We seek homemade peppermint hot chocolate, marshmallows are optional. We hear the loud crisp sounds of snow under foot and see the breath that freezes our words. We are ever so thankful for Command Start... Through it all, we reflect on the moments that make up our lives. Take the time to think about who you love, what you love, and what truly brings joy to you and your family. Appreciate the small stuff and you will see how amazing life really is. BE Present.
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 This time last year, I started a family project.
A project that had one thing in mind. To be present. A project that was about being greatful for everything we are in this world, not about what we have. Because even if we have 'nothing', we still are...thinking breathing, loving, giving... So the best gift is the realization of all of those glorious things. Does this sound like a gift you can give yourself? Your loved ones? Please join me over the month of December as we work on BEing Present. Thirty one days of documenting the moments that we view differently than we did before. An opportunity to bring joy back into the season with the awareness of our own 'presence' within ourselves. It can be a picture, a thought, a statement, a quote that represents the moment you were being "present". If you are a Facebook user, this is the perfect 'present' to share and tag a friend. Tell them you were thinking of them and invite them to Be Present. If you are an Instagram user, I invite you to follow me as my family 'presents' -@selfignition4u You can use #bepresentfordecember2016 to follow and post. Please feel free to join in! Have some fun, bring your family or just creep along on our latest adventure. See you soon! Want some insight into the project from last year? read on... Being Present 12/3/2015 Are you up for it? I recently read a comment that stated in any one given moment you cannot do two things at once. Before all the multi-taskers turn away, keep reading. You cannot sit and stand in the same moment. You cannot be sad and happy in the same moment. It's like looking through a video camera when your child scores a goal. You're there. You saw it. You recorded it and replayed it. But were you truly there in the moment to witness that one event with all your being? So here's a Christmas gift that has no cost, no shopping, no wrapping, no searching store to store, no borders, no currency exchange, no UPS delivery people. I invite you into our family for the month of December and all you have to do is BE PRESENT. Thirty one days of being present. Not doing. Just Being Present in the moment. A community of being present not giving presents. All you have to do is become mindful of the moments. Day to day moments take on wonderful meaning because of the way we now view them. Even the mundane can be glorious! A simple drive to the grocery store become an opportunity to enjoy the lights and sounds of your neighborhood. Turn off the music and enjoy the moment. An opportunity to just be. Washing dishes...a job I love to hate... My moment to enjoy hot water... My moment to be thankful that my family and I shared another meal together. A moment to converse with the person holding the dish towel... For some, putting devices and phones away will awaken them to a whole new world around them... Just BE PRESENT. |
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September 2020
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