FAB Day in Every Way

Girls are FAB - that was the message today .... Pretty Sister was my date today to the charity event that my other two close amigos are involved in ... FAB Foundation. FAB - Fit, Active, Beautiful - has a mission to boost the self esteem and confidence of girls aged 11-13 years; they have started with a running program that encourages team building and goal setting/achieving.

The afternoon was billed as a ladies only luncheon and silent auction.  Known for my brawny athleticism (NOT) and love of food (YES), throw in a cause - and it was a no brainer!We arrived to a room abuzz with the chatter and laughter of women - a diverse, eclectic group of ladies - some groovin to the live Beatles Tribute band, some greeting one another with open arms, hugs and kisses and others just enjoying the electric vibe (akin to a big pajama party - without Twister).

Women like to help other girls and women. We get it - we've been there. We're daughters and many of us have daughters. We know the struggles with "self"  and  we also know that confidence and sound self esteem is paramount to being a happy, healthy girl ... and woman.

OK - there were a few men there -- some firefighters (fully clothed) posing for pictures with the ladies (in the name of charity), signing their calendars. Personally I found this to be out of place for the nature of the foundation,  but we had to laugh at how the dynamic of the room changes when men are present -- how women act. The ladies clearly enjoyed the presence of the firefighters and from what I could see, it was successful in raising money. I thought it would be more powerful to have the often overlooked female fighterfighters there representing "possibilities".

But who am I to find fault? The foundation has a noble mission and the founder is  clearly passionate about making the lives of these impressionable young girls better, and helping prepare them for the future. Bravo ladies! You warmed my heart and made me proud that I am your friend. You really are FAB.  Me? Fit, active, beautiful ... one out of three ain't bad!   *grin*

Global Family

Yesterday when I got home from work I had not one - but two wonderful surprises waiting for me. I finally got word that I have been matched with a sister in the Women for Women sponsorship program. I applied over a month ago and have been anxiously waiting to get started. My application coincided with an appearance of the founder on Oprah - which translated into a huge interest in the program. I still haven't received the particulars but I feel good knowing that things are progressing.

 

The icing on the cake was the letter I received from the family of my new sponsored child, Genesis,  from Plan. The letter was written in Spanish and enclosed in an envelope they had crafted from a sheet of paper, bound with masking tape. Along with the rumpled photo of a cherub faced, dark eyed toddler, they enclosed a small white crocheted hat with Honduras etched in red pencil. They wrote that they hope I will think of them everytime I look at it. I knew instantly that it would have a place on my Christmas tree this year ... and I will think of them.

 

It is no coincidence that I received these two reminders on the same day ... they were gentle nudges from the universe reminding me that there is great need in the world and that it takes so little to share, to make a big impact. It's true what they say about giving ... you get back more than you give.

 

You may be interested in my previous posts:

• about my Plan sponsorship
• about my my Women for Women sponsorship

Gifts That Give Us All More

How did this happen? It’s November 20th already! I promised myself that all of my Christmas shopping would be done by the end of November so that I would be free and clear to really enjoy the festivities – famjams, visits, dinners – that I love so much.

As optimistic that I usually am, I’m not sure I’m gonna make it this year. I haven’t even started. I haven’t formulated my thoughts around what special gifts I want to make/buy/order for the special ones in my life. And it really has to start with the thought, otherwise you waste countless hours aimlessly wandering a mall, wide eyed and panic stricken or glazed over and zombie like. I’ve done both.

But not this year! Last year I decided to bring extra joy and meaning to my Christmas gift giving and vowed not to do anything without love in my heart – I imposed a "no complaining" sanction on myself. I focused on buying gifts that were either handcrafted, locally or Canadian made, fair trade, organic or made from recycled materials. I also gave gifts that keep on giving: Kiva microloan gift certificates, cows and goats from Heifer.org, water for African communities and education for Afghan girls. The GreaterGood.org website has a huge variety of ideas for Gifts that Give More and trust me when I tell you that when you hit that donate/buy key, you will feel a rush of satisfaction knowing that you just gave a second chance to someone who really needs it.

I didn’t buy any wrapping paper so I had a lot of fun trying to figure out how to disguise the gifts in creative ways (hello newspaper, coffee cans and tea towels!). I found joy in the journey and it was one of my most memorable holidays ever. I plan to do the same this year … Pity the one who gets pjs that smell like dark roast.

Actually – after writing all that out, I’m thinking that I may not have to leave the comfort of my couch! Just have to figure out where to keep that cow …

Do you have some sites or ideas for creative, thoughtful Christmas gifts? Do share!

Reconnect

I hadn't seen her in more than 10 years but tonight when I met my old dear friend Red (guess what colour her hair is) for dinner, time and space collapsed and it was as if we had never been apart. My friend S set it up. In another lifetime - two decades ago -- we all worked together. Now these two women are accomplished executives and I get to say that I knew them "before they were ..."

For three hours we swapped work philosophies, updated one  another on our parents, our husbands and our children.
It was a little odd to cover ten years in such a short time. Our lives look quite different when they are condensed, with time and space removed. As I was explaining the twists and turns that my own life had taken, I started laughing ... it all sounded so sorted ,,, but as I explained, it felt so normal to live it.

Today when I was telling my work colleague about my dinner to reconnect with my friend, she asked me why it had been so long since we'd been in touch. I didn't have an answer. Sometimes life just happens.

Funny enough, when we saw each other after the passing of so many years there was no awkwardness; no excuses; no guilt. Just big smiles and hugs and instant joy and happiness at seeing one another again. I have S to thank for this little reunion. As we bade our farewells, we promised not to let another decade pass before meeting again. But even if it does, there is comfort in knowing that there is a special relationship - a special someone who owns a piece of my past.

It occurs to me that I have a wonderful life ... and some pretty special people in it. And for that I am truly grateful.

Thanks S.

Passing on Through

Maybe it's recent birthdays of my two older daughters; maybe it was reading this quote from The Prophet that I posted on my other blog, Soul Snax. Whatever the reason, I've been reflecting on my daughters, how I raised them, the kind of parent I was... and what it meant to be a mother to them.

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters
of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may house their bodies but not their souls ...

From the first  moments I was pregnant I had the acute sense that the life growing inside me was "on loan" -- not mine to own. I cherished the months I had my unborn baby to myself, knowing that in due time that baby would be shared with all who loved her. My babies were born, each with their own unique personalities  and I was surprised by this. I had the notion that babies were born blank slates, and that we as parents would be the influence in shaping them. That was only partially true. In some ways I felt that my babies were born intact with special aspects of them already seeded. My role was to nurture that which had already been delivered, to allow and cultivate them to grow into themselves.

They come through you but not from you

This is especially poignant. It is a good reminder that we are not parents to impose our own will, personalities and opinions on our children, but to help them develop free thought, perspective, evaluation and problem solving skills. (Easier said than done, for certain.) It is our job to love them and teach them about love and kindess ... and how to survive and thrive.

It's true ... they are merely passing through us on their life's journey. Just stopping in long enough to nourish and equip themselves before embarking on their own adventure.

And if we have played our part well, and loved them with every part of our being, then maybe, just maybe they will make home a frequent stopover on their life's travels.

They come through us - and back to us. But first we have to let them go ...

Rooting for the Underdog

Isn't it true? We love to root for the underdog. There is something that is heartwarming, that moves us to see people who are managing with a liability, disability or are going it alone. We want to reach out and elevate them; help them reach new heights and realize their dreams. And even if we can't help them, we  applaude their unexpected achievements. We celebrate their hard fought successes.

I think "the underdog" reminds us of our own frailities and insecurities. When we witness obstacles being overcome, ceilings being smashed -- the possible made possible -- we are filled with hope. Our own sense of "anything is possible"  is validated.

So I guess you could say that when we are cheering on the underdog, we are cheering on a part of ourselves. Make sense?

PS -- Inspiration for the post -- I was just watching Dancing with the Stars ...

Heeding the Call

The Africa dream is coming closer to realization. The itinerary was emailed to me and I have to finalize tomorrow -- then it's no turning back. Kidlet and I had some time tonight to get it all out on the table and reaffirm our commitment to a trip of this magnitude - both financial and adventurewise. It is just too expensive of a trip to take feeling indifferent or mediocre about it. Her eyes sparkled as I reviewed the details of the trip with her.

She told me last week that she felt Africa calling. I feel it too -- but even more than Africa, I feel time calling. My daughter is on the cusp of adulthood, about to leave the family cocoon to pursue her own dreams, embark on her on life's journey. Time is at a premium and I can't think of when next we will have an opportunity to share a life altering experience. There will be no distractions; we will have only one another to turn to, to converse with (in transit anyway). I am looking as forward to the long hours we will spend on the plane as much as any other part. Kidlet is so busy that I rarely get those quiet times anymore,  just to chat. I miss her, and having two older girls who have already left home, I have a better appreciation of how precious and fleeting this remaining time together is ...

Planning is underway. Excitement is growing to overflowing and I can barely believe that this dream is about to be fulfilled. Kidlet and me. Africa. It's calling -- and we're going!