Friends on the Move

There are some moments in our lives, that when they appear, they come with no pomp, no circumstance, and no bolt of lightening.  When they happen we may never realize how the impact of that exact moment, location and decision has changed the course of our future.  But each choice, each smile, and each time our hearts open, we change the very fabric of our future.  I am referring to the first time you meet someone that you now consider a friend.  That moment they wove their thread into your loom and life, they changed it.  A real friend adds colours and patterns, brings light where there may have been dark.  They add challenges, accomplishments, and celebrations!

I was inspired to write this post for two reasons.  The first being I have been blessed with an abundance of friends in my life - which I am eternally grateful for.  Secondly, some good friends are moving very far away, and I will miss them terribly.  We will miss their daughter immensely who is very much like family to all of us.  While I am happy for them and their new adventure, I feel a sense of loss with them leaving.  They are beautiful people, so kind and generous, and so thoughtful in everything they do!  But, I worry about them, as they head off to this new adventure.  They are Korean, and struggle with their English, but my husband and I have been there to help them when they needed an English voice behind them.  From the blind perspective of someone native to Canada and English speaking, I just assume (wrongly) that everyone is nice and patient with language barriers.  I can share, from my experience of speaking on their behalf, that this is not the case.  From their landlords, to the bank, even to the government - they were not treated as well as I would expect to be treated.  That was until I would get involved and speak for them, at their request, to help them understand.  Then suddenly the person at the bank became so friendly and willing to help, the landlord recognized it was their job to fix things that weren't working in the house, the government admitting to other options that were not shared directly with them.  So I worry, when they are so far away, that there will be no one there to step up and help them. 

They are fabulous people, and I pray that their decision to smile at a stranger and open their hearts - will result in the receiving person doing the same to them, so they can be blessed with the same friendship that I hold dear.  You never know when friendship will strike.  But always be prepared with a ready smile - just in case!  Ours started at a school playground, while waiting for our daughters to come out at the end of school - and luckily the connection sparked and bloomed into a warm, happy friendship.

I can't believe it but...it is so easy to make friends - and so hard to make enemies - why can't we cherish all of those around us as friends?

Happy friend-finding,

Kathy Pettit :)

Mission (Im)Possible?

Every now and then I have check the map and make sure we are headed in the right direction.  (Now, I am "mapically" challenged, but you'll get where I'm headed.)  I feel a little bit like we have veered off the intended path and are headed in the wrong direction.

The "slinging sisters" (and by slinging I mean fists and insults) and the "handy" man (and by handy I mean a little too hands on!) are starting to let their emotions get the better of them.  I'm not paid to referee, nor do I find the job very appealing!  So - Hubby and I have come up with Pledge or Mission Statement for our family.

Families are like a small business.  Money is exchanged, goods and services are changed hands, people get tired of their job....and when they get tired they stop caring.  Like all good businesses, having a mission statement, or a plan is vital to its success.  We felt it was time to come up with a Family Mission Statement to strengthen our resolve to be better parents and raise kind, generous individuals who will be engaging contributors to the future.  So, unbeknownst to them, our next family meeting will introduce this concept to them.  We will hang it on every floor in our house.  When we feel the referee whistle come out, we will guide all parties involved over to the poster and get them to read it out loud.  We are hoping that the messages hit home, and they can see beyond their minute grievances and stop the anger.  We will encourage them to use it to redirect Hubby and I, if they feel we are not living up the set out expectations.  (That should be interesting!) 

So Pickle, Peach and Coconut better be prepared for the mission ahead of them.  However, encouraging them to commit everything they do with kindness in mind - cannot be bad.  Wish us luck in this venture - and think about committing to paper your own family mission statement.

I can't believe it but...I am hoping those words make us better, kinder individuals!

Happy Mission Planning,

Kathy Pettit

Let's Eradicate Tender Tushies

Ouch!

Once and for all!  I would like to propose demand that our plea be acknowledged and acted upon with great enthusiasm and sympathy.  That we join our voices in unison for this worthy cause and injustice.  That people everywhere make these same demands to generate a change in the status quo.

I'm talking about toilet paper, people!  You all have to know which one I am referring to....the vehicle-sized wheel of scratchiness that is mounted on almost every stall in our great country!  Where the paper is so thin that is virtually impossible to actually pull down the size you need without every single square breaking off along the way.

Why, people?  Why must our tushies suffer the injustice?  If you are a business owner and citing "saving money" or "cutting costs" as your excuse for rasping our gentle derrieres - you are sadly mistaken!  Rather than force us users to eek out square by square in excessive amounts of toilet paper - offer 2 ply!  I can guarantee we use WAY more than we need in order to reduce the risk of "poke through!"  We avoid the dreaded "poke through" by using a scientific method in which we wad up 3 times as much toilet paper as we need to prevent any such unsavoury accident from occurring.  Therefore, dearest business owner, you aren't really saving a penny. 

Going forward, please consider supporting this worthy cause of protecting our fanny's from unnecessary rawness.

I can't believe it but...I may have started a revolution!  Long live 2 ply!

Happy Wiping,

Kathy Pettit

The Future - My Version

A gum commercial that advertises what a "taste experience in the future" will look like, got me thinking.  You know that creepy one where they're in a grey room and some weird black shapes appear in the sky?!   (And before you ask - that's my fireplace smoking - not my brain...seriously you guys are harsh!!)

Why do authors, film makers, and the general public visualize the future as bleak, stark and grey?  There seems to be excessive amounts of metal and concrete associated with our future, along with big random numbers painted on the walls.  The "futuristic" people are typically decked out in dismal colours, all looking alike - and no one appears "happy" in these circumstances.  Why?  Think back to the movies and commercials that reflect the future.  Is there one that I am missing that spins the future in a bright and sunny manner?  Are we so certain we are on the path of destruction and tree killing that we portray the future in that clinical way?  At that point have we used every can of yellow, pink, blue, and green paint that all any store has left is fifty shades of grey (totally included that randomly and then re-read it proud of my literal reference to literature - if you consider that literature...jury's out!)?

On all accounts companies, people and organizations are starting to take a more environmentally-friendly approach to life.  Which is great!  But should these changes not start to have a positive effect on our prediction of the future?  Can we actually attempt to paint a wall yellow in the next futuristic movie?  I would like us not to have to be living in a spaceship and eating some chemical concoction of a sea slug genetically altered with corn!

Here's my challenge to you:  Jot down what your future would look like.  Look around your home and imagine what will change, and what will stay the same.  Picture yourself there - with a smile.  I imagine in 1950 they predicted 2012 to be pretty dim and depressing.  Yet here we are.  And now we drive orange cars, have energy efficient lighting, plug our cars in to charge, recycle our paper and waste products, and the majority is not choosing grey as the sole colour to decorate their home!  (Although - on a side note - grey is hot right now.  Not for me though...if I'm going to be stuck with that in my future I'll surround myself in some colour!)

My future is bright and sunny!   Reducing the chemicals we use in our gardens and farms.  Eating more natural, whole foods and avoiding over processing anything into unrecognizable bundles of garbage.  Having neighbours of different cultures, beliefs and backgrounds all respecting each other and supporting each other.  A world where the populace recognizes that stealing, violence and hatred fuel a negative and unsustainable model of survival.  A community where we share the plenty with those that need it so they don't have to resort to the negative measures to meet their basic needs.  I may just write a book about it.  My Little Utopia.  Impossible...nah!  Nothing is impossible.  Difficult, yes...impossible, no! 

I can't believe it but...I referred to 50 shades of grey (paint) and the future in one posting!

Happy jotting,

Kathy Pettit