Tag Archives: belief systems

Christmas 2019 – Memories of Christmas Past

“My life isn’t a book, it’s a collection of short stories” – Terry Wiens Christmas, a day of family, friends and memories. It is a day that can be loud, boisterous and full of activity. It can also be a day of quietude, reflective and personal relaxation. I have experienced both and find myself, maybe […]
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Perception and Trust

“There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception” – Aldous Huxley As I have said many times I love Calgary. Every time a life event has taken me out of the city I eventually find my way back here, this is my City. At least it […]
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Political Promises, Vote Baits

“Those who don’t value their words, will never value your wishes.” ― Amit Kalantri I have put off writing for a week while my brain adjusted to the realities of the latest provincial election. In between writing this and the outcome of a very disruptive election period in Alberta was Easter. I am not a “religious” person […]
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It’s the Not the Attention We Receive That Counts, it’s the Attention We Pay

“When you pay attention to boredom it gets unbelievably interesting” – Jon Kabat-Zinn I became a fan and follower of Jon Kabat-Zinn early in my career as a mental health therapist.  His teachings not only contributed to my job performance but blended well into my every day life.  Living with a disability while maximizing ones […]
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The Aging Challenge

“Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength” – Betty Friedan Having spent all of my life with a disability I have learnt never to take anything for granted.  If I accepted every “assumption” that had been thrown in my direction I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.  With […]
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Is Home Where You Live…

“Perhaps home is not a place but simply an irrevocable condition” – James Baldwin Have you ever had one of those mornings where you wake up and the first thought out of your head is “damn it”.  And you start to question why you had to wake up?  Well that was how my day began and […]
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With Fear as the Warden!

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear” – Mark Twain Another foggy day out there and no wind to help dissipate it.  From my window I can see the huge Canadian flag as still and innocuous as a snail trying to avoid the escargot plate.  I know Mount Benson is […]
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Are We Talking..

I’m in that hurry up and wait stage of dealing with a government bureaucracy.  The sun is trying to shine and it has certainly warmed up.  Has been raining buckets (as I write that two of the local high school kids on their way home in shorts…how wimpy am I) but not to bad today. […]
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Unto Thyself Be True

“Truth is nothing but a formulated perception of experienced reality” – L. J. Vanier Something every advocate/activist has to be very aware of is perception.  When it comes to disabilities perception is very much attached to the impairment.  Access to someone with a visual impairment would be very different to a person in a wheelchair. […]
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The White Noise of Activism

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” – Martin Luther King Jr That quote has been a mantra of mine for over forty years.  It was eight years after his death before I discovered it.  The essence of that sentence became a way of life for me much to […]
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