Playing is what we should all do more often. It gives me great pleasure to see my daughter play scrabble with her grandmother who is medically fragile in so many ways. This is a precious time as one never knows what is around the corner.
For today, I get to enjoy seeing them interact in such a positive way creating memories that we can all look back on with much pleasure. She is extremely good with both her grandmothers. Showing love and patience and helping them out as much as possible. It gives me great hope for how she will be with me one day .
So play away , play with friends, family and those that may need it most. Just take time out to play in whatever way works for you.
I am so fortunate to be living near the water during this time. It almost feels like there is no Covid except for all the visitors we usually have and don’t this year. Water is healing. I have been swimming and spending a lot of time outdoors. All good for my well being. I feel blessed. Summertime and the living is easy for sure. After many years of rushing and doing, today I am just being.Well sort of , I painted a picnic table in between swims.
I so love spending time with my adult children. Every moment I am with them is precious to me. I’m also fortunate that our daughter has chosen a partner who is kind, compassionate and such a perfect fit for her.
The times we get to be together brings much joy and happiness to my life. Our children have created a ritual in which they cook for us on all birthdays , mother’s day and father’s day. We love this so much. They cook for us at other times as well. They drop in and decide they’d like to create a meal for us. How lucky are we? I treasure these moments.
This summer we are so fortunate to have our daughter around more than usual . Both our children have grown up to be amazing adults who are caring, loving, good human beings. What more could we ask for? Spending time with our adult children is just simply splendid.
Each day we have a new opportunity to look at our life from a new perspective. We are never sure what life will bring us as is evident from this pandemic and all that happens to people we love and know. No one gets through life without bumps along the way. No matter what challenges we may encounter , how we perceive them is up to us.
As I walk, I notice the world around me and have time to reflect on how I will deal with life. Today is my opportunity to devour all the goodness that life has to offer and so I will.
When I go on my walks I like to toon out the world, but pay attention to nature. This is today’s pic. So go ahead take out the music earpieces and notice the world around you. Take time to breathe and take in all the wonders of the sights and sounds that pass you by.
After not having walked for 14 days , it has been great to get out the last couple of days. Two years ago I set a goal to walk every single day from July 1st to July 1st and I met my goal. Last year and this year I was unable to walk every single day due to unfortunate circumstances. I would have been very disappointed in not being able to reach my goal had I set that goal for this year. Sometimes goals are like that, things get in the way, but we need to keep moving forward. This year I made a goal of writing in my blog every single day. I just need to take each day and do the best I can. Really it’s just about leaving something behind that my children can hopefully read someday and tell our future grandchildren a bit about their grandmother.
I also write in this blog to help School Counsellors, but this year it’s going to be a bit more personal.
Walking is healing for me. I miss it I am unable to walk, so if you like to walk #walkalongwithme . I’ve been at this for awhile now and I have no intention of stopping.
The things you learn on twitter are unending and so helpful if you want to make things a little better for your website ,twitter feed or useful for what you want to create for your use in schools.
— Susan Spellman Cann (@SSpellmanCann) July 20, 2020
Today I learned how to make an animated gif in google slides. I learned how to do this from @nadinegilkison on twitter. She is amazing and oh so helpful in learning to create. If you don’t follow her you should.
Step 1 Make an emoji with the app emoji me. Save to your desktop by emailing to yourself.
Step 2: Make a copy of this banner using google slides
Step 3: Add your emoji in by right clicking and replace pic.
Step 3 Change your background to whatever you like
Step 4: Copy and paste your first slide and add a letter each time typing what you’d like to say
Step 5 : Once completed go to talltweets.com and sign in with google
Step 6: Watch the tutorial and then make an animated gif
Step 7: Post gif to twitter and save to your desktop.
Hope this mini tutorial helps you to create something fun and if you learn something new please share with me.
I am not a very funny person. Occasionally I can say something very funny, but it does not come naturally to me. Maybe that is why I love being around funny people . Our daughter is very funny. She has always made me laugh right from the very early days. I think I laughed every day the first two years she was born . I delighted in all the funny things she did. Today she is a great story teller and often has funny stories about her mother and it makes me laugh so hard that I can barely speak (even though she embellishes them a bit).
“I think one of my favourite feelings is laughing with someone & realizing half way through how much you enjoy them and their existence.” ~Unknown Author
I have been fortunate to be surrounded by many who I could put in this category. Those people that make you laugh, they are the best.
I moved to Alberta 40 years ago in August with 500 dollars and 5 boxes. I knew no one who lived where I was about to go to start my teaching career,
I love this province and have happily chosen to make this my home. For the past while I have been exploring parks and places that I have never been to and today my friend Shivaun and I ventured out to Saskatoon Farm to start our day and what a glorious day it was.
— Susan Spellman Cann (@SSpellmanCann) July 7, 2020
I have had many a picnic here when the kids were small. It will always be a special place that I love to go and sit by the water.
Processed with MOLDIV
Processed with MOLDIV
Processed with MOLDIV
Then it was off to Bragg Creek for a little lunch and shopping. There weren’t many people in any of the shops, so I thoroughly loved browsing and eating outdoors on a patio. Today was amazing. I felt, yes I truly felt “normal” for the first time since Covid19. Being outdoors rejuvenates me and lifts my spirits. There are so many places to explore, but that will have to wait for the fall once I return to Alberta. My next venture Nova Scotia.
After I self isolate for 14 days I plan on exploring the Cape Breton outdoors. I look forward to exploring as many places to walk and stroll along beaches as I can. It’s good for the wellbeing and a lot of fun too.
So get out and explore the outdoors. Thanks to this period in time I am spending so much more time outdoors than in the past and for that I am grateful. Especially when I get to spend quality time with friends. Go ahead and enjoy the outdoors wherever you are.
I am always looking for ways to improve myself, but this year I am on a mission as I fully recognize that I am aging and so are those around me. I lost my dad in June to his fourth heart attack. I recognize that he had extra time to live life after each heart attack that most people don’t get. However, his quality of life had diminished greatly. His final passing seemed to be a wake up call for me.
Life is fragile and I want to live my best life being fully mobile into my 70’s 80’s 90’s and ….
So NOW is the time to take care of myself. Yes, I know I should always put myself as my top priority on the healthy living list, but haven’t always done so. I have been very fortunate to have had a positive mindset waking up each day to look at the bright side of life ( I believe I was partly born this way ). The rest was who I chose to surround myself with and the hard work on my part to take care of my mental well being.
I have always been active physically. I have loved sports my whole life and continue to find ways to exercise. This past year July 1 st 2018- July 1 st 2019 , I walked every single day and I am very proud of this accomplishment. I walked even when it wasn’t the best time to walk. Through sickness and sorrow I found the strength to walk.
Starting July 1 st 2019 , I decided that I would set new goals to be the best me I can physically, mentally , and spiritually. So each day I am putting the focus on how I can reach my goals. I am keeping a journal every day so that I can track my progress. I plan on getting a personal trainer this fall making a commitment to myself to be free of any negativity that hinders my goals.
Thanks to those of you who walked along with me last year. It truly made a difference to me knowing that you were watching the videos that I posted on twitter. You are part of the reason I was able to accomplish my goal, it made me accountable for sure. This year although I won’t be posting near as often , I am still posting knowing that you will support me as I work at living my best life.
I thought turning 60 would be hard and it was in some ways , but really I have so much to be grateful for. As I get closer to 61 I intend to make each day even better. I need to live my life to the full potential I deserve, being as healthy as I possibly can . So look out 61 here I come …
Counsellor Talk : Connecting with those who want to make a difference. 