Life is a fleeting journey, we never know what tomorrow will bring and it’s so easy to get caught up in the daily grind and forget to cherish the moments that truly matter. Here are some tips to help you embrace each day with positivity and gratitude.
Start Each Day In A Positive Way
Begin your day with a positive mindset. Whether it’s a smile, a morning meditation, or simply taking a moment to appreciate the sunrise, which I do a lot of, setting a positive tone can influence your entire day.
Take time to celebrate the small achievements and happy moments throughout your day. Whether it’s enjoying a walk along the beach, witnessing waves crashing against rocks, or sitting with loved ones by the Mira River, these moments add up to a fulfilling life. I start my day most days by watching the sunrise. I go for a daily walk with my neighbours and I look for ways to make my day as positive as I can.
End Each Day With Gratitude
Reflect on your day with a sense of gratitude. Acknowledge as many good moments as possible. Learn from the challenges, we all have them. It isn’t always easy to embrace the moments, but when you do you will feel much better about yourself and life. Appreciate all the beauty around you. It’s a simple yet powerful practice that can transform your outlook on life.
Since 2013 I have been discovering the artist within me. Growing up I was into sports playing hockey, lacrosse, ringette, and so many other sports. I continued to play lacrosse until the age of 60. I loved sports they brought me great joy, nurtured wonderful friendships and they allowed me to release my pent-up feelings. There were so many fabulous memories created as a result of playing sports that I will treasure forever.
I never saw myself or even considered that I could be an artist of any kind. But in the last few years, I have come to love art as much as I love sports. Art allows me to go to a place that takes me away for hours and hours at a time. A space where I am free of any negative feelings, a place where I do not worry about anything or have any cares. I am focused on the process and am grateful.
My grandfather who loved to dabble in artistic endeavours encouraged me to expand my mind and keep learning which I did throughout my life and continue to do so to this day. I love learning thanks to my Papa. He did not invite me to join him in his art, which I love to do with my own adult children, but I am grateful for his influence. I hope that someday my children will look back and see that I modeled a way to have fun, play, escape the worries of the world, and be their own kind of creative whatever that means for them.
Today I get to enjoy some sort of artistic endeavour almost daily. I am rereading The Artists Way on audio this time, which I read when it first came out over 30 years ago. If you haven’t read it, it’s a wonderful inspiring book that allows the artist in you to come out. Even though I was not an artist at the time I can see that the book influenced me in many ways throughout my life.
So for those of you who think I am not an artist, I am not a … trust that you can and believe that the gifts you have are meant to be shared. I am no longer afraid of failure, as a result of my etmooc experience in 2013, now I focus on the process and enjoy the journey. If you overcome your fears in one area ( join an online group focused on tech) you will overcome your fears in all other areas of your life with the collaboration and support of others. I keep learning and am constantly growing open to knowing that I am a work in progress and will be until the day I die.
The artist within me is alive and knows that I must continue to stay centered allowing new ideas and creative experiences to flow through me. I can’t wait to see what happens next. I hope you will too. Nurture the artist within.
Life is complex for most people. If you are fortunate and grateful to reach my age you never take life or anything for granted. You live, truly live life to the best of your ability.
Seeing Change as an Adventure
When I first started having vision issues, I felt like I was stumbling through a foggy maze. It was scary, frustrating, and honestly, pretty overwhelming. I remember coming back from the ophthalmologist and thinking if I eventually need a seeing-eye dog, so be it. The reality of that is something different.
Over time, I realized that this new chapter wasn’t the end of my story—it was just a plot twist. Embracing change is what I attempt to do on a daily basis. I have keratoconus – specifically pellucid marginal degeneration. I also have herpes eye disease , and cataracts and have had posterior vitreous detachments in both eyes (very common in those of us past 60 years of age).
I wear sclerals which have been life-changing for me, glasses do not work anymore (except for readers). I will eventually need a corneal transplant, but for now, if the eye herpes stays at bay my corneas will be ok.
What Has Helped Me
I have always had an optimistic mindset, so that has helped tremendously, but connecting with others who also have the same eye condition has really helped. I belong to an online support group for keratoconus and have a good friend with the exact same eye condition. You are not alone. It seems there is a support group for almost every condition out there. Of course, having a great optometrist and an ophthalmologist helps. I am fortunate to have both of those.
Be My Eyes Be My AI
If you haven’t heard of it, the BE MY EYES app, Be My AI is a must.
As an optimist, I am hopeful that technology will help us live our best life.
Who knows what is next? We live in a different world than we did ten years ago. Hope is what keeps me going every day. If you know of any great resources that can assist people who are blind or have low vision feel free to share them.
Lean on Your People
Here’s the thing: you don’t have to go through this journey alone. Seriously, reach out to your friends, your family, and those who get you. As a psychologist, I know it is a strength to reach out. We all need support at some time in our lives.
It’s amazing how much love and support you’ll find when you let people in.
Finding Silver Linings
Okay, let’s keep it real. Losing your sight sucks. There’s no sugarcoating it. But you know what? Even in the darkest moments, there’s a flicker of light. Maybe it’s finally learning to slow down and savor life’s simple pleasures. Or discovering a newfound appreciation for the beauty of sound, touch, and smell. It’s all about finding those silver linings and holding onto them for dear life. Sometimes it’s easier said than done, but if you take each day and savour as many moments as possible, it makes life easier.
Losing your sight might feel like the end of the world for you, and no one truly understands unless they have been through it in some form or another, but trust me, you can cope and live a fulfilling life no matter what life throws at you.
I am so grateful that I wake up each day and can embrace the good around me and hope you too can connect with others that help make life better.
So as you navigate the twists and turns of life, seize as many moments as possible, love those around you, spend as much time with friends and family that lift you up as you can and never take your life or your vision for granted.
For Desmond Tutu meeting Trevor Huddleston determined the path of his life. In my own life there are many defining moments that led me to who I am today. Teachers, coaches , community members and a School Counsellor had an impact.
In grade 12 (1976) my School Counsellor Mrs. Brown gave me $100.00 towards my post secondary education. My family could not afford to pay my way. I was the first in my family to go to University so it was certainly a big deal. I did not realize at the time just how much money that was or even how incredible it was that she did that. What a gift and an impact she had on the trajectory of my life. A lacrosse scholarship and a bursary ( both recommended by community members) paid for all four years of my Bachelor of Child Study degree. How fortunate was I ?
I never underestimate the power of a small (albeit grand) gesture in forming who we are and what we choose to do in our lives. I intentionally make sure each day I work with students I keep that in mind. I intentionally pay it forward on as many occasions as I can.
All it takes is a defining moment and you might be the one that makes that happen and if someone makes that happen for you tell them.
Is there anything better than a beautiful summer day on a beach? Well the beach for me is peaceful especially in self isolation when it is 2 minutes away. How grateful am I to pack my beach bag and walk downstairs and enjoy the day. Today was one of those days that I will look back on in the dead of winter and be grateful that it was one of those days that I can visualize and remember that no matter what is happening in the world, at this moment all was and is glorious.
Anxiety is a topic we all want our students to have ideas and resources for. I made an infographic for you to use and if you click on the link 10 Tips for reducing anxiety by Susan Spellman Cann . You can open it and download for your use.
Just in case you want an easier download for the link Put A Positive Spin On Your Day Click here.
Have any infographics or tips related to School Counselling please share!
I love creative tools and I especially love Haiku Deck . I know that is no big secret yet I am still finding creative ways to use it. Combining Haiku deck with a cool little tool like wheel decide allows School Counsellors and educators to start their day in a positive way and have fun with kids. Click on this haiku deck to get started. Thanks to Adam Tratt @adamtratt for the inspiration to make this deck and there will most certainly be more to come. You too can make your own Wheel Decide by clicking here.
There are so many creative things educators and School Counsellors could do with these tools. Let students create their own. You can make them too! Have a blast and please share yours with me. I plan on putting a positive spin on my day every day with Haiku Deck.
Counsellor Talk : Connecting with those who want to make a difference. 