Mentorship

I have been thinking about work today.  What are the factors that make someone successful at work?  Skill?  Yes.   Knowledge?  Yes.  Passion for the work?  Yes.   One thing that has helped me succeed is informal mentorship.  Supervisors who know how to give feedback.  People who model good behaviours.  People who stand by you when you make honest mkstakes.  People who explain how your work fits in the bigger picture.   So as this weekend starts I want to say thank-you to Barrie, Dave, Deborah, and Ronna.   All masterful mentors.

Hope and Health Go Hand in Hand

"What really makes people healthy is literacy, education, strong social support networks and a sense of hope," Dr. Francescutti said in an interview Thursday from Edmonton.   I found this on The Hope Lady's Blog when she asked how can we put the Doctor's words into practical application.   My friend Bonnie is volunteering in a community literacy program.  As someone with health concerns, I often speak of how much I appeciate the people who help me.  Friends and relatives whose help make it possible for me to stay in my own home.  Persons who come to visit when getting out becomes more difficult.   People who help me create a future in which I want to participate.....people who help me to hope.

Waiting for Something Big

I used to think that life was about events.  I have been waiting to write on my Blog until something BIG happened.  What I am beginning to realize is that life is about small moments.  If the moments give me energy, I usually classify them as hopeful.   Small moments can make a hopeful week or day. 

I was listening to the Vinyl Cafe on CBC Radio recently.  The host Stuart McLean announced his annual Arthur Award winners for people who do small acts of kindness and it made me smile.  His tribute to lemon pie helped me to plan making a lemon pie from scratch.  The Shaw repair man provided great customer service on Saturday.  I am noticing how much my Personal Care Attendant and I are laughing these days.  None of this will make a big difference but it gave me energy. 

I Got Excited........

I got excited when the first Chilean miner was rescued.  I watched TV and listened for updates.  Last time I got this excited Obama became President.  I have been trying to isolate this excitement, this "Apollo 13 success" type of excitement.  Why did the world stop to watch?  JIAN from CBC's Radio Q put it best, so I leave it to him to finish my Blog today:
http://www.cbc.ca/q/blog/2010/10/15/jian-on-the-chilean-miners/

A New Hope...Star Wars?

No Star Wars today....but recently the evening news did a Star Wars-like story on the Edmonton Oilers, the last place Edmonton Oilers.  I was trying to remember the last time I got excited about October, the last time I got excited about 18 years old boys, the last time I got excited about hockey.  Yes, I remember the 2006 Cup run...I was a fan.  I sang Fernando at Brewsters Restaurant...strategically planned how to get the best seat at the Sports bar.  I rode in Murray and Cheryl's truck down White Avenue late into the night.  That seems like ages ago.  Could it happen again?  On Thursday, a young man named Eberle made me believe it was possible.    http://video.oilers.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=77707

Raising Hope

Several friends encourage me to watch funny TV so that I laugh everyday.  I haven't been enthralled with the new Fall line-up until last Tuesday when I decided to watch Raising Hope.  A new quirky comedy about a young single father living with his baby, his parents and his grandmother had me laughing.  http://www.fox.com/raisinghope/
Cloris Leachman as the grandmother is wonderful.   And the show ended with the father talking to his baby daughter Hope about the value of dreams......in other words.....hope.   I'll be tuning in next Tuesday.

Time and the Unexpected

I went to the Cross Cancer Institute today for what I thought would be a few tests and much waiting around.   Unexpectly, the technicians took me early, and I was home 60 minutes sooner than I had planned....and yes....the Cross Cancer Institute is a hospital.   Today was a day when the system worked with great efficiency.  

Being at home now, away from the schedules of work, I am slowly learning to value time differently.   How am I spending my time?  How do I wish to spend my time?  Following is an interesting perspective on schedules, survival, healing and time:
http://www.dreamhealer.com/news/thoughts-my-arctic-trip

Hopeful Harp

Yesterday I had my chemotherapy.  While in the chemo room, I heard the most beautiful soothing harp music.  It was my friend Bev Ross...one of the few certified harp therapists in Canada.  How serendipitous.  I had a wonderful visit with Bev and she played for me.  It helped me relax at a time when I was having difficulty relaxing.  Music can be very hopeful.  I have been trying to add some music to this post unsuccessfully and may have added a picture instead.  Suggestions welcome.

Who Says Learning Statistics Is Not Hopeful?

I have heard from several people that learning statistics is very challenging.  I don't know a lot about the statistics you learn to complete graduate work but I will tell you what I do know. 
- 2 months ago I was taking 60% of my prescribed pain medicine.
- 1 month ago I was taking 50% of my prescribed pain medicine.
- 1 am currently taking 40% of my prescribed pain medicine, which is 20% less than what I was taking 18 months ago when I first got out of the hospital.

These are the statistics I am learning.  They feed my hope and they keep me grounded as I go back to the Cross Cancer Institute for more tests this afternoon.

Beginning a Blog

I started this Blog to write down some ideas about living with hope.  Hope has been a welcome companion when I have been at the end of my rope.  It has helped me hang on when the rope was wearing thin.  How do I strengthen the rope and, in doing so, strengthen my hope?  One way is to focus on those things for which I am grateful.   I am grateful for warm clothes as the weather gets colder, warm food to eat, a warm bed in which to sleep, and a warm smile from a friend.  All of these things at one time or another have helped me strengthen my hope.