Thursday, June 4, 2020

That Bird's Got Her Worm

Across the way....there's a house. At the tip of the rooftop..... birds like to rest for a moment and have a lookout.

Today, that robin commanded attention at that rooftop. She was holding the prize.... a long chubby worm dangling from her beak. That worm will feed her and her young gangly spring babes.

She is right to stand proud...to be downright cocky holding her prize up high. She could have been a snap shot from a Rocky film, like Sylvestor Stallone, after a winning match, holding his fist in the air. She has won her right to fight....and win.

And so, it is  that we must push on...until we find that thing...which we will at once, or perhaps gradually realize over time....is our own worm....our own fight worth winning.

It's feeding time. It's time to lay claim of what you can do....that will produce that livelihood.

What a great word...."livelihood". It has a much better ring to it than money.

May you find your "livelihood" soon, my dear friends. Because when you recognize the worm, and do whatever it takes to dig it up and take it home to feed your babes, it has become yours. It's not just about paying the bills...it's about a delicious livelihood.

Press on, brothers and sisters, your livelihood awaits...It may already be in your sights, awaiting your target, your perseverance, your study. You are not hallucinating. You are not living in a dream world. This is real.

That which you enjoy....can really actually become your livelihood.

Peace out,
Carla.





Friday, May 22, 2020

This is only a test?

You can go ahead and label me a conspiracy theorist.....feel free to browse elsewhere on the net today then ok?

But, based on what I have seen occur in my beloved country of Canada, I must say...it has a lot of heads shaking in disbelief.

How can seemingly peaceful pencil pushing politicians suddenly wield such all consuming power so as to be able to tell folks, good decent hard working Canadians, that they may not earn a living?

I still can not get my head around it.Since when, did my fellow peace loving Canadian leaders suddenly become such power hungry dictators??? i am at a loss for words.

I do understand, to the best degree that I can, that the virus currently called "covid19" is a messy beast. But why did a fight against a virus transform and warp itself into a fight against the working man/woman? Isn't it a constitutional right to conduct business and provide for yourself and your family?

Isn't it always a good thing to have a "great work ethic"????

Isn't it always a good thing to go to church?

But no, the politicians  and law enforcement agencies are/have reprimanded, ticketed, fined and/or threatened people for doing just those simple two things....working and going to church.

Yes, yes, it is  May 22 , 2020, and before I blow a gasket, I must admit that things are slowly starting to re-open up in Ontario. But the opening is slow and painful. I still find myself avoiding grocery shopping because i hate the thought of being forced to wait outside in lineups just for the mere privilege of buying food.

I wonder, indulge me for a moment, if the powers that be, are just doing some kind of social experiment to see how asleep we are? Are "they" testing us to see how much of our freedom we will peacefully give up, all in the pretense of "protecting health"???

Is it a coincidence that those who are forcing the lockdowns upon us, are the ones whose paycheques have not been torn up during the lock down. Perhaps they are even getting a "pandemic pay bump" to deal with the extra stress of leadership during a national/global pandemic.

To say that our leaders are out of touch with the average working Canadian is an understatement. This season is a test of martial law....a test of a police state in our beautiful peaceful country.
We shall not allow this to occur without proper response. Take notes my friends and speak to your friends and family about this situation. It must not go on without discussion and prompt and very verbal public discussion. We do live in a democratic country do we not?
These massive sweeping public changes which are dramatically affecting all aspects of life in Canada must be held up to public scrutiny. Some of these issues should have been put up to a public vote before they were so aggressively rolled out upon us like a steam roller. Every Canadian has a vote and a voice. Remember this. Use your voice....and use your vote.

Please, my fellow Canadians, do not forget this season, even when things get back to more "normalcy".
The freedoms that we calmly let go of now.... under the "excuse of a virus", will not be easily regained back to their former glory.

And while I am on a roll, permit me to mention that the new "app" that will be enforced upon our cell phones for the purported purpose of "contact tracing" are going to become a new "spying" tool by which the government can glean all kinds of personal data about us.

Fight for your freedom to go to church and to go to work...whether you are self employed or otherwise. Also, fight for protections for your privacy, even if the government "enforces" contact tracing. The government does not belong in your cell phone.

Not peaceful today,
Carla.


Saturday, May 16, 2020

Encouragement for You

I just want to send a few brief words of encouragement to you today...my readers. Even if this is the first time you are visiting my blog...you are welcome. If you've been reading my blurbs for years...thank you quite hugely for your loyalty :)



So, today, is May 16, 2020 and Ontario is starting it's phase 1 of re-opening after having virtually everything grounded and halted since approximately March 15 2020.

I don't know about you....but the seclusion has been exhausting. Although much of my day is spent quietly, I didn't realize that I am much more sociable than I give myself credit for.
Maybe you too, have begun to realize how much you appreciate folks, like your barber, hair salon, nail salon, or the schools that educate your children. Maybe you have a newfound appreciation for the gift of a full fridge and the ability to pay your bills.

This modest first step in re-opening is a sign. It is a sign that better things are on the horizon. We must never allow depression or the struggles of life to squash us down. You must be your own best friend....your own cheer leader....your own spiritual guru.

Do you have someone around you who encourages you? Someone you can talk to who can speak life and hope and encouragement into your thinking?

I am not talking about blind encouragement.  I am not talking about encouraging people to do ridiculous or dangerous or illegal things. I am talking about....simple encouragement that will help you accomplish whatever you want to do with your life.

You life was given to you by God. He will help you embrace it.

I feel like Spring has finally sprung in our neck of the woods, with the trees starting to pop out their new buds and frills.

So, if you have been struggling with a lack of "zest" during this season of challenges, I want to give you a boost of hope today. I want to give you a friendly boost in the arm, to let you know that it's ok to believe in your dreams again. Don't let anyone or anything discourage you.

with kindness,

Carla





Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Lock Down or Liberty...

The issues are so weighty...i hesitate to discuss them openly online....
One never knows how my thoughts in black and white will be understood or categorized. The data miners and "little grey men" are indeed watching what we type...and post and like and share.

If we stretch too far in endorsing "liberty" we may be labelled as a rebel and enemy of the state. If we endorse the lockdown for months and months, we may be labelled as fascist.

But yet, we are human, and if we don't get our words out...whether in chat rooms or other social media, we begin to whither. If we can not speak our minds, whether out loud or in type, we become less human.

Some things are so cut and dried for me.... The longer the lockdown in north America, the more our society will become an entrenched welfare state. We can pretend to be a free market, but if a simple individual who leads our province or county can force us to stop working, and accept and eventually become dependent on government handouts....are we really free? Isn't the constitution supposed to protect my personal liberties...my right to thrive?

A Person's own individual choices seem to be an afterthought right now. Those who are "gung ho" about lockdowns are publicly shaming those who simply want to get out and about, get some sunshine and fresh air. I spoke yesterday with someone who wouldn't even accept takeout food delivered to her because she was so afraid that the food was "contagious". Sigh. Fear can be toxic too. Extremism is indeed a disease of the heart and mind....and that in and of itself is something that we need to fight against.

I applaud the province of Quebec for giving parents their own choice as to whether to send their children back to school or not.

Choice rocks.

All of us have different risk tolerances, as well as different tolerances for suffering the consequences of our personal choices.
Some of us are willing to risk exposure to viruses because we have done our homework and figured out how to strengthen our own immune systems. We may be willing to take "calculated risk" based on study and facts and research.

What do you feel? Stay expressive of what you are feeling and noticing right now. Start a private "lockdown" diary, so that you can have a permanent record of what you are experiencing in your corner of the world right now. If you are afraid to share it online, you may have good reason to be very worried about the consequences of what you type. Therefore, you may want to write it in an old fashioned paper diary, with a pen or a pencil. I know it's not as fun as typing....but still you need to be able to express yourself and record a private and honest record of what you are experiencing right now.

The policies that are being crafted and put into practice right now will have implications for your family for years to come. There are freedoms that we have taken for granted for decades that are being "played with" as "negotiable".

My personal freedom is not negotiable. It is not optional. It is my right.

I see how this pandemic era and the government's response to it, has unleashed situations that I have never faced in my life time. I was born in the 60's and I have never before felt like my personal liberties were under attack. I always had the law on my side when it came to my right to go where I wanted to and when.

Now, all those personal rights and freedoms are under scrutiny and subject to negotiation or interpretation. Those who fall on the side of "extra cautious"  are bedecked in hazmat suits just to go to the grocery store. They will not go for a walk by the waterfront. They will not order take out food. They live in fear and feel that everyone should be forced to live with the same level of fear as they do.

I say that we must make our own choices based on what we each know and understand to be true. We must not be swayed by panic and overzealous politicians who relish their newfound power to control and dictate life as we know it. We knew how to live before the pandemic. We will know how to live after it. Give us choice.

Peace,
Carla


Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Self Employed or Employee...C'est Ton Choix

Have you ever thought about how completely "opposite" are the mindsets of self employed folks vs those who work for a company or corporation that they do not own?

I think the lines only get blurred when employees are given or earn stock options that, in fact, make them into partial "owners" of the company for which they are also employed. Employees, then empowered by their stock ownership begin to act more like owners/managers because their future net worth will be influenced by their job performance.

Self employed people realize in their heart of hearts....that

" If It's to Be....it's Up to Me!". 

They are usually independent folks, and if they are not independent folks, they find out soon that someone else in their circle will try to run their business for them....take them out of a position of control or influence.

Being an employee is relaxing and stressful all at the same time. It is relaxing....because at the end of the day....the buck does not stop with you. The big decisions are made by management. The bills are paid by the company, not from your own pocket. In addition the direction and mission statement of the company is crafted by management....not you.

But then again ....the stressful part is the flip side. It can be stressful to be a part of a company whose mission statement does not reflect your own values or direction in life. It can be stressful to be a follower, when you have a lot to say and would prefer to be "in charge" to a certain degree.

It can be actually quite painful to be forced into a "sheep like" status when you have leadership qualities and can not fill your potential as an employee of the company.

Have you ever felt torn between these two lifestyles? Employee or self employed..... C'est Ton Choix!


Peace,
Carla




Saturday, April 25, 2020

Appetite for learning

living in this modern age, we have billions of books and blogs and vids and theories about how to control and manipulate our appetite for food. It's a bit rather over done don't you think?

There is so much more to life than food. And yes, we all have an appetite for learning....for more knowledge geared towards our interests and goals.

Sometimes we have to tolerate knowledge that bores us because we have a more pressing goal that requires the assimilation of mountains of boring material. That's why I believe that it is a also a misnomer to suggest that we should only do that which "makes us happy".

Even when people have found their passion, they still will require the discipline and emotional maturity to endure studies or activities which are boring and dull.

Tony Robbins talks often about how "Progress means happiness"....and I would tend to agree. But for me ....that progress must be definitely and indisputably linked to my main life goals.

I am willing to endure much unpleasantry, whether that be tedious paperwork or mindless dry reading.... in order to accomplish my written life goals. It is a sacrifice that I am willing to make.

What are you doing to feed your learning curve? Which audio or print books have you bought or borrowed lately to help you get even closer to your written goals?

Feed that appetite....it is a precious thing.\

Peace,

Carla

Monday, April 20, 2020

Now you Have a Good Reason to be Suspicious of Rewards Cards

So, "they".....(sorry I can't be more specific) are considering using rewards cards to track how many family members are shopping in the grocery stores per week. The proposed limit  "they" prefer...is one family member shopping once in a grocery store per week. "They" say this would limit the potential for transmission of the virus.

Hmmm....I know when rewards cards first started gaining popularity, I was all gung ho about the potential freebies. But as time passed, I became aware as to how much data collection goes on with these rewards cards. "They" know where and when you shop, and what specifically you buy.
"They" can come to all kinds of conclusions about your discretionary income based on the data they scrape from your shopping habits. Now it appears that it may become a tool in the hands of "they".


Now the pandemic has given good reason for folks to give up on cash. But this is also a hay day for big brotherish type of activities. The more of our shopping is tracked by debit/credit cards and rewards cards, the less privacy we all have.

What would it take for you or your family to give up rewards cards cart blanche? Or are the rewards simply too tantalizing?

Peacefully alert,
Carla



Sunday, April 12, 2020

Liz Abunaw of Forty Acres Fresh Market | Bootstrapping in America



Hunting for a female mentor? She's well educated, ambitious and thoughtful..



 


Friday, April 10, 2020

Marshall Law in Canada

Since when is it illegal to walk in the park? to walk along the water front of a lake?

Since when do municipal governments set up snitch lines to "encourage" citizens to report their fellow Canadian for walking down the street?

Do we not see how ridiculous and very "UN-Canadian" this is?

Please do not fall for this fascism. Do not relinquish your love and appreciation for the Canadian constitution...equality and freedom for every Canadian must be protected....even in the midst of a pandemic.

I don't have all the answers. But I do believe that there MUST be a way to protect human rights and freedoms while at the same time protecting public health. Do you agree?