Enkounters

It’s 5:00 am and I’m up early with the thoughts of the current COVID 19 pandemic. Yes after so many months I’m not jaded and I’m still concerned. Here me out...Frankly, I’m shocked at how many have died from it, how many are still suffering from complications and how many of us are still alive. All of it matters but it’s this last fact that I want to highlight first....Just how many of us have survived in spite of it all.  Something happened during the pandemic that prevented the complete annihilation of the human race. As mentioned in another post , (on another blog) I’m pretty sure I caught the virus early on before testing was available and while folks in the Western world were still trying to figure it out.  Flash forward 9 months later and we are right back to where we started; record numbers of surging Covid19 cases. In spite of mandatory mask wearing culture, hand washing and sanitization campaigns, there is a resurgence.  Early on in the pandemic; something diffic...

You know how they say you never realize what you had until it’s gone? It’s been a while since I had the opportunity to travel internationally (ok it’s only been less than a year) and by the looks of it I won’t be able to go anywhere for a while (thanks Covid 19). Today when I woke up something just triggered fond memories of travelling and encountering new and different people and cultures. I don’t know if it was the smell of coffee or a glimpse of a sombrero. Whatever the case may be, it had me thinking in a deeply nostalgic way of how travel changed me and the lessons I learned from the countries I’ve had the opportunity to visit.  I’m mostly grateful for the way that I’ve experienced these countries and cultures; for the most part not in an overly touristy way but in a down to earth way familial way or as part of some service or community based group. The best way to explain is just to tell it... United States of America As a child through teenage years, much of my international...

Never in a hundred years did I think I would be writing about a disease that has forced the complete shut down of the world. It’s caused me to think a lot and empathize with people and myself about our shared disappointment of how this year has turned out. Let’s recap the outbreak of the novel Corona virus in late 2019 (allegedly with a Chinese wet market as the epicentre): The virus made its way to over 130 countries The virus spurred a pandemic with panic buying & hoarding of essential items  Several countries imposed travel bans and closed their borders Several countries limit movement and impose curfews to prevent the spread Non - essential businesses are ordered to close leading to mass layoffs Humans are instructed to stay in place at home and practice social distancing when they have to be out and about. Connected By Disappointment This all sounds stranger than fiction in writing but it is our shared reality right now and quite frankly many of us are ...

I set a goal this year to read at least two self-improvement/business books per month. Below are some insights from one of the self-improvement books I read  in April- 'The Compound Effect' by Darren Hardy: Insight 1 Small daily seemingly inconsequential choices repeated (compounded) overtime leads to long-term success. In the moment, these good choices or habits (similar to bad habits) may not seemingly have any effect but weeks/months/years down the line you'll begin to see the difference or reap the reward. This first insight or principle applies to all realms of life whether relationships, health, finance, business - you name it. Tip : Hardy recommends writing down small changes you can make in your daily routine that overtime can lead to success. Insight 2 Adversity is the fuel for success. Like many other self-help gurus before him, he recommends failing big and failing fast in order to achieve great success. The principle is that the more effort, time and...

Recently, I was having a conversation with some of my sisters about gifts we received from non-immediate family members growing up. As I was trying to reflect and relate to this experience I realized that I never received these specific gifts they spoke about. So I declared," Well, I never received any of these gifts but as the bible says it is more blessed to give than to receive." Looking back, this declaration may very well have been a triumphant way out of playing the role of victim but the words challenged me and caused me to reflect. In my reflection, I thought of the multitude of people; family, friends, acquaintances and strangers who gave me gifts of time, friendship, love, knowledge, opportunity and resources.  I also thought of the many others I encountered and gave gifts of time, friendship, love, knowledge opportunity and resources.  When we are out of balance the temptation is to look at 'What's in it for me?' or 'What can I...

Before the grumpy cat gets under your skin this Valentine's Day, here are my FIVE favourite quotes from Dr. Guy Winch's TED Talk: "We all know how to care for our physical health but what do we know about maintaining our emotional hygiene?" "We sustain psychological injuries (failure, rejection and rumination) even more than we sustain physical injuries." "Once we become convinced of something, it's very difficult to change our mind." "You cannot allow yourself to feel that a situation is helpless. You have to fight for control over the situation and break the negative cycle before it begins." "When you're in emotional pain, treat yourself with the same compassion you'd expect from a really good friend." For more great quotes listen to his 17 minute talk below: What are your favourite quotes? ~Love God,Live life,One Enkounter at a Time~

In  a society that lives from holiday to holiday by now you would have realized that Christmas is long gone and Valentine's Day/ Singles Awareness Day is right around the corner. In honour of the season treat yourself to some chocolate and a good read for the successfully single lady: 1. Happy and Successfully Single by Tina A. Swain. This is a relatively new addition to the singles library but a very quick and real read. There is nothing better than getting advice from someone who is living out the single experience. Even better to have it sound as though you're getting advice from a close friend. You can grab this book for as little as $15 on Amazon. 2. The Single Woman by Mandy Hale. Everyone who has been single for a while has come across her quotes on social media at some point. If you're new to the singles game and haven't noticed her stuff - you're welcome. This book is available in almost every book store and for as low as $9.50 on Kindle. You ca...

A thought came to me today while visiting a family member's church and hearing the age old and simple message of salvation. The thought was about the basic principle of 'belief' which is a principle of both the physical world and the spiritual world. For example, in the physical world we prepare for the next day believing we will live to experience it. We plant and nurture flowers believing they will grow. We board a plane believing the pilot/plane will get us to our destinations safely and so on.  Similarly in the Christian faith, in order to have a relationship with God we must believe. There are at least 36 bible verses referencing belief. Top of the list is that we must believe that Jesus Christ existed, died on the cross for our sins and is our ultimate connection to God. We must believe all of these things that we've never seen in order to have a relationship with God - hence why Christians are also called Believers.  I was reflecting on how much...

There was a time I used to think single and alone is the worst thing a person could be. There were days I would sit on my teenage bed staring at the ceiling wondering why I wasn't desirable and I could hear my mom outside my window getting on with life - busying herself with laundry and other household chores.  Since my mother's death I have realized that the worst thing a person could be is ungrateful. Everyday there is something or someone in our lives to be grateful for.  The next worst thing a person could be is regretful. When you lose a loved one it's all you have - regret. I was so close to my mom yet I still regret the moments I wasted on the imaginary whos that were never in my life when I could have spent that time goofing around and learning more from my mother. Takeaway : Life is a gift and so are the people who were placed in our lives. Treasure who is in your life as tomorrow is promised to no one.

1. "We can hide behind the word 'Christian' because it has no concrete meaning. The early 'Christians' considered themselves Disciples - learners, pupils, apprentices, adherents or followers." Andy Stanley on #BrandRecognition 2. "Love for God and for others is the number one indicator that someone is a Disciple." Andy Stanley on #Quitters 3. "Love one another and stop judging non-believers." Andy Stanley on #InsidersOutsiders 4. "Jesus called sin...sin and then he paid for it and having paid for it he didn't condemn anyone." Andy Stanley on #GracieMetTruthy 5. "Salt always preserves and light always points the way forward." Andy Stanley on  #ShowUp 6. "Anger about sin, instead of compassion, comes from self righteousness." Andy Stanley on #AngryBirds 7. "Following Jesus means having no loopholes. His command to love is too simple, too direct to be ignored, avoide...

What caught my attention today was some recent enough news about a Canadian News reporter who went head on with some inflammatory remarks aimed at her. After watching the footage some teachable moments surfaced. Before sharing the lessons, here’s a summary of what happened… It was the end of a football match and the female reporter was trying to get the reactions of the patrons. As she was interviewing two males another male patron walked by and whispered some female objectifying remark aimed at her. Following this both the men being interviewed and the reporter were taken aback. One man being interviewed remarked to the reporter ‘you must get that all the time.’ This line is probably what triggered something in the reporter.  She decided to challenge the thinking of some other male patrons who were waiting to make similar remarks. Some of the reactions she got was ‘nothing is wrong with it [the remark]’, ‘It happens in England’ and ‘my mom would find it funny’. In a twis...

My mother passed away from Cancer in December 2013. This is my second year observing Mother's Day without my own mother being physically here. This is also another year of reflecting on not being a mother even though it was a long held dream of mine. My mother's birthday and the anniversary of my grandmother's death was last month. These events caused me to reflect on the importance of mothers/motherhood and the phenomenal impact this has on a human life. My mother taught me so much about love, life and most importantly about the power and freedom of being my authentic self. There's a cheeky but powerful saying..."A child only a mother can love." This is the kind of love that transforms lives and creates whole and healthily functioning members of society.  Many times throughout my own life people tried to make me feel like I was 'only a child a mother can love.' But my mother's love and care was exceptional and strong enough to help me ...

Agua. L'eau. Mul. Pani. Shui. Omi. Water.... Such an important part of our lives.  On days like this one can't help but pause to look at the current state of water access around the world.  We depend on clean, drinkable water to not only replenish the 70% ratio that keeps the human body moving but also to heal.  Personally, I couldn't live without water.  Aside from the basics of needing it to literally survive, I grew up by the sea so water is therapeutic for me. Since I moved from my island home to North America, I long for rainy days. The sound of rain dripping on a slab or zinc roof is comparable to none especially when you throw in lightening and thunderbolts. It's why there are so many 'rain sounds' YouTube videos which allow people to unwind, relax and ultimately heal. Rain is an enduring promise of hope, growth and new beginnings. Yet, so many people in the world are living without the basic benefits of clean water. Here are some stats t...

"Love is a commitment based on the Will of God and often time under-girded by an emotion." Randy Pope Increasing in the Fruits of the Spirit: a. Perseverance b. Self-Control c. Godliness d. Kindness e. Unconditional Love "A person's physical appearance and personality are valid and important but secondary to a person's spirit . When these become the primary motive for love then that 'love' becomes a fatal attraction." Develop a spiritual attraction in your life. Invite the divine nature of God into your own heart to do it's redemptive work. End any relationship with anyone who does not have the potential to be a million dollar mate. Make edification your goal in dating.  The word 'date' comes from a Latin word that means 'to give', 'to build up', or 'to edify'. Pray daily for your future spouse . Find someone you respect to validate your choice of a marriage partner. Set dating standa...

~Love God,Live life,One Enkounter at a Time~

The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”  In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 1 Corinthians 12: 21-22 What is your Spiritual Gift? Take the Spiritual Gifts assessment test here . ~Love God,Live life,One Enkounter at a Time~