Earth Day Everyday

Hey! It's Earth Day! Welcome to the one day each year we focus on saving the only thing that sustains us. Kind of silly when you think about it. Here we are polluting our atmosphere, water supplies, our soil and anything else we can dump our waste into. Naturally the result is the slow death of our Eco system. The earth supports the lives of billions of people, not to mention other species that seem to have become second hand citizens if we compare how important we think of ourselves. The point I'm trying to make is why can't we think about the earth every day, and what we're doing to it. Too silly, you think? I'm not speaking about celebrating or having a party every day to make us socially conscience of what is happening to our planet, although a party everyday doesn't sound like such a bad idea. I'd be up for it, as long as the drinks served were not any stronger than organically grown green iced tea.

Everyone is always asking for more. More food; as in super sizing fast food meals, more money by landlords whose greed surpasses their humanitarian interests, more labour saving devices like energy sucking electrical appliances and the latest in technological devices for entertainment purposes or communication. We always want or need more money to pay for all these things. And after owning all these material objects, we're still unhappy. It's impossible to fill that void of wanting more. So what would happen if we suddenly started asking for less. For instance; a smaller meal, less time watching television and computer use, lesser use of our vehicle, buying smaller, but better fuel efficient vehicles. We think mostly about our own pleasure, and what satisfies us personally. If we do start to think about the welfare of others, it usually isn't for very long. Greed dominates our society, as it does in most. If you just started thinking about helping others, without any desire for a reward, what do you think would happen? Could you do it, if there is no foreseeable payback. You would get a sense of euphoria perhaps because of the good feeling you get by giving of yourself. I wonder if that feeling is sustainable? I wonder what will happen to this planet and all the people on it, if we don't start helping each other.

It's important to all of us to learn how to give. Sometimes it isn't easy, especially for those less fortunate who can hardly afford to pay for rent and food. Yet those who are well off, they should realize there is more to life than just accumulating wealth and material possesions. It is too easy to get out of touch with the real world, to be isolated from the human condition. There is nothing wrong with being rich, but one can never be truly happy until they learn to give. So if you would like to see a formula for this postulation, let's make it a simple one; ask for less and give more. Be thankful, for what little you have or for how much you can and do give to others.

Hey! Where's the rest of my Family?

Here in Ontario, today, February 18th, is a new holiday introduced recently called "Family Day." There seems to be controversy over this special day, since a good number of people are opposed to it, for several reasons. Some say it was politically motivated, being introduced by the Liberal Government to help secure a future election, and others complain that small businesses can't afford to pay employees for another day off. Hearing this, I sure hope an extra day off during the year doesn't cause the nation to turn to anarchy or result in the economy spiraling into a recession! If that happened, I would feel more than a little guilty for enjoying the pleasure of spending time at home with my family.

We're living in a society where families are working harder and struggling to stay out of debt. For the most part, it's impossible for the average worker to live without debt. Perhaps, many of those who are opposed to this holiday work for the Federal Government, who don't quailify for the day off, since it is a provincial holiday only. I received mail this morning, so a postal worker managed to trudge through the rain, snow, sleet, and hail, or icy side streets to accomplish their mission of deliveing bills on time. I would like to personally thankyou.

However, if federal emloyees couldn't cope with thoughts of having to work while witnessing others having the day off, and the stress was too much, they can qualify for a mental health day off, with pay. Ottawa, as most of us would probably guess, is a city with the most government workers in the country. A radio news reporter mentioned that traffic was pretty light in the normally busy downtown area today.

Anyway, I hope everyone, who is home today, enjoys the time off, you've certainly earned it. Of course, you probably already know, you're just going to have to work harder the rest of the week to catch up.... :)

It's a New Day

What else is there to talk about but the weather? "Lot's" is the answer. Let's start by having a conversation or discussion with each other. Here's how it will work. We'll each take one of two sides. One of us will do the writing and the other will do the reading. Okay, you don't have to guess which side you're on, since I get first dibs.

The world is a sad place. Over my lifetime I don't remember seeing a day go by where there wasn't a serious problem happening somewhere in the world, in one country or another. That's sad. We are all so wrapped up in our own lives; a career, raising children, illness, you know; everyday problems and responsibilities. That doesn't mean that there aren't people who try or have tried to make the world better. Of course we have probably heard of famous names of humanitarians like Mother Theresa and Albert Schweitzer, but there are everyday people who also do good work. I have been fortunate over the years to have met good people who have helped me, without even having to ask. Some people just have a natural abiltiy along with the generousity to help others.

Although they may never read this, I would like to thank them.

Oh yes, by the way; Happy Valentines Day

New to the blog world

Welcome all.


Just new to this blogging experience so I'm just experimenting for now. If you read this I hope you understand, it can only get better.