The January 12 earthquake in Haiti put the small Island in the spotlight. One can only thank the news agencies for putting the devastation in the spotlight for the whole world to respond in positive ways.
It's great to hear that individuals around the world are responding with money to assist the people in Haiti rebuild their homes.
While it is unfortunate that so many lives have been lost due to this devastation, it is equally hard to understand why the government had failed to prevent such poor buildings to have been built in the first place.
One can only hope that the government has learned from this very hard lesson and rebuild a better better.
In Canada, so many of us, myself included, sometimes take our lives for granted. It is good that many Canadians have donated money to help the cause for rebuilding Haiti.
Let us all hope and pray that Haiti will be rebuilt and its people will be able to have better lives and futures. We also should pray for a speedy recovery. It's people will also require not only physical healing, but emotional healing as well.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Singing With Gusto
I like to sing, but unfortunately, I don't feel that I am gifted with a great voice.
Fortunately, for my teacher, she doesn't care.
I recently joined a class for novice singers like myself. My teacher who is clearly talented and once worked for the Vancouver Opera society took us through a number of exercises designed to help us sing with more tone.
The group of mixed male and female students sang one song through the 90 minute course. She illustrated the fact that good singers should sing with conviction and feeling and made a good point that novice singers should try to understand what the song-writer was writing about and sing it with gusto.
And I feel that it is so true with life in general. Whether one is at work, home or in the park, it's important to really appreciate the moment and grab life and live it with gusto.
When I was in high school, I had the mindset to say to myself that even my moment as I high school student would pass, and to remember this well. To this day, I remember my teachers, my classmates and hallways, and the basic washrooms with the too-small mirrors. I remember the hair styles, the class pranks that really bugged my English teacher to tears, the good and the bad moments, the cattiness of the female students, the people in the cliques and the people like myself who were not part of the cliques.
Times go by so fast that each day is as important as gold and it should not be wasted. Now is the time to do things you always wanted to do, like take up painting or sewing. How many times have I heard people say that they don't have time for things?
There is no excuse for living life with your heart and soul in it.
Fortunately, for my teacher, she doesn't care.
I recently joined a class for novice singers like myself. My teacher who is clearly talented and once worked for the Vancouver Opera society took us through a number of exercises designed to help us sing with more tone.
The group of mixed male and female students sang one song through the 90 minute course. She illustrated the fact that good singers should sing with conviction and feeling and made a good point that novice singers should try to understand what the song-writer was writing about and sing it with gusto.
And I feel that it is so true with life in general. Whether one is at work, home or in the park, it's important to really appreciate the moment and grab life and live it with gusto.
When I was in high school, I had the mindset to say to myself that even my moment as I high school student would pass, and to remember this well. To this day, I remember my teachers, my classmates and hallways, and the basic washrooms with the too-small mirrors. I remember the hair styles, the class pranks that really bugged my English teacher to tears, the good and the bad moments, the cattiness of the female students, the people in the cliques and the people like myself who were not part of the cliques.
Times go by so fast that each day is as important as gold and it should not be wasted. Now is the time to do things you always wanted to do, like take up painting or sewing. How many times have I heard people say that they don't have time for things?
There is no excuse for living life with your heart and soul in it.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Money Saving Exercise Ideas
Maybe you're one of the many people who need to cut costs after the holidays. Who doesn't want to save money after Christmas which often involves lots of expenses for presents, food, booze and extras that come with the annual celebration?
And of course with all the calories that come from alcohol and holiday dinners, it comes to reason that most people have goals to lose weight and exercise.
I've thought of a few ways for people to do exercise without spending a lot of money.
1. Be a dog walker at your local S.P.C.A.
For the past few years, I've often walked dogs, usually on the weekends, and spend anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes in the outdoors. You not only get to experience the pleasure of seeing a wide variety of different and adorable dogs, but also get to exercise which encourages a healthy heart and life-style.
2. Join a local league. For winter, many community centres offer affordable activities, ranging from badminton, to floor hockey, to Dodgeball, etc. Some community centres even offer to provide subsidization for people who are students or in the lower income bracket. If you are a student, many schools and college offer reduced rates for gym and fitness activites. If you are an alumni from a university, you can even get reduced fees for recreation.
3. While watch television, you can incorporate a few fitness activites. These may include doing some sit-ups on a mat, or even on your bed, and leg lifts. No one said watching television needs to be a sedentary activity.
4. With your radio or record player, which is gaining popularity once again, listen to Rock or your favorite fast beat, and make your moves in your living room. Dancing is a great way to exercise as well as have fun.
5. Finally, go ahead and make a small splurge on a DVD exercise tape. Nowadays, you can buy a DVD tape on just about any exercise activity. You can try something different, such as Yoga, or belly dancing or even martial arts. And don't forget your local library where you can borrow DVD exercise tapes for free.
Doing exercise need not be boring or expensive. Til next week.
And of course with all the calories that come from alcohol and holiday dinners, it comes to reason that most people have goals to lose weight and exercise.
I've thought of a few ways for people to do exercise without spending a lot of money.
1. Be a dog walker at your local S.P.C.A.
For the past few years, I've often walked dogs, usually on the weekends, and spend anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes in the outdoors. You not only get to experience the pleasure of seeing a wide variety of different and adorable dogs, but also get to exercise which encourages a healthy heart and life-style.
2. Join a local league. For winter, many community centres offer affordable activities, ranging from badminton, to floor hockey, to Dodgeball, etc. Some community centres even offer to provide subsidization for people who are students or in the lower income bracket. If you are a student, many schools and college offer reduced rates for gym and fitness activites. If you are an alumni from a university, you can even get reduced fees for recreation.
3. While watch television, you can incorporate a few fitness activites. These may include doing some sit-ups on a mat, or even on your bed, and leg lifts. No one said watching television needs to be a sedentary activity.
4. With your radio or record player, which is gaining popularity once again, listen to Rock or your favorite fast beat, and make your moves in your living room. Dancing is a great way to exercise as well as have fun.
5. Finally, go ahead and make a small splurge on a DVD exercise tape. Nowadays, you can buy a DVD tape on just about any exercise activity. You can try something different, such as Yoga, or belly dancing or even martial arts. And don't forget your local library where you can borrow DVD exercise tapes for free.
Doing exercise need not be boring or expensive. Til next week.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Happy New Year 2010
At last! We have arrived into a new year! It is like a breath of clean air and a new beginning.
I wish everyone a very good year, a safe one and a prosperous one, too.
Just so I have your attention, I am offering for a limited time, a free weekly calendar to any new subscriber who subscribes to my blog. Please note: this offering is for Canadian residents only, while supplies last.
On your calendar, you may want to mark off some things that you can do that will help make the planet a little greener. On this note, one of your resolutions may be to use a little less plastic and always try to carry a reuseable bag in your car or backpack. Perhaps, too, you may want to take transit a little more often, or if you are in the market for a vehicle, why not consider a hybrid?
And if you are a coffee, or tea drinker, you can purchase a stainless steel coffee mug which allows you to forgo the use of a plastic or styrofoam cup.
For those travellers who are thinking about travel, have you ever considered a trip via Amtrak or by bus?And why not recycle some of your Christmas wrap and reuse it next year.
How about having a meatless Monday and Friday? You'll benefit by living longer, as well as perhaps save more animals from being slaughtered and transported by trucks.
These are some of my ideas that will enable people to think a little greener, and help save the planet for future and current generations.
If you would like me to post some of your ideas, send me an email.
I will endeavour to make this a weekly blog, with postings every Saturday. I hope that my blog will educate, entertain and make your day a little bit brighter!
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