Happy Canada Day!

As we celebrate our country’s birthday, we remember all of the accomplishments as a country. We have so much to celebrate as we have done so much over 150 years. From joining our country coast to coast with a railway, discovery of insulin, to the Canadarm.

We are also commencing the start of a new Toastmaster year. Toastmasters is also about achievements. Toastmasters help you improve your speaking skills, whether it be a speech or the development of briefly talking on a subject at the last minute. The program also helps develop your leadership skills by taking on various roles at the meetings, and by participating as a member of the club executive. All speeches and roles are evaluated, confirming the positive aspects of your speech/role and to challenge you to improve.

What would you like to achieve this year? Come join us at Vital Words and start you journey to achieve your goals.

President
Vital Words.

A new year

As 2016 grinds to a close, I looked back on the year with some self-pity and sadness. That year my Father, a week later my favourite uncle, a month after that my beloved companion of over 12 year my Abyssinian cat, Simone (registered name Smenkhare) and then in early fall my daughter’s best friend, all passed from this realm! There came times when I did not even want to answer my phone in case there was another sad tale. Makes it hard to put a “cheery” spin on my face.
Not sure if it is just my nature, and I know it has a lot to do with the wonderful support of my understanding and challenging family and friends but I eventually tired of talking about “poor me” – how sad is my life! The inspirational speeches I heard at TM meetings and the continual search for self-improvement, led me to a number of revelations.
I realize my Father was very unhappy. He had lost his love of over 50 years, my Mother a year before. His body was physically exhausted, leaving him in great pain he did not deal with properly. Live had become an unbearable burden for him.
My Uncle was in the last throws of a losing battle with Alzheimer’s, entering a violent phase. An interesting, family-loving and mild person, these violent episodes would have been very stressful for him. He was no longer interested in merely surviving, I am sure.
Simone had been diagnosed with a large inoperable tumour 2 weeks before she passed. Ross and I ensured her last two weeks especially, were heaven on Earth – cuddles, favourite foods and lots of companionship with the entire family. The vet said her body had just given up – her spirit was still willing but life was just too painful for her.
I look back and realize, Death comes; like taxes, it is inevitable. However, like all of life’s stress, how we deal with death long term is the life lesson to learn. I choose to be grateful for the times I spent with each individual, cherish the memories each gave me and the life lessons I learned. Gratitude for all of life’s ups and downs helps to ground us and makes us realize all the great wonders available IF we stop and look – great family, interesting friends and wonderful memories!
I may still look on 2016 as the “year of death” BUT now I can look forward to 2017 with gratitude and hope.

– Catherine Kellar, club president