In Praise of the Metropolitan Toronto Police

For the second time this summer, I had the opportunity to observe some of Metro's finest as they provided a traffic escort during a march. The officers stopped traffic as needed during the annual Scarborough Seventh-day Adventist Church anti-drug, anti-violence march. As always, the mounted police officer's horse stole the show.

Awaiting the start of the
Scarborough SDA Church anti-drug,
anti-violence march on Saturday, September 4, 2010

A couple weeks ago, another team of officers provided a traffic escort during the West Toronto SDA Church's annual anti-drug, anti-violence march.

Saturday, August 14, 2010 at the
West Toronto SDA Church's anti-drug, anti-violence march

During both marches, the officers were friendly, courteous and professional. They were a pleasure to be around. Today, one or two of the officers cheerfully complied when asked to photograph march participants before the event commenced.

I have lived in Toronto since 1967. Toronto is not what it once was, but in my opinion, Canada is still the best country in the world in which to live. I am proud to be a Canadian citizen and I count it both a blessing and a privilege to live here. A significant part of the reason why Canada (in general) and Toronto (specifically) is one of the best communities on earth (in my opinion), is because of the protection and security that is provided on a daily basis by Toronto's finest.

Rain delay in the Rogers Cup 2010 final: Federer versus Murray

A second rain delay has temporarily preempted the Rogers Cup men's single's final. Federer fought back from a 2-game deficit in the first match to tie at 5. Murray won the first set 7:5. Federer leads the second set 2:1 but Murray leads the fourth game 30:0. They will be resuming in a couple minutes.

Yesterday, Federer fought a 3-match battle against Novak Djokovic. Murray had a straight set win over Rafael Nadal. Hence strictly from a physiological standpoint, the rain delay favours Roger.

Rain delay no. 3 just began but the fans are going nowhere. There is once again a sea of umbrellas around the court.

The Courage and Determination of the Human Spirit

At two of the three track meets that I have attended thus far this year, that which impressed me the most was the courage and determination of a couple physically challenged athletes. For these athletes, the expression "physically challenged" was a truism; not a euphemism nor an attempt to be politically correct.

At OFSAA, the Ontario Track & Field High School Championships, this June a young man using a regular wheel chair competed with two other athletes who were equipped with racing chairs in the 1500m.

From the outset, we all knew, as did he, that he had no opportunity of winning. However this young man showed true courage and determination as he did his best and completed his race using the equipment that he had. The crowd appreciated his efforts.

Yesterday at the Canadian Track & Field Championships, for me, two athletes stood out. In both cases, they ran their races positionally at the back of the field in their events [400m and 10,000m]. However, I believe in both cases, they were the only athlete in their competition category so technically, they were front runners from start to finish.

A visually impaired young lady ran the 400m with her running partner (in essence, her eyes) rounding the track beside her. The spectators were too busy scurrying from the stands to take shelter from the pouring rain that started in earnest shortly after the race began to truly appreciate her efforts. I used to run 400's in high school. To run the race, unable to see clearly where the rest of the field is has got to be a trying ordeal.

In the final event of the day, a gentleman, probably in his 40's, ran the 10,000m in a field that include the Canadian record holder in the event. I was reminded a little of Terry Fox since this runner had one prosthetic leg. The crowd appreciated his gallant efforts.

What these three athletes demonstrated is the fact that you can allow life's challenges and obstacles to cripple you or to motivate you to find a means to overcome them. That is a lesson that we all need to learn for we all face seemingly insurmountable obstacles in our journey through life from time to time.

"The show must go on."

In the words of Taj Mahal's drummer, "The show must go on."

To say that they had had a few hiccups would be an extreme understatement. Delayed flights led to an unplanned overnight stay in Washington D.C., group members traveling to Toronto today [Sunday, June 27th] on two separate flights and worst of all, their instruments did not make it onto the plane.

When they took the stage, the audience was unaware of any of this. The fans had braved the elements on a rainy evening; make that a stormy Sunday night to see a Jazz music legend. They got what they came for.

Single again. Now what?

Hi there. It probably makes little difference to your heart whether you:

- were married or not.

- are gay or straight.

- young or old.

If you lost your beloved, the one to whom you committed your all; if ought but death separated you, right now, you are probably feeling pretty bummed out -- and anything but pretty (or handsome).

Rejection hurts.

How you handle this crisis is up to you. The choices and decisions that you are currently making (especially attitudinally) are going to determine:

- how long the healing process will take.

- how bumpy the journey will be once you pass through the first gloomy wilderness days/weeks/months.

- whether or not you get stuck in one of the stages of the grieving process.

As one who has already traversed these stormy emotional seas, here are my recommendations to help you sail across your tumultuous emotional sea without capsizing too often.

- If you have children, do NOT ever say or do anything that could negatively impact their relationship with their other parent [your ex or the one from whom you are currently separated]. There's a reason why God gave each of us two parents. You are only 50% of the child raising team.

- Actively support your ex in all things pertaining to the children.

The child(ren) have also sustained a great loss. They did not choose to leave, nor to be left behind. Children are the innocent victims/casualties in all of this.

Dreams

It is essential to have goals and dreams. They give you a reason to get up in the morning. However, it takes more than waking up or going to bed with a dream to turn this hope into a present (or future) reality. It takes a lot of research, careful planning, hard work, consistency, dedication and perseverance. God's blessing is also instrumental in turning your dream into reality -- in spite of all of your preparations.

Sometimes you have to lower your expectations (re a relationship).

Originally posted in my Facebook notes

Monday, October 12, 2009

Sometimes, you have to accept the reality that this person is not going to change, which in turn means that this relationship will never get better.

Photo credit: Adobe Stock Photo

As for me, if I have to choose between loving you and loving myself, I'm going to have to let you go, for I will intentionally do myself no harm.

Consistently placing myself in a negative environment, where I my hopes will be dashed upon the rocks of your callous words, where I will cringe again and again under the glance of your evil eye, …

It makes no sense.

Someone said that doing the same thing again and again while expecting a different outcome is a definition of insanity.
If that be so, can this be any less moronic.

Sometimes, it is better to use the exacto knife of choice to sever your connection from the object of your heart's desire.

The imaginable or unimaginable pain that must result must eventually give way

to healing

to restoration

to a restoration of the man or woman that you once were

before you gave your heart to this brutish one,

who was, is,

and perhaps, no doubt, in the absence of divine intervention,

forevermore shall remain … [insert adjective(s) here]

No longer shall the venom of their words …

… humiliate you.

… cause you pain.

… crush your spirit.

Photo credit: Adobe Stock Photo

Why remain in a "relationship" with one who is incapable of supplying the barest minimum of what you need.

UNconditional LOVE

RESPECT

COURTESY

a SMILE

the occasional HUG

a GENTLE word

a TENDER embrace just because; for no reason;
with no expectation of something more

You don't have to wait until the new year to resolve to do what is …

RIGHT

MAKES SENSE

Maybe it's time / perhaps it's past time to PUT OUT THE TRASH.

I choose to distance myself from negative people [grumblers, whiners, …

… idlers (though I have definitely done my share of this
-- especially in my first 3 years at university)].

It's time for a new year.

a new resolve

a positive outlook

a call to ACTION

NOBODY CAN DO IT FOR YOU.

Loving, caring, …, concerned friends will enCOURAGE you.

They will pray for you.

They may become frustrated by your consistently poor choices and APPEAR to give up on you.

"Charity [Love] NEVER fails …"

TOUGH LOVE DOES "by any means necessary"
THAT WHICH SHE MUST DO

in order to produce the desired effect,

in order to initiate or create the CATALYST that will finally

AWAKEN your befuddled brain

so that you can look into the mirror of reality,

perhaps aided by the mirror of God's WORD …

… and see ever so briefly the heights from which you have fallen

or perhaps

… the depths to which you have sunken.

Look up.

Look out.

Step up.

Shape up.

Better to lose a finger than a hand.

Better to lose a car than your mind.

Better to walk away from that house

than to live the rest of your life as a mouse.

You are homo sapiens;

Meant to walk erect.

Intended to stand tall.

Photo credit: Adobe Stock Photo

Created in the image of God, an heir of the first Adam,
to exercise dominion over all the earth;

not for a MANTU [looks like, sounds like, but
does NOT behave like a man] to have dominion over you.

It's your life.

You gave it away.

Don't you think that it's time for you to take it back?