Life Lessons

Once again, it is New Brunswick teen Rebecca Schofield, who has got me back to the keyboard.  I first wrote about Becca in February. She is dying of brain cancer. Instead of thinking only of herself, she launched a campaign asking people to perform random acts of kindness. She loves it when people share their good deeds, using #beccatoldmeto. I was very happy tonight to see an item about her on CBC's The National. Tomorrow in New Brunswick it is Becca Schofield day! Click here to learn more about Becca and to hear part of her interview.

"To know that I get this day and it's not just my day, it's a day to celebrate the people that we can be and the people that we should be — it just warms my heart to know that we have a day like that where we can come together as a community."

Becca's interview reminds me of fifty year old MP Arnold Chan, who died yesterday. I was moved when CBC radio played a part of his last speech in the House of Commons. In it he appealed to all of us, to be our best selves.

"I would ask Canadians to give heart to their democracy; that they treasure it, revere it," Chan said. "Of course I would ask them in the most basic of things, to cast their ballot, but for me it is much more than that. I ask them for their civic engagement, regardless of what it actually may mean, whether it is going out and coaching a soccer team, whether it is helping someone at a food bank, and for me it can be even something simpler than that...

"It is thanking our Tim Hortons server. It is giving way to someone on the road. It is saying thanks.

"It is the small things that we collectively do, from my perspective, that make a great society, and fundamentally to me that is ultimately what it means to be a Canadian."

Click here to learn more about Arnold Chan and to hear his speech.

So tomorrow, on Becca Schofield Day and every day, let us remember the lessons from these two remarkable Canadians. 

Passages

It's the day after labour day, the real new years day. As a retired teacher, mother and grandmother, it will always be this day that marks the end and beginning of the year, the start of new adventures. And so today I am thinking of the passage of time.

Most importantly, today is the first day of real school for our oldest grandchild, our precious Avery. He's very excited for today and we hope that the staff at his school care for him to the very best of their ability. He has been so well prepared for today, over these past five years, by his loving parents.

Last week we visited my mother-in-law, Rita, who has Alzheimers. Time means little to her now. She really does live in the moment and is unable to recognize the change in days, weeks or seasons. However, her emotional sense is intact so she is very much aware of those who make her feel happy, loved and well cared for.

Last week also saw the celebration of my parents' 65th wedding anniversary. As part of our gathering, we played an anniversary quiz game that got them reminiscing about their early years together. They and we, are fortunate that they are able to remember and recount those precious memories. It was fun to hear about their first car,  their wedding day, and the friend who tied all the tin cans to the back bumper of that new car. We are indebted to them for a lifetime of care.

Yesterday we received the sad news that our friend Irene has died. She lived with cancer for ten years. I will always remember her kind welcome to me when I was transferred to her school. I was missing my former school and feeling lonely in my new situation. Her office became a welcome oasis where we shared a lot of laughs. She continued to laugh, love, travel and enjoy life as much as possible throughout her cancer journey. She will be greatly missed.

So, it's a day of beginnings and endings. Whether we are young students starting off in a new class, a patient, a senior, or those of us in the middle, we are all in need of loving care. As the Beatles famously sang,  "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make."