The Future is Hers!

Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore. We have seen the future, and the future is ours. ~ Cesar Chavez

Another busy day in my life! A highlight though was meeting a student who was formerly on my caseload for lunch. I had been with her through early and middle years, and then was no longer open to her in high school. I had heard she was graduating in a few weeks and so sent a message via Facebook (thank goodness for such social networking sites that allow you to track people), inviting her to lunch.

What a delight to catch up on her life! She has been transformed. She struggled to stay in school and I remember telling her she was smart and she should stay. I must have told her 10 times today how very proud I was. She is working, has had a few boyfriends, bought a car, an I-Pod and a laptop out of her own money, and has a life plan. She is pleasant, assertive, and lovely all around.

I think what amazed me was her inner strength. She has such amazing inner convictions. I think, in some ways, that she always has. One time, I showed up at the school for the first time in the school year without letting her know I was coming. I thought she was going to fly right through her desk. She knew I was going to listen to her and change what had been bugging her. She was always a student who knew what she wanted.

I cannot wait to see where she goes from here. You cannot uneducate someone. She has learned so much and will be a fabulous addition to her community. What a joy!

Peace,

Suzanne

Weary

Weary. Weary at the close of day, wondering if tomorrow brings me joy or sorrow. ~ Leon Redbone

There was lots going on today. I worked out of town but accomplished many things even before I left the city. I spent the day working with some students and signers. This time of year, the push is on to see my schools one more time. It is crazy really.

I drove back to the city and made what I had hoped was going to be a short stop at the office…which turned into a half hour. From there, I washed my very “sticky” car. It must be cankerworm season. Sigh. Afterwards I picked up sushi for supper en route to my parents. While waiting for the sushi to be made, I popped next door to do some shopping for a work-related farewell party. I managed to run into a good friend and chatted with her a bit before bopping back into the restaurant to get my sushi.

I spent an hour catching up with Mom and Dad before jumping into my car at 8:00 pm to finally go home. I dragged myself into my apartment and then decided I really MUST get in a walk and so changed into walking clothes and took off. I was glad I did. It helped clear my head. I also reveled in the beauty of this season. So many gorgeous, fragrant flowers! Halfway through my walk, I realized my body is in pretty rough shape. I probably need to see a physiotherapist soon. I managed to finish the walk without incident though and now have caught up on work and personal email so can concentrate on getting this blog out.

I am weary at the close of this day…but a good weary. I feel like I accomplished a ton of things. I do wonder what tomorrow holds in store. I am hoping for joy!

Peace,

Suzanne

Slavery Still Exists

Every single human being on the planet is God's good idea. ~ Steve Bell

Steve Bell spoke these words before playing a song at the Mobilizing Men Against Human Trafficking event tonight. No one deserves to be a slave and no one deserves to feel worthless. He also told the story of how his former foster daughter ended up needing to be rescued from a man who was keeping her a prisoner in BC. If we think that human trafficking cannot happen to us or to someone we know, we need to think again. Sadly, slavery exists today. It does not only exist in places where the sex trade flourishes like in some Asian countries, but it happens here, in my province, in my town, and maybe even in my neighbourhood. Twenty-seven million people globally are victims of human trafficking. That is an insane number.

I went to hear MP Joy Smith speak about the work she is doing nationally. Steve is just one of the people she assisted. Grand Chief Ron Evans also spoke tonight. We know that the number of murdered and missing Aboriginal females in Canada is high. We can only speculate how many of them have been tragically lured into the sex trade.

At the end, Joy called on the men (and women) to take a stand and commit to working to make the world safer and to take action to combat modern day slavery. I forget all of the suggestions but some were to not participate in purchasing or watching pornographic materials, another was to speak out when someone puts down women and children sexually, and a third was to create a safe environment in order to protect our families. She suggested praying for the policemen like her son, who had the emotionally brutal job of watching the pornographic videos made by perverts in order to charge the perpetrators. You can fast and pray. You can take action to change the demand of the sex trade.

What are you willing to do?

Peace,

Suzanne

Do What You Can...

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. ~ Theodore Roosevelt

I have had a busy day, running errands and such. I met with my retreatant today, who is slowly making headway. God is working well there. Such a joy to see! From there I stopped in at a florist shop because I had a text to pray for a friend’s dad who has just been diagnosed with cancer. It brought back a flood of emotions, as it is the same cancer Rob died from so quickly. I had a Pilates class afterwards. There was a sidewalk sale in that part of the city so there were roaming clowns, all kinds of free stuff, and sales at all the boutiques. I then went to a mall where a circus also happening and which was being protested by animal advocates. A quick stop at home was next before meeting an ex-roommate for supper at a local Indian restaurant.

I am not sure that is what Teddy meant…..

I am off to bed because I have done enough with what I had where I am today.

Peace,

Suzanne

Regrets

We crucify ourselves between two thieves: regret for yesterday and fear of tomorrow. ~ Fulton Oursler

Tonight I stood in line for a long time at the BDI, which is a local ice cream joint. It is my second visit of the year, this time with my goddaughter. We had a lively chat as we waited and the time passed painlessly. We walked around the neighbourhood looking at houses, and she dreamed aloud of the house she would like to some day live in.

Being a teenager is a challenge in these times…maybe in any time. She has had a rough week. Tonight though she seemed very free just to be. I was glad. She does suffer from the crucifixion above. She regrets a number of things in the past and is a little afraid of the future yet at the same time we had some good conversation about what she would like to do.

I am happy when I can see her dream and feel relaxed. She is a gorgeous young woman. She does not really know that, like most other girls her age. I hope she grows into it.

I felt a twinge of sadness as she spoke about some of her regrets. She is much too young to regret things but it does show she is thoughtful and compassionate.

I am going to bed early tonight so this is short.

Peace,

Suzanne

Writing Your Life

Life: A diary in which everyone means to write one story, and writes another. ~ Sir James M. Barrie

Sometimes a day does not turn out the way you expect it. I pray every morning: I offer you all my works, prayers, joys and sufferings, Lord. May they all be according to Your Holy will and for Your greater glory. I am never 100% sure what that will mean but I pray it anyway.

Today was one of those days that if I had had to script it upon waking would have turned out very differently. I was on my way out the door to a school when I received a couple of emails about a student in crisis at the school I was heading to. Would I mind interpreting a meeting once I got there? Hmmm…ominous. Of course, I would do it. What was to be a simple classroom observation and my last visit of the school year turned into something very different.

The staff had also prepared a surprise birthday party for me, complete with lemonade and brownies. Mixed in were some kind and gracious words about what a wonderful resource I was to them and how much my work was appreciated. Ah, that would not have made it into today’s script either.

I had a meeting in the afternoon with the program that ran year one of a training program for the signers I work with. I was not sure exactly where the meeting would go and I was ready to put up a fight when I realized everyone around the table wanted to make it work. They were quite amicable about several points. That was very exciting for me. I had envisioned a much different tale unfolding.

Today was a day of expecting one story and being surprised and delighted by another.

Ever had one of those days?

Peace,

Suzanne

Graduation Day!

There is a good reason they call these ceremonies 'commencement exercises'. Graduation is not the end, it's the beginning.
~ Orrin Hatch

My friend Cindy graduated this morning with a BA. Like me, Cindy courageously went back to school to complete a degree she once started in another lifetime. She was younger and single when she started university. Now she is a busy career woman, married with three children, and fostering a fourth. I admire her—she certainly is an inspiration. I was busy too but I only had my own schedule to manage, not five others.

Tonight, her family, and that of her niece’s who also graduated today, hosted a celebration to recognize the hard work and determination she and her niece showed. I think marking milestones is a crucial passage. If the event slides by unnoticed, the lack of praise and appreciation for it sinks into a soul and festers. There were lots of happy faces tonight to honour Cindy.

As we shared a quiet moment away from the crowd in the kitchen, she admitted that the degree had come at a cost…a cost I understood. The time with family and friends cannot be retrieved. She is proud, and rightfully so, of her accomplishment though. Life is a balancing act and regrets are not worth the drama.

Now it is on to a year or two to recuperate for her and then to decide about a Master’s degree. She will be great at whatever she does. This is not an end, but a beginning of a different journey for her. How wonderful to witness!

Peace,

Suzanne