Life's simple pleasures

I have two favourite simple pleasures. The first, is called, Tim Horton's steeped tea. I take a large, with double milk. It's even more pleasurable when you roll up the rim, and win. I often find myself waiting in long line ups in drive-thru. The warm, rich taste is so comforting, and when I drink tea I feel good. The caffeine also helps keep my engine running smoothly.

My second favourite, is chocolate. Cadbury's Burnt Almond Dark is one of the most decadent chocolate bars that I've ever tasted. The rich taste of dark chocolate is only for the chocolate connisseur to fully appreciate. I only need a little to completely satisfy my craving. I've even heard that dark chocolate is good for you. What a bonus!

Simple pleasures make our lives a little brighter.

Cheers!

Angela

Love freely - Closer to Nature with Pets

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." ~ Anatole France

I know pets aren’t for everyone, and if you’ve ever owned a pet, you know that there is a great responsibility in doing so. Many pets have come and gone in my life. Pets can offer so much to our lives. Dogs are often treated as a child or a sibling in the family unit. Some pets spend most of their time in cages and enjoy the daily attention, some pets just come to visit us (like the neighbour’s cat), and some enhance our lives so much - plus they get us outside more.

Dogs love to be walked. Last night I went for a walk with my husband, and we took our dog, Rocky. We saw so many other people out with their dogs as well. My son took the dog for a run with him earlier the same day. My husband took Rocky out once again for a run (with his bike) later that evening. When he came back in, he said, “You should have seen Rocky smiling! He met up with about six other dogs, and I am sure I saw a smile on his face”. I looked at Rocky when he got back, and he was panting, and he actually did look like he was wearing a smile.

We can learn a lot from our pets, and the joy and pleasure that comes with pet ownership is only one you can know once you’ve experienced it. Again, I know pet ownership isn’t for everyone (esp. dogs), but I am sure if you want to have a pet in your life, there’s one out there for you. Visit your local pet store and get some ideas. Even if it's to hold a rabbit, or check out the birds. The kids in your life will thank you for it!

Have a wonderful day!

Angela

Staying connected with friends

"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though she knows that you are slightly cracked." -- Bernard Meltzer.

In this crazy, busy world, we often find that it's hard to stay connected to those we care about. Phone calls usually end up with a message left, and you rarely get to talk to someone for a lengthy enough time because there are so many things going on. Facebook has been a place where I can connect with my family and friends. I'm not one of those people who have hundreds of friends, I just have a small community of those I care about and want to stay connected with. I enjoy sharing my news and pictures, and reading about what's going on in others' lives. When our dog Gypsy died, my daughter posted it on her Facebook status, and she received so much support. Networking sites are places we can go to provide support and friendship in a timely manner.

Email is also a wonderful way that we can stay connected. Even if it's a joke or a warning (aka Urban Myth), every email we receive says that someone has thought of us, even if for just a brief moment.

Going out to a movie, going out for a coffee or tea, or getting together for a meal are great ways to get out and have some great friendship time. Plan something fun! I remember once I went horseback riding with a friend, and we had a great time.

Take time today to connect with someone who you haven't talked to for quite some time. You'll be glad you did!

Cheers,

Angela

Live well - Exercise your rights (and lefts)

When was the last time you went for a walk? Went to the gym? Stretched? Played sports? One of the ways we can show ourselves self-care, is to exercise. I go to the gym 2-3x weekly, and often I have a dialog with myself that I don't want to go, because I am tired, I have other things to do, I'll go later. I read that the worst part about exercising is that point where we argue with ourselves and we procrastinate doing it, and the best relief or remedy for this is to just go and do it.

Do you have a great piece of exercise equipment in your home? What is it being used for right now? If it's a laundry hanger, or if it's collecting dust, commit yourself today to spending at least 20 minutes giving it some attention. If it's nice out, go for a walk. If it's not, run up and down the stairs a few times and do some sit ups. Jump-start or beef-up your exercise regime starting today.

The best thing about exercise is how you'll feel when you are done. You'll feel relaxed, happy and relieved that you did it! And if you're one of those people who loves to exercise and doesn't have a problem motivating yourself, please share your secrets with us!

Have a happy, active day!

Angela

Laugh Often

I have had the pleasure and privilege of attending two events that made me laugh. Laughter, they say, is the outward expression of sensations of joy and humour. Earlier this month, I went to see Dr. Phil Callaway speaking at the Alzheimer's Conference. One of his claims to fame is that he is able to teach us to laugh when life stinks. He is an author of many books, and one of his books is called, "Laughing Matters". He had a huge audience laughing at themselves, even in difficult, stressful times. I was pleasantly surprised that his lessons on life, parenting, and caregiving could be presented in such a humourous way. He has a website, http://www.philcallaway.ab.ca/, and he can be found on Youtube. If you want a laugh right now, go to http://www.youtube.com/ and search for Phil Callaway's Stress Test.

The other very pleasant surprise I came across recently was a play, called "Girls Only; the Secret Comedy of Women". An entire audience of women (and one man) last night were rolling on the floor laughing, so to speak. The energy in the room was amazing. I laughed so hard until I cried and my cheeks and stomach hurt. I would recommend that you go see a comedy like this if you need a lift. "We all deserve to laugh like this!" I was so relaxed and lighter afterwards. It felt great. You can find the Girls Only website at http://www.girlsonlycomedy.com/.

Comedy, laughter and joy can help you "look on the light side of life". If you search youtube.com and search "funny", you too can have a laugh. Another thing I like to do is watch, "America's Funniest Videos". There are ways to "lighten up" life, you just have to go out and find them. Laugh often, and you will feel uplifted, and you may even smile a little more!



Have a great day!

Angela

Why write a blog about the bright side?

I believe there is too much negativity out there in the world. The news is full of disaster, death and grave suffering. I want to provide a place where we can go to discuss and explore the bright side of life. I myself am a born optimist. No matter how bad life can get, I always look for the positive side of things. Call me Pollyanna LOL! There is a great song, called "Always look at the bright side of life" and it was in a popular Monty Python movie called, "Life of Brian". It has a catchy tune, and the chorus persuades us to, "always look on the bright side of life...always look on the light side of life", by Eric Idle. Imagine not being affected by all the negativity in life. Wouldn't it be great to live in a world free of violence and suffering? Don't get me wrong, I know that this world if full of grief and misery, it's just that I choose to avoid it and focus on the positive. I believe that what you focus on expands, therefore, I choose to focus on happiness and joy. Health Canada reports that about 11% of men and 16% of women in Canada will experience major depression in the course of their lives. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and we have to work on keeping ourselves healthy in both body and mind. Combating negativity can only be done by focusing on the positive and my blogs are going to help us do that. I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you and look forward to hearing from you as well.

Cheerio!

Angela Gentile