c'est la vie

Close friendships require hard work and effort.   For me this is a statement, not a debate.  They require hard work and effort because most times the reward is great joy and great sharing and the accumulation of great memories over years.  I know the whole reason, season, lifetime verse and song and yes, this is true for most friendships - some people help us just at the right moment in life, to survive, to find joy, to share, to love.  And then they silently slip away.  Not from negligence, but simply because your work together is done.  The "reason" ones. And yes, others still come around for a longer while - the "season" people - they fill a space in your life and they give you the opportunity to fill space in theirs, to spend time together, to make your own memories.  And when that season is gone, so are they.  And then come the "lifetime" ones, and these are the ones that require the real damn hard work, the real effort, and yes, beli...

To be brave.  Does not mean you have to save someone from a burning building Does not mean you have to endure pain without asking for help Does not mean you have to hide your tears Does not mean you have to allow others to walk over you Does not mean you have to endure the lack of right to speak up Does not mean you have to live your life fighting the reactions of certain people Does not mean you have to stay in a job / relationship / situation that you hate To be brave Means you allow yourself to have an opinion Means you allow yourself to speak up  Means you allow yourself to be bold Means you allow yourself to fight injustices Means you step up and step out when needed Means you stand up to bullies Means you speak your mind even when you know you will get a reaction  Means you rather stand alone for something, than with a crowd, for nothing Means you will defend someone when you know it is morally right, rather than worry whether it is a conflict o...

So being Catholic, Lent presents itself with the opportunity to give up something.  To fast from something - to leave something behind.  I grew up like most Catholic kids, giving up Coke, sweets and a plethora of such. As an adult I still found myself giving up coffee (never again simply for the sanity of both my husband and my boss), chocolates and things like that.  Then a couple of years ago I changed this, I found that I wanted to give up a habit or behaviour or addiction, rather than a "material" thing.  It has worked for me for the past 2 years.  This year I decided to give up lateness.  You may think this is a rather simplistic choice.  If you know me you will know differently. I leave for everywhere at the last possible moment.  I lie in till the last possible moment. It is now a habit.  A long standing habit.  And I know it is annoying for my family, particularly my hubby and especially my kids who are time conscious. ...