Feelling Good by Doing Good

We asked ourselves as a family, how can we continue to reduce our carbon foot print?
We already do many great things to improve our own well being. As a family even before it was cool to be “green”, we were practicing the 3Rs, buying organic and local. Going way back 30 years back to be exact, i raised a baby with cloth diapers and home made food.

As a family we brainstormed on what could we do more to do our part for mother earth? So we decided to give up one car and just keep one car. Now, for those of us that live in Winnipeg, with our very poor public transit – snail transit, which could take hours to get from the burbs to downtown area, it is a inconvenience to say the least to be one car family.

In our decision making -weighing the pro’s and con’s we made a list. The pro’s had the smallest items on the list and there were many, many con’s. So why did we in the end still make the decision to try out one car instead of two?

We decided that with the money we would save in car insurance alone, we could pay for a rental when the inconvenience was too great, due to conflicting business schedules made it too difficult to go with one car. With other savings as result of less gas and maintenance costs, the money would go towards helping a child through sponsorship.

With feeling good by doing good, the minor inconveniences of just having one car, was very doable. Afterall, it is not like we have to walk for kilometers on end to get drinking water or food?

We’ve become masters at scheduling and organizing our work and personal lives. We are now celebrating two years with one car, and we are proud of the fact that we took the step to reduce our carbon foot print, save money, and help a young boy across the world to get basic health care, and education.

Feeling good by doing good! Of course, my family is wondering what will we do next..?.

Passion and Purpose

“I may not be able to change the world around me, but I can change what I see within me” paraphrased from John C. Maxwell.   Often I struggle with what is happening around me and my inability to change the situation and or re-direct and imapct the results.

Like many people, I go along the road of life, working, overcoming challenges, celebrating victories, and once in awhile I get stuck on over thinking a situation which I have no control over.  This leads me to temporary frustration.  I say temporary, because of my hightened self awareness and self reliance, I am able to talk myself off the ledge. I know I always have a choice. To quote Jack Canfield, when you want a different result, do something different.

My taking the choices and making decisions always leads me back to my rules for living my life with passion and purpose:

• I believe that my attitudes and beliefs structure how my world appears to me
• I rely on my core values to drive and fuel my way forward
• I can take stock of what is working and what is NOT and make choices ( include things, situations and people)
• I trust myself and a high power
• I geunine care about people
• I am committed to excellence in all facets of my life
• Keep it simple
• Be generous with my energy and knowledge
• Laugh and share the Joy

I have walked my life with passion and purpose. I have spoken and my words have ignited passion and purpose in others.  I model vision, determination and action in pursuing my goals.  My enthusiam and positive energy have inspired others to believe in themselves, and allow them to grow into their full potential.

The Art of Optimism

I am often asked “how do you stay so positive”?. My first reply is  always “is there any other choice?”, which often opens that door for people to vent and complain about how bad it is! Of course, this provides me with the opportunity to taking stock of all the assets in their lives. Soon thereafter, their energy changes and the opportunity to choose a more “positive” approach presents itself.

Taking  inventory using the ’assets based approach’ is a great way to practice positive attitude. I realize that we all have choices in the way we look at situations. We can be positive or we can be negative. We can choose to get caught up in the drama or to stay in our side of the road.

I choose to be positive and spread optimism whenever possible. As a youth, I found myself travelling across the ocean,  emigrating to a new land with my family and deal with some very difficult times. The first year living in Winnipeg, working full time in a factory basement with no windows, no ocean in site, no beach, no school, no friends, etc.etc,  I was miserable and felt very negative.  One day, after a conversation with my supervisor,  she made me realize that I did have choices.  I could continue to live feeling miserable and being negative,  or  I could change my attitude and seek out the possibilities of  what my situation could provide me with.

I choose my attitude. It is a great feeling of self empowerment. Everyday new day I am given, I renew my commitment to choosing to be positive and optimismitc. I have had my share of dark moments, adversity, pain and sorrow.  It is because of these times,  that I am even more committed to learning from the situation, accepting and moving forward being gratefull for the good, the bad and the ugly.  Over the years I have also learned to be generous with my positive and optimistic attitude, which has allowed me the ability to inspire others.

Once during a performance evaluation feedback, my manager only  “criticism”  was that I was “too perky”.  I smiled and said ” I will be very happy to share with you and others how I stay upbeat and positive.

For those of you that know me, you may be seen the passionate, feisty and determined side of me. I have strong opinions on many different issues and when I  genuine care about something, oh yeah it is visible. However, I will will end with a smile, a  great deal of enthusiasm, and reflect on what to take forward that was good and positive, and how to use it to fuel me to go the distance.

Each new day provides us with the opportunity to have no fear or doubt about the future and to continue to move into our self-discovery. With each new day comes renewed hope in the possibilities, and the realization that everything happens for a reason.

-believe in the possibilities

-accept that you deserve the best

-be grateful for the small things gratitute-

-reflect on the lessons, accept and release

-enjoy the joy

Renew your commitment to practice being an staying positive. Optimism is like enthusiasm is contagious. Be prepared to share as you move forward in this journey.

Happy trails……….

Extraordionary moments in my journey.

Recently, I was honoured by the Liga Solidaria da Mulher Portuguesa de Manitoba, as a successfull Immigrant, Entrepreneur and Trailblazer. The gala had 400 women in attendance all dressed to the nines…beautiful women, full of passion and energy.

The event was a fundraiser with funds being donate to CancerCare Manitoba and a portion of the proceeds were donated to the St. Boniface Palliative Care Unit on honour of Mr. Manuel Guerra who passed way in December 2010. Manuel Guerra was a champion in the Portuguese Community, an entrepreneur and a mentor to many, including myself. I owe him for convincing my father to allow me to go to school at the age of 17.5 and get my grade 12. Upon arriving in Winnipeg in April 1973, I had to go to work in a sewing factory to help support my family; mom, dad, five brothers and me. Later, the collaboration began between Manuel and Irene, my supervisor at the time to persuade my father that school was where I should be. Both of these individuals saw the capacity and the desire I had to learn,  and they worked together to make ut happen for me. That decision changed the course of my life and provided me with many new opportunities to learn, grow and achieve different levels of success.

In preparing to write my speech and compile material for presentation, I spent many hours going through old pictures, and reflecting on many extraordinary moments in my journey. It was an emotional journey down memory lane in my preparation and reflection as I prepared to address 400 women. Many of these women are my mother’s generation. Many of them told me that my mother would have been so proud of me. I am getting to live the life that she could even dream for herself. Her generation had a very different set of circumstances, and therefore could not even dream of what they did not know existed for them. I wonder if this is what every generation must go through to further themselves. My desire to learn and get formal education in Canada, perhaps was a result of knowing that my mother was illiterate. I was the one who taught her how to write her name, when she needed to sign papers for our immigrating to Canada. I started working full-time at the age of 14 years old. My mother started working serving the rich in S. Miguel when she was  7 years old. Yet, in S. Miguel I had 6 years of education which was equivalent to Grade 8 in Manitoba.  I always had a thirst for learning especially languages and history. My mother did not always understand my desire to further my education. She wanted me to learn how to be a good home maker ; cook, clean, sew and embroider. My father in the other hand supported my desire to continue school back home. Coming to Winnipeg, Canada and due to the financial need, he did not have a choice at first, and the decision for me to immediately go to work became my reality.

Perhaps this is where my desire to advocate for the development of human capacity comes from. My work with immigrants, women and youth and my passion for this work comes from a very deep place in my soul. As I spoke of at the event, everything that happens to us in life is part of the strength of the fabric of what we are made of. I am a strong, passionate, determined and compassionate woman because of my past and all the experiences in my life so far.

I am grateful and privileged to be considered a role model in the Portuguese community and I will continue to do my best to be a deserve the honour bestowed upon me.

Dreams and Smiles

The other day, I was reminded that loud passionate voices are  heard. Some of you may remember the great work we did with a group of women,  who had been working in a sewing factory for many years, and were laid off.  This event for many of the  women was thought to be the end of their working lives. What could they do now that there was no more sewing factories to work at?

These women had limited language and transferable skills. They were both newcomers and long- term immigrants who had not developed their English skills and only knew about the types of work they were doing.  There were many barriers and challenges. . However, DREAMS do come true. Surjit was one of our clients from that transition project. She always dreamed of working  taking care of the eldery. She had tried once before to  take her education and training to become a Health Care Aide, but the path to get there was long and painful, and she had to gave up, and instead she continue to work in the garment industry.
Life has away to bring you moments of awesome when you least expect. Recently, due to a family member having a stroke, my husband and I found ourselves at the Grace Hospital dropping in for a visit. As we walked down the hall, I heard my name being called with an accent very familiar to us. When we looked back, it was our past client Surjit, who proceeded to embrace me with a huge hug and great smile that lite up her face. She was genuinely happy to see us. Once again proceeded to tell me, that this path and life she has right now is all because of me and my loud voice. I started to laugh, because for those of you that know me, yes I do have a loud voice. However, I do know she did not mean it just litterally.  She meant that because of my passion to build human capacity, I go all out and advocate loudly.

This group of women needed a “loud voice” to ensure their dreams would come true. I was always very honest with them about the challenges and the path they needed to take to the achieving their goals. We all had to work together, work hard and smart!  They all needed to find the internal motivation to get through the difficult times, and determination and tenancity were key to getting there.
Surjit is proud to tell people that she is a HCA at Grace Hospital. She genuinely wants and does take care of the elderly providing them with warm care and dignity. She is taking care of our loved ones, and she get great deal of pride and satisfaction from doing the work she does.
Dreams do come true and the rewards are big smiles!!

Reflections

Do you ever think how fast we are moving – we hope forward!

To slow down and take a moment or two each day and ask yourself , what brought me joy today?

Reflecting on what brought me joy today: the sunrise; freshly baked bread; hugging and supporting a friend in need, having my dogs welcome me home only after being a way for a very short while, I was missed;  spending time with my daughter; checking out my son’s drawings. 

As you can see there is joy and happiness in the smallest of actions.

Keep on with your challenge and BE HAPPY:-)

Sunshine

How you are you doing with your own personal challenge of “happiness”.  How many times have you ‘fell off the horse” and began complaining?  Are you keeping track? 

I kept track today and I found myself just about to begin with a “negative thought, comment” and than stopping and re-phrasing, choosing different words. One thing I have noticed in the last week , I am laughing more, and I think I am actually more patient! 

I do consider myself an optimist and a very energetic and positive person. Yet I am still finding this a challenge.  Share…

Be Happy:-)

Every day brings about gifts if and when we choose to look at the gifts. 

Today I am grateful for a meeting that was postponed; all of sudden I found myself with extra 3 hours in my day. Happiness:-)

Someone commented that the challenge came at “perfect time ” just in time for  International Women’s Day. The source is from the CBC Happiness Study.

The Happiness Challenge – Beginning March 1st

It is a new year and with it comes opportunities for new attitudes, ideas and actions. Here is a challenge for the ambitious among you.

Over the next 30 days beginning March 1st, take the Happiness Challenge. Here’s what you have to do:

• Monitor your negative thoughts, words and complaints.
• Focus your energy on being positive.
• Create a gratitude journal in which you can capture your blessings on a daily or weekly basis.
• Buddy up with a friend, co-worker or spouse. Be one another’s accountability coach.
• Share your challenges and successes with us and the community here on our new blog. And we will do the same.

Check back for more after March 1st.

Welcome!

Welcome to the Options for Success blog! We plan to article our journeys, provide useful tips and encourage you to share your stories.  Check back for more!

The Team at Options for Success Inc.