One Year Later

It's hard to believe that it was 1 year ago today that Bruce & I arrived in Calgary (me to stay permanently, Bruce to drop me off with his car, then to fly home to sell the house, and we all know what happenned with that!). So what have I learned and discovered over the past year? LOTS!

1. I learned that it's a loooooooooooooong drive across Canada, and the longest part is through 1 province alone, Ontario. Thank heaven's I wasn't the one that drove, and I could doze whenever I felt like it. That being said, it's a beautiful drive, and we found the beauty different and interesting in each province.
2. There's alooooooooooot of skitters in Winnipeg, and I could NEVER live there.
3. Although people in the east (Toronto) think they live in the centre of the universe, the people of Calgary beg to differ. They say CALGARY is the centre of the universe. When are they all going to really get it. Wherever I, Joanne E. Young lives, THAT is the centre of the universe. Therefore, it used to be Toronto, now it is Calgary!
4. Everyone (well it seems like everyone) likes to show their "stuff" through the vehicles they drive...............big honkin' trucks and SUV's. I have a Corolla that gets great mileage. I only fill it up once a week for $40. Who's laughin' now!
5. There is a thing called "Prairie Oysters" or "Cowboy Caviar" out here. Cowboys swear it is the best. I will never, never, never go anywhere near the stuff! (Once you find out what the stuff is, you'll understand why!)
6. This town goes crazy at Stampede time, and anyone who is not a cowboy becomes a cowboy wannabe.
7. If I were a bucking horse or a bull in the rodeo, I would do everything in my power to get those #*^&>@%* cowboys off my back too.................wouldn't you if they had your family jewels tied up, pulled tight and squeezed!

Now for the serious stuff:

1. For the first time in my life, I lived completely on my own (for those who don't know, I got married young and moved directly from my parents house to my married home). I lived on my own here in Calgary for just over 3 months (I know, not that long). I however discovered that I am OK with that, and that I actually enjoy the peace and quiet of my own company (Mind you, I was also very excited when Bruce & I were reunited).
2. I have come to admire my children even more over this past year. Although I have always been extremely proud of them, being so far away from them has given me a different perspective on them. I have come to realize how truly strong, caring, sensitive, intelligent and independent they each are. Each of them is having a positive impact on those around them and therefore on society as a whole. What more could a mother ask for!
3. God is truly taking care of each of my children in their relationships. He has placed wonderful "significant others" in their lives (Kevin, Sarah, and Alyson), who truly love them for who they are, not for what they have or what they do, and support them through thick and thin. My children are truly blessed!
4. There are friends in my life that will always be important, no matter what physical distance there is between us, and it is those friendships that keep me truly grounded.
5. Although I have said in the past that one of my personal weaknesses is my impatience with professional incompetence, I have come to learn how impatient with incompetence I truly am. I have also come to learn that I can try to help those who have professional "gaps", however there is a line I will not cross and will make the "tough" decisions.
6. Although I have "talked the talk" when it comes to servant leadership for the last 3 years, over the past year I have come to understand the impact of those principles on my own life. When I keep the principles of servant leadership before me as I make the tough decisions, I am able to have a clear conscience and know that I have done what I need to do in meeting the needs of staff and clients alike.
7. I have a great deal of difficulty with ultra conservative political philospohies. I find them to be very selfish and self centred, and they set up systems that feed the "haves & have nots" syndrome. It all flies in the face of Christ's example of reaching out to those who are disenfranchised and coming along side of them as they deal with issues in their lives. The thing I have the greatest difficulty with is the fact that the Christian churches in this area of the country support the ultra conservative point of view. As a Christian, this is something that I continue to struggle with and am attempting to find ways to make changes where I can without offending. More new learning to happen on this one over the next year.

And the most important lesson I have learned over this past year:

1. Flying monkies, hairy pink balls & pointy spoak ears can make or break a day