Heather

I had a great weekend.  Worked for a half day Saturday and then really made an effort just to relax.  My weekends this year have been quite enjoyable, especially my Sundays.  In the past, I had spent an unnecessary amount of time filled with anxiety on Sundays, worrying about what Monday would bring.  This year I have had not had that same issue and I can attribute that to having a better balance mentally.  I have learned that it serves no purpose to waste time thinking about what may or may not happen in the week ahead.

I am so proud of Clara Hughes and her team for completing their bike ride across Canada to spread awareness surrounding mental health.  She has really taken the lead in helping break some stigmas relating to mental health.  She is an inspiring individual and I would love to hear her speak at some point.  We still have a long way to go but, the Bell Let's Talk initiative is a step in the right direction.

I hope to finish some books in the next few weeks that I have been putting off.  It is no that I do not enjoy reading,  I have just been so physically tired the last while.  If you have a chance, check out Wendy K Williamson's blog at http://wendykwilliamson.wordpress.com/. She has written I'm Not Crazy, Just Bipolar and Two Bipolar Chicks Guide to Survival.  I have been fortunate enough to converse a little bit with her via e-mail and have enjoyed her books immensely.

We had a half day today.  We worked this morning and were done at 1:00.  It was quite the storm coming through and there was no sign of it dissipating anytime soon.  Heather and Christine called it a day around the same time I believe.  I am really enjoying my afternoon as the decision to call it a day was an easy one and there was no stress or anxiety related to it.  It was expected that we would not get a full day in and so I am able to spend some quality time with Jodi and Ollie without being filled with worry.

Tomorrow night, we are having a going a way party for Heather.  She is leaving on Friday for Sault St Marie as her and Brian are moving back there.  Our little company is like a family.  We have had our ups and downs but, we do seem to really care about one another.  Losing Heather will be a hard transition to make.  Not only is she very good at what she does but, she is an amazing person and I will certainly miss her a lot.  Her and I have helped get each other through the last few years.  She has always been there for me when I needed a hug and we have been able to pick each other up when we were down.  I would not have made it through some things without her help and I am very grateful for her support over the last four years.  I wish them all the best in the next chapter of their lives.  I hope Heather will take some much deserved time to relax and that the next year will be stress free.  Thanks for being a good friend Heather.

Hope you are having a good day.  Take care,  Shawn.


“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.”
― Henri J.M. Nouwen, Out of Solitude: Three Meditations on the Christian Life