A soaring "A"

Bang you hit it and it’s amazing!

The feeling of reaching something you weren’t quite sure you could, is “AMAZING”! It could just be that pesky mosquito that has been plaguing you for the last half hour that’s been around your ear but in my case it is that high “A” that I hit in choir and it just feels so right.

So right, that at that very moment nothing can go wrong. This is the starting place of meditation…

Spiritual wellness for me is that feeling of reaching perfect pitch and along with it the inner knowledge of where I stand and who I am at that very moment in relation to the world around me, how I affect it and it’s affect on me.

To get to that place; you have to give up all that you worry about, all that you dream about and just let go…

Letting go is probably the hardest piece of work we have in our lives, when there are so many things to be done in a day and so many variables that we worry about. Understand, there is a distinction on the matters that you can affect and others, that are not yours to control.

Your Spirit is what is inside you, it is to be protected and nurtured for a full and happy life.

Walking through Life in Squeaky Shoes…

As I walk through the slumbering early morning halls of our office the loud squeak from my shoes vibrates and calls out as I take each step. Surprisingly, I am filled with images, thoughts and emotions with every step, my brain begins referencing a myriads of video in my mind. I recall the movie Mel Gibson played in “What a Women wants”, where his mind was so noisy hearing so many voices and random thoughts of the women around him.

I fade to the past, a time when I was an 8 yr old, a little girl walking through the halls of a seemingly enormous school with great all halls, wooden floors and ceilings almost as high as cathedral’s.

With every “Squeak” I hear the voice…I feel so small. Squeak…I hate my hair, I think, I’m Japanese I should have STRAIGHT hair not frizzy and thick…I wish it was straight and silky. Squeak…I should have worn a different outfit everyone has better clothes and SHOES! Squeak,…squeak…

Flash through the last 10 years: squeak…I could think about all of the sad and hard things LIKE: my life has been trying…squeak I hated trying to prove my daughter’s challenges…squeak…I wish she was accepted and had friends in her peer group…squeak I wish life was easier for my children…

BUT then: Squeak…my Life is really great now…squeak…My children are growing up to be wonderful people…squeak…I don’t worry about who I am…squeak I am loved and cherished by so many of my family and friends…squeak…I have a place in MY world.

I came to realize that day with the help of my squeaky shoes that through my life that my perspective has changed and the hard times are no longer milestones but doors that are there to be opened to great things. The squeaking bothered me many years ago  as a child because I did not know who I was and I did not feel right in my skin.

I celebrate my squeaky shoes that have allowed me to see life in capsules of scenes and reflect on how far I have come to be “ME” and celebrate.

Right - Wrong – ENTITLED

It’s a cold, clear day and we’ve convened in one of the most beautiful spaces in Vancouver. The Vancouver Public Library is spacious, airy and full of esteemed knowledge.

How appropriate to have a gathering focused on the ratified UN Convention in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, for a day of Honoring the Convention: A Call to Action, where B.C. self-advocates, family members, service providers, and agency representatives alike sat and shared the news of a New Age and a New Path to embark on, together.

The speakers all brought a plethora of personal and/or historical investment to the full picture of the Community Living movement. I feel humbled by the passion and dedication they have poured into getting B.C. and Canada to where families and individuals are today. We have much more work to do but the tough stuff has already been shifted through, and with the help of today’s forum, action can be taken.

Laurie Bechell said something that rang so true, “We all have expectations. In fact, we have great expectations…”  Everyone’s hopes were that with the ratification of the Convention, things will change and that people with disabilities would have the right to live as their neighbors do, with full citizenship and the benefits of that full citizenship. Laurie went on to say that, “In Canada, sadly, disability often means poverty”.

Poverty was the one thing that stuck in the mind of my 13-year-old son, especially when we heard Sky Hendsbee speak on the challenges of independent living for people with disabilities. Sky spoke of the struggles he faces to make ends meet and have adequate health care. For someone so young, it is unfathomable to my son that someone would not have enough money for food, housing and health care. I agree with him, it is unbelievable but a sad reality.

Where we have come from and what is happening in our community is a great place to start to plan what we want for the future of our families and the community.

Seth Klein gave us a great starting point by challenging where policy is in violation of the convention in BC and nationally. His recommendation was for us to look to other countries to see how they are incorporating the convention into their work to improve life. I also got the sense that we are to move to engaging the population at large in issues that not only affect our community but everyone else’s.

Solution based communication with open-ended letters to potential political candidates, can hopefully be used as a platform for an election campaign. Then the news could be spread by way of emails to organizations’ email lists.

Dulcie McCallum’s summation of the day was awesome and left us with a starting point to move forward with a brief understanding of the history and our present situation.

My daughter took away from the day a need to help others in an action that shows immediate results. This transposed into the commandeering of all the remaining lunch bags from the lunch that was served to the participants of the forum. She had initially tried to distribute the food within a two-block radius of the Vancouver Public Library, but was unsuccessful in finding anyone. We decided to go to downtown East Hasting Street, at the end of the day.

Both children were excited upon arrival at the site, and with the help of two very kind police officers: Dave Marchand and Bryce Kaltenbach, the sandwiches and apples were distributed to the many interested people living on the streets of downtown East Hastings. Without our two guardians we would never had been able to carry out the task that the children so desperately wanted to do. It is a wonderful thing when you can bring as many people as you can into the positive energy of selfless acts.

It is right to believe in yourself and the people around you. It is wrong to take for granted your rights and those of others that all of us are entitled to, in all our diversity.

Children Eventually Grow Wings to Fly

How we master the complexities of flight?

The excitement of new adventure, reunion and independence...this is the gamut of thoughts and feelings, I am sure my children felt on their recent excellent airplane adventure.

As always, it starts with me…scheduling has become my forte over the years, fitting as much into a week to keep me and my children busy. The echo of a woman laughing in the waiting room of the chiropractor’s office and saying, “Well, I’m not going to be one of those Moms that drives herself and her family to the ground by over-booking”; there is a distant reminder in the back of my head, “Hey that IS you, what are you doing?”

This summer as always, I started early to look at possible things for summer activities. I do believe the children need to be involved in “something”. This is while I, for the first time in years, work full time. “Aaaa…” was my inner self stressing over the thoughts of an all day PJ party, an empty fridge and not a whole lot of cleaning or picking up after themselves. Heck, yah!

Well, one brilliant idea was to send them to Toronto to visit my family. This was to gain some quality time with Grandpa, Grandma, my brother, his family, and all the other extended family we have back there…not to mention to get myself sorted out with some alone time and their rooms with a  much needed cleaning. Huh, is all I have to say!

It seemed simple enough but as we moved closer to the departure day, I became more and more worried that they could have some sort of incident on their trip! I must also explain that this past Christmas, my elderly parents came out and made it to the Abbotsford airport…only after deplaning, getting lost in the Edmonton terminal, being refused re-entry to the departure area and touring around the airport for help. They were a mess when they arrived at Abbotsford. Oh my, my poor babies! What had I done?

Well, there was no turning back. The tickets were purchased with no refund. Statuses were posted to Facebook announcing the trip…too late to pull the plug now! The family has booked a fast-paced itinerary and everyone is excited.

It is funny how parents kick into action mode and intuitively work to make foolproof plans. Here is a list of things I provided for the success of this trip without me:

1.    Call the airlines and ask for a note on their flight files (when I called the airlines the clerk said I really should sign up for the One-person One Fare Program, which I did but not in time for this trip)
2.    Pack clothes and shoes (making sure, of course, that the faded shrunken shirt with multiple grease stains didn’t make it!)
3.    Pack all toiletries (this way they can’t say, “I didn’t have a toothbrush or deodorant to use for two weeks!”)
4.    Pack snacks for the trip
5.    Discuss assorted entertainment for travelling 8 hours
6.    Write and print comprehensive step by step instructions for each child to follow from departure to arrival gate (making sure it is only one page)
7.    Write a one page note to the flight staff explaining the possible challenges
8.    *Escort them to the departure gate (they departed from Abbotsford which was a quieter friendlier airport)

* As I was leaving wiping those goodbye tears from my eyes, a woman stood and spoke to me before entering the line up to board the plane. It turned out that this same woman was seated near the children in the plane and watched over them. Upon arrival at Edmonton airport, she walked them to the next gate where they were to board the final flight to Toronto. I am thankful for the small blessing that come to me when I am in need.

In my eyes I see my children differently. I do everything I can to prepare my children, who are now members of the youth population. They face the world of systematic challenges that presents itself to youth at there age. I can’t help but wonder at times, is it possible that I hinder their ability to problem solve in situations, for it is many a time I hear, “What should I do? I don’t know what to do!” I say, “Refer to the list, use your own head think it through and stop counting on my old brain…… yours is newer…!”

Children, like parents, come in many different dispositions and capabilities. So raising children is a challenge for all, for it requires you to seriously look at what you believe in. By dissecting, you have the ability to explain or teach them a model way of life.

Love, hope, respect and freedom give my family the wings to fly. They really were okay…what was I worried about?

Realizing a Potential and supporting it with Love.

Aleesa and the Spirit Bear Project

About three years ago, Shirley Yamashita-Paterson found herself unsure about how to best support her daughter Aleesa. Shirley describes Aleesa as an artist and writer. She is someone who is passionate about animals and very serious about language.  Shirley had accessed therapy services for Aleesa when she was first diagnosed with autism, but felt that socialization was the missing piece needed for her daughter. She was very concerned about Aleesa's low self-esteem. Aleesa was timid, always walked with her head down and showed no interest in her personal appearance or cleanliness. Shirley believed Aleesa needed a confidence booster in her life.

Shirley began talking with a family friend, Sonya Paterson (no relation). Sonya had her own Youth Leadership organization (Leaders Now BC), was a School Trustee at the time, and she was doing some amazing work for youth. Sonya, who knew Aleesa quite well, said, "I think Aleesa needs some kind of campaign to help her fight for the rights of animals." Aleesa had never found a place within her peer group and Shirley thought that Aleesa might feel good about herself if she had a project she could lead and engage the participation of others.

Sonya read an article in the paper about the Vancouver Olympic Committee (VANOC) call-out to the public in their search for a mascot for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The idea of the Spirit Bear Project was born.   Aleesa, a Grade 7 student at the time, drew a picture of a Spirit Bear and submitted it to VANOC asking them to choose the Spirit Bear, an endangered species whose numbers are dwindling because of the clear cutting of forests.
Along with her mentor Sonya, Aleesa set a goal to gather 1000 letters of support for the Spirit Bear to be chosen as the mascot for the Olympics.

Aleesa's school rallied behind her. To work with her on this project she chose school peers who were passionate about animals, nature and ecology and who would work with her outside of school. They attended rallies, like the End Poverty rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery, and Aleesa collected more signed letters of support.

When someone notified Simon Jackson, an environmental advocate and founder of the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition, that Aleesa was leading the Spirit Bear Project he felt that Aleesa had come along at the right time. He had been feeling quite low and alone; his own lobbying efforts for saving the Spirit Bear's habitat had not been going well.  Simon contacted Aleesa and Sonya and he said "Yes" when they asked if he would consider speaking at their local theatre and at Aleesa's school. The media took photos of Aleesa with Simon and he signed one of Aleesa's letters to VANOC. Aleesa also met Robert Bateman, the well-known artist and naturalist. She was able to get more letters signed and even advice from other well-known people, including Dr. Temple Grandin, the world-famous animal scientist and autism self-advocate. Temple gave Aleesa pointers on how to proceed with her campaign and encouraged her to work hard and stay focused.  

Shirley remembered Sonya's words in the early stages of planning the Spirit Bear campaign.  Sonya had predicted, "This campaign will be all encompassing," and it proved to be VERY true. During the nine months of their Campaign, several reporters interviewed Aleesa and her team.  They had regular contact with CTV Olympic news reporter Mike Killeen.  The media took many photographs. Aleesa made two trips to VANOC to deliver her 700 letters. 

Shirley says that Aleesa would not be the person she is now without the experiences of the Spirit Bear Project. It was a pivotal point in her life and in the lives of others. Simon Jackson had his drive renewed because of Aleesa's efforts. Aleesa's peers participated in exciting activities that they would not have experienced without their involvement with Aleesa, like attending a private VANOC Halloween party and having their photos taken holding the Olympic torch. Shirley feels that she learned more about doing research, involvement with the media, how to think in different ways and how to be a true advocate.

Aleesa's relationships in community and with her peers have deepened.  She now has a group of people who are always watching out for her, making sure she is safe.  Aleesa has gone from being a girl who always looked down and wouldn't speak, to a local celebrity who has delivered public speeches and experienced the regular attention of the media. She became thoughtful about appearing clean and presentable.  Most recently, Aleesa has had some challenges at school for being too outspoken; something her mother, Shirley, quietly celebrates.   

Devastation...Fear...Vunerability

Devastation of the things that we know and love around us leaves us in a state of fear, isolation and vulnerable to the unknown around us. How many of us have felt those feelings at sometime or another. I guess too there are those whom have never really experienced this, maybe...pretty sweet if this is true.

It is my thought that this is how the people of Japan must feel after the disaster of the recent earthquake. WIthout warning, your life as you know it is no more, it is unsettling. Homes are demolished, loved ones lost , injured or killed.

After hearing of these kinds of disasters, I know that I become much more intentional about my life. I make sure that I don't leave things left unsaid and celebrate as often and as much as I can for  the things in my life I am blessed with. It is also a time I remember my family in Japan that I have not been in touch with for so long and pray that they are out of harms way. <3 Sending love and prayers to Japan<3

A conversation comes to my mind that  I  had with a friend not so long ago about surrendering and it really made me think of what it takes to surrender to something, someone and or somewhere. It is a place perhaps or situation in your life that you give in to. Letting go is probably one of the hardest things for me in my life.

Being raised in a Japanese home were the optimal character has full control and does not lend itself to so called reckless abandonment of control. It is a struggle but a life's work, the one positive thing I have going for me is that I am an extremely emotional person which in my youth got me in a lot of trouble.

 A big part of letting go is also the ability to be honest, to ones self and to others around you. If only those around us could "let go" and be honest about ones feelings and challenges. Recently, it has been the crux of countless tears and laments for my self and my friends. The ability to see honestly; what it is we want and share this with others and also have them share the same.

So much work to be done and so much trust to nurture so that this can all actually happen...

This is my First Post Ever!

Too exciting....I always have so much to say and my friend Sharon says I should just post everything on my very own blog. So, here I am; setting up the first of my many post to come.

Today I said goodbye to an amazing young friend who is embarking on a new career and enjoying a new romance. Ah, how wonderful to be young...! It is sad in someways that I won't be able to slide by her office and pop in to catch the latest news on her projects or her life. I have decided though, that I will bbm her whenever I feel that urge. I hope that she will too.

That fwd message I keep getting from friends about people being in your life for a reason, season ...la la la...well as annoying as it is, I guess it is...right.

Life is so fast moving that sometimes I feel ,I just need to be a spectator for a while and watch as if watching a movie in slo...mo.

I have so...many ideas to put down, excuse me while I jump around a bit...this is taking awhile to get use to...