Health Care and Shona Holmes

I have not written for some time on this page because my attention has been else where recently. But, my anger has brought forth an overwhelming need to discuss my disgust toward a woman from Waterdown, Ontario, Canada, named Shona Holmes. I simply cannot get over the fact that she is turning her back on a Canadian Health Care system that has supported her, her entire life. Now she is appearing on every talk show supporting American right-winged propaganda, by claiming the Canadian Health Care system almost killed her.

45 million plus Americans cannot afford a health plan.

President Obama is currently trying to fix this problem and the Canadian born Shona Holmes is helping destroy the Presidents’ attempts to save many lives.

Many people view Canadians as polite, insightful, caring and compassionate, but even still, not every basket is filled with ripe apples.

It appears, Holmes was diagnosed with a cyst and was not classified at the time as a life-ending tumor. I am not a doctor so I do not want to tread on the medical analysis of what was and was not; but Holmes immediately went to get American medical assistance and then went on National Television to say Canada almost killed me. Not only making a fabricated and stretched accusation Holmes then had the audacity to expect the government to reimburse her for $100,000.

I would very much like to shut this woman up, but then I would be no better than the Republicans infiltrating the minds of its population with exaggerated stories, in an attempt to swerve from Obama’s proposed universal health care, in order to save big business (Medicine), and the longevity of it’s oh-so respected pharmaceutical corporations.

I am Canadian and I used to be prone to accidents and spent a great deal of my youth in the hospital. If I grew up in the U.S. with moderate health care my family would still be in a great deal of debt mending all my broken bones.

In Canada I never have to worry when I make a doctor's appointment. I feel safe and comforted knowing that my government is taking care of all my health needs. I'm happy that my taxes are allocated into something as important as my health and well being. Without health nothing else matters.

One winter, I was in South Carolina and I needed emergency surgery. I had to hand over $3,500 or continue to live in pain while I was down there. As soon as I returned to Canada, I was reimbursed. If I had to put up that kind of money for every surgery I have had, there is no way I could be leading a good life like I am now.

How could a fellow Canadian who grew up having her health care paid for quickly turn her back and disgrace our system? I would like to think that if Holmes’ condition, was in fact, life threatening, she would have been seen and dealt with right away.

One may start to question that something is wrong in the U.S. when convicted felons on death row have their triple by-pass surgery paid for, and hard working John Smith, father of 4, can't afford to pay for his daughter's failing kidney.

Someone needs to step in and tell the truth so Americans don't give in to this awful propaganda. Americans should be able to have the choice for their health care and hopefully President Obama will be able to provide a choice for every American citizen.

No system is perfect, but at least I am looked after and cared for and never have to worry about going broke each time I check in and hopefully check out.

Susan Boyle: when you least expect her

Speaking about inspirational people, once I got word of an unemployed 47 year old Scot, with a voice like an angel, I had to check out what all the fuss was about. Sure enough, I wasn’t disappointed.
When I heard her sing I couldn’t believe my ears and I had a smile from ear to ear. It was unbelievable.
It certainly made me never want to give up and filled me with optimism. It’s funny how inspiration can come in many different forms.

To listen to her say she never had an opportunity until now is beyond me. It’s sad to think that this kind of talent was only discovered recently. I wonder why she had never been given the chance before. Could it have been that there were no small venues for her to perform in her tiny Scottish town? Or does the image of a person have a tremendous influence on why no one had noticed her?

This ordinary woman who was not known until a couple days ago has certainly tugged on our emotional chords. The saying, never judge a book by its cover, certainly is in effect with Susan Boyle. I hope this situation teaches people that beauty comes from within; we are so caught up with physical appearances that we sometimes forget where to look.

Thank you Susan Boyle for being so enduring and brave enough to grace us with your presence.

Giving in to Doubt

At long last, the doubt that continued to creep in took over and won the battle despite the strong objections from the rest of my positive energy.
I thought doubt could be destroyed, but when it is this strong I guess there is no walking away from it. Instead, I had to walk away from the joy in my life - The one thing I did not want to walk away from. Though the weight of the incredible positive feelings far exceeds the doubt majority of the time, I believe that the doubt is much too overpowering and conniving to mess with. But now the regret of having doubt is a struggle and the ever infamous question of "What if?" will continue to haunt me for years.
I wish this doubt wasn't so strong and I'm sure it would have diminished later on, but for some reason I wanted to give into the negative at this point in time. I don't think it is a wise decision and I truly believe I will regret it, but I can't quite remove this doubt from my mind.
I want the doubt to leave and never return because I wish to return to what it is that brings me the most joy.

Do We Listen To Doubt?

I find I have doubt lingering within me during everything I do in life. I don't think there is one thing I go into without having doubt. Is it normal to have constant doubt? Can we be 100% sure of at least one thing in our lives? I don't know if doubt is a good sign or a constant distraction telling me to stop and get out of whatever it is I'm doing.
If I weigh all the good things against the bad things, the good things out weigh the the bad things. So, should I consider not listening to the negative and continue to think about the positive? Does the negative have to be present in order to keep you on your toes and your head grounded?
If I didn't have doubt I don't think I would try things in the first place. I believe second guessing myself pushes me to try harder and continue to pursue that which is meant to be.
For example, a relationship that has all the makings of something truly special. The excitement, fun, love, and compassion are all in full force. But, the doubt continues to come and go every so often. It is not constant doubt every day or every week, but it does fill my head every so often. This doubt has me questioning the seriousness of the relationship. Like I said, I am never 100% sure about anything I venture head first into. All the good things in the relationship far exceed the doubt which has me constantly thinking about what it is I should do.
Do I fight the doubt or should I give up and give in to the doubt? Everything is incredible except for this doubt that fills up inside me, but then vanishes when time goes on and I stop to think how much this person contributes to the happiness within my life. If one thing doesn't seem right, do I listen to it or do I gather the insurmountable positives and continue to think that his doubt is just a normal human characteristic so I don't get my head lost in the clouds? Everything worth having is worth fighting for.
Do I let go of the best thing that has happened to me because of "doubt"?
I sure hope not.

Happy Easter - Time to relax

IT is the long weekend and I find that I can't think too much on this relaxing holiday. I must give my brain a rest and continue to breathe. The birds are chirping and trees are budding - So should my imagination. I will write more, just not today.

Learning The Art of Patience

At the beginning of the year I said to myself that '2009' was going to be a year of action, progress, and life-changing events. So far, little action, little progress, and zero life-changing events.
Today, I am worried about my reflections, which gets me thinking and makes me anxious. Yesterday I was freaking out internally, not physically. If you were to meet me you would have no idea that I was over anxious, thinking about twenty things at once, unsure about my life. On the outside, I am a calm, collected, cool guy who appears to have his life in order.
I chose the life that I am living. I chose to take risks with no guarantee of a successful financial return. I chose to begin my own business because there is no greater satisfaction than creating something from nothing and watching it grow, even at a minimal pace.
However, mind over matter is always more difficult. I forget that everything takes time. It has been nearly half a year and I continue to think "Should I be doing this?"
I find myself wanting the stability that I see others enjoy. I always wonder if I should attend a post grad course where the college helps you find a "placement" in a local company that may lead to a permanent position. Or should I attend Teacher's College and return to my roots where I spent twenty years of my life adapting to structure and step by step learning? Do I settle for an open position in an industry that is not appealing to me just so I feel like a success as I receive my steady paychecks?
I don't have a mortgage or car payments or a family, so I am lucky enough to be able to ask these questions and have the flexibility to make decisions on a short notice. However, these decisions are always difficult and I must remember that patience is an enormous virtue while in this situation.
I started what I started and I am going to stick with it. I receive advice from different people in the industry and they all say that things don't happen over night. I continue to keep hearing "years." I must continue to practice patience and allow life and my decisions to unroll as I hope. I can't give up and jump into something for the wrong reasons. If I stumble into unknown territory and decide that I like it than I may pursue it. But, I have to breathe, relax, and continue doing what I'm doing, and the gratification will present itself.
I'm happy, but I'm anxious. I'm doing what I want to be doing, but it's a struggle financially. I have to continue to think positively, take deep breaths and tell myself that everything will work out as long as I work hard.
But, if things do not progress, at what point do I give up?

When was the last time you were EXCITED?

Try and remember the last time you were excited. I tried and I couldn’t quite remember, which made me think that it must have been some time ago. I am normally a happy person, but this thought made me feel quite the opposite. I have not felt the urge to jump out for joy or yell out in excitement about a monumental occurrence in my life.

Think about the last time you were truly excited? A moment that compelled you stand up and dance around and hug the first person you saw. If you can’t remember, than you and I have to sit down and do some serious thinking, and maybe write a to-do list.

I remember that intense feeling, that excitement, that rush, but now it seems as uncommon as an eclipse. So, I realize that I have to get off my butt and seek out more opportunity to reinvigorate this unfortunate and stale realization.

I can always wait around for someone to stop me on the street and offer me the best job in the world, or for my numbers to be drawn in the next lottery, or suddenly to wake up young again, but then I’ll be waiting forever.

Waiting to get excited is never going to happen, and if it does, it is rare. Taking action and providing opportunity to eventually become excited is much more in my favour. Which is why I have to implement more ways to encourage potential excitement.

But first, I have to sit down and realize what it is that truly makes me excited. The particular things such as completing a difficult task, helping other people, networking, diving into something unknown, finding out the person you love wants to spend the rest of their life with you, etc.

I must be creative and make a list of both short term and long term goals to try and achieve. The more things I do the more people I can meet, the more things can happen, and the more excited I can become. Whether it’s joining an art class, completing a half marathon, learning a new language, changing my career, if I don’t step outside my everyday element the sense of excitement will gradually disappear.

This is always easier said than done, but I have realized that if I want to experience the positive, powerful sensation of true excitement I have to live my life the way I feel it should be lived – without fear and without the constant stress of the little things. I have to take action and continue to work hard. I have to reach my goals and continue to set more.

Remember that feeling, like a rush of bliss to the head, it will continue to motivate us and if we are lucky and smart we’ll be able to feel it again and again.