Happy Thanksgiving 2009

Thanksgiving just might be my favourite holiday. This statement has been met with a few quizzical looks lately, but I am prepared to back it up. It is a celebration that combines tradition and flexibility. Friends and family gather or connect without the stress of gift giving or pressure of other holidays. It is of a secular nature, but can be recognized as important for any number of faiths. Most of all, it emphasizes something that is explicitly simple, yet overwhelmingly important: reflection on and expression of thanks. In other words, it has a sublime balance to it.

While it is important to be grateful throughout the year, this weekend’s holiday helps us draw attention to those things we are thankful for. Relationships, particularly family and friends, are consistently first on my list of things I am thankful for. Last year’s Thanksgiving post was focused on relationships, and a year later I am even more appreciative and fortunate to have people in my life that make me a better person. However, on this Thanksgiving I want to note that I am thankful for my health and physical condition. We often say we are glad to have good health, and wish good health on those we care about, but I find recently that I am rather humbled and extremely grateful to do so much that I probably take for granted. Without being healthy I would not have been able to visit so many of the places I have been to in this word. I would not have been able to engage in so many of the activities that bring me joy. Many of the relationships in my life are fostered by activities that would be impossible if I was not healthy. Finally, my day to day existence is completely easy due to my state of fitness. In short, I am extremely fortunate, and as a result, extremely thankful.

From this extends thanks to specific people. I am thankful to my parents who instilled within me a priority for health and fitness. I am thankful to my friends and family who inquire after my health and encourage me to take care of myself (yes, even though I am stubborn). I am thankful to those friends who I go on outdoor physical adventures with as they place safety and health above accomplishments, records, and summits.

On a specific note, I am thankful for everything I have been, and will be involved in this weekend: spending time with a number of close friends I care about, listening to live music, laughing with friends and family, being active outdoors with awesome people I care about, spending time with family, spending time with little buddies I care about, playing hockey, perhaps watching some film, enjoying a fantastic meal, and having the time to reflect and be thankful. What a great Thanksgiving, filled with so many things that bring me joy, and it’s mainly due to some of you who are reading. I don’t think I could ask for a better one.

I hope you get to spend time with people you care about this weekend.

Merci – Thank you – Happy Thanksgiving!
IR

8 from 08

Here are eight shots from 2008. I can’t say for sure if they are my best shots. I guess I could say they are just some of my favourites. I can definitely say there are some great memories associated with each of them, and they are a cross section of places and activities from the calendar year that has passed. If you visit my flickr stream, feel free to let me know which ones stand out for you from 08. More importantly, it would be great to hear from you on what were some of your memorable photos from the past year. Please let me know through one of the many communication means at your disposable.

Happy New Year.

To see the 8th, you can click here. Only thing, you’ll have to be one of my friends on flickr to see it. It’s a great shot of J&D in Maui, maybe one of the best. Want to see it, join flickr, send me a message that you have, and I’ll do the rest.

Happy Christmas

In thoughts, or in person, may you be with those you care about, and celebrate what is important to you.

Wishing you Peace, Hope, and Joy during the season and in the year ahead.

Joyeux Noël – Merry Christmas – 즐거운 성탄

Christmas Nears

Time to make this official: the holidays are upon us. Well with the passing of some personal tasks, it’s official from my point of view now anyways. Perhaps with a little more time I will serve up some regular postings on the whole End-of-year-holiday-theme, or perhaps I’ll spend a lot more time away from the computer. Something tells me it might actually be both. That’s a good thing. While I ponder content, I’ll also open it up to people requesting post topics again. Comment here, email me, or just chat it up.

Hope to see you, or hear from you soon,
IR
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Also…
-There is a serious push to have 6 Habs start at the All-Star game in Montreal this year. Normally I view the All-Star game as a bit of a waste of time. This, however could be really cool.
-Word has it that puppy-cam could be coming to an end. Be sure to get a look before it is all over.

Thanksgiving…Again

It all applies… again. Only, with this edition so close to December, it highlights how meaningful, yet low stress Thanksgiving can be. The intentionality of it is up to the celebrants to make clear on their own. Also, it’s easier to not get pulled in five million directions, or lose the purpose of it all, in comparison to the holidays that are coming in the month ahead.

I encourage you to celebrate it twice next year… or at any time of the year.

Happy Thanksgiving

This weekend figures more in my mind each passing year. If I think carefully I don’t know where to start though. Where do you begin to express gratitude when you are healthy, the people you care about are healthy, you have a roof over your head, and you don’t go hungry? Searching thoughtfully for the focus of my appreciation shuffles me back and forth, yet there is one constant in my considerations: relationships. There is so much that I can, and should be thankful for, and relationships are intertwined or foundational throughout.

Earlier this year, due to a bit of personal significance, I asked friends to tell me about adventures and challenges they were taking on. I wanted to be able to support them. I have done alright with some, and can continue to do better with others. The point of connecting it here; I am thankful to know so many amazing, caring, determined, and intentional people. I should tell them more often that I appreciate who they are. In some way they all make me a better person. I know every now and then a few of them read here, one of them might be you, and you deserve a Thanksgiving post inclusive of you. So, from a person who is thankful of many relationships…

I am thankful to be a member of a family that strives to put each other first.
I am thankful to be a member of a family that strives to move forward with care and is incredibly supportive.
I am thankful to be friends with people who share and include me in their growth.
I am thankful to be friends with people who share and include me in their children’s growth.
I am thankful to be friends with people who care.
I am thankful to be friends with people who listen, are honest, and are supportive.
I am thankful to be friends with people spread over the world, but make it a point to stay connected and nourish our friendship.
I am thankful to be colleagues with people who care, help others before themselves, and are dedicated to the most noble of causes. (I am thankful to be colleagues with people I call friends).
I am thankful to be teammates with people who play sports for friendship and growth.
I am thankful for the many relationships I have each Monday to Friday that make me laugh, humble me, inspire me, make me feel purposeful, and give me hope & joy.

I am thankful for the so very many relationships in my life that bring me hope, joy and love. You know if you are one – and you deserve the thanks.

I started writing the above list by saying “I am thankful to have…”. Considering the conundrum at the heart of this blog, I decided to go with to be instead. At another time, this wording could be worth an entry.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and that you are able to spend it with people you care about, and are thankful for. At the least, I hope you are able to connect with those you care about and those who care about you.

p.s. – secondary pages, from the About page to Currently… to Doc Quest have all received small updates.

I guess I should also say: Thanks for reading.

Merci

Air and Island Escape

It’s time for a bit of travel. Technically it’s only been two months since the last bit of travel, but this time there is a plane involved, and some distance over the Pacific. While there is a long day of ahead, admittedly I am a fan of air travel. Further this trip is more than just a personal jaunt. I am honoured to be in attendance at the wedding of two great friends, one of them my closest. There will be a personal challenge thrown into this wedding (there always seems to be one when I attend nuptials) and I’m looking forward to that as well.

Here’s to J & D and an early congratulations. I’ll fill you folks in on le retour.

Welcome to Spring 2008

Blossoms

Originally uploaded by irober.

We’re halfway to the longest day of the year. It’s the time for both sun and snow. Colours are coming to life. Before you know it bocce season will be upon us. Get out there and enjoy what spring has to offer. Soon it will be overshadowed by thoughts of summer, even though it’s a great season all on its own.

The photo is actually from last spring, but it will have to stand in until I get a good shot from this spring.

Happy Christmas

Wishing you Hope and Joy, during the holiday season, and in the year ahead.

Joyeux Noël – Merry Christmas – 즐거운 성탄