Friday, 12 December 2025
Thoughts of the Week
I took this photo a bit of time ago during our first snow fall. It is my thinking place in winter when I first wake up and where I drink coffee and read and of course a good prayer space, as I watch nature at work. Don't tell anyone because it is illigal in Toronto, one reason why I can't vote NDP. The politician whom I never saw smile left being a councellor to representing the Province. Anyhow, please keep it quiet that I feed the squirrels. I love watching them munching away as they watch me, watching them. I think it is called love. Do you know that they always leave one morsal behind for another who may need it. Isn't that amazing? We have so much to learn from nature. This week I managed to do little and cancelled appointments as I am trying to get rid of this cold. Talking gets me into a coughing frenzy, so I am doing little of that. I am hoping to rid of it so I can get my flu shot. This year it is expected to be bad. Get your flu shot is my recommendation.
Last night on the news there was another protest ( I am so tired of the protests). This one is about getting rid of trustees and the Province taking over. What are my thoughts? I'm not sure. It all started because a group used funds to go to Italy to buy Italian art all paid by the tax payer and costing a fortune. Now one of them is suing the governement (all with tax dollars?) I am tired of seeing tax dollars being used by anyone to sue and think that is another waste. Use your own money. Of course I may be wrong? Anyway, there was a cheap shot directed at our Premier about him not having an university degree. So, I began thinking about all that. I remember one person I knew at University who told me she wouldn't date any man without a degree. That stemmed from her high school days when she felt bullied because of a disability and she equated that as being insufficiently educated. The teens who bullied her never went to university. I remember the high school retired principal who was chased home and tormented by two teens throughout high school being called a wop consistently. His armour getting an education which they never got. Getting an education is very costly. Ask me. Education is not cheap and growing more expensive with time. I remember a University Professor still paying off his from Harvard. I do think that education is important but I don't believe it encompasses the whole person. You can be very analytical and intelligent and open to learning and listening without an education. You can be educated and well..........Now we also have psychologists protesting because they are in the process of decreasing years of mentorship. It made me think of what I was hearing that we (psychotherapists) don't retire because of the time and education and hours to get us where we are. I thought that was interesting. I have decided to stay with one of my associations, CACFT as a retired member. My college doesn't have a retirement block, just resigned, which I told them is two different things. They will probably recognize that people do retire. Why do I want to retire? I am exhausted. Trying to sell my house, having it staged and not being able to see clients in person but on-line made me just want to have my house back and not share it. I didn't feel like I was growing anymore in my field either. I have attended so many lectures and conferences that some speakers didn't quite have the knowledge. I have not shared that with you. Everything I share on line is by people whom I consider well educated in their field. I need growth. I need to learn new things and I need to have fun. It wasn't fun anymore as more was on line. I need challenges and it stopped being that. How much education is required before we need another direction? How much becomes redundant? Also, I stopped having respect for something very important which I won't share at this moment. I am also letting go of AAMFT. I have been with them the longest. They called me as well, letting me know, that they have a retirement fee where I can still stay. I have been with them the longest, since I was a student working on my Masters and am more than qualified to stay with them. But, if I am going to stay with everyone, why retire? My own college warned that if I retire and change my mind, I have to start the process from scratch. How ridiculous. I'm still retiring, because I can - there. Do I really want to belong to an organization that takes that attitude? Nope. What I do know after retiring the first time, is that you need to move on once you make that decision. I am also stepping down from volunteer positions. Yes, it is no wonder I am tired so I am taking not a sabatical which I could have done, but actually resigning and retiring from all positions. I want to focus on my writing which is my favourite hobby where I have so little time for. I am tired of the two main things which is donating your time and money for different causes. Now back to politics. During Word On The Street last summer a black man in a suit approached my table, picked up my second book, For Love Of Country - Military Policewoman and broused through it for quite a while. It was nearing the end of the day. He then put the book down, said I was very political and walked away. He didn't ask me, he told me. I was surprised. I have had people buy my second book from all demographics, and religions both men and women. Jewish men and mostly men in the Canadian military have been my strongest supporters. I am probably speaking more about politics today than I ever have in my own history because I feel that democracy is in danger right now. That is what I was thinking about this morning, but then my brain went back into history and visualized how dark some periods were where it was thought that was it. This is not it. I love Christmas. It is a time for love and faith and yes hope. At a Holiday function (to include everyone's religion or not) I was given a small cotton made boot holding a chocolate bar and what stood out besides it being good chocolate, was the engraving of "hope" in huge letters. So, this morning as I was thinking, I decided we will be ok. There was a Soviet defector who once said that unless a person has a knife at his throat, he does not see the danger. That stuck with me. Perhaps because it is true. (I just got a call from a prison in Georgia. Then a voice came on stating a three way call was not permitted, so I hung up. Very interesting. I am not allowed to accept clients from the States because I am not licensed there. Actually, I am not taking on new clients because I am retiring). Anyhow back to education. I had a wonderful friend whom I liked taking walks with. He came from England and he couldn't go to univeristy which he desparately wanted. He came to Canada and when he got his first degree, he was so overwhelmed that he went to hide behind one of the university buildings and broke down and cried. My beautiful friend has died. He had gone on to more education and he loved helping others grow in their knowledge. Education is not always available to everyone. Education is also selective. At a function I spoke to a retired high school teacher and I was floored when she stated that Canada was a communist country. When I heard a Fox news reporter say Canadians need to be rescued because we are under Communism (Trudeau was Prime Minister) I was surprised that a professional reporter could be so stupid. When I heard this retired school teacher say it, I was concerned about who is teaching our students. I knew from her degree that she came from a communist country. She justified her thinking by saying that Canada has free health care while in her country of origin, if you couldn't pay for it you have none. She seemed content with that idea. That callous way of thinking concerned me. We can't have teachers teaching who don't even know what their new country is. Perhaps it is time to educate before citizenship.
I think we are going to be ok. Dictators do not live forever. They grow old and sick and poof they go to their makers and now good luck. Leaders who may not be educated, can choose people who are experts in their fields to fill in the gaps. My own philosophy is that I know nothing - simply because there is so much to learn and we will never be old enough to know it all. There are so many fields of studies where that expertise is learned and culivated through science which leaders need to appoint to positions.
Have a good weekend! Be kind to each other and pay attention to those who need it. This can be a very difficult time for some.
Thursday, 11 December 2025
Ominous - I have been ignoring my books. I shall be reviving that (hopefully) silvaredigonda.myshopify.com
The book is Canadian made. I sell my books to anyone and anywhere in the world. I will also probably be starting a new website. I have lots to do in my agenda, but I will balance it all. What do you think?
Wednesday, 10 December 2025
Tid bits for today; movies you may want to watch
Second Harvest today reports that 10 million people in Canada have food insecurity. Other reputable news reports that Canadian groceries cost more than that of Americans and blame our Government for not making responsible changes that Americans have. Last week I paid 7.00 + for regular bread I paid 2.50 for not too long ago. Yes, it was at Fortino's which isn't cheap, but it is convenient and has security and the staff are more professional than some others I have shopped at.
Tony on CP 24 reported that Meta is earning a fortune 10% - 16 billion through fraud and scamming. Facebook - Meta claims that is an exageration. Reality is it could tip to 20 billion. Response: Charge them more, we'll make them pay more. 1/3 of scams in the States are on these channels.
South Korea is making it law to show IA generated clearly on the internet. Yes!!!!!!!!Let's all follow suit. I have recently noticed that some photos indicate they are IA generated.
Movies you may want to watch: White Bird: A Wonder Story - A 2024 movie about a girl in Nazi occupied France goes into hiding with help from a schoolmate. This is not a true story but I think it depicts what many went through. I would recommend this movies to be shown in high schools by their teachers who should be prepared to answer some hard questions. When I was in grade school we watched movies about the Holocaust and I was stunned that people could be so cruel. The Jewish community has been targeted more than any other religion and it is our fault.
Reagan (2024) 40th President of the United States. I couldn't help comparing him to the President now and what it means to democracy.
Watson - a tv show. Season 2, episode 9 was interesting because it showed how IA can be dangerous to children.
Today I heard on the news that Trumps stated that the President of the Ukaine has to play ball. Let me get this straight. Putin lied about practicing war games when he actually invaded Russia. He has been killing people to no end, but it is the Ukaine people who have to give up their land to appease this brutal dictator. Anyone who cannot see that Putin has no respect for Trump and is playing him needs a double espresso.
Today, I have a lot of work to do and having two colds back to back has not been helpful, but my priority today is to write my Christmas Cards and get them out sooner than later. Yes, I will be working too. Good talk.
Tuesday, 9 December 2025
Suicide Idealtion in Children under 10 years old. AAMFT Conference continues (notes)
73% of community self thought of suicide of eight. 60% did not have a mental health diagnosis. 70% of moms did not know that children thought of suicide. Children as young as six, understand the concepts of death and suicide. Where do children learn about suicide? They learn it by video games, on line and my own experience with children includes watching television.
Welcome Parent - Child Discord: Transform the experience of Conflict Part 1- V116. Psychologists Drs Kat Scherer and Elizabeth Sylvester website :relationship based treatment.com Relationship - Based Treatment of children and their parents: Integrating neurobiology, attachment, regulation and discipline. Do I embrace conflict? No one really loves it. May feel disreguated, avoid it. Personal history activates. Some of us are very sensitive (therapists). 50/50 in session of conflict resolution. Book: The Power of Discord.Children will learn comfort and skills. : Unrealistic expectations of child. Embarassed others see this conflict. Children learn how to feel and regulate discomfort. Communicate and seek resolution. Diverse opinion - expansive and creative. Self awareness and interception, reconnection and repair is possible. We can surpress children. What happens is the child becomes a people pleaser to avoid conflict which is not healthy. Conflict resolution - promotes growth, standing up to herself (child) is ok. It promotes self esteem. Their perspective is worthy of being heard. Learn where there is different desires - respect growth, and compassion for others. Learning to listen, take a break, conflict and resolution helps to understand all family members. It teaches that parents boundaries are positive. Eg. nine year old female is explosive - curses and screams and tears things. Parents are stressed, irritated and angry. They are also worried, fearful; guilty. The child is also miserable. She feels like she is a bad girl and kind of stuck. Heated moments: when we experience conflict we are in a poor state for addressing it; when calm the conflict feels distant. (as usual any errors are mine alone)
To be continued ...........