Montreal at minus 35 Celsius - colder than the North Pole?

Are you kidding me? Montreal colder than the North Pole?

Yep - you betcha little booties that was true all week this week. Daytime high temperatures hovered around -35 degrees Celsius (yes, that's a minus sign) once the windchill factor was considered. Do you have any idea how cold this is? Supposedly certain parts of the human anatomy if exposed to the elements will freeze in 3 seconds flat. This is why some of my Canadian friends think I belong in the loony bin for moving here halfway around the world from beautiful, tropical Malaysia where the temperature is a plus 35 degrees Celsius all year long.

What can I say? The butler made me do it!? It was all for love? ( I know...real corny!)...or perhaps a moment of temporary insanity.... Whatever the reason, I'm here now. I love my adopted country despite major homesickness for my birth country several times a year. (Chinese New Year approaching fast - hope I survive missing the family)

Sometimes things don't turn out the way you want them to but your life is what you have. And... every now and then we need a perspective and attitude adjustment. If I am courageous enough to take a moment to look in the mirror, too often I am thinking of what I do NOT have, what I'd like to have more of, what I want others to have less of, what I missed out on .... wish I was taller, slimmer, blonder with blue-er eyes, spoke 3 more languages than I already do and have a killer smile. Oh wait! I do have a killer smile! :)

Jokes aside, what about you? Seriously, can you identify with that attitude adjustment I just mentioned? Puh-leeze tell me you do.... :)

I'm listening to Nickelback's "Gotta be Somebody" as I'm writing this - check it out on my link on the right - one of the lines in their song says " everyone wants to know they're not alone". Gosh, hope I'm not the only one in my world confessing to the need of an attitude adjustment. Eek!

Anyway, the next piece below has been circulating around the internet for a while. Unfortunately I have no idea how it originated, perhaps someone can tell me. It is a beautifully written piece and reminds me than when I am shivering in minus 35 Celsius weather hoping my car engine will start after a long day at work, thinking how on earth my Montreal can be colder than the North Pole....that really, I have MUCH to be thankful for and very little to complain about.

Blessings everyone. Enjoy reading the following and then celebrate how truly fortunate you really are.

A.

****again - wish I wrote this but I didn't. If someone finds out who did, I will update the post with appropriate credit *****

Think of it this way. If you live in a good home, have plenty to eat and can read; you are a member of a very select group. And if you have a good house, food, can read and have a computer; you are among the very elite.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness; you are more fortunate than the million who will not survive this week. And, if you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation; you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a religious meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death, you are more fortunate than 3 billion people in the world who can't. If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep; you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet and spare change in a dish someplace; you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy. If your parents are still alive and still married? you are very rare, indeed. (Especially in North America)

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful you are fortunate; the majority can, but most do not. If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder; you are fortunate because you can offer a healing touch.

If you can read you are more fortunate than over 2 billion people in the world who cannot. Count your fortunes and pass this along.