None of us like to feel regretful. We want to believe our decisions lead us in the right direction. But often that isn’t the case. What do we decide on something that didn’t work out quite as planned…and we hold ourselves responsible?

Regret is … an unavoidable result of any loss, for in loss we lose the tomorrow that we needed to make right our yesterday or today.

Often regret is very false and displaced, and imagines the past to be totally other than it was.

Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.

Remorse is the poison of life.

CHARLOTTE BRONTE, Jane Eyre

The designers understood the risk. The city waited with baited breath. Would one of the largest living roofs flourish or flop? Well, the answer is somewhere in-between:

It’s been three years since the green roof was planted on Vancouver’s new convention centre.
Is it a success? Is it as good as they promised it would be?
The answer is that some parts are terrific — attractive, quality planting; a beautiful habitat for songbirds and insect life.
But other areas are untidy, scrubby, a bit of a mess; you might even say, an eyesore, and a fair ways from what they could or should be.

Overall, the roof is more a success than a flop, but there’s definitely room for improvement, so the designers should not spend too much time patting themselves on the back. There’s still some refining work to do.
Covering 2.4 hectares (just over six acres), it is still the largest living roof in Canada and the largest non-industrial green roof in North America.
But being 10 storeys above ground, you can’t see much of it from street level, say from outside the Fairmont Pacific Rim at Canada Place.
The roof is mostly visible to people working in adjacent highrise office blocks, such as the Shaw Tower, or living in luxury condos opposite.

Read more at the Vancouver Sun.

Obstacles are meant to be overcome. We do it every day, in our own small ways. This story shows the majesty, beauty and strength in takes to literally run through those obstacles and into the loving arms of family.

Wakana Ueda followed the sounds of applause, of chanting and of her mother’s voice as she crossed the finish line of the Honolulu Marathon on December 11.

The blind, 11-year-old girl from Toyota City, Japan, had tears in her eyes as she reunited with her family after 14 hours, 3 minutes and 12 seconds since the start of the race, Hawaii News Now reports.

The girl’s first marathon was not without its difficulties: the physical strains of the course almost derailed her at several points - but determination and encouragement from her team carried her through the finish line strung with flower petals.

Source: Daily News

The inimitable Betty White celebrated her 90th birthday recently. Animal activist and actress, we celebrate her through her words:

On one’s well-being: “Keep the other person`s well-being in mind when you feel an attack of soul-purging truth coming on.”

On getting rest after a long day: “Oh, I don’t need sleep. I just went to my hotel and had a cold hot dog and vodka on the rocks.”

On living life to the fullest, we think: “I’ve always liked older men. They’re just more attractive to me. Of course, at my age there aren’t that many left! I’ve enjoyed the opposite sex a lot. Always have. Always will.”

On staying active: “I have a two story house and a bad memory! I’m up and down those stairs all the time: ‘What did I come up here for again?’”

On Facebook, after a successful campaign on the social media network site landed White a gig as a host of Saturday Night Live: “I didn’t know what Facebook was, and now that I do know what it is, I have to say: It sounds like a huge waste of time.”

On gay marriage: “I don’t care who anybody sleeps with. If a couple has been together all that time — and there are gay relationships that are more solid than some heterosexual ones — I think it’s fine if they want to get married. I don’t know how people can get so anti-something. Mind your own business, take care of your affairs, and don’t worry about other people so much.

Source: GlobalMontreal

Young adults gain knowledge and compassion when part of charitable projects. Their self-confidence increases as well as their sense of community, which has staying power for a lifetime. This story shows how students and communities work together to help needy families, and interestingly, help themselves:

Normally, the day before Thanksgiving on the campus of Gonzaga High School in Washington, D.C is found to be silent. All the students are at home with their families and enjoying the holiday break. However, that is not the case in the basement of the next door church. Faculty, staff and parents have gathered to volunteer their time to feed the needy.

Inside the basement, folks worked diligently all day long making Thanksgiving dinners with all the trimmings to feed about 50 people that are older and live nearby in the lower income dwellings. The meals are a welcome sight and are a blessing to those that receive them from the volunteers from the school. The holidays are not the only time that this charitable work occurs. Volunteers help feed the needy twice a week all year long in a project founded in 2001.

The project, started by Robert Egger is called the Campus Kitchens Project (CKP) and it uses resources that are both available and left over. They use the campus kitchens, the leftover food and volunteer students to help prepare and feed the hungry. The program has taken hold and spread to 28 colleges and 3 high schools.

Read more at Amazing News.

I found this bittersweet video last night while surfing and wanted to share it with you. Riley, a young girl, talks about the limitations of marketing for little boys and girls…and hits home some pretty big truths.

I hope you enjoy it and happy Monday all!

Little Girl Gets Mad about Pink Toys

My friend had a difficult experience a few days ago. She was feeling ignored, small. People weren’t respecting her the way she felt she deserved. She spent some time with her friend, who seemed to be getting so much attention from “the world.” She felt envy. I told her I’d put up some quotes to help support her.

A person is born with feelings of envy and hate. If he gives way to them, they will lead him to violence and crime, and any sense of loyalty and good faith will be abandoned.
Xun Zi

Above all, you must fight conceit, envy, and every kind of ill-feeling in your heart.
Abraham Cahan

By common consent gray hairs are a crown of glory; the only object of respect that can never excite envy.
George Bancroft

Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.
Buddha

Envy aims very high.
Ovid

Envy among other ingredients has a mixture of the love of justice in it. We are more angry at undeserved than at deserved good-fortune.
William Hazlitt

Envy comes from people’s ignorance of, or lack of belief in, their own gifts.
Jean Vanier

Envy is an insult to oneself.
Yevgeny Yevtushenko

Envy is like a fly that passes all the body’s sounder parts, and dwells upon the sores.
Arthur Chapman

Envy is never general, but always very particular - at least envy of the kind one feels strongly.
Joseph Epstein

Envy is the art of counting the other fellow’s blessings instead of your own.
Harold Coffin

Envy like fire always makes for the highest points.
Titus Livius

Envy, like the worm, never runs but to the fairest fruit; like a cunning bloodhound, it singles out the fattest deer in the flock.
Francis Beaumont

Envy, my son, wears herself away, and droops like a lamb under the influence of the evil eye.
Jacopo Sannazaro

Babies have been born in strange places. (Hey, you can’t always dial up birth, right?) This is a story that shows, as humans, even small humans, we persevere and adapt.

Mother Anna Liza Tumanda smiles as her children Edmar, left, and Vorach, right, play with their five-day-old baby sister Aizee at an evacuation center Thursday Dec. 22, 2011 in Cagayan De Oro city, southern Philippines. Mother Anna Liza gave birth to baby Aizee on the roof of a medical center after they were rescued by police. Their house were totally destroyed.

Source: Day Life

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired! This last week has been packed with friends and family and gift giving and eating, eating and more eating! Today, I’m taking an official day off from the festivities and treating myself to a good movie. I found this list as a starting point:

The Classics

These are the films that your grandparents approve of and for good reason: they’re wonderful.
1. It’s a Wonderful Life
Arguably the most-watched film each holiday season, George Bailey’s never-been-born adventure is sure to make you cry tears of life-is-beautiful joy.
2. Holiday Inn
Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire: what more do you need? How about the debut of the now-classic song “White Christmas”? Warning: this film will make you want to quit your job and only work on holidays.
3. White Christmas
After you’ve seen Holiday Inn, watch its Crosby-starring spin-off, “White Christmas.” Rosemary Clooney is a dream—as are the fur-trimmed capes and painted Vermont landscapes.
4. A Christmas Carol (1951)
The classic Dickens novel has countless adaptations. A top recommendation: the 1951 version starring Alastair Sim. It will destroy your inner “bah, humbug!”
5. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
In this 1947 Oscar winner, Santa Claus is on trial. By the inspirational movie’s end, you’ll believe again.
6. The Bishop’s Wife
The non-musical inspiration behind The Preacher’s Wife, this film stars Cary Grant as an angel-slash-marriage-counselor. Enough said.
7. The Bells of St. Mary’s
More Bing Crosby, the face of classic Christmas movies. This 1945 film features a Christmas pageant at the run-down school he and a nun are trying to save.
8. Meet Me in St. Louis
This Judy Garland classic is on the list merely for the scene in which she sings a magical rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

9. Babes in Toyland
Laurel and Hardy rescue Tom Tom and Bo Peep from Bogeyland in this 1934 adaptation of Victor Herbert’s operetta. Disney’s adaptation was released in 1961.

Read more at Gimundo!

We received this over the weekend from a reader, about our post, Positive Quote Wednesday - on Gifts.

For me gift giving is about giving proper Gifts, thoughtful Gifts, Gifts from the heart. The ones you made/bought/collected with the person at heart. Those are the most valuable and fun ones to give.

I hear you on the receiving part. But I also have that feeling when giving a gift. The not knowing how the receiving party is going to react - that’s just as satisfying.

A couple of months ago I gave a friend of mine a cake I made especially for him. It wasn’t something you can buy in a shop, it requires a bit of effort and love and care. It came right out of my heart. So I was realy curious what he would think of it. His reaction made a real impression on me. I barely see that reaction on people anymore. The look on his face when he received it - the thrill, the thankfulness…the sheer appreciation. Immense joy! It really felt I made a connection.

And I think that’s what’s it all about. Walking that extra mile, putting in that extra effort. Giving your love and make that connection.

Whishing you a warm loving Xmas spend amongst your loved ones
BIG HUG,
Ingrid