jacqueline
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Homepage: http://www.365give.ca
Posts by jacqueline
Give 358: Top 5 Ways to Give Yourself a Break!
Oct 7th
I am a new Mom for the second time exactly one week ago today (Day 353). I also have my own business part time and I blog every day. I am struggling right now with what I am not getting done. Today I decided to make my daily give to myself. I am giving myself a break.
Day 358: Give 358
This crazy thing I call my life.
The Adoption: Journey 1 
My adoption journey started 8 years ago with an abandon dog named Brooklyn. Brooklyn was a year old and won our hearts over instantly. Without knowing it we adopted the “problem child.” At the 6 month mark I had a break down as I was reasonable for the training, walking, feeding and scheduling of this dog. I was shocked at the amount of work it took and how much time out of my busy day. After 1.5 of training and the dog and myself, I was ready to take on adoption #2.
The Adoption: Journey 2
A second dog, this time a rescue puppy. Mackenzie was so cute but once again SO MUCH WORK!. This time after just 6 weeks I had yet another breakdown as my life changed again to accommodate our newest family member. Once again I got trained as well as our second dog Mackenzie.
The Adoption: Journey 3
Then the day came we wanted a child. My husband and I were not able to have children via the natural birth process and adoption was the route we wanted to take. We strongly believe that there are children right here in Canada that needed a home. We were soon blessed with our first child. A baby boy 4 years ago. I was in heaven and also in for the shock of my life. I was working full time running my business (no maternity leave for small business owners) and commuting from Vancouver to Toronto. I never missed a beat. I went into full time Mommyhood running and never stopped. No nanny, no day care. I wanted to raise my children and I did it but I never gave myself a break. With only an occasion breakdown I was ready for number 2.
The Adoption: Journey 4
Number 2 has arrived. Our second son took a little more time, a little more waiting, a lot more stress but he is home and I don’t want to miss even a second of my life with him. After even just a few days of trying to do it all – Mom of 2, wife, in house dog walker, cleaner, chef and daily blogger, tweeter / Facebook fan I am giving myself a break.
Top 5 Ways to Give Yourself a Break.
1) Don’t make you computer the first thing you do in the morning. Read the paper, have a coffee, mediate, or journal. Have breakfast with your kids and tell them you love them. Take the time to be grateful for the day ahead.
2) Exercise: Give your body a break from the desk and go move it. For 30 minutes you can walk, run, do stairs or hit a class. Give yourself a body break.
3) Take quality time with your kids. Running your kids to school, programs, sports or play dates is not quality time. Stop and take the time to talk to them, play with them personally, cuddle with them and let them know how much you love them.
4) Let it go for just one day. Leave the laundry, let the grass grow, miss a garbage day, vacuum tomorrow, order take out for dinner. Don’t try to do the entire “to do” list in one day.
5) Celebrate what you do get done not what you don’t. Be proud of every accomplishment. Stop beating yourself up for all the never ending tasks that didn’t get done for the day.
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” Dalai Lama
I am just days away to completing 365days of giving. I try not to miss a day for anything but I can’t do it all. 365give is my passion for my children but I can’t sacrifice time with them to blog, tweet and FB. I will get my final “gives” done when I can and I will give myself a break if I don’t post every day.
Giving yourself a break is so important. Stopping to smell the roses shouldn’t be just a saying. Life goes by so fast remember remember to let it be just once in a while.
Time Commitment: 5 – 30 minutes a day
Cost: 0
Day 357: The F Word: Will You Help Bono?
Oct 5th
I had to come back today. After my 3 day maternity leave from 365give after adopting a beautiful little boy just a week ago I am back more dedicated than ever.
There is no greater motivation to change the world than your children.
How can we sit back and not want to make the world a better place for all the children?
Day 257: Give 357
- What about the 30,000 children that have already died in the last 3 month in the Horn of Africa?
- Are you motivated to help them?
- Are you motivated to help change the world to make it a better place for the children that suffer so much?
What if you got a letter from Bono in your inbox today. Yes “the” Bono. Today I did and I have to share his message.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYZWZ6N-6tc&feature
Watch the video, read the letter and sign the petition. It’s an easy give and the message is clear.
Famine is a man made disaster. Be part of the solution.
ONE doesn’t want you money they want your voice.
| Dear Jacqueline,
I’ve been known to drop the occasional expletive, but the most offensive F word to me is not the one that goes f***. It’s F***** – the famine happening in the Horn of Africa, mainly Somalia. Dear world leaders, The famine in Somalia could kill 750,000 in the coming months, and tens of thousands have already died. When you meet at the Group of 20 (G-20) Summit in November, you have the opportunity to break the cycle of famine and ensure people are hungry no more. Lives are in your hands. Please keep the promises you have made to the 2 billion poor people who depend on farming for their livelihoods. The reasons for the famine in the Horn of Africa are complex and solutions are difficult, especially in Somalia, but we can’t lose sight of some simple facts: 1. 30,000 children have died in just 3 months. Thirty thousand. With over 12 million people at risk. 2. Famine is not a natural catastrophe – drought doesn’t have to lead to famine. It can be prevented, as we have seen in much of Kenya and Ethiopia. In the 21st century, it’s an obscenity that people are dying because they can’t get enough food to eat. Every one of those 30,000 children is part of a family – a son, a daughter, sister or brother. We can’t imagine what it must be like to starve to death, but most of us know what it’s like to lose someone we love. Please watch the film and make use of the voice you have – sign the petition. It will make a difference in putting pressure on world leaders to do more to help those in need right now, and live up to promises already made to invest in the things proven to work – early warning systems…irrigation…drought resistant seeds… and of course, peace and security. Thanks for reading. Bono Time Commitment: 10 seconds Cost: 0 |
Day 356: Your Daily Dose of Inspiration to Give – To Your Parents
Oct 4th
On Maternity Leave! Jacqueline Way, Founder of 365give will be on a short sabbatical as she just adopted a baby boy a few days ago. (See Day 352) In her place Nicola Inwood (generous sister) will be posting the daily “give.” If you do not get an immediate response to emails, FB comment or Tweets please understand that Jacqueline does not have immediate access to her social media communication at the moment. Thank you for the understanding.
Nicolas and David Way Hiking
Day 356: Give 356 Guest Post by Nicola Inwood
One of the greatest gives can be words of hope and wisdom.
With the recent activities (her adoption of a baby boy) transpiring in the life of Jacqueline, a good friend and reader of 365give.ca passed on this wonderful motivational and inspirational poem that we would like to give to all our readers.
This give falls under about 20 categories, a random act of kindness, a note of thanks, a gift to a friend to name a few. After receiving this give this week, I decided to place it as a give to all parents, children and people in the world as a wonderful give of the day. Whether you are parent, or just a person , this wonderful poem can keep on giving day in and day out.
If I Had my Child To Raise Over Again
IF I had my child to raise all over again,
I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I’d finger paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less and know to care more.
I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.
I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars,
I’d do more hugging and less tugging.
I’d see the oak tree in the acorn more often,
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.
I’d model less about the love of power,
And more about the power of love.
D. Loomans
Pass this poem forward as your give for the day to someone you appreciate, are thankful for or could use a hand up. Thank you to Naz for sending in such a wonderful give to Jacqueline during this exciting and wonderful time.
What Are you Saying?