A good trainer still needs training

I am grateful for my personal trainer Sean Snary at Wynn Fitness https://www.wynnfitness.com/team-member/sean-snary/ as not only is he the BEST trainer he also is developing himself. Sean inspires me as he is very active and fits in work, family and full-time school with a busy client base. Sean is also finishing up his training in osteopathy and getting great grades. Thank you for motivating me both physically (fitness) and mentally - your gentle encouragement makes a difference. RESPECT!

I am very grateful for Cheryl Gibson and the team (vets, ferries, and so many more) by teaching me Equi-Bow Canada techniques for Equine. https://www.equi-bowcanada.com/
I have learned so much from Cheryl and the team of experts that come in for each training session on equine, muscle release techniques and how to help horses. Thank you for your time and sharing your knowledge with others. You and the team make a difference for trainees and the equine that they will look after .... hopefully I get to practice this year on thoroughbreds, standardbreds and some cold drafts included.

If you want to learn more about helping your horse (equine) I highly recommend taking Equi-Bow Foundations course March 22-24 https://www.equi-bowcanada.com/courses/equi-bow-100-series-courses/ followed by Equine Anatomy II March 30 & 31https://www.equi-bowcanada.com/

Grateful for philantropists like Andre McDonnell - It's From the Sole

I saw on Ellen today the great work that Andre and the "It's From The Sole" team have been doing to help get footwear for those who are homeless. I highly recommend companies and groups of individuals to get together by collecting old sneakers (Nike, Adidas, Converse, etc.) and donate it to this great organisation http://www.itsfromthesole.org/

Corporations -- please get a drive together that inspires employees to collect and donate their old unused sneakers to those less fortunate.

Thanks Andre for inspiring us - helping communities - and making a difference. Respect!

For fun places to go on a slow Sunday morning

I am grateful for fun places -- hidden gems located in the west end of TO (yes the 6, hogtown, the big smoke). Great to go with family and friends to just hang and chill after a hard week's work; to recharge the battery. Maybe one day I will see Bill Murray at one of these places?

Here are some favs...but are not exhaustive

• Dixie value mall Flea Market (downstairs on the south side of the mall) which is only open on the weekends. It is a great place to find little treasures or hunts for the big bargain. I love going to the record/DVD shop in the back 40. The proprietor plays cool tunes there...he is a bit hard of hearing but a very sweet guy. Lots of old school records with new Blue Ray DVDs
• There are lots of antique shops too. This a great way to reuse and recycle -- plus find an eclectic gift for someone special
• People watching -- both the vendors and the shoppers, browsers and family members that may be dragged to the place
• Woodbine Mall: they have a cool indoor amusement park for the kids to go … very unique. I miss the JJMuggs restaurant that use to be there. 
• Woodbine entertainment: to see the live races (can't wait for it to open again in the spring to see the thoroughbreds, trainers, jockeys, and so many more people who support this sport)
• Centennial park Conservatory: which is open every day from 10-5. They have different themes and events. Great place to be around nature, learn from green thumbs who volunteer there... a very nice and peaceful place
• Yellow Cup Cafe in Etobicoke for their great crepes

Grateful for horsemen and horsewomen

They say that "law of attraction" helps you attract people into your fold - well that happened to me today at Cloverdale Mall. I met up with Larry Simpson, Publisher at Ponies247.com as he has an online publication for those who enjoy the standardbred and thoroughbred racing. I am grateful that I know some great horsemen and horsewomen at Woodbine and at Flamborough.

Too many to publish but here are few to start with:

• First I want to thank the trainers at Woodbine for their hot walker and grooming school: Jamie Attard, Renée Kierans, Sarah Sullivan and Andrea as well as Dr. C. Reid McClellan. Also, all of the great fellow students of alum 2018 - RESPECT
• Francine Villeneuve - Trainer and owner of Sport of Queens Racing -- Loved "Callie Liked Her Brew"
• Mario Williams for being an eccentric but good horsemen by going natural with his horses
• Kathy Ranford - the equine muscle expert -- love her horse Joy too
• John Braid - Flamborough - Standardbred Canada - I went on a cool ride with his horse Bob -- what fun and an exhilarating time!
• Carl and his lovely horse Sophia - another great horseman 
• John Mattine - letting me massage one of his ponies and helping me understand how much is involved in a barn at Woodbine
• AAA Racing: Alison and Robert
• Yannick Hardy -- one of the most underestimated riders
• Christopher (Chins) Husbands - what a fine gentleman and jockey
• All of the people in the office and security and kitchen 
• Charlie -- Farrier at Woodbine -- he is a true artist
• Off-riders, and so many more....

February 27, 2019

I have heard that journaling what we are grateful for does wonders for a person including their soul; similar to the Chicken Soup books. So I thought I would start on my birthday and give this a good old College try for a month...well here goes nothing.

What I am grateful for today is:

[Do I start this blog with numbers or bullet lists???? Who labelled lists as 'bullet' lists?]

• The obvious one would be family (including fur baby Ryder) and friends who have been there during good times and bad
• Being alive -- I guess I should be grateful for this or else I wouldn't be writing this blog in the first place
• The ability to use and somewhat understand technology to write this blog - thanks Google, Bill Gates, YouTube, Tesla (Nikola Tesla for his contributions on electricity) and whoever invented the internet 
• Being Canadian and living in Canada. Having travelled to over 30 countries and  learning about unique and great cultures around the world...still hoping to travel to more places
• All the horsemen and horsewomen --RESPECT
• you are helping me through my journey [and passion] to help heal equine
• My students -- as I learn everyday thanks to them. I just hope that I bestow one pearl of wisdom per course
• Academia: I have been blessed with great profs and it has been a salvation for me when times were tough
• It also helped me garner jobs thanks to having some alphabet soup after my name
• Past employers and some super duper great bosses who treated me as a peer vs a subordinate. I also want to thank the ones that weren't so great as it was still a lesson learned. It is very important to treat people well with; respect, dignity and pay them their worth.
• Mentors who didn't know they were mentoring me: 
• Ellen DeGeneres & Opray Winfrey: for their kindness, generosity, intelligence, wit, inspiring others to be great leaders 
• I was blown away by seeing Opray speak live -- great orator (double respect)
• Bill Gates: we wouldn't be communicating the way we are without his help and part in creating computers while working for IBM 
• Hal (couldn't help myself with this space odyssey movie reference)
• Ray Kurzweil & Kai-Fu Lee: both are fascinating AI gurus
• Let's see where AI and robotics will take and maybe lead us
• J.K. Rowling for her creativity, inspiring imagination, allowing us to make believe and dream for all ages
• David Suzuki: is it ok for me to admit on this forum that I have had a crush on him since I was little? Thanks for educating me and the world to take care of this fragile yet flexible planet
• Many others...but not enough space..perhaps another blog?
• Mother Earth -- until we all live with Elon Musk on Mars.... thanks for letting me live on this wonderful planet filled with some pretty awesome [and wacky] people, animals, plants, and minerals