In fact, three weeks ago, I wrote what I thought would be my final story, a blog about a black bear. Guess it’ll have to go into hibernation for a while before I can actually post it.
My first blog was about my New Year’s resolution for 2011. And now, here I am writing about resolutions for 2012. I think I’ve learned my lesson not to go for the frivolous ones, like wanting to meet Rick Mercer in person. This time, I’ll keep it simple.
I’ve made two resolutions.
One is to do some volunteer work at Covenant House. My math is getting rusty and I do enjoy working with young people. Whenever I'm talking shop with my teaching friends, I also realize just how much I miss solving a good trig identity or finding the inflection points of a polynomial equation.
A second goal is to try to work on my French. Growing up in Montreal and attending a French elementary school from grades one to four, I was perfectly bilingual at an early age. However, that talent quickly evaporated when my family moved to Toronto when I was ten years old. I found French easy in high school but I never really worked to keep it up. Most of my French vocabulary is lying dormant somewhere in my brain but the ability to string those words together in a meaningful way is gone. I keep thinking that if Anglophones like Stephen Harper and Dalton McGuinty can be taught to speak French, then reconnecting with my roots can’t be that hard.
But before I can commit to either of these resolutions in a realistic way, I’ll have to beat my cancer. As I patiently wait for news of my treatment regime at Sunnybrook, I’ll try to continue to pay forward all the kindness that has been shown to me over the past six months of my cancer time.
I’m realizing that sometimes all it takes is a kind word or a smile, a friendly visit or a phone call to make 2012 a kinder year for others. The following quote that I carry in my wallet captures my sincerest hope for the New Year.
“For fear that God would tear me up by the roots
as a tree that bears no fruit
I prayed to Him to leave me standing yet this year
and I promised Him that I would bear better fruit
than I have done in the past.”
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