Since joining the TweetsGiving community a few weeks ago, I’ve been trying to figure out what I should write about as an expression of personal gratitude. Naturally, my first idea was to write a piece about my wife and kids, of how they’ve been a wonderful source of love, happiness and sense of inner peace. I also thought of writing about all the other people who have helped to shape the course my life has been taking so far.

After giving this some thought, I decided I wanted to share a personal story about someone I met many years ago while attending university. His name was Steve and he wasn’t another student, nor was he one of my professors. Instead, Steve was a homeless man, spending most of his days hanging out on this short platform wall asking the passersby for some spare change. More importantly, Steve is someone I grew to care about and who to this day, has had a lasting impact on my life. Click here to continue reading »”The Story of Steve – A Personal Tale of Gratitude”

[Allashua Painting by Vladyana Krykorka, "A Promise is a Promise" - Robert Munsch and Michael Kusugak]

Of all the bedtime stories I’ve read to my kids, one of their favourites has to be Robert Munsch’s “A Promise Is A Promise”, the tale of a Innuit girl named Allashua who learns about the importance of keeping a promise.  My girls love this book not only for the story told therein, but also because of how it has carried forth into their own lives.

You see, after I read this story to my kids, whenever I would tell them “I promise”, I’d follow that promise by saying “and remember, a promise is a promise”.  I did this because I wanted them to appreciate that this particular word carried a special meaning, that it was something significant.  I wanted them to understand that saying “I promise” meant that no matter how tired I was, or how busy I was, or whoever asked me for my help with something, I would honour my word to them that we would do what I had promised before anything else.

I also made sure they noted how those times where I wasn’t sure I could promise something that I’d only say “We’ll see” so they could truly appreciate that when I promised them something, it was as good as done.  Now I only have to say “I promise” and if it’s something they really want, they’ll reply “and Papa, a promise is a promise”, reminding me that I had given them my word.

Of course, keeping your word is something that is very important Click here to continue reading »”A Promise Is A Promise”