Oh, those hills!
Long-time readers of this blog will already know that I love road trips. Not necessarily the driving, but the scenery and the varied landscapes.
I’m sort of a landscape junkie, I guess. Even taught the stuff in university awhile back. How this hill or that mountain was formed, how that stream got its course, how beaches take their shape, how glaciers carve out the landscape, why sand dunes are shaped the way they are and why this massive rock sits entirely outside its original setting.
So, a trip to the Okanagan this past weekend was, among other things, a chance to reconnoitre with some of those great landscapes.
Okay, some of you are thinking: You go to the interior to see dry low-lying hills? And desert? Are you nuts? The scenery is the ocean and the mountains and the forests out here on the coast.
To which I’ll respond “Yep, you’re right! I love the ocean and mountains and forests. That’s scenery! But I also love the interior scenery. My friend and I marvelled at the barren, sage-brush covered hills alongside the lush, cultivated vineyards outside Osoyoos.
I even love the prairies, with their wide-open skies, no mountains or trees to block the view!—(How can you tell I grew up in Saskatchewan, where their slogan is, “land of living skies”?) Do I have to give up those appreciations, just because I now reside on the West Coast? Even after more than 20 years?
I think not. I think one can enjoy all of the variety. They say “Variety is the spice of life.” I say, “Variety is life.” And I might even go so far as to say, “Variety gives life.”
It all reminds me of how varied people are in their perspectives, their ways of thinking, their habits, their comfort zones, their thirsts for adventure, their cultural inclinations, their pleasure satisfying behaviours, their food tastes, their shopping pleasures, their understanding of the world, their beliefs. Should I go on???
It reminds me of the central value of tolerance and of appreciation for diversity, not to be too quick to judge.
It reminds me not to see the world too black and white, but to see many shades of grey (or green, or brown or blue, if you like).
The appreciation for diversity reminds me, too, to be flexible and sensitive in how I treat people, even when it comes to business matters. Everyone deserves respect, no matter their perspective. And that’s the easiest to give when I eliminate the black and white extremes of life.
And, instead, appreciate the great variety of facets that make up a person’s perspective, whether of landscapes, values or approaches to life.
At least, that’s how I see it . . .
Announcement
The winner of a $250 credit certificate toward a rent 2 own program from our Facebook “like!” contest was Karen Alcock! But we have been unable to track you down, Karen. If you are reading this, or someone knows Karen, please contact us so that we can get you the certificate.
When we reach 500 “Likes” we will draw from all of them again, for a $500 certificate!
Rent 2 Own tip
If you are in financial trouble, a Consumer Proposal may be a way out of some of your debts. But, be very cautious before entering one because they are almost as devastating for getting a mortgage as is a bankruptcy. Just as a bankruptcy needs to be discharged before you can enter a rent 2 own program, a Consumer Proposal needs to be paid off first. So, the timelines to build up your qualification for a mortgage are not much different. Sometimes, an informal proposal to individual creditors is better than a formal Consumer Proposal because it will not set back your timetable as much.
Quote of the Week:
You only live once, but if you work it right, once is enough. – Joe E. Lewis
