Reflections
Written by Robert Kirwan

The articles I have written over the years, mostly in the Valley Vision Paper which many of you will remember, have been arranged according to the year in which they were written. The button will take you to the year you select and from there you will be able to view the articles that were written. I hope you enjoy what you read and I also hope that they give you food for thought that will move you in some small way.

I have also begun, as of March 2014, to include a special Reflection on Life every week in our Valley East Facebook Group, so if you would like to see those entries, CLICK HERE

If you have any comments, please send them to me at rkirwan@infocomcanada.com 

   

If you have any comments, please send them to me at rkirwan@infocomcanada.com 
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Don't Make Any New Year's Resolutions This Year! Make Some New Year's Realizations! (Dec.27)

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The Perfect Gift (Dec.20)

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There Are Never Any Mistakes In Life ... Just Detours (Dec.13)

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Don’t Ask Why? Just Accept That Everything Happens For A Reason! (Dec.6)

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Daddy, When Will My Fingers Grow Back? (Nov.29)

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'Are Your Potatoes Heavy?' (Nov.22)

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You Can't Direct The Wind But You Can Adjust The Sails (Nov.15)

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The Price of A Miracle - One Dollar and Eleven Cents (Nov.8)

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Let's Pause To Remember An Old Friend (Nov.1)

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"The Mighty Oak Was Once A Little Nut That Stood Its Ground" (Oct.25)

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Never Expect Payment For Kindness (Oct.18)

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Have You Turned A Life Around Today? (Oct.11)

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Through The Eyes of The Beholder, Things To Be Truly Thankful For (Oct.4)

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Respect is 'Caught' not 'Taught', But Who Is Doing The Throwing? (Sept.27)

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May We Never Be Too Busy To Respond With Kindness And Compassion To Strangers (Sept.20)

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Change Is Something You Can't Escape, Coping With Change Is Critical (Sept.13)

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Love Your Family As You Would Love A Stranger (Sept.6)

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What Really Matters In Life... People, Not Objects (Aug.30)

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Fighting To Keep Our Most Valuable Resources (Aug.23)

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Wake Up And See That Your Dreams Have Already Come True (Aug.16)

   

If you have any comments, please send them to me at 
rkirwan@infocomcanada.com
 

JULY TO DECEMBER
 
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Will Christmas Ever Be The Same Without Them?

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Look For The Gold Slippers This Christmas (Dec.12)

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The Community Circle of Support, We're all in This Together (Dec.5)

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All We Have To Do Is Stand By Each Other - Even A Goose Knows That (Nov.28)

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The "Good Old Days" Were Not That Long Ago (Nov.21)

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Being In The Right Place At The Right Time; Luck? or Providence? (Nov.14)

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We Need Not Be Afraid of Adversity (Nov.7)

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Taking Time To Think Before You Act or Speak Can Often Save You From Making Big Mistakes (Oct.31)

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When Your Comfort Zone Feels Like A Jail It Is Time To Get Out (Oct.24)

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Now That Brick Has Hit Us, What Are We Going To Do? (Oct.17)

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Who Wants To Get Back To Normal? Not Me! (Oct.10)

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Just One of Those Stories That Touch The Heart (Oct.3)

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Your Decision - Change Your Focus or Remain Captive (Sept.26)

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The Dark Candle (Sept.19)

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Be Careful Which Memories You Engrave In Stone (Sept.12)

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"Always Be Kind To Strangers, For You May Be Entertaining Angels Without Knowing It" (Sept.5)

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Parents Responsible For Putting An End To Wild House-Parties (Aug.29)

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Of Course We All Want What Is Best For Our Children!  But How Do We Know If We Are On The Right Track? (Aug.22)

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Community Celebrations Touch The Soul In Ways That Many Of Us Find Hard To Express (Aug.15)

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Do You Know Where Your Children Are? They Are Watching Everything You Do! (Aug.8)

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Is There Anyone You Want To Thank Today? (Aug.1)

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The Echo of Life (July.18)

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A "Love" Story (July.11)

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Take Care of The Rocks First (July.4)

JANUARY TO JUNE
 
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Building A Strong and Productive Life Is As Simple As Developing Strong And Productive Habits (June.27)

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Puppies For Sale (June.20)

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There is Much in The Show Window, But Nothing In The Stock Room (June.13)

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A Sandpiper To Bring You Joy (June.6)

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Graduation Brings With It Many Dreams And Wishes For A Successful Life (May.30) 

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If Nobody Cared... (May.23)

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Every Day Be Thankful For Who You Are And What You Have (May.16)

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I Loved You Enough... (May.9)

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Sometimes All We Need Is A Hug (May.2)

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Hiring People To Work For You Is No Easy Task (Apr.25)

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This Is Good! (Apr.18)

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People Will Always Remember How You Made Them Feel (Apr.11)

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I Believe In Tomorrow (Apr.4)

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A Thousand Marbles (Mar.28)

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The People Who Make A Difference In Your Life Are The Ones Who Care (Mar.21)

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Life Is A Do-It-Yourself Project (Mar.14)

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If You Spend Time Mourning Your Losses You Will Miss Out On The Special Things You Have (Mar.7) 

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We Can All Learn A Lot About Life From The Sponge (Feb.28)

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I Can Do It! (Feb.21)

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"I Don't Understand Life" A Lot Of Questions With No Answers (Feb.14)

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"Just A Dog" (Feb.7)

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Enduring Life's Challenges Will Give You The Strength To Reach Your Treasure (Jan.31)

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Saying Good-Bye (Jan.24)

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If Tomorrow Never Comes (Jan.17)

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It Was Meant To Be! (Jan.10)

 
If you have any comments, please send them to me at rkirwan@infocomcanada.com 
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Happiness Is All A Matter Of How You Look At Things (Apr.3) 

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You Can Find Peace In The Strangest Places (Mar.27)

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Creating Opportunity Is Just A Matter of Looking At Things Differently (Mar.20)

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Are You An Egg; A Carrot; or A Coffee Bean (Mar.13)

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Do You Know Who Packed Your Parachute? (Mar.6)

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Cancelled Hockey Game In Valley East Is First Step In Removing "Terrorism" From The Game (Feb.27)

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Animals Are Parents Too (Feb.20)

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We Can Learn A Lot About Life And Love By Watching Lovebirds (Feb.13)

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"I Believe" (Feb.6)

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The Secret of Success May Be As Close As Your Last Failure (Jan.30)

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Maybe It's Time To Just Go Fishing Again! (Jan.23)

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There Are Times When We Only Need To See The Cake (Jan.16)

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Treat Every Person You Meet At The Most Important Person In Your Life (Jan.9)

 

If you have any comments, please send them to me at rkirwan@infocomcanada.com 

bullet  All It Takes Is One Person…Be That Person!
Try to hold on to the memories of how good you feel during the next few weeks whenever you are around people who liven things up with happiness. See how quickly a room full of quiet people can break into laughter when one person brightens up the room. Happiness is contagious, and all it takes is one person to lift up everyone’s spirit. More >>>>
    
bulletWhat Is Going To Happen When We Run Out Of Little Red Hens?
This is my favourite time of the year, and I know that most of you likely feel the same way. However, at the risk of putting a damper on your “Christmas Spirit”, it is also the time of year when I get the most discouraged about the future of this great community. More>>>
  
bulletWe Can Learn A Lot About Living From The Simple Caterpillar
The other day I came across a short article that clearly explained why it is so difficult to get people to change their habits and beliefs. The article showed me that a simple creature like the "processionary caterpillar" can teach us all a lot about life if we are only willing to listen. More>>>>
   
bulletThere Are Never Any Mistakes In Life…Just Detours
Have you ever noticed that it is usually the little things you do for people that are often the most appreciated? More>>>>
   
bulletYou Have No Idea How Powerful Your Words May Be.
Choose Them Carefully…
We’ve all been there. If you are human, you can’t help but experience times when everything seems to be going wrong and you feel as if your life is completely out of control. More>>>>
  
bulletNothing Is More Important Than Time Spent With Another Human Being…  
The other day I was typing an article on my computer when I was interrupted by the sound of someone speaking a language which I must admit I am beginning to understand. It was my 15-month old granddaughter tugging at my shirt wanting me to play with her. More>>>
  
bulletNever Expect A Soft Landing When You Jump to Conclusions…  
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you jumped to a conclusion about someone, only to find out later that you were wrong? Embarrassing, isn’t it? More>>>
 
bulletI Would Rather Live My Life Believing…  
Have you ever been involved in an argument or debate with someone and just couldn’t find the right words to back up your position?  More>>>>
  
bulletBeware of Missing Out On The Diamond While You Are Collecting Stones!
Many of my acquaintances often ask me how I come up with ideas for my editorials every week. I tell them that it is easy when you are around people all of the time. You just have to watch and listen. Life happens and stories evolve on their own. More>>>>
  
bulletThe Miracles of Life…Birth and Death
As one grows older you would expect that there would be fewer and fewer new things to experience about life. You know the expression, “Been there, done that!”  So imagine how I felt, when, for the first time in my 55 years on this earth, I found myself standing by in a lonely hospital room last week watching my mother-in-law die. More>>>>
  
bulletWeek of The Child Is Good Time For Adults To Review Lesson Plans
Parenting is an art! Ask any mother or father and they will quickly tell you that there is nothing that fully prepares you for the role, but you soon discover that there is no job in the world that is more satisfying or more challenging. More>>>>
  
bulletThere Are Two Primary Choices In Life: To Accept Conditions As They Exist, or Accept Responsibility For Changing Them
There are certain things you stumble across in this life that hit you like a brick. A few weeks ago I saw the quotation above and it almost knocked me over. It was on one of those days when I was questioning whether or not I was making any difference at all in the things I was doing. More>>>>>
     
bulletThis Year, Let’s Make Sure We See The Cake And Not The Mess
I want to share a story with you that makes me feel just a little bit of pain every time I read it. As a father, a teacher, and a husband, I have often found myself in a situation where I “failed to see the cake” and I know I missed out on some pretty special moments. More>>>
    
bulletHold Everything!
I’ve Been Looking For A Place Like This All My Life!
I once met a farmer who had lived on the same farm all his life. It was a good farm with fertile soil, but with the passing of the years, the farmer began to think that maybe there was something better for him. More>>>
  
bulletDon't Be Satisfied With The Status Quo 
Some people find that it is a lot easier to simply accept the status quo, and go about their live with a feeling that nothing they do will make a difference.
  
bullet Did God Create Evil?
Here’s How To Reply To The Question The Next Time Someone Wants To Question Your Faith
Every now and then Christians are challenged to justify their faith in God. Some people just do not believe things they can’t understand. Here is a little story that may help you the next time you find yourself in a conversation with a person who is trying to put you on the spot. More>>>>
      
bulletCount Your Blessings One Marble At A Time
A long time ago there was a young man who was going through a very difficult period in his life. He worked extremely hard and just couldn’t find any time to spend with his wife and children. He went to confide in his father, who was the wisest man he knew. More>>>
  
bulletAn Excellent Life Is Nothing More Than The Sum Of Many Excellent Moments
Several centuries ago, the Emperor of Japan asked a Japanese artist to paint a picture of a particular species of bird. Many years later, the Emperor paid a personal visit to the artist’s studio to ask for an explanation as to why his painting had not yet been delivered. More>>>
  
bulletAre You Still Searching For Your Dream To Come True?
Wake up...It May Already Be Here!
I feel sorry for the next generation. Admittedly, I am not very old myself, but as I look back over my life I realize that the times during which I really appreciated what I had were the times when I didn=t really have very much. It seems that the more we have, the more we want, and the more we take for granted what we have. Many of us spend our entire life searching for something that we had right in front of us all along. More >>>>
    
bulletOur Most Valuable Resources Are Worth Fighting For...Accept the Challenge
I was recently reminded of a golf tournament I played in way back in August 2000. I was on a team with my son and two of his friends. When we took our place on the tee to begin our quest for the championship, little did I realize that I was taking part in one of those significant life experiences that we all look back upon with fondness over the ever increasing years of our life. More >>>>
     
bulletChanging Your Focus Can Produce Remarkable Results
Too often we come across individuals who are so sure of them self that they refuse to change their focus. They would rather continue in one direction without changing focus or giving consideration to other alternatives. How often we have witnessed failure, when a simple change of direction would have resulted in success. More >>>>
    
bulletCoping With Change Is All A Matter Of Learning How To Go With The Flow
One of the things you learn as you are going through the various stages of life is that no matter what you are involved in, life has a way of throwing obstacles at you. Our ability to cope with change and disruption determines, to a great degree, our peace, happiness and contentment in life. But how do we develop this ability to cope with change? How do we help children learn this skill? More >>>>
  
bulletThe Daffodil Principle
The "Daffodil Garden" was located on the side of a mountain. It was a magnificent scene. One of the most beautiful sights you could imagine. It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it down over the mountain peak and slopes where it had run into every crevice and over every rise. The mountainside was radiant, clothed in massive drifts and waterfalls of daffodils. More >>>>
    
bulletThere's A Lot More Left In The Tube
I read an article the other day which was written by a man named Jeff Keller. After I finished the article, I realized that the title, "There’s A Lot More Left In The Tube", is one of those motivational quotations that you would like to hang up in every room to remind you that you should never give up too soon. We have all experienced frustration and despair at various times in our lives when we felt we had done everything we possibly could to achieve a particular goal. It may be something as simple as trying to grow flowers in your garden, or as serious as how to cultivate a better relationship with your child or spouse, or something to do with your job. Whatever the case, there comes a point when you simply feel you can’t go on any further. More>>>>>
    
bulletOnce A Word Is Allowed To Escape It Can Never Be Called Back
Many times we, as flawed human beings, make a personal comment, or react to a situation in anger, only to wish we could take back our words or say what we really wanted to say in a different manner? Human beings are, by nature, confrontational animals. We like to get in the last word! We are quick to strike back with a negative comment when we are angry or when we are insulted! We don’t like to sit back and take criticism! Many times, our verbal attacks make us feel good for the moment, but then we feel a sense of remorse and regret afterwards when we realize that what we actually said may have inflicted great pain on those around us. Consider the valuable lesson about life a father taught his son in this little story and see if there is a lesson for all of us. More>>>>>
  
bulletThe Barnyard
One day a little red hen scratched about in the barnyard until she gathered some grains of wheat. She called her neighbours and said, "If we plant this wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant?" More>>>>>
  
bulletDon’t Ever Under Estimate The Tremendous Impact Of A Sincere Smile

The other morning I stopped for a hot chocolate at the drive through of Tim Horton’s. It was early, and the line-up was unusually long. By the time I got to the window for my single cup of hot chocolate I was more than a little annoyed at the waiting time. The glass door lifted, and there to greet my frowning face was a young lady with a sincerely friendly smile and a cheery, "Good morning, sir. Here is your hot chocolate. That will be $1.24 please." More>>>>>

  

If you have any comments, please send them to me at rkirwan@infocomcanada.com 

JULY TO DECEMBER
 
bulletA Very Special Christmas Wish From The Kirwan Family
bulletAttitude Is The Key To Dealing With Family Stress During The Holiday Season”
bullet“Uncovering The Secret”
bullet“The Watermelon Hunter”
bullet“How Many Potatoes Are You Carrying Around?”
bullet“Celebrate National Adult Day With A Child This Weekend…” 
bullet“The Moments That Stand Out In Your Life…” 
bullet“Understanding True Love Is Often A Matter of Time…” 
bullet“An Invitation To Move To The I Can Do It Street  
bullet“Wasted The Whole Day Fishing With Jimmy. Didn’t Catch A Thing.”
bullet“The Mystery of Life…A Lot of Questions With No Answers…”  
bullet"The Golden Windows..."
  
JANUARY TO JUNE
bulletI Have Held Many Positions In My Life, But None More Important Than...
Two little boys were dressed and ready to go. In fact, they had been ready now for more than an hour. Excitement flooded their faces and all their talk was about only one thing: their father had promised to take them to the circus that afternoon and they were only minutes away from leaving. For More>>>>
  
bulletYou Can't See Where You Are Going If You Are Always Looking Behind...
One day, many years ago, I was standing in the hallway at a local elementary school watching a teacher bring her class to the gym when I overheard the most philosophical question I have ever encountered in my life. For More>>>>
 
bulletDeath Is Not The Enemy of Life, But Its Friend...
When my Father-in-law, Ignace Starcevic, passed away in 1982, my wife asked me to come up with something nice to have engraved on his tombstone.  I was only 32 at the time and we were in the process of raising three young sons, aged 3, 5 and 7.  It was a hectic time of our lives and we were typical parents – running ourselves ragged as we encountered all of the normal experiences and challenges faced by all other young parents. For More>>>>
 
bulletLife Is Like A Sponge

It has often been said that a person’s life is the sum total of his/her experiences. On the surface that seems like a simple enough statement, but if one accepts this premise, then why do so many of us engage in practices and activities which are negative and actually hurt us. Consider the family of five who decided one day to each clean a different area of the home. They each took a sponge, did the cleaning, and then placed the sponges back on the kitchen counter top. The sponges all looked the same. For More>>>>

  
bulletThe Difference Between Heaven and Hell
There are a lot of things I like about my life right now. I could spend the entire editorial discussing my family, my career and how I have enjoyed living in Val Therese for the past 32 years. But other than things to do with my family, the thing I like best about my life is the fact that through all of my work and personal interactions with the various parts of the community, I get to meet so many wonderful people who are devoted to improving the quality of life for others in need. For More>>>>
   
bulletThe Most Beautiful Word In Any Language...Mother
Norman Vincent Peale once wrote, “In her the creative genius of God attains His highest skill. What a charming blend she is of the most lovable and moving qualities of human nature. From the moment in youth when she holds her first baby in her arms until in life’s evening time she looks tenderly upon her grandchild, her life is one of dedicated service and love. Loving us; believing in us; fighting for us; praying for us; to her we are always her dear child – life of her life.” For More>>>>
  
bulletGive Your Parents A Hug And Thank Them For Caring
The other day I overheard two teenage girls in the mall complaining about their parents. One of them was upset because her parents wouldn’t let her go out on a date with a guy named Fred, who was three years older than her. The girls were making plans to trick her parents into thinking they were having a sleep-over. For More>>>>
  
bulletWhy Elephants Don't Run And Eagles Don't Fly
A number of years ago, while attending a circus with my children, I noticed a group of elephants in an open area. Each of these gigantic beasts was being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. There were no chains and no fences around them. It was pretty obvious that the elephants could break away from their bonds at any time, but for some reason they did not. I went over to one of the trainers and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. For More>>>>
 
bulletThe Small Things You Do For Others Can Leave a Lifetime Impression
We all casually leave lasting impressions on others who come into our life. The least, little courtesy, the simplest, kind word, perhaps a bit of time spent "just being there," or even, I suppose, the most fleeting, careless kindness, like fixing a wheel for a stranger could be a gesture that someone else remembers for the rest of his or her life. For More>>>>
  
bullet Thank You For Showing Us How To Build Our ‘House” John Lancia
I’ve met a lot of people over the course of my lifetime. Some I remember with fondness and some I would rather forget. A little over two years ago, when I began working as the Marketing Manager for the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre, I met a quiet, unassuming gentleman who has taught me a lot more about life than he can ever imagine. For More>>>>
 
bulletEvery Decision You Make Is About Who You Are
What would you say if I told you that it was impossible for you to ever make a wrong decision? You may not always be happy with the results of some of your decisions, but it is impossible to make a ‘wrong decision’.  For more>>>>
  
bullet“I Just Wish They’d Go Home”

    “What is wrong with the younger generation today?”   Ask any adult that question and inevitably the answer will boil down to the fact that, in general, kids just seem to have a serious lack of respect today. Not all kids display this character flaw, but a large number of them certainly do. And the ones who demonstrate a lack of respect for people, property and themselves tend to be the most vocal and the most visible. For more>>>>

  
bullet“Where There’s This Much Manure, There’s Gotta Be A Pony”
The latest data we have available shows that the jobless rate in Sudbury is anywhere from 7 to 10%. This is a serious situation which has been getting worse over the years as the rest of the country shows employment and economic growth. For more>>>>
  
bulletWe’ll Deal With It When We Have To…
It’s strange how you sometimes get the best advice from the most unusual places. The other day I met a young man who was a former student of mine. He told me a story about the birth of his daughter that touched my heart. The baby was born with a minor problem that caused enough concern for the doctor to order a test the next morning. For more>>>>
  
bullet An Excellent Life Is Nothing More Than The Sum of Many Excellent Moments
I consider myself to have been very fortunate in life. Sure there have been days I would like to forget and I have suffered a lot of set backs and disappointments like anyone else, but, for the most part, my life has been pretty good. One of the reasons I feel this way is that many years ago I learned to accept the principle that where I am today is the sum total of every single thing that has ever happened to me along this journey. For more>>>>
  
bulletIf We Don’t Act Soon We May Not Have To Worry About A Shortage Of Skilled Trades Workers 
The other day I reviewed the results of an international survey which concluded that Canada has one of the most serious shortages of skilled labour in the industrial world. That didn’t surprise me much. We’ve been hearing for years that our schools must begin to produce more skilled graduates in the trades. What did surprise me, however, is the survey found that employers in Canada are not just having trouble finding employees in the skilled trades field. For more>>>>
  
bulletWhat Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up? 
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”   That is the million dollar question that has been asked to young people since the beginning of time. More>>>>
  
bulletHow A Pickle Changed An Entire Community…. 
One of the most important lessons we learn in life is usually due to problems we’ve encountered because we’ve failed to adhere to the following very simple, basic rule. “If You Want To Accomplish Anything, You Must Pay Attention To The Little Details.” More>>>>
 
bulletThere Is No Such Thing As Failure As Long As You Have The Courage To Try… 
One day two young brothers were in the backyard when their father came home and saw them digging in a hole that was already waist deep. The father came up to them and asked for an explanation. More>>>>
   
bulletThe Golden Box of Birthday Kisses…
As the story goes, one day a long time ago, a young mother walked into her 5-year old daughter’s bedroom and was extremely upset to see that the little girl had used almost a whole roll of expensive gold wrapping paper to decorate a small package about the size of a shoe box. While severely scolding her daughter, the mother quickly gathered the remaining paper, scotch tape and scissors. The child was told to get her pajamas on and go to bed immediately without watching TV or getting her usual bedtime snack. More>>>
 
bulletThe Next Time I Think I Have Anything to Complain About…   
It never ceases to amaze me that people who have been through some of the most horrendous challenges this world can throw at them seem to have the most positive outlook towards life. I met a wonderful lady the other day who taught me a great deal about what it means to live one day at a time and how happy you can be if you focus on what is truly important. More>>>
  
bulletTime - The Most Valued Possession
I want to thank Cindi Cooke for sending me the following email which clearly demonstrates the one thing that we all take for granted, but that is definitely our most valued possession. I don't think the story needs any introduction. The message is clear. More>>>>               
 
bulletKeep The Memories Of Your Loved Ones Alive This Christmas Season…    
However, no matter how happy we are or how much we enjoy the Christmas festivities, most of us will experience a few sad moments at this time of year as well. More>>>>>
  
 

If you have any comments, please send them to me at rkirwan@infocomcanada.com 

JULY TO DECEMBER
 
bullet"How Did You Get Here?
bulletRunning in the rain…
bulletKids Know What Really Makes A Person Rich
bulletThe Pareto Principle
bulletKeep Your Fork, The Best Is Yet To Come!
bulletWho’s Driving Your Bus?
bulletA Bowl For Grandpa
bulletTake A Long Look At Your Speedometer: Is It Worth The Time You Save?
bullet“Whatever You Are Doing In Your Life Right Now Is Exactly What You Are Supposed To Be Doing”
bulletWhat Are We Doing In This Cage In The Middle of A Zoo
bulletThe Day I Decided To Stop Teaching Reading , Writing and Arithmetic
bullet“This Would Be Funny If It Wasn’t So Close To The Truth”
bulletThe One Thing Everyone Needs In Life
bulletLiving A Life That Matters Is All About Being Nice
bulletMake the Most Of Your True Talents And Keep Your Dreams Alive
bulletA Message To All Teachers: Don’t Forget To Sharpen Your Ax.”
bullet“Welcome To Holland ! You’ll Be Here For A Long Time So Enjoy Your Stay.”
bulletYou Cannot Discover New Land Unless You Have The Courage To Lose Sight of The Shore
bulletLook To Your Weaknesses To Discover Your Strengths
bullet“I Want To Do It Myself”

JANUARY TO JUNE

bulletLife Is All About Making The Right Choices
bulletRaising The Standards Among Our Youth 
bulletWe’re Raising Children, Not Flowers.
bulletIf You Pick Moss, Don’t Expect Blueberry Pie  
bulletThere Is Nothing Ordinary About An Ordinary Day
bulletIt’s Time For All Graduates To Notice The River
bulletWe're all in This Together Let's Use The Community Circle of Support
bulletLook For Creative Ways Of Making People You Meet Feel Special
bulletEducation Week Is An Important Week For "Family Managers"
bulletThe Five Most Dangerous Words In The English Language
bulletDon’t Pay Attention To The Losers Around You – Rise Above Them
bulletEnduring Life’s Challenges Will Give You The Strength To Reach Your Treasure
bulletDecide On Your Big Goals First And Stay Focused!
bulletUse The Triple Filter Method The Next Time You Hear A Rumour
bullet“If You Always Do What You’ve Always Done You’ll Always Get What You’ve Always Got”
bullet“Giving Up The Good Now For A Better Future”
bullet“Stay”
bullet In This World You Tend To Get What You Expect So Make Sure You Set Your Sights High
bullet No Matter Where You Go or Who You Become Never Forget Who Helped You Get There
bullet Take Time To Read The Handwriting On The Wall
bulletBreak Through The Terror Barrier and Set Yourself Free
  

If you have any comments, please send them to me at rkirwan@infocomcanada.com 

JULY TO DECEMBER
 
bullet " Hilda Kingsley: We Will All Remember How She Spent Her Dash!"
bullet"How To Deal With Stress During The Christmas Season "
bullet"The Day I Didn’t Get A Thing Done! The Best Day of My Life!"
bullet"Tangled Christmas Tree Lights "
bullet"Some People Do The Kindest Things "
bullet"If Something Is Worth Doing, It’s Worth Doing Right "
bullet"It Doesn’t Take Any Talent To Grow Old"
bullet"Critical Moments…Discovering What Really Matters In Life..."
bullet"Ways To Keep People Guessing About Your Level of Sanity"
bullet"Time For Quiet Reflection This Weekend As We Give Thanks"
bullet"Valley East The Town Where People Are Free To Follow Their Own Path"
bullet "Never Be Too Busy To Respond With Kindness And Compassion To Strangers"
bullet "Uncommon Decency Is All Around Us If We Look Hard Enough"
bullet "Wow! My Granddaughter Is Going to School Already"
bulletChoosing A Life That Matters"
bulletThe Brownie Recipe
bulletKnowing Where To Look Comes From Years of Experience
bulletApplying The Chaos Theory To Life

JANUARY TO JUNE

bullet We Are All Being Used For A Higher Purpose In This Life… 
bulletPreparing For The Rain... 
bulletWe Are Stronger When We Work Together
bulletThe Tipping Point Has Been Reached 
bullet Go Above And Beyond What Is Expected   
bullet Buy The Steak…Life Is Precious  
bullet Can We Ever Do Too Much For Our Children or Grandchildren?
bullet To All Research Associates in the Field of Child Development and Human Relations  
bulletIt’s Hard To Be Innovative In The Land of Penguins
bulletInspiration From The Other Side of The World  
bullet“Human thoughts have a tendency to transform themselves into their physical equivalent”  
bulletLet’s Give Our Young Students An Opportunity This Summer
bulletGo Out And Make It Happen 
bulletThe Importance Of Finding The Right Mentors In Your Life
bulletLife Is Not About What You Have, But What You Do With It… 
bullet“What Will You Be Saying Three Years From Now?” 
bullet“You Do Make A Difference To The People In Your Life”
bullet “You Have No Idea How Powerful Your Words and Gestures Can Be…Use Them Wisely"
bullet Battle Wounds From A War of Words Take A Long Time To Heal”
bullet“The Root Cause Of Most Problems In The World Today Is Stress”
bullet“Why Are You Waiting? Pick Up The Phone And Call”  
bulletWhy You Do What You Do Defines Who You Are
bullet“There Is No Such Thing As An Educated Person”
bullet"Culture of Fear Spills Over Into Our Schools"
bulletThe Theory of Continuity Poses The Question: What’s Next?
bullet"Make 2008 The Year We Shift From Success To Significance
  

If you have any comments, please send them to me at rkirwan@infocomcanada.com 

bullet"Take Time During The Next Few Weeks To Develop An Action Plan For Achieving Your Dreams "
There are two times of the year when most people are open to “new beginnings” and are actually energized about making changes that will improve their life. One of those times is on your birthday. The other time is January 1 as you begin a New Year. 
  
bulletThe Truly Important Lessons To Be Learned By Our Children Will Last A Lifetime
This is the time of year when students, teachers and parents take a deep breath and look forward to the Christmas holidays as a well-deserved break from the day-to-day challenges of the classroom. For those students who have found success so far this year, it is a happy occasion. For others who may be struggling it is simply a chance to escape from their problems for a few weeks.
   
bulletMy Junk Drawer
Every now and then I get the urge to go through my cluttered office in an effort to get rid of some of the “junk” that has accumulated over time. There are so many things lying around that I haven’t needed in years and I can always use the space that would be created by throwing out stuff I don’t need. A few weeks ago I got that urge to do some “cleaning”.
 
bulletWhen Are We Ever Going To Need This?
“When are we ever going to need this?”  If you are a teacher or a parent, you have most certainly already been asked this question on more than one occasion. If your children are still fairly young, believe me; the question will eventually come up and it will put you on the spot.
 
bulletWinter Is Going To Be Here Before You Know It
I am now going through that transitional stage of life where one moves from being a healthy, robust middle aged person into what is commonly referred to as the “senior” years. Strange as it may sound, I never gave much thought about how I would feel once it was time for me to enter the ranks of “seniors”. When I was younger I thought that a senior was anyone over the age of 50. But with each passing birthday, I began to think of seniors as being much older than that.
 
bulletTaking Advantage of Opportunity May Require Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone And Taking Personal Risks
Deciding that you are going to do something to improve your life and begin a new career is one thing, but actually doing it is another. Anyone can talk about self-improvement. As a matter of fact, I am sure that we all engage in such conversations from time to time. It takes a lot of courage to actually risk stepping out of your comfort zone to do something about it.
 
bulletA Very Special Thanksgiving Weekend
This weekend we celebrate Thanksgiving, a time of the year that has always been special to me. Usually I find myself working out in the yard putting things away for the winter with plenty of time to think about life in general. This is going to be a very special Thanksgiving for many of us because things don’t appear to be going very well for a lot of people right now.  
 
bulletYou Are Never Too Old To Live Out Your Dreams
More and more we find ourselves running into someone we know who has begun a new career or a new hobby or opened up a new business at an age when most others would be thinking about retirement. The initial reaction to such news is often one of astonishment that the person would want to ‘waste so much time and energy’ during the final stage of his/her life instead of sitting back and soaking up the sunshine.
 
bulletParents, Teachers and Coaches Must Learn How To Deal With The Curse of Knowledge
Once we know something, we find it hard to imagine what it was like not to know it. Our knowledge has “cursed” us. And it becomes difficult for us to share our knowledge with others, because we can’t readily re-create our listener’s state of mind.
 
bulletNow Is A Good Time To Change Your Focus And Make Things Better In Your Life  
It is therefore extremely important for all of us to remember that no matter how difficult the situation may be, there is no problem that cannot be solved. It might just mean that you have to take a step back and approach your problem from a different angle. A change in focus may very well enable you to discover a simple solution which was there all along.
 
bulletLife is Like Choosing Food In A Cafeteria
The community of Valley East is experiencing a remarkable turning point in our evolution which has been largely brought about by a global recession that has gripped the world in a stranglehold the likes of which could never have been imagined a few short years ago.  As we struggle to emerge from the devastation brought about by a collapsed economy we are going to be left with a large number of casualties. Unfortunately, many of the victims will be young people who are attempting to start out in new careers. Clearly, our entire future as a community will depend on the courage and tenacity of young people who are able to endure the challenges which lay ahead. 
 
bulletIt’s All About Attitude!
William James, one of the founders of modern psychology, said "The greatest discovery of this generation is that a human being can alter their life by altering their attitude."  
 
bulletThe True Meaning of Fatherhood
This coming Sunday, June 21, 2009 will be the 35th Father’s Day I have celebrated as a father and the 4th as a grandfather. Once again I expect to be spending a good part of the day in quiet reflection about the tremendous responsibility I took on when I became a father for the first time. I will have to once again have to admit to myself that I wasn’t always as good a father as I should have been.
 
bulletBurning Boats & Caterpillars
Most people fail to achieve their goals, not because they are lazy or lack self-motivation, but because they were never fully committed to succeed in the first place. All of the people who achieve great things begin with a plan of action and then an unshakable commitment to its accomplishment. It is commitment that makes the difference between success and failure.  
 
bulletA Philosophy of Life That Can Be Adopted By Everyone
Many years ago I decided that I would adopt the "What if this is the last time..." philosophy of life. I discovered that this approach to life enables me to adopt a healthy perspective on all events that take place in my life.
 
bulletYour Education is What You Are Left With When You Forget What You Were Taught
Personally, I can’t remember what my primary grade teachers taught me when I was learning to read. I don’t remember the specific lessons. But I love to read! And I love working with numbers! I don’t remember what I was taught, nor do I remember the marks I received on my report cards.
 
bulletStop Longing For Your Childhood Dreams And Enjoy The Life You Were Given
We must never forget that true happiness comes from accepting the life with which we have been provided and by living that life to the fullest. Happiness does not come from big homes and fancy cars. True happiness comes from your attitude towards your own unique situation in life and the relationships you develop with the loving people around you.  
 
bulletYou Can Learn A Lot About Life By Squeezing A Sponge
I am a firm believer that a person’s life is the sum total of his/her experiences – ALL of his/her experiences. For example, there are a lot of things that have happened to me during my lifetime that I wish would have turned out differently. However, when I examine my situation today there are so many positive things that I wouldn’t give up for the world.
bullet"Your Greatest Gift: The Power To Choose Your Own Destiny"
I don’t get much of a chance to read poetry, but I came across one recently that was written by a wise old person who goes by the name of Hafiz. The poem is called, Gifts, and it speaks about the potential we all have when we first come into this world.
 
bullet "It’s Time For Each Of Us To Recreate Our Life"
My wife and I were watching a documentary on TVO recently that was originally intended as a warning about the consequences of rising oil prices. We both watch CNN quite a bit, so the comments being made by the experts didn’t seem that outrageous, considering the global economic crisis we are experiencing in all corners of the world today. After a few minutes I clicked the information button on the converter to see the description of the program and was amazed that the show was produced in 2005.  
 
bullet "There Are Five Birds Sitting On A Wire. One Decides To Fly Away. How Many Are Left?"
While there are several obvious answers you may come up with, the correct answer is five (5). Read the question again and you will see that it did not say that one bird actually “flew away”. The information you are provided with is that one bird merely “decided to fly away”. In fact, deciding to fly away and actually flying away are two completely different things.  
 
bullet "Have the Courage to Get Up  And Ride The Wave "
We often look up to highly successful business people or athletes as if their “surfboards” were making the waves they rode. They know, and we often overlook, that they’re just riding the waves of circumstances and situations that came their way. They have taken advantage of the opportunities that crossed their paths and have made the best of it.
 
bullet "An Optimist Sees The Opportunity In Every Difficulty"
It may be hard for us to think positive at a time like this, but whenever I find myself drifting off into “negative-thinking mode” I take out my favourite quote by Winston Churchill as he explained the difference between a pessimist and an optimist. He said, "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
 
bullet "Breaking News!"
Sometimes these things appear at first to be negative, but upon closer examination and upon accepting that nothing much can be done about it, one may as well simply find something to enjoy about the experience.
 
bullet " Working Together For The Good of Our Community"
Whenever I have time to reflect on my feelings about living in the community of Valley East and whether or not I might enjoy living elsewhere, I recall a story I once read about a farmer who had lived in the same home all his life. It was a good farm with fertile soil, but with the passing of the years, the farmer began to think that maybe there was something better for him.
 
bullet " Many Among Us Have Been Living In A Recession For Years !"
The truth is that many of the people in our community have been living a “personal economic recession” for years as corporations helped individuals with high paying jobs drive up the cost of everything from bread to homes. 
  
bullet " You Are Special… Don’t Ever Forget It!"
A long time ago I attended a conference where a well-known motivational speaker started off his seminar by holding up a brand new crisp $20 bill. He looked over the crowd of close to 200 business persons in attendance and asked, “Who would like this $20 bill?"
 

If you have any comments, please send them to me at rkirwan@infocomcanada.com 

JANUARY TO JUNE
  
bullet

Have you ever gazed into a newborn baby's eyes and seen the infinite presence of pure spirit looking back at you?

bullet

Everything in your life is an exact duplication of your consciousness

bullet

Taking Advantage of Opportunity May Require Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone And Taking Personal Risks

bullet

Thank You For Showing Us How To Light The Candle Again, Candice

bullet

The Little Things Do Make All The Difference In The World

bullet

Respect is Caught; Not Taught! What Are Your Children Catching From You?

bullet

Nothing is Really Work Unless You Would Rather Be Doing Something Else

bullet

Knowing Where To Look Comes From Years of Experience

  
  

If you have any comments, please send them to me at 
rkirwan@infocomcanada.com
 

bulletThere Are Two Primary Choices In Life: To Accept Conditions As They Exist, or Accept Responsibility For Changing Them
There are certain things you stumble across in this life that hit you like a brick. A few weeks ago I saw the quotation above and it almost knocked me over. It was on one of those days when I was questioning whether or not I was making any difference at all in the things I was doing. More>>>>
  
bulletOpening of Hart Department Store Is A Perfect Example of The Tipping Point Philosophy
The Tipping Point philosophy is based on the belief that changes in behaviour or perception can reach a critical mass and then suddenly create a whole new reality. The most important thing in trying to analyse whether something is at the verge of a tipping point is whether it (an event) causes people to reframe an issue. More>>>>
   
bulletCelebration 2004 - More Than Just A Birthday Party
"A special invitation to all residents of Valley East to join together in celebrating a hundred years of history as we take a giant leap into a bright and exciting future!" More >>>>
    
bulletWe're all in This Together
Let's Use The Community Circle of Support
By reaching out to help each other - that is with residents who are willing to support local businesses and with businesses who are willing to provide local residents with good value for the goods and services purchases - we will all benefit from the power of this Community Circle of Support and move forward into a brighter future with the confidence that we are all in this together. More >>>>
  
bulletIt is time for Valley East to take a lesson from geese and move to the front of the flock

Have you ever watched geese flying along in the sky in a “V” formation? They fly like that because as each bird in front flaps its wings it creates an updraft for the bird immediately following. By flying together in a “V” formation, it has been estimated that the whole flock adds over 70% to its flying range than if each bird flew on its own. This means that the flock can cover their journey much more quickly and with much less of an effort by working together. More >>>>

 
bulletWe Need Not Be Afraid of Adversity - It Will Make Us Stronger!
As the community of Valley East continues to struggle in the face of a large economic slow-down, it is becoming clear that our entire future will depend on the courage and tenacity of young people who are willing to avoid the lure of greener pastures in the south. The difficulties they overcome will make them stronger.  More >>>>
  
bulletValley East Today and The Vision Paper Are Your Windows To Valley East But You Will Only See The View If You Open Your Blinds
It takes a lot of hard work to bring you publications like The Vision Paper and valleyeasttoday.ca. This hard work must be supported by local businesses and local organizations. Individuals must contribute stories and let us know about events that are going on so that they can be covered. Take pride in your community and make a sincere effort to "look through the windows"   More >>>>
  
bulletCelebration 2004 is a Perfect Opportunity For Valley East to Improve Our Community Image - Let's All Get On Board
Whether you own a business; participate in a service group; belong to a sports organization, a church or a school; have a garden you wish to share ; or if you just want to express your opinions on Valley East, take action now!   More >>>>
  
bulletValley East's Online Pond & Garden Tour Brings Ideas To Life
Thousands of gardeners from Valley East work extremely hard during the short summer months bringing life to their yards. When you have a chance to visit these backyard wonderlands you are truly amazed at the creativity and beautiful landscape designs that have been created by your friends and neighbours. These are not magazine layouts. They are real, live gardens, existing right here in our own community.
   
bullet You took away our name...But we want our spirit back! The City of Valley East is all about who we are and what we do!
When amalgamation was forced upon the region on January 1, 2001, it signaled the end of the "City of Valley East" - the name which we had recently acquired in an effort to show the rest of the world just how proud we were to be part of this great municipality.
  
bullet Let's make sure the choices we make today will be the choices we can live with tomorrow.

Pierre Charette, owner of The Vision Paper, and I were talking the other week about Valley East. Both of us have been in the publication business for some time and it is our job to be aware of the pulse of the community. As we spoke, we both agreed that the community spirit which seemed to peak when we became the "City of Valley East" has gone downhill since amalgamation.

  
bullet Local residents and business owners conclude that effective communication is the key to the future of Valley East
If you own or operate a business in Valley East, or if you live in Valley East, what I am about to tell you may not be anything you did not know or realize. Nevertheless, now that we have celebrated our 100th Anniversary as a community, this may be the turning point we have been waiting for. It is now up to us all to take action.
  
 

If you have any comments, please send them to me at 
rkirwan@infocomcanada.com
 

 
bulletLook For The Gold Slippers This Christmas
 
bulletThe Perfect Gift
 
bulletDo You Still Hear The Bells?
 
bulletYes, Virginia. There Is A Santa Claus
  
bulletWho Says Santa Claus Isn't Real?
 
bulletThe Doll and A White Rose
 
bulletA Baby's Touch
 

If you have any comments, please send them to me at 
rkirwan@infocomcanada.com
 

  
bulletDon’t Make Any New Year’s Resolutions This Year! Make Some New Year’s Realizations!  
bulletWhat More Do You Want From Me?
bulletIt Was Meant To Be!
bulletIf Tomorrow Never Comes
bulletBeyond The Silver Lining
bulletNever Give Up On The People You Love
bulletA Man and His Dog
bulletA Fascinating Story!

REFLECTIONS ON LIFE
by Robert Kirwan
Robert Kirwan has been writing inspirational editorials about education, sports and life in general for over 25 years. He is most recognized as the writer/editor for Valley East's The Vision Paper for almost ten years. In this section of Valley East Today, you will find many of Robert Kirwan's best editorials.  
 For more>>>>>

REFLECTIONS BY ROBERT KIRWAN - AUDIO VERSIONS OF FAVOURITE ARTICLES

Life's Challenges Give You The Strength to Achieve Your Goals
Living A Life That Matters Is All About Being Nice
Giving Up The Good Now For A Better Future
Reading Is The Key To Success For Young Children

Are You An Egg; A Carrot; or a Coffee Bean

One of the Most Important Responsibilities of Family Managers

Go With The Flow

Look Beyond The Silver Lining

Look To Your Weaknesses To Discover Your Strengths

Make the Most Of Your True Talents And Keep Your Dreams Alive

The Secret of Success May Be As Close As Your Last Failure

The Golden Windows

This Is The Only House You Will Ever Really Live In - Build It Right The First Time

Why Elephants Don't Run and Eagles Don't Fly

You Can Never Recall A Word Once Spoken

Life is Not Fair - Get Used To It
The Curse of Knowledge
The Starfish Thrower
There Is No Such Thing As An Educated Person
The Dark Candle
Experience Means Knowing Where To Look And What to Do
Small Things Make a Big Difference
There is a Difference Between Deciding and Taking Action
Respect is Caught
PDF PRINTED VERSIONS PLUS AUDIO

PDF Version Are You An Egg; A Carrot; or a Coffee Bean? AUDIO VERSION

PDF Version One of the Most Important Responsibilities of Family Managers AUDIO VERSION

PDF Version Go With The Flow AUDIO VERSION

PDF Version Look Beyond The Silver Lining AUDIO VERSION

PDF Version Look To Your Weaknesses To Discover Your Strengths AUDIO VERSION

PDF Version Make the Most Of Your True Talents And Keep Your Dreams Alive AUDIO VERSION

PDF Version The Secret of Success May Be As Close As Your Last Failure AUDIO VERSION

PDF Version The Golden Windows   AUDIO VERSION

PDF Version This Is The Only House You Will Ever Really Live In - AUDIO VERSION

PDF Version Why Elephants Don't Run and Eagles Don't Fly AUDIO VERSION

PDF Version You Can Never Recall A Word Once Spoken AUDIO VERSION

PDF Version  Blue Ocean Strategy   VIDEO VERSION

PDF Version  Life is Not Fair - Get Used To It   AUDIO VERSION
PDF Version  The Curse of Knowledge   AUDIO VERSION
PDF Version  The Starfish Thrower    AUDIO VERSION
PDF Version  The Teddy Stoddard Story   VIDEO VERSION
PDF Version  There Is No Such Thing As An Educated Person AUDIO VERSION
  
SPECIALLY FOR TEACHERS
PDF Version  The Daffodil Principle
PDF Version  Learning To See The Cake And Not The Mess
PDF Version  The Tube of Toothpaste
PDF Version  Something Is Missing
PDF Version  A Parent's Guide To Special Education
  

Robert Kirwan uses some inspirational stories to emphasize important strategies and advice that can be used by students of any age as they seek their place in life. Click on the links to listen to the audio tapes of previous live radio shows or you can open up a PDF Version of the show that you can save on your own computer.

Life’s Challenges Give You The Strength to Achieve Your Goals

PDF Version  Radio Show

Living A Life That Matters Is All About Being Nice

PDF Version  Radio Show

Giving Up The Good Now For A Better Future

PDF Version  Radio Show

Reading Is The Key To Success For Young Children

PDF Version  Radio Show
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Valley East Today is published by
Infocom Canada Business Consultants Inc.