Timing

I suppose starting a Blog wasn't such a good idea right in the middle of organizing a major event to which 1,200 people are invited. Too bad. I absolutely loved thinking about and writing the first two (or was it three?) entries and have only limped by here today to beg your patience. Let's get this baby 'dots' thing and rally settled and then we'll see. Timing and balance, mutually dependent on each other for best results. Later!
P.S. These little turtles live near where I paint sometimes in summer, at a place called Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, BC

Taming the Dragon

This little fellow popped out onto my canvas one day years ago. Not sure where he came from, he's far from my usual style (and I almost never use orange when painting)...I thought of him suddenly when pondering today's entry--in honour of the Dragon Boat Racing Festival in town this weekend.

The dragon in this context symbolizes the Canadian mental health system. I can hear my favourite writing instructor at Camosun College saying "Jean, too big a subject! Focus! Focus!" Except she would not get excited because she also discourages excessive use of exclamation points (!)

Lack of focus in this system is the point. Focusing long term and effective resources on mental health will lead to a time when suicide is not considered an option many Canadians consider as treatment for mental health pain.

A dragon boat has 10 paddlers who to win must listen to the beat of the drummer in the bow. Every stroke in unison. The stern controls the direction the canoe goes in. The team of 12 people practise with a commitment that would exhaust an Olympiad. Why? For the common cause of beating the beast that is cancer forever into defeat while we celebrate the lives of survivors and lost cancer leaves in its wake.

It's not much of a stretch to imagine what good would come of a similar focus on mental health by our Provincial and Territory leaders.

Today the dragon's eye on each boat in our gorgeous inner harbour is painted red, to awaken the dragon. Our human chain on September 10, this World Wide Suicide Prevention Day, is our chance to paint the eye red, to awaken the dragon and get its attention.

Belief

Belief is so much more useful than hope. Hope easily dissolves under too much stress, whereas belief, by its very nature, can only grow. Hope disappoints, belief stabilizes. Belief knows, hope, well, can only hope.