tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18995716973841060612024-03-12T21:45:21.633-04:00Journeyman StoriesReal-life stories to inspire and empower you to create your own life and then go out and live it!Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.comBlogger269125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-79478245240393958132019-05-13T12:06:00.003-04:002019-05-13T12:06:29.588-04:00My Journey to a Press Conference<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">What a game 7 for the Raptors!! Kahwi shot was out of this world. I am
still in shock. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">But, let me talk about a game that happened a while back. Game 5.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">As game 5 against the Philadelphia 76ers and our beloved Raptors ended
with a huge victory from the local team, we headed down to the press conference
location. The media people were lining up in front of the elevator and the
length of the line was one of those I had never seen. We had to wait for the
elevator to go down and back up at least three times before we could get in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">By the time we finally got in the elevator, the TV monitor inside the
elevator was showing Serge Ibaka’ s press conference. Shoot, we were running
late.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">We finally got down, and as we were rushing to the conference room, I bumped
into Toronto FC soccer superstar Jozy Altidore. He said hi to me and I said hi
back. It was surreal. Then, in front of me, I saw this huge guy with tattoos
all over his body. I didn’t know who he was, but he caught my attention. As it
turned out, he was Drake’s bodyguard. Drake was right there in front of me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I did not pay much attention as I had to get to the media room before
Ibaka ended his media availability. I got into the room just in time for French
questions for Serge. I asked for the microphone and I had time for just one
question.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">By the time Ibaka finished responding to my question, a friend texted me
and asked, "Is that you that I just heard on TV?" </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I texted back, "Yes, that was me."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> I did not realize it was live on national TV both in Canada, the
US and all over the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">All of those things happened in just less than ten minutes. Meeting with
Altidore, seeing Drake a few feet away from me and being live to a worldwide
audience on TV… please don’t pinch me. I don’t want to wake up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The next day, as I was at my six-year-old daughter’s school to pick her
up, I mentioned to her that I saw Drake the day before. She is a huge Drake
fan. She looked at me and asked, "Dad, are you joking, or is it for
real?" When I told her that I saw Drake for real, she broke into tears.
“That’s not fair", she said. “How come you saw Drake and I was not there…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I did not have much time to explain to her that, part of my job is to
meet superstars, legends and childhood idols haha<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">But, her remarks stuck with me: that’s not fair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">To tell the truth, what is happening to me is simply out of this world.
It may not be a big deal for many people, but to me, it is. I know where I came
from. I know that this was not supposed to happen, and I know that I have
nothing to do with this. It is simply God’s grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Just two days ago, I was sharing this with a good friend of mine. He
then reminded me that, it was less than five years ago, I was sleeping in a
church basement because I was homeless. “Look at you now”, he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Suddenly, I had a response to my daughter’s complaint: Yes, it is fair!
Haha<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">So, my friend. If you are reading this, I would like to tell you that,
if you are going through some tough times, things can change rapidly for you
and so fast that your friends will think that it is unfair. But, deep down
inside you will acknowledge that it is God’s grace that you are there and that
you also paid a price.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Moral of the story? Do you want to meet superstars? Just keep reading my
blogs and you will meet Drake and his bodyguard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Always a pleasure<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Patrick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The Journeyman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Get <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Journeyman book</b> here:
<a href="http://patbizindavy.com/ebook.php">http://patbizindavy.com/ebook.php</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Like us on Facebook here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/journeymanstory/">https://www.facebook.com/journeymanstory/</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-76014879694412719152019-03-29T11:47:00.002-04:002019-03-29T14:37:59.979-04:00My Journey to the Book<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It has been quite overwhelming the last few days<o:p></o:p></div>
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I shared the link to my book to a few friends and the
response has been a shock to me. The support has been unbelievable. All the
comments are quite similar to this message that I received from a friend who
has been more than a brother to me. Those of us who know him back in the day,
we call him Kissa.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He wrote:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hello bro<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I finally got a chance to watch the video. And I have 2 conflicting
reactions:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">1) what a powerful and incredible story man. It is amazing. I would
love to rush put in on my facebook and twitter account for everybody to learn
from you. How can I pay to order an autographed book?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">2) I am also angry against you man. I was supposed to be your brother
and friend. You could have asked me for a little help. Instead of living the
fight alone. I hope one of the lessons learned in your journey would also be:
Know your friends<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In any case, bravo and can't tell how much I respect you and I am proud
of you<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cheers<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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This message gave me the strength I needed to share the book
with the world. It is not easy to be an open book and share your struggles. It
takes a lot of courage, I must admit. <o:p></o:p></div>
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However, it would be selfish of me not to share the lessons
I have learned from my dark moments.</div>
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Let’s be honest. We all face challenges
in our lives. That is a fact. It is how we respond to them that matters. As we
face our demons, we all need help. We need someone to tell us that it will all
be ok. I am so happy now that I can look into the eyes of a friend who is in
tough situation and be able to give a few words of encouragement, just because
I have seen a thing or two.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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To those of you who asked me why I did not reach out for
help, my response is: I don’t know. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My young brother once told me something that I found to be
true: we cannot judge someone who is reacting to a challenge a certain way,
simply because we have no idea how we would react to the same challenges if we
were going though them ourselves.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I had to figure out things myself, on my own. I had to go
through the fire and hang in there. I had to see that this faith thing works. I
can tell you now, with so much conviction that faith works. I have seen it so
many times.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Flory, a friend who lives in France reacted to the testimony
on the video by saying that he needed to hear more from me. My friend Flory, I
have so much to say that it won’t fit in any kind of video. I went through a
lot, so much that it would take a week or two to share all of them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Today, as I was driving to work, I couldn’t help remembering
some of the stuff I went through, alone, with no one looking. I cried the
entire route. These were tears of joy, especially because I was with my daughter
when those things happen. And to see who she has become now, I can’t stop
crying. She has no idea what she went through with me, and I am glad she doesn’t
know.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Just the other day, I went to a store with Skylar (my
daughter). As we were about to enter the store, she saw a lady with a tea cup
in front of her, begging for money. Then she asked me: Daddy, why is this lady
there, sitting in the cold with a cup in front of her? I responded that she
needed some money to buy something to eat. Her next question was: Daddy, do you
have any money in your pocket?<o:p></o:p></div>
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I reached out to my pocket, gave my daughter a few dollars,
and she went to the lady and gave her the money. The look on this lady’s face
when she saw my daughter was priceless. </div>
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Skylar is six years old, and I am
really proud of her. She is so generous beyond measure.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What Skylar did not know was that, a few years ago, I was in
front of a store (like the lady), begging for money to buy diapers for her…<o:p></o:p></div>
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The other thing I would say to respond to my friend Kissa,
is that I did receive help. A ton of help. Paul my business partner, is no
longer just a partner. He is a brother for life. I saw his generosity first hand.
I don’t know how I will thank him. Pastor Christian Murengera has been more
than a spiritual father to me. My goodness! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Him coming to pick us up at 11pm in the rain,
while we were on the street, and give us a home and a church was out of this world.
This will be forever engraved in my soul.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, it is time to share my journey with the world.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you my book: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Journeyman Stories: 15 Life Lessons and
the Most Important Thing I Learned that can Transform Your Life!”<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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Enjoy it here: <a href="http://patbizindavy.com/ebook.php">http://patbizindavy.com/ebook.php</a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Moral of the story? Do you want to have your life
transformed? Just read my book and you will meet my friend Paul.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Always a pleasure<o:p></o:p></div>
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Patrick<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Journeyman<o:p></o:p></div>
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Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-88527789031397061142018-12-17T14:55:00.002-05:002018-12-17T15:03:28.749-05:00My Journey with Fidèle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It has been quite a few busy weeks that involved a round
trip to Ottawa on Saturday and preaching during a Sunday church service (yes, I
was surprised too when I was asked to do it). All this time I was thinking about
what I would be writing about on this week’s blog. I had a vague idea, but I
did not know how to formulate it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That was until I received a message on Facebook from a
friend asking me to speak at an upcoming event in January. The topic of my
presentation would be “The Moment that Defined Your Life”. The person who sent
me the invitation did not know that I had been thinking about the same topic
days prior to her message.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It all started when I was at a Toronto Raptors game. I have
been reporting on the games for almost two months now, but I am still in awe
every time I am at the arena. I can’t believe this is happening to me. I have
been in rooms with childhood idols, biggest stars of the game, coaches,
reporters, you name it. And every time I am saying “wow”. The other day, movie
star and comedian Chris Tucker was standing at a few feet away from me. I
almost looked around to see if Jackie Chan was in the room. It has been quite
unbelievable, and I am not taking this for granted at all. I am so grateful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So many opportunities have come my way the last few months
that took my breath away. My friend Elvis asked me the other day: “what prayer
did you pray at the beginning of this year? “. I laughed and answered to him “I
guess God has seen all the struggles I have been through for years and thought
that it was enough for now”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As I was waiting for the Raptors game to start, going over
my notes, a thought came to me. “How come I am here?” I asked myself. What
really lead to this fortunate event for me? I couldn’t really figure out the
exact moment that triggered everything. As I kept thinking, the memory of my
late friend Fidèle Nsengiyunva kept coming back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fidèle was the cousin of my childhood best friends, and we
grew up playing Basketball together. He had such a sense of humour that all of us
had great time being around him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Many years later, Fidèle became my neighbour. One day, he
told me that he had started coaching a ladies Basketball team. I thought it was
one of his usual jokes. I had to go and see it in person to believe it. The
first time I went to watch him train the team, my whole purpose of me being
there was to laugh at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Long story short, I ended up being the Head Coach of the
same ladies’ team and won over 15 trophies in less than 7 years. If it hadn’t
been me wanting to laugh at my friend Fidèle, there is no way I would have been
at the Raptors game (many years later).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Coaching Basketball had opened so many doors for me
(including landing my dream job of a sport reporter), that almost every success
I have encountered in my life can be credited to coaching Basketball (including
overcoming struggles).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">However, going to the Basketball court to have fun at the
expense of my friend Fidèle was never considered as a defining moment in my
life, the day it happened. Now I know that it was. It is only looking back that
we are able to connect the dots.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The lesson I have learned from this, is that there is no
ordinary moment. Every second that we are alive is a defining moment. If we see
life through those lenses, life becomes an unfolding miracle, at every moment
(I think I just earned a PhD in Philosophy with this one).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Thank you Fidèle for being in my life. I will be forever
thankful to you, and I know that I will see you on the other side. May you Rest
in Peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Moral of the story? Do you want to live amazing moments? Go
out and laugh at your friends, and you will be at an NBA game<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Always
a pleasure<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Patrick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Journeyman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-69843711790655421512018-11-29T09:59:00.005-05:002018-11-29T10:04:36.286-05:00My Journey with Steve<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Glad to be back<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We were working on the blog’s new look. I hope
you like it. It is still a work in progress, but I like what I see so far.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A few weeks ago, an entertainment industry icon
passed away at the age of 95. I am talking about the <span style="background: white;">American comic book </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">writer, editor, and publisher Stan Lee. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Stan Lee co-created numerous
popular fictional characters, including superheroes </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Spider-man, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">the X-Men, Iron Man,Thor, the Hulk, the Fantastic Four, Black Panther, Daredevil, Doctor Strange and Ant-Man.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He has surely impacted more than a generation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A co-worker of mine likes to quote “<span style="background: white;">Remember, with great power comes great
responsibility” from Spider-man. I couldn’t help but remember the line time and
time again as the passing of Stan Lee was all over the news.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was reminded
of the quote these last few days. I have been struggling with lack of sleep
lately. My daughter wakes me up at least 3 times a night, every single night. I
can’t remember the time I had a straight sleep without interruption.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At first, I
started to complain, then I remembered that it was my responsibility. Once I
accepted the role of a parent, there are some luxuries that I can’t afford
anymore, one of them being sleeping until I am done (what is that? I can’t find
it in my dictionary anymore).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Once my sleep is
interrupted, it takes a while for me to get back to sleep. T.V becomes my backup
plan. I always look for something inspiring (when there is no Basketball on
TV).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A few days ago,
I couldn’t find anything interesting, so I went on Youtube. I am glad I did. I
bumped into a Steve Harvey’s video that I wanted to share with you. I hope you
like it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There were so
many lessons to learn from it. Let me know what you think<span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Click here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O6RBPsi3nk">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O6RBPsi3nk</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Moral of the
story?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Do you want to
enjoy sleepless night? Just watch TV and you will see Steve Harvey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Always a
pleasure<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Patrick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Journeyman<span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br /></div>
Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-86430507152562564472018-11-02T21:31:00.001-04:002018-11-02T21:31:37.653-04:00My Journey with Pablo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">What a week! I did
not even see the days go by. It has been very busy lately, but I am loving
every bit of it. Every time I get a chance to report on a Raptors game, I go to
bed almost at 3 am. I have to do the interview editing, write my article and
send everything to the Radio station for them to air the report the next day at
the latest. By the time I finish everything I am so exhausted but it doesn’t
feel like work. It is a true blessing to be in a position to do what you dreamed
for your entire life. It is a true privilege. I have to do the best I can to
keep deserving the trust they have put in me to deliver on the work I was given<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Last week, I was
at a big conference where the 300 of us where gathered at the Sheraton Hotel in
Richmond Hill (North part of Toronto). The objective of the conference was for
us to learn, network and meet experts in different fields including grant
application, media relations, community empowerment, etc. I met so many people
I haven’t seen in years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">On Saturday
morning (third day of the conference), I was running late and I had to rush out of home to get in there for
breakfast (the best part of the conference was the food, quality and quantity
wise, if you know what I mean).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I got there and
the breakfast was still on the table. I got myself an egg sandwich, some fried
potatoes and yogurt (this is what I call quality control). As I was hungry, I
bite hard in the sandwich and the entire egg splashed on my suit jacket and
shirt (the egg was not well done). It was quite embarrassing. I looked around;
thank God no one saw the mess. I run to the bathroom to clean things up. Once I
arrived there, what a face I saw in the mirror!! I realized I had left home
without combing my hair. I looked like Bob Marley in his early days. Eggs all
over my clothes, and now my hair was a mess. What a mess!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I managed the best
I could to get back to the conference. I could not go home to comb my hair, so
I say to myself it was the sexy side of me haha. Bob Marley was cool<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The organization
that put together the conference was running the election for Board Members and
the President of the Board. There were a few candidates, among which a young 18
year old boy named Pablo who was running for President. His speech was stunning!
The entire room was silent. We knew we were listening to the future Prime
Minister of Canada. It was unbelievable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">At the end of the
conference, I went to meet Pablo and we had a chat for a few minutes. He told
me that he is able to do the things he does because he has a community around
him helping him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It was quite an
interesting conversation that reminded me my morning mess (the eggs and the Bob
Marley hair).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Do you know why I
was running late to the conference? Because I was bringing my daughter to her
Saturday teacher. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Like Pablo, there
is nothing I can do without the help of my community. I have a few friends who
pick up my daughter at school when I have to go to the Raptors game, I have a
teacher who helps her with her homework on Saturdays, whenever I work very
late, I have a number of families who take care of her, even some sleepovers
whenever necessary. My brother is there to give a hand when I call up on him.
Truly, I don’t know where I would be without my community. I am so thankful
(Pablo was right).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The best part in
this is that all these people help me gladly. Do you know why? Because I have
invested thousands of hours helping them. I have given a lot to the community
(gladly) that, whenever I need a hand, I know who to call. It is a win- win. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The best
investment one can do is to invest in people. Do it gladly and people will help
you gladly in return. I am glad they do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Moral of the
story? Do you want to have a return on your investment? Go to a conference and
you will eat eggs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Always a pleasure<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Patrick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The journeyman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-23211428803374751562018-10-23T11:07:00.004-04:002018-10-23T11:07:58.534-04:00My Journey as an NBA Reporter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
keep telling my friends, “Please don’t wake me up, I am dreaming.” It really
hasn’t sunk in that I am doing this job: reporting, interviewing NBA players
and coaches…. it is so surreal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
first game was last week on Wednesday. I had received all the paperwork I
needed from the Toronto Raptors communication department (class people, by the
way). I had to be there at least two hours before the game. Needless to say, I
was anxious. I have been to the arena countless of times before but just as a
fan wanting to watch the games. This was one of the reasons why I had chosen
Toronto as the city I wanted to live in. It is the only Canadian town that has
an NBA team. My dream was to attend at least a game (it has been over 33 years
that I have watching the NBA). Never in my wildest dreams had I thought I would
be going there as part of my job.</span><span style="color: #26282a;">Never!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Media room was packed. Reporters from different outlets were there. I pretended
I belonged, but I couldn’t help being in shock sitting around the same table
with Jack Armstrong, Leo Rautins and Matt Devlin (these are big time Raptors
reporters). I received the game notes, the schedules for the press briefings
from the coach and what time I should be in the locker room to interview the
players (are you kidding me??).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
headed to the court to see what was happening and there he was, Kawhi Leonard
himself, working on his shot. Not far from there was JV (Jonas Valanciunas)
working on his post moves. I couldn’t believe I was watching this. On my way
back to the Media Centre, I met Cavaliers Superstar Kevin Love and my eyes were
so big that he was probably thinking he was looking at a ghost. At the end of
the game, I got a chance to interview Pascal Siakam, one of the Raptors rising
stars. He was very gracious with his time and I thanked him for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Two
days after that, I was at the arena again to report on the game against the
Celtics. This time I felt a little bit more comfortable. On my way to the media
room, I met Jennifer, the Raptors Director of Communications who waved at me
and said, “Hi Patrick!”, and I am like “Yes!! Jennifer knows my name!!! I am
now officially an NBA Reporter!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
did a short interview with Serge Ibaka who had a monster game. By the time I
arrived home, it was almost two O’clock in the morning. I was so
exhausted, but I didn’t care. Why should I?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
few weeks prior to all this happening, I got a chance to speak in front of a
crowd and shared with them how my dream about the NBA had come to pass. At the
end of my speech, a lady came to see me and shared with me how inspired she
was. She asked if we could meet. She wanted to share something with me and I
agreed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
met her yesterday. She shared with me the dreams she has, and I was immediately
blown away. She has some big dreams that would knock your socks off (this lady
is in her seventies!!). She told me that I was the very first person she shared
her dreams with. She asked for my help, and I was glad she did. I have no idea
how she will pull this off, but I am so glad she trusted me to be part of her
journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Towards
the end of our conversation, she said something very powerful. Here is how it
went:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<u><span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Her</span></u><span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:
Patrick, I had buried this dream for so long, out of fear. But something made
me want to revisit my dream again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<u><span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Me</span></u><span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:
What is it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<u><span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Her</span></u><span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:
Tiger Woods.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<u><span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Me</span></u><span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:
What?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes.
You got it right. She has been watching golf for many years and she was
convinced Tiger would never win again. She thought he was done…. until he won
again. That was the Tour Championship in Atlanta last month. Tiger’s victory
made her realize that she can still dream. All is still possible. She is in her
seventies (that’s my guess), and thanks to Tiger Woods and myself fulfilling
our dreams, she got to dream again. How powerful is that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
take is that, when God put a dream in our heart, it is our responsibility to
follow through regardless of the obstacles. By doing so, we become an
inspiration for so many who have buried their dreams. People’s lives depend on
us fulfilling our dreams. That is what I think.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Moral
of the story? Do you want to follow your dreams, just watch Golf and you will
see me at an NBA game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Always
a pleasure<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Patrick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Journeyman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-48335155393861209272018-10-16T09:54:00.001-04:002018-10-16T09:54:30.693-04:00My Journey with a man of faith<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
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Many years ago, I heard a businessman say that if you don’t
have a dream, be around dreamers. Now, I am going to add to his statement and
say that if you don’t have faith, be around people of faith.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I met this gentleman over sixteen years ago when I first
came to Canada. After a few months, we became roommates. It was very fun
evenings among friends hearing and telling funny jokes. We didn’t know what we
would become later, but I knew this guy was going somewhere. He was a devoted
Christian man, playing music in two different churches. He had a picture in his
room with a huge crowd on it and I knew he was meant to impact people’s lives.
Little did I know I would be, many years later among the people who would be
impacted by his life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We went our separate ways but kept in touch. He later became
a Pastor (and I was not surprised at all by that), and I attended his church a
few times.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In 2013, I was going through one of the toughest moments of
my life and I needed help. I didn’t know who to call or who I could talk to.
While speaking with a friend of mine who lives in Alberta, she told me that she
went through the same things I was going through and it was a Pastor who helped
her get out of trouble. As soon as she mentioned the word “Pastor”, I knew who
to call right away: my former roommate!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Long story short, he came to the rescue and I became a
regular member of his church. I learned so much from him that it isn't even
funny. This man has faith I have never seen. His moves are in the category of
“don’t try this at home” if you know what I mean. His commitment and sacrifice
are so inspiring that when you are around him, you cannot help but try to
emulate him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of his boldest moves was when he decided to move to
Ottawa from Toronto. When he told me the news, I had mixed feelings. I was so
sad to “loose” a friend and faith partner, but I was also happy for him as I
knew he was starting a new phase in his journey.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, did I tell you that he made the decision to move without
knowing where he would live, what he would do as a job, where he would plant
his new church? On top of that, he had a wife and five children.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Try that one!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was scared on his behalf (just because he is never
scared).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In less than a week before he moved, he found a home (thank
God), a great job, but no church. He started his new church in his living room
with wife and kids as his church members haha. I remember seeing the pictures
of his (home) worship services in his living room and couldn’t contain my
emotions. This is a man who gave everything he got, sacrificing his family to
build a strong church in Toronto, then deciding to move to a new city, leaving
everything behind to start from scratch with no visible sign of success.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That is what I call faith.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fast forward, last week I was in Ottawa for a visit. I
attended his church which had quite an emotional service. They were entering
their new church location and the place was packed! I did not count the number
of people in attendance, but my guess is that it was over 100 people. Oh, and
this was done in just a year after his move to Ottawa! You probably already
guessed that he can no longer have his worship services in his living room
anymore haha.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe he can.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I saw his brand-new house and I can tell you that it can fit
a few dozen people. Again, that is faith in action.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His name is Pastor Christian Murengera and his wife Vanessa
is about to become a Pastor as well. I am so blessed they are in my life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Moral of the story? Do you want to have great faith in your
life? Just move to Ottawa and you will become a Pastor<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Always a pleasure<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Patrick<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The journeyman<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /></div>
Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-4682385458878258382018-10-09T12:44:00.002-04:002018-10-09T12:44:54.095-04:00My Journey to a test<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<div class="yiv4083969085MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do we do when our plans do not go the way we expected? To tell you the truth, I don't know. Each one of us has a unique way to deal with delays or sometimes heartbreaking shortcomings (I don't want to mention failures). Yesterday, my reaction was to put away the phone (or any other device) for hours. Yes, sometimes it can be too much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">A project Paul (my business partner) and I had been working on for years was 98% done. It was a matter of days before we were ready for launch. Then, the person who was helping us to work on it called us to let us know that she couldn't see the data anymore. Long story short, the online provider could not find our data. All was gone! Everything! We are talking about more than two years’ worth of work!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">As we were "mourning" over our lost, we had to switch gears to work on another project we had been working for weeks. The deadline to submit the application (It was a grant application) was on Monday. We were almost there in terms of the work that needed to be done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">On Monday, I woke up very early to work on the final touches of the document. I was proud of myself as I was going through all the work done the last few weeks. Then, I received a call from my daughter's school asking me to come and pick her up. She was sick. I jumped into the car, rushed to the school to pick her up. She was sleeping on a couch, waiting for me, visibly weak. By the time we were back in the car, she fell asleep. Then, the car wouldn't start. I tried so many times but in vain. I had to call a mechanic. As I was looking at my watch, the 1pm deadline was approaching very fast. But I couldn't move as I was stuck in the car with my sleeping daughter waiting for the mechanic</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">By now, I am sure you have guessed what happened. I missed the deadline, and all the work we did for weeks was gone! I was so devastated that I didn't want to talk to anybody. How could I explain the two projects failing only days apart?</span></div>
<div class="yiv4083969085MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It took me 24 hours to digest everything and to remind me that in the big scheme of things, it is just a bump on the road (even if it hurts). I have also to remind me that it could be worse. These are just projects. Life goes on. There will be other opportunities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">One text helped me get back to a positive mood. The author is unknown, but the text is a masterpiece. Every time I read it, I get so inspired that I can quickly get back on my feet whenever I encounter a setback</span></div>
<div class="yiv4083969085MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Here it is:</span></div>
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<i><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON</span></u></i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv4083969085MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there…to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be but you lock eyes with them, you know that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way.</span></i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">And sometimes things happen to you at the time that may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would never realize your potential, strength, will power or heart.</span></i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of luck. Illness, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test limits of your soul.</span></i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Without these small tests, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless</span></i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The people you meet affect your life. The successes and downfalls that you experience can create who you are, and the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them because they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart</span></i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but also because they are teaching you to love and open your heart and eyes to little things. Make every day count. Appreciate everything that you possibly can, for you may never experience it again</span></i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Talk to people whom you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to.</span></i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you. Create you own life and then go out and live it.</span></i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you take your eyes off your goals, all you see is obstacles</span></i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Moral of the story? Do you want to meet the deadline of your project? Just wake up early and your daughter will fall asleep in your car</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Always a pleasure</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Patrick</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Journeyman</span></div>
</div>
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Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-61998492041720216142018-09-26T15:10:00.001-04:002018-09-26T15:10:01.129-04:00My Journey with Homework<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last weekend, I hosted a wedding for friends of mine and
also brought my daughter with me. She had so much fun with the other kids who
were there. When my MC duties were over, I was so exhausted that I had to find
a corner to sit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It wasn't too long after when my daughter came to me and
said that we had to go home. When my boss asks me something, I have no choice
but to execute. As we headed outside, I remembered that I had left my
daughter's jacket in the car. It was pretty cold.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The next day, she started sneezing and coughing. Long
story short, today I stayed home with her because she couldn't go to school.
She had a high fever before she went to bed last night.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thanks to Tylenol, she woke up feeling better. After her
afternoon nap, I thought to myself, "Let me see if she is able to do her
remaining homework." To my astonishment she was already doing her homework
and even finished it in less than ten minutes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You might say, what's the big deal?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Homework is homework!<o:p></o:p></div>
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You may be right. But let me tell you where I am coming
from.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My daughter is in grade one now (yeah!!!). Ever since she
was in kindergarten, she always came home with homework. Some parents were
surprised when I told them that I had to help my daughter with homework. Their
kids (of the same age) never came home with work to do.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I remember her kindergarten teacher telling me that it
was the best way to get them ready for grade one. Once she starts grade one,
they will make her work hard every day. She needed to get used to it from early
on.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thank God she had two years of preparation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The first week of school in grade one, she came home with
so much<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>homework that I thought she was
in high school.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am not kidding.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I couldn't believe it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There were so many instructions I thought I was reading a
dictionary.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We began working right away.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My daughter was struggling daily to finish her homework.
I almost gave up. She was going to sleep late and every morning she woke up
complaining. School was not fun anymore, but I kept pushing her, even on
weekends.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The first signs of a breakthrough came last week when I
went to a parents and teachers meeting. First of all, every parent was
complaining about the amount of homework. This didn't seem to bother the
teacher because he was laughing all the time. I guess he is used to the parents'
complaints at the beginning of the year.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Once the teacher explained the philosophy behind the
amount of homework, I felt relieved. He said he wasn't expecting them to do all
the work at the beginning. He explained his goal was to push them to become
more disciplined and that results didn't matter at first. Completing their
homework and becoming used to the routine were his main objectives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He went on to say that once they became
disciplined then through repetition, they would master their craft.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I thought I was listening to a Lebron James interview.
This is exactly what he does.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anyways.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The teacher also introduced us to the technology he is
using to allow parents to know what their kids are doing on a daily basis. I
downloaded the app on my phone, and since then, I receive at least four
pictures of my daughter doing work at school. When she gets home, the first
thing I do is go over the pictures on my phone with her, and she tells me
everything she did that day. There is no more "How was your day
Skylar?"... to which she always responds "good" with no more
comments.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I love technology!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since meeting her
teacher, I have made a few changes to our routine. I made homework so much fun
that Skylar is now asking for homework. I also promised to reward her every
time she finishes her daily work. Also, whenever I am playing with her (which
happens a lot), I include homework in our games without her noticing it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess what!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Today, the breakthrough happened. It was so easy for her
to do the work that I was astonished. Oh, I said that already.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I do not believe the breakthrough happened today. I believe
it started two years ago with her kindergarten teacher assigning her work to do
at home while many kids of the same age were not being given any homework.
Then, it was about the daily routine, the hard work and sometimes sleepless
nights when we almost gave up. There was, just as important, the fun part we
brought to the work and the teacher communicating with me daily while pushing
the kids to have the discipline necessary to succeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Boom!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thank God I did not give up on her. Today was a teaching
moment for me. The hard work, the discipline, the patience and what we do when
no one is looking are what matters. We may never see the progress while doing
all of this but then one day... Boom, and it all comes together for an amazing
breakthrough.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I remember hearing a very successful minister saying that
people came to him to congratulate him for his overnight success. He responded
by saying, "If this is an overnight success, then that is the longest
night I have ever had."<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, I understand what he meant.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My daughter homework breakthrough today took more than
two years. Some breakthroughs can take decades... just ask Nelson Mandela.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Moral of the story? Do you want to have a huge
breakthrough in your life? Just go to sleep for three years and you will have
an overnight success<o:p></o:p></div>
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Always a pleasure<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Patrick<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Journeyman<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /></div>
Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-44045978332849675742018-09-18T09:45:00.007-04:002018-09-18T09:45:57.683-04:00My Journey with a Cool GPS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Toronto traffic can sometimes be hectic. I would even say
that it is always hectic. If you really want to navigate easily, public transit
may be the suggested way of transportation in the heart of the city (praying
that there are no delays on the subway system).<o:p></o:p></div>
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That being said and depending on situations, a car may be
the sure way to get to your destination.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have a work schedule that varies a lot, depending on where
I am in the city. What does not change is the time I must pick up my daughter
at her daycare. I must be there before 6pm otherwise there are fines to pay.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have to admit that it is easier said than done. Hence, my
mention about the traffic. I have to drive and pray, if you know what I mean.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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A few months ago, I was so stuck in traffic that there was
no way I could get to the daycare by six o’clock. It was mission impossible (unless
I turned into Tom Cruise).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Out of desperation, an idea came to me: how about I use the
GPS?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Guess what? I arrived at the daycare ten minutes before six
o'clock. It was a miracle. You know what happened? The next day I took the same
route the GPS showed me the previous day and I got stuck in traffic. "How
come," I asked myself? "This is impossible!" The same route can
be good today and very bad the next day. Traffic can really be unpredictable.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From that day I decided to use the GPS every single day, and
everyday the route is different. In my sixteen years in Toronto, I never
realized that there were parts of the city I didn't know. Using my GPS is
allowing me to discover the city in all its dimensions. </div>
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The beauty of this is
that, ever since I started using the GPS, I have never been late. How about
that!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here are a few lessons that I learned from my GPS:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The GPS is
powerful, but it is useless if we don’t know where we’re going<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The GPS is always available when we need
guidance<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The GPS knows
the upcoming traffic (or trouble) way in advance, so it shows us the best way<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to avoid it<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The GPS will
never judge you when you take a wrong exit and It always gives you a plan B<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you trust
the GPS, it will never mislead you<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The GPS
always gets you out of traffic (or trouble)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The GPS
always starts fresh the next day. What it told you yesterday may be irrelevant
today. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All you need to do is trust it and don’t
doubt its direction<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The GPS can
change the plan in the middle of the journey because it knows what is ahead<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our journey
can be so much fun when we allow it to do its work and we focus on the driving</div>
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part<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am wondering: What other 3 letter word that starts with
the letter “G” that functions exactly like a GPS?<o:p></o:p></div>
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That is the quiz of the week. Hope you find it<o:p></o:p></div>
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Moral of the story? Do you want to get the benefits of a
cool GPS?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pass the quiz and you won’t be
late to the daycare<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Always a pleasure<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Patrick<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Journeyman.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /></div>
Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-53457820225741151972018-09-10T15:55:00.003-04:002018-09-10T15:55:59.188-04:00My Journey with the Orange Ball<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I have
to say that the feedback I received from last week's blog was overwhelming. It
made me realize how selfish I was for not sharing my up and down journey. Many
of you readers have reached out to share your journeys with me. I was so
blessed by each of you and the part of your life journey you shared with
me. I have learned that whatever I am going through, somebody else is
going through worse. That helps me put things into perceptive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">
Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Last
Saturday I got to watch the rerun of the Basketball Hall of Fame Ceremonies. It
was an amazing show. All the inductees shared their stories; some of them were
very emotional while others were simply funny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">It is
quite an honour to be chosen to be in a select group of elite players, coaches,
executives and many others who have impacted the game in many ways.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">As
there is little chance for me to be a Basketball hall of famer (the chances are
almost zero, but I am keeping an open mind), I am glad I have a platform on
which I can share my Basketball journey (don't change the channel please).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I
started watching the NBA in 1985. Oh yeah. Some of you were not born yet.
We would gather at my friend's home to watch games on VHS tapes (Google that
one if you don't know what VHS is) while their parents were away. I fell in
love with the game and became obsessed with Michael Jordan. I remember a bunch
of us deciding to cut our hair so that we could look like Mike. Crazy stuff
man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I
later joined a Basketball team and played in the local league for over 10 years
(among which 5 were spent on the bench haha).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I was
still obsessively watching the NBA. I don't think I have ever missed watching
the NBA finals or the All-Star Game... at least not in recent years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">While
playing for the University team, I started coaching a local ladies team and,
boy did I have the time of my life. I can surely say that those have been the
best days of my life so far.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Basketball
opened so many doors for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I got
a chance to work with amazing people like Eugene Nindorera (what a mentor he
was!). Ziaddy became my best friend. I travelled to many countries in Africa
and Europe, had the honour of being part of the Board of Directors of the
country's Basketball Federation, landed my dream job as a sports reporter in
one of the local radio stations, travelled with the National team that went to
compete in the Central Africa tournament and for two straight years I organized
a summer Basketball camp that impacted over 2000 young people across the city.
The list can go on and on. Along the way, the team I was coaching won 15
trophies in 7 years! What a blast!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I will
never forget the NBA Finals at my friend Kennedy's home. Fifteen to twenty of
us would gather to watch the games late at night. I am talking about 1 am or 3
am depending on where the game was being played (time zone difference). Reine
(Kennedy's wife) would cook for us and some of us would even sleep at their
home before the games. The neighbours wondered what was happening as the
trash talking went on and on. All of us would go to work, or to school in the
morning having slept for only two hours. That is what I call commitment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The
funny part was that, almost all of us would go to visit Kennedy only when the
games were on TV. When the finals were over, Kennedy would say, "See you
all in June next year," haha.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Fast
forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">In
2002, I landed in Canada, and I couldn't wait to go to the Raptors game.
Michael Jordan came to town, but I couldn't afford a ticket to watch him. I was
so mad as I knew he was about to retire for good. It was a missed opportunity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I have
been to the games since then, and every time I am at the arena, I have tears in
my eyes. It has been a long-time dream of mine to witness an NBA game live.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> Then,
something special happened last week...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">To
make a long story short, this NBA season that is about to start, I will be
reporting on the games on behalf of a local Toronto Radio Station! Did you see
that? Yes. I will be attending games and interviewing the players, coaches and
so on...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I have
witnessed a few things in my life, but for me, this is a BIG deal. Never in my
wildest dreams have I ever thought this would happen in my life. My love story
with the NBA started in 1985 in a remote central African country, and now I get
to interview the players 33 years later!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I
think it is a hall of fame story. Don't you think?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Dreams
do really come true! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Moral
of the story? Do you want to see your dreams come true 33 years from now? Just
watch a game on a VHS and you will win trophies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Always
a pleasure<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Patrick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #26282a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The
journeyman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-45765368109393886612018-09-04T14:03:00.002-04:002018-09-04T14:03:48.346-04:00My Journey Back to Fun<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ok, I know you probably aren't going to accept my apologies.
I know that you have waited and waited for a blog and lost your patience. I
know your inspiration tank is empty now because you were relying on my stories
to be inspired. I know that what I just said is not entirely true, but that is
what I tell myself anyways.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has been exactly a year since I posted my last blog. This
is crazy because I broke my promise, again. I did not keep in touch with you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a good excuse.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I went missing because I took time to work on some good
stuff. Taking time away was not part of the plan but sadly it went in that
direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really wanted to both blog
and work on this good stuff but with not enough time in the day and trying to
meet all my other commitments I had to put it on hold.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I truly am sorry, and
I hope you can forgive me... again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope once you discover what it is I was working on you
will forget all the pain I have caused you by not talking to you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, what is this good
stuff I worked on while away you ask?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, in the last year, I finished writing one book
(co-authored with Paul), the second one is 98% complete, and the third one is
on the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, and just yesterday I was
asked to co-author a book with other awesome people.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wait, there is more!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have been working with a team on an amazing online course
that will make a huge impact on people for many years to come (I am not
overselling here!).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is one more thing: I recently started working on
another project that will bring communities together to work on common projects
with the goal of making the world a better place to live.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isn’t that awesome?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When you read the above statements, you would think I am
having the time of my life. You may be right, but for a while, I was not having
fun at all. The day to day work of making those things happen can take a toll
on somebody, especially when you do not see an immediate result. Along the way,
I lost my joy, and above all, I had lost inspiration and motivation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Until….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A couple of weeks ago, my friend Chris asked me if I was
available to speak at an event for youth. The topic was on entrepreneurship. I
said yes of course. At that time, I hadn’t done a speaking engagement for a
while (outside hosting events). What Chris did not tell me (maybe he did, I
don’t remember) was that I would be speaking during a church service. I found
myself in front of a packed church, with Pastors, Bishops and a congregation
that kept shouting “amen” at my stories. It was amazing!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before that…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was working on putting together a soccer tournament with
my co-workers. As I was speaking to the media about the event, one local radio
station asked me if I would be willing to work on a live broadcast of the
tournament with their team. Man, my yes was not loud enough. I couldn’t wait.
It brought back amazing memories of when I use to work in radio.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My speech at the church and my hour-long radio show made me
realize one thing. I had neglected my passions for the sake of work. Don’t get
me wrong. I was working on good stuff, but the grind it was taking did not
allow me to take a break and do things I love to do: speaking, radio, and
blogging….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, you know why I am writing this blog. It's for both you
and me:) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stay tuned for the upcoming books in a store near you…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Moral of the story? Do you want to have fun again?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just be invited to speak at a church and you
will do radio<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Always a pleasure<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Patrick<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Journeyman<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-4353490076704951002017-08-30T14:20:00.002-04:002017-08-30T14:20:24.315-04:00My Journey to a Soul Searching<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know I had promised you to write regularly, and I broke my
promise. Don’t sue me please.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The truth is that, even though I had a lot of things I
wanted to write about, I was not inspired to do it (until today).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have been on a journey of soul searching/God seeking
moments that lead to a three day retreat in Niagara Falls away from everything
(it felt weird not looking at my phone every 5 seconds as I used to).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When you reach a certain age (thanks by the way for your
birthday wishes), you start having different questions about life (at least, it
is my case).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just the other day, I was with my good friend Elvis, and I
told him that in a near future I am going to be so rich that it will be so ridiculous.
I didn’t explain to him why I said that (my thinking was that there is no way I
can face what I have faced and not be compensated one way or another). Elvis
replied: I think you are so rich beyond measure, but you haven’t realized it
yet”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I remained silent for a moment, but I kept thinking about
his statement.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of my mentors was asked to define the word “Pastor”, and
he said this (I am paraphrasing here): A Pastor is someone who has only one
blow of air available to him and is asked by someone whose finger is burning to
sooth his suffering by blowing his one and only blow of air. The Pastor then decides
to help and heal the finger while his own entire hand is burning. He then turns
to God asking Him to sooth his suffering hand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thought this definition was spot on. And if this definition
is true, I have been a Pastor for many years haha.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I cannot tell you how many people I have helped in the last
15 years in Canada, all the time thinking “I need help too”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In my soul searching, I wanted to know why I was not getting
blessed the way people I am helping are getting blessed. My thinking was wrong.
Thank God Elvis was there to remind me how rich I am. Counting my blessings has
been such a blessing in itself<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just yesterday, as I was doing my soul searching thing again,
I had an “aha” moment. It was so powerful that I kept thinking about it the
entire day. I realized that my calling is to be a Humanitarian. The best
definition I have found is: <b>Humanitarian</b>:<i> pertaining to the saving of human lives or to
the alleviation of suffering<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am committed for the rest of my life to be a humanitarian.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The events of the last few months have confirmed my new commitment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is what happened:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A coworker of mine sent me an email letting me know that
someone had approached her seeking for help to conduct humanitarian projects in
Africa. She thought I could be of assistance. I saw the email, but somehow I
did not respond to it. I don’t even know why.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few weeks went by. Another coworker came to me and said. I
met a very interesting guy; I think you should meet him. Here is his phone
number. She was talking about the same guy I read about in the email. I took
the phone number, but I did not call. Don’t ask me why. I have no idea.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another few weeks went by. Then, I organized an event, and
the guy sent me an email saying that he would attend. I thought to myself: I
get to finally meet him. Guess what! The guy did not show up at my event. He
had heard the news that there was going to be heavy rains in Toronto that day (
I hate the news! Haha).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few weeks went by. I finally met him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few days before our meeting, I had started my soul
searching trying to figure out what I should do with my life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My new friend explained to me what he had been doing for the
last few years helping Burundian refugees in Uganda, and I was blown away. He
did such a tremendous work using his own (very limited) money. Before he
finished his talk, I stopped him and said to him: You got yourself a partner. I
shook his hand and knew without a doubt that I have found what my next chapter
will be.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I went home that day and prayed. My prayer was simple: “God,
I won’t move until you move. Show me the way and I will do the work”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We committed to meet once a week to brainstorm about how we
would proceed. After a few meetings, we realized that the best way to go was to
create a Not for Profit Organization that would run the humanitarian projects.
I have helped countless people to create their organizations; it was high time
I used this skill to something that is close to my heart.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The very first person I approached about joining the Board
of Directors said no, but he promised to help financially and ask his friends
to do so. It was a good start.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At this moment, we have all the members we need and the application
to register the organization is done.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then, something amazing happened last week. I was speaking
with my friend Chris on some projects we are doing together, then he mentioned about
a project he had started in Pakistan and the Philippines. It is very impressive.
I saw a way to duplicate the same project in Uganda to help the refugees down
there. He was as excited as I was.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yesterday, we had our first technical meeting and we know
EXACTLY what we want to do. I couldn’t sleep last night. I have this excitement
that I haven’t had for a very long time. This is my one (and only) blow of air
to sooth the suffering refugees from my country while waiting for God to heal
my entire hand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Very soon I will call you to join me<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aren’t you glad that you are so exhausted from reading this
long blog ?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Moral of the story? Do you want to be a humanitarian? Just
burn your hand and you will help someone to heal his finger<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Always a pleasure<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Patrick<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Journeyman.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-67159183580413728522017-07-13T15:40:00.001-04:002017-07-13T15:42:03.605-04:00My Journey with a Bestseller<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Two
weeks away from writing (among other things) are now enough. I am back to you…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
am getting into the podcast listening world and I am really mad at myself. How
in the world was I late to the party? There are powerful podcasts out there,
and on various subjects. It is like an all-you- can- eat buffet (you know my
well-established relationship with food).
Just last week, I was into productivity podcasts and what I learned was
so valuable that I now feel I want to turn my life upside down and start
everything from scratch (maybe it would be unproductive but it is worth the
try).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Anyways…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
am here to talk about something different. I can now brag and say that I have a
bestseller friend. You don’t believe me? Here is the proof:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bonjour Patrick,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">J'ai écrit le livre "Introverts: Leverage Your
Strengths for an Effective Job Search".<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span lang="FR-CA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: FR-CA;">Il est devenu #1
sur Amazon pendant le premiers 10 heures et a reçu le statut de Bestseller le
1er Juillet<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That
is an extract of an email sent to me by Gabriela Casineanu, a former co-worker
of mine letting me know that her book has just hit the bestseller list on
Amazon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
was so happy for Gabriela you can’t imagine. If there is one person who really
deserves success, it is Gabriela. She is a Certified Coach, trained in
Co-Active Coaching and Organisation & Relationship Systems Coaching. Over the
years, she has been able to help thousands of people (including me) improve
their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Why
do I say that she deserves the success she is getting? You may ask. It is
simply because she had paid the price. Gabriela has overcome a number of
challenges (abusive behaviour, divorce, single mom, settling in a new country,
career changes, financial issues, … to
name a few) but she never gave up on her dreams. Long ago, she decided to quit
the corporate world and an Engineering position to embark on the path of heart!
It was her personal choice. She never turned back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
2008, I took a trip with Gabriela to Las Vegas (what happened there stayed
there) for a conference and she shared with me some incredible stories about
herself. What I have to tell you is that when she really wants something, she
goes after it with faith no matter what. I really respect Gabriela, especially
her work ethic. She is very professional and she speaks her mind. What you see
is what you get with Gabriela<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Way
to go my friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here
is a link to her book: </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0732L97DL"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0732L97DL</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Enjoy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
for me, I will see you next week for another entry blog. Now I have to rush and
do some stuff if I want to stay productive<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Moral
of the story? Do you want to stay productive? Go to Vegas and you will meet a
bestseller<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Always
a pleasure<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Patrick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Journeyman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-48621261794444021592017-06-22T16:08:00.004-04:002017-06-22T16:08:40.251-04:00My Journey back in time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last few weeks have been quite interesting. First, there is this wedding I was hosting a
few Saturdays ago. I met people I haven’t seen for a very long time. It was so
great. Then I attended a funeral the following week, and boy was I surprised to
see folks I grew up with that I haven’t seen for ages.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just a few hours ago, I was coming from a meeting and who do
I see? At first I couldn’t believe my eyes. A former colleague of mine back 15
years ago at the Radio station in Burundi. I didn’t even know he was in Canada
(we’ve been in the same city for 3 years and I didn’t even know it). He told me
that he still has the tapes of our show! We shared great memories indeed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All these people I met brought me back in time<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Time really flies. You know that you’re getting old when you
see kids you sow being born saying that they are about to go to college. I am exaggerating
here, but it is shocking how kids grow so fast<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We just celebrated my daughter’s fifth birthday. Wasn’t she
born yesterday? I can’t believe she is five years old now. I have to tell you.
It is a fun age. She is schooling me in everything now. She just decreed a law
that states that we won’t be speaking English at home anymore. “On parle en Français” she says. As a good citizen, I have to obey the law. Mind you, she
started to learn French a few months ago, and now it is the official home
language.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since she was two years old, my daughter has been suffering
from what the doctors call enlarged adenoids and enlarged tonsils which
resulted in severe snoring and difficulties in breathing while asleep. We saw a
specialist who gave us some medication. It worked for a while, but it was not
enough. It was really unbearable to see her struggling to sleep night after
night. During the day, she would be the laughing and dancing kid we all know,
and at night it would be something else.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, the doctors suggested that surgery was inevitable<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They did all the tests and set up a date. It was a quick
surgery and we stayed at the hospital overnight<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had tears in my eyes when I saw her crying when she woke
up after the surgery. I knew it was temporary, but still, it hurts to see your
kid in pain<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The recovery went smoothly for a few days, and then she
started complaining about having pain in her ears. It got even worse that we
had to run to the emergency room. We ended up staying at the hospital
overnight. We were finally released in the afternoon, and from then on she
started to feel better<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She is completely healed now, and when she sleeps there is
no sound at all. It is as if she is not in the room. Years of suffering are now
gone. They are a distant memory<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we have been suffering for a while and it gets worse,
it is a sign that things are about to get better for good. My daughter reminded
me of that fact a few weeks ago. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you
encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces
endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be
perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” says the Bible<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Suffering is a good thing if we have the right perspective
of the events. That is my opinion<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Moral of the story? Do you want to end your suffering? Come
meet my daughter and you will be speaking French<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Always a pleasure<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Patrick<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Journeyman<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-68736388909513373212017-06-15T10:29:00.002-04:002017-06-15T11:01:10.032-04:00My Journey with Capone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Some
call him President, some others call him Gisage, and many know him as Capone.
His real name is Alphonse Barikage. He is a great and brilliant guy. </span><br />
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When he
comes to our Basketball court on Wednesdays evening, we all know that the fun
is just about to begin. He has some old school basketball moves that remind me
of Kareem Abdul Jabaar’s sky hook (I have the footage to prove it, but I won’t
share it here…)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What
I didn’t know was that Capone is a great writer. He just published a piece in
one of Toronto’s big newspapers, and it is a real work of art. As we are about
to celebrate Fathers’ day, I thought that the timing of the article is just perfect<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here
it is. Ladies and Gentlemen, here comes Alphonse Barikage, a.k.a Capone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Enjoy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 24.0pt;">A
walk down memory lane<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 24.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When I reach for my son's hand, I
feel my father's palm in mine, Alphonse Barikage writes<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">How would I be remembered?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The question on how I will be
remembered after I die has not been one that I have spent much time pondering.
That was, until a few years ago, when my then 8-year-old son – yes you heard it
right – raised the topic with me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It was a beautiful spring day. For
the first time that year, the sun was full out. Marcus and I decided to walk to
the local library to borrow some books. Children were playing soccer and
others, shooting hoops on the street.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cars were driving slowly, honking
occasionally to get the children's attention and have them clear the way.
Neighbours were trading jokes and pleasantries across the street from their
porch. You could tell that everyone was happy that winter was
finally over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marcus and I had been walking for
about 10 minutes in silence, taking in the cacophonous sounds from the street
and the fresh smell emanating from a soil that has just emerged from a
long winter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marcus interrupted our silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">"Papa, have you noticed that
every time we go for a walk, you are always holding my hand"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">"Really?" I said. It was
probably something I was doing instinctively, almost like breathing, in a
protective gesture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">"I do it to keep you safe,
Marcus," I continued. "There are many cars and too many distracted
drivers. I don't want you to run into traffic."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At that point, images from my
childhood in Burundi, where I was born, started rolling in my head. It was not
just one, but several images rolling out, almost like a slide show. In each of
those memories, I was walking hand in hand with my dad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the most vivid image, my dad was
walking me to school for the first time. I was five years old. It was early in
the morning and we had taken a shortcut, away from the main road. We were on
narrow path, surrounded by tall grass. The grass, once all green, had turned
dry after three months of a harsh dry season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That morning, I had woken up early
from the excitement. As we got closer to the school, my excitement started
turning into anxiety. The fear of the unknown was settling in. Then, something
magical happened. Every time I squeezed my dad's hand, the anxiety would ease.
I still remembered it as if it were yesterday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I also remember us walking to my
first appointment at the dentist. Similarly, my anxiety eased after holding my
dad's hand. There are several other moments such as this one in my
early life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My dad died suddenly when I was 15. A
heart attack took him at the relatively young age of 60. He was speaking to my
younger sister when disaster struck. A teacher, he was helping her prepare for
an upcoming exam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Only a few pictures of him remain. In
one photo, he is standing, with the horizon as a background, holding my oldest
brother's hand. I can see my brother's small hand disappearing into my dad's
large palm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is the picture of my dad that I
like the most.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I went back to Marcus and said:
"Marcus, do you know that my dad also used to hold my hand when we went for
a walk?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">"Cool!" Marcus said
"Do you also think your grandpa used to hold your dad's hand when they
went for a walk?" he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I had no idea, but that image of my
dad and his dad walking up or down a hill, hand in hand, somewhere in Rwanda,
the country where my dad was born 95 years ago, made sense to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">"Probably," I
finally replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">"Awesome! When I grow up and go
for a walk with my son, I will hold their hand just like you and my grandpa
did. So this way, holding my son's hand will always remind me of you, long
after you are gone." Marcus smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I smiled back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">"And, what would you do, if you
have a daughter?" I asked.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">"A boy or a girl, it doesn't
matter. I will hold their hand to remember you," Marcus replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I again smiled and squeezed Marcus's
hand as we continued our trip to the library.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Had my dad been holding my hand
because he wanted to remember his dad, and was I offering my son my hand to
remember him, as Marcus suggested? It had never occurred to me. But now I could
see how this could be possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We reached the library, where our
conversation veered into less weighty topics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From that day on, when I visit a park
and I see a father playing soccer or baseball with their child, I cannot stop
myself from wondering whether the father is just playing or whether something
much deeper is at play.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Is the father trying to relive a
joyous moment from their own childhood? Is the father trying also to keep their
departed father's memory alive?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Not too long ago, I took Marcus to
skate at a local skating rink. As I was tightening his skate's laces, I
wondered whether I was starting a new intergenerational tradition. Will Marcus
also remember me when tightening the laces of his child's skates?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Alphonse Barikage</span></i><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-75920404643195172362017-06-08T16:59:00.001-04:002017-06-09T15:09:12.523-04:00My Journey with Heather, Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I know you were waiting for the rest of my friend Heather’s
story. I wasn’t able to do anything last week as my daughter had a (successful)
surgery. Everything else had to stop. She is doing fantastic now, so I am back.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am not going to ask if you missed me because I know the
answer already. Don’t worry, I am here to stay. Aren’t you glad?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Back to Heather.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I knew she was returning to Toronto on May 19. I was really
looking forward to meeting her again as I knew she had a lot to share… and wow
was I blown away.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I finally met her one afternoon and we went to one of my
favourite places: Tim Hortons. For those of you who are reading this blog
outside of Canada, Tim Hortons is a coffee place where you can find the second
best coffee and second best tea in the world (in my opinion). Now, if you are
curious to find out about the best coffee and tea in the world (I know you
are), try Burundian coffee and tea, then we will talk.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am digressing. Back to Heather.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As we sat down to drink our second best tea in the world
(don’t you think I should stop bragging about Burundian tea?), I simply said to
her, “Tell me everything from the moment I left you at the airport.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I am a changed person,” she said. “God has worked on me in
a big way and I now see things in a different way,” she continued.<o:p></o:p></div>
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By then, she had my full attention.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Before leaving for Jamaica, Heather contacted a family
member down there who agreed to host her during her stay. She had just enough
money to survive. Did I mention she had no clue what she was going to do in
Jamaica? All she knew was there was a voice inside of her that urged her to go.
She made a list of what she wanted (we will come to that later in the story).<o:p></o:p></div>
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When she landed in Kingston Jamaica, they were waiting for
her. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The first week was quite calm. She was staying in a modest
room in one of the poorest areas of the city. She was patiently waiting for her
next move. Then, her host started to act a little negative to her. Something
was strange. Why was she suddenly changing her ways? Heather started to feel a
little uncomfortable. She thought, maybe her host was expecting her to pay
rent. She explained to her that her budget was very tight, but it didn’t seem
to ease the situation<o:p></o:p></div>
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As time went by, the situation became worse. Her host was
being even more confrontational. Heather had to do something. She approached
someone who has been coming to visit and told him about the situation. It
turned out that one of the neighbours had a room for rent. Her parents (who were
occupying the room) had just left for a trip.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Long story short, Heather was able to secure the room for a
reasonable price. Did I tell you that when her host found out that Heather had
moved out she went ballistic? From her room, Heather could hear her shouting,
cursing and swearing very loudly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“God’s hands were upon me, and He was protecting me,
“Heather told me. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Do you know what happened to the lady who cursed
Heather? The very next day, all that she
was selling at the market place (that was her job) burned out in a wild fire.
She lost EVERYTHING!<o:p></o:p></div>
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For the second time, Heather got my attention again. Are you
kidding me?<o:p></o:p></div>
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For a few weeks, Heather became more comfortable even
though, with a tight budget, it was hard for her to make ends meet as she did
not have access to the kitchen in the house in which she lived. She had to eat
out every day (or go many days without food).<o:p></o:p></div>
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All of a sudden, her new landlord started to act negatively
towards Heather. “Not again!” Heather thought. As the days went by, it got
worse.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One afternoon came the announcement from the landlord, “You
have to find another place. My parents are coming back soon, so I will need the
room.” Heather was shocked! How could
she say things like this knowing that Heather had paid rent for the entire
month? She couldn’t believe it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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She had to catch some air, and she was hungry. She went out
looking for a place to buy soup, just to find out that there was no more soup.
“Just my luck,” she thought. She went to another store to buy a beef patty.<o:p></o:p></div>
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She had nowhere to go; she had no friend, and no hope.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As she ate her patty, a guy riding a bike passed by her and
said, “I can see you are really enjoying your patty.” “Not really,” said
Heather.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The conversation went on for hours. The guy even invited her
to go say hi to his mother. They met up the next day at his place. It was then
that Heather discovered the guy had a six year old daughter who was disabled.
The daughter gave a big hug to Heather, so big that her father was shocked to
see how the two were connected. Her daughter had never greeted anyone the way
she did with Heather.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Later that evening, Heather shared with her new friend her
story to which the guy said, “My house is your house. You can stay here as long
as you want. For six years, I have raised my daughter alone as her mother left
us because she was disabled. It has been tough and I have been constantly
praying to God to send her a new mom.
And here you are...”<o:p></o:p></div>
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When Heather said those words, I broke into tears.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As Heather was sharing the story with me, she showed me
pictures of the gorgeous daughter, Heather’s new “friend” (who, I think now is
more than a friend hahaha), his amazing house and garden with plenty of fruit
trees.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Do you remember I told you Heather had a list of what she
wanted before going to Jamaica? It was EXACTLY what she had on the list: A good
man, somebody to care for (the daughter), a comfortable home with a garden of
fruit trees and a… dog. Guess what? This guy has a dog. How can this be possible?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Heather is now in Toronto for a few weeks but she will head
back to Jamaica for a new chapter of her life. A life that she has chosen, a
life that she has created.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_gjdgxs"></a>Think of what she had to go through to
get there. Think of the coincidences that had to happen for her to meet her new
man (kicked out of her room, going out to buy soup to find out that there was
no more soup, then go to find another store to buy a beef patty, walk on the
street to meet a man on a bike). How about the guy who had been praying for six
years, asking God to send a mother to his daughter… and then came Heather, the
answer to his prayers?<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you ask my opinion, I will say that God directed
Heather’s path. He opened some doors, shut some others, He allowed “challenges”
to happen to her, but along the way, He knew what He was doing. He was
answering Heather’s prayers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am happy for you Heather.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Moral of the story? Do you want your prayers to be answered?
Come join me and we will drink the second best tea in the world.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Always a pleasure<o:p></o:p></div>
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Patrick<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Journeyman<o:p></o:p></div>
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Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-9087385914379881742017-05-23T13:53:00.001-04:002017-05-23T14:01:00.626-04:00My Journey with Heather<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">She was one
of my first friends 15 years ago when I first came to Toronto. She was my
mentor for over seven years and our friendship grew over the years. In 2009, we
went our separate ways (life tends to do those things with friends…)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Many years
later (I think it was 2 and half years ago), she sent me an email asking if we
could meet. I immediately said yes, and we met.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">“Something in
me said, call Patrick” she told me when we met.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> I was glad that the ‘something” had made us
meet again. We were about to start a new journey together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">During our
meeting, she told me she had decided to leave her long-time corporate job so
that she could follow her dream which was to mentor young women who had
experienced abuse in their lives. I thought it was a noble cause<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Over the next
months, we met several times and I got a chance to help her set up a Not for
Profit Organization called “Mirror Mirror Mentoring”. She was pretty excited
about the opportunity of being able to make a change in young women’s lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I have to
tell you, there was some crying involved in our meetings. She was experiencing
some hardships and there were moments she couldn’t understand what was
happening to her. I tried my best to inspire her the best I could, and it
seemed to work. Do you know why? Because I was also going through some tough
times (but I didn’t tell her lol). We were in the same boat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Her
organization was set up, but she kept telling me that she was feeling that
something was missing. I then, gave her some books to read and movies to watch
(maybe she could be inspired and know what could be her next steps). One book
made a huge difference for her. It was Bruce Wilkinson’s “Secrets of the Vine”
(this book changed my life).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Later, she
came back to me with some plans. She had decided to go back to work so that she
could fund her dream (so she thought). She secured an amazing position with a good
pay and an opportunity to drive a band new luxurious car (when I saw the car, I
was blown away).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Life was
great again for her (so she thought)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Months later,
we met again, and she told me that she felt there was something missing (again
lol). We talked a bit and she told me that she knew what she wanted to do then.
She was called to go to Jamaica and do some work there. She even had decided to
go there on vacation months later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">So, she went<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">When she came
back, she KNEW that Jamaica was the place to be. She then quit her job.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Troubles came
back in hurry….I won’t tell you the details, but she faced real tough
challenges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">After so many
delays (a real school in patience and trust), she finally flew to Jamaica. I
witnessed her departure as I went to pick her up at 4.30 am to give her a ride
to the airport. I was so excited for her. She was like Santiago in Paulo Coelho’s
book “The Alchemist”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">What she didn’t
know was that the toughest challenges were about to begin. No kidding…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Four months
later, she just came back to Toronto. I met her last week. She has REALLY
changed. She lost tons of weight…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">There was
some crying involved when I heard her story. This time, it was me crying…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Stay tune. I
will share her amazing Jamaican story in my next blog (I am now putting you in
the school of patience and trust.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Trust me; her
story will really inspire you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">See you then
next week<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Moral of the
story?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Do you want
to live your dreams, just fly to Jamaica and there will be some crying involved<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Always a
pleasure<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Patrick<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
Journeyman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-87015405492069915592017-05-17T16:47:00.001-04:002017-05-17T16:47:46.131-04:00My Journey back to Writing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I wanted to do it Michael Jordan’s way when he sent a two-word
fax to<i> the Chicago Tribune </i>in 1995
and say “I am back”. Some of you are thinking “what is a fax?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yes, I am back (for the pleasure of the one in Malaysia)<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am out of retirement now. I can’t believe the last time I
sent a blog was in November 2015!! Time really flies<o:p></o:p></div>
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Many of you (yes, including you in Malaysia) have requested,
sometimes insisting that I come back. The truth is that I have never left. I
was still writing, but I haven’t published anything yet. The difference is that
I have been writing about some serious stuff, with a strict tone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I missed writing “my way”, without being afraid of
grammatical errors or misspelling words. I am back home. I can sit and relax<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, what made me back to the Journeyman? (Please don’t ask
me why I left in the first place).<o:p></o:p></div>
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A couple of things.<o:p></o:p></div>
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First, there is my friend Chris who asked me if I could help
out conducting a series of workshops on Saturdays for a group of young
teenagers. I immediately said yes. What I didn’t know was that these guys were
part of a Basketball league. Once he told me that, I was like “are you kidding
me?” I get to inspire Basketball players? Please show me where to sign. So, for
the last few weeks, I have been speaking to young Basketball players before, or
after their games. It is a great deal, I am telling you. I get to watch their
games too.<o:p></o:p></div>
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These people made me miss my first love: Coaching
Basketball. I am reliving my youth man (not that I am that old)<o:p></o:p></div>
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The second thing happened last week. I volunteered to write
a poem for my church about Mothers’ day. The poem was to be read during last
Sunday service. I had no idea where to start, but I sat in front of my computer
knowing that the words would flow (exactly how I used to write my blogs).<o:p></o:p></div>
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At the end of my writing, I was really proud of my work (I
gave myself a standing ovation)<o:p></o:p></div>
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First Basketball, then writing, I felt truly happy to do
things I love to do. Like what Michael Jordan did when he came back from
retirement (just for the love of the game), I am back with Journeyman stories,
for selfish reasons: Just because I love doing it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the process, you will be inspired…I hope<o:p></o:p></div>
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Are you curious to read my Mothers’ day poem? I am glad you
are insisting<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here is it<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>The Superheroes<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Eight thousand seven hundred and sixty hours
in a year<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Less than a thousand hours of sleep and a
complaint we cannot hear<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>No phone booth needed to turn yourselves into superheroes to save the day<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Moment after moment always caring and no
standing ovation for a work without pay<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Mothers, on this day, we honour you<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>We stand and pray for you<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Seven hundred and twenty hours in a month<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Ready to serve and sacrifice and rest not
even once<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Selfless, with all of us clueless, and
sometimes <o:p></o:p></i><span style="text-align: left;"><i>money-less</i></span></div>
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<i>At the look of your life I find myself
speechless<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>You are a gift to all of us<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Mothers, in my book you are famous<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>One hundred and sixty hours in a week<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>God was referring to you when He said
blessed are the meek<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>I think of you daily, weekly, monthly<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>As I cried, you woke up suddenly<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>This day, we finally give you what you
deserve<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Gracefully, you acknowledge but continue to
serve<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Twenty four hours in a day<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>We really have nothing else to say<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>You are a blessing to generations to come<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Let’s all bow and give you praise and then
some<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Happy Mothers’ day today<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>May God bless you we pray<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Mothers, you are our Superheroes<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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I am back. </div>
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Thank you for your standing ovation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Moral of the story? Do you want to do things you love to do?
Check your messages on the Internet and you will read my blogs<o:p></o:p></div>
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Always a pleasure<o:p></o:p></div>
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Patrick<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Journeyman<o:p></o:p></div>
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Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-68847063942862601162015-11-24T15:57:00.004-05:002015-11-24T15:57:59.318-05:00My Journey with a Singer Part II<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As I got home
yesterday after a long day at work, Skylar was so excited to see me, and gave
me this big hug, in her own way giving me the report of the day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After a while, she just said: “Daddy, I want my phone”. That
is how things are. Everything I have is hers. I mean everything! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Since she was a few months old, she was at a daycare
downtown Toronto. She stayed there for a while even after we moved in the East
end of the City. I used to go to pick her up in the evening, and because we had
a long trip home, I thought it would be better to go to a nearby food court so
that she could eat something before we hit the road ( I think my wife started
that tradition).<o:p></o:p></div>
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After a while, she got used to our trip to the small Greek
restaurant whose owner had become a friend of ours because we went there almost
every evening. He even had a “Skylar Menu” which was made of rice, meat balls
and a small bottle of chocolate milk, all for just three dollars. Skylar was so
used to the small restaurant that, by the time we got there, she would run to
open the fridge to get her chocolate milk after giving her daily hug and kiss
to the owner.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The funny part was when we were on the street coming from
the daycare, she used to say: “Daddy, do you want rice?” To which I said:
“yes”. And then she would go: “And chocolate milk?” I would say: “yes”. Then
she would say: “ok, let’s go”. It was as if she was the one buying. Then,
remember, what it is mine is hers. In a way,
she was the one paying lol<o:p></o:p></div>
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Coming back to my phone, sorry her phone. She asked me to give it to her, and of course
she knows how to go on YouTube (kids these days!) and find her favourite songs.
She loves a bunch of songs, but apart from Christian songs, she likes watching
to her uncle’s songs. She calls him “Tonton Passy” (French for “Uncle Passy”).
Once the music starts to play, she can’t stop dancing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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However, this time, she didn’t go to YouTube. She also knows
where my audios are. She started to listen to the songs I have been listening
to. Do you know what happened? An hour later, she started to sing them. She
went from X Ambassadors ‘song “Renegades” (my favourite song for the moment),
to The Eagles’ “Take it to the limit one more time” (one of my all-time
favourite), then it was R-Kelly’s “The Storm is over” (yes I know I am old
school). She blew my mind! We have a superstar in our home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am now so careful about what I say or do when she is
around (not that I was doing anything wrong before). She learns so much by
observing and listening that, I am now very conscious about what she is
learning. It was so funny the other day when she asked me: “Daddy, I want to
watch Colbert”, meaning Stephen Colbert’s show “The Late Show”. She has seen me
watch that show every day, now she wants to watch it even though she does not
understand any of it. When I asked her why she wanted to watch the show, she
said: Colbert is funny…<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is a three year old kid…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Aren’t we all kids in a way? Don’t we also learn by
observing and listening? I believe that what we see or hear does have an
influence on who we are, what we do, and the results we produce. Unfortunately,
we are so surrounded by negative influences that, it is so hard to focus on the
positive. If you don’t believe me, just watch the news for a second and you
will see.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am doing my best to stay on the positive side of things.
Really doing my best. My well-being depends on it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Moral of the story? Do you want to stay positive all day
long? Just call my daughter and you will be watching Colbert.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Always a pleasure,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Patrick<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Journeyman<o:p></o:p></div>
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Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-60496703689211076882015-11-17T08:41:00.000-05:002015-11-17T08:44:00.354-05:00My Journey with a Singer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2456" lang="EN-US">The other day, I went to pick up my three year old daughter Skylar from the daycare and here is what my conversation with her teacher went:<u class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2458"></u></span></div>
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<u class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2464"><span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2466" lang="EN-US">Teacher</span></u><span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2468" lang="EN-US">: Do you guys go to church?</span></div>
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<span class="yiv5798448241" lang="EN-US"><span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2476"> </span><u class="yiv5798448241">Me:</u> Yes</span></div>
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<span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2484"> </span><u class="yiv5798448241">Teacher:</u> A Christian church?</div>
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<span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2490" lang="EN-US"> <u class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2492">Me</u>: Yes…. Why?</span></div>
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<span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2498" lang="EN-US"> <u class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2500">Teacher</u>: Skylar has been singing: “Yes Jesus loves me" since this morning...</span></div>
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<span class="yiv5798448241" lang="EN-US">That’s Skylar!</span></div>
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<span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2516" lang="EN-US"> She is singing all the time. We have a Celine Dion in our house. The funny thing is that her Sunday school teacher told me the other day that, every time they ask Skylar to sing, she never does. But as soon as we leave church it is like she enters into a recording studio. I always have my phone ready to record whenever she starts singing. I have almost twenty songs recorded on my phone. It is something special. Needless to say that we cannot watch TV when Skylar is around. She sings so loudly that we can’t even hear what is on TV.</span></div>
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<span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2522" lang="EN-US">Now she is at the point where she has created her own original songs. Here is one of them (please don’t steal her song, this is trademarked lol). It goes like this:</span></div>
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<i class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2528"><span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2530" lang="EN-US">We’re going to the Zoo</span></i></div>
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<i class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2536"><span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2538" lang="EN-US">And we see:</span></i></div>
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<i class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2544"><span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2546" lang="EN-US">Elephant</span></i></div>
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<i class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2552"><span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2554" lang="EN-US">Lion</span></i></div>
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<i class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2560"><span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2562" lang="EN-US">Giraffe</span></i></div>
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<i class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2568"><span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2570" lang="EN-US">Monkey</span></i></div>
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<i class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2576"><span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2578" lang="EN-US">Zebra eating food</span></i></div>
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<i class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2584"><span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2586" lang="EN-US">Yeah, Bravo</span></i></div>
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<span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2592" lang="EN-US">(And we repeat the song 10 times lol)</span><br />
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<span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2601" lang="EN-US">Whenever she cries, all I have to do is sing a song and she gets quiet (she doesn’t care that it is a voice like mine lol).</span><br />
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<span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2611" lang="EN-US">Will she be a singer when she grows up? I have no idea. What I do know is that I will give her the freedom to choose whatever career she wants. Do you know why? Well, that is what my mom did for me, and I will be forever thankful.</span></div>
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<span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2621" lang="EN-US">Talking about my mom, I think about her a lot now as Burundi is experiencing troubles. Let’s all pray for peace in Burundi.</span><br />
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<span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2631" lang="EN-US">This was a little tribute to two of my favorite ladies. Of course there is a third one. She will get an entire blog by herself. Stay tune.</span><br />
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<span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2641" lang="EN-US">Moral of the story? Do you want to do something special for the ladies in your life? Just let me know and Skylar will sing for you. It will most likely be about Jesus</span><br />
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<div class="thread-quoted-text unselectable" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1447767015490_2360" role="presentation" style="-webkit-user-select: none; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 12px;" title="Afficher le message d’origine">
<span class="icon icon-chevron-right qtd-expansion-icon" data-action="quoted-text" role="presentation" style="color: #999999; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: "mail"; font-size: 2rem; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: -7px; padding: 0px; speak: none; vertical-align: middle;"></span> <span style="background-color: white;">Always a pleasure</span></div>
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<span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2661" lang="EN-US">Patrick</span></div>
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<span class="yiv5798448241" id="yiv5798448241yui_3_16_0_1_1447448011313_2667" lang="EN-US">The Journeyman</span></div>
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Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-85408643371618986642015-11-04T10:01:00.003-05:002015-11-04T10:01:38.505-05:00My Journey Back to My Blog<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As I was about to say goodbye to my friend on the phone, she asked me a question to which I responded: “I have learned to never say never ever again”. I don’t know if that makes sense to you, but for me it does.</div>
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After a number of months trying my best to get out of a situation I was in, I finally gave up fighting. I was exhausted. It was like being in quick sand. The more you fight, the more you sink. As I was sharing the whole situation with Paul my friend, I simply told him: I have to stop the insanity. As Einstein said, <span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2747">"</span><em class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2749"><span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2751" style="font-style: normal;">Insanity</span></em> is doing the same thing over and over again and<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2753"> </span><em class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2755"><span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2757" style="font-style: normal;">expecting different results</span></em>."<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2759"> </span></div>
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<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2765">Thank God that, over the years, I have learned (most of the time, the hard way) to rely on a High Power. I had to let go and let God. Boy did He deliver!</span></div>
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<div class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2769" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2771">The whole situation reminded me of a poem I read a number of years ago. It reads like this:</span></div>
<div class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2769" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="yiv3510648340"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2775" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340"><i class="yiv3510648340"><br /></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2775" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2777"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2779"><b>Broken Dreams</b></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2783" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2785"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2787"> </i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2789" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2791"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2793">As children bring their broken toys</i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2797" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2799"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2801">With tears for us to mend,</i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2805" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2807"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2809">I brought my broken dreams to God</i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2735" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2814"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2816">Because He was my friend.</i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2820" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2822"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2824"> </i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2826" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2828"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2830">But then instead of leaving Him</i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2834" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2836"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2838">In peace to work alone,</i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2842" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2844"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2846">I hung around and tried to help</i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2850" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2852"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2854">With ways that were my own.</i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2858" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2860"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2862"> </i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2864" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2866"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2868">At last I snatched them back and cried,</i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2872" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2874"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2876">"How could you be so slow"</i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2880" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2882"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2884">"My child," He said, "What could I do?</i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2888" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2890"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2892">You never did let go."</i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2896" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2898"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2900"> </i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2902" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2904"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2906"> </i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2908" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2910"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2912"> </i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2914" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2916"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2918"><b>-Author Unknown</b></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2922" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2924"><i class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2926"> </i></span></div>
<div class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2928" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2930">I am still in awe to what I am experiencing now. All I can tell you is that </span>“I have learned to never say never ever again”.</div>
<div class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2934" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
</div>
<div class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2938" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
More details to come. Let me first enjoy this haha</div>
<div class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2942" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
</div>
<div class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2946" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
Moral of the story? Do you want to stop the insanity? Just learn to never say never ever again.</div>
<div class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2950" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
</div>
<div class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2954" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
Always a pleasure</div>
<div class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2958" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
Patrick</div>
<div class="yiv3510648340" id="yiv3510648340yui_3_16_0_1_1446564267584_2962" style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
The Journeyman</div>
</div>
Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-82287331202890618382015-10-06T11:30:00.004-04:002015-10-06T11:30:58.229-04:00My Journey with Tahoy James<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are some things I see sometimes and wished I
would have come up with the idea first. Have you ever wished you were the
creator of Facebook? How about Uber? It is something that simple and convenient
that I wished it was my idea. I wish I could sing like “The Eagles” (I know I
am old school, please bear with me) or dance like the late Michael Jackson.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was the same feeling I had when I read Tahoy
James’ blog. I said to myself “I wished I had written this blog”. It is that well
done. I totally related to what she was sharing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Unlike Uber, Facebook or the Eagles that I will
never have, I am glad Tahoy’s blog is being posted by…me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes. Tahoy is our guest blogger this week. I hope it
won’t be the last time that you will read a piece from her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ladies and gentlemen, I present you Tahos James in:
“My Self -doubt”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I know you will enjoy it. Thanks again Tahoy</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #36103d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">
My Self-Doubt</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #36103d; font-family: "MS Mincho"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"> </span><span style="color: #36103d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #36103d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Have you ever
looked at yourself in the mirror and wondered what am I doing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or why am I not further ahead?
Well you’re not alone. Self-doubt plays on our emotions and infects the
mind. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #36103d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">I found myself
rethinking my entire journey up "build my own business
mountain".</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #36103d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">I sat down
ready to work, ready to take another giant step forward, but quickly noticed
that giant step was really only ant-sized. At that moment I felt low and
defeated. I began to rethink my list of important things to do that day.
Should I be doing more? I thought, but what? What else could I be doing? I told
myself not to panic. This was a giant step; it just seemed small to me, because
after all I am my worst critic. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #36103d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">That helped
for all of five minutes. I then began to lose faith in myself…again. I reviewed
my work and the voice of self-doubt returned. Am I good enough? Is my work
good? Is anything I’ve done to date “good”? At that moment there was a
torrent of negative questions. Is this something I can do? Where am I going
wrong? And then finally the cherry on top... I am NOT strong enough to do this,
I have BILLS, I’m 28, and I CAN’T do this.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #36103d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">After a day of
pacing back-and-forth, asking myself question after question, I remembered that
I’ve been here before. This is the part of the mountain where the wind is
blowing so hard you may lose your footing, and fall off if you don’t stand firm
in all that you are.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #36103d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">I was happy
this day was over. I had spent the day fighting with myself, which had left me
an emotional wreck. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #36103d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">A few nights
later it was family movie night. Meet the Robinsons was the winner. Lewis (the
main character) wants to be a great inventor but couldn't seem to get his
inventions to work. He works day after day on a very special invention for his
school science fair and knows that it will work. At the fair he meets a boy who
says he’s from the future but Lewis thinks he’s crazy (who wouldn’t). Lewis
begins to show his invention, but something goes wrong (due to the movie’s
villain) and Lewis starts to doubt himself and doesn’t think he’s smart enough.
The young boy he met tries to talk him into trying again, but accidentally
brings Lewis to the future. Lewis is amazed by the future. He meets his future
self and finds out that he is the single reason why the future is so amazing.
Soon he starts to see how things change in the future, because he let his
self-doubt stop him from moving forward. He learns that the boy he has gotten
to know as a friend, is his future son, and he will soon not exist if Lewis
doesn’t go back, push his self-doubt aside and keep moving forward to become
the great dad and inventor he is meant to be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #36103d; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">The next
morning I sat in front of my laptop and started working. My mind was clear of
doubt. All I could think about was Lewis. I was Lewis. I couldn't give up; I
couldn't let one bad day determine the outcome of my future. Like Lewis, I am
the single reason why my future is so amazing.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-23266927361400451102015-09-17T07:33:00.001-04:002015-09-17T07:33:44.064-04:00My Journey to Orillia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="yiv4040883048" id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40869" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv4040883048" id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40862">
We drove a little bit late at night. I had been to this
place called Orillia before, but it was about ten years ago. I didn’t remember
much about it, other than it was beautiful.</div>
<div class="yiv4040883048" id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40870">
<br /></div>
<div id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40822">
Here we were on the road, and there was not much we could
see, except a signal on the highway that said “beware of cattle”. We thought it
was funny. <span class="yiv4040883048"> </span>By the time we arrived at the
hotel, it was almost midnight. I went straight to bed. We had to wake up early
in the morning as breakfast was scheduled to be served a six O’clock. There was no way
I was going to miss out.</div>
<div class="yiv4040883048" id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40871">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv4040883048" id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40860">
You may be wondering what was happening in Orillia. I am
glad you asked.</div>
<div class="yiv4040883048" id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40872">
<br /></div>
<div id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40861">
A number of months ago, Paul, my business partner, got this
brilliant idea, and once he shared it with me I was totally on board. He
realized that for us to do what we wanted to do, we must work with partners.
These may be service providers, or simply other business owners with goals similar to ours.</div>
<div class="yiv4040883048" id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40874">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv4040883048" id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40873">
Paul decided to go out and attend different networking
events in the city. I can tell you that he met quality people, and I am glad we
have them as our partners. One of them is Chris, an amazing guy with an
incredible story. I was so inspired when he shared his story with us. Chris has
created a company called INSPIRED INITIATIVES, and he is doing a great work
with youth and their education.</div>
<div class="yiv4040883048" id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40886">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv4040883048" id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40887">
Chris invited us to be part of his team responsible for delivering a
series of trainings on behalf of the Ministry of Education. These trainings are
happening in Orillia this week and next. That is the reason why I was there. I
am going back there twice in the next few days. Now you know.</div>
<div class="yiv4040883048" id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40888">
<br /></div>
<div id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40883">
This place is simply gorgeous. It is in the woods near a
lake and I couldn’t stop taking pictures during our breaks. <span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1442489199919_2549">We had about 160 students. Needless to say, we had a
very busy work day. Chris led most of the training, and I was simply
amazed to be part of this. I learned so much, and what the students created at
the end of the training sessions were out of this world. Many of them
discovered their passions and they were so happy about it.</span></div>
<div class="yiv4040883048" id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40910">
<br /></div>
<div id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40881">
One of the students came to me after the training and asked
me: “What did you want to do after high school? Did you know what would be your
career?” I said to her that I did not know exactly what I wanted to do, but I
knew that my interests were around Basketball. <span class="yiv4040883048"> </span>I pursued those interests and I found my
career. I asked her what were her interests and she told me that she loved art.
After I asked her a few questions, she knew exactly what she was wanted to do after high school.</div>
<div class="yiv4040883048" id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40911">
<br /></div>
<div id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40880">
I am really looking forward to the next sessions. I learned
so much the last time; I am wondering what new thing I will learn this time.
Thank you Chris for making us part of your journey. <span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1442489199919_2543">Find your interests and a career may be born out of them. That
is what Chris reminded me of in Orillia. </span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1442489199919_2578">
<span><br /></span></div>
<div class="yiv4040883048" id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40915">
Moral of the story? Do you want to find a new career for
yourself? Just go to Orillia and you will meet cattle on the street.</div>
<div class="yiv4040883048" id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40894">
<span class="yiv4040883048"> </span></div>
<div id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40914">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv4040883048" id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40912">
Always a pleasure</div>
<div class="yiv4040883048" id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_40893">
Patrick</div>
<div class="yiv4040883048" id="yiv4040883048yui_3_16_0_1_1441740487032_41049">
The Journeyman</div>
</div>
Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899571697384106061.post-63779930443517439432015-09-01T22:44:00.002-04:002015-09-01T22:44:20.733-04:00My Journey with Alix<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I met Alix a while back on the basketball court. I saw in Alix a guy
determined to play ball the right way and with an eagerness to win. Later on, I
got to meet Alix when I started to attend the church that I now call home. With
time, we have developed<span> a </span>strong
relationship, especially now that we have been travelling a lot together. He is indeed a great guy.</div>
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A few months ago, while watching the NBA finals with Alix,
out of the blue he asked me what would be my dream job if I was given a chance
to choose a job that fulfilled me. I thought for a while, and I said: “My
dream job would be to work around an NBA team. To go behind the scenes and see
how they train, to be at the press conferences and in their locker rooms for
interviews. That would be my dream job. In fact, I told Alix, I think I would
even do it for fee lol. He just laughed.</div>
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Fast forward, a few weeks ago, a friend and business partner
told me that he would like to introduce me to a great couple that recently acquired
a newspaper. He believed that there might be a way to work together so I agreed to meet with them.</div>
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Last Sunday, the
four of us sat in a coffee shop where my
friend introduced me to the couple. While introducing myself to them I
mentioned that I used to host a sport radio show; immediately I could
see in their eyes that a bulb was switched on.<span></span></div>
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They
got so excited because
they were looking for someone who would manage the sport column of their
newspaper. They went on to explain to me what would be the
responsibilities of this role and to my great surprise they mentioned
that they would provide me with all the accreditations I needed to
attend all the major sporting events in Toronto.<span> </span><span></span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1441161591376_2590">I
didn’t let her finish her sentence. I couldn’t believe it, so I asked
her if she could repeat what she had just said? She repeated what she
said and again my ears heard what I thought I heard the first time: “we
will provide you with all the accreditations you need to attend all the
major
sporting events in Toronto". Now I knew I was not dreaming so I looked
straight into her eyes and said: “where do I sign?”</span></div>
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Can you believe it? The job I explained to Alix came true! I
get to watch the major games happening in Toronto and write about them. Is that
cool or what? If I am not mistaken, I think the NBA All Star Game is coming to
Toronto next year. Let me first check with my sources….Yes, they are happening
in Toronto, man! That is soooo cool!</div>
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In a few words, be careful what you wish for…You know the
rest of the story, don’t you?</div>
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Moral of the story? Do you want your dream to come true,
just watch a game with Alix and he will ask you questions</div>
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Always a pleasure</div>
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Patrick</div>
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The Journeyman</div>
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Journeyman Stories:http://www.blogger.com/profile/17583745054397114031noreply@blogger.com0