Skip to content
FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $100 CAD
FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $100 CAD

By Chance Alone, The World Around Us, Give'r all ya got!

Good Morning from Prince Edward Island,

Thank you for inviting me in for a cup of tea, put the kettle on and let's chat.

Don't wish to start off with sad news, but we lost someone dear to us late last week. 

Windsor MacDougall, my wife's brother was an incredible force of nature; we lost him to a heart attack last week. He was a wonderful family man leaving his best friend and wife Linda to shepherd their four adult children through the phases of their lives. He was a strong man of faith. He had a great sense of humour with the ability to make a pile of rocks laugh. I loved Windsor for his willingness to help anyone who needed it without considering his sacrifice financial or otherwise. He will be missed. He was so loved by all who knew him.

Heart disease is the number one killer of life in the world, and I found watching this video is a fantastic testament to our human desire to improve itself continually.

 

Many of us wish that extraordinary things will happen to us, but we have all the potential to make extraordinary things happen for good as well.

The flip side of doing things for good is the story of what happened to Max Eisan.

Tibor “Max” Eisen was born in Moldava, Czechoslovakia into an Orthodox Jewish family. He had an extended family of sixty members, and he lived in a family compound with his parents, his two younger brothers, his baby sister, his paternal grandparents and his uncle and aunt. In the spring of1944--five and a half years after his region had been annexed to Hungary and the morning after the family’s yearly Passover Seder--gendarmes forcibly removed Eisen and his family from their home. They were brought to a brickyard and eventually loaded onto crowded cattle cars bound for Auschwitz-Birkenau. At fifteen years of age, Eisen survived the selection process, and he was inducted into the camp as a slave labourer.

Just days after his 90th birthday, Max Eisen has been named the winner of CBC’s annual Canada Reads competition for his Holocaust memoir his 2016 book, By Chance Alone tells his story of being taken to Auschwitz at the age of 15 to work as a slave labourer. He came to Canada in 1949.

"I am inspired by the need to document my story so others may learn from the past. On a personal level, I have a highly developed sense of observation of the world around me, which constantly inspires and motivates me to take action." Max Eisen

Here he speaks to why he wrote it.

I have ordered two books, one for me and one for you. Anyone who comments on today's blog will have their name put into a hat, and a draw will be done, and one winner will be announced in next weeks blog. As soon as the name is chosen, the book will be wrapped up with some treats and sent to its new home.

Today's blog is not about dying; it is about living. Our legacy of being a friend to someone still has time to be learned and nurtured. If already a good friend to others, encourage others to be good friends as well.

"The hunger to belong is at the heart of our nature. Cut off from others; we atrophy and turn in on ourselves. The sense of belonging is the natural balance of our lives." John O'Donohue, Eternal Echoes

Just to put a million and a billion in perspective, did you know that a million seconds represents 11 days, and a billion seconds represents 33 years?

On that note, I have to run, good friend coming for tea to discuss David Benner's The Gift of Being Yourself. It is a compassionate and accessible, witty and fun book. A gift to the dedicated seeker of knowledge.

While writing this morning, I have been listening to a new Shubert recording by Khatia Buniatishvili while writing this morning. It is so kind to the psyche. Listen here. The passion with which she interprets and plays is another example of humanity's heart displaying the beauty of our design. Each of us is unique and special, symbolically shared through her expression of each musical note.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend, you have 86,400 seconds today. Don't be anxious, have fun and use them wisely. 

With love from Prince Edward Island, 

Bruce

ps.

Three seniors are out for a stroll. 

One of them remarks, “It’s windy.” 

Other replies, “No way. It’s Thursday.” 

The last one says, “Me too. Let’s have a soda.”

Previous article Happy News + Rewilding + Magicians Dilemma

Comments

Jean Staben - March 30, 2019

I cannot believe the atrosities that human kind can impose upon a fellow man. Have we learned anything from the past or does it continue to haunt us? Too many needless deaths happen every day. I would love to wake up some morning to hear nothing but good news!

Thank you for your thought provoking posts, Bruce. I look forward to them, on an ongoing basis. Can’t wait for you to open for the season.

Kay Duren - March 30, 2019

May Windsor and all who loved him, be at peace. By Chance Alone he left quickly. May the new Spring lighten your hearts and steps.

Lisa Hendry - March 30, 2019

Hi Bruce,
I am sorry to hear of Shirley’s brother Windsor’s passing. He sounds like he was a wonderful man. I would love to read the book you mentioned. Your blog is something I look forward to enjoying with my Saturday morning coffee or tea. All the best to you and Shirley.
Lisa

Sara - March 30, 2019

Hi Bruce, Thanks so much for sharing your journey with the world – you inspire love, hope and community. Sincerely, Sara

Jane Davis - March 30, 2019

As usual, I leave off reading your blog more thoughtful, more appreciative of life, and with a chuckle. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Jane Bayer - March 30, 2019

Great of you to bring up By Chance Alone. And your seniors on a stroll. One of my fathers favourites. Child. I am thirsty. Dad you can’t be it is only Wednesday but I will meet you Saturday for a Sunday .
Love the thoughts of those seniors on a walk

Melodie Hewer - March 30, 2019

I look forward to reading your blog every Saturday morning with (sorry) a cuppa coffee! Thank you for your insights and thoughtful musings. Sincerest sympathies on the loss of your brother in law.

Leave a comment

Comments must be approved before appearing

* Required fields