Hi Friend! Happy New Year! (ya, I've been celebrating for a few months!)

I was excited about this new year, when I started this edition back in early March. I intended to share it on Monday March 20th - the first day of Spring! At the time, there was still snow on the ground, so seeing reindeer doing a happy dance on the snow seemed fitting. I decided to leave it in, because it makes me smile and it makes me happy.

Doing things that make me feel, think, see, be happy is good for me. I'm also pretty sure it's good for you too; whatever that looks like for you. Do it!

I did manage to trade in my boots, socks, and winter coats for flip flops, shorts, and sunglasses 4 weeks ago, as I went back to the Baja (Mexico). We were celebrating milestone birthdays for two of my closest friends. Mom wanted me to take the trip. She wanted (and always wants) me to be happy. She and I spoke about the trip a couple of hours before she passed. We spoke about many things that day. She was alert, talking, eating, and laughing. Oh, Mom's hearty laugh. I think that is what I will miss the most from her. She would have loved and laughed at the dancing reindeers in the snow.

I feel so incredibly blessed to have been with her in her final hours. Watching someone die is completely an out-of-body experience. It was peaceful. Mom wasn't going to leave this world without a fight, and that she did. Her way, her terms, and we all honoured them. There is tremendous comfort in the words "rest in peace". I believe them whole heartedly.

Mom would be completely moved and humbled at the outpouring of support for Dad from their Minden/Haliburton Ontario community and the Whippoorwill Lane family on Brady Lake. I know I sure am.

It's now the 8wk mark of my Mom's passing. There's no manual or rulebook for grief, but I know I have it. It's a process, a journey, and I'm good with it. Seriously, I'm good; and I'm using this goodness to plan a BIG celebration of her life in July. Click on the button below to see the invitation.

So with a delayed start and warm heart, I hope you join me in being free to be this year, and enjoy this 2023 first edition of:

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." ~Dr. Seuss 

❓❓ Did you know ❓❓ Learning something new is good for you!

This year, this section of The Goods is dedicated to sharing some random tid bits. Studies show learning new things improves your life. In fact, this article highlights 10 areas of your life that can be dramatically enhanced simply by allowing yourself to try something different, new and potentially useful!

1) Enhance your quality of life.

2) Reduce stress.

3) Gain confidence.

4) Knowledge is power.

5) Improve your mental health.

6) Socializing.

7) Be selfish.

8) Have fun.

9) Set an example.

10) Rediscover.  

So ................... about those cute dimples on golf balls ....

Are the best things in life really free? I think so. A few free faves for me include:

We are Feeling Good At Leaders2Give for a few reasons:

1) In December last year we held a year end donor match fundraiser campaign that generated $32,837.41 USD for the John Gullo Home For Children.

2) We have obtained the permits to start building, so we can officially break ground in El Cardonal, BCS, Mexico this year! Hopefully in the next few months. We have an ambitious goal to see it fully operational in 2024.

The John Gullo Home for Children, as it will be known, is a temporary home for children whose families are experiencing a medical crisis. To learn more about our primary project, please go to: https://www.leaders2give.org/el-cardonal-childrens-home.

3) During Q1 of this year, we were accepting applications for new Directors for the all-volunteer Leaders2Give Board. Leaders2Give's purpose is to protect vulnerable children in developing countries. We've since appointed four new Directors to the Board.

Click on the button below to learn more about Hector, Liz, Dan & John.

"When you train your eyes to see the magic and miracles in the little things, you open the door for your whole life to shift." ~Carol Woodliff

Will you pay-it-forward?

Please share this others who may want or need some 'goodies'. 

 **Oh Crap! Wait!**

Did this email arrive in your promotions folder?

Or (gasp) considered spam or junk?

If so, (I say "crap"😂) Please do me a favour and add "debanddeerdra.com" as a safe email address and/or move this email into your "Primary" folder so the cyberspace fairies allow next month's email to arrive in your real inbox, not spam, nor junk, or promotions!