I Run For Life

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. First and foremost this is dedicated to my beloved friend Linda who completed her survival lap this past September. Long may you live girl!

Secondly this is in memory of my mother-in-law ‘Annie’ and my beautiful niece ‘Belle’ who both fought a valiant fight against cancer and inspired us all.

Finally this is a tribute to my niece Brit who just finished her second “Run for the Cure” and my daughter Hilary who was the ECI “Rebel of the week” for raising the most money for cancer research. I challenge both of you to change your world. You are future leaders. I love you!

Together we can make cancer history. And to all you ladies out there, don’t forget to feel your ta-tas!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgiwrvEX8wY&feature=related

A Quality Attitude

“The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen.” Frank Lloyd Wright

My Dad gave me a lapel pin several years before he died. It is gold with one word embossed within a black border. The embossed word spells “ATTITUDE”. He didn’t give it to me because I had a bad one; he gave it to me to remind me that my attitude would drive my success in life. While the lapel pin is tightly wrapped in my Dad’s “Gary Cooper” pocket square among my souvenirs, I adopted my father’s philosophy and it has never failed me yet.

Being scientifically minded I need to question the reliability of certain kinds of claims by subjecting them to a systematic investigation. I need validity; validity drives my actions and my attitude.

This week we were training staff in preparation for our upcoming accreditation survey with Accreditation Canada. All staff were awesome with the exception of one. She possessed the most negative aura I have ever experienced. She was untenable. It didn’t matter what we did or said, her negative attitude was impenetrable. What disturbed me most is that she didn’t outwardly challenge any of our propositions in an effort to try and validate them. She merely denied them of having any possibility of truth.

Driving home I wondered why I was allowing one negative aura to negate the 79 positive auras that were willingly embracing and committing to quality. By the time I arrived home I had come to terms with the fact that I am uncomfortable when I encounter unexamined skepticism. Blind systematic doubt or criticism towards knowledge or action is foreign to me and contradicts every fiber of my being.

I had to validate again. I chose the 79 who are committed to examining quality, identifying opportunities for improvement and are striving for positive outcomes!

“Work is either fun or drudgery. It depends on your attitude. I like fun.” Colleen C. Barrett