So, here's a thought. Sometimes people like to choose different names for their kids, sometimes traditional. I have decided to pick a top ten list as the year ends...it's just for fun. An A to Z list of top ten names that are truly memorable.

First:Apple Paltrow...shouldnt' this name have been reserved for Bill Gates?

Second: Paris Hilton....why would anybody want to be named after a hotel? Really. What's next? Waldorf Astoria or perhaps Taj Mahal? (wait that's been done already.)

Third: Coco Riley....daughter of Courtney Cox. I guess it's after Coco Chanel but it really sounds like a great drink to me.

Fourth: Marina Pearl...daughter of Matt LeBlanc. I would want to moor my yacht at marina pearl....

Fifth: Sam J....daughter of Charlie Sheen...Guess it's easier to remember J as a second name instead of something like Jan or Jean.

Sixth: Atlanta Noo De Cadenet Taylor. Daughter of John Taylor of Duran Duran...

Seventh: Brooklyn...son of Victoria and David Beckham. Hmmm, maybe we should just make this easy and pick city names for all the kids....Cheektawaga anyone?

Eighth: Unique Smith...daughter of LL Cool J....

Ninth: Moon Unit...a Zappa child. What can I say?

Tenth....of course Dweezel Zappa has to be on this list

So, what's your pick? Got any to add to this list?

Happy New Year everybody.
Living la vida fearless,
Jan

December 29 This day in history

1170
Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, was murdered by four knights acting under the orders of Henry II.

1845
Texas became the 28th state in the United States.

1851
The first Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) opened in Boston.

1890
The last major battle of the Indian Wars, at Wounded Knee Creek, took place with hundreds of Indian men, women, and children massacred.

1937
The Constitution of Ireland, changing the Irish Free State into Eire, went into effect.

1940
During World War II, Germany began dropping incendiary bombs on London.

1989
Vaclav Havel was elected president of Czechoslovakia.

1996
A peace agreement was signed, ending 36 years of conflict in Guatemala.

There is always something in the news, no matter the date, that concerns tragedy. I wonder what it is about people that makes them want to read stuff like that. Is it so that they can look at their own lives and say "Geez, at least I don't have that happening." Or maybe it's the other way around and they think "Geez, I'd better be careful or something bad may happen to me. Just look at that person, they were just an innocent bystander."

In Toronto, on Dec. 26, we took a turning point in our society downtown. This has been a record year for gun crimes and, although we are nowhere near the statistics in the US for gun crimes, we have surpassed last year's total by more than 20%.

The tragic aspect to this fact is that 7 people were shot and a very vibrant and lively young 15 year old girl was shot dead in the crossfire of gunshots on a main street while shopping with her mom.

I remember when Barbara Turnbull was shot in my own neighbourhood many, many years ago. She was working at a local convenience store and she was left for dead after they robbed the store. Barbara is now a reporter at the Toronto Star and speaks often on her ordeal which left her a quadriplegic before she hit 20. I went to listen to her story recently. It is riveting and heroic. One of her comments was that the police force at the time said that the Toronto area had taken a change and from then on they began to call it the post Turnbull era.

Such is the case again. We are now reaching another title in T.O. That of joining the ranks of other violent downtown city cores. The local police force has, once again, called this a turning point in criminal activity. Sadly, this young lady will not be around to see if any change comes out of this.

There are many speculative thoughts on why this has happened. Who is responsible, what should be done, how things can be changed....It's not a simple fix that's for sure. My feeling on this is that people are just becoming desensitized, unable to understand consequences for behaviour and unable to feel empathetic toward another human being because they don't feel acknowledged.

So, how does it change? Any thoughts? I have done volunteer work at local youth shelters for homeless youth and I can tell you they are raw, they are edgy and....they just want somebody to love them.

Any ideas people? Send em through and perhaps we'll post them.

Happier New Year. May all that you wish for become a reality for you. Living la vida fearless, Jan
www.tobeyourbest.net

I went to see the Chronicles of Narnia a few days ago. I read all the books with my son when he was a young boy. C.S. Lewis is an enigmatic writer with a great gift for creative imagery. I wasn't sure how I would like the movie but my son invited my husband and I to see it so how could I refuse....
Wow....that is my first very descriptive word

The story opens with a family scene in Britain during the second world war. It's a realistic scene taken from the perspective of the person dropping the bombs on the people of London.

Then the scene changes and one sees the people on the ground scrambling for cover, totally terrified, and running for their lives. Some people have taken offence to this scene saying it is too descriptive and scary for young children. Be that as it may the scene definitely makes one feel a little closer to understanding the terror of the times.

After the children are sent off to the safer environs of the countryside the real journey begins. The discovery of Narnia and the characters within that land were just beautiful. I loved the imagery, the colours, the characters, the scenery, especially the snow scenes, and the storyline.

Go see this movie. It's not a great theatrical film, it won't change your life and it won't scare you to death. It is just a wonderful, feel good, child based movie with a nice story.

Two thumbs up at my end. And...my husband and my son both liked it too. Not too often a film crosses over generations and sexes to please the variety of viewers.

A nice evening out with the family and a great way to spend some time together.

Living la vida fearless, Jan
www.tobeyourbest.net

It's the beginning of the New Year activities for many cultures.
Planning on making New year's resolutions this year?
What will they be? Will you resolve to exercise more, lost weight, make more money, get a better job, de-clutter, have a better relationship with your spouse/partner/child/parent/friend, quit smoking/drinking/doing drugs?
Here's a concept....don't resolve to do any of them if you are not really going to follow through. Resolutions are meant to create permanent change and, if you aren't committed to that, all you are going to do is make yourself feel guilty and worse about yourSELF.
How are you going to be able to follow through on any of your resolutions if you do not have a plan? A guide? A support system? Will power is a great thing, so is motivation BUT it's tough to do these things alone.
Join a fitness group, go to AA, upgrade your skills, bring more fun into your life.....Hire a coach....
Wait a minute: hire a coach? What for?
I can tell you without a doubt that working with a coach will change your life. I mean really working, digging deep, changing perspectives and letting go and calling forth.
Working with a coach is hard work. Think of all the work athletes do to train..to be better...to become world class...that's because they work with coaches.
This is no different. It IS hard work. Coaching is messy and exhilarating and life changing....I can promise you that.
So, resolutions be dammed...be realistic, pick your goals and then pick your coach. That's the way to make the change you strive.

I offer complimentary discovery sessions. See if coaching is for you.
For more info email Jan @ secondchances@sympatico.ca.
Living la vida fearless, Jan
www.tobeyourbeset.net

Twas two days after Christmas
and all through the house
Not a person was noticed
Not even a mouse

The children had gone to the mall
with their mom
and dad had just finished
his last bottle of Tums

When what to my wandering eye
should appear
but a really close neighbour
with some bottles of beer

Now I knew at the time
that I had to think quick
I had missed the mall trip
Saying I was "too sick."

So, with a wink and a nod
I knew what to do
Sent him home with his drinks
And waited for you....

That was the story I
relayed to my spouse
when she returned from the mall
And found me in the house.

The kids sat beside me
my wife smiled bright
and I knew by their smiles
My decision was right....

Jan