My Blog

This morning on my way to the office, a car stopped not far from me. I saw Mrs Sylvie, the center co-ordinator, opened the window.

“Hey young lady, want to have a ride?”
“A sure, Merci beaucoup Madame!”

As we walked down the small path from the parking lot to the office I told her how time flies so quickly. It seems like yesterday when she picked me up at the airport 9 months ago. Now I am counting down the days before returning to the Netherlands.

I feel sad just by imagining that I have to leave such sweet people that I’ve known so well during my short stay here. I’ve been moving around so often, meet new people and then leave them, though I do not want to. I found a perfect article that fits my story well. To all my knew friends and family, which ever you are, thanks for being part of my life… and thanks for Henny for sharing this with me.

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People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have
expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you
with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or
spiritually. They may seem like a God send and they are. They are there for
the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or
at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the
relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is
that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The
prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to
share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you
laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give
you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season!

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build
upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept
the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all
other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind
but friendship is clairvoyant.

My new office, a francophone hospital in the northern part of Montreal
island, does its best in keeping nosocomial infection to the lowest
level as possible. Everyday starting at 3.30PM you can see the cleaning
staffs all over the place and they will finish not earlier than 8PM.

Because I live so close to the hospital, just 7 minutes walking distance, I often spend my evening at my office in the hospital; witnessing the cleaning team on the left wing of the hospital do their daily duty. Around 6PM when there’s almost nobody left on the 3rd floor, a janitor - a middle age man, more or less my father age- will come to my office to sweep the floor. Usually I stand up and let him does his job sweeping the floor under my desk; in less than 1 minute he’ll be gone, cleaning other rooms. Other janitor, a pretty and friendly young woman, will come a bit later to collect the garbage bags. We usually greet each other with "Bonsoir" (good evening in French), and she’ll leave quickly.

Last week, as usual I stayed late trying to finish my analysis. The same janitor came and swept the floor. But this time, something  unexpected happened. All of a sudden, he returned quickly to my desk, and there it was, I saw a creamy candy  next to my keyboard! I was so surprised that  he left already without giving me a chance to thank him. I was still astonished by his act when I saw the young woman came. Suddenly I wanted to know their names. The next thing happened, we exchanged our names and Annie gave her smile before leaving. That night I promised my self that I’d find out his name the next time I see him.

Last Monday, I stayed late and the same janitor came. I was talking with my officemate, when for the second time he returned to my desk quickly and put another candy on my desk. This time I was succeed catching him before he left.

"Monsieur, quel est votre nom?"
"Michel"
"Merci beaucoup, Michel!"

His simple act moved me. I wondered what’s in his mind, he might has pity on me, "What a poor
girl, almost everyday stays late in front of her screen," hehehe… At first I don’t feel like eating his candies, then I decided to write this blog. For Michel and Annie, thank you for being  my  evening companion.  Indeed  a simple act of caring is sufficient to make someone happy.  Give your sincere smile to other and you might brighten up someone’s  day!

Since we were kids our parents and teachers often remind us to save our money for future benefits. When we enter workforce we have to pay taxes from our monthly salary to have our pension plan. In some countries we have to have health insurance to cover our unexpected or routine medical expenses.  Now days more and more insurances are offered and we buy them for the sake of secured feeling, that everything is guaranteed for any damaged or loss.  But yesterday someone reminded me the essence of saving and insurance. He said, "We should ask our selves, whether or not we have sufficient saving for the Hereafter. Whether or not we’ve been doing enough good deeds, because that’s the only saving that will eventually save us…" Indeed we often forget that life in this world is temporary, and that we have to work harder to prepare our selves for the everlasting life, not the opposite.