Elliptical and Beautiful Blogger Award

Today was elliptical day... not running but better than nothing... This is also our last day on vacation and it was the best one! My older girl (the 20 years old one) spent the day snowboarding... we've been here for a week and only today she mustered the courage to go... she used to snowboard when she was 13-14 and was very good at it but hasn't done it since then... she has this thing about failing - she is afraid of it so much that she'd rather not try it.. so over the years I've watched her miss on opportunities just cause she didn't want to fail... and she wouldn't have failed but go convince her... here is one example: she is a great swimmer and was part of a swimming club for years... she was probably the best in the group and neither I nor her coaches could understand why she NEVER participated in competitions... she enjoyed the practice but never signed up for competitive event... She is still like this today! She didn't want to go snowboarding cause what if she'd forgotten how to do it?! Well, finally we convinced her to go and she was GREAT! She loved it so much and of course was on the slopes all day and now her entire body aches from the effort. SO while she was snowboarding, we were watching and cheering her... then our 2 yrs. old one wanted to go too (I guess next year we'll put her on skis).  I really hope that both my daughter's lives will not be missed opportunities cause they are too afraid to try, too afraid to fail, too afraid to learn! I am so not like that that I wonder who did my older one got it from (her father is not like that either).. as a psychologist I know that competitive and overly critical parents may raise children who have a fear of failing... I don't think I was like that with her but who knows how she felt growing up with a mom who put the bar high all the time... I hope my older daughter learned a lesson today - unless you try, you will never know how GREAT you are.

First try down the slope was not that great...

... but soon she was all smiles!

I got the Beautiful Blogger Award from Anne :) thanks  for the honour! Here is my list of 7 things I haven't shared:
1. I used to smoke like a chimney (almost 2 packs a day at the end)... and I quit at 30 when my daughter told me that smoking is OK since i am doing it.
2. I am originally from Bulgaria and moved to Canada when I was 21. I had $500 in my pocket, a baby and a husband with whom we fought all the time.
3. I had a baby when I was 20 and was in university. Then I moved to Canada, got divorced, and put my self through school (while raising my daughter and working full time) so that I can get my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. My degree in History and Political Science from Bulgaria was useless  in Canada.
4. I love wine!My hubby and I enjoy a glass (or two) almost every night.
5. I met my second husband when I was 35 and told him I didn't want any more kids. We broke up (for 2 days) and then he called me to say that he'd rather be with me than have kids... he never, ever brought up the matter again! Two years later we got married and had a baby girl 11 months after the wedding. I am so glad I got to do it again! Now I can fully appreciate motherhood and ENJOY it! I am so lucky!
6. I love my job! I am so lucky to have the opportunity to change people's lives!
7. I am having hard time seeing wrinkles on my face. This aging thing is definitely not for me but I haven't figured out how to reverse it yet ;).. stay tuned just in case I do!

So I am all exposed now :)
 I have to award it to 7 other people but I will do that tomorrow (I need to read the blogs to see who hasn't gotten it yet).