David A. McAdam
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Mother

5/7/2025

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Greetings and happy day! 
It is important to show gratitude to those who have helped to shape our lives, and to support our learning and growth. This reminder is particularly significant, within the context of the coming weekend - when we pause to celebrate our fine mothers (late or present, biological or otherwise) with heartfelt appreciation. Good cheers. 
 
​
 MOTHER, MOTHER
 
Looking back through the years, I clearly see
The precious soul who first sang over me
A woman of great virtuosity 
For this I’m thankful, my mother was she
 
A mom with courage, strength and empathy 
Giving her best, serving tirelessly 
Nurturer, teacher, and mentor with charm
A source of wisdom, for good and not harm
 
I know better now this truth that I share
Of fine mother-figures found everywhere
Nothing on earth is as foundational
As their love that’s e’er unconditional 
 
Mothers are blessed by the work of their hands
So, it is fitting, and rightly it stands 
To pay respect, and give honour that’s due
For all they’ve invested in me and you 

 
© 2025 - David McAdam
 

#mothersday  #parenting  #thanksgiving 

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Election Reflection

4/30/2025

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Good day,
The 2025 Canadian federal elections are now history. We are truly privileged to live in a free country; yet at times, it seems we are prone to take the blessing of our civil liberties for granted. Notwithstanding, kudos to all the candidates, their volunteers, Elections Canada staff and to all voters. 
Among other things, the elections have demonstrated that: 
  • our democracy is alive and dynamic
  • despite our national peaceful disposition, there are significant divisions in our country, and
  • faced with challenges, we will mobilize to support a cause. 
Herewith, as we encounter difficulties, disappointments, struggles, or even wins, we must make good to capitalize on the opportunities they bring - and especially to address notable gaps in a timely and thoughtful manner. Presently, there is the heightened imperative to:
  • collaboratively find creative solutions
  • be flexible and adaptable
  • abandon antiquated and divisive thinking
  • embrace new learning and hone new skills
  • affirm the humanity in each other, regardless of our ideological leanings
  • better care for the marginalized
  • be more mindful stewards, with a greater sense of consciousness and responsibility about the legacy which we will leave behind
  • better see, value and strengthen our role as part of a just global community, and
  • resist the urge to build our hopes on individuals.
Yes, in all of this, as we embrace truth and seek to further build a model nation, let’s remember the proverb: “If you have nothing nice to say about others [including leaders and political opponents], then say nothing at all.” 
This is our nation! Let’s move forward in unity with hope and positivity, as we steadfastly say: “God keep our land, glorious and free. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.” 

All the best as you keep shining.



#electorate  #franchise  #unity
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Music: The Food of Love

4/23/2025

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Greetings…Here’s trusting you are well. 
So, what brings you personal revitalization? How do you  seek to maintain balance in your life? What are some of your favourite pastimes? Currently, one of my favourite pastimes is to ride the Go-Train on Fridays, and visit Toronto for “Music at St. Andrew’s”.
This is a noon-hour free recital which features various distinguished musicians. St. Andrew’s Church is located at 73 Simcoe Street (at King Street West). Their web address is www.standrewstoronto.org  
Designed as a gift to the community, this concert series is uplifting and inspiring. The following piece was written during a recent presentation.  

MUSIC RECITAL

The air I breathe / The ease I feel 
Doth saturate the soul
Enthralled within / Exulting joy
Brings strength and makes me whole 

Escorted now / To higher heights
Through this resonant calm
In ecstasy / My cares dispel
Amidst this healing balm

Sweet notes of love / Wash over me
And bid my woes adieu 
O peace divine / With restfulness 
In all, I’m made brand new 
 

© 2025 - David A. McAdam


#music  #peace  #wellness
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Newness

4/16/2025

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Greetings...
In this holy season we are reminded of the power that resides in loving sacrifice that overcomes all odds. And we yet ponder the issues of life - including liberation, and matters of personal and societal peace. Here, we are faced with an enduring question: Peace on earth, how can this be? In this regard, what might be one or two things that you and I could do consistently to help make the world a more peaceful place? 
I wish you and your loved ones all the best during this season of hope-filled celebration, as I close with the short composition below...

​
REBIRTH
 
The blistering,  frigid wind 
Of fault and fear
Has withered everything
In the garden of delight
 
But the bright light of love
Shines with warm clarity
Renewing hope
And restoring life
At the timely planting 
Of a most holy Easter kiss

 
© 2025 - David A. McAdam
davidmcadam.ca


#sacrifice  # peace  #hope
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Goodness All Around

4/9/2025

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Hello…
Here’s hoping you are doing well.
It’s all too easy to get caught in the downward spiral of negativity. In the process, we are diminished, seeing the proverbial glass as half-empty. In like manner, we lose balance magnifying what’s wrong over what’s right. Friend, there is still good about and around us. It is always a plus to gauge our perspective so as to recount the goodness that we experience. 
Among our activities last weekend, my beloved Donna and I had the novel privilege of spending meal-time, and candle-light showtime with a wonderful couple, S. and T. This fellowship was refreshing, and spawned the following thought: 
Our humanity is beautifully expressed and affirmed when we honour each other as good listeners.


#perspective  #goodness  #humanity
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Your Own Poems

4/2/2025

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Greetings…
Happy National Poetry Month to you. It’s intriguing to consider that our lives are like poetry, and that each of us has the wherewithal to engage in unique, creative expression. Of course, specific to our writing, such expressions can take many forms, linked to varied goals and intentions. So, where might you be regarding your personal compositions? What progress might you be making in writing your own poems? Below is a related piece to jog your thinking. Good cheers. 

WRITE YOUR OWN POEM
 
If you could write a poem of your own / What appealing title might you assign?
What might be your source of inspiration? / What would be the introductory line?
 
Would it be factual or fictional? / What themes would drive the wording that you choose?
What sentiments might you seek to capture / Through the vocabulary that you use?  
 
How would you make the piece relatable / And who would your target audience be?
What subtle nuances would you select / To optimize its readability?
 
What devices would enhance your construct? / To what emotions would you most appeal?
How would you invoke rationality? / What would you hope for the overall feel?
 
What imagery might you incorporate? / What feature pictures might you illustrate?
How would you challenge or stir emotions? / What key things would you think to celebrate?
 
Would you make the poem mysterious? / How much of the everyday would we see?
What would be the mixture of elements / To tell the genre of your poetry?
 
How long or how simple would you make it? / Pray tell, would it be rhyming or free-flow?
And what’s your thinking about take-aways / That you would like every reader to know?
 
Perhaps you have many ideas in mind / So, before they are lost to memory
Consider recording resonant ones / To later flesh out poetically
 
All of us hold accounts that we can share / Hence, how much of your thoughts will you make known?
You have what it takes to write something grand / An original gift, your very own

©2025 - davidmcadam.ca


​
#creativewriting #poetry  #selfexpression
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Fruitfulness

3/26/2025

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Hello Friend…
Good day and happy spring!
In these differently challenging times, I am reminded of the need for each of us to remain calm, and to persistently do our part to make a positive difference. The season of Spring symbolizes reawakening, with irrepressible expressions of freshness, zeal, and new life. Indeed, we are all nudged to “bloom where we are planted.” By this same token, as you do your part, here’s to you….


A LIFE OF FRUITFULNESS
 
Love that prompts passion and unflagging zeal
Joy that emanates from truth and fairness
Peace with sweet calm to the heart, mind, and soul
Patience that grows courage and openness 
Kindness that evinces a grateful heart
Goodness, seen in true grace and real beauty
Faithfulness that sparks selfless sacrifice
Meekness, shown as insight and modesty
Self-restraint that touts wise thoughts, words, and deeds
Friend, may you bear rich harvests from these seeds 

 
© 2025, davidmcadam.ca 



#spring  #fruitfulness  #hope 
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Apartheid and Freedom

3/19/2025

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Greetings,
March 21st is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The day commemorates the proclaimed end of Apartheid in South Africa. 
Seemingly, Apartheid has morphed and is resurrecting throughout a world that is increasingly divided on different fronts. Prejudice and discrimination still plague us; and as the times get more uncertain, sadly this worsens. Below is a related original poem. 
So, what is one question that you have concerning the topic of social justice? What might be one or two things that you could do to make the world a fairer place? 
All the best as you shine a light, especially during this time of celebration. 
 
RING OUT FREEDOM
 
Today we shout 'let freedom ring'
Yes, ring true in each mind and heart
With a stable peace securing
As chains of bondage fall apart
 
Freedom is harmed by lunacy
When strains of apathy abound
Freedom denied means injury
As slavers spew hate all around 
 
Freedom great and strong, yet fragile 
Must be guarded in every sphere 
For freedom anywhere defiled
Endangers freedom everywhere
 
©2025 - davidmcadam.ca

#freedom  #apartheid  #march21
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Consider Love

3/12/2025

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Greetings...
Here's hoping all is as well as can be with you.
In a world that seems to be characterized by increasing worry, stress, and fear, how can we retain peace, calm and sanity? Among possible ways, this original poem issues an invitation to 'consider love'.


CONSIDER LOVE
 
Let your eyes and mind be guided by love
Let your heart exude its noble passion
Find freedom in its everlasting arms
Outstretched with kindness and patient endurance 
Knowing that love’s faithful companion of joy 
Will motivate you to keep pressing ahead
And not think of giving up
 
Consider love that stills the fury of fear
Which somehow dogs you along the way 
With accusations of weakness and unworthiness
Still, the trusted trinity of faith, hope, and love
Bolsters your spirit
So you become more secure and courageous 
 
Love brings strength through encouragement
And teaches you to persevere with purpose
Free of any personal guilt or shame
 
Loves faithfully opens doors of opportunity
And propels you towards goodness and excellence
 
Consider love that compels compassion and tender-heartedness
One toward another
So we all can experience divine peace and grace
With no trace of bitterness or anger
 
Yes, indeed, in all your ways 
And for all your days
Do consider love
 

©2025 - David A. McAdam
 

#love  #hope  #peace
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Emotional Health

3/5/2025

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Good day to you.
I am currently part of a sessional men's discussion group that meets weekly. The primary theme is health and wellness - physical, relati0nal, emotional, mental, etc.
Here is a short composition that captures some personal reflections from our conversation about emotional health and healing....

HEALING WITHIN 
By David A. McAdam
 
There are strong feelings, intricately tied / To hurts or wounds that we’ve received 
None of us is exempted from such pains / That suffer our hearts to be grieved 
 
Sometimes, the wounds are long-lived and hidden / And festering, they’re hard to heal
But personal wholeness demands of us / To wisely address this ordeal 
 
See, shying from or ignoring the need / To fully face our woundedness
Invokes severe paralysis, and a / Sense of personal helplessness
 
Healing necessitates refocusing / Being courageous and astute 
Staying wholly honest with ourselves, and / Giving up rights to retribute 
 
Notably, guilt is about who we are / While shame is about how we feel
Concerning hurts and misplays of the past / As memories, these stay quite real 
 
Not bearing guilt for another’s misdeed / Will prompt a freeing attitude
And woundedness shifts from a source of shame / To a wellspring of servitude
 
Wounds are cracks through which light enters the soul / To purify and bring repair
The victim-victimizer cycle ends / As by grace, we cease from despair  
 
© 2025 - davidmcadam.ca


#health  #healing  #emotions
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    Check back for my
    latest blog post!


    My new book, Let's Do Lemonade, is now available!

    David A. McAdam

    Hello...
    I am delighted to share thoughts and insights
    via this page. A long-time educator and writer, I'm revitalized through various pastimes, including: running, gardening, singing, and community-volunteering.
    Starting in January 2025, there  will be a weekly Blog.
    Thanks for your continued company.

    ​All the best.
    David 


    David McAdam - © 2025

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