Smile, Breathe, and Go Slowly

Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not quite, the not yet, the not at all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours

Today I met a wonderful doctor that I spent the afternoon shadowing. When he spoke it was like he was reading out of a philosophy book, but these were all his words. At one point he said to me:

"If you're willing to stand on your head, you can do anything."

I'm not sure if I really know what that means, but I'm willing to.

The Self-Mutilating Circus We Have Painted Ourselves Clowns In

The word PRETTY is unworthy of everything you will be and no child of mine will be contained in 5 letters

It's no secret that society shapes today's youth in a number of twisted ways. Violence. Low self-esteem. The need to be glamorous and perfect. Now I'm starting to wonder about all the songs that have lyrics about money makers, throwin money up in the air, and "making it rain". Is pop culture teaching youth to care about wealth more than love? Just as the magazines teach us that we need to be pretty?



Here's what you do:
take a look around and pick out what reminds you of places you wanted to be but gave up on going, and jam it all into this big box called NOW. Then go across the street to Mama Genuines-- ask her how shes's been-- show her what I gave ya, she'll know exactly what you need. Then go back in to the center of that freeway and get to work, making it all fit. You wont have any directions or factory number tabs, but dont panic. There's a hundred ways to do it right and none to do it wrong cause you're startin out on whats already been given up upon. You can't do any worse!

Paranormal

Last night I attended a lecture by a celebrity psychic and medium, Chip Coffey from A&E shows: "Paranormal" and "Psychic Kids".

You always have to be a little skeptical and take everything they say with a grain of salt. But a lot of the time, I am always interested in their stories and what they have to say.

What's your theory on Deja Vu? His was that before you are born, your soul/spirit, sets out a plan. When you have those moments of deja vu- you've touched a point on that plan, or you're on the right track. Or common occurrences every day like seeing 11:11 on the clock-- he said that those odd moments tell you to stop and take a look around you. Figure out what the world is trying to tell you.

"You've got 2 eyes, 2 ears, and 1 mouth- which proves what you should be using twice as much"

Then he had time for questions and interaction with the audience. Some asked about lost loved ones and some asked for psychic readings. In the middle of this session he pointed to my boyfriend -who didn't even have his hand up, or was hoping to be picked. He said "I feel like I need to talk to you... Do you have any lost loved ones?" - Which he does not.
He asked me - I do not either.
Then he talked more to us and said that something regarding Halifax is going to come up in our lives- I have no idea what this may be because I have absolutely no relation to Halifax, nor does John.
Then Chip asked:
"Are you two married? No? You should be. Marry her."

And I can't say its bad advice!

Just kidding. I'm not getting married anytime soon, but thanks Chip.

Then we went to the Haunted Keg Mansion where he did a ghost investigation. He had the lights flickering on and off and some people said they felt like they were being touched or cold or had heavy pressure in their chest from the spirit's energy.

It was a very interesting experience. I'd love to hear if you have any paranormal encounters or experiences. If so, please message in the comments box below!

Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Use Your Lips To Speak To Your Sweetheart Instead Of Your Wallet

Why I encourage you to kiss thoroughly, at least three times daily:

• Kissing stabilizes cardiovascular activity, decreases high blood pressure, and lowers cholesterol.
• Kissing prevents cavities and plaque build-up by stimulating saliva production while preventing gingivitis through the calcium present in saliva.
• Kissing stimulates over 30 facial muscles which smoothes out skin and increase blood circulation to the face.
• Kissing burns 12 calories per five-second episode and three passionate kisses a day will help you lose one pound!
• Kissing prevents the formation of the stress hormone glucocorticoids which causes high blood pressure, muscle weakening and insomnia.
• Kissing does its part to vaccinate people from new germs. Saliva contains bacteria, 80% of them are common to all people with 20% unique to each person. By sharing saliva with a partner, you are stimulating your immune system to respond to the different bacteria you are being exposed to. The result is that your immune system creates certain anti-bodies to these new bacteria, which in effect vaccinates you against these germs. This process is called cross-immunotherapy.
• Finally, you may not be surprised to know that kissing offers an express analysis of genetic compatibility. While you are kissing, your brain conducts instant chemical analysis of your partner's saliva and issues a "verdict" of your genetic compatibility. Think about it. Don't you know much more about what you like or don't like in a person after one kiss? And kissing is much more fun than taking a relationship inventory!

Oh, and kissing also cures hiccups!

--Pravda, the Russian News Service

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If You Judge People You Have No Time To Love Them

You know life is no storybook. But admit it: Somewhere deep in your subconscious lurk romantic visions of Cinderella, or maybe Julia Roberts. The images may be sketchy and a little outdated, but you can still make out the silhouette of the bride and Prince Charming riding off into the sunset. In real life, sometimes your Disney fairy tale ends up feeling more like a Wes Craven horror flick — and you're the chick who keeps falling down and screaming for her life. I've been there. You want to believe your pure love for each other will pull you through. And it does. But it ain't always pretty. That may sound grim. But here's a secret: Sometimes it's the least romantic parts have the most to teach you about yourself, your partner, and the nature of love. 

Kim Kardashian was in Toronto last night, on a search for the "World's Best Couple"...

Now, I'm not really sure what this means, or what they're judging these couples on, but the winners of this competition win a 22 carat diamond ring at a "Best Couple" ceremony in Chicago.

What makes a couple, the best couple in the world? Their love for each other? Their compatibility?

I signed up for the contest just to see how it works and it looks like a popularity contest.

I'm not sure if I would actually put my relationship online in a worldwide contest like that (or at least in the qualifying countries: New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the USA). I could gush for hours about how much I love my boyfriend and how wonderful it is to really feel in love with someone I feel 100% compatible with and treats me better than I could even imagine... *ahem.
But I will save the drama for my mama. This blog only allows a certain amount of cheesy-ness, and personal information.

What do you think of the contest?
It's definitely an interesting advertising strategy for Michael Hill Jewelers. A contest primarily driven and targeted towards love hungry, diamond crazy, attention seeking females. If diamonds really are a girl's best friend, Michael Hill, you nailed it.

--Not that I'm bashing the contest, it's a smart idea. Congratulations to the very lucky couple that wins the diamond! ...sign a prenup.

Marley For President

The election in Edmonton and in Calgary is going on today, and I have been doing my research for the election in Toronto coming up next week.

I have never voted before, and I am looking forward to fulfilling my civic duty for the first time here in Toronto.

I have done my research, and met a few of the councillors for my ward. I have read all the standpoints for the mayoral candidates and I've chosen who I am most in agreement with.

I was very surprised to read that one of the candidates is in favor of a red light district. In Toronto?
...that seems controversial. Can somebody comment on this blog post and explain the pros and cons to having a red light's district in Toronto?

All this political talk reminds me of the time I was President in High School...

Surprise!

Surprise parties are very overdone here in Ontario. I have never attended a legitimate surprise birthday party when I lived in Edmonton, but now it seems like every birthday party I am invited to in Toronto is a surprise party. It happens so much that I'm not sure how people aren't expecting and anticipating their own surprise parties.

My birthday is coming up and I've told everyone: do not throw me a party. But of course if they tell me they won't, I can't believe them. And if they tell me they are going to anyway, I can't believe them when they say that either. For the whole month of November I am going to feel paranoid every time I enter a room. I will enter my condo and search the place before I settle in. Behind the couch, in the cupboards, under the table... And then I will even check the back seat of the car before going anywhere-- this is good practice anytime, even when its not your birthday.

Boo-urns

I have been using the law of attraction all wrong.

Its kind of like how your toast always seems to fall face down, and birds tend to crap right in the middle of your windshield. There are other probabilities, but the least wanted one always seems to happen.

Sometimes I'll think of the things I'm afraid of, and wish so much that they WILL NOT happen, but then they do. And its my own fault because the universe answers your thoughts, even the negative ones.

So when I think
"Ohh I really hope I don't get sick for the weekend"- I get sick for the weekend
"Please please please don't let me get stuck with that teacher for my exam" - and then I do.

Reword your thoughts. Hope for the good things in a positive way.

But in other news, I had another photoshoot this morning and it was awesome.

I'll Be Out Of My Mind, And You'll Be Out Of Ideas Pretty Soon

How do they even know if swans or lobsters or penguins mate for life?

Is there someone in the world whose job is to keep track of these species and which ones are together and which ones are not? Like animal paparazzi, keeping tabs on their relationships at all times?

I would like to see scientific research supporting the evidence, because so far, google isn't doing it for me.

Call Me Julie Andrews

My boyfriend always teases me about how I declare everything to be my favorite. I say it often.
"That is my favorite fruit.
That is my favorite color.
That is my favorite past time."
 I say it a lot but I see nothing wrong with it. I LOVE pointing out my favorite things!

At the end of the day I always ask him: what was your favorite part of today. And I'm always excited to hear his answer. Sometimes its little things that I wouldn't expect. The dinner we had, or the funny joke I told on the way home. It's one of my favorite things that I do before going to sleep. Its nice to reflect on the day

This weekend I missed my family thanksgiving, as I am in Toronto and could not come back for the weekend. While going around the table saying what they were thankful for, my 6 year old cousin said:
"I am thankful that Jesus and Santa are friends."

And that was my favorite part of thanksgiving.

And this is my favorite video I watched today: Grover Spoofing the Old Spice Guy!

Humans Make Their Own Worlds In The Small Area In Front Of Their Face

Someone is getting excited. Somebody is somewhere shaking with excitement because something tremendous is about to happen to this person. This person has dressed for the occasion. This person has hoped and dreamed and now it is really happening and this person can hardly believe it. But believing is not an issue here, the time for faith and fantasy is over, it is really happening. It involves stepping forward and bowing. Possibly there is some kneeling, such as when one is knighted. One is almost never knighted. But this person may kneel and receive a tap on each shoulder with a sword. Or more likely this person will be in a car or a store or under a vinyl canopy when it happens. Or online or on the phone. It could be an email re: your knighthood. Or a long, laughing, rambling phone message in which every person this person has ever known is talking on a speaker phone and they are all saying: "You have passed the test, it was all just a test, real life is so much better than that". This person is laughing out loud with relief and playing the message back to get the address of the place where every person this person has ever known is waiting to hug this person and bring her into the fold of life. It is really exciting, and its not a dream, its real.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am very excited, happy, and proud to announce that today's post is my 300TH BLOG POST! And to top that, it also my 300th CONSECUTIVE blog post!

I did not start out thinking I would write every day, but out of the desire to practice my writing and creative skills I continued. I did not expect to have this many hits on the site, nor have so many readers- friends and strangers, and strangers who became friends. I never did it for anyone. I did the blog for me, and I am very pleased with the amount of people along the way who have found it interesting, amusing, or inspiring. I am honored to entertain you and be a part of your lives and reading material.

10/10/10

All Of Us Are Born With A Set Of Instinctive Fears - Of Falling, Of The Dark, Of Lobsters, Of Falling On Lobsters In The Dark...

"What if it isn't me?"
"Then we have a lobster problem"

Have you ever heard that myth that lobsters have only one love and that they mate for life? I think I've heard the same for penguins, but then I also heard something about some penguins that have the same role as prostitutes, so I'm not sure what to believe anymore. I also tried to google it, and all I found were recipes and restaurants.

Do you believe that there is one person for everyone?
Do you believe that everyone has a soul mate and when they meet they'll just know?

But what if the person you think is the one, is unavailable? Do you wait for them because you're certain they're perfect for you? What if they're not? And what if that day never comes?

I think a really important thing that individuals should determine in a relationship is:
Are you in love with the person?
Are you in love with what the person has to offer?
Are you in love with just the feeling of being in love?

We cannot ignore the blatant statistics and rampant unhappiness around us. These things undoubtedly point to the fact that we suck at attempting to find who we want to spend the rest of our lives with

The Measure Of Life Is Not Its Duration, But Its Donation

We all have 100% to deal with in our lives: 10% is important, 90% unimportant. The secret to a happy, productive life is to deal with the 10% and let the 90% slip

I am feeling productive lately. In addition to waking up every day at the break of dawn to exercise...
I am working at the University of Toronto. It feels like I'm living in an episode of Grey's Anatomy. There's bitching and complaining about others, and I'm fighting for surgeries.

I also got my Ontario driver's license and became an organ donor today.
I've always thought that it makes sense to give to others when they need it, especially when it comes to blood and organ donations. Why not?! It's not like I'm going to be using it after I've expired. Although I have always felt like this, for some reason I felt nervous while signing those papers. What a crazy thing to think about... that one day, I will not exist, and someone will have in their body, the same parts that were once in mine.

CHECK OUT THIS UNREAL VIDEO OF GROWN MEN SINGING LADY GAGA



You should also check out http://www.dylanwowchuk.com/
You may know him as half of the Pepper and Dylan show, and you may know him as a wonderful photographer.
Check him out, and follow him on twitter too!! @DylanWowchuk

Photoshoot

I have some pretty cool stuff to share...

And here's a sneak peek!

Days With My Father

Now that she's gone I realized I spent a lifetime resisting her influence, and now I miss it

This morning I cried so hard after coming across this story:

http://www.dayswithmyfather.com/

This story is of a man documenting the last few years with his father, through pictures. I got misty eyed just from the images, but once I read the story behind it, I couldn't help but break down.

It makes me think of my Gido, and how much I miss him, and how I know that the day I have to live in a world where he doesn't... will be my "forget how to breathe" moment.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Have some tissues ready. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Some Day You Will Be Old Enough To Start Reading Fairy Tales Again

We wetted each other's blouses and pushed our crying ahead of us like a lantern, searching out new and forgotten sadnesses, ones that had died politely years ago but in fact had not died, and came to life with a little water. We had loved people we really shouldn't have loved and then married other people in order to forget our impossible loves, or we had once called out hello into the cauldron of the world and then run away before anyone could respond.

Disney movies did not teach women to work hard towards a fulfilling career so that she could support herself financially and emotionally and be independent. In fact, maybe some of them taught the opposite.
"Listen to your father, Ariel"
"Whistle while you work, Snow White"
"Scrub the terrace, sweep the halls and the stairs, clean the chimneys. Do the mending and the sewing and the laundry... Cinderella"

Disney movies taught women that once they found their prince, their prince would fight their monsters and then they would live happily ever after.

Is this why there are women in the world that only care about getting married, settling down, and playing hosue? Is Disney to blame for the golddiggers?

Let's be realistic, how many of the Disney marriages do you think lasted?

Still Breathing

I felt like the air was multiplying, and I couldn't even think about what he said because I was so worried I wouldn't be able to keep up with the air. I tried to think of myself as a breathing machine. I told myself, you won't die from overbreathing, because you are a breathing machine, specially calibrated to adjust to the changing amounts of air in the room.

Can you believe it is October 1st?! I love new months. I think the first of every month should be a statutory holiday to celebrate and welcome in the new month.

It is getting colder, and sometimes I think that when I hold my breath I cannot feel. I convince myself that I'm not cold when its freezing outside, or I convince myself I'm not sad or anxious when something goes wrong.

Do you ever think of the worst possible thing that could happen in your life, and think that if it happened, you'd be so knocked off your feet that you'd forget how to breathe?

Maybe your worst fear has happened, and you already learned how to breathe again. Or maybe you're still holding your breath.

This morning I learned about a friend very close to my heart that went through breast cancer-- secretly. She let very few of her close loved ones in on her ordeal but mostly kept to herself and kept positive with treatments. Her tumors were benign and she went through the treatments and is now opening up about it, and I feel touched. She is an educator, in every aspect of life. She teaches others her theories in life, love, friendships, and careers, and now she is educating others on appreciating life, and not taking your health for granted. I'm so amazed because all this time, she has been so positive and happy and I had no idea what she was going through. I can't even imagine myself in a situation where your health is your biggest concern. To be honest, it was not one of my "forget how to breathe" moments, and perhaps I do take my health for granted, and perhaps I sweat the small stuff when I should just be happy and move on in life, considering the good things I have.

I'm going to try to stop holding my breath and just breathe through any obstacle life brings me.