Word up.

Be okay with where you are, 

even if you know you want to change.

-Anonymous

Word up.

No, I'm not being immature, I'm having fun. You should try it.

-Anonymous

Bu-bye stuff & other randomness.

I've had an interesting couple of weeks to say the least.


And by interesting, I mean awesome!


I've been wicked busy both personally and professionally. So much is going on around the office...sometimes I come home and feel like my head is spinning...but I'm getting better at leaving work at work. They're only paying me to work a certain number of hours - anything out of my norm is my time! Time for me to not be preoccupied with random emails, goofiness, office politics and Chinese imports.


Personally, the month has been full of fun adventures and discoveries...good times with friends and breakthroughs of sorts. And while most of my tales are too personal to share, I've got one that I do want to discuss with yah.


Awhile back I'd mentioned how I'd been going through my 'stuff'....cleaning out the 'crap' that really wasn't serving any purpose. At the time, I managed to take a pile of bags to Goodwill, and while I did some damage, it still felt like there was a lot of randomness that I needed to figure out. 


This past weekend, I ended up at home with the most wicked of wicked colds - and not being one of those guys that likes to mope around when I'm sick I figured that it was time to tear back into my 'stuff' to see what else I could get rid of.


It might sound goofy, but as I started to go tear through cupboards, closets & my storage room everything started to hit me. Suddenly it was like "why do I own all of this shiz? Seriously. Why?" It was then that I decided that instead of just "cleaning" that I was going to full out purge. Like serious. PURGE.


Over the course of two days I was pretty ruthless. To the point where I was opening up totes and boxes in my storage room, looking in them, realizing that I hadn't gone through them since I'd moved into my place 3ish years ago and decided then and there that "everything goes."


I also kind of realized that you can have too many serving plates, kitchen gadgets, that just because you can own a French press doesn't mean that you should own a French press and that the Mexican pottery that was a pain in the ass to get home without breaking on the plane is actually useless when it says "not safe for use with food" on the back. 


Much sorting, tossing, packing, lugging and filling my car later, Goodwill ended up with two carloads of my stuff. The collections that I'd worked so hard on a few years ago. The projects that I'd started but never finished, the trashy and depressing paperbacks that I'll never read again...all gone!


It was also then that I kind of realized that maybe, just maybe I was using my 'hunting of treasures' to escape and forget about some of life's randomness that I wasn't overly happy with. Like hunting down a random salad bowl was going to fulfill some sort of goofy need. Hmm...


To be completely honest with yah, I haven't been thrifting forever - and really have no desire to. Seriously. There's no burning desire for me to scavenge through Value Village for something that I can 'magically transform' into something 'amazing.' 

Obviously I still have some collections (as you can see in the above pic), and I'm sure that at some point I'll want to add some new pieces, but right now I'm more excited about the idea of coming home after work and reading a good book, hunting down some new tunes, trying out a new recipe. Or perhaps getting out and hanging with friends, grabbing drinks and chillin' with peeps. Why spend so much time looking for more 'stuff'...?

And there yah have it. That's where I'm at right now.

I really haven't figured out how my new found discovery / epiphany will affect this blog...at some point it will all make sense. But until it does, I'm totally going to enjoy what is, in some ways, a new found 'freedom.' That's a goofy word to use, but in some ways, it kind of feels like it is...so I'm gonna roll with it.

Cheers,
D-

Word up.

http://wherethesidewalkbegins.blogspot.com

I have my whole life to be mature. Why start now?

-Anonymous

'Different'

A while ago, I decided, unofficially of course, that I was going to do things differently this year. I was laying in bed one night when I had this crazy brain wave where suddenly it was like "I need something different."

It was then that I decided that I was going to make 2012 the year of adventure, growth, opportunity and fun. 

And you know what? 

So far, so good!

At first, I wasn't sure what my definition of 'different' was going to be, but I'm slowing figuring things out as I go along. I've realized that 'different' can be something as basic as ordering something 'different' off the menu when I hit up my favourite coffee place, or trying out someplace 'different' when meeting with friends for lunch. It can also be as 'different' as trying something so outside my realm like yoga...only to realize that I love it.

I've got a buddy to thank for this new found love. He'd stumbled across a two week introductory pass to a new studio that opened in the city and was like "hey, let's check this out together," and I was like "hey, that'd be 'different'...I'm in." (Or something along those lines...) 

So, skip ahead three weeks, and I've come to love yoga. Who'd of thunk it. Not this farm boy. But sure enough, this new and 'different' adventure has been exactly what I've needed and craved for awhile.

While I enjoy the gym (from time to time) I'd been finding that I really wasn't into it. I'd go, I'd end-up on a treadmill or elliptical and rather than being about to zone out and focus on working out, I'd find myself thinking about the office or thinking about stuff around home, or thinking about family, friends, loved ones, et cetera, et cetera....I was really lacking any sort of mental clarity or focus.

As I've been exploring a number of different forms of yoga - ranging from Ashtanga and Restorative to a couple different variations of hot yoga, I've found that a) I've been able to really get into the physical side of things...that I'm pushing myself more than ever to see what I can get my body to do & b) that I've been able to go to class and completely zone out. To focus in on what's important at the time - to meditate and focus in on what's important in my life. Which is completely 'different' for me. My mind's always in motion...I generally find it impossible to turn things off.

I may have kind of abused my two week unlimited pass. I think that they expect you to go a few times a week, see if you like it....not attend 15 classes in a two week span. That said, for being so 'different' and out of my usual whelm of interests, I'm hooked enough that I invested in a full month pass....at the regular rate. Let's see if I can abuse that!

I'm curious to see where this 'different' adventure takes me. Slowly but surely the movements are making a bit more sense, I've been able to bend "that much more" and I've found myself leaving class with a smile, and a cleared head....allowing me the chance to crawl under the covers at night not worrying about what happened that day, or what's going to happen tomorrow. Basically, it's all good. Sure I come home a bit sore sometimes, but hey, no pain, no gain.

Where am I going with this posting? I'm not really sure. This could be turning into one of those rambling posts...so I'll wrap it up by saying that 'different' can be good....and worth exploring. 'Different' causes one to think outside the box and discover fresh and new energy. Sure, there will be a few adventures that will be one-time-only, but hey, isn't it worth trying something 'different' from time to time? 

How's that sound?

And you know what? Do you want to know the best part of my quest for 'different' adventures and opportunities? It's only the beginning of March. I've still got over nine months of 'different' to explore!

Xo,

D-

Word up.

Sometimes you have to forget what you feel 

and remember what you deserve.

-Anonymous

Word up.

Do what makes you happy. 

Be with who makes you smile. 

Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live.

-Anonymous

2012, my year.

How excited am I for 2012? I think that this picture pretty much sums it up -

Okay, so while the facial expression might be a bit (a lot) goofy - I am looking forward to all of the different ideas / goals / plans / dreams / aspirations that I have for 2012. I've decided that this is going to be MY year.

And while I'm not going to spill everything that I'm thinking of for the coming year, I do wanna share some of my plans with you.

So here it goes - 

1) Different wheels - while the trusty Alero has treated me well over the past couple of years (with the exception of that new transmission, four tires and rewired security system), it's time to trade up! I'd love to find something bigger - something that that I could throw a random furniture find, a bike or a couple friends into.

2) Volunteer - I've spent the past couple of years being so wrapped up in everything that I juggle at work, etc, that I really don't have any volunteer experience under my belt. I haven't figured out exactly what I'd like to do yet - but after talking with a couple of buddies this past weekend I've got some ideas!

3) Attempt camping - I've only ever spent one night in a tent....which I really don't think counts as camping. I'd love to pick a weekend, find some friends, buy a tent, pack up the new wheel and get on the road in hunt of some adventure! That's not to say that I won't try to glamp it up a bit...none of this sleeping on a rock business. I'm talking blankets and soft air beds, stainless steel martini glasses and blue cheese burgers...

4) Explore - Whether it's in or out of the city I want to explore! I've lived in the Peg for over three years, but it really doesn't feel like I know the city! I want to find new restaurants, check out shows, investigate festivals, discover hiking / biking trails, et cetera, et cetera! Beyond the outskirts of the city, I'd love to do some travelling this summer - maybe a road-trip or two?

5) Pick-out a new bike - If I'm going to be discovering biking trails wouldn't it make sense to have a bike to ride on them? I love biking, but for random reasons haven't had one in the city. Whenever I'm at my rent's I'll dig out my old bike from when I was a kid and go on the most random of excursions - finding old bush trails, riding from the farm into town, riding down to the lake to dip my toes in the water - wherever, it really doesn't matter! The old wheels aren't exactly city worthy so I can't wait to see what I can find...(it's a no to tassels and a basket....but a perhaps a yes to a bell....ooooh!)

6) More BBQs - Right before Christmas I found a gigantic BBQ book...to add to my collection of other BBQ guides. While I managed to use my grill a few times this past year, I want to take full adventure of using it this year - good food, fun drinks, great friends! Who could want more?

7) New digs - I'm not sure about this one, but there's a part of me that would like to explore the possibility of finding a different flat. Something closer to work, perhaps with a bit more character, high ceilings, a big balcony, a second bedroom wouldn't hurt...maybe within walking distance of some good eats & drinks (who wants to cab it across the city when you can just walk?), closer to friends....who knows! It's an idea....but a fun one!

There yah have it! I'm not going to share all my goals...a guy has to keep a couple of secrets!

While we all have that list of things that we want to achieve in the coming year...what's on the top of your list!

Cheers,

D-

Life is a roller coaster...

...just gotta ride it.

http://pinterest.com

How many of us have read or heard that saying before? Probably almost all of us at one point or another. Whether I've seen it splattered across a website like Pinterest, as lyrics to a song, or in passing conversation - it's been one of those sayings that has just stuck with me.

It's also one of those lines that's never been more truthful to me than right now. The past couple of weeks have been a bit of a roller coaster to say the least...there have been some ups, lots of downs, a few unexpected twists and turns, tears, maybe even a bit of shouting and at the end of everything, that strange feeling where you're relieved, a bit shaken and unsettled, but at the same time you're glad that you've experienced the ride. 

I'm not one to ramble on about my personal life here, but know that I'm still around, that I'm doing okay, that I'll be able to sleep tonight and that at some point I'll figure out how to get the paint out of my hair (another story...but hey, a guy has to distract himself somehow). 

That and no more roller coaster rides....at least not the ones where you feel like you're gonna lose your cotton candy afterwards.

xo,

D-

Word up.

Life has its ups and downs. It can be brutal and beautiful. You can hole yourself away to avoid life's pain, but then the beauty seldom finds it's way in. It's only when you attempt to go where you cannot go, or do what you cannot do, that you can achieve what you are truly capable of doing. Sure, you might tumble. You might fall. So what? Take a chance. Go way out on the limb. Dare to try - even if it's just a shot in the dark.

-Anonymous 

Word up.

http://pinterest.com

My favourite adventure is to go where I've never been.

-Diane Arbus

Word up.

http://pinterest.com

If you want to know where you heart is, 

look where your mind goes when it wanders.

-Anonymous

Word up.

Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts. 

And never hope more than you work.

-Rita Mae Brown

Word up.

When writing the story of your life, 

don't let anyone else hold the pen.

-Anonymous

Words of wisdom.

I've just returned home from my August long weekend adventure. And long it was! Eight hours in a vehicle, a whirlwind of family and friends, a mixed bag of emotions as I helped take care of some family business, but all in all, a good weekend. Some laughs, some tears, and too many boxes of books (but that's another story for another time).

In between all of the craziness I was able to enjoy good visits with both my Grandpa and my Gram. They're very different characters - my Grandpa spends a lot of time telling me that I should be driving an Impala "....safest car on the road, better than that little car you have." While my oh so cute (and very English) Gram likes to share her Latin skills and stories of the gypsies that camped out across the road of her school in Northern England. It's guaranteed that when I visit them we're going to have a few laughs and I'm going to come away with some of their wisdom and knowledge.

This weekend was funny though. As different as they are, they both shared the same wisdom and advice to me. It's almost like they'd called each other to discuss the different points. 


Driving home tonight, I had the opportunity to really let their words sink in. And I'd like to share a few of their key ideas and thoughts. Ideas and thoughts that we can all apply to our lives -

1. Do what you love. Life's too short to be unhappy.

2. Don't work yourself to death. It's just a job.

3. Surround yourself with good people. Find compatibility in those that you associate yourself with. Enjoy their company and make time for them (something that I really need to make an effort to do....you know who you are!).

4. Explore the world while you're young. Don't wait until you have other commitments.

5. Don't be too shy. Be yourself, but don't be afraid to break out of your shell.

6. Make time for family.

7. Take everything in stride. 

8. Just be yourself. Stay true to who you are. 

9. Acknowledge what you've accomplished (too often I forget about how far I've come - both personally and professionally)

10. And lastly, buy an Impala (okay I made that one up....but yeah, my Grandpa would totally say that....along with mentioning something about how certain cities use them as their police cars, "....so you know that they're good").


I think that without realizing it, they both gave me the pep-talk that I've needed for awhile. I've been feeling kind of uncertain about a lot of stuff as of late, and while I didn't really come away with any clarity as to what I should do, where I should go, et cetera, I did come away with a smile and a list of ideas to follow (minus buying an Impala) from two completely different individuals that have both been through so much and seen so much in their years (totally a run-on sentence, but it's late and I don't care to change it...).


You have to figure that with a combined 167 years on this Earth that they know what they're talking about - right? I like to think so.


D-


What's the best bit of advice or words of wisdom that you've received?