'The 6 Harsh Truths That Will Make You A Better Person' article only shows me how harsh we are as a species. This article did nothing but bolster what I already know inside. I am going to continue to be a compassionate, empathetic, caring soul, who will NOT waste time in my life wondering what I can do or give to people other than my love, support, knowledge, understanding, and friendship. I will NOT push myself to become a cog in the machine, so that I won’t end up like the article states: “You will be poor, you will be alone, you will be left out in the cold". Sure, my boss may have hired me for the 'skills' that I have, but she also hired a great human being who is going to make the office environment, and every person that comes in contact with it, all the happier/warmer. Skills come from many avenues of your life, not just what you can do to make money. The hippies were not (and still are not) wrong. In FACT, those hippies have transformed into those around you who grow their own food, who can recycle and bike to work. These lovely people are doing their part for a better world for all; something I cannot say for their economic-crazy counterparts. Point no.4 contradicts the rest of the article. It is telling you to be a good person, but the first three points tell you that no matter how nice you are, it won’t get you ahead or make you popular etc. As I go through the points again, I get more and more angry. I can see how the writer got to these points, and can empathize with many of them. Yet, I know that this is only what we see and feel now, and does not have to be the truth. We write our own destiny. I choose to write for a better future for all! How did you respond to this article? This is my reaction to an article posted on www.Cracked.com by David Wong. (click here for the complete article)
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Let's just get to the real issue here. Teachers are the ambassadors and leaders to raise our future. When children have access to school, they become stronger individuals. This helps the ENTIRE community (and beyond)! With education comes a drop in poverty, abuse (substance and other), health issues, and crime! (YES, these things DO happen) Just a few examples of some studies..... With the release of novel to movie 'The Giver', it reminded me of what is all to apparent. It is happening to our society. With absolute power comes absolute corruption (even when the intentions are good). Politics are destroying our connectedness, our systems of policy. Our governance is a righteous mess. I am appalled at the direction we seem to be going. I already dislike Christy Clark for many reasons; her kids go to private school, she's spending mass amounts of tax dollars on international energy endeavours (our ecological system is priceless, Christy), not to mention her record with the BC Film & TV. She doesn’t feel strong enough in the system to enroll her kids, so why in the world would she feel invested to save it? I could ask her this of most of her political plots. Many public sectors are suffering because of the blatant corruption of power in our government. Vancouver has an elitist air about it, and because of this entitling fog, we have missed the crimes happening right under our noses. Our forests and waters are for sale, doomed to be destroyed. Our medical system is cracking at the seams and cannot last under the baby boom pressure, and our children are the ones who are inheriting this whole mess. When they are old enough, they will not be equipped to deal. I was that child who had to scrounge in the garbage for ‘hand-me-down’ produce. There were a lot of ‘candle game nights’ akin to power cut-offs, and too many days when mom wouldn’t take a meal so her children would have one. Our family received the local food basket donations, every family in the community knew who their givings were going to. I wear this badge with pride..and how? I was ALSO that child who was cared for by teachers, who out of their own pocket would bring me lunch, pay for my participation in camp/ski trips, bought me school supplies (my high school art teacher gave me an endless stream of photo film, paper, and watercolour paper...some of the most expensive in an artist's arsenal), and even blocked me from bullies. And, of course built my esteem and confidence. The strength and selflessness of teachers give children more in their arsenal to succeed into adulthood. Teachers love their students, and it is through love that we will save ourselves. (It takes a village <3) Ms. Yeoman, Mr. Dang, Ms. So, Mr. Minn, Mrs. Olsen, Mr. Ahola, Mr. Stoochinoff, Ms. Deminger, Mr. White, Mr. Tay, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Hay, Mr. Lord, and so many others I cannot remember names for... they shaped me. I am forever grateful to them for their wisdom, candor, honesty, time, and love. And so, I shout out to ALL those involved in the BC Teachers Strike...it is time to do the right thing. There is more at stake than egos. The time for ruffling feathers and putting on shows for the cameras is over. The time to take care of the future is NOW.
*taken from Elections Canada, based on 2011 federal election stats.
Vive la boxedor! Boxing is a great teacher of discipline, respect, and hard work and self-control. It is proven that sport involvement results in positive self-esteem, good health, and camaradarie for life. As an adult, I am thankful for my healthy, athletic childhood as it makes my adult years richer. I can enjoy activities and look and feel great. And now I share this gift whenever I can. A few years ago my partner introduced me to Aprons For Gloves, a program created by Vancouver's East Side Boxing Gym. And, as someone who survived the rough streets of Vancouver, I was excited to be a part of a program that helps at-risk youth. What started out as a charitable veture has turned into one of the most satisfying and gratifying elements of my life. I have made lifetime connections, helped build a tight-knit service industry 'family', and most of all, I learned that absolutely ANYTHING is possible. After a bad accident in 2008 that left me with a brain injury and PTSD, I was given a laundry list of activities that I shouldn't and couldn't do anymore. This list had items as mundane as climbing a ladder and riding a bike. The fear of one more concussion was enough to practially write off any activity requiring more than so much of a handshake or blink. And, I believed them for a time...Until I was introduced to gloves. Fall 2011. It is a warm, humid day in Puerto Vallarta and on my hands are sparring mitts. On the other end, my very cheeky, intimidating boyfriend; eyes flashing from behind his fists. He prepares his jab. That first SNAP on the pad shakes me and at this moment, I realize just how cerebral my life had been up to now. The fear vibrates though my body. He places me in jabbing position and lets me have at it. It takes a while to silence the critics in my head. How could they possibly know how to box when I don't? All of the critisism and authority in my head that had been controlling me my entire life is finally in a fight with me and my true self. Boxing created an environment for me to finally begin the healing process. For the first time in years, I can hear myself, and better yet, trust myself. The taste of confidence is on my lips. My partner is a seasoned coach. He has seen this before...at the gym. Ever since that moment in the sun I knew what it was going to take for me to find happiness and build a good life. I could no longer ignore the inbalance life serves us. My soul has always been committed to this world and all who share Earth as home. Every action has purpose. Even small community efforts will change the world. Now is a time to roll up our sleeves and work toward bringing society back to a place of sustainability, both for our planet and future generations.
For more information, click here or visit www.apronsforgloves.com.
Looking for a new job is tough and stressful! Just the process of job search and application becomes a full time job in itself (I'm starting to understand why so many vocational bloggers write this...). After wording out countless cover letters and creatively working multiple versions of yourself on paper, you begin to feel less like a human and more like a list of active ingredients in a commercial cleaner: "Hard working and dependable. Cuts grease and leaves no residue...." Dizzy from application-nation and waiting for the hopeful tsunami of response, I try to find ways to keep light and to stay focused on the true task at hand: living. We have all been there. The world is moving so fast around you that even your partner, who wakes next to you every morning, feels the loneliness. You are somewhere else in your head. We feel the vice grip of responsibility baring down. Our mounting bills become villains in our sleep....all the while we could be enjoying the moments we have instead of filling them with invisible worries and to-do lists. Work does not define you. It can enhance your life and what you may be able to with yours, however, it certainly will not be the one thing you will care about during your last moments on this earth. No one else will actually care about how magnificent your organization skills were, or the fact that you closed the largest settlement case at your firm. What they will care about is how you lived your life and how you treated others within it. Sometimes we do not get to spend time with those we care about most. It is hard to endure long hours, days, weeks, without connecting with other warm bodies and engaged minds. When I can't do this, I turn to my art. Making photo-mashes of my friends and family keeps the mood light and happy. These are projects made to put smiles on faces, and it is a special way that I get to spend time with those I care about when they are not with me (and even sometimes when they are...poor partners and children can miss the most).
Sure, I could be spending more of my open time creating 'serious' works of art and/or practicing new techniques to build my ever growing portfolio. But if all of your time is spent like this, you will miss out on the small nuances of life that bring joy and love. Your vocation/talents/art etc. will always be growing and evolving, the work doesn't ever end, we must release the feeling of a strict time limit on life, or that we cannot be successful without money or titles. Just remember that if you were to die today, that inbox will still be full in the morning. So, I'm going to let that inbox stay put every night and not take it to bed with me. I will work hard on getting more sleep and more moments with loved ones. After all, this is the only time we have. And I choose to keep it fun. ...... How do you keep the fun? Comment below. I love to hear your stories too! Sometimes art comes in the form of food... I have been rebuilding my confidence over the last few years. I suffered a brain injury in 2008 and it was art that brought me a healing outlet. Not only is it healing but it is esteem building. I am regaining independent confidence with going back to art, and cooking your own food is just another medium. My partner is a master of the kitchen, and he enjoys creating and cooking. This means that I am blessed with gourmet meals all year round. But this also builds added pressure on me when I am in the kitchen. I want to be able to take the lead again, and I certainly do not want to look like a food fool. This past week he conquered another first and made Perfect Pulled Pork from scratch (and the bbq sauce recipe of Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay, he knows a thing or two about the 'Q'). We had a lot left over and were thinking of ways to change it up. This was a chance for me to put myself back in the kitchen. My master dish is risotto. The illusive badger of rice, risotto feels more like a pasta, and can be transformed in so many amazing ways. Even the cooking preparation is unique and I feel like a painter when I make risotto. So, I decided to paint a 'pulled pork picture'. Timing was right. My partner was out of the house. I could start slow and build from there. And as I diced and chopped and stirred, old rhythms began to strum. Spinning between pot and pan, between smell and taste, the anxiety I felt within began to encourage me forward instead of pulling me back. A dash of vermouth. A flip of the mushrooms. A switch of a light. It is all happening. A year of intense art education in my vulnerable state has opened all my senses. It has broken down barriers, and I am reborn. So, I say to you now. Put down that pizza box/frozen dinner/take-out menu. Spend some time with yourself. Spend some time with your food. Make mistakes and grow! Life is always more fun on a full tummy, anyway. Click here to download my recipe for Pulled Pork Risotto with Sundried Tomatoes, Asparagus, and Mushrooms. |
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