Evolutions and Enlightenment.

I pulled over; ran across, door left open, letter in hand. To post and pounce over the snow banks. 

They said “the rest is history” but isn’t this too?

I need it to:

Learn

Begin

Evolve 

Enlighten

A man, Frank said to me “ dimmi con chi van e ti dirò chi sei. "

So I choose me.

And my kin folk are within arms reach.

Hasta luego , mi amistad con social media

Conveniences

In the “planning” of this post I was imagining a very prophetic tone concluding with a message on how we’ve become to comfortable and expectant of convenient in some of our routines. 

You’ll never guess how my day ironically unfolded one inconvenience after the other. Until now when I'm finally able to station myself behind my laptop in peace.

The days schedule was simply to be ; after work visit with my step mama, take her cat to the spca and go to Hamilton from there.  3 easy steps.

About 1.5 steps in. The first obstacle appears. Really I should have known better, the SPCA accepts drop offs by appointment only. So step 2 en route to home, grab an overnight bag.

I get a text from my baby boo. dinner outtings… maybe. WHAT DO I WEAR. No time to think before I get a call from my Dad. He is in the fresco parking lot and his truck won’t start, can I come give him a boost. 

Nothing as full circle as a father calling his daughter in seek of an aid for car troubles. The 2.5 here is the booster cables were in his other truck at home. 

Oh and I forgot my step mom asked me to get milk. And the cat is still I the back of my car. Poor angel is taking a road trip today.. gypsy cat.

By the 3rd step I had made it back to my step mothers , to her surprise with cat in hand.

In closing, anyone in need of a furry feline friend please contact me. 

Don’t ever expect life to take steps when obviously things happen in strides, leaps, gallops, jogs and anyways it keeps things interesting. 

ps. naps are peace keeping tools to be used weekly, if not daily, for building a better you. 

"Aura With a G"

There isn't enough people who understand the virtue of humility. To be grounded by the simple actions that strip us back from material goods. It's not everyday we have the blessing of freedom on our side, when exchanging time with another person.

I accepted the request to host my second ever couch surfer! We spoke over the phone the day before and I knew sharing my home with this being would bring joy into the space. Gaura called me when he arrived at my front step, the modern day knock. I opened my door and my eyes wide , to a humble man with a mini crock pot in hand. 

He sat comfortably on my couch, we had our small talk welcome and he broke the ice with the question "what challenges you"..

Gaura traveled from his home outside of Toronto to do volunteer work up until Christmas. He is a monk, a yoga instructor, a musician and a speaker on topics of Religion and Personal Growth. 

Knowing someone for 15 minutes and finding an answer to as flexible of a question as what my challenges are , sure limbered my mind enough to truly stop and think about my response. I think I said staying focused on where I am and where I want to be. 

I thought of alot of big or small challenges I face and decided that answer is mostly encompassing to the root of like aaalll things.. Gaura proceeded to thank me for sharing and offer some wisdom.

"All we need is love (Krishna) .. The Gita indicates that in goodness, the senses become illuminated with knowledge. This enables us to observe and evaluate which desires to let into our consciousness and which to keep out. With a calmness and clarity coming from goodness, we can differentiate between our authentic needs and our artificially induced cravings...There will always be enough for man's need but never man's greed." 

The first night Gaura surfed my couch , we talked for hours about his journeys thus far. In the physical and spiritual world. He always spoke with understanding, Beatles references and the knowledge of Krishna! 

Despite the oddity perceived by most people, at the thought of having a stranger stay in your home...let alone on your couch...two of my favourite peoples met Gaura and experienced his aura with an open mind. It made the second day more comfortable and he enjoyed some more intellectually seasoned company.

Gaura spent his days connecting with people in health shops, gas stations and finding local institutions to host his talks. At work I thought about what other challenges provoke distractions to what I need to focus on. Hourly, daily, situational..ly.  

By the end of the week, we had woken up at 5:30 together every morning, shared meals and daily challenges. I never expected the amount of love and understanding Gaura would bring into my atmosphere and a spicy inspiration to my chai tea recipe! Aaannd believe it or not I ate a pomegranate for the first time.  

There is beauty in the freedom of sharing nothing more than time and expecting nothing more than presence. As multi dimensional as that can be , it starts with the simplest extension of a hand. Opening a door, answering a phone, greeting someone with whatever you posses ,from the effort of those two important limbs.

Until next time, stay warm!!! Wear mittens ,scarves , boots and be kind <3 <3 

..ps. I have a futon now for the future of comfortable surfers

Poetic Interlude

Te Amo

I knew I loved you when you:

Brought me natures gifts,

and nurtured me with your own

Imagined with me.

Said you need more of my time,

but didn't give me enough of yours

Took me for milkshakes,

they gave you two cups instead of mixed flavours

Let me interrupt you and said  "I don't like talking anyways"

Called me spastic,

I told my sister she said "well that's good!"

Put your head on my shoulder,

and said you needed healing,

Purse your lips in puzzlement or discontent

Said my pancakes "looked like baseball gloves"

and that you liked yours crispy anyways.

Call me on my bullshit,

Complimented me for folding socks,

Said I was in your dreams when you wanted me there..

...

too be continued . 

A Seat at The Table

Most days I wake up and come home to an empty table. Reading the newspaper to 2 chairs and extending my compliments to the chef after dinner..Don't get me wrong I love living alone. Peace and love radiates from every square inch of my home. I have room to dance, bath tub acoustics to sing with, milk cartons to drink directly and freely from. It does make a difference when you can do these things in good company though.

Monday to Friday I spend 1hr a day sitting amongst 10-50 hard working individuals. The time of socialite interaction and nourishment consumption is divided into 2 , 15 minutes and 1,  30 minute parts known as "lunch" and "break". ..But it's kind of like a fancy cage where all the animals in the kingdom get to ease any stresses. I hope that doesn't sound awful.. like hunger is a stress and the food in the cafe is phenomenal!

Usually I sit with my little group of common folk. However there are times when the microwaves are all full so I have to wait. Or it's the day everyones favourite menu special is being served and by the time I can find our table it may be full. Sometimes it feels like being the last one picked from the litter. Other times it's a great opportunity to try my wings for a flight out of the nest and mingle with other clans.

I met 2 humans from maintenance who made inside jokes or talked small about fixing , finishing and frustrations. Than came 2 from the offices and 1 from waste management. Suddenly the table was a department zoo. Eyeing each others food, for small talk purposes. Questioning of territory, out of curiosity. And of course , as all hard working people do, a joke or ten about the relief to come at 3:00pm.

This must have been the table sought out by all those who didn't get a seat at their regular tables. We created a common ground despite the objectives and locations of our duties having little to no similarity.

There is so much to learn in our daily interactions. Especially when we are just enough out of our comfort zone. By "just enough" I mean not to far out that we feel paralyzed by the headlights of unfamiliarity but not to close that we snuggle in and shut the world out. 

Me and my humble abode gained a friend. Another couch surfer in search of shelter and a friendly welcomer! He is a wise and conscious being who has traveled far in this life and in many worlds. I would like to make next weeks bloggetry entirely about him so I won't give too much away. 

Although this week is busy with artisan projects and Christmas gifting, I thought I would have just enough time to accommodate a fellow, so from yesterday until Sunday we will share mornings and good company! Leaving but one empty chair at my table that proves more useful as a foot rest anyways.

Often in or in pursuit of a more comfortious environment I tend to isolate myself. To get things done, to avoid social awkwardness for self loathing or selfishness. It's not always a bad thing! But everything in moderation right. I had to make adjustments to my comforts to prepare a bit more for my guest. Again nothing bad. For me it's about learning something /someone new and the joy of pure humane efforts. 

Sitting along day and night (goodness that sounds so sad..) gives you a lot of time to think. What recipes should I practice for when company is over, do I need a new table cloth.. could I be getting something else done, for myself or for someone?

Having a being to bounce those thoughts and energies off of is a nice change. Especially when you share a language on a different frequency than English.

This time of year people ,places and things seem to be more hasty. Mostly in pursuits of providing others with comforts and preparing common grounds. You don't have to lose your ground, your title , your seat at the table.. when you spend time on others or yourself! Or perhaps you need to evaluate the seat and make a conscious decision. An uncomfortable decision. One where you are a bit removed from the rewards of your personal comforts.

or like whatever. Happy Wednesday... until next time , let the suspense of my mysterious wiseman build <3 <3

Backed Up

I have been experiencing a creative block. A lackadaise. A nasty procrastination bug. With December fast approaching and scheduled to keep my hands busy, this congestion of unenthusiastic excuses is like a phlegm clogging my artistic airways.

Than there is the infamous, influential and in relating to another source of oomph that is 

insufficient in my life.. money.

December 2nd I am participating in St. Alexanders Church Bazaar! I'm uber excited as it is my first artisan crafty event this year. I've been perfecting the recipe for my chai tea annnddd experimenting with pickling so I'm ready to talk for hours, over biscuits and lush scarves , with the all G-Mama's .

21 years old with the hobbies of a 89 year old woman. Currently with the same energy level. 

HELP ME.

I thought it was "S.A.D" aka Seasonal Depression. So I bought plants, changed to brighter linens around my apartment and bought a delightful variety of scented wax for my burner. I also got a green winter jacket and some fashun accessories ...retail therapy..

Keeping up with friends ,family , loved ones is important always. Keeping my week back to back to back with dinners, shopping, movies.... instead of advertising, display prepping and creating... ahhhhh. WHATS A GIRL TO DO.  I HAVE 2 WEEKS UNTIL THE BAZAAR.

I have 3 things I really need to put 100% of my energy into from now until the New Year. The bazaar is the first big bang so hopefully my curbed enthusiasm will expire with my Netflix free month trial.

Most people gain "winter weight" . It's cold and miserable outside.. Food is literally warm love. But my binging has to stop! The overindulgence should leave me feeling full of artisan flatulence. Not regret after my 67th plate at the buffet.

Okay so maybe I'm exaggerating and this is but a needed rest period. I have been working 6 days a week the past 4 weeks... I getting like 13 hours of sleep on the 7th day....

730 pm - 830 am ...SO GOOD. so needed!

I do tend of over worry and I have enough made to do the bazaar but like It's important to have a good variety and an overstock...

*inhale.

*exhale.

The next project for me is my photographs will be on display and for sale at The Healthy Rabbit December 15. The biggest creative venture, due to be paid for and in planning come January,  is still to be a surprise.

I CAN DO THIS. 

Perhaps the congestion of energy is just like a knot in a hose. Maybe I'm getting all twisted and worried about what should be coming out and creating a stress instead of a flow of creative juices. 

One of the best wisdoms a human ever verbally bestowed to me was;

"Don't forget to breath"

Until next time..

*inhale.

*exhale.

repeat.

Free Lunches

This past week I challenged myself to be my own ambassador. To advocate and act on any changes I needed to make and to start investing my energy into positive outlets. Literally and figuratively building a portfolio I could look at in a years time and say well heck look how far I've come. 

I also started reading about the stock market! Which I never expected to find so interesting and understandable. In fact I'm learning a very important lesson on the precious perception of time. Ultimately , being most fulfilled when practicing a lot of patience. 

"No such thing as a free lunch" is one common philosophy for someone with or trying to suit a 'vested interest' in what they doing with their money. Which is arguably man-kinds ultimate measurement of time..most of the time.

One of my favourite lines in the book I'm reading says  "The goal, it seems to me, is to have our financial resources accentuate , no detract from, our capacity to live a full life for the rest of our lives".

At least that's what we're sold. And it becomes the 5 W's we consume . Who, what, when , where , how... and the most the enigmatic 6th.. Wealth. Who are you in society. What job, car, clothes define you. When are you gonna get the next bigger ,better one. ..

But where are we trying to go in our pursuit of happiness. 
And how are we measuring "wealth"?

I had 2 free lunches Sunday. The first was with my Dad at our favourite restaurant. My Dad  and I haven't been on good terms since I came home. Sunday I helped him with his business like 'good ole times' ... I ate 3 plates at the buffet and actually didn't want to get up from the table.

Not only was my stomach so full that it seriously hurt to move... but this resolution of our relationship was finally being fulfilled over custard dumplings and sweet and sour soup. Sure I worked on my day off and wasn't paid. But I got the most valuable form of wealth available to us. 

We were going to go to Tim Hortons because I had a coupon for a free soup! Free lunch numero duo. The coupon expired the next day so I got my soup anyways and was planning to take it to work Monday for lunch.

The drive thru at Tim's was longer than expected, it was pouring rain and although I hadn't much reason to be complaining I just wanted to go home , rest and play with all my pretty commodities. 

On my way home I saw this man sleeping in a door way.
I made a u-turn rolled down my window and said 
"HAY DUDE" 
he jumped up and looked kind of scared
I asked  "Do you want some soup?"
he replied "Oh yeah , yeah, like um I was just trying to get some rest but now I'm woke!"
He looked less scared and I said "I had a coupon, it's good every weekend only so enjoy, anyways stay woke ,cheers!

smiles and cheers exchanged sincerely.

Time well spent. A rather trying statement. Because unlike money and it's various currents by which we are too often consumed in trading. Time is not reprintable or earned.

It is precious. And not to be wasted or taken for granted.  A lot of very clear lessons were put before me lately or perhaps had always been but I ignored them or was scared of facing some. Making even tiny hems in my vested interests is shaping up to be a beautiful fit , even in just a week. 

We can't become to self absorbed in our own turmoils, it only creates a black hole of insecurities. I experienced a very scary retrograde through out October . From what I've fathomed as my own interpretation of the month is October prepares us for new leaves, the seasons change right before our eyes then the ending is a time to remember death. The clocks literally go back. We are encouraged to rest as we feel the atmosphere become sharp, cold and un predictable.

I think these connection's to nature are miss understood and underestimated.

TAKE 10 SECONDS OF YOUR DAY TO SMILE AT A COWORKER. 
Call your grandma just to say HIYA, thanks for that time you decided to have kids cause they had me and living can be cool a lot of the time. 
Eat cake for breakfast.
Buy a coffee for a stranger. 

The best things in life are free.

Until next time try and stay humble, warm and positive!!!