Reflections of...

Reflection from flickr

I love living in this city. The Canucks are playing in game 7, first round of the playoffs and they just scored in the 3rd period to go up 2-1 - you could hear people all around us shouting with joy! It's brilliant! Of course, if they were playing badly, everyone would be dissing them together too.

I was going to write about how crazy life has been lately, especially at work, and how I'm working hard to remember what's really important and not dwelling in the chaos too much, how I'm feeling overwhelmed and pulled in too many directions all at once, but I don't really feel like doing that now. I'm so grateful for my life, no matter how insane I might feel these days. I have a great job in a wonderful organization, surrounded by some brilliant and fun people. I'm learning a lot and there's even a possible promotion on the table -I haven't felt like I was in such a "right" place for a long time. It feels good.

The best news of late is my R getting his residency!!!!!!!! How excited are we?!! It only took 6 months for this part, but it all started over a year and a half ago. I can finally breath now. It's hard to believe how much of my thinking space that whole process and everything connected to it took up! He can stay in Canada forever now, so we are finally able to start planning and even executing future plans - what a concept!

We bought bikes too, so we're loving having wheels and riding around the city. It's so nice to come home after work on a nice sunny day and go for a ride along the seawall. And if riding to work on that doesn't get me in shape, I don't know what will!!

It's good for me to remember that work isn't the be all and end all, even if I like being there. That I am allowed to make mistakes and feel overwhelmed. And that life is happening all the time, and I don't want to miss a thing.

Grateful Friday!!

from Flickr

I so need a grateful list this week, whew. I just got home from a trip up north for work and we got completely stranded because of a spring snow storm!! We ended up having to take a bus home, as it was the only thing moving...I am now back home, 21 hours later!!! What a trip! It was insane and we totally didn't expect something like that to happen. We knew we were in trouble yesterday when we were telling locals that we were meant to be flying out and they just laughed at us. I'm just so happy to be home, out of my winter gear and going out for a walk in the beautiful spring sunshine of Vancouver!! Yes, sunshine! I too am in awe.


We were up there preparing for our program trip on May, trying to sort out some last minute details. I am going to be coordinating one of the communities, so it was really important for me to go and meet people and get a sense of what it's going to be like. Unfortunately, because of the unco-orperative weather, most of the stuff we needed to sort out in my community didn't get done. Oh well, it will all come together, have no fear! I'm going to be well burnt out though by the end of it. But it was so amazing to see how excited everyone was about us coming up there and how helpful they all are. It's going to be brilliant!
On another positive note, we got some great news this week - Rich got his permanent residency for Canada!!!!!!!!!!! Can we say excited?! I'm sure you all heard our collective sigh of relief, at last. This is fantastic and we're going to celebrate with a Canadian themed party sometime soon, so we'll post some pics then!


This week I am grateful for:

• my home
• the sunshine
• where we live
• the beach
• the people I work with and what we get to do
• this book and her website
• my body being able to cope with a long ride in a bus
• having a sense of humour
• my iPod - saved me!!
• the sunrise I saw between the mountains somewhere on our way back down to Van
• getting to see my R soon!!
• his residency coming through!
• talking to old friends
• babies
• fresh fruit and vegetables
• home cooked food - no more take away, please...
• my brother and his family
• my boss' husband giving us a ride home
• not having to go into work today - had one day in the office this week!
• getting to experience different places
• being part of an arts program
• our landlords cooking us dinner tonight
• going to a benefit show in a really cool bar tomorrow night with new friends
• my bed....I cannot wait to get into it

Have a great weekend everyone and take time to be grateful for all the wonderful things in your lives too!

Grateful Friday!

untitled by rosemary from flickr

Another week done and dusted, thank goodness! I've been feeling tired and aching for some sunshine and spring-like weather. Luckily, here, it isn't subzero temperatures and the cherry blossoms are out, the buds on the trees are pushing through, and you can almost smell it coming in the air...somewhere under all the rain.
This week I'm grateful for:

• R surprising me at work today with flowers and taking me out for a drink
• sleeping in tomorrow
• cherry blossoms
• my yellow rain boots - I call them my little rays of sunshine
• my sister - it's her birthday today
• another session done at work
• being busy
• voices on the other end of the phone
• my little transition group of 4 year olds - how cute are they?!
  the people I'm surrounded by everyday
• getting excited about my work trip up north
• Julia Cameron's new book
• knitting!! (we're doing it together!)
• getting to go to the movies this weekend - seeing this I think
• fresh fruit and cottage cheese
• going snowshoeing last week and getting to the top!
• having my sister visit
• planning a weekend away for Easter
• learning to look at the world differently
• my gym pass
• my new shoes!! how fun are they!?
• getting some down time

Don't forget to change your clocks ahead this weekend!

Grateful Friday

I haven't done one of these in ages, it's time.

This week I'm grateful for:

• my R and his strength
• that he's going through all this immigration stuff for us
• my wonderful job
• being busy
• my bed - hopefully I'll have some quality time with it this weekend
• the people I work with
• my new support system
• possibilities
• our recordable DVD player
• wine, wine, wine
• learning how to have faith that all will work out
• the love of Valentine's Day - not all the crap that goes with it though!
• my parents - both have tumbled on the ice this week, sore and bruised
• our camera
• Silvina and Mariano
• cottage cheese and fruit together
• leftovers - so I don't have to make lunch every night!
• Friday Night Lights
• Grey's Anatomy - but if they kill off Meredith, I may not be able to watch it anymore!
• our webcam
• not living out east in the cold
• the sun we had as a surprise on the weekend - we played tennis!
• my health plan to cover prescriptions!
• my friend Jo for always emailing me
• steamed milk with sugar free vanilla syrup
• hugs at work today
• the Brits on tv last night
• where we live
• being loved

Have a great weekend!

Lessons I'm learning

my bike!

There are a lot of lessons swirling around me these days, once again. Probably the same ones that are always there, trying to get my attention. Learn to let go, learn to live one day at a time and not project into the future, learn to trust that I can handle whatever I need to, learn to let go of the outcome. Always coming up, just in different forms, different situations. R's residency application always gets me stressed and there is absolutely no reason to be worried. Worrying about the health of those close to me when I cannot do anything about the future. Getting sad about the state of the planet and the polar bears who are losing their ice. Worrying about making a mistake, or not having enough money, or not being able to get pregnant when we want to, or having to move away from Vancouver before we're ready - it goes on and on like a broken record sometimes. I've probably even blogged about these very same lessons and issues!

I'm learning that worrying does nothing but waste my energy. I'm learning that taking things one day at a time helps to keep them from overwhelming me. I've learned that I can tell myself I'm not going to worry, just for today, and it works. I'm learning that the outcome is not up to me, but that I can believe the Universe is friendly and hope for the best. I'm learning that I have a very powerful mind and if I can train it to think more creative and positive thoughts, that the fear and anxiety may have nowhere left to live! I'm learning to keep things from funneling down a negative spiral all the time - especially since there is no reason not to believe things will be alright. I'm learning to believe in possibility.

I am learning that learning to let go is the most important gift I can give myself. I feel like this is my chance, right now. This is my chance to let the lesson sink in, that its ok to let go, that its safe to let go, that if I can let go (of his residency, of the future, of my fears) everything will still be ok.

How do you let go? what works for you?

Winter Blues

winter on Flickr

I know it's not even February yet, but I am so ready for winter to move on. The darkness and dreary-ness and perpetual gloom can go away anytime now! It's so hard to be motivated and inspired when its like this - does anyone else find that? We've tried to stay busy by going up to the mountains and visiting with friends, but both of us are feeling the winter blues this weekend.

I've been extremely busy at work, a shock to my system after a quiet couple of weeks before the holidays. It's brilliant, I thrive on being busy, but it's been a big adjustment. I had my three month review this past week and it went very well. I am officially an employee now and get to go on the health plan! I love that I have so much variety in this job, and new challenges all the time. I've actually been asked to help run one of our major projects done through our office, so that makes me feel even better about work. Like I'm doing something right. I kept wishing I would find a job where I was busy - I guess it's arrived!!

I've lost touch with my creativity a bit lately as well, but have plans to start knitting again. My mom taught me when I was younger, but it's been years since I did any. My goal is to make baby blankets for all my friends who are pregnant - there are three now and counting!!(How exactly did I get to the age when my friends would be having babies and I'd be talking about having my own?!!) I get home from work and its dark and I'm tired and creating ends up at the bottom of my list. Everytime. I would like to change this. And soon.

The one thing I am doing to help my mood is exercising regularly. I've been at the gym 4 days a week on my lunch break. It works much better that way, putting it in the middle of my day instead of at the end. I've even started to find a few others to workout with, to help keep each other motivated. Yesterday, I made it to a salsa aerobics class, which was brilliant! I didn't even notice I was exercising! I will definitely go back to that class.

The days are getting lighter, so I have that to look forward to. It's up to me to change things, but that always feels the hardest. I'd love someone to come in and entertain me sometimes, take care of it all for me. How do you stay inspired and motivated in the winter? What helps get your creative juices flowing??

List of Loving

by komal soin from flickr

I was going to write a post about getting fit and eating better and staying motivated, but can't really be bothered to go there today - might not be a good sign! Instead, I decided to make a list of some of the things I'm loving these days, from books to music to food. A way to see the positives in my life, not focus on the things that make me negative.

I just finished The Birth House, by Ami McKay - fabulous! About midwives in a small community near where I grew up in Nova Scotia during the first World War. Just so addictive and such wonderful characters. Go read it!

Also reading Anthony Bourdain's A Cook's Tour, combining my love of travel with my love of food - another great Christmas gift!

I'm reconnecting with my iPod with tunes from Razorlight, Kasabian, Oasis, Snow Patrol, Coldplay, Madeleine Peyroux, Gilles Peterson's Brazil and many more. (Yes, I see the English theme there, too!) Looking forward to the new Norah Jones as well.
I'm loving spending time in the kitchen, trying new things, working with different spices and tastes, seeing what I can come up with. My goal is to try a new meal at least every two weeks - from all our cookbooks and sources this should be pretty easy!

I'm really into not drinking coffee, even though I've been on decaf for years. I am loving trying different types of tea instead, finding ones that are healthy and uplifting through their flavours instead of sugar.

I'm loving spending time with R, as always. Even sitting and watching the NFL playoffs - I know, that surprises me too!
I'm loving the webcam revolution my family has started. I get to see their faces every week now, it's such a treat. And our friends from all over the world as well, it's wonderful. It helps us to feel closer in our little corner of the world.

I'm loving spending time with my friends at work. We've been talking about babies and food and plans to have game nights and group snowshoeing excursions.

I'm loving that I love my job.

I'm loving that the sun is staying up later and coming up earlier - even if we don't see it behind the clouds, I know it's happening!

And I am loving lazy Sundays when I get to finish up some loose ends around the house, take care of my snuffling R and give myself a food spa.

Life is good. (knock on wood.)