A day in my shoes...

People are so quick to judge others.  So quick to think they know someone when really they are only seeing what that person chooses to show.   A great quote I once read was, "Don't judge a person until you have walked a mile in their shoes."   

This last year I was a different person.  A close friend told me that they use to look up to me and loved that I didn't care what others thought... They had felt that I lost that for a while.  To be fair, maybe I did.. but to be fair to me, no one has any clue what my journey has been over this last year.  I have overcome obstacles that not everyone is faced with and I have the scars inside and out to prove it.

This year has taught me a lot about myself and a lot about the people I want to surround myself with.  I love meeting new people and maybe I am too nice but I would never think that as being fake or dishonest.  It's who I am.  I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt because I don't know their past or the obstacles they may be currently overcoming.  Just because someone is smiling on the outside does not mean they aren't screaming on the inside.  Life isn't always easy.  We are all trying to figure it out and everyday we are presented with new situations, new obstacles... People deal with life and its ups and downs very differently.  But I feel that if you treat everyone you meet with respect and true happiness, you could change their outlook on life and help them overcome some of the obstacles they may be facing.

I met a man today who was picking out flowers for his wife.  He asked for my help in choosing what flowers to get.  He told me how lucky he was to have her in his life and that if he could afford to, he would buy her flowers everyday for the rest of his life.  My day went on and I went about my work.  At 4:15pm, I was called to front reception and there waiting for me was one single rose with a note that read," Thank you for listening!"  I learned from the lady who owned the flower shop that this man's wife had passed away almost a year ago.  I almost cried.  This small gesture made my day, week, month... I made somewhat of an impact on this life and in return, he did the same for me.  I may never see this man again but I will always remember the single rose that brightened my day.

Life is unpredictable and we don't know how we are going to react to the challenges we are faced with. It is not fair to judge anyone when you haven't walked a day in their shoes.  People react differently to challenges and its not fair to judge someone based on a reaction to a hard time.  We are all made differently so give people the benefit of the doubt.  I bet if given the chance to learn some people's whole story, you'd be surprised at how well they are doing considering...

So remember, life throws us curve balls once and awhile and sometimes a behaviour is because of this and not a true reflection of who a person is... People can go through phases where they lose themselves a little and that is ok...  As long as you have the support, the road back to you is always an option!

What will your legacy be?

I hate being too busy to write.  I have been finding it much more easier to send a fast 150 character tweet then to sit down and write a post... But I miss it so I told myself that today, no matter what, I was going to blog.

Last night a friend said to me that 2013 was going to be his year to "treat himself".  I like that... Why not allow yourself to be a little selfish and do the things you have always dreamed of doing.  The start of 2013 was a rocky one for my little community.  An amazing person's life was taken away from her tragically... But one thing she left behind was her love for everything life had to offer.  I knew her throughout high school and, as of late, in the schools as she was a teacher as well.  I can honestly say I NEVER saw her without a smile on her face.  She had a sincere love for life.  In this tragedy she has taught me and many others to live life with the same kind of passion she did.

I know I probably sound like a broken record when I say this, but life is too short and you really have no clue when your time is up.  What do you want to be remembered for?  I know that I don't want to be remembered as the girl who always said she was going to do things but never actually did those things.  I want to be known for adventure but also for being a good person and bettering lives of others.  So 2013 and every year after that, I am going to do just that!

I have always had the desire to see the world and after I ventured to Australia, that desire intensified.  There is a world of opportunities out there and I want to take full advantage of that.  I want to float in the dead sea, I want to snowboard in New Zealand, I want to volunteer in a school in Africa, jump out of an airplane over the Great Barrier Reef, surf the coast of Cali... my list could go on forever... Sometimes I wonder if I'm getting to old for these dreams but age really is just a number and you really are as young as you feel.

I can honestly say that I would live in a shack if it meant I could see the world.  I don't need flashy things.. I would prefer just a backpack with essentials, my health, and map of the world...

On top of adventure I want to better lives... I want to help children realize their dreams.. I'm not sure how I'm going to do this but I have some ideas... Let's just say Zoe and I have a plan in the works...

Noelle, in your tragic goodbye, you have changed my life and many others and for that I will be FOREVER THANKFUL!

So to all you that stumble upon this post, really think about how you want to be remembered... take that and go with it.. Life really is too short to sit around and wait!  LIVE YOUR LIFE!!!

Thank you Noelle!!!

Saying goodbye to another year...

As we get closer to another year ending, I can't help but to look back on 2012 and wonder, "did I live each day to its fullest potential?"  We are given one life to live so instead of sitting back and letting our days slip by, we should be embracing every breath we take... 

2012 was a bit of a rough year for me. Don't get me wrong I made a lot of new amazing memories, met a lot of incredible people and learned a lot about myself... Although it was a rocky year in health, relationships, etc.. I survived and grew stronger from these experiences.  Life has a funny way of testing you and keeping you on your toes... You get to points on this journey called life where you must reinvented yourself because the path has changed... Today, while being lazy watching One Tree Hill, I heard these quotes and it summed up 2012 for me perfectly...

Lucas: And Hansel said to Gretal: "Let us drop these bread crumbs, so that together we find our way home, because losing our way would be the most cruel of things." This year I lost my way. 
Nathan: And losing your way on a journey is unfortunate. But losing your reason for the journey... is a fate more cruel. 
Peyton: The journey lasted eight months. Sometimes I traveled alone. Sometimes there were others who took the wheel, and took my heart. But when the destination was reached, it wasn't me who'd arrived. It wasn't me at all. 
Brooke: And once you lose yourself, you have two choices. Find the person you used to be, or lose that person completely. 
Mouth: Because sometimes, you have to step outside of the person you've been, and remember the person you were meant to be. The person you wanted to be. The person you are. 

I think many of us lose our way from time to time and it can be hard to find our way back... but what I have learned is not to be afraid of falling off the path... don't be afraid if you get lost once in awhile and never be afraid to embrace the new journey you embark on.  Don't have regrets... take your mistakes and learn from them and then throw them away... 

As I have stated many times throughout my blog, I believe that things happen for a reason.   I believe that this year has taught me that life can be scary and growing up can be terrifying... but it also can be truly AMAZING!  So instead of hiding under the blankets waiting for the days to pass, get out of bed and make mistakes!  Mistakes mean you are living and we were put on this earth to do just that!  The people I have met on my journey have taught me how to live and I will forever be thankful for the experiences, chats, and memories I made because of them.  All these things made me the person I am today... Although I got a little lost, I was able to find my way home! 

So as I say goodbye to 2012, I am ready to embark on a new journey in 2013.  I am ready to make mistakes, live my life, have no regrets and reinvent myself!

Parental Guidance

How to make a BEAUTIFUL life...

Love yourself.
MAKE PEACE with who you are and where you are at this moment in time.

Listen to your heart.
If you can't hear what it's saying in this noisy world, MAKE TIME for yourself.

Enjoy your own company.
Let your mind wander among the stars.

Try.
Take chances.
MAKE MISTAKES.
Life can be messy and confusing at times, but it's also full of surprises.
The next rock in your path might be a stepping-stone.

Be happy.
When you don't have what you want, want what you have.
MAKE DO.
That's a well kept secret of contentment.

There aren't any shortcuts to tomorrow.
You have to MAKE YOUR OWN WAY.
To know where you are going, is only part of it.
You need to know where you have been too.
And if you ever get lost, don't worry.
The people who love you will find you.
Count on it.

Life isn't days and years.
It's what you do with time and with all the goodness and grace that's inside you.
MAKE A BEAUTIFUL LIFE...
The kind of life you deserve.

Thanks mom and dad!!!  xoxo

We Click.

I use to be one of those people that felt that I needed to please everyone.  I was always wanting people to like me and would sometimes sacrifice my own feelings for others.  As I grow older I realize how important true friendships are.  I have had a lot of friends throughout my lifetime but I can honestly say that the people I surround myself with today are probably the best friends a person could ask for.  My core group of friends is small and I realize now that that is ok.. it is more than ok, it is perfect!  I don't have to go out of my way to make sure they like me.. I know that they love me for who I am.  I don't have to try with them.

Over this last year I went through a bit of an emotional roller coaster and these girls were there for me through it all.  I didn't have to ask for them to be there, they just were. Each of them are very different from each other and I sometimes wonder how we ever came to be... but I'm sure glad that we did.

This post is dedicated to the amazing girls I am so fortunate to have a part of my life.  I look forward to many more years of long chats, girls nights in, wild nights out, road trips, concerts, dinner parties, sleepovers, etc.. I love you all so much!  Thank you for being a part of my life!!

"Remember no man is a failure who has friends!" - It's A Wonderful Life

One Magic Night

My absolute favourite day of the year is Christmas Eve.  Not for the reasons most people love the holiday though.  The reason Christmas Eve is so important to me is because my fondest memory of childhood just so happen to take place on this special day.

Most people enjoy Christmas for the delicious food, the good company and of course, the shiny new presents.  Now don’t get me wrong, although I do enjoy ALL these things, this is not my main reason for loving the holiday.   I, on the other hand, love this holiday even more because of what occurred on Christmas Eve 1990 at around 7:30pm.

It was the most magical night of my life.  Myself, along with my two sisters, brother, mom, dad, and our dog Harry decided to take a walk after dinner.  Now this is not something we usually do altogether as a family, especially during the bitter cold winter nights.  But on this night, the weather was PERFECT.  I remember putting on my purple snow boots along with my oversized hand-me-down winter jacket.  Although my jacket was three sizes too big, I loved the way it kept me warm and made me feel as though I was an Eskimo in an igloo.  After finishing bundling up, my family and myself stepped outside.  The sky was so clear that every single star was twinkling and lit up this perfect night with a warm glow.  The snow had just freshly fallen so that every step we took, the snow beneath us crackled like wood heating in a fireplace.  We walked side-by-side admiring how beautiful our street looked with all the Christmas lights on and seeing the neighbours through their windows laughing and smiling.  I felt like I was in a fairytale.  We headed down a short, dark alley which lead to a huge open field that had two swings and a slide, therefore we called it “the park”. 

My sister and I decided to lie down and make beautiful snow angels. As I sunk about 3 inches into the fluffy fresh fallen snow, I remember feeling warmth.  It was funny to think that being cuddled in snow could actually make you feel so toasty.

Just as we had finished our snow angels I heard my dad say, “Look Up!”  And at that moment was when magic happened.  All six of us look up to the sky in amazement.  Up above us we saw eight twinkly lights with a red light leading the way.  Now at 7 years old, Santa Clause is real and this was the most AMAZING experience.  We watched and sat in silence for what seemed like forever.  When we finally came back down to earth we all just looked at each other with the biggest smiles on our faces.  We had just seen what ever kid wishes they could, Santa Clause and his reindeer. 

To this day the experience is burned in my memory bank.  And as I grow older and the magic of Christmas disappears for some, it always remains in me.  I witnessed a miracle and to this day myself, along with everyone in my family, believes we were fortunate enough to see Santa Clause.  

Who doesn't want to be an Angel??

It's that time of year again... time for the most perfect women to strut their stuff on the runway while women all over the world admire with slight extreme jealousy and men drool wishing they could be with them for at least one night!  The Victoria's Secret Annual Fashion Show is just weeks away and I know that I am more than just a little excited... I'm ecstatic!  Long fabulous hair and smokin' hot bodies... these women are one of a kind beauties!

Not only does this air around my favourite time of the year (Christmas) it also has all the best elements for a night in!  Victoria's Secret, Justin Bieber, Christmas themed,  and a lot of fun!  I will have to add "Attend VS fashion show" to my bucket list ;)

Every year at this time, while the angel's prepare for the runway, I kick my butt into full workout gear.  My dream to be an angel is just that, a dream!  But instead of sitting on the couch jamming potato chips and ice cream down my throat feeling miserable watching the "skinny bitches" rock the runway, I am going to watch with confidence!  Although I may never look like "an angel", I can at least try to look and feel the best for me! 

Here are a few pictures for that extra motivation needed to hit the gym and not eat a whole pizza in one sitting ;)