Category: The Best Me

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Getting Things Done in 2013.

Well here’s my bucket list for 2013. It’s just things I’ve been thinking about for quite sometime, but never got around to… probably because I had no money, I was too stressed out about making someone else happy, or I was too busy crying about how unhappy I was.
(it’s sad, I know. I’ll accept as many hugs as you want to offer)

I thought it’d be cool to find 213 things to do-  [I know that the year is actually 2013, but that’s a big feat] – but I originally started with 23. Since this was originally posted on January 2 – I’ve decided to add some more ideas! There’s just so many awesome, cool and fun things to do…

Anyways, here’s some things I should probably cross off the list this year:

1. Fly like a bird. It’s time to zip atop the trees and feel the wind in my face – Zipline adventure time!!

2. Take a reading break. A whole weekend dedicated to reading the stack of books I continuously fail to indulge in.

3. I’d like to paddle my little heart out on a dragon boat.

4. There needs to be more love letters; and I need to actually send them.

5. I’d like to kiss a man with a beautiful, kempt beard. (just, because)

6. Attend an East Indian Wedding. Endless days and nights of partying, fancy outfits, music and dancing…? Yes, please.

7. Spend less time judging my reflection. I have to embrace my body and be patient as I try to ‘perfect’ it.

8. Escape the noise pollution and city lights and lose myself in the presence of the star-filled skies.

9. Practice finding inner peace, and finally incorporate more yoga into my life.

10. Those boudoir shots from a few years back are getting quite stale… I should really update them this year.

11. Practice being domestic and stuff- must make at least one or two recipes from Dad’s cookbook gift.

12. Explore the entire length of the West Coast and end up in Disneyland. (Road trip!)

13. Visit the 2nd dirtiest place in the world: the Seattle gumwall! 

14. Skate ’round the rink at Rockefeller Centre, NYC.

15. Enjoy more spiderman kisses.

16. Get inked. Again. (Mom, don’t even start. Just smile, and accept it)

17.  Spend an entire day in bed, and not feel guilty about it.

18. Compete in the bikini class of a fitness show (Kelowna, May 2013!)

19. Run across the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Just because (and to continue to conquer my fear of heights)

20. Make a long-overdue trek to Vancouver Island.

21. Call my sister more often. Something like, once a month. (that’s better than not at all in the past 15 years!)

22. Pay off my Visa bill. (That poor thing is always maxed out)

23. Run the seawall. The WHOLE seawall!

24. Make green eggs and ham.

25.  Visit a psychic.  

26.  Treat my beautiful face to it’s very first facial.

27. Hike the Chief.  

28. Drop and complete 10 full push-ups. (I know, I’m a weakling)

There’s so many other things I should do, can do, and will likely do as this year progresses. But I’m just going to hang out with these ideas for a bit and see where life takes me.

Check back often – I’ll likely tweak this list and there’s a good probability that there will be stories, pictures, and adventures to blog about!

– J. 

 

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The Rule of 2013

Everyone’s talking about their resolutions and such for the new year ahead.
I too have been down that road, but I’ve honestly never stayed true to many of them. I usually forget about them, or only half commit myself to them, which results in sub-par results.

So, I’ve decided to go into this with a different approach. I’ve made a ‘mantra’ for myself, a word of the year.

SELFISH.

In 2013, I will be selfish.

 

 

 

 

I will go with every urgent gut instinct that kicks in and I’m going to follow my heart’s every desire. When I want to do something, I’ll do it; if it’s something (an idea, a concept, a goal) that will make me happy, I’ll jump on board. When decisions need to be made that affect anyone including myself, I will be at the top of the priority list.

I’m going to be more kind to myself, pay more attention to myself and my needs. I’m going to cater to my own self-confidence, personal happiness, and complete contentment. I’m going to enjoy being me.

In 2013, I will read more books, blog more happy thoughts, and expand my potential. I will make this city I live in my “home”, and spend less time grasping at the life I left behind. I plan on spending this year making pleasant memories, and I hope I can make it a year of a lot less sad, sorrow filled tears.

2013 is going to be my year and I’m going to do things my way. I’ve spent too much time as of late being concerned about what others think and say, trying much too hard to keep others pleased – which more often than not, leaves me in a worn out, miserable, stressed and less than satisfactory state.

I know this all might sound completely cliche and vague. It most likely sounds incredibly self-absorbed and I don’t really care. I haven’t set any definitive and time sensitive goals like “go skydiving” or “run a 10k marathon” or “successfully complete 30 burpees in 1 minute by March 3rd” – because that’s not what I want, and it’s not how I want to live my life. I will create a bucket list of many a thing I’d like to accomplish, but that’s not the point here; those small (or large) feats won’t be the drive of 2013.
My goal in this new year is to be more self-aware, feel good and love almost every single moment of my life.

2013 is about embracing myself and doing everything I personally can to be the best me, in my own eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 2013, I will be selfish.

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The World Didn’t End; Thankfully, 2012 Will.

The end of 2012 cannot come fast enough.

Although this year was one of amazing, phenomenal, and epic wondrous moments for many (as seen through many social media forums and heard through word-of-mouth, and so forth), it was somewhat frustrating and challenging in this little world of mine.

This was the year, that everything changed and reality hit. I learned how uneasy life can be, and that the ways we wish or want things to unfold, isn’t always a possibility regardless of any efforts we exude. More than once, I was reassured of the fact that when we make mistakes or simple bad decisions, we must eventually endure unpleasant or unfortunate consequences.
At one point this year, I felt the unbearable feeling of having my heart shatter to a million pieces. All too often, I cried until my eyes stung, I felt ill to my stomach for so many reasons, and there were many times when I felt like the world around me was collapsing while I was helpless to save it. My heart and soul were put through the wringer on repeat, and I always felt like I was on an emotional, physical, and life challenging roller coaster. Miserable, uncomfortable, unsatisfied with everything – I hit somewhere pretty close to rock bottom at one point. 2012 was definitely not my best year to date, and I can’t wait to end it and forget most of it.

In all it’s ugly glory, the good news is that 2012 wasn’t a complete write off. There were a few lessons I managed to learn from every hardship I was put through, and a few things I can take with me into a better future.

I learned that incorporating small, good deeds into your lifestyle makes you feel better about yourself and the life you live. I discovered the power of social media, and managed to land myself two freelance writing positions, just by putting myself out there in the Twitter-world. My eyes were re-opened to how lucky I am to live where I do. I have a new-found pride of being a calling British Columbia my home province and being a born and raised Vancouver girl. Best of all, I was reassured that my life is full of amazing people that worry about me, care about me, love me, miss me, and believe in me. (not that I forgot this, but sometimes it doesn’t hurt to be gently reminded)

The most valuable lesson I learned this year, was that you don’t always have to be ‘strong’. For the longest time, I dealt with being unhappy and pushed through the hard times, because I didn’t know how to ask for help; I didn’t realize how badly I needed help and that it was okay to ask for help. I wasn’t aware of how necessary it was to let people in and make things better.
This past May, I faced one of my biggest fears. I caved and admitted to not being ‘okay’. It lead to me quitting my job, and packing up my apartment so my parents could move me back into their home. It wasn’t easy to put myself in that spot of vulnerability; I felt selfish, helpless and I felt like I had failed and that I had let everyone, including myself, down.
Luckily, I didn’t (at least, that’s what they continue to assure me of). In the midst of all the upset, things somehow worked out the way they were supposed to. Although I don’t always believe it when they say “things happen for a reason”, things continue to get better and as of today, it seems as though everything worked out the way it was supposed to.  Life, as I always say, will never be ‘perfect’, but I’m hoping that a new year and an absolute fresh start brings small amounts of magic and even just some extra good fortune.

I look back at so many moments of this painful year, and breathe a sigh of relief that it’s almost over. Reminded of how difficult, upsetting, and almost unbearable so many days and nights were, I know that the only thing that got me through, were the incredible human beings I keep close.
The inspiring group of people who encouraged me to be a better person, who helped me find my calling, who pushed to keep going when I didn’t think I could make it. The most generous, caring, loving, and adoring people who went out of their way to make me feel myself, when I was a fish completely out of water; the people who opened their arms and welcomed me into their lives without judgment.
The amazing, good-hearted, loving people who held my hand, listened to me cry, and stuck by me when I was at my worst. Despite being twice my age or having strong ties to someone I loathe, regardless of the fact that some will always cheer for the Edmonton Oilers and forever try to put me in orange and blue; even though some live too far away, are very busy, and although I don’t get to see many of these people as often as I’ve always wanted – they’re always there, without question or request.

Every single person who went out of their way to make me smile, laugh, and just be happy; to each incredible human being who believed in me, mentored me, and made life easier to grasp; all these people and a few more, kept me fighting through the year. To you, I can’t express enough good words. But you know who you are… and I adore you.  I’m hoping you stay close by in some way, some how, and share your friendship with me as we take on a better, greater, new year.

December 21st didn’t bring the end of the world, but midnight on December 31st will bring an end to this agonizing year – and I can’t wait.
If I make one promise to myself, it’s that 2013 will be my year of awesome. I won’t be afraid to listen to my heart, follow my gut instincts, and do what makes me happy. A new year, an even better me.

2013, I’m ready.