A Taste of Turkey – Just One Extra Thing to Be Thankful For.

“We don’t need to have a single bite of turkey to be thankful for this life.” (quoted by my darling friend, CJ).

A holiday, an extra day off work and a lil’ bit of a longer weekend to appreciate every day we have behind and ahead of us is just the cool whip on top of the pumpkin pie.

I usually spend a moment of every single day wondering how I’ve managed to get to this point. I know that in the grand scheme of things, life’s been pretty decent. It could be a whole lot worse for sure, but that doesn’t mean it’s always been peachy keen and easy.

Heart breaks after heart breaks. Too many little mistakes, followed by bigger mistakes. Poor choices and poor planning. Life changing decisions that lead to… well, life changes that I didn’t always expect.

I’ve done good things and bad things. I’ve accomplished a lot, and fucked everything up every now and then.

But, I’m still here. As far as I know, I’ve got some years ahead of me still. If life’s taught me anything, it’s that anything can and will happen.

You know what: all of that combined is definitely something to be thankful for.

This year hasn’t been the best of them so far. For all I know, it’s not the worst. But it’s had it’s share of ups and downs, and I managed to make it to this point without completely losing my mind. I’m thankful for the things that helped me maintain my sanity:

Someone was generous enough to implement the expedited passport. Sure, they didn’t guarantee a simple stress free process, but they made it a thing- which meant that earlier this year when that despicable cancer thing got hold of “Lola”, I was able to board my spontaneously booked flight and spend some last special moments with my grandma before she passed. Speaking of which, I’m also grateful for doctors, nurses and Starbucks employees who love their job so much that they make me and my family feel welcome with every visit, over and over and over again.

I’m grateful for gym memberships and a gym that opens early enough to get the hardest part of my day out of the way by 8am. I’m grateful for people who motivate me, inspire me, and give me an extra reason to get out of bed in the morning. Thanks to their support and good influence, I’ve got some serious quads of steel (plus, an entire body in pretty decent shape).

I’m glad that even though I have no idea what I’m doing, I’ve got continuous opportunities to take another shot. I’m glad I have people (who I can call my friends) who don’t give up on me, who love me despite how dramatic I can be, and who push me to always be better than I was the day before. It’s my best of good friends, the most adorable little human beings, and fantastically talented and most incredible people on this earth that give me extra motivation to be my very best. Bless all their souls, for continuously lifting me up.

As always, my heart couldn’t be more full of love and admiration for the people I call my family. Despite the person I’ve been in the past and the choices I make towards my future, they hold my hand with no judgement. I’m glad that they’re the type of people to put family first, and they’re not afraid to consistently remind me that they love me; they’re the people who say those 3 little words out loud, all the time, because they know how important they are. I know not everyone in this world is lucky to have people like that in their life, so I appreciate mine more than I could even explain.

It makes me happy that I live in a world with jelly beans and peppermint tea and coffee that actually tastes delicious with no cream or sugar. It makes me smile that there are cute pandas and beautiful strangers, and heart shaped rocks scattered along nearby beaches to enjoy. Things like caramel flavoured iron supplements, extra strength Advil, hot stone massages and group therapy that make life a little easier – I can appreciate that. Lululemon pants, good books, and oversized hoodies that keep you warm make life a little more enjoyable – I like that they exist. And a job, a paycheque, and decent health keep me going every day… I’m thankful that I have all these things and more.

I’m glad that I have good people, far and near, to help through the hard times and make the good times more memorable. I’m glad I have money and materialistic things to make me feel better, even if it’s just for a moment. I’m glad that I have a choice to be who I am, and that people around me are cool with it.

Life doesn’t always make sense, and I’m always trying to find my way through the mess of it all – but I’m okay with that. Sure, it gets a little chaotic at times, but maybe it would be a little less awesome without the adventures filled with love and life lessons. The plot twists make it all a bit more interesting, and at the very least, make for a good story in the inevitable end.

I don’t really need a special day to be thankful for waking up every day for another chance to make something of ourselves. But I’ve got one, it gives me a day off work, and it comes with turkey dinner, and stuffing, marshmallow yam casseroles, plus pumpkin pie for dessert. It’s a pretty good deal, really.

I can’t control what the universe dishes out on the daily, but I do know that it gives me a lot of reasons to feel fortunate.

Thank you for reading this. I hope you feel even just a little bit as lucky as I do on my best days in this life.

Happy thanksgiving, you wonderful human being. I hope you find at least one really good reason to smile today.

<3

October 14, 2013October 14, 2013

Love and Thanks.

We should always spend a little time to reflect on the reasons we have to smile, but Thanksgiving is a special occasion to devote a little bit of extra gratitude to the little things that make our life a happier one.

For the first time in 2 years, I don’t have to board a plane or drive for hours just to be with the people I adore the most; for that, I’m incredibly grateful. But aside from waking up in my own bed, in the city I’ve loved all my life – this year during the most humble holiday of the year…

I’m most thankful for love.

Before you think this is going to turn into some sappy post about the love of my life and some guy who swept me off my feet – don’t worry it’s not. Because although I’m a huge hopeless romantic and usually get wrapped up in that cheesy, love of my life kind of stuff (and I am thankful to have found ‘love-love’ this year) I’m actually talking about the unconditional, raw, and genuine love from friends, family, and random strangers.

I’m thankful for family members who call me just to make sure I’m okay and to tell me that they miss me, for cousins who might as well be my brothers, and for aunts/uncles who play the role as my parents because they love me as their own.

I talk about being an only child all the time, but it’s not entirely true, and I’m grateful to have a half siblings that I can turn to when I need to – despite the fact that there’s a huge distances between where we live, our age, and our personalities. It’s cool to know that even though our lives have always been completely separated, we can still be a family and love each other as so.

I consider myself extremely lucky to have met some of the most compassionate, wonderful, and authentically beautiful human beings on the planet. Even better, is that I get to call them my friends.

I’m thankful to have good people with good hearts, who hold my hand and let me lean on their shoulder when I need it the most. I’m so happy to know people who don’t judge me on my flaws, encourage my better qualities, and who believe in me more than I sometimes believe in myself.

I’m grateful for old friends who found their way back into my life and made it better, and to random strangers who wiggled their way into my heart. There’s also certain, very special individuals who love me against all odds and dramatic life events – and I’m glad you’re here.

Every day, I feel overwhelmed with the love I’m offered by all sorts of different, amazing people in my life. Girls, guys, mentors, kindred souls and fellow warriors who dish out the best hugs, the most valuable advice and who stand behind me no matter my mood. They’re the people who sit with me when I’m sad, let me be mad, and force me to smile when I need a good reminder of how awesome this life is.

Life is a whole lot more beautiful because the love I share with so many incredible human beings. I hope you all know who you are – and I thank you for sharing a little bit of your hearts.

I’ve definitely got a soft spot for every single one of you in mine.

October 7, 2012February 13, 2013

Let Me, Give Thanks.

Thanksgiving.

One of the simplest, uncluttered holidays of the year. No gifts, no unnecessary greeting cards, nothing superficial. Just family and love. It’s easy.

I’m thankful for many things in my life, but this year, I’m especially thankful for two things: People and Opportunity.

I’m thankful for the people who have believed in me. The people who have given me a chance to be myself and share my life with them. The people who have opened their arms to me and welcomed me to be a part of their own life. The people who have joined me in my adventures and helped create them. And mostly the people who have always supported me, loved me, and encouraged me to be my best.
Throughout 8 years of friendship, I’ve had the privilege of finding my soul-mate in my best friend; a woman I trust with my entire world and respect with my whole heart. She’s my better half, my kick-in-the-pants, and my partner in crime.

In my travels between BC and Alberta, I found friends in the most amazing people. I’ve fallen in lust, created friendships that will last a lifetime, and I’ve met some of the most interesting people I’ve ever known. I found a forever friend in someone twice my age, a mentor and good friend in a woman who’s respected by many, and I’ve created great bonds with many people who I would have never met without the decisions I made to relocate myself.

People I’ve always known, new faces, and even random strangers have wiggled their way into my heart and found a special spot. I’m okay with this and I hope those certain people stay there; my heart will continue to grow as I hopefully meet more people who exude pure awesome-ness.

The people I am the most thankful for: my family. Through good, bad, tears and every smile – they’re always there, no questions asked. I love them, for loving me unconditionally. They don’t judge me and they stand behind me with encouragement as I continue to try new things and find the best ways to live my life. I’m far from perfect, but that doesn’t matter to them.

Over the past (almost) two years, I’ve been blessed with incredible opportunities to leave an impact on this world. I’m lucky enough to have a job that allows to me to write every day and be myself. I’m so grateful to have found ways to fuel my passion for writing; I’m so happy that I get to share it with the world. Through my previous blog, my work in radio copywriting, and my freelance work for The Province blog page – I have a chance to write what I want. I get to express myself and people actually read my work. (THAT is SO cool! I’m still in awe over that, all the freakin’ time!)

The other day, I had a chance to hang out with the graduating class of the Broadcast Communications Radio program at BCIT. It was an extreme honour to be able to share my story and my insight on life after graduation and my experience in the industry. When I stop and think to myself that I only graduated a year ago, I’m totally shocked that they see me as someone worthy of offering advice. It was such a flattering experience and really opened my eyes as to how incredibly fortunate I am in my small successes thus far.

I’m thankful for so much in this life, but it’s the people and the life I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy in the past 19 months that has made me truly grateful to be… me.
Life isn’t perfect; it’s never going to be. So look at what you have, see the awesome in it and keep doing YOU.

Be thankful for what you’ve got, right now. Big or small – it’s gotta’ be something to smile about.