dreaming over the ocean

This is a on going series that is posted on (the occasional) thursday's, to answer the question: "What helps you to thrive in your environment?" The series is written by myself, and a variety of guest Contributors. This week, I want to comment on peopel who lift you up. if you are a regular follower of my blog, you will know that I have not had an easy start to the semester. if anything, it has been humbling. It has been character building. It has opened my eyes to how easy it is to just be brought back down to reality. And, it got me thinking about how certain people, this week, have lifted me back up in through this week. Mostly, it has come in the form of the academic leaders that are around me. it seems as if this week, there has seemed to be a lot of blog posts about not hitting perfection. Coach Mary commented on it , and referenced "single dad laughing" post about perfection. My teammate/friend/train this coach Kelly talked about being real in her...

And yesterday I didn't write thrive thursday, but, I have been thinking about it. So, Here it goes. But, first, hit the play button on the video to have a christmas song playing while you read! This is a on going series that is posted on thursday's, to answer the question: "What helps you to thrive in your environment?" The series is written by myself, and a variety of guest Contributors. This week, I want to comment on Christmas. Christmas to me has been a time of year which is generally not very consistent. the only consistency is that I know that I am able to spend time with people that I love. and, to me, that is one of the most important things about this time of year. spending it with people you love. so, let me reflect back on the christmases past: 2010: Victoria with the Birch Family. 2009: Missisauga with the Patterson Family 2008: Road Trip with Anya to Georgia and Florida. 2007: Whistler with Christina, Zach, and Ben 2006: Down to Tacoma with my Dad....

This is a on going series that is posted on thursday's, to answer the question: "What helps you to thrive in your environment?" The series is written by myself, and a variety of guest Contributors. This week, I want to comment on how feeling like you are home can make you thrive. i know, i know. it has been a while. I have been EXCEPTIONALLY busy, as you have probably gathered from my lack of posting. I left Montreal last friday, still with two papers to hand in (for monday). It was kinda nice to be leaving, but sucked knowing that I had to hermit myself until I would be done my papers. I spent saturday-monday at coffee shops full time. from open to close, with a little break for a dinner with friend on saturday, church on sunday. and sleep. of course sleep. I wanted to get off to the mountains on tuesday, but, alas. I was not yet done. At 4 pm on tuesday afternoon, I handed in my last paper for the semester. It was about a "caring theory." it may p...

This is a on going series that is posted on thursday's, to answer the question: "What helps you to thrive in your environment?" The series is written by myself, and a variety of guest Contributors. This week, I want to comment on how Thanks can make you thrive. Even though, today in canada is a day like any other, I have a lot of american friends. And so, this is a shout out to them, who are taking a day to pause, and to remember to think about the things that they are thankful for. If there is one thing that Americans do better than Canadians, it is certainly thanksgiving. Ours passes pretty quickly, early in the fall. Many (not all) of us have a quick meal with family, are thankful for the 3 da y weekend, and move on. From my experience, that it not the same in the States. Food is incredible (especially in the south, where I have spent at least 3 American Thanksgvings), you have the whole friday thing, and travel across the states is the busiest for the entire ye...

This is a on going series that is posted on thursday's, to answer the question: "What helps you to thrive in your environment?" The series is written by myself, and a variety of guest Contributors. This week, I am writing on the joy that comes with Live Music Performances! Last week, I had the chance to go to see Michael Franci and Spearhead play at the metropolis here in montreal. I went with three girls from nursing (who are not direct entry students... Look ma, I am making new friends!), who branched out on a limb, because they had never heard of him. I have been a “late arriver” on the Michael Franci scene amongst my friends, but here I am. And, I like it. We danced, we laughed, we jumped, and we sang along. He is a great performer, who seems genuinely thankful for the progress that he has made in musical career, and for his fans. It interacts amazingly, and he has great rapport with the people watching. And, it got me thinking. I love music. Even m...

This is a on going series that is posted on thursday's, to answer the question: "What helps you to thrive in your environment?" The series is written by myself, and a variety of guest Contributors. This week, I am writing about the topic of not procrastinating. Yup, this week, I have Loads of work to do. and, as a student, I feel like I am thriving, when I get it done on time, and when I get it done well. So, I am currently going to sign off, and go do that work which is starin g at me in the face. So that come next week, I can feel like i am thriving :)

AHHHH, it is a day late. yesterday had a morning run, and clinical, and then a flight to victoria. And, i thus, forgot to post thrive thursday! sorry about that... This is a on going series that is posted on thursday's, to answer the question: "What helps you to thrive in your environment?" The series is written by myself, and a variety of guest Contributors. This week, the contributor is Sean Birch. Someone I like quite a bit. He may have had a mention on this blog once or twice before. His Photo Website can be found here: Flickr ! What helps me thrive in my environment? Especially when right now, my environment is dark and cold for more than half of the day? Taking photos after dark. I wouldn't have thought about this a few weeks or months ago, but winter in Canada (and Edmonton more than some other places) means getting used to living in the dark. This is a different country in the dark than it is in the light, and there's no better way to see it than thro...

This is a on going series that is posted on thursday's, to answer the question: "What helps you to thrive in your environment?" The series is written by myself, and a variety of guest Contributors. This week, I want to comment on the joy of a commute Today, it is simple. I wasn't sure what to write. i certainly have not felt like I have been thriving as of late. but, on my way back from work at the hospital today, I realized for the first time in quite a while, something that I have not talked about for a long time. Mostly because, to me, it is so simple. it is something that I love. Something that sustains me. Something that makes me thrive. I remember what it felt like to get back on my bike, way back in 2007, after I had spent the summer recovering from a crash that broke both my arms. It was my new baby blue brodie, I was scared, but, it felt like freedom. biking around the city, too and from work, too and from school, felt like freedom. Commuting by bike al...

This is a on going series that is posted on thursday's, to answer the question: "What helps you to thrive in your environment?" The series is written by myself, and a variety of guest Contributors. This week, the topic is, once again, words.... but, with a different spin. The contributor today is Megan O., who is a life-long friend of mine, from West Virginia University, who lives (and writes) in DC. Her (hilarious) blog can be found here: http://morsini.blogspot.com/ She states that she was at work, when she sent this email. Thus, the photo is a little out of focus. When Amo asked me to do this, I thought, “Yes! Writing! That is a thing that I can do! I am in school for that!” But as I thought about it I realized….this is a really difficult question. Over the past couple of weeks I’ve gone through a few things that I thought make me thrive, but nothing really clicked. Sure, for the moment that I was experiencing a particular thing it made me feel alive. But o...

This is a on going series that is posted on thursday's, to answer the question: "What helps you to thrive in your environment?" The series is written by myself, and a variety of guest Contributors. This week, life long friends are the topic of conversation. So, not feeling great today. Something is brewing in my body (migrane? stomach reacting to new dietary changes? fatigue? maybe all of the above?), and hopefully it will be gone for tomorrow for my friday hospital rotation, and certainly the weekend. But, today's post is not going to be super long. But, the past weekend got me thinking about this topic... we all have 'em. Those people who are "your people." the ones who get you through and through. It has been mentioned before, how great it is when a work friend, becomes an out-of-work friend. but, what of those friends who are life-long friends? to me, they are the best kind. a few years ago, after a random, hollywood-themed relationship, a wo...

This is a on going series that is posted on thursday's, to answer the question: "What helps you to thrive in your environment?" The series is written by myself, and a variety of guest Contributors. This week, I want to comment on the strength of words. So, it is a little late at night, and I have waited to see if I was going to get the submission that I thought was coming~ it will just have to be another week. Not going to lie. This week has not been great. the beginning of the week was stressful (with two presentations, and one stats assignment) because i blew off the weekend to take photos and sleep in late, and pick apples. And, on the rowing team, we are going through some growing pains. I have felt defeated, and I have felt like I have been letting people down. That there are things that I want to do, but don't know how to do them. that there are things that i am doing, which I should not have to be doing them. and, yesterday, I was reminded of the powe...

This is a on going series that is posted on thursday's, to answer the question: "What helps you to thrive in your environment?" The series is written by myself, and a variety of guest Contributors. Today, the post is written by Annie, a friend of mine here in Montreal, who loves to help other people! She hails from the south shore, and is in the middle of exploring different areas where she is able to engage her interests in helping people, here in the city. This is her response to my query! What helps me thrive? What helps me wanting to keep growing? Two main things: Faith and people. Faith is the basis for my growth. Faith that I am on earth to learn, to improve, to grow. Faith that every pain I feel is there for a reason, that every failure is a chance for a new opportunity, that every time I experience something new I learn new lessons, that every decision I make will be what’s best for me. Faith that I will always get what I need to keep learning and growing....

so, on my bike ride home today at lunch (the great shocker for today was that my afternoon class was cancelled! wooo!!! time to catch up, *and* to watch the season premiere of Grey's anatomy! HA, i know. pathetic addiction.), i got thinking a bit. I know, these days, it is all the rage to have a day a week where you have a themed post. well, ok. so, maybe there is only one person I know who is doing this... but, really, it is a great idea. I was also thinking today, about how in nursing, we talk a lot about walking alongside with patients and families as they cope with life changes. As they cope both in health, and in illness. but, it got me thinking... What if we went for more than coping? More than "just getting by." What if we went for walking beside people as they learn to thrive in their environment. as they learn to thrive in life? And, i know that there is a popular diet (which i quite like the majority of) out there with this same name... but, if you...