Chocolate Snowflakes

What about when life gets crazy?

2011-09-29T22:02:00.000-07:00

I am looking at the next 1.5 weeks and seeing a 2-day overnight volcanology trip, an afternoon of ecology field work, my first midterm, multiple reading assignments, a computer science lab, and last-minute preparations for my last BCYAYM conference. As soon as that's over, I get to see Rise Against with Flogging Molly, and some group called Black Pacific, at Pacific Coliseum then get to see my roommate rap with the best of the them at the Cobalt. Here's my test to be a good student and keep up with my work so that I can be 'rewarded' with 2 kick-ass concerts in 3 days. Here I go!

RSL includes prioritizing what needs to be done, and right now that's schoolwork. So goodnight blog, and back to ecology reading assignments...

RSL in the form of a raincoat.

2011-09-26T11:48:00.000-07:00

Just over a week ago I bought my first proper raincoat. After enduring the past few days of intermittent proper west-coast rainstorm, I have decided that it was the best purchase I've made in the past year.

It looks like this, not the exact same model but the same colour. It is bright and cheery (along with my white runners which have neon red/coral laces) and the second I put it on, I feel like the day will be alright. I've outshone the grey with my colours and I won't let the weather put down my mood.

I can't believe that it took me 2 full years of living in the lower mainland to realize that a raincoat shell would be a smart purchase. I can pull the strings on the hood and velcro up the zipper and then nothing can touch me and the rain beads off the impermeable surface like water slips down the leaves of a lambs-ear.

This is just the tool I need to get through a grey, rainy Vancouver winter with a smile on my face.
Have you jumped your puddle today?

TGIF; take some down-time.

2011-09-23T23:41:00.000-07:00

It's the weekend now. I finished all course work assigned to me except long-term group projects. My stress level is minimal. I made a huge taco salad for dinner with half a head of romaine lettuce (my eyes were a bit bigger than my stomach) and washed it down with a glass of white wine. I walked up the Drive to Black Dog video, rented Thor, picked up some penny candy, and spent the evening watching pretty people and eating sour keys.

Sometimes just taking a night to yourself to calm down at the end of the week, and allowing your body to generate enough energy for upcoming weekend activities, is the perfect self-love activity.

When was the last time you used pencil crayons? (School diagrams don't count)

2011-09-22T22:49:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but it's been a long time since I've tried to be visually artistic. I recently started a penpal 'relationship' with a girl who I've known for about a year now, but never known well. She frequently wows me with the amount of artistic talent she has and creative energy she expends. I just wrote my 2nd reply thus far and used pencil crayons, glittery stickers, awesome japanese stickers I just bought from Aberdeen, cool stationary I acquired from a penpal I had back in Senior High from South Korea... it felt so relaxing to write out my thoughts for someone else to read and to respond to their thoughts, then to make goofy scenes with stickers and crayons on the envelope.

The closest I got to the arts was being a band geek flautist in high school. I was never much for visual arts, and I know it's not my inclination or something that's overly intuitive to me. But just sitting with some art materials and creating something that someone else might see and smile at, that makes me happy. Especially with some mellow predominately instrumental John Butler Trio tracks playing in the background.

I want to try to be creative more - break out the flute more than annually and actually practice some of the duets a different girl-friend and I discussed playing together. Continue being a penpal and making colourful messages to send to people. Attend gallery exhibits, although after the VAG's spectacular Surrealism exhibit I feel like the rest may seem lacklustre. Go to more live theatre, as it's not like there aren't opportunities.

I definitely feel like that qualified as a self-love activity... but now it's bedtime!

What is Radical Self Love?

2011-09-21T19:13:00.000-07:00

So what does this all mean? Here is my take.

I am going to spend the next year trying to discover what makes me happiest and most fulfilled at this point in my life.
I am going to do what makes me happy.
I am going to live my life for myself.

So far, a non-comprehensive list includes: playing soccer; finishing my BSc in Earth & Ocean Science this April; working towards a career in environmental education; thinking of my future and planning my life so that I can obtain the things I desire; doing activities because I would like to do them, not because I have a case of FOMO; learning how to be at peace with aspects of my personality and character that I have felt judged by before; and exercising regularly.

Here are some quotes that I intend to keep in mind:

A beautiful life requires work & effort!
It means NOT staying in your pyjamas in front of the computer all weekend.
It means getting in the shower, picking an outfit, choosing an activity & actually putting yourself out there.
It means calling your friends to invite them out.
It means staying in touch with your friends & making the effort so that you actually HAVE friends to do things with!
It means striking up conversation with people who may look weird or be different to you.
It means doing things you’re not totally sure of, heart pounding, & heebie-jeebies creeping up the back of your skull.
I know that sometimes, staying in watching a movie is more tempting. But I also know that when we finally extricate ourselves from our nests, we feel so much better about ourselves, life in general!
-Gala Darling

"I say, it’s time to romance yourself. It’s time for the greatest love affair you will ever know. It’s time for a personal revolution. I say, you deserve to be your own darling! Get enchanted! Bewitch yourself! I say, if not now, when?"
-Gala Darling

Creating Some Radical Self Love

2011-09-21T18:40:00.000-07:00

I remember reading an article on Gala Darling's website meant for people who want to start successful blogs. Her main question was, "What do you bring to the internet?" What makes you so exquisitely interesting and unique that you need to share it with others? Blogging is, in my opinion, a selfish activity to a point. We all think that we're important enough for others to want to learn about. Some of us deserve that; most don't.

I don't think I'm fascinating enough to deserve my own blog. Not by a long shot. I don't have exclusive access to anything beyond my own head space. I'm not a leading expert in a field. I don't have fabulous fashion sense. I'm really not that spectacular in any one way.

I'm doing this because I've recently done some soul-searching (spurned by numerous things, from just being 22 years old to recently having my first true heartbreak) and decided that I want to spend my next year engaging in some Radical Self Love. Gala covers this extensively in her website and I think that I'm going to put my own stamp on it and give it a shot.

She recommends a radical self love 'bible' (that is, a diary). I have a sleep diary but decided that a blog would be a better choice for this. I can get feedback and advice from friends, and letting others know your plans or goals makes you more accountable for them.

So here's what to expect: Positivity. Goals. Discussion! Things that make me feel happy. Things I want to engage in. Musings on life. Apologies and thanksgivings. I want to keep out as much negativity as I can and use this as a tool, a method for exploring what I want to be doing with my life.

So yes, my blog is like most others' in that it is very selfish. If no one reads it, I'm not going to be too upset. But if someone reads it and thinks Hey, that's a good idea/I've done that before/I know how to make that easier/etc then that's super awesome.

So here starts my public journey.

Here's an image Gala posted. I agree with lots of it, but I think I may come up with my own list of ideals. It's definitely not a bad starting point.

PS Chocolate Snowflakes was my chosen title because snow is the one thing that makes me feel completely elated with no guilt whatsoever. In my opinion, it's a great sign for a journal intended to help me discover what I want and need in my life to feel fulfilled. A deep snowfall and the beauty it contains just cannot be improved upon in my life.