::Changes in Time::

Tags

Everyday thoughts, Friends, Growing Up, Life, Random, Time

I had some catch up time with an old high school friend today, and it was rather refreshing. If there’s one thing I like about growing up, it’s this: catching up with friends and talking about our lives… the different paths that we are on and how yet, we are still able to sit down at a table having some lunch and having a good laugh. I would say I haven’t hung out with this friend for about a year now, but that was in a group setting, so never really had true 1:1 time. I think I would prefer more 1:1 time because it’s more personal. Anyways, it’s amazing to hear about his travel stories, and how eye opening it was for him. He’s definitely changed a lot. He’s more open, sociable, and outgoing. I’m really inspired to see  how he’s aspiring to follow and find his dreams despite the fact that he already has a degree. He says he wants to have a job in maybe the medical field because he wants to really help people… and it’s all through the interactions he’s made through the new friends he met. I’m really happy for where he is right now because he’s not afraid to take that step to do something that will truly make him happy.

It’s amazing to get together with old friends after some time, because you realize all the change that has happened. You notice how different we all were a year ago, and yet, we can still hang out like old friends. Those things just don’t change. We still make fun of each other. We both came to the same conclusion.. if we make fun of you, then you know we consider you as a friend because we wouldn’t make fun of people who we aren’t familiar with. Sounds funny and stupid, but it’s actually quite true! I had a great time catching up with him over some viet subs and sipping on bubble tea while sitting by the river side. Who says Mondays are always horrible? I even got a jog in after I came home! Great start to the week. Hope it is for you too! =)

::Time to Relax::

Tags

Art, Crafts, summer

Finally, freedom! I no longer have to stress over the dreaded paper! But then again, in about a month, we will have our oral defense for it =\. Okay brain, let’s not think about that just yet. So now that I’m back home and will probably have nothing to do… I’m just going to do my art projects I’ve been dying to start! There’s the string art project, and then I bought the SMASH book from Michael’s today! They were having a great sale- 50% off one item, so of course, I had to get my hands on one. For all you scrapbook lovers out there, this is definitely something neat! You can even carry it around with you in your purse or backpack. Pretty handy. So here’s a picture of mine so far! Of course, I chose the SMASH book ‘international’ one, but they have different ones with different pages. One of the pages had pictures of sushi… and since I absolutely love eating… I just had to get this one. I already started decorating it! =) Anyways, I hope the weather warms up soon so I can go jogging again! Oh yes, I also hope to paint my room! I wonder if that will ever happen…

::What Makes you Smile?::

Tags

Happiness, People, Smile

Yesterday, we went back to Prosper Place for a visit, and it was great to see them again. We definitely got our fair share of hugs that day! I saw this one woman, and she told me: “I am happy to see you two! I don’t know, but before, I wasn’t very happy, but now, when I see your smile, I am suddenly happy again” and then she said, “You two really have rubbed off on me… your happiness” And another woman, just when she was about to leave, she said to me “It’s like God gave me a gift of meeting you, and no matter where life takes you, may you be blessed the whole way through.”

Those simple sentences…. just made me smile from within… and absolutely made my day. It makes me sad to know that I may never see them again because I’ve had great times with them… the laughter, the jokes, the time just spent talking with them… but they will always be in my heart. And they have taught me so much, and impacted me in so many beautiful ways. =] It’s amazing how much you can learn when you really put all things aside, and just listen.

::Messy Buns::

Tags

Beauty, Hairstyle

I always wondered how some people had such perfect messy buns… all circular and round! So there was this thing I bought last summer when I was down in the States. It’s a scrunchy thing you can use to make your bun! So I guess it’s those ‘sock bun’ tutorials that are going around the Internet nowadays! This scrunchy thing is pretty good cause the material of it kind of catches the hair ones you twist and twirl it in, so it kind of stays in. I still need hair spray and bobby pins though, just to keep things in place!

 

 

 

Oh, and did I tell you that I got 3 strands of those feather extensions in my hair last time I went to the Farmer’s Market? It’s subtle, but it’s still apparent! Here’s a picture of it from the other side with the bun! They’re just like any other extensions, so you wash them and treat them regularly like you do with your hair. At first I was kind of iffy about it because I just didn’t think it would look ‘natural’. But now that I got them in, I want more! 

::There’s Always Room for Dessert::

Tags

Dessert, Farmer's Market, Food

I must admit, the only dreams I’ve been remembering lately are about me eating. I think my stomach has definitely taken a toll on my brain. This morning, I literally had a dream of “gluttony”. You know the typical scary movie scenes when the person goes to wash their face, and right when they look up at the mirror, they see a ghost or something? Well, that was kind of my dream… except I was washing my face, and when I looked up, I saw the ‘gluttonous’ version of me! I think it’s a sign. haha. Anyways, I digress… okay, maybe just a little.

So today my friends and I took a trip to the Farmer’s Market! I am starting to really love this place. This market was definitely centered around food. Anyways, we bought 4 simple simon pies and split it, which were very savory! And then of course, there was always room for dessert. So my friend and I bought macarons (go figure!) and a crepe to split. The macarons weren’t really that good though because a.) it was still cold from the fridge and b.) the flavors were too artificial. The ones from Yan Patisserie were deicious! Here’s a picture of those ones (the passionfruit one-yellow- was the best!). Overall, it was a great time catching up with friends and eating scrumptious desserts and pies =). And oh yeah, it was great waking up to sunshine when the weather forecast had predicted rain and snow! Happy long weekend everyone!

::Personal yet Inspirational Gifts::

Tags

Art, Crafts, Inspiration

I went to the City Centre Farmer’s Market last weekend with my friend, and I found an ‘inspirational quote’ kiosk that was pretty neat. You can definitely do this on your own! They had a jar, for different occasions (like new baby, workplace health, etc.), and in it were filled with a bunch of quotes and chocolate. Since it was near Mother’s day, I thought, what the heck, instead of paying $30.00 for a gift, I can make this myself (and make it more personal as well)! So off I went to my favorite store to find craft appliances (by favorite store I really mean to say dollar store!). I luckily found a jar that had those metal frames for the handles (which are quite nice actually!) for only $1.25. The lady said she bought her jar at Ikea for $15. Anyways, I went to buy my own stickers and what not, and decorated the jar silly with it. Then time for the truly personal stuff. The quotes… I added some inspirational quotes, but the rest I made them into origami and wrote down little memories that I thought were pretty memorable. It’s a great gift idea for any of those that love to go the DIY route! =)

::A Story Behind Every Face::

Tags

Awareness, Death, Growing Up, Health, Life, Love, Mental health, Mental illness, People, Reality, Sadness, Society

Throughout our day, we walk past tens, if not hundreds of people. They’re rushing to catch the train/bus to get to school and work… they’re lining up at a fast food restaurant to grab a quick bite to eat… or they’re the person who is sitting in a lonely corner on the street. Behind every person, there is a story. Their story. Something personal that they may not wish to share… for fear that they may be naked and exposed to the world. To society. Although they may appear to be living a ‘normal’ life, they may be someone who may be facing hardships. Perhaps they may know of someone who is currently fighting against a disease, or it may be something else all together. But the point is, everyone has their own story to tell… their own challenges and monsters they must face. And more often than not, they are facing them alone, because they’re afraid to reach out for help…

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From the minute we are born, there are only a few things that are certain that no one can deny; the fact that life is unpredictable… and death. From the minute we are born, we are covered in a safety blanket, to keep us warm and protected. And throughout our childhood years, our parents do their utmost to protect us from harm; whether that’s from hurting ourselves on the playground while we climb up and down the monkey bars, or if it’s from that special someone who broke our heart, or if it’s telling that white lie that Santa exists, or if it’s from a death of a loved one. But somehow, as we grow up, we turn our backs on one another at one point and start to exclude those who seem “out of place”. We start to become the ones that people need to be protected from. And in turn, those people have no where to run… the feeling of loneliness, isolation, and depression.

Mental illness should not define you. Nor should you be defined by it. Unfortunately, more often than not, the word “mental illness” immediately puts up a barricade for those who do not understand. It is only a part of someone. Not who they are. How can we come to understand the person for who they are if we have not gone beyond those words because of our own ignorance?

This week is mental health awareness. It’s time to start understanding. And listening, in hope that people who are experiencing a mental illness are not afraid to reach out for help. We are all fighting our own monsters, and it’s definitely easier when you’re not alone.

::The Little Things::

Tags

Growth, Happiness, Insight, Inspiration, Life, Mental health, Mental illness, Motivation, People, Placement

Most of us probably go through the day having to do the regular things like: brushing our teeth, making our sandwiches in the morning for today’s lunch, making that cup of coffee that will fuel us through the day. At times, these things may seem so chore-like that we often don’t want to do them. But for others, it is a sense of achievement, a sense of self-worth. The little things that we take for granted (for most of us) can be so purposeful for someone else… which I think is the biggest thing I have learned within these 6 weeks of placement.

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It is one thing to learn about something, but another to actually experience and see how it functions and works; the essence behind the philosophy. At first, I took it as a chance to enhance my abilities to build rapport with the people there, but as the weeks slowly unraveled, I started seeing something else emerge. It was especially apparent when I had switched to working in the kitchen. This one woman in particular, she was new working in the kitchen, and she had volunteered to make the daily sandwiches. At first, she would ask several questions regarding how to make a sandwich: “Do I put the bread like this? Where do I put the mustard? Is this good? Where should I cut it?” and it would take an hour to make 4 sandwiches. But in the next few days, the change was very apparent; her confidence was slowly building, and by the end of the week, she was so efficient at making sandwiches, that we would have started preparing for that day’s supper by late morning! I remember one day, I asked her what she was having for lunch, and she said “I’m going to buy my sandwich that I made this morning!”. Being able to eat what you made with your own hands is so powerful that we often overlook it. And being able to prepare a meal for 10 people can be so beneficial in so many ways; not just to satisfy hunger. It has a more powerful underlying message to it. And it may be different for everyone in a different sense.

We may find making that cup of coffee in the morning a chore. We may find making that dinner a hassle. But for others, who don’t often get the chance to do it, or even the confidence in themselves to do it, it can be so uplifting and encouraging. To them, it is something more than just that chore. It’s part of their healing; of learning; of growing.

::Unique Creations::

Tags

Art, Colors, Crafts

I learned a new craft that is quick and easy to do! All you need is white corn syrup and some food coloring. You first fold up a piece of paper (preferably manilla type of paper) and then draw half of the shape that you want (i.e. heart, butterfly, etc.). You then cut it out, and sparingly drizzle white corn syrup all over it. Then you add in a couple drops of food coloring (right on the beads of the corn syrup). Make sure you figure out where you would like the colors, because if you don’t want the colors to mix too dark, then you have to be careful as to where you place your colors. Then you put a long string in the middle (but leaving 3 inches or so out to dangle once folded), fold the sheet of paper, and start twirling the piece of string that is hanging out of your artwork. You can twist/move the string as much as you want back and forth (to help mix the colors around!). And then after you can take it out and unfold your piece of paper, and ta da! It will take about 1-2 days to dry though.

What’s so wonderful about this craft is that each and every design comes out differently because of the way the colors are mixed! =). For instance, the picture above, I made mine into a heart shape, and the colors turned out wonderfully; it looks like the bottom there are petals growing out and the non-colored part resembles a heart!

 

 

-With Each Passing Day-

Tags

Blessing, Faith, God, Inspiration, Life, Love

So here’s a poem I wrote from a while ago when I was feeling a little down, but I never really had the time or courage I guess to post it. So here it goes:

As the sun rises and I awaken, I am thankful for being alive.

When the sun sets and I lie in bed, I am grateful for the day.

But with each passing day, my heart yearns for something more…

Yet I cannot seem to figure it out.

With each passing day, I ask myself, “Where has all the time gone?” and somehow

I feel empty. Thirsty. Longing. For something. For someone.

A bump along the road stops me in my tracks and I fall down.

Darkness envelops me, and I am lost.

Afraid.

The silence deafens me. The darkness blinds me.

But it is now that I see you. Your Grace. Your Love.

My love.

I am afraid, yet I reach out my hand longing to touch you.

When everything collapses around me, you are still.

And ever so present.

Where have you been all my life? But you tell me this:

‘With each passing day, I am right beside you, yet you neglect my presence.

With each passing day, I perform miracles, yet you mistaken them for something other.

With each passing day, I send you love gifts, yet you fail to

open your eyes and heart to receive them.

My beauty and love surrounds you, yet you are too busy to take notice.’

It is only when I stumble and fall when I feel you holding me.

My eyes and ears are open and I realize how I have longed for

 –you-.

Yes. It is you whom I have been searching for.

You are the air that I breathe. You are the beauty of everything standing before me… surrounding me.

Every second. Every minute. With each passing day,

You are always with me. And I am whole.

::Never Regret Anything Because at One Time it was Exactly What You Wanted::

Tags

Guys, Happiness, Love, Relationships

When I was younger, I would always tell myself “oh, I still have plenty of time. What’s the rush? I’m only in [enter grade here]. I bet I’ll meet the right one when I’m in [enter grade here]“. And as years passed, it went from junior to high school, and from high school to University, and now? University to looking into my prospective work career. And as you can tell from this post, I still haven’t met that special someone.

Now that I’m getting older, more people around me are starting to date, which makes me wonder… Where exactly is he? I would always have long talks with my friends about this topic. It’s interesting to hear about what others have to say about their own “future love life” if I can call it that. I think before I wanted to date for the sake of just dating. But not anymore. I think I’m just going to wait it out and let what ever happen happen. Things always happen for a reason, right?

It’s funny because some of my friends say I’m still single because I’m “high maintenance.” But I don’t think I am… well of course every girl would say that. But in all honesty, I’m not. I look for the typical qualities as every other girl out there… to have someone who can make me smile and laugh, someone who can be serious at the right times, someone who is patient, kind, a Christian, family oriented, outgoing… etc. I wouldn’t say those are necessarily high expectations. Perhaps it’s not a matter of “high maintenance” or not, but it’s just knowing what you want in life.

… But the problem is, does having those expectations or knowing what qualities you want limit you? What I mean to say is, does that create an “ideal” person who I then try to find the perfect cookie match to?

So often when someone likes me, I have a [very bad and mean] tendency to push them aside and give them the very cold shoulder. Sometimes there’s just that fine line between being friendly and being overly friendly to where the other party may interpret it incorrectly. And I think one thing I need to work on is to prevent that pushing away, but instead to tell them that I don’t feel that way. That way, both of us don’t get hurt. And perhaps that way, a friendship could be saved…

And then there are those dreaded “what if’s”… Sometimes it’s fun to play the game of imagining what could or would have happened. But then sadly, reality at one point will kick in, and put you in the slum again. But then again, I go back to the phrase “whatever happens happens” and I somehow feel slightly more relieved.

I was having lunch with my friend once, and we were talking about this topic, and she asked me “Do you ever regret anything that you did in your past?” and I said “yes” but then she showed me a picture that said

“Never regret anything because at one time it was exactly what you wanted“

And it struck me. Yes, at that moment, even if it was for a slight millisecond, that was what I wanted. And I cannot deny the feelings or thoughts that I had back then, because back then, they were different circumstances. And there’s always a reason behind everything, but perhaps at that moment, you may not notice it… or perhaps it’ll take years, and within in instant, everything will piece together… or perhaps that will be something that may never be unveiled.

… And of course, there’s always the possibility that he is already in my life, and perhaps I don’t realize it… just yet. Or perhaps I’m too chicken to have the guts to initiate the first step. I think it comes down to personality, because, I for one, would consider myself a traditionalist in this sense. I’m the girl who relies on the guy to always initiate these things. And aside from that part, I’m also very scared of rejection, and fear that it might make the friendship awkward. So I look up to those girls who have the courage and the strength to do what I cannot… to break that fear and taking the first few steps.

So how’s my progress now? I think I’ve settled on the idea that I must figure out myself first before I should even delve or even start thinking about having a relationship. I’ve also stopped actively searching for someone, because really, I’m just going to let it go with the flow. Why all the stress? Don’t be too harsh on yourself about your past, because you know what, when that time comes when you’re in that perfect relationship… you’ll feel more confident in it because all the past relationships pointed you in that direction. Because they’ve helped you grow and to surpass the barriers that may have once been present.

But as for me, I think I’m just going to enjoy my single life and keep doing what I do best… relaxing… and taking it one day at a time! And hey, you should too,

because -you- deserve it.

Random Note: It’s so ironic how when I’m previewing this blog post, a spam pops up saying “Don’t get it for full price!!” and it’s a bunch of engagement rings… HAHA. Gotta love that.

::Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me::

Tags

Childhood, Faith, Family, God, Growing Up, Happiness, Love

When I was younger, I used to hear this idiom tons and tons of times. Heck, I’ve even reiterated it in my head hundreds of times, if not thousands. Because at one time, I thought that the more I said it in my head, the more likely it would come true. But yet in the end, words are the things that hurt the worst… because they’re nothing tangible, yet they hurt emotionally, which in the end, may have a long lasting effect. Especially for a child.

If someone gave you a time machine to use, what period in your life would you go back to? For me, it’s simple. Of course I would choose childhood when school was a breeze and life was simple as pie. But for others, they would choose anything other than their childhood because it is only filled with sadness and despair. As a child, I only remember my only real stressor in life was what to do the next day for fun. Shall it be playing on the playground or running in the field to play soccer?! But for others, they’re not so fortunate. Instead of thinking of what to play, they’re thinking of how to rid themselves of the suffering and pain inflicted upon them by other children in their class.

After work today, I hung out with my two little cousins. One of them is 14, and she used to be the loudest and most cheerful little girl you could ever imagine. Now? She’s quiet, shy, and introverted. On the other hand, her little sister, she’s the exact opposite. She’s outgoing, has great connections with her fellow classmates at school, and loves to talk to me. She’s not afraid of trying new things or speaking out to ask for things. I often look at them and go “how are they even related and how are they even sibings?!” but when I saw them on the playground playing together, I knew exactly the reason why.

After the older one got a haircut, she was somewhat upset by how it had turned out, so she scurried back home leaving the youngin’ and myself taking a stroll in the park. From what was supposed to be a simple walk in the park turned out to be a complete reflection on my part. And empathy. And sympathy. The little one told me about her sister, and how she’s been struggling to even simply “stay alive” at school due to the bullies that have been harassing her. From what outwardly appeared like a normal 14 year old girl, who was shy and reserved, was someone who was broken deep down inside, and shattered into a million little pieces who desperately needed mending. As I listened to the story of my cousin’s life, I recalled the simple line from the book “Because all my life I’ve learned to suffer in silence” Here was a true case of what it meant to suffer in silence. Never would I have guessed that she has already endured more than I have in comparison to my 22 years of living in terms of hardships and bullying. And a child should not have to endure all this.

I must say, I had it pretty good with not being too bullied at school. There may have been a few instances here and there, but never has it reached the point where I wanted to take my own life away. And NEVER should it ever get to that point. Not for anyone. Especially not someone who should be enjoying their life as a child without a worry in the world. But yet, for this little girl, she’s been through all that. And still, at this moment, she is. It broke my heart to hear the story coming from my cousin’s mouth, because they’re so close to me (in blood), yet, I don’t know anything about them. It breaks my heart to know how much they’ve been through, and yet, when I see them playing on the playground, it doesn’t appear that way. They still manage to have loads of fun playing on the playground, even if it is with a simple swing or monkey bar. When I saw the two of them playing together on the playground, I knew instantly why they were meant to be sisters. Because the little one was the support and the strength for the older one. Together, they were one. And I knew that no matter what, I could always count on the younger one to be there for her sister. That’s why God gave us siblings. They were laughing and giggling while playing together. Now -that’s- how childhood should be.

When my younger cousin was telling the story, I didn’t think the climax was necessarily when she described the fighting and the crying, but when she said this: “… and after, all we did was just pray. Together.”

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It’s rather odd how my 14 year old cousin reminds me of the main character in the book I’m currently reading (The Witch of Portobello). All her life, the main character has been searching for love in her life, and how to love someone. But what she doesn’t realize is, is that she’s more than capable of showing love to others. She doesn’t realize how much she’s touched the lives of the people she’s been in contact with, even if it’s for a moment. She leaves a long lasting impression on others. And I believe my cousin is just like her. She seeks for acceptance, and love, but she doesn’t realize just how amazing she is because all her life she’s been picked on by others and having her bad qualities talked about by others. It only takes one negative thing to ruin a thousand good ones.

Every time I look at her, I can’t help but think of all the suffering she has and is currently going through. She keeps asking me if high school is hard (since she is entering grade 9 this summer) and continually asks if it was hard for me to socialize (since she will also be going to a different school). When I first heard of the question (without prior knowledge of her past bully situations), I thought it was rather simplistic, because I’m sure everyone gets butterflies when they are placed in a new environment. But after hearing her story, I now understand that not only was she nervous, but scared because of her previous experiences with her classmates. And I don’t blame her. I remember back in my days, one thing I looked forward to was meeting new friends at school, but for some out there, it may be the one thing they are dreading the most; because they fear that someday those people may hurt them. And they have no where to turn to…

“All she wanted was to be loved“. That was another quote that just struck the needle on the head… She only wants to be loved. A simple sentence… made up of simple words… yet why is it so hard to accomplish? If only it was as simple as stated… the whole world would be a much better place. If only people knew how much words could hurt someone deep inside. Despite the fact that we may repeat this idiom to ourselves everyday, it still affects us long after.

It’s odd how God works. A day of hanging out with my cousin not only has made me learn more about them, but they have taught me a little lesson as well; that words do have consequences… and that someone who may appear to be shy and introverted may only be that way because of their past, and all they need is some mending. Time. Love. Love. and more Love.

Some people may need a little extra nurturing, so if that’s the case… don’t give up on them. Because I’m sure that deep down they know you mean them well, and they really do appreciate every little thing you do.

So go out there and share your wonderful gift out there to the people who need it. Because everyone has that special something, so use it =). Mine? I think I’ll smile just a little more everyday. Show that world what you have! Don’t be afraid. Because someone out there in that big world needs it.

Love,

Steph

::Love Is::

Tags

Books, Insight, Love

As you may all know, I’ve been reading The Witch of Portobello (by Paulo Coelho), and this morning, I finally finished it! Let me just say this- it is brilliantly written, as always. He takes such a rather ‘simple’ theme, but yet transforms it into something more. You slowly find yourself becoming one with the main character, who is searching for what exactly ‘love’ is… and how exactly one can love.

I love when I can draw meaning and insight from a simple sentence, and that is exactly what happened to me while I was reading this book. I found myself not only empathizing with the main character, but also saw bits and pieces of myself in her.

I’m sure most of us have read in the Bible what Love is. In Corinthians 13:4-7 it says that: “Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

And then there’s the definition of love in book I just finished reading, which I absolutely love on top of the one in the Bible… Love simply is. Do you ever wonder why someone may love you? Or why you yourself may love someone? Often times we are taught to delve deeper to find a meaning or to find an answer to something. But maybe sometimes it doesn’t have to be that way… But rather, some things just need to be simplified. And taken for face value. And that’s exactly what this book taught me. That sometimes, there may not be a definite or complicated answer… but rather, it just simply is. Just like love. Sometimes… things can just be as simple as that. Love simply is…

::Counting the Many Blessings::

Tags

Books, Faith, God, Happiness, Life, Sadness

When everything is going perfectly in life, we can find a million things to be thankful for. But how about when life isn’t going as we expected or hoped for? That’s when things can get a bit difficult… and we hit that rut and don’t know how to get back up. So often times in life, we give thanks to God for things that we’re happy about… like our family, or that A+ or 3.8 GPA on our report cards, and giving us that special someone… But we should also give thanks in times of despair and hopelessness. But how exactly can we do that?…

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I’m the kind of person that doesn’t usually purchase books to read. Unless of course, I know the book is good. But one day, I had decided to order books online from Chapters because I had a remaining balance left on my gift card. One book I purchased was by Ann Voskamp; One thousand gifts. Already, the title and the cover had drawn me in (although we all know not to judge a book by its cover). I finally got it in the mail a couple days ago (just in time since I had finished reading the other book), but I decided to hold off on reading it because I wanted to save it for when I go on vacation. However, that did not happen. I just couldn’t resist. After reading just a couple of pages, I already knew that the book had sucked me in…

Right from the start, the setting was dark and ominous, and raw. The author took no time to delve into the one topic that still left a hole in my heart– death of a loved one. It’s written in a way that if you’ve ever experienced it (a death of a loved one), it was like you were reading your own biography… the feelings of what you once went through… the feelings you still might be going through despite the many hours, days, months, or years have passed. This book was just so fitting because I for one, have troubles even to this day trying to survive, let alone trying understand what exactly it is to “live life to the fullest”.

Another reason why I got sucked right into the book was the fact the sentences on the pages were so easy to associate myself with. Especially this:

“Our fall was, has always been, and always will be, that we aren’t satisfied in God and what He gives. We hunger for something more, something other.” And it’s so true. In Chinese, we have this 4 word saying where it’s like “Give him an inch, and he’ll take a mile”. Do you ever find that our society nowadays relies too much on materialistic goods? I always find myself in a situation where I want something, and when I finally get it, it feels good for a while, but after, it’s just not satisfying anymore, or I want something else altogether. And in the book, this one sentence brought up such a great point:

“We are hungry. We eat. We are filled… and emptied. And still, we look at the fruit and see only the material means to fill our emptiness.” Bingo. It hit the nail on the head. Already within just those few pages of the book, within those few sentences, I found them describing -me-. Hungry. Unsatisfied. Materialistic. Empty. 

As I’m reading through this book, I find myself lost in the words presented in front of me… and already, I feel like I have another project on my hands! I’ve recently started the “happiness is” section of my blog, and this one will be slightly similar, but somewhat different. And that is to give thanks. To make a list of 1000 gifts. I’m not going to post it up yet, because I feel for this one, I should write it down first. To make it more personal. And for those who are struggling out there to live life fully, I encourage you all to do the same! It may be tedious or sound silly, but sometimes, it’s these little moments in life that make you go back and smile. Even with my ‘happiness is’ section, I find myself reflecting on that and it puts a smile to my face. There was this one section of the book that definitely gave me a good laugh, because it is something I find myself doing. And that is the part when she was describing how she took out her camera and just started taking pictures of cheese. I often find myself holding a camera and just randomly shooting random things, and food is definitely one of them. I’m always worried that people may think I’m crazy because well, I’m taking tons of pictures of food. Anyways, that was a little off tangent but I thought it was quite funny.

…Although I have just started this book, I can already foresee it being an amazing journey of reflection, knowledge, and transformation. So I hope you guys will stick with me until I finish reading this book (which may take a while because I’m a very slow reader!). But if you’re too eager and can’t wait, then I definitely encourage you to go and buy your own copy, because trust me, you won’t regret it. I know I haven’t.

::Needle in a Haystack::

Tags

Childhood, Friends, Happiness

I remember back in elementary, “best friend” was only coined to one, and only one, friend. You could never possibly have two best friends! Throughout the years, friends have come and gone, but there are always those special ones that stay with you. It makes me smile and laugh when us friends rehash the ways in how we met one another… and how we ultimately became best friends. It makes me sad and happy at the same time to keep counting the many years of our friendships. Why happy -and- sad you ask? Happy because the friendship has lasted for that long,  but sad because it makes me feel old! I’ve known one of my best friends since I was maybe 6 or 7? My mom used to baby-sit her, and so we would always play together. I remember she always got me in trouble by blaming things on me, and I even remember she ripped my doll head off! Now? We may not talk or see each other as much (since she has been busy with school/trying to find a job while I’m still at school elsewhere), but when we do talk, it’s like we picked up from where we last started. Which is amazing. And rare.

However, along with the many happy memories, attached to it are many not so happy memories. Let me tell you, high school was somewhat dramatic. My high school friends and I always found things to get mad about, or to talk about, and let’s just say… well, it wasn’t very happy. Of course, inevitable with girls right? But I think now, we’ve all gotten over those days. I mean, we can’t say they never happened, because they did. But the fact that our friendship is still strong says something. I think it’s because we’re more mature now (or so I hope!), and it’s just so rare nowadays to even find time for all of us to meet up amidst our hectic schedules. And when we do meet up? Just like high school days- well, not so much the gossip, but the laughing. Making fun of one another (in a good way of course!). And the reminiscing. Ahh.. the reminiscing.

Regardless, my friends mean a lot to me, and despite the times when I’ve almost wanted to give up on them, I never did. And I’m glad that I didn’t. They’ve grown with me… and it’s because of them that I am who I am today. People always told me that I would find my best friends in high school, and they were right. Then there are the occasional times when you find one along the way after you’re done high school. And that’s exactly what happened to me.

It’s funny how TVB (Chinese shows) can be such an easy topic to befriend people with. It initially started off with small talk about which actress/actor we favored the most, and slowly, we talked about more random and personal things. Who ever knew in a matter of one (or two) years, that this friendship had blossomed into such a strong one. It was so different than the rest of my friendships, as the ‘foundation’ for it had not been built upon gossip. It was genuine. It was… different.

I am so blessed to have her as my best friend. She is always (and I mean always) there for me when I need someone to talk to… she does it so well. And it makes me feel guilty that when she’s talking about her technical programing stuff, I just stare blankly pretending to understand and some-what listen. But there’s also one thing she’s really bad at— for always blaming herself when our friendship goes awry. When I get irritated at her, she only blames herself, when in fact, it’s my fault. She’s too nice like that. She keeps telling me “Steph, I can never get mad at you… you know that”. That’s when I knew I found that needle in a haystack. I finally found that friend who would literally stick with me until the end. And she has. She has always been there for me. Through thick and thin. Even during the times when I was irritated at her. We talk about anything and everything, and it’s amazing how we still have so much to say despite the fact that we talk every day. Yes. Every day.

I remember at one point in time, she commented on the silences we had in-between conversations. But personally, I think having silence and accepting silence is important in friendship. To me, it means that I’m comfortable enough with that person to not have to think of anything to say… to not need to say every little thing.

It’s amazing how time can strengthen (or break) a friendship. Even though I’ve been away for school for a year, it’s like we were never separated. I think one of the most important things I’ve learned from her is that a friendship takes two people to make it work. I’ve always been the kind of friend to let the other person do the initiating, but I’ve slowly started to learn how to be the latter rather than the former.

I love how we can talk about anything and absolutely everything. From something so stupid and silly to things that are more serious and complicated. I cannot thank you enough for always being there for me. You don’t know how much this friendship means to me, and honestly, I am so blessed to have met you. Trying to find a best friend really is trying to find a needle in a haystack. It’s so rare, but never give up… because you’ll eventually find it =). I know I did.

::The Way We View Ourselves::

Tags

Life, Reflection

When it comes to viewing ourselves, I think it’s correct to say that we could probably list out more negative attributes than positives. In class today, we were talking about cognitive distortions, and I must admit, that I myself, am guilty of using all of those listed at one point in time. For instance, the catastrophizing, the blaming, the mind reading, the negative filtering, and the list goes on and on. One exercise which we then had to do was to think of a SMART goal for ourselves regarding these cognitive distortions. It could either be “To lose 10 pounds in 5 weeks” or “to stop being a perfectionist” etc.

For me though, I think a problem that I’ve always faced is that I might not be competent enough. And this applies to everything I do… in placements, at school, drawing, playing the piano… to even doubting the way I do things like cutting vegetables. My underlying assumption is always “oh I’m not smart enough to do that” or “I don’t have the skills to do that” and when placed in a new situation, I’m always hesitant and think to myself “Man… I can’t do this. I’m probably doing this wrong.” I would therefore always need reassurance and ask “is this how you want it cut?” or “is this how I draw it?”. And I’m bad at deflecting positive statements about myself with “oh, anyone can do that” or “That was just a fluke”. It’s much easier to say positive things to people than for me to say that to myself and believe it…

So my SMART goal? To make a list of achievements and accomplishments that I have made by the next 5 weeks.

How about you? What are your cognitive distortions that you can’t seem to get yourself out of?

::Memories that Never Fade::

Tags

Family, Life, Love, Memories

The way the human brain works just marvels me. It’s amazing how memories from a long time ago can instantly trigger that frown to turn upside down. Or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, it could instantly trigger the tears in your eyes to fall. I can’t specifically say whether or not it’s a good thing, but I’m happy to still have these memories… so I can always look back on them in life and say “I still remember. I haven’t forgotten”.

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Very often when I talk to my little cousin, somehow the topic of funerals and grandparents come up. She asks me “Do you always have to wear black at funerals? Because I remember at our grandpa’s funeral, I don’t think I was wearing all black. Stephanie, do you remember him? Because I was so little… I can barely remember how he was…” It saddens me that they might not remember him… how he was… how much he loved us… but at the same time, I feel blessed to have known him for so long. And all I say to her is “he was a great man. And he loved us.” And suddenly the rush of memories flow into my head…. all the times he would take the bus to our house to spend hours growing vegetables in our garden; the days he would buy food for us in Chinatown and bus it down to our house; his voice on the phone telling us to wear more clothes in the Winter time.

I think even to this day, I’m still unclear as to exactly what happened… what caused it. From a simple cough, to having to go to the hospital, to getting kidney dialysis… I don’t know. And I don’t think I ever will. It was all such a blur. All I remember is this: that despite the fact he was hooked on a machine all day long, he was worried most about us. Not about himself. But about us. “If you have a bump near your throat you need to get it checked. Don’t wait too long before you see the Dr. Are you ready for school? Do you need a new cell phone? Do you have enough money? Because if not I’ll give you some.”

Although today marks the 8th year, it still breaks my heart to know that he’s no longer with us. But I remember him saying that when he closed his eyes, he saw a beautiful garden…. 

我爱你. I love you. I miss you… a lot.

…If I Knew What I Know Now…

Tags

Everyday thoughts, Life, Reflection

If I knew what I know now, would I have done anything differently? Absolutely. But that doesn’t mean that I regret where I am today. If I knew what I know today, perhaps I would have some answers to those endless “what if’s” that I’ve always had in the back of my mind. Perhaps I would have been more willing to explore new paths, like the paths less taken. Perhaps I would take more risks, to not be afraid of plunging in, head first.

If I knew what I know now, I would have savored every last second of my childhood. To tell myself that I don’t need to grow up so fast, to enjoy the fact that my parents bug me about small things, because they are worried about me, and they only want the best for me. To realize that life is more than just school and homework, but to enjoy the beautiful sunshine, and just breathe. That there is more to life than just school, and getting that perfect A on my report card.

If I knew what I know now, I would realize that it’s okay to cry. Everyone needs an outlet sometimes. That showing all sides of my emotions, vulnerable or not, is okay. That it’s okay to make mistakes. Just learn from them. That instead of focusing on negatives, to rather search for that one positive aspect which could turn things right side up again.

If I knew what I know now, I would have treasured every person who was in my life, because you never know what tomorrow might bring. To never waste a single second with people you love. To laugh more. To love more. To live more.

And most importantly, if I knew what I know now, I would tell myself that it’s okay to stumble. It’s not the fact that you fell down, but to realize that you have to get back up again, and start from where you left off. It happens. Life isn’t life without it’s little tumultuous times. Because without them, you wouldn’t realize how good the good actually was.

But of course, we can never go back in time. And if I knew what I know now, I wouldn’t be who I am today. It is because of the not knowing that got me here today. And I don’t regret it. But of course, now that I know what I now know, it’s never too late to apply these things to the person who I will become tomorrow.

::Setting Aside our Lenses::

Tags

Everyday thoughts, Life, Occupational Therapy, People, School

How often do you catch sentences that are so stereotypical? Like “girls have to wear make up” or “guys can’t cry”? How have we become so deeply rooted in these societal expectations or “norms” that we ourselves have classified?

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It’s true what they say about school. That while you’re learning these new concepts and new ways of thinking… it’s ultimately changing you. For the better. A year ago, before coming into this program, one goal of mine was to stop being so judgmental. It was just so hard for me not to. For instance “man, that guy is dressed so weird” or give the occasional “what the heck” when things weren’t “normal”. But I never really once stopped to think that it’s because of us that we have made it what it is today. Society. In general.

Today was truly inspiring to have Michael Iwama himself come to speak at our PDC conference. It was definitely an eye opener and it really made you think and ponder about the things that he said. For instance, what would you guys define as “disability”? Before, I always thought “oh that guy is disabled”… but now, I truly realize how language makes a huge difference. Why is it that “that person is disabled” vs. “That person has a disability”? He continually brought up the concept of how we use a “cultural lens” to view the world, and for those social psychologists out there… it’s those social constructs, those schemas that we make for ourselves which is how we view the world. What you may perceive as reality may not necessarily be the same reality for another person because of the way you construct things. And it’s exactly the same as things like disabilities. Why consider a disability inherent in the person? Why not take a step back… and consider that maybe it is their environment and the people within it that are leading to that exclusion and that isolation? It’s the environment and perhaps the people that make things a limitation… not the person. It’s amazing how a slight shift in the way we view things can alter things by a mile.

Another speaker, who taught the social justice model I had in the spring was also talking today. And she kept talking about how as professionals in the workforce, we should not limit the person by telling them “you can’t” but rather saying “How can”. Those two little words can make such a huge impact on someone’s life… and sadly, society doesn’t realize that.

Some people just don’t realize that by putting on these “lenses”, they’re inevitably limiting themselves in seeing things in such a concrete way…

It’s amazing how these little thoughts can make you think so much! And I think it’s because of these little bits of advice that have made me become more aware of how I can impact the world (and so can you guys!) A little step at a time! =)

::Random Encounters that Just Brighten Your Day::

Tags

Happiness, Life, People, Smile

Sometimes I absolutely hate taking transit because it can get so crowded. And there may be the occasion encounter with people who may make you feel uncomfortable. But then there are those days where sometimes, you just can’t help but smile. And that was what I had yesterday!

I was on the train with my friend going to the mall, and sitting across from me was this cute, older Chinese man who was carrying a plant of some sort and he said “hi” to the woman sitting across from him. I took a quick glance, and we exchanged smiles and he said “Hello Happy Chinese New Year (in Chinese)” and somehow, that just made me all warm inside (which was definitely needed since these days feel like -40 outside!). A couple stops later, he got up, and as he was about to leave, we exchanged another smile and he said “Happy Chinese New Year” to me again, which I then decided to say “I wish you good health” And then we exchanged a few more words and we parted ways.

I absolutely love those occasional encounters with people that may be so time limited, but so heart-warming… and it just brightens up my entire day! Smiles are infectious, so go and spread your beautiful smile to someone! =)

::Colorful Inspirations::

Tags

Art, Crafts, Everyday thoughts, Happiness, Inspiration, Life, Motivation

Do you ever get those days where minutes feels like hours, and a day feels like a week? And then there are those days where nothing just seems to go the way you want/expect… and days where you wish it never happened. And then there are days where I wish I could store in a nice little snow globe, in it’s perfect, untouched world. But every day is a new day, and with it comes something different; it’s own challenges and rewards, despite how it might not be so apparent at the time.

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On my few days home for reading week, another ‘craft’ idea popped into my head. Of course you guys all know my crazy love for sticky notes … and I cannot believe that I have not started this project sooner! So I’ve decided for this project to write nice inspirational quotes on my colorful sticky notes, because well, when those ‘bad’ days do come, I have something to look up to and smile at! Because nothing beats a smile to break the roughness of the day! And of course, as a motivation to keep on trucking!

::A Place To Call Your Own::

Tags

Experiences, Mental health, Occupational Therapy, People, Placement, Student Life

We all long for a place where we can feel safe, a place where we can call ‘our own’. But unfortunately, for those who are experiencing mental illness, the impact of stigma can be to the point where there isn’t a safe place to call ‘home’ anymore.

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One week into the placement, and I feel like I’ve been here for much longer. The people are amazing- smart, friendly, lively, unique. And they all experience a mental illness. But you know what, you honestly would not even know just by looking at them. They’re a bunch of wonderful people. From the first minute we walked into the door, they welcomed us OT students with open arms and warm friendly smiles. They were not afraid that we were entering their ‘space’ but rather allowed us to be a part of their home. These people are so easy to get along with and so easy to talk to! I cannot even begin to describe the feeling and the atmosphere in this place. Sometimes, I even think that these people are much easier to get along with than the other people I regularly encounter. There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t laugh my head off at something someone has said. And it’s so funny because we keep joking that in 6 weeks time, we’ll walk out of there as crib experts, and whenever I play crib next time, I will always remember this placement and the wonderful people who taught me. The beauty of it is, is that even though we’re there to collaborate with them and work with them, they’re also working with us to further our clinical skills. How enriching!

::Inspired to Advocate::

Tags

Inspiration, Mental health, Motivation, Social justice

I would consider myself to be more on the reserved side, someone who has an opinion, but would mostly rather keep it inside. But after last year having taken the social justice module, it really has motivated me to be more concerned about the topic. And now that I’m on placement, I can definitely see the potential for advocacy in this department. With reduced funding to programs, there has been rumor going around that it may close. If I heard about this 2 weeks ago, I probably would have just read about it, and moved on with my life. But now that I’ve personally had experience with this program, I can see the importance and value that it has to each and every single person who walks through those doors. They have a place to call their own; a place where they are safe and not judged; a place where they can be respected, and not looked down upon; a place to become empowered; a place to just be ‘normal’. This program offers such a unique experience where they probably could not find elsewhere. With the election coming up, I think this would be an amazing opportunity to ask questions and to get in touch with all the MLAs and the ministers and premiere. It probably isn’t much, but a little step is still a step into the right direction. Within these few short days of my placement at this program, I have become so inspired by these people and by the program, which is where advocacy comes in! In my 23 years, I have never once written a letter of any sort to legislature, but hey, there’s a first for everything! Let’s hope they read it and put it into action.

::Funny Things Parents Say::

Tags

Family, Happiness, Humor, Parents

I really should keep a log of what my parents say, because sometimes, I don’t know whether to hide or laugh out loud. With my dad, he’s funny because he doesn’t attempt to be funny. So today after placement, I received a text message from him saying that he now installed an app on his phone where he talks and it gets typed into his text.

My reply: “Really? You mean the program actually understands your poor english?!”

His reply: “Well I guess my english kowloon I will see if he’s not expect to get this to it she don’t forget that I have total 600 at 1 time better than you lots honey miami heat it is a long time ago tofu not total absinthe your mom is laughing at me now bye bye”

My mom tried to use the program as well, and her text was: “The hawaii trip hawaii is it going elite your toiletry bag is it going matthew get your toy joy betty’s people wait next exit get your car but you’ll see if it fits suck but you see if your pc’s suck but you”

And after that text, I just had a really good laugh and I was reminded of why I love my parents. Gotta get some laughter somewhere! =)

 

::Colorful Creations::

Tags

Art, Colors, Crafts, Inspiration, Projects, summer

If colorful crafts don’t make you think of spring, then I don’t know what does! Recently, Pinterest has been very popular, and I find myself surfing the website for DIY art projects and baking goodies. I must say, this website is amazing if you need a little push to creativity. And from this, I found the perfect website to help me complete my next project! It’s just so inspirational and I absolutely love it! You use nails to do the outline of a word or something, and then you string everything together with colorful thread! I’m super excited to get this project started once I start (…and complete…) my dreaded project which-must-not-be-named for school (yuck… paper!). But once I go home, the first thing I will do is head to the nearest Michael’s to get all my supplies needed for this colorful masterpiece! This one website has a template for the “dream” string art, and you can find it here. =) Enjoy everyone!

::Positive Self Affirmations::

Tags

Games, Happiness, Inspiration, Life, Motivation, Placement, Projects

I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a “creative” person when it comes to originality or thinking of interesting and fun icebreakers or games in general. So when it came time for my partner and I to think of a game to do during our workshops, it was definitely a bit of a struggle for me. Just yesterday we had done our motivational workshop, and I’m surprised at the great turnout! The people had such amazing ideas for brainstorming barriers and solutions, and they had fun with the game! Hurrah! We ended up doing something very similar to Wheel of Fortune where there were 4 quadrants: T/F, Multiple Choice Question, Role playing, and Surprise. Instead of making our own spinner, we actually found a scissor rack, so we just stuck a pair of scissors in there, and just got them to spin it. Anyways, everyone seemed to enjoy the game!

We just started to plan our goal setting workshop for next week, and I must say, I’m pretty motivated to play the game! We’re planning to do a “sunshine card game” where everyone will have a card, and they write their name in the middle of it and draw a sun around their name. They then pass their cards to the person next to them, and that person has to write something positive or some asset of that person. After they are done, they keep passing it on around the circle, until everyone has written something down on that person’s card. That way, they have a card that they can always keep around them (either in their wallets or put it somewhere in their home) that they can look at for positive affirmation! So often times we may not have that confidence or the self-efficacy, which may hinder so many things that we do day to day. And this is such a great way to just remind yourself that -you- can do it if you put your mind to it. Talk about positive encouragement!

::Organization 101::

Tags

Life, Organization

I think I have found the -best- site for all of you out there who have ever wanted an organization template! Whether it’s for your ‘to do’ list or a weekly organizer, this site has got it! And the best part? It’s colorful and FREE! I stumbled upon it, and I knew I immediately had to share it (yes, it’s my organization freak inside me). I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do! =).

… I think I definitely spend wayyyy too much time organizing than I do -doing-… Oh well! At least I have fun doing it haha.

::Reaching the Half Way Mark::

Tags

Life, Occupational Therapy, People, Placement, Student Life

I cannot believe that I am half way done my 4th placement! Time goes by fast, huh? I’ve been enjoying my time here; the people are amazingly nice/sweet and easy to connect with and they’re funny; I love to play Crib during social rec hours (I haven’t gotten skunked yet!); and wait for it—– they have food for decent prices AND they get free Starbucks pastries every Tuesday and Thursday. Yup, I think that just did it right there. We can stop at “free” Starbucks pastries… haha.

But that’s besides the point! I think if there’s one thing I really learned this week, is that there is always two sides to a story. There’s your interpretation and then there’s someone else’s. Do you know that saying where it goes something along the lines of “walk 1000 miles in someone else’s shoes”? Well, initially, there was a man there who I would easily get frustrated with… and I already knew that it was very unprofessional of me to be passing judgment like that. But then when we did the interview with him, my mind took a complete 180. It was then that I really understood the reason of why we have to stop and listen to someone’s story. Because really, how can you really know who they are and what they do, if you don’t even take the time to sit down and get to listen and understand them?

Anyways, that was definitely my lesson of the week. Definitely put things into perspective for me.

::Sunny Saturdays and Farmer Markets::

Tags

Farmer's Market, Food, Weekends

What better way to spend the sunny Saturday than to go down to the Farmer’s Market! They had some amazing samples to try, and I felt like I was a little kid in a candy shop. Thank goodness my friend was there to stop me and say “just keep walking” before I wanted to buy everything. I did however, end up buying a jar of pomegranate honey (which is amazing!) and a small cup of hummus, because I’ve never had it before. I’m just disappointed that I haven’t ever visited this farmer’s market earlier in my two years of being in Edmonton. Tsk tsk. And next, to visit the one in downtown because I hear they have macarons! Oh me and my love for food… will it ever end?! Nope. Hope you guys had a beautiful Saturday relaxing =).

::So it Begins::

Tags

Occupational Therapy, Placement, School, Student Life

I think this has been the first time between any placements where we’ve gotten more than a weekend off. Make that 10 days! And of course, I went home to spend it in my lovely bed (which doesn’t make my back sore!) and got to take a little time to myself. Aside from that, I got to catch up with some friends, which was a good balance between quiet time to myself and socializing.

But, I am unfortunately back in Edmonton, where tomorrow will be the first day of my 4th placement! Time goes by so fast. I keep thinking that this is only my 2nd placement, when in reality, it’s my 2nd last placement!! This one is an independent community placement, so we have more freedom to do what we want, but at the same time, I’m hoping that it’ll be the just right challenge. Of course with every placement, I’m always a little reluctant to start because really, who doesn’t want more time to relax?! But I have a feeling that these 6 weeks will fly by and by the time I know… I’ll be blogging about the last day soon!!! But now that school is over though, I don’t have any excuse to not work on my dreaded paper (which must not be named!)… but the prospect of me jogging with the hot sun shining down on me keeps me going!! Did I tell you…

I can’t wait for summer? =)

::The Comfort of Cozy Cafes::

Tags

Books, Cafe, Friends, Happiness, Relaxation, Spring, summer

Regardless of whether your day has been filled with snow, sunshine, stress, or relaxation, it’s always nice to take some time and enjoy someone’s company in a nice cozy cafe! To sit down and talk for 2 hours straight while sipping on a nice latte with a beautiful foam design and a scrumptious pastry on the side. Talking about boys, of life, of a career, and of all the potential books to read over the summer days. It never ends!

I think I’ve decided that this summer, instead of taking the indoor, sedentary life, I’m going to take a more scenic, outdoor route. I want to explore more nice cozy cafes (like the one we were in today!), and go to Farmer’s Markets and go pick berries at a farm! And of course, do my usual routine jog in the lovely park. Ah, and read lots of good books. I was never a big book worm, but I think I am definitely reading more now!

I’m currently reading the Hunger Games Trilogy, and let me say,  I cannot put it down (despite my sluggish reading speed)! My friend suggested several books, which I will definitely get into during the summer! I can’t wait. For some odd reason, I love the prospect of sitting down with a good book, and getting the satisfaction from flipping the pages, slowly as I read, word for word, line by line… slowly sinking into the plot and running with my imagination as the book leads me. If anyone has any good book recommendations, please feel free to drop a line! =). Until then, happy Spring everyone!

 

::Matcha Green Tea Cookies::

Tags

Baking, Dessert

After 3 separate trips to Superstore and 1 trip to T & T Supermarket, my friend and I finally gathered all the necessary ingredients to make the long awaited matcha green tea chocolate chip cookies! Who ever knew that a small tin of matcha green tea powder was so expensive?! I tried to persuade my friend to get her friend (who works at Starbucks) to get some from work, but she didn’t want to bother her. Regardless though, they turned out splendid! Aside from the fact that this time around, they were just slightly dry but nonetheless delicious! Definitely a must make recipe again! =)

::Food you cannot get enough of::

Tags

Food, Happiness, Sushi

I always like to joke around that because I was born around dinner, that’s the reason why I absolutely love to eat! You know that phrase where it goes “Do you eat to live or live to eat?” and I think I’m definitely leaning more towards the latter. Aside from my cookie monster personality, there’s one staple food that I cannot resist. Every time my friend and I go out, we always always always resort to… SUSHI. There’s something about it that is so irresistible. My one friend had introduced me to this one sushi place in Calgary, which is amazing by the way! It’s a fusion restaurant, so it’s definitely one of a kind! You guys definitely must check it out if you guys ever get a chance to go to Calgary. It’s called El’s fusion restaurant. My favorite? The kiwi sushi (it’s the one on the very left hand side of the picture). Perfected with kiwi and their special house sauce with scallop, this sushi is to die for! How about you guys? What food  do you always go back to? =) Happy eating everyone!

::The Grand Macaroon::

Tags

Dessert, Food, Happiness

The one greatest thing I have discovered in Edmonton (aside from bulk barn!!) is a quaint little bakery, Duchess. It is renowned for their amazing macaroons, and every month, they have different specials. Well, because it’s almost Spring, they made a Printempt macaroon which is the about the size of my palm!  I [willingly] dished out $7 to try this amazing piece of work… and let me tell you… it was amazing. It wasn’t overly sweet. And I’m still pondering about why the macaroons we make are always hollow!!! So if anyone has any tips, please let me know =). The pink one was the one my friend got (in Feb), and unfortunately, I was unable to taste that one, but it looked absolutely amazing as well!! One day… I shall make this kind of macaroon! 

::Two years ago::

The me two years ago was ecstatic, because my 4 years of University was finally coming to an end! No more writing labs, no more having to study my butt off for finals and midterms, and just… well, no more school! But then there was that smack into reality when I found out that I really had no direct plan just yet. Was I going to officially get shipped out into the workforce with my degree that seems so general?! Or was I going to be accepted into my program that I applied to in January? Well, lo and behold, I got accepted into the program and 2 years later, here I am… concluding the program! Today was the last day of official classes, and I can’t quite explain what I was feeling… It was so relieving that everything was all done (group work, our proposal pitch, etc. minus our 3 finals) and then it hit me- today was officially -the last- day of classes. EVER. After 18 years of schooling, I have reached nearly the end point. And it was kind of sad actually (I know eh!)

I must admit, my application into Occupational Therapy was more of a 2nd choice. And quite honestly, I had no clue what the heck it was really, nor what I was going to get myself into. But man, these two years have been amazing. I don’t regret it. I remember the very first day of official classes. I was cramped in a room downstairs with all these plinths, and the prof was making us do a worksheet about a C5 spinal cord injury client… I remember reading the worksheet going “Scapula?! Deltoids?! What are all these ridiculous terms?! How the heck do I know any of this?! How do OTs help?! I don’t even know what an OT does… GAH!” and I remember the many times of me whining “why can’t they do anything more practical in school? This seems pointless” But here I am. Here we are. We made it! It’s amazing how much we have learned and grown throughout these two short years of our program, despite the fact that we still feel uncomfortable with certain things as future OTs. But that will definitely come with experience. I never knew that not only would I learn more about occupational therapy, but that the program would affect me so much… in a good way. I’ve always known that I wanted to be a health care professional, but not exactly which one. And now, that picture of the ‘future me’ is starting to become a little less blurry. This program has given me so much insight and knowledge into this area, and it’ll only keep expanding. I just hope that one day in the future, I can contribute what I’ve learned, to society. All the hard work has paid off! Now… onwards!