As we head into fall I can’t help but stop and think about all the things that have happened this year. Is it just me or do you notice as we get older the more things tend to happen in a year - substantial things? More and more of my friends are having babies, my weekends are packed with weddings, and my bank account is taking a hit from all the house warming gifts.
It has almost been a year since I got engaged and in that year I have planned and executed a fun wedding, I have a new nephew, I moved out of my apartment, I bought a house, I change jobs, my parents sold their house and the list just keeps on going.
It has been two months since the wedding and as the dust settles I find that all these adult changes and decisions have gotten the better of me. I haven’t really felt like the fun-loving, confident Jos that I rely on and love. I can’t put my finger on the reason and I have not been able to get back to the old me as of yet.
The other day I decided to go for a run since exercise tends to make me feel better. It was a very satisfying run. You know the kind where you feel like you could go for hours. When I finally returned to the house I started my “post-run” stretching routine and happened to look at the perfect patch of green grass in front of me. Then out of nowhere I had this urge to do a cartwheel, an old-fashioned elementary school cartwheel. I did laugh at this notion at first and was also unsure of my ability to do one at the ripe old age of 28 and a half, but the urge would not go away. So I did a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching and I proceeded to leap into the air like I was performing at the Olympics. It was amazing! Not my skills of course but the feeling. I continued doing cartwheels until my wrists got a little sore. This one little action was making me smile, laugh, and feel overwhelmingly happy. In a nutshell, it made me feel young and carefree again. So it got me thinking, maybe this was my first life lesson in the importance of staying young at heart while I venture down the road of adult decisions.
I know it sound silly but since I have done this cartwheel I have started to feel like myself again. I can’t imagine that something so silly would do the trick but maybe that was all I needed. As a result, I really want to pass this idea along. The next time you see that patch of grass, do a cartwheel a round-off or whatever you use to do when you were young. I promise it will brighten your day, even if you don’t make it to the other side.
Despite what you hear on the news every night, we live in an amazing time right now. There are so many companies out there trying to make a difference in the world of being “green”. They are making leaps and bounds in terms of creating products that perform the same or even better than our popular brands and for a reasonable price.
Being a sales person at heart, I feel I need to give a shout out or a plug to two brands in particular:
1. Green Works by Clorox
2. Seventh Generation
The switch to more natural household cleaners has been a long time coming for me. I have been reading and speaking to a lot of people about how toxic our current cleaners are for the environment and our own health. So when I saw an advertisement for the new Green Works natural cleansers by Clorox, I was intrigued. 
Unlike other companies that try and come up with new ideas by tweaking their existing formulas, Clorox started from scratch creating natural cleansers that are made from 99% natural ingredients. These cleansers are biodegrable, not tested on animals, do not contain any harsh chemical fumes or residues, and can be found in recyclable packaging.
I use to be an avid Lycol and Vim user - you can not get any stronger than that stuff - so the Monica Gellar in me was not completely convinced in the cleaning power of these products but let me be the first to tell you that I was wrong. This stuff is amazing. I have officially switched. The all-purpose cleaner is my fav!
The next amazing company is called Seventh Generation. Located in Vermont, this company is truly at the forefront of a cultural change in consumer behaviour. The name itself is derived from the Great Law of the Iroquois that states, “In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.” A concept I wished our grandparents would have listened too. Similar to Clorox they have created a line of non-toxic household products from phosphate-free dishwasher detergent to chlorine-free baby diapers. Every time you use a Seventh Generation product you are making a difference by saving natural resources, reducing pollution, keeping toxic chemicals out of the environment and making the world a safer place for this and the next seven generations. Brilliant concept!
The best part about these products is that you can find them in regular stores. I purchase my Seventh Generation dishwasher detergent from Canadian Tire for only $3.99 and the Green Works products from my local grocery store!
The point I want to get across is that there is no reason why we shouldn’t all be using these products and supporting companies that are trying to make a difference. We are all familiar with the theory of supply and demand. If we support these products and companies, the others will soon follow. Cost or convenience is no longer a reason to not buy green…it is easy to be green.
Although the nights still feel a bit cool it is safe to say that spring is officially here. Mother Nature did not win. We all survived the winter of 2007-2008 and boy was it ever a long one! I think it was so brutal in Ontario that accepting the spring weather has been somewhat of an unbelievable thing.
Beside the temperature there are a several signs I look for to know that spring is definitely here:
- The snow tires are coming off
- People are smiling and talking to each other
- Exercise is back into the routine
- The garage/driveway becomes a neighbourhood hang out again.
- You can smell the sweet sent of a BBQ cooking dinner
My all time favourite sign that spring is in the air is the sound of all the birds. Have you ever stopped to listen to them lately? It is not just the occasional song but constant chatter from morning to night. I have always thought that the birds are just like us when it comes to seasons. They have been trapped inside a tree for all of winter and now that it is nice out they are able to visit with their friends and talk about the day. I also love how early it starts. As soon as the dawn starts to break the birds start singing. I love waking up to it. I think it is something we take for granted here in Ontario. I have been all over the world and hearing birds sing is not a normal thing, even in other provinces of Canada.
So in light of spring being here, I urge everyone to savour the moments you enjoy about spring. The months seem to be passing by so quickly, that I think it is important to note those things that make you happy instead of all those daily things that bring you down.
A few years ago I remember watching Oprah and listening to a discussion on how our society doesn’t raise boys to be men, but rather raise boys not to be women. Mothers and fathers are equally responsible for teaching boys that girls are weaker and more emotional. Parents often scold little boys not to cry when they fall and hurt themselves saying 'Be a man, toughen up.' As a result, they learn to repress their hurt.
I was thinking about that notion today and how I think we ladies do not give men enough credit sometimes. Could you imagine those days where everything is building up and you couldn't let it out? I don’t know about you, but I cry at least one a month about something. Normally it is when I’m feeling overwhelmed or frustrated and sometimes it is out of happiness. My Fiancé never understands why I cry when I’m happy.
It is such a release to cry but it is something that most men just don’t do, and I actually feel sorry for them. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t think everyone should now start losing it on a daily basis but I think men should be able to express an emotion without being thought of as a lesser-man. By the way, crying as a result of a sport does not count.
On that Oprah show that I watch, there were several well respected athletes and professionals speaking about how men carry a big weight of expectation on their shoulders that they feel women don't appreciate. They want to be able to provide for their family, be sexy, be tough and strong, yet when they are struggling they are not supposed to let it show. It was interesting to see how many men felt the same way.
I still think being a woman today is harder, but I try to keep this thought in the back of my head when dealing with the men in my life. The only time I have zero sympathy for men is when they get sick, but that is a whole other story in itself.
My friends are very important to me. I have a small family and as a result I have come to the realization that my heart holds my girlfriends closer than what is probably common.
I started to think about my friends tonight and how each of them has added something wonderful to my life. I believe they have played a huge role in who I am today. Each friend has something that I admire or attribute that makes me want to be a better person. Today my friend Erin ran the 30km "Around The Bay" run in Hamilton (oldest road race in North America) in 2 hours and 39 minutes – AMAZING! Over a delicious sushi dinner, she told me about the experience and about her plans to do more. We may have joked about her inability to walk after the race today but in my head I was thinking how incredible she is and how proud I am of her. You will never meet a girl with more drive and determination than Erin. Being around her makes me want to do more for my health and use each day to the fullest. My other friend Nat just had a beautiful little girl, Sophie Rose. She called me only a few hours after her labour. I could sense her excitement but could also hear the calmness in her voice, which made me feel a sense of pride. I was so impressed that she delivered a baby and was already doing so well. Within hours of birth, I could tell she is going to be a fabulous mother. Woman are seriously awesome.
The people in our lives truly influence our character. I guess that is why most parents want their teenagers to stay away from the “bad kids”. At this stage of my life I can say from the bottom of my heart that I have the most wonderful friends and with continue to admire them for the woman they are, even if they think they are nothing special.
At 8:00pm on Saturday night, the Agro family and I joined the millions of people around the world in making a statement about climate change by turning off our lights for Earth Hour.
We were fortunate to be at their ski chalet up north and really got to see the beauty of nature. At first we were a little hesitant to stop what we were doing but knew that the event was important and something we should share together. So we proceeded to light several candles and had a fire roaring in the fireplace. We peaked out the windows to see candles flickering in the houses around us. It was thrilling to take part in something that the whole world was involved in. For the hour we decided to sit around the fireplace and chat. It was such a calm and relaxing hour. We may have been turning off the lights to save energy, but at the same time this event was forcing everyone to stop and enjoy life. The time absolutely flew by, but before we turned the lights back on we went outside and looked at the beauty of the sky. The stars were so bright and made the purpose of the hour even more prominent. I hope everyone enjoyed the experience and will continue to improve the way we use energy in order to save the environment.
Have you ever noticed how easily people can rub off on you? If you are like me, then you have probably pick up habits or mannerisms from the people in your life. I rub my hands together when I'm excited, which I got from my friend Heather. I describe anything cute as "tiny" as a result of my sister. The list goes on and on. Personally I think it is a compliment. For the most part it is not intentional but there are the occasional things that I purposely try to introduce into my life. To spice up the regular routine. One line that is new to my repetuare is "Don't be a hater!" or "Why do you have to be a hater?". Yes, I know that I'm not a gangsta and I'm far from being a teenager, but this line just works for me. A "Hater" is someone who is generally negative and in bad spirits. Someone who is constantly putting someone or something down or always finding fault in something, rather than seeing the good. The best part about the line is that it is not super serious and can therefore be used in many situations. The next time you find yourself telling a friend or colleague about something that you like to do in your spare time; if they say that they wish they the had the time to do that (in a condensending voice), you say back to them "Don't be a hater!". Feel free to add in the word "hommie" at the end of you are in a good mood.
As we head into fall I can’t help but stop and think about all the things that have happened this year. Is it just me or do you notice as we get older the more things tend to happen in a year - substantial things? More and more of my friends are having babies, my weekends are packed with weddings, and my bank account is taking a hit from all the house warming gifts.
