For 2010

I realize that we are nearing the end of January and that most people have had their New Year's Resolutions planned out weeks ahead of the 1st of the month but I have chosen to step away from that cliche this year.

Every year I get all ampted up for my new year's resolutions during the weeks of Christmas Vacation as I plan and throw out goals and ideals every which way... This overwhelmingly busy time of year however, is not the right time to pick out what it is I need to do differently for the coming 12 months.

This is why over the past 26 days I have evaluated my daily life and self and decided upon certain things I would like to see myself doing...

So for 2010... here we go!

Exercise: in a lazy world I may be able to do an hour of working-out each day of the week but this is not the case. With so many things on the go it is difficult to allot myself enough time to fit in a work-out into my busy schedule. This is why this resolution in particular is for me to exercise for 45 minutes at least four times a week. I realize this may not seem like much now... but I am aiming for reasonible here - as I really do want to achieve this! I have made it part of my resolution to work out longer or for extra days if and when I have the time!

Creativity: after receiving a video camera for Christmas I have made it my goal to make many more videos this coming year. In the past I have made plans to do many different variations of videos but have failed in doing so because my time hasn't been properly managed... but I will challenge myself this year to make as many videos as I can.

I have also made myself the resolution to write on my blog more often! I have clearly lacked in this area for the past few weeks but I hope to be back on track with writing regularly.

Character: I believe in giving people chances. There are many times when people let you down, or fall short of your expectations but we must all learn to understand and be patient and this is what I intend to practice. In turn, I am hoping to become a more friendly person with a loving and forgiving heart.

Travel: many students have a common predicament: money... or lack there of. I hope to save as much money as possible in order to travel this year. My destinations do not have to be on different contents or anything that extravagant but I'd love to travel and explore different areas and wonders of the world. It is so beautiful!

Alrighty. There is my list of resolutions that I hope I will be able to stick with. What are your resolutions for 2010?

Is Talk Cheap?

Throughout the day we hear so much that sometimes it is difficult to decipher what is real and what is fake. What is true and what is false. What is significant and what is ... "blah blah blah."

"I'm sorry" "I hate you" "I love you" "You suck" "You're the best"

How many of these sayings that so commonly fill our ears can we take to heart - if any at all? And is there a way to figure out what is the truth?

After contemplating this idea for a number of days I suppose there isn't a true way. I mean, even lie-detectors aren't capable of fully telling if something is a lie or not. Perhaps our only judge could be our head... or even our heart.

Ms. Independent

Individuality. For some, becoming an individual may have come too early and for others it comes much too late.

When we were little, being an individual meant being the kid that had no friends. The kid that ate their lunch in the corner of the room because they weren't accepted. They chose to wear comfortable shoes instead of the popular ones; they enjoyed watching shows from the 80's instead of the new and overly-talked about sitcoms everyone else was watching.

Who is to say, however, that this numero uno of a person isn't as good as the rest of them? They've simply chosen the path less taken - and quite frankly, seem to be enjoying it.

This isn't to say I was never one of the "groupies" who have given the stink-eye to people who don't blend in. I, here and now, am admitting to having snickered at the rarities that are amongst us; however, I shall also admit to have not done so for quite sometime. No. It seems immature when thinking of it now.

People laughing at those who don't fit in... Immature may not be the correct word for this situation. No... insecure is a better fit. This shows a huge and abundant lack of security in one's self to have to "follow the crowd."

We tend to adore the cute little ducklings that follow their mama across the road; we stop in admiration. However, something about us - humans - following each other around constantly and doing whatever it is the person ahead is doing catches our attention in a negative fashion.

Doing something for the sole reason of someone else doing it is cowardly and ... sad.

If you like something, if you truly like something - do it, buy it, make it, wear it, eat it, be it.

Letting go of these ideals that mediums and people all over the world put into our minds is what truly needs to happen in order for someone to discover themselves.

I'm not promoting those that do strange things for the purpse of an audience-reaction. No, no, no. Because that is not being true to one's self. Doing something to "stand out" just for the sake of standing out is entirely missing the point.

Just do what you like to do. I dare you to do what you like to do.

"To thy own self be true."

Vlog #1

AMAZING

Romantic Comedies

After watching "It's Complicated" at the theatre with my very best friend, and absolute favourite person in the world to watch movies with, my mom and I decided we quite enjoyed this gentle, sweet flick.

It made us laugh, made us cry, made us sympathize. It also made me do something I always, always find myself doing after watching a romantic comedy: get creative.

Not just creative with writing or drawing or that sort of thing. But becoming creative with myself.

Who am I?

What do I like to do? What don't I like to do?

Could I relate to any of those characters? Could I see myself in their shoes, with their jobs and their life style? What kind of character would I be in a movie?

I came home tonight and began asking my mom a series of questions:

"Could you see me as a chef?"

"Remember when I wanted to be a chef?" [Insert imaging myself running a restaurant... not a horribly awful idea... in fact, it pleasurably amuses me.]

"Mom, could you see me being as good an actress as Meryl Streep?"

As my mom answers in the affirmative and begins explaining why, I silently pretend to act. I pretend I'm angry at my child. Then I pretended I was just proposed to out of the blue to someone I had recently cheated on.

My mind races through many thoughts of different ideals and I begin to yearn for paper... or a napkin! Just anything to write on. I want to write these thoughts down. Like a writer of a movie... let's capture this character in the moment!

Long story short... here I am. Writing this out. Just sharing my feelings. Perhaps one day after I finish watching When Harry Met Sally or You've Got Mail and I have this same exact feeling, I'll come back to this post and re-read it.

Yes... I feel creative. Let's work on me. Let's do something to create finer detail on me. I'm like a character in a movie... or a really good book.

... and I pretend... I pretend everyone wants to get to know me.

First Decade of the Millennium