Don't Give Up

I just want to stress the importance of not giving up.

Whether it's chasing a dream, going for a job, losing weight, marrying someone... giving up is always going to be an option. And it will almost always be the easier alternative.

But the true joys in life are worth it I'm sure. They're worth the time and effort. If you think about long-term happiness... it's just got to be worth it. Don't give up. Don't give up trying hard, eating right, working out, saving money, making videos, writing music, loving someone, fighting for something that matters.

But most of all, don't give up on yourself. You're the one who's going to get you there. You're the one who truly is the key to your own happiness.

You can do it.

Just don't give up.

Overplayed

You know the feeling...

You're driving in your car and a song comes on the radio that you've never heard before. Its unique rhythm catches your attention. The instrumentals are perfect for your current mood.

You turn it up. Now you can hear the lyrics. Wow, what an incredible verse. Boom. Then the chorus hits you. It's perfect. You wouldn't change a single word.

The next verse finishes and you're starting to type a reminder in your phone to download this song as soon as you get home.

Swing open your door, quickly open your computer, google the lyrics, find the song, youtube the video. Hit that beautiful button: download.

The download takes a few minutes and your anticipation to hear the song again is growing wildly. There it is... finally, in your iTunes.

Play. Enjoy. Repeat.

Play. Enjoy. Pick out your favourite line. Repeat.

Play. Enjoy. Sing your favourite line. Post your favourite line on Twitter or Facebook. Repeat.

Play. Enjoy. Sing the whole song out loud. Send it to a friend. Put on your iPod. Play in car. Play while working out. Play while eating dinner. Play before going to sleep. Play when you wake up. Play when you brush your teeth , comb your hair, get ready for school, while waiting in line. You play this new song so often because you just can't get enough of it.

You love how you discovered it before anyone else did. You love how it's lyrics mean something special to you right now. You love the beat, tempo, flow.

Maybe you even tried listening to some other songs but none of them were as currently satisfying to you as this new one.

But then it happens.

You press play... it starts... and just a few beats into your song a new emotion emerges. You want to skip it. You've heard it too much. It doesn't give you that heart-race it once did. It doesn't make you want to blast it in your car. It doesn't give you goosebumps. Yes, unfortunately it has been - like so many others - overplayed.

Overplayed. Excessive.

How many times have we overdone something? Whether it's finding out a new favourite recipe, food, television show, trend, fad... What is it with so many people excessively over indulging?

Just like the song... when we find something good, it's as if we can't get enough of that good thing. There is no satisfaction. There is no rest. Until it all becomes too much and the entire ideal has been exhausted.

Why do we do it? We know that once we have the song downloaded we can listen to it whenever we want, yet we want to listen to it as much as possible to the point where it's very sound irritates us. This goes for food, relationships, entertainment.

People like to rush. People like to obsess.

Is it worth it? Will people ever understand that time is our friend? Or will they make the same mistake again with the next song they suddenly discover they love?

Will they repeat the same steps all over again?

Play. Enjoy. Appreciate a new track. Take sometime. Repeat.

Yes, it may be hard not to repeat the song at first. It's new and exciting and hey, I can't blame you for wanting more. Taking it slow, however, will surely play off when a month from now you still want to listen to that song, eat that food, wear that outfit, etc.

Lady Like

"Welcome to the age of un-innocence. No one has breakfast at Tiffany's and no one has affairs to remember." - Sex and the City

Where have all the ladies gone?

I'm not talking about females in general, we've been seeing more and more of us women out there in the "real" world haven't we?

I'm talking about ladies. Women with class. Women with dignity.

I'm all for pro-choice and through this I am pro-lifestyle. Everyone can act the way they want so forgive me if this blog is about to sound preachy.

With having a choice to take the house-wife role or the independent-business-woman role (or both if you can handle it - woo Mom!) I have continued to find a certain trend in the women that have chosen the "independent role."

There's this "I am me; I do what I want, who I want, when I want" attitude that seems to be very popular recently. There is nothing wrong with this. We can do whatever we want.

Believe me, I am very independent myself. In fact, I'm all for being self-sufficient and in charge - however there is most definitely a way about doing it.

What am I talking about?

I'm talking about sex. Relationships. "Quick choices" if you will.

Somewhere along the lines, it is my belief that women have come to believe that independence and sexual expression are one in the same.

For goodness sake's women, please have some self-respect and be classy.

If you choose to sleep around or have exciting but ever so quick relationships, attempt to do it with a bit of grace and fabulousness.

There's a reason why many women often refer to men as pigs: because of the way many men speak about women, the way many men recklessly demote women and laugh about it later... you're feeding fuel to the fire!

I'm thinking Samantha Jones may have had something to do with this movement which breaks my heart because this is not what Samantha Jones is about. Women are distorting her message - they've read too much into it and they're turning it into a negative outcome.

Samantha Jones is one of my idols! She has a fabulous career, solid friendships and an extremely hot sex life. Yes, she's had sex with many, many, many men but she did it in an elegant and tasteful manner.

She did not go around shouting from the rooftops that she's had sex with another man; she didn't use vulgarities that devalued her... she was refined. Of course she had some rare moments when she felt she had to make a statement - but these are the few times when Samantha seems weak - not strong.

I suppose my message is: ladies... be ladies! You may think you're taking two steps forward but you are in fact, taking five steps back.

Samantha: Relationships have declined since women came out the cave... ...looked around and said, “This isn't so hard.”

Carrie: So you don't need a man, but do you still want one?

Samantha: I want more than one.

Carrie: I can't decide whether you represent our future or our demise.

Samantha: I am the future!

the meaning

Have you ever loved a song and not quite understood exactly what you thought it meant.

You could try wrapping different situations you're going through into the song but there are certain lyrics and meanings that don't quite match.

That's happened to me with a few favourites.

Recently, I have found out their meaning. I've been put in situations where suddenly these songs make so much sense. My situation must have been exactly what these artists were writing about.

I understand you. Now that I'm here, maybe it was better when I didn't know.

over it

There comes a time when you suddenly realize you're over it. Lots of weighing out options lots of pros and cons, lots of stressing, lots of outbreaks due to stress and rubbing of the face. Suddenly you realize its unavoidable. Its thereeee.

Remeber-This Day

Firstly, I'd just like to apologize about the tartiness of this post. I meant to write it on the 11th of November but have been extremely busy.

Rememberance Day is a day in which we remember those who gave their lives for us. Our grandparents and great grandparents fought for our country. They fought for us. They died for us.

During the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month I tuned into Global to watch celebrations in Ottawa - celebrations in honour of those who died for us. While, I didn't go all the way to a ceremony close by to remember the victims of war or show my appreciation towards the Veterans, I did buy a poppy the week prior and have continued to wear it proudly.

I am third generation Canadian and I love this country. I appreciate almost every aspect of it and am truly thankful to live here. Whether third generation, second or first... every Canadian - actaully, every single person living in Canada - should be appreciative of those who fought for this country, as they are the ones who we have to thank for this gift.

Sadly, this is not the case. I am truly disgusted in the amount of people that disregard this day and all that it stands for. You can purchase a poppy at any price! You can drop a dime into a box and thus proudly wear the red and black symbol. How is it that November 11th, one of the most important days of the year, goes so unrecognized?

Is it because it is not commercial enough for those who are so smug, ignorant and greedy? (Note: I am using extremely kind words in comparison to what they're being called in my head.)

I cannot fathom why such ignorant people can live on this land, have freedom and beautiful atmosphere and opportunity and not be able to show the tiniest bit of gratitude. Disgusting. Truly revolting.

While I can run my mouth off about people, I am also deeply disturbed by conglomerates as well. It was very difficult to not notice the featured Google Homescreen Icons last week.

Everyone was tickled pink each morning to see a new Sesame Street illustration displaying Jim Hensen's character's 40th anniverary. Do not get me wrong, I too enjoyed these creative visuals. However, on Novemeber 11th I was in total shock at this:

Need I say more? Google couldn't so much as make one of the O's a poppy? Or put a military hat hanging off a letter? Nothing? Not a single thing? Because I doubt very much that many people noticed the tiny, insignificant letters at the bottom of this page; therefore I doubt very much that many people remembered Remeberance Day.

Not that we should be leaving it up to Google Headquarters to remind us of this important day, but they surely do project the message that make-believe puppets have more of an impact on civilians today than real deceased soldiers do.

For those of you who forgot to Remember... please: take a minute and appreciate that you're in Canada and thank those who are responsible for it.

Decisions, decisions

We make so many decisions everyday.

Cereal or toast?

Stop at the yellow light or gun it?

Buy lunch when you know you shouldn't... or satisfy your craving?

Stay at school to work in the library or just go home to your room?

Start essay or watch another episode of Sex and the City?

How many of these decisions we make everyday stop us in our tracks and have us think logically?

Perhaps if yesterday, I'd chosen toast, I wouldn't have spilled milk from my cereal across the kitchen floor causing me to clean and delay my day by 15 minutes...

Perhaps if I'd just gunned the yellow light I'd have arrived at class on time and not had to take the chair that was broken which has consequently given me a back pain...

Perhaps if I'd have listened to my gut instinct and not boughten the tuna wrap at lunch, I'd have had $10 extra dollars in my "in case of emergency" pocket...

Perhaps if I'd stayed at school to work in the library, I'd have finished my essay...

Perhaps if I'd actually started the essay instead of watching three episodes of SATC, I'd be done by now... not still procrastinating to write the stupid thing!

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps....

Perhaps all of that would have been more efficient... but I did enjoy my cereal, my wrap, my song at the red light, my non-traffic drive home, my cozy room alongside my sleeping dog and who couldn't use a few good SATC episodes once in a while?

Good decisions, different decisions, hard decisions... perhaps there are no wrong ones.

Aren't you glad I made the decision to write this post instead of my essay? Ricky?

Tanned & Tainted

People are still fake tanning? Seriously? What is the reason? What is the reason for putting yourself at a 75% risk of having skin cancer? An unreal glow... in the winter... while everyone knows it's fake?

I'm unafraid to talk about this subject so harshly because I once was a fake tanner. Not often by any means, but if there was an event taking place between the months of October and May, I often found myself tanning several times before the special date. The second I found out that tanning beds played such a huge part in one's likelihood of getting cancer, I made up my mind that I would never ever fake and bake again.

It boggles my mind when thinking about those who have yet to stop. Upon the rush of Facebook Halloween albums being posted this week, I've noticed this fake and bake glow on the skins of many friends. WAKE UP.

"International cancer experts have moved tanning beds and other sources of ultraviolet radiation into the top cancer risk category, deeming them as deadly as arsenic and mustard gas. A new analysis of about 20 studies concludes the risk of skin cancer jumps by 75 percent when people start using tanning beds before age 30. The new classification means tanning beds and other sources of ultraviolet radiation are definite causes of cancer, alongside tobacco, the hepatitis B virus and chimney sweeping, among others." - 'Tanning Beds as Deadly as Arsenic, July 29/09 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32187497/ns/health-cancer/

My goodness, are these the extremes people are willing to go to in this day and age for our cosmetic and materialistic needs? Are people literally dying for a tan?

Seriously people. STOP using tanning salons. It is not worth it.

That is all.

Growing Up... Gone

It seems as though people (or should I say teens) are wanting to grow up way too quickly.

I'll never forget the day a young girl added me to Facebook, only for me to realize she was in grade eight and someone (apparently) I had gone to elementary school with. After getting over my initial thought of "how does this girl remember me when I graduated from that elementary school when she was in grade three?" I began to investigate and was struck with horror.

This 13-year-old had some 900 friends! Forgive me if I'm stepping on anyones toes, but NINE HUNDRED Facebook friends? Really? While it instantly became clear to me that this young tot was simply adding people's names that sounded familiar (not actual friends), I noticed her pictures were more surprising than anything. UGG boots, Aritzia jackets, Chanel shades... this young teen was dressed more lavish than most 20-somethings!

When I was thirteen I was running around parks and riding my bike, wearing ripped jeans and rugged shoes, and this poor girl is trying her absolute hardest to be something that she's not: a grown up.

Even at my age right now, I am in no rush to grow up and presume the responsibilities adults must face. I love being young, youthful and free! I love being able to laugh loud and do silly things in public with my best friends. I love living with my parents and fighting with my brother! I love being chipper and enthusiastic and showing excitement when I'm excited!

This isn't to say I'm running around like an immature hoodlum, or that I won't be ready to "grow-up" when the time comes; but it is my firm belief that everyone in this world should hold onto their youth for as long as possible. Be responsible, of course - but hold onto that exhilaration and rush of just bein' a kid; because before you know it, it might just pass you by.