A friendly exchange

The small, adorable, bespectacled man that was working the till at Solly's* turned to me today and said, "Are you from around here?"

I replied, " No, I just moved here yesterday from Calgary."

He gave me a wide grin as he declared, " I could tell. I used to live in Calgary, in Canyon Meadows for 26 years, and I will never return to that city."

"How long have you lived in Vancouver?" I asked in honest interest.

"10 years", he replied, "once you experience a winter out here, ha! you will never go back."

"How did you know I wasn't from around here?" I asked him, still amazed that I was such an obvious outsider. "What can I do to fit it?"

He surveyed me, thought for a while and finally came up with, "Your too happy."

Im not sure what this exchange meant, but I like it.

* Solly's: A jewish bakery and bagelry. Known for their scheamers and knishes. One of my favourite things.

Came in with a Bang

Fireworks:

A universal symbol of celebration, renewal, hope, joy. A beautiful light in the darkness.

As we drove into Vancouver on Sunday Night, tired, overwhelmed, and wondering what Vancouver would offer us in this next year, we were greeted by fireworks. Everywhere we looked there were these beautiful explosions of colored light. The night sky was ablaze. As we watched the sky in awe, we felt as though we were being personally welcomed to the city. Through the mirade of lights and sound we were reassured that this was the start of a great year. A year of celebration and joy.

Last Day here

Goodbye Vancouver, Ill be back soon.

Vancouver

So Vancouver. For the first time, I knew what it meant to be centered. To not worry about expectations, social requirements, attitudes, shoulds and should not's. I felt truly centered for the first time in my life, and it was freeing. I could look within, and listen to my heart, instead of listening to opinions, and pressures, and other peoples agenda's. The calmness of my heart was palpable, in a way that it never has been before. I have tried to explain to people how my soul felt in Vancouver, but I dont think I explain it well, as no one seems to catch my enthusiasm (well besides my father, but he feels the same way I do about Vancouver, so our souls speak instead of our mouths). Ill end this post by trying to explain it like this: In Calgary my soul feels dry, almost brittle, as if the lack of moisture in the air, not only dries out my skin, but my very essence as well. In Vancouver, my soul is like a sponge, absorbing the vibe of the city, the salty damp air, and the glory of a city that seems never ending with the options it has, for all.

Van City

So I'm going on a trip, and for the first time in my life, I am going alone. I am so excited. It's funny how when you ask for the best life possible, and know (trust) that the "universe", too, wants you to have the best life possible, what oppurtunities come around for you.

Vancouver is my happy place. In a large, busy, city, where very few people know me, I feel anonymous. I can shake off the shackels of pre-concieved notions and monotomy of Calgary, and just BE. When I think about what my weekend is going to look like in Vancouver its funny, because all I can think is that I just get to BE. Ill do anything I want to do, whenever I want to do it, not thinking about anyone else's schedule or preference. This is deep, true, unadultured self care. Im so excited about the lessons to be learned. Lessons about myself, my relationships, my god, and the universe. I know that this will be life changing as I am open. Open to new expereiences, people, places, interactions. Im open for the universe to move through me (in the way it does when your paying attention) and take my life to extraordinary places.

Lets go. Lets start.