Check it out! This dandy little article was published by you queen, and has some insightful little notes to live by. http://youqueen.com/life/personal-develop_ment/6-reasons-to-listen-to-your-inner-voice/
0 Comments
My Mother Calls Me Ralph
My mother calls me Ralph Because I never stopped ralphing That caring loving understanding sadist is my best friend, my confidant. Vivacious, resilient and fiercely independent. She's cruel beyond measure A rock who grounds and supports me, who is heavy in my head. Her voice sings and sends me dread. No one inspires more understanding or more anger. She gave me everything. I couldn't BE without her. That woman. That superwoman. Of whom I am a mere copy. That mother, teacher, cab driver, therapist, lawyer, critic, prison guard, enemy, chef, speech pathologist, philanthropist, hero, role model, nurse, friend, mother. A truly memorable part of me. The woman who cares, even when we cannot see. We owe her everything. The one who helped us just BE. Hello lovelies,
I wrote this fluffy little article for YouQueen, and I think it turned out quite nicely. Using my own travel experiences as inspiration, these six places are a definite must for anyone looking for a little adventure and centring. Enjoy! http://youqueen.com/travel/these-6-relaxing-destinations-may-be-your-guide-to-regeneration/ Visit youqeen.com for many more fun articles like this! Sinking into the hollow of my bed
Pillow at the back of my head Drowning in Netflix Meeting an idol is like being six years old in a candy store and you are told you can have anything you want; in spite of your excitement, you just don't know what to do with yourself. On April 2nd at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver, Canada, I had the chance to meet one of my idols. Chris Hadfield is an engineer, a pilot, a writer, a musician, a public figure, and an astronaut. He was born in Ontario, Canada in 1959 and has since used his own drive and determination, as well as taken advantage of every opportunity that life has to offer him, to pursue life in a most ambitious and unforgiving way. In doing everything and anything that peaked his interest or, he imagined, that might lead him into space flight, Chris Hadfield has become an international sensation as well as an outstanding human being. When I first picked up Hadfield's book, "An Astronauts Guide To Life On Earth", I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into. I'd heard of the famous Canadian through my brother who had seen him talk in Abbotsford, B.C. I was shocked to learn of his history, his time in space, and the celebrity status that I was completely oblivious of. As I continued reading the story of how Hadfield came to be who he is, what his "mantras" and philosophies on life were, I began to realize that this man is more than an astronaut, a pilot, an engineer, or even a writer; he is just a man with a particular outlook on life. It's an outlook that we should all adopt, or at least try to understand, for if we do, then we might be a part of a world that could grow into a greater place than anyone could ever imagine. Meeting Chris Hadfield after he joined the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra on stage for an evening of space themed music, including the late Davie Bowie's "Space Oddity", was like being a kid in a candy store. There were so many things I wanted to say, so many questions I wanted to ask, and so little time to do so. We waited in line to see him for nearly an hour after the show ended, and when it came to my turn to receive his signature, his handshake, a photograph, and a rushed exchange of words, I was at a loss at what to say. What came out was the equivalent of, "Hi. I loved your book. Thanks. You're awesome. I loved your book." Not entirely the eloquent speech and rattling of questions I'd rehearsed in my head during the entire wait. But there it was. A momentous meeting, flopped. Regardless of my inadequacy, I still revel in the knowledge that this humble man, who had sacrificed so much- including being away from his family, signed my concert ticket. I'd like to extend a gesture of gratitude to Mr. Hadfield for his dreams and relentless aspirations, to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the UBC opera for an inspiring show, to Helene, Evan, Kyle and Kristin Hadfield for offering up their husband and father to the world. Thank you. http://youqueen.com/love/relationships/what-if-he-proposed-to-you-and-you-said-no/
When daffodils spring as do critters' ears, tails, and wings we awaken too .... Happy Easter everyone! To all those in the Fraser Valley/ Vancouver area, it looks like sun for a little while. Get out there and enjoy it! Make sure you listen to the birds cause a ruckus, smell the flowers' perfume, and take long walks in the spring sun before it melts into rain once more. There is no better time than to return to yourself than in the spring when light and beauty are forever permeating our every sense. This morning during a cup of coffee and an intense writing session, Ian Slater sat down at the table next to me. I didn't know who he was, nor did I care at the moment. I was so involved with my project that when he asked me if I could keep an eye on his dog while he went to order a cup of coffee, I reluctantly obliged.
Upon his return, I realized my rudeness and told him his dog was lovely and very well behaved. He thanked me for my assistance and said nothing more; until he spoke again. He asked me if I was a student and I replied that no I wasn't a student, but rather a writer. His eyes lit up and as he replied with, "what have you published." "Nothing," I said. Slater nodded his head, looked quizzically out into the increasingly busy and obnoxiously noisy Kerrisdale main drag then told me he had some advice to give. Slater introduced himself and went on to tell me the number of books he'd published, the different lives he had lived, where he went to school, the universities he taught at, and many other quantifiable details of his life, and then came the ever-valuable advice of someone who has done it all before. When I realized Slater was a writer, my snobbish and annoyed at being interrupted sense of importance wore off and I humbly listened to what the man had to say. The advice of a published author should not be taken lightly. Especially when given to those like myself who are, as yet, still un-bearingly unpublished. He had some extraordinary things to say, including tricks of the trade that I never would have learned until I was "in the trade". And now, I'm going to share a bit of advice to anyone else out there trying desperately to be published- get yourself a mentor. No,not me. You could be pig-headed and self righteous enough to convince yourself that you don't need one, and maybe you don't; you might make it into the business entirely on your own research, wit, and skill. Good for you. I commend you. Anyone with enough gumption and drive could do that. But if you want to make your life even the slightest bit easier; even if it's just putting your mind at ease that you are doing some things right and some things horribly wrong, get yourself a mentor. And listen to what they have to say. They've been there before. They've already done it. Why re-invent the wheel? When the characters in your books, whether reading them or writing them, fill the spaces in your soul more than your real-life friends can sometimes do. Should we call this a psychological issue or a dynamic and fulfilling way to life one's life?
Is it possible to have lived too much, with all that living can be, too fast?
We all damage ourselves and each other, and some lives spread that damage out over a lifetime while others beget the damage in extremely close knitted spurts of time. Is it better to have the good with the bad dispersed, giving the giver or receiver time to process? Or should it be a bandaid ripping and repairing kind of experience; all at once, and then onto the next? |