Week 5: Appreciating the gift of being alive

Welcome to the final week of Elizabeth’s birthday month!

Everyone else I know is basking in the warm summer sun that is currently concentrating on the Northern Hemisphere. It’s weird to experience such different realities from my family and friends. They’re in summer and here I am, on the same planet, in winter. I still find it strange that we all experience completely different realities. Our planet can hold such drastic extremes yet we all share the same moon and the same sun. I love looking up at the moon at night knowing that everyone, no matter where they are in the world, will also see that same moon. But, they will never see a kookaburra on their way to work or witness a weird Ibis that looks like a Dodo bird incarnate eating out of a rubbish bin reminding one of the Jurassic era.

I have no idea where you’re reading this from but it’s cool to think that you can be from anywhere on this planet. I’m so curious to know who you are and why you came to my website. I hope you’ve found something this month that spoke to you. I hope you found something that made you feel happy, connected or empowered.

In case you haven’t been following along, the month of May is my sister’s birthday month so as a way to celebrate I shared a quote for every day. The first week was about starting off the month with a “clean” mind and energised spirit. Week 2 was about finding your inner child. Week 3 was the week of Elizabeth’s birthday. Every year I try to come up with a tradition to celebrate and every year I’m derailed by it. I just don’t know how to commemorate it so this was what I wrote for her birthday week. Week 4 was all about acceptance and vulnerability; learning to find peace in the darkness of our lives and then transforming it into something bigger and better.

The remaining days of May are about creativity and simply appreciating the joy of being alive, right here and now…

When you kiss me
On that midnight street
Sweep me off my feet
Singing ain’t this life so sweet?

Monday, May 28:
“What is creativity? The relationship between a human being and the mysteries of inspiration.”

If you are a creative person in any way (all of us are) then you should read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. It feels like a bubbly, energetic friend who is supporting you to follow your creativity and believes you’re capable to achieve your goals. She explains that not everything will be a “success” but that does not mean you should give it up. If your soul is constantly tugging you to write or sing or dance or sew or garden or whatever it is – then you should definitely do it.

Tuesday, May 29: 
“Surround yourself with people who nourish your soul.”

Ahh, good old nourishment. I love that word. I spent a lot of time with people who did not nourish my soul. They felt like McDonald’s; tasty and convenient but lacked any vitamins or nutrients. I have a great group of people now, ones that support me and encourage me. It’s an unbelievably different and wonderful way to live. I think so much of it had to do with me trying to figure who I am, who I’d like to be and who I am most definitely not. Which is always a work in progress.

Wednesday, May 30: 
“I like the smell of earth, the touch of waves, the taste of berries, the sight of trees, the sound of laughter, and the feeling of being fully alive.”

This quotes makes me want to stand in the open field behind my house in Ottawa on a summers day, in the end of May, when the air is humid and heavy and I can feel the soft grass molding under my feet with my camera wrapped around my neck and my dog wandering off without a leash. That field allowed the thoughts in my loud head to silence, it allowed my mind to be free. This quote holds tightly the beauty in life.

Thursday, May 31: 
“The creative adult is the child who survived.”

I just love this. I want to do everything to waft the flames of my creativity. I don’t want to kill the voice inside of me to fit inside the 9-5 corporate life – the little girl inside was never meant for such boring rigidity. I want her to prosper and bathe in her creative expression – whatever that may be.

I hope you do too.