Archives for December 2018

Year in Review.

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” – Seneca

2018 has been a very exciting and busy year both professionally and personally, and as with any other year, it had its ups and downs. What I learned though, was that I have to preserve, not give up, and continuously remind myself that not everything can always work out, so it’s best to remain positive. Losing my philosophy course was a huge blow, but there are so many other things that happened in my life that can be celebrated. For one, I was able to travel serveral times throughout the year. From Toronto, to the beaches of Miami, to a school trip to Montreal, to the amazing adventure we had in Portugal, I am so fortunate to have these incredible experiences. I also was able to see my students gain strength and compete in powerlifting competitions, which was very rewarding. I’ve also become a little more introspective about social media’s role in my life. 2018 was a year that reminded me who I am and it ultimately allowed me to be more confident in myself.

What will 2019 bring? That remains a mystery. But for now, I hope that I will continue to remind myself the importance of self love, and to share happiness with those around me. As for the blog, I’m going to focus more on philosophy and my writing, with a dash of fashion. I think this change is best for me, as it will truly reflect my individuality and thoughts. New year, but not an entirely new me!

Happy New Year to all my readers! Cheers!

Seeking refuge from the cold in Toronto at the Art Gallery of Ontario | January 2018

Spending quality time with my nephew at the Royal Ontario Museum | February 2018

Wandering through Vizcaya in Miami | March 2018

Sunset walks on Miami Beach | March 2018

School band trip to Montreal | April 2018

Local high school powerlifting meet | May 2018

Summer vacation in Portugal | July 2018

5th anniversary in Coimbra, Portugal | July 2018

Annual visit to Franklin Cider Mill | October 2018

Celebrating Christmas with family | December 2018

My first tattoo | December 2018

Philosophy

On altruism.

“The good is the beautiful.” – Plato

For me, one of the highlights of the holiday season is Vincent Massey Secondary School’s Children’s Christmas Party (fondly known amongst the students and staff as CCP). I still remember attending it ten years ago as a first time teacher at the school, not really knowing what to expect. But after my first experience, I now look forward to the event every year. The students organize a huge Christmas celebration for young children with crafts, a turkey lunch, and of course, Santa. Every year it never gets old for me. I love seeing the students take on leadership roles, and most of all, the young children having so much fun. I am reminded during this time, how important altruism really is.

As individuals, I think it should be our duty to help those in need if we are able to do so. Love, happiness, and wealth should be spread, not just kept to ourselves. By helping others, it allows us to connect more as a community. A society cannot function with all of us working for our own good, but for the good of everyone.

Being altruistic also leads to understanding and empathy. For example, having the students participate in a can drive allows them to learn about the needs of individuals and families within our city, and provides them with an opportunity to help, even if the action may be considered small. This not only makes us better citizens, but better human beings who can see the importance of compassion and camaraderie.

Any altruistic action can make one feel a sense of purpose in our chaotic world. I think that one of the biggest problems we face in contemporary society is a combination of apathy and egoism. I see it as a spectrum from not caring at all, to only caring about yourself. If we were somewhere in between, maybe we could embrace each other more. And for me, that makes life not only more enriching, but meaningful.

As we continue to go about our lives this holiday season, try to think more about giving than receiving, and consider ways that you can help contribute to your community in a positive way. Everyone benefits when love is shared.

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS WINDSOR ESSEX

www.bigbrothersbigsisterswe.ca

CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION WINDSOR ESSEX

http://windsoressex.cmha.ca/

HIATUS HOUSE

www.hiatushouse.com/

STREET HELP HOMELESS CENTRE OF WINDSOR

http://www.street-help.com/

THE DOWNTOWN MISSION OF WINDSOR

http://www.downtownmission.com/

WINDSOR YOUTH CENTRE

http://www.thewindsoryouthcentre.org/

WINDSOR ESSEX FOOD BANK ASSOCIATION

http://wefba.ca

UNICEF CANADA

https://www.unicef.ca

PLAN INTERNATIONAL CANADA

https://plancanada.ca

CANADIAN RED CROSS

http://www.redcross.ca

UNITED WAY WINDSOR-ESSEX

https://www.weareunited.com/

Fashion

Jingle Bell Rock.

“I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can’t see from the center.” – Kurt Vonnegut

Heading out to Detroit for the day, my husband and I faced the typical questions from the United States customs officer. After asking if we had a criminal background, in which the answer was no, we were free to enter the country. As we drove away, Brandon said to me, “He asked about a criminal background because you look so badass.” I burst out laughing, but couldn’t help but feel flattered. It was the first time I got to wear my new leather jacket, and heck yes, I felt like a bit of a badass.

So what does being a badass mean to me? Well, it isn’t necessarily breaking the law (or just wearing a motorcycle jacket), but being yourself with a disregard of what other people think. It’s living life on the edge, living for the moment, and being strong both mentally and/or physically. I’d like to think I fit into these characteristics, or I at least aspire to them. This is my badass-ery philosophy, and I’ll certainly continue to live by it in the new year!

Jacket: Lucky Brand. Skirt: Wilfred. Sweater: Wilfred. Boots: Call it Spring. Bag: Staud. Earrings: Madewell. Lips: Colourpop Goldie.

Fashion

Urban Explorer.

“As a remedy to life in society I would suggest the big city. Nowadays, it is the only desert within our means.” – Albert Camus

urban explorer
[ur-buh n] [ik-splawr-er, –splohr-]
noun

A person who seeks adventure in the city
An individual who walks through a city, observing and locating new points of interest
A city wanderer, not focused on a particular place or destination
Either (a) a permeant resident or (b) a visitor
A person who appreciates architecture
A person who pursuits new discoveries in the city

Example: Vanessa enjoys spending her weekends as an urban explorer in Detroit, Michigan.

Dress: H&M. Top: Aritzia. Jacket: Aritzia. Tights: Secret. Boots: BP (old, new version here). Bag: Burberry. Earrings: H&M. Sunglasses: Ray-Ban. Lips: Colourpop.

Archives for December 2018

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