The Petite Philosopher

Miami Heat

“The sun is new each day.” – Heraclitus

Travelling back to Miami for spring break was an easy decision. Brandon and I enjoyed our trip so much last year that we knew we wanted to return. The aspects of Miami that I was craving the most were the sun and colourful vibes, but I was also looking forward to some much deserved relaxation! I found our five days in Miami were best spent soaking up as much of the sun as possible. I’m sure I have said it before, but having the opportunity to travel to a warmer destination in March breaks up the monotony of the cold and makes it feel as if winter isn’t as long.

Out of all the activities on our trip, our favourite was hanging out at the beach. The first day we arrived, we walked along South Beach, making it all the way to the South Point Pier for some dramatic views of Miami Beach. Of course we would also spend time relaxing on the beach, reading, drinking, and jumping into the waves. And at night we would visit the beach yet again, enjoying the sound of the waves and feeling like we were the only two people there. It’s almost magical what a few days away in the heat can do for the soul.

Top: Pitusa. Skirt: Pitusa. Shoes: Sam Edelman. Bag: Clare V. Tassel: Misa. Earrings: Siam Hill Tribes. Sunglasses: Le Specs. Lips: Colourpop I Heart This Lippie.

Fashion

Sweet and salty.

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” – Hippocrates

Sweet and salty. No, I’m not describing myself (or maybe I am??), but my love of the two tastes combined. At Rino’s Kitchen in downtown Windsor, my cravings are fully met with their savoy waffle, bacon, eggs, and maple syrup, which is available for brunch on Saturdays. Like my food, I like my life to have balance as well. There are days that I enjoy being busy and on the go, but there are also moments where all I feel like doing is vegging out on the couch all day. My wardrobe tends to reflect equilibrium as well. Most days I love wearing bright colours and patterns, but on others, it’s all about black. For me, allowing myself to enjoy all aspects of life, and not just one, makes the days more exciting and unpredictable.

Top: Wilfred Free. Denim: Madewell. Bag: Sezane. Boots: Call it Spring. Earrings: Baublebar. Glasses: Salt c/o The Walkerville Optical. Lips: Colourpop Goldie.

Philosophy

On Friendship.

“One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives.” – Euripides

My first memories of friendship aren’t really memories, but photographs taken when I was very young. I can picture the photo in my head – my friend Julianna and I are about 2 years old, standing upright, buck naked in a kiddy pool. To me, these pictures are evidence of a friendship that would continue for a very long time. Along with our other friend Sara, we became inseparable – the 3 Amigos, the 3 Musketeers. I guess it was a tradition since our grandparents and parents were friends! Growing up with these two friends was always an adventure. We loved to pretend we were mermaids in the swimming pool, invented games like pool baseball, and created barbie fashion shows, went camping, and tortured family members by dragging them to N’Sync concerts. We were also budding filmmakers, making music videos and creating stories using Barbies. Sometimes we got so creative, we would put Ken’s head on Skipper’s body!

As we grew up, went to high school, and university, we didn’t have to see each other every day like we did when we were younger, to know that our friendship was still strong. We became sure of ourselves and who we wanted to be, and as a result we are different in many ways, but I knew I could always count on them to be by my side. For me, this is what friendship is all about. At 33, I don’t have many close friends. I spend most of my time with my husband, and together we have a very small circle of friends. I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing because as Aristotle once said, “A friend to all is a friend to none.” In the age of social media, it’s all about how many ‘friends’ or ‘followers’ you have, but how important are those thousands of people on your lists? I think it is far better to have a smaller group of close friends because the bonds are tighter. These are people I can rely on and trust no matter what. They know me very well, and I know them. Nothing about our relationship is superficial.

When you’re young, it’s easy to find new friends. But when you’re older, your interests become much more specific as you learn to better understand yourself. As an adult, I think friendship is based more on shared values than interests. It’s also about support and understanding. It’s a cliche, but friends are very much like the family you choose. You really don’t have to see them all the time to know that they care for you. So this Valentine’s Day, extend the idea of love beyond that of a significant other to your friends, old and new. Embrace the love you have for each other and celebrate all the positive relationships in your life!

Philosophy

On Photographs.

“The photograph itself doesn’t interest me. I want only to capture a minute part of reality.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson

Ever since I was a child, I remember looking through family photo albums and being fascinated by pictures of my younger parents, grandparents, my sisters, and even myself. I can even recall the exact location in our house where the albums were stored – in the side table between the couch and fireplace in our basement. This is such a vivid memory for me because it was something I continued enjoy doing throughout my childhood. I never got bored of looking at the same photographs over and over again. The same could still be said for me today, but in addition to just looking at photographs, I love taking them. My computer and hard-drive backups exceed 40,000 photos. You might say that it’s a bit of an obsession. At every moment I had a camera with me, documenting my life and experiences. Digital technology has luckily made this much easier for me. While most of my photographs are stored on my computer, I have created several photo albums of our travels. These albums become my favourite and most treasured souvenirs from our vacations.

So why is photography so important for me? I think it relates to the fact that I’m a history teacher and obviously have a great appreciation for the past. Photographs are examples of primary evidence, and help reveal so many things about a time period to the person viewing them. When I looked at the family photos it felt like I was being transported back into the past. The photographs are memories froze in time. Even if I didn’t remember the picture being taken, looking at the younger version of myself allowed me to feel as if I did.

Some people may think it’s weird that I post so many pictures of myself, or even get the feeling that I’m egotistical, but that is far from the truth. I see my blog as a scrapbook or an online photo album of my life. It isn’t just photography as an art form, but as a way to preserve who I was at certain place in time. After I am gone, the photographs will still remain. It’s as if I can become immortal through the pictures. And it feels that way when I look at photos of my loved ones who have passed. The memory in my mind unfortunately fades, but the photos I have bring them back to life. I’m definitely fortunate to have a husband who loves photography as much as me. He too loves to capture the moment, and has a great eye for framing a photograph. It could also possibly be one of the reasons why I have continued to be passionate about photography today.

Now, the question remains, will future generations see the same value in photographs when there are so many of them today? Part of what made the old pictures I had special was the fact there were so few of them. And unfortunately, at times I feels as if apps like Instagram devalue photographs making them seem almost unimportant. We scroll so quickly through a feed that we don’t always appreciate the story that is being told in the pictures.

In the end, it’s important that we still remember to live in the moment and to not be too focused on taking the perfect photograph, but there is something magical about having that picture in the end.

Philosophy

On Tattoos.

“You use a glass mirror to see your face; you use works of art to see your soul.” – George Bernard Shaw

Ever since I was in high school I wanted a tattoo. My sister got her first one when she was 18, and soon after gave me some good advice. She told me to print a picture of what I would want, and tape it onto the mirror in my bedroom. If I look in the mirror every day and not get tired of it, then the design is meant to be. I’m glad I followed her advice and didn’t jump the gun, because the picture I originally put on my mirror was of a Celtic cross. I would have definitely regretted getting that tattoo because it represents nothing of what I am today. But in the years that followed, I never got a tattoo. Though I would watch shows like Miami Ink constantly, I kept putting it off because of my fear of needles and the general permanency of them. This, however, changed when I turned 30. I kept thinking about it more and more, as I was only getting older, and would often find myself being open to receiving words of encouragement from my sister, friends, and acquaintances. But I still felt a sense of apprehension.

This summer I decided that enough was enough, and I should just do it. After seeing a friend’s new tattoo, I started exploring different artists via Instagram. It was after endless scrolling that I saw something that spoke to me. The artist, CJ, based at Chronic Ink in Toronto, specializes in floral tattoos. I have never seen such feminine and delicate tattoos in my life. Without much hesitation, I booked an appointment. We had a phone consultation since I’m an out of town client, and I shared my idea of a peony and poppy on my inner forearm. I chose these two flowers because of what they represent; the peony symbolizes good health and fortune (in other words, a good life), and the poppy symbolizes death. Together they encapsulate my philosophical interests: life and death.

I’m not going to lie, I was super nervous about the tattooing experience. I HATE needles. But I am pleased to report that it really isn’t as painful as I anticipated. The artist really put me at ease, as did Brandon, who sat next to me the entire time. I would describe the feeling as a vibrating scratch with a bit of a burn. It did help, however, listening to music and closing my eyes. Brandon kept suggesting I look as the artist was tattooing me, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. The tattooing took a little over two hours, with the outline done first, followed by the shading. When it was finished I was in absolute awe of how it looked. It was everything I imagined it to be and more!

For me, tattoos are about decorating your body with art – art that is symbolic of a particular moment in your life. My tattoo is now a permanent reminder of who I was when I got it, and it is also now part of my identity. I didn’t consider what my students would think or what I’d look like with it when I’m older, because for me, it doesn’t really matter. Getting this tattoo was one of the most independent decisions I have made, doing it for myself and no one else. More than ever, I felt I was taking complete ownership of my body. Whether a tattoo is meaningful or not, it still serves as a testament. Though I’ve only had the tattoo for a few weeks, it feels like it has always been a part of me. After all, I was only thinking about it for over 15 years!

Philosophy, Travel

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.