I feel like new condominiums are going up in Toronto everyday. It's crazy to look at the space of cleared land, and to think about how many floors will be in this building... how many condos, and therefore people, on each floor? ... People stacked on top of each other way up into the sky.
It may be one of the least expensive ways to own a living space in the city, but being so high up physically separates ourselves from the ground... from the earth! That's not to say that there aren't perks to living in the city this way, but the amount of concrete we surround ourselves with isn't natural. Again, that's not to say that living in a concrete city centre is terrible, but I find a lot of city-dwellers don't get the amount of exposure to nature as they would like.
What's the easiest way to get that balance back? Ground yourself. Literally. Get back to the earth, walk, barefoot if possible, through the grass. Visit a nearby park or conservation area. Put your hand on a tree; Hug it! Physically put yourself in touch with nature. Even now, in the middle of Canadian winter, you can enhance your mental well-being by getting outside (dressed appropriately, of course). Bundle up, and walk along a trail with a hot tea. Take the dog or the family with you if you want company.
It's like when you're on a boat or an airplane for long periods of time and you finally touch ground, step off and your feet hit the earth. It can make you feel grateful, steady, safe.
For those of us completely surrounded by concrete in our everyday lives, or living on the 20th floor, you'd be amazed at how liberating it can feel getting back to nature.
Showing posts with label city life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label city life. Show all posts
Friday, January 26, 2018
Friday, September 13, 2013
Making changes part 3 - Say Yes to Love
In saying yes to love, I'm referring to love in all respects:
1) Love yourself,
2) Accept love from others, and
3) Fall in love with the universe
The first two are probably the hardest. Loving yourself goes hand-in-hand with finding joy in your life and wanting to take care of yourself. If you're having a difficult time with this one it's probably time to look a little deeper.
I read an interesting article on how childhood experiences and traumas can lead to chronic illness. This might bring up a lot for you, but if you can't find a way to love yourself, then that marks a great opportunity to talk to someone (a friend or family member and especially a health care professional, such as naturopathic doctor/intern). Discussing any issues with someone on the "outside" is a great way to get a different perspective and to find the barriers that are preventing you from loving and growing.
Being able to accept love from others also falls under this category. Like a protective wall that isolates you, the guard is up and maybe it's time to explore just what that wall is actually doing for you. Ask what you are protecting yourself from. What feelings come up? Again, this is all best to talk through with a professional who can guide you through this journey.
Keep in mind that this isn't magic and that changes take time, but I commend anyone who goes out and seeks help - even if it's just to talk things out. I've been lucky enough in my life to have that support system through my own naturopathic interns at the college as well as from our amazing student counselor. I'm pretty sure I would have gone crazy had I not had an outlet to get my thoughts and feelings out.
Fall in love with the universe:
I hate Toronto. I can't wait until the day that I can get out of this city. Away from the GTA, away from the 401 highway... I just can't stand big city life. But all of that aside, if someone were to drape a blanket over the whole city... if all the lights were extinguished and the sounds were silenced, you'd be left with a section of the planet, and you'd be able to see the sky and space above you.
Every so often, take a moment to appreciate our world. Seriously be grateful for all that we have. Be thankful for the stars, for the moon, for the way the sky lights up in pinks and purples while the sun sets. Be thankful for great bodies of freshwater. Appreciate all of the species that live in that water and for the circle of life that keeps all of those species procreating over decades. Fall in love with fresh farmed vegetables and appreciate farmers who properly take care of their animals, letting them graze in pasture and who decline to inject them with growth hormones and other fake atrocities.
Lastly, let me leave you with this: It's funny how we always turn to talking about the weather. It's a classic small-talk conversation, but maybe that's a reason for it. How amazing is it that our weather can be different every single day and we really don't have any control over it (not including global warming, but just in general). There's no button you can press that can stop the wind from blowing, or a rope you can pull to make the sun "stay in the sky" longer. If it starts raining... you're screwed. Or maybe you'll take a moment to have that perfect kiss in the rain.
The world is always better when it is filled with love and appreciation.
1) Love yourself,
2) Accept love from others, and
3) Fall in love with the universe
The first two are probably the hardest. Loving yourself goes hand-in-hand with finding joy in your life and wanting to take care of yourself. If you're having a difficult time with this one it's probably time to look a little deeper.
I read an interesting article on how childhood experiences and traumas can lead to chronic illness. This might bring up a lot for you, but if you can't find a way to love yourself, then that marks a great opportunity to talk to someone (a friend or family member and especially a health care professional, such as naturopathic doctor/intern). Discussing any issues with someone on the "outside" is a great way to get a different perspective and to find the barriers that are preventing you from loving and growing.
Being able to accept love from others also falls under this category. Like a protective wall that isolates you, the guard is up and maybe it's time to explore just what that wall is actually doing for you. Ask what you are protecting yourself from. What feelings come up? Again, this is all best to talk through with a professional who can guide you through this journey.
 |
| How amazing is it that these lions are spooning?! |
Keep in mind that this isn't magic and that changes take time, but I commend anyone who goes out and seeks help - even if it's just to talk things out. I've been lucky enough in my life to have that support system through my own naturopathic interns at the college as well as from our amazing student counselor. I'm pretty sure I would have gone crazy had I not had an outlet to get my thoughts and feelings out.
Fall in love with the universe:
I hate Toronto. I can't wait until the day that I can get out of this city. Away from the GTA, away from the 401 highway... I just can't stand big city life. But all of that aside, if someone were to drape a blanket over the whole city... if all the lights were extinguished and the sounds were silenced, you'd be left with a section of the planet, and you'd be able to see the sky and space above you.
Every so often, take a moment to appreciate our world. Seriously be grateful for all that we have. Be thankful for the stars, for the moon, for the way the sky lights up in pinks and purples while the sun sets. Be thankful for great bodies of freshwater. Appreciate all of the species that live in that water and for the circle of life that keeps all of those species procreating over decades. Fall in love with fresh farmed vegetables and appreciate farmers who properly take care of their animals, letting them graze in pasture and who decline to inject them with growth hormones and other fake atrocities.
Lastly, let me leave you with this: It's funny how we always turn to talking about the weather. It's a classic small-talk conversation, but maybe that's a reason for it. How amazing is it that our weather can be different every single day and we really don't have any control over it (not including global warming, but just in general). There's no button you can press that can stop the wind from blowing, or a rope you can pull to make the sun "stay in the sky" longer. If it starts raining... you're screwed. Or maybe you'll take a moment to have that perfect kiss in the rain.
The world is always better when it is filled with love and appreciation.
Monday, May 6, 2013
The day of napping
Well, we made it safely to Florida! Day one of vacation I would call "The day of napping." Traveling all through the night was exhausting (it was 12 hours of driving and flights and stop overs and a shuttle bus). I fell asleep at every chance I got but I know I had some REM sleep debt to pay off. So by the time we finally were able to check in I just fell right on the bed. What was suppose to be a 15-minute power nap turned into a 5 hour sleep... We woke up at 7:30pm and panicked for 2 reasons:
1) We had free drink tickets that expired at 10pm
2) We still had to do grocery shopping... and liquor shopping before sundown. But apparently in the USA you can do both in the same store. So bizarre.
So by the time we were done shopping it was already dark outside... and waited 30 minutes for a cab that never showed up. I was shocked that a few people actually offered to drive us home. One of which we actually took up on the offer.
Now I know what you're thinking... You're not suppose to go with strangers. And you're right. But I felt okay with the decision for a few reasons:
1) My boyfriend is a ninja... like seriously.
2) The sun was long gone and there was no way we were going to walk back.
3) This lady was hilarious... She didn't exactly know how to work the lights/high beams on her car... she was yelling at her husband in Spanish out the window - while he was in his own car with the window rolled up; and the music that came on in the car was this mellow cabana music... the whole situation was hilarious. But she was the sweetest lady and we were sooo grateful for the safe ride home.
Unfortunately we never did get to claim our free drinks, which is painful to someone like me who loves free stuff!
Day 2 was a much more "productive/fun" day. We took an amazing walk down the beach in the morning and went on a biking adventure all afternoon. The ride was awesome! We passed a state park which was just a jungle of palm trees.
The one thing that I have noticed in the states is that they have no problem writing "high fructose corn syrup" right on their labels. THEY PUT IT IN THEIR APPLESAUCE! That's just crazy! The first day we had lunch I checked the label on the ketchup bottle at our table and sure enough it's there too. I just don't understand. I know it's a cheap sweetener and corn is subsidized by the government (which still infuriates me), but why would people buy it if they can read right on the label that it's there? Not just corn syrup but high fructose corn syrup. You might as well just start injecting yourself with diabetes.
However, we did find gluten-free flax crackers for our guacamole and my FAVOURITE Sahale snack almonds, so I have to give America credit for that. And although I'm still trying to get used to America's traffic lights (which are much more complicated here than in Canada), biking has been one of my favourite things to do so far- made so much easier with bike lanes! More adventures to come...
1) We had free drink tickets that expired at 10pm
2) We still had to do grocery shopping... and liquor shopping before sundown. But apparently in the USA you can do both in the same store. So bizarre.
So by the time we were done shopping it was already dark outside... and waited 30 minutes for a cab that never showed up. I was shocked that a few people actually offered to drive us home. One of which we actually took up on the offer.
Now I know what you're thinking... You're not suppose to go with strangers. And you're right. But I felt okay with the decision for a few reasons:
1) My boyfriend is a ninja... like seriously.
2) The sun was long gone and there was no way we were going to walk back.
3) This lady was hilarious... She didn't exactly know how to work the lights/high beams on her car... she was yelling at her husband in Spanish out the window - while he was in his own car with the window rolled up; and the music that came on in the car was this mellow cabana music... the whole situation was hilarious. But she was the sweetest lady and we were sooo grateful for the safe ride home.
Unfortunately we never did get to claim our free drinks, which is painful to someone like me who loves free stuff!
The one thing that I have noticed in the states is that they have no problem writing "high fructose corn syrup" right on their labels. THEY PUT IT IN THEIR APPLESAUCE! That's just crazy! The first day we had lunch I checked the label on the ketchup bottle at our table and sure enough it's there too. I just don't understand. I know it's a cheap sweetener and corn is subsidized by the government (which still infuriates me), but why would people buy it if they can read right on the label that it's there? Not just corn syrup but high fructose corn syrup. You might as well just start injecting yourself with diabetes.
However, we did find gluten-free flax crackers for our guacamole and my FAVOURITE Sahale snack almonds, so I have to give America credit for that. And although I'm still trying to get used to America's traffic lights (which are much more complicated here than in Canada), biking has been one of my favourite things to do so far- made so much easier with bike lanes! More adventures to come...
Saturday, March 23, 2013
It's a Catch 2.0
Evolution is a funny thing. I don't mean in a Darwin sort of way - but in a human-development way. Because of technology and human advances, we've solved many problems of our past, but we make all new problems. We think technology makes life easier, but does it? Really, I think it just makes life busier and faster... which is a good thing?
I'm currently trying to read Mitch Albom's The Time Keeper. And I say "trying" because, ironically, not having enough time is keeping me from finishing it.
We invented the concept of time; Of making calendars, of measuring out the days by sunrises and sunsets, and breaking them up into hours, and minutes and seconds. Because of technology, everything in our world is "instant" and we can technically fit more into a day.
Remember the days of snail mail? I actually used to write letters to friends and send them in an envelope with a real stamp and put it in a physical mailbox. It would take about a week to get a reply. But now we text each other and can communicate instantly.
I wanted to talk about it because it's such a huge source of anxiety and stress in our world. But how can we deal with it? How do we solve this problem? People (including myself) always say there is never enough time!
If we create more space in our day by being able to accomplish more in that time via technology, isn't there just more stress put on us to get more done and be MORE productive? It's a Catch 22... or a catch 2.0? I can submit assignments without actually having to be present in class. I can arrange my weekend plans with just a few taps on my iPhone. With the physical barriers gone, there's more pressure to get things done in a day.
Would it be terrible if we all just slowed down?!
It's funny that nowadays we get "mental health days" from work. We actually need to force ourselves to take time off, but how many of us actually do that? And really, would one day every 6-8 months make a difference? Who can afford to take more time off of work? We need to make money, we need to have society running, and we need to keep the economy going (I'm guessing... I really have no idea what's going on with the economy... Seriously, there could be a room full of monkeys sitting at desks crunching numbers on Casio calculators just making shit up for all I know.)
Side note: on the mention of monkeys, I'm pretty sure that's how our government is run. Everything seems so backwards to me. I'm going to be an ND in less than 2 years, helping to heal people rather than medicate and sedate them, thereby alleviating the stress on our health care system and yet the banks and the government insist on just taking all my money instead of helping me grow... and they're using my money to pay for other peoples bad health choices (due to lack of education... which is where NDs come in).
How f&@%ed up is that??? Some days I truly feel like I can take on the world and help make it a better place, but other times I'm so overwhelmed with how far we've come in screwing up our society.
How do we weight out the benefits of what we have and what technology allows us to do, with the risks of creating more stress and anxiety (among other health problems) from the society we've created?
I'm currently trying to read Mitch Albom's The Time Keeper. And I say "trying" because, ironically, not having enough time is keeping me from finishing it.
We invented the concept of time; Of making calendars, of measuring out the days by sunrises and sunsets, and breaking them up into hours, and minutes and seconds. Because of technology, everything in our world is "instant" and we can technically fit more into a day.
Remember the days of snail mail? I actually used to write letters to friends and send them in an envelope with a real stamp and put it in a physical mailbox. It would take about a week to get a reply. But now we text each other and can communicate instantly.
I wanted to talk about it because it's such a huge source of anxiety and stress in our world. But how can we deal with it? How do we solve this problem? People (including myself) always say there is never enough time!
If we create more space in our day by being able to accomplish more in that time via technology, isn't there just more stress put on us to get more done and be MORE productive? It's a Catch 22... or a catch 2.0? I can submit assignments without actually having to be present in class. I can arrange my weekend plans with just a few taps on my iPhone. With the physical barriers gone, there's more pressure to get things done in a day.
Would it be terrible if we all just slowed down?!
It's funny that nowadays we get "mental health days" from work. We actually need to force ourselves to take time off, but how many of us actually do that? And really, would one day every 6-8 months make a difference? Who can afford to take more time off of work? We need to make money, we need to have society running, and we need to keep the economy going (I'm guessing... I really have no idea what's going on with the economy... Seriously, there could be a room full of monkeys sitting at desks crunching numbers on Casio calculators just making shit up for all I know.)
Side note: on the mention of monkeys, I'm pretty sure that's how our government is run. Everything seems so backwards to me. I'm going to be an ND in less than 2 years, helping to heal people rather than medicate and sedate them, thereby alleviating the stress on our health care system and yet the banks and the government insist on just taking all my money instead of helping me grow... and they're using my money to pay for other peoples bad health choices (due to lack of education... which is where NDs come in).
How f&@%ed up is that??? Some days I truly feel like I can take on the world and help make it a better place, but other times I'm so overwhelmed with how far we've come in screwing up our society.
How do we weight out the benefits of what we have and what technology allows us to do, with the risks of creating more stress and anxiety (among other health problems) from the society we've created?
Sunday, March 10, 2013
City vs Country... drastic differences in a rough week
You may have noticed that I haven't blogged in a while. This week has just completely drained me. I think Toronto can do that to you. The people are angry, the weather is shitty, the streets are dirty, traffic blows, and the energy is so overwhelming!
So after staying up late a few nights in a row trying to get school work done, I was sleep-deprived, socially deprived, and stressed from the city. Plus when you add PMS to the mix, it's just a disaster. I ended up staying in bed for most of the day on Thursday, just trying to let my body rest and reset. I mean, when you start to feel flu-like, it's time to start listening to your body and give it what it needs.
My intern at the school's clinic gives this to me as my homework. She says to put your feet up and do absolutely nothing for 5 whole minutes (which can seem like an eternity) and ask your body what it needs. Maybe it's water, maybe it's food, maybe it's rest, maybe it's movement and exercise. But it's all about tuning in to my body and not letting all the "other stuff" run my life.
On Friday, my boyfriend and I were lucky enough to shadow Dr. Frances Turk at the Rockwood Naturopathic clinic together. The drive there alone was uplifting. We left very early in the morning and as soon as we were north of Milton, our entire surroundings went from an industrialized, dirty mess, to a winter wonderland. Everything was covered in a gorgeous blanket of snow. I had forgotten how beautiful the "country" could be and just how different the weather can be when you drive even 20 minutes north of the city.
I should mention that the first amazing bonus to this day was that I got to wear slippers the whole day in her office. I mean seriously, right then and there I was in heaven. Slippers are one of my most favourite things and my friends can attest that I usually have a pair packed in my purse. So once my feet were nice and snuggly, I looked out the window and saw nothing but a snow-covered forest. It was so quiet and peaceful that I really didn't want to leave. It truly was a healing environment.
But for all of you who are stuck in the city, I must say that sunshine greatly helps to dissipate the great dark cloud of grim that absorbs us into its swirly vortex of grumpiness and fatigue. It's like the universe has dumped boxes of sad kittens onto all of us.
So... I guess my conclusion is that I desperately need more sunshine and less city... Though it's not always easy to do. I think we all need a break from this swirly vortex of grey. So if you get the chance to escape - take advantage of it! Make time to check in with yourself. Make time to escape even if it's just for a few hours.
So after staying up late a few nights in a row trying to get school work done, I was sleep-deprived, socially deprived, and stressed from the city. Plus when you add PMS to the mix, it's just a disaster. I ended up staying in bed for most of the day on Thursday, just trying to let my body rest and reset. I mean, when you start to feel flu-like, it's time to start listening to your body and give it what it needs.
My intern at the school's clinic gives this to me as my homework. She says to put your feet up and do absolutely nothing for 5 whole minutes (which can seem like an eternity) and ask your body what it needs. Maybe it's water, maybe it's food, maybe it's rest, maybe it's movement and exercise. But it's all about tuning in to my body and not letting all the "other stuff" run my life.
On Friday, my boyfriend and I were lucky enough to shadow Dr. Frances Turk at the Rockwood Naturopathic clinic together. The drive there alone was uplifting. We left very early in the morning and as soon as we were north of Milton, our entire surroundings went from an industrialized, dirty mess, to a winter wonderland. Everything was covered in a gorgeous blanket of snow. I had forgotten how beautiful the "country" could be and just how different the weather can be when you drive even 20 minutes north of the city.
I should mention that the first amazing bonus to this day was that I got to wear slippers the whole day in her office. I mean seriously, right then and there I was in heaven. Slippers are one of my most favourite things and my friends can attest that I usually have a pair packed in my purse. So once my feet were nice and snuggly, I looked out the window and saw nothing but a snow-covered forest. It was so quiet and peaceful that I really didn't want to leave. It truly was a healing environment.
But for all of you who are stuck in the city, I must say that sunshine greatly helps to dissipate the great dark cloud of grim that absorbs us into its swirly vortex of grumpiness and fatigue. It's like the universe has dumped boxes of sad kittens onto all of us.
So... I guess my conclusion is that I desperately need more sunshine and less city... Though it's not always easy to do. I think we all need a break from this swirly vortex of grey. So if you get the chance to escape - take advantage of it! Make time to check in with yourself. Make time to escape even if it's just for a few hours.
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