SIMPLY ELABORATE blog

Posts Tagged ‘calgary’

It’s been a hectic few weeks lately. So hectic I didn’t even manage to write my annual birthday post about how old I’m getting and how things never change – yada, yada, yada. This year, my birthday had me in the greatest mood. Usually, in my teenage angst-y past, I’d been wallowing at feeling lonesome and sad because I was one year older. However, it’s funny, now that I’ve officially turned into the mid-to-late twenties age group (I have to check a whole new box when filling out informational forms) I feel more empowered and at ease with life. I guess that’s what’s supposed to happen as we get older.

This year itself has presented a lot of changes in my life. It was a year that I decided to quit my job in Calgary, pack up, ship my cat via Air Canada Cargo, and drive across country to move back in with my parents; leave a relationship that I knew was going nowhere and basically – start over – again. I did and ended up quitting that job too, starting my own business and diving head deep into freelance designing and programming. How much has changed in a year? Basically everything – right down to my hair colour and style (I’ve got the “ombre” hair look made famous and popular via Sarah Jessica Parker and Lily Aldrige). And I feel great.

I sit in front of my current vision board in my office and smile every time I see it. Mostly because focusing on the things, feelings and experiences I’ve put out there and on that vision board have been coming true. It’s not surprising because that’s what’s supposed to happen, after all! Just exciting, which keeps my mood up – which is always a good thing.

I’ve been attending a lot of events, missing out on some other ones and wishing I knew about even more. Lately, I went to Boobyball Flash 2010 – a fundraiser that helped to create awareness for breast cancer in younger women, with a whole lotta drag; the 2nd anniversary of Lush & Lavish Salon and Spa at 200 Ossington in the Queen West area – where I purchased a couple of new anti-aging face products (I have to deal with the fact that the age is creeping up there at some point) from http://www.eminenceorganics.com/ and a facial package from Carol at Lush. I can’t wait. Okay – so many I haven’t been to so many events, but I’ve been thinking about them.

Somehow, in the midst of all this work and networking, I do need to sleep.

I have felt as though my life has been in limbo for the past few months. I’ve called them “the prospecting months” as I’ve spent countless hours prospecting people, places, marketing agencies, advertising opportunities, events, networking, dates and places to live.

This weekend was jam packed of relaxing work – which sounds more oxymoron than it really is. I’m grabbing more control on my routine and lifestyle and getting into a groove – most days. I’ve been thinking about my life and future so much (even though I know I should only be thinking of the present) and I can’t believe it’s been almost four months since I left Calgary. It blows my mind how much my life has changed since driving east on Highway 1 (16th Ave) and not looking back on October 13th 2009.

After how much everyone’s life has changed since I left, I realize that my life may have been easier if I stayed in Calgary, but I would be internally torn inside with a lot of things in my life and the thought of moving back to Toronto would have become a bigger choice than it was when I left.

It may sound confusing, and truthfully, it is. But I’m still excited. I’m excited for a lot of things because every day, I think while driving home for work and categorically go down a list of all the things I’ve learned that day. That technique in itself was worth the move, the big break up, the separation of the things, the wear and tear on my car, the missing of my friends – everything. Because when I drove home or took the bus from my position in Calgary, I didn’t do that. I didn’t do anything even close to that. I was at a standstill, constantly looking at the bottom corner of my computer screen praying the time to fast forward to 4:30 pm. Every day.

For the first time in my life I’m working hard every single day because I have to. There is no room for slacking in this position because if I slack, I don’t get the feeling of a closing sale; I don’t get the internally proud feeling of accomplishment; I don’t get the satisfaction of knowing that I learned a new way to strengthen a bond or relationship.

I’m doing that, every single day. And because of that, I know that in ten years, when I look back on my 25th year, the year that I moved back from Calgary to begin a new chapter of my life – I’ll remember how I took charge of my life, refused the 9 – 5 job routine, took a beating, took a pay cut, took a new look at the word “humbled” and learned every single day.

That – I believe – is the most important thing.

I thought I would be more drained once I arrived in Minot, but strangely, I’m unable to really fathom that I’ve spent the last fourteen hours in a car. I say that, though, while passing on taking a dip in the wonderful water slides and pool this hotel has to offer because I just couldn’t be bothered to leave the hotel room. I even got a pizza delivered instead of going to the restaurant in the Sleep Inn, which was delicious.

I always seem to want to stay another day when I’m in a hotel room, especially one with a King Size bed. The rooms just seem so beautiful and like such a waste for only one night. But I guess that’s why people actually visit the places they go to, instead of merely driving through. I seem to be one that does that often – just drives through. Leaves before things become complacent.

At one point of my drive, I thought I’d be staying in Canada for a little while longer, after I couldn’t believe how scary it was at the border even though I had absolutely nothing to hide. They train those border guys well. Personally, I think he would have loved to go through all my belongings but there was a line forming behind me and my sweet angelic eyes proved my innocence. Alas, I made it through, ahead of schedule, even (I sped, a little – but speed limits are like 120KM here!)

Anyway, I made it. One third of the way to my new home, my old home, my old life turned into my new life. One third to the biggest change I’ve ever made. Way bigger than the one I made when I moved to Calgary two years ago.

Way bigger.

I had a wonderful dinner with my neighbour from across the hall last night, all the while wondering why on earth couldn’t we have bonded earlier! But I guess, such is the case when you’re moving and start to befriend everyone in your building in an effort to sell your things.

It was funny, speaking with someone who so clearly, vividly has gone through similar things and is living proof that you can make it out alive – and be having a great time as well. It made me feel a bit more confident with the big risk I’m about to take. And really excited, too.

august 2, 2009 - old beauty

About three weeks after I decided that something in my life needed to change, I decided to take a trip to Regina, Saskatchewan to visit an old friend of mine. The drive from Calgary took about seven hours with my ten month old cat meowing incessantly in the backseat of my car and I loved every minute of it.

Throughout the course of the trip, my friends and I drove around the province and ended up visiting many small towns along the way. Mostly because we got lost, but every wrong turn became a beautiful discovery – like the small junkyard (which was really someone’s deserted backyard) above.

The entire trip was an eye opener. Not only to the beautiful country that I live in, but all the amazing discoveries one can make if you just take a look around. And maybe, take a wrong turn sometimes.