Time to Smile

Take52 Challenge – Week 5

After a week of chaos, I was looking forward to claiming this weekend for myself.  I left all of my marking and prepping for school at school!  This is a rare occurrence for me.  But it was time to find some balance.  It was time to do something that brings a “smile” to my face. 

After an early night to bed on Friday, it was up early on Saturday.  I was to spend the morning with a friend snowshoeing.  I was uncertain as I left the house and drove through the dense fog to pick her up.  The fog was so thick that I could barely see more than a car’s length ahead of me.  As I drove up the hill the fog began to break.  And it became clear that it was going to be a gorgeous day with beautiful scenery on the mountain.

Less than 30 minutes later we were parked and making the long trek up the hill (road) to the trailhead.  You have to understand the mountain was so busy that the actual parking lots were full, and we had to park approximately 1 km down the hill from the trailhead.  I was going to be about done, before we even started.

Once my feet hit the snow and the snowshoes were put on, I was in a whole other world.  I was in a place of pure happiness and relaxation.  It’s this that brought the “smile” to my face.  It was time to take back my time and claim it to myself.

After some trekking, and a little break to find a geocache, something else I haven’t had the opportunity to do in a while, we reached the summit.  Amazing views of the mountains and views of endless fog blanketing the city surrounded us. 

Aperture Priority; ISO 250; Shutter 1/4000; Aperture f13; Focal Length 35mm; ev -3.0; WB - Daylight

Aperture Priority; ISO 250; Shutter 1/1600; Aperture f13; Focal Length 55mm; ev -2.0; WB - Daylight

Aperture Priority; ISO 250; Shutter 1/320; Aperture f13; Focal Length 35mm; ev -2.0; WB - Daylight

I couldn’t have smiled more that day.  A day claimed to doing something I love, a day spent with a friend catching up, and a day outdoors in the gorgeous sunshine.  Nothing but smiles!

As always I welcome any thoughtful critiques.

Thanks & Gratitude

With this weekend being Canadian Thanksgiving, many people are sharing their thoughts of thankfulness.  I believe that our thanks should be expressed or in our forethoughts more than one weekend a year.  However, since it is Thanksgiving I will share my gratitude and my thanks.

I am grateful for all that I have in my life...I would be lying if I were to say there isn’t anything (possessions) that I still want to own.  But I strongly believe that I have all that I need. 

I am grateful for my wonderful family, immediate, in-laws (well basically they’re my in-laws), and friends (my chosen family).  Without all of these people supporting me in my endeavors, my schooling, my education, my trials-and-errors, I would not be the person I am today.  I am grateful for their support when I need it, and when I don’t.  There is nothing better than knowing that others have your back, and are willing to lend an ear.  Or share a glass of wine.

I am extremely grateful for Jeremy, my boyfriend, my life-partner, my husband, whatever you want to call him.  It’s been over 11 years with him at my side, and I consider myself very lucky to have him in my life.  He, more than he knows, has allowed me to be who I am, and who I want to be.  He has supported me emotionally (and financially) while I went to school to finish off my two degrees.  And he continues to support me, allowing me to “pretend” to teach while I wait to get that ever so distant permanent contract.  I’m sure it can’t be easy on him either, not knowing how much money I’ll be bringing to the table each pay period.

I am grateful for having two wonderful boyz whom I love as if they were actually my sons.  Sam & Gimli bring a sense of comfort to our home; yet at the same time, they bring playfulness.  Even with their less than agile bellies.

I am grateful for the kids (M&K and Issy, among many others) that are in my life.  They allow me the opportunity to be silly and have fun, instead of being a ‘boring’ adult.  They give me the break I need from the stress of everyday living.

I am grateful for those that have made an everlasting impression on my life, even if they are no longer with us physically in the world.  I believe strongly that they continue to provide me with love and support from a world beyond ours.

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful and to reflect on our lives.  Although you may be thankful that you have many possessions in your life, it is not the possessions that give you true happiness.  True happiness comes from the people you surround yourself with daily.  It is these people that you should be grateful for, thankful for having the opportunity to have them in your lives, even if only for a few short years.  To all those in my life, you know who you are, I thank you for being there, for being loving, for being supportive, for being you, and most importantly for allowing me to be me.  I love you all.  Happy Thanksgiving.

A Morning Adventure to NA

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It’s early Sunday morning and the alarm is going off.  Too early, especially since I’m not heading off to work.  I roll out of bed at 6:30am, take a quick look out the window, almost looking to see if the sun was up yet.  Skies were blue with the sun shining.  It’s going to be a good day, in more ways than one.

Dressed and ready for the day ahead out to the car I go.  First stop, as any other morning, Starbucks.  Not too sure how long my upcoming event will take, I decide better safe than sorry, so, I decide to get a sausage breakfast sandwich to go along with my grande non-fat no-whip mocha.  Coffee in hand, I drive towards my destination for this morning’s early alarm.  Surrey, not in the nice part of Surrey either.  Off to an older run-down (currently – some neighbours seem to be taking care of their yards, others not) neighbourhood of Whalley.

Being early and nervous about my morning’s adventures, I drive around the house to scope out the area and assess the situation.  I find a large business parking lot to stop in and enjoy my coffee while I collect and process my thoughts.  

It’s time...now or never.  If I don’t drive to the house now, I’ll miss it.  I won’t be able to support him.  Facing the uneasiness I had about this new environment, I got out of my car, walked around to the back of the house.  There it was, the converted garage, where I’ll visit my first N.A. meeting.  The yard is filled with faces I don’t know.  I walk past them towards the door of the garage.  There is a friendly warm welcoming smile that meets me.  A nice big hug from the man, the friend, I am there to support.  I’m at ease.  Next two other faces I know, relief sets in.  I know I’m doing the right thing by being here to support my friend, to help him celebrate his accomplishments in the past year.

The meeting is called to start and everyone files into the converted garage to find a seat.  I sit beside my friend, really – where else would I be?  It’s hard for him to settle.  I look around; it’s hard for everyone to settle.  Each addict is experiencing ticks, shaking, fidgeting in some way.  Some maybe because they’ve just used, ‘need’ to use.  Others because the thought of using is at the forefront of their mind.  Subconsciously I start to mimic them, I start to fidget with my coffee cup.

I sit and listen to the Twelve-Traditions and Twelve-Steps of Narcotics Anonymous.  Eyes straight ahead, trying my best not to look at those around me for fear of judging them.  But why should I judge them?  I don’t know their individual stories that lead them to use.  They must be good people, they’re here trying to get help.  Just like my friend.  With the formalities over, they invite those with milestones to come and collect their key-rings.  Then it’s time...he’s upset, anxious, that they went from 9 months to 18 months.  Have they forgotten about him and all his hard work?  They hadn’t.  They wanted to save the largest milestone for last.  12 months clean and sober!!  It’s his special day, and he got to choose the speakers and the topics of discussion for the day.  Gratitude, Power of Prayer, and Life on Life’s Terms.

Hearing these topics I being announced I started thinking about them as they applied to my life.  What I would talk about when it was my turn?  My friend had asked me before the meeting if I would be willing to talk to show my support for him.  Many thoughts and ideas raced through my mind.  Nothing coherent.  Thankfully then man running the meeting did not call on me to talk like he was supposed to.  Relief, served with a side of guilt.  I was thankful that I did not have to speak, I didn’t want it to appear as if the non-addict was preaching to everyone else.  Yet, there was a great deal of guilt that came with not fully supporting my friend like he wanted.

Once the chosen speakers had finished, it was time for the celebration.  My friend had two other members each speak to him and his recovery.  The first was there along side of him, throughout the whole 12 months, and many months before that using with him.  The first member that stood to speak after all was said and hugs were had, presented him with his One Year Sober Coin.  The second member that stood said some kind words about my friend’s recovery, and then presented him with the celebratory One Year Cake.  It was Black Forest Cake.  I was disappointed, since I don’t like this flavour. 

To wrap up the meeting everybody, addict, recovering addict, and supporters alike, formed a circle to say a prayer.  Now I do not necessarily believe in Him, but I do believe there are higher powers at work.  And it’s those higher powers that help give us the strength to carry on in our lives.

And to my dear friend I say…

Be grateful for the opportunities that you are given.  Although we often believe, things aren’t the best, we often forget that we are lucky enough to have great lives surrounded by people we love and care for.  And there are some that do not have love, the simplest gift we can be given.

You do not need to pray to Him, but look above to find the ones that have left us.  They are there to give us the strength and power that we need to succeed in our lives.

And to live life on life’s terms.  We do not have control of everything in our lives.  Take a confident step forward and realize that everything in front of us is there for us.  To embrace, to learn from, and to build on. 

Be confident in who you are, who you are becoming, and who you want to be.  It’s it only you that can make the steps necessary.

I love you as a brother, and have cherished all the time we have spent together.  You are a man with a great soul and heart.  I am proud of your successes in this last year.  Here’s to you!