My fav quote from “What I talk about when I talk about running”

I recently read “What I talk about when I talk about running” by Haruki Murakami. If you are runner, I’m sure you’ve stumbled upon this as a book to add to your TBR. I found it beautiful! Haruki Murakami’s stoic sharing of running as an act of meditation, resiliency and goal setting completely resonated with me. And because he took those themes and applied them to being an artist (him being a writer) was the icing on the cake for me.

The book is a very easy read and can be easily finished in a day. For me, books really come alive when they have ah-ha moments – really good quotable parts of the text that make me stop and write down what I read. Here are a few of those moments (and moments of me running as well!)

Commute & Read (Library Books as much as possible)

The most important thing we learn at school is the fact that the most important things can’t be learned at school.

I’m the kind of person who likes to be by himself. To put a finer point on it, I’m the type of person who doesn’t find it painful to be alone. I find spending an hour or two every day running alone, not speaking to anyone, as well as four or five hours alone at my desk, to be neither difficult nor boring. I’ve had this tendency ever since I was young, when, given a choice, I much preferred reading books on my own or concentrating on listening to music over being with someone else. I could always think of things to do by myself.

Say you’re running and you think, ‘Man, this hurts, I can’t take it anymore. The ‘hurt’ part is an unavoidable reality, but whether or not you can stand anymore is up to the runner himself.

People sometimes sneer at those who run every day, claiming they’ll go to any length to live longer. But I don’t think that’s the reason most people run. Most runners run not because they want to live longer, but because they want to live life to the fullest. If you’re going to while away the years, it’s far better to live them with clear goals and fully alive than in a fog, and I believe running helps you do that. Exerting yourself to the fullest within your individual limits: that’s the essence of running, and a metaphor for life.

Sometimes taking time is actually a shortcut.

Being active every day makes it easier to hear that inner voice.

I just run. I run in void. Or maybe I should put it the other way: I run in order to acquire a void

How you dress is a reflection of your personal reality

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always felt a personal conviction to leave my house “dressed up”. I would always have my make up done, my accessories on point and ready to take an outfit shot #OnceAFashionBloggerAlwaysAFashionBlogger.

But along came motherhood, a pandemic, all sorts of geo-political situations and the desire to feel put together was cast aside. I lost “my why” or at least felt it was drowned out by all the noise around me.

However a few years ago, I remember leaving the house with a baby tow and in a very unflattering outfit (think: saggy sweatpants and uggs) feeling extremely embarrassed at the thought of running into anyone, that I vowed to never do that to myself again. It wasn’t the “running into” someone that bothered me, it was “I don’t care about myself” mentality that made me realize that in fact I do care about myself (a lot!).

How you dress is a reflection of you personality. And your personality is just your personal reality. Dr Joe Dispenza’s theorizes that our thoughts, feelings and actions (including how we dress, present ourselves etc) shape our personal reality. If the action of dressing your best forms your personal reality – a strong connection could be made for dressing in a way that represents your best and highest self – whether that be aligning your personal reality to that promotion, business owner, professional athlete or just a hot mom ;)

In all honestly, it’s been a journey to find my personal style again, but it’s fun to shop my closet, save outfit ideas on Pinterest or invest in some great pieces.

Some days I love what I’m wearing, and I sometimes still leave the house in an outfit that doesn’t hit the mark – but I’m giving myself grace (as one should!)

In an attempt to keep myself motivated, sharing a few reasons why I choose to dress well in hopes that it will inspire others to rethink their own style journey.

  1. Demonstrates confidence: How we dress creates an impact on how we are perceived by others but also how we perceive ourselves. Luckily confidence can be cultivated and is usually starts with self-love and self-care. An easy way to figure to show yourself love is buy wearing things that make you feel confident. But what outfits make you feel confident?
    An outfit that fits well and feels good – is a great place to start. Next your follow your intuition as it tell you pretty quickly that an outfit will increase your confidence. You’ll have a pep in your step, you’ll stand taller, you’ll radiate a sparkle and you won’t even need to look in a mirror to confirm – you’ll just feel it
  2. Attracts positive attention: Call it what you will: “first impression”, “pretty privilege” or “divine feminine” – dressing in a way that exudes these attributes will get you some stares but it will also give you power. You will also be perceived as more competent which in turn builds trust and credibility. I know some people will say “but we shouldn’t be judge by our appearance” but unfortunately it happens – so why not use it to your advantage. People will be drawn to you, doors will be held open for you, friendly conversations and kind stranger interactions will be had. This is all to say is that you’ll be surrounded by positivity. And in today’s world – sprinkling more positivity into our day is a MUST!
  3. Encourages creative self expression: I love to be artistic – and being creative with outfits is a form of self expression just as making a painting, junk journaling or photography would be. We all have a unique identity and show casing it in how we dress allows us as individuals to express that uniqueness and experiment with our creativity.

Review of “The Art of Banksy” Toronto Exhibit

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to check out the Banksy Exhibit. The exhibit was well organized and laid out. There was a bar (although no drinks were allowed inside the exhibit) and both a general and VIP admission ticket.

Some interesting things I learned about Banksy and his art:

  1. His art represents geo and socio economic issues with a side of dark humour and satire
  2. He is known for using street and concrete as his canvases
  3. His stencils are potential evidence for vandalism crime
  4. One of his art pieces was a theme park called DismaLand
  5. No body knows who Banksy really is

30 ways to get 1% better

Sharing 30 actionable ways to get 1% better starting today. Sometimes when I’m in a slump I start making sure I’m doing these things.

  1. wake up early
  2. read daily
  3. eat well
  4. love yourself
  5. judge less
  6. be yourself
  7. set goals
  8. plan your day
  9. positive attitude
  10. have purpose
  11. find inspiration
  12. love others
  13. network
  14. save money
  15. automate tasks
  16. track finances
  17. build a brand
  18. interact
  19. fail forward 
  20. dress your best
  21. invest
  22. journal
  23. be productive
  24. think ahead
  25. teach others
  26. do more
  27. spend wisely
  28. educate yourself
  29. have ambitions
  30. just start now

A little inspo for your next shinrin-yoku

I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anybody could ever want. (A. Warhol)  // Trees emit phytonicides (organic compounds proven to awaken your senses). The simple method of being calm and quiet amongst the trees, observing nature around you while breathing deeply can alleviate stress, improve sleep & vitality.  Reminder to myself: The goal is to fully immerse yourself in the present moment, and to relax and let go of any stress or distractions. It is not exercise, or hiking, or jogging. It is simply being in nature, connecting with it through our senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. 

Journal prompts to kick start your self development journey

I’ve finally (FINALLY) created my Vision Board. Yes it’s 6 months into the year but I just couldn’t get my butt off the ground this year. Well better late then never!

Sometimes you just need a little inspo to get restarted. Sharing 20 journal prompts to kick start your self development journey. You don’t have to do all of them, but I would suggest you respond to the prompts that energetically call out to you to answer.

  1. What areas of my life do I feel most unhappy & why?
  2. What specific changes would I like to achieve this week/next month?
  3. What habits do I perform that improve my personal growth?
  4. What new skills do I want to acquire to enhance my personal or professional life?
  5. How do I currently prioritize self-love in my daily routine?
  6. What negative self-talk do I need to overcome to reach my full potential?
  7. Who are the role models or mentors (virtual or in person) I admire & what qualities do l aspire to emulate?
  8. How can I cultivate a mindset of optimism & positivity?
  9. What steps can I take to improve my physical health, such as exercise, nutrition, and sleep habits?
  10. How do I manage my time effectively what strategies can I implement to enhance productivity?
  11. What activities/hobbies bring me joy and how can I make more time for them?
  12. What boundaries do I need to set in my relationships to prioritize my well-being & happiness?
  13. How can I practice mindfulness t0 reduce stress?
  14. What past achievements can I celebrate & draw inspiration from as I embark on this journey?
  15. What fears hold me back from pursuing my dreams, and how can I overcome them?
  16. How do I currently handle failure and what lessons can I learn from these experiences?
  17. What support systems or resources can I enlist to help me on my journey of self-improvement?
  18. How can I cultivate a sense of purpose in my daily life to fuel motivation?
  19. What small, actionable steps can I take today to start making progress towards my goals?
  20. How will I hold myself accountable and stay committed to mv journev of self-improvement