New personal project :-)

So I started being in assistant volleyball coach! I really love it and I hope to be able to continue a long time! I have always loved and played volleyball; this is another opportunity to help people learn and love the sport as much as I do!

Volleyball Academy, Ottawa ON

Talk about being passionate about an issue...

This blog is basically a journalling to finding my true passion, one I can immerse myself in.
 These people have found theirs, and its a beautiful story of helping others - Inspiring

Photography - Behind the scenes: Dominican Republic

Event if I take destination vacation to relax; it is important for me to get to know the culture. Even if most of these counties are very poor, it doesnt necessarily mean they are unhappy. Here are a few pictures from Dominican:

Photography

I really love photography, ... Here's a few I took :-)

Passionate about life and its meaning

This week alone I have lived emotions about the passing of an aunt and the birth of my niece. What mixed emotions...
Everybody goes through phases of life when you ask yourself 'Why' or 'why me' - Which often leads to the fundamental question  :what is the meaning of life?! What is the point of all this. Through my experiences and research, I have found that the answer is: ' to experience life'. No matter what happens good or bad it is meant for us to learn from it and grow as individuals. We all have such different paths and different backgrounds, upbringing ect, that every experience is different to all. We can go through the same experience as someone else and learn different things. That is why I think communicating and sharing can help all parties involved. As much as we were born alone and will die alone, we do not need to go through life 'feeling' like we are alone. Sharing can bring such peace and a sense of calmness. If we keep asking 'why, why why' we are blocking the knowledge that comes with it. It does not make us insensitive to 'get over things' it makes us humans and it makes us become stronger. We are meant to live 'through' things, learn, and go on. I know it may sound harsh, and I'm sure almost impossible for certain events...but I really think that sharing can help heal. And once we heal, we learn a lesson, it feels even better to help others that are going through it. That right there, is a purpose. We unfortunately don't learn as much from positive experiences as we do from hard ones...the biggest hurdles are the biggest teachers.
As I went through a very hard time in my life years ago a book really helped me 'Soul's Perfection' Here are a few passages:

• ' To perfect one's soul is simply to survive life. That is the ultimate: to be able to keep standing and make it through to the end, regardless of how hard you're hit'
• ' ... go about your daily work giving, caring and spreading YOUR truth'
• ' All the calumny and profaneness that you have to endure, all the battering you have to go through-I promise you that all of it adds to your soul's perfection'
• ' You must try to love everyone's soul and wish them the best. But you certainly don't have to like their behavior or actions'
• ' Don't move upstream. Let the steam carry you.'
• ' Most of your problems arise because you push against life instead of going with it'
• ' No one can victimize someone who refuses to be a victim'
• ' The more stable your soul and the more lives you've lived, the more you'll feel that nothing is more important than finding your purpose'
• 'With knowledge comes understanding'
• ' Everyone has had a temper and has been critical, mean, and vengeful. Now, work on these things-they seem small, but they're very large because they define the essence of you'
• 'Seek for the truth within your own soul about your own rules for living, your own way of life, and what's right for YOU'
• 'Our faith in ourselves is tested constantly'
• ' I don't want you wimping around-if somebody does something to you, speak up. Have dignity.'

Yes, this book was written by a psychic, yes I was hesitant. But I read it and it spoke to me, it resonated with what I think and what I believe. It basically saved me. I truly hope you give it a try and read it : Soul's perfection' by Sylvia Brown. Never judge a book by its cover...

* a Special thank you to E.W. who introduced me to the book and helped me get back my spirituality - you were a beacon of light during those difficult dark years for me.

Finding your passion - book to help

As you know I am on a search to find my passion, calling...myself.
I have been asking around (friends and family) what they thought my strenghts were and various questions relating to that. A friend of mine made a good point: she said I always had the right words to tell her to get her back on her feet, that even when she was doing good, I could make her feel even better with my words of encouragement. That made me realize that not only do I really enjoy helping people and sharing with them, but I guess I have an ability for it. This same friend recommended me this book (she actually bought it for me and urged me to read) The book is amazing and I cant even wait to finish it to share with all of you, here are excerpts from 'Three feet from gold'

• The most common cause of failiure is quitting
• Before great success comes, you will surely meet with temporary defeat
• There is a difference between being interested and being commited(I guess that this is what I am trying to accomplish figure out all my interest and find a passion I can turn into my calling...)
• Seek counsel, not opinion, and then pass it on.
• A dream is just a dream until it is written down. Only then does it become a goal.
• Sometimes you have to step back and look at your situation from a different angle to find a different solution.
• Passion + Talent x Association = success
• Collaboration is essential to create miracles.
• Climb safe, but climb to the top
• Many receive good advice, yet few profit from it.
• People give up too soon.
• Success is the reward for setbacks.
• Success simply comes from going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm
• Ten percent of your attitude is determined by what life hands you and ninety percent by how you choose to respond.
• You need two types of courage- First, the courage to start, Second the courage to not quit!
• Replace your wishbone with a backbone.
• Act in spite of fear.
• Run from people with negative attitudes.
• There are no limitations to the minds except those we acknowledge.
• If you want something to change, then change the way you look at it.
• Your first five minutes dictate your day.
• Never let other people stand in your way.Turn adversity into advantages-turn their doubt into your catalyst.

Questions to find my passion

Did you know almost half of people hate their jobs! That's incredible! I was one of them, finding out this statistic confirms that I am not alone. I am 31 and have been working as a designer for around 8 years. I knew I had to start at the bottom and I did - I respected the hierarchy of things...As hard as I worked, as good as I was doing, it didn't lead me to what I wanted and I was left feeling unfulfilled and frustrated.

I refuse to continue living my life this way, it's ridiculous. Life is happening NOW and I feel like I'm missing it sometimes...We spend our whole day at work, why would we accept staying in a toxic environment? My answers were; security, money, convenience...and let's admit it, fear. I cannot let these things dictate my life anymore, it feels wrong at my very core. I value myself and my worth as a human too much to let this happen. I have great intentions and I want to make a difference, I want to make a positive impact and I want to feel fulfilled and happy.

Questions to ask myself to find my passion:

What would you do for free : learn (about anything), paint, take care of animals, play volleyball, photography, talk & help others in need, critique movies 

What activities did you gravitate to as a child? : painting, drawing, playing and learning about animals, playing dress up

Which topics puts a smile on my face: talking about my family and friends, talking about animals, comedy, a good game of volley ball

What do you love about yourself?: I am caring, I am athletic, I have a good sense of humour, I express my love to those dear to me, I make people feel good, I am very perseverant, problem solver

What are your gifts?:  I am compassionate, perseverant, athletic, enthusiastic, funny (I think)

What do you know about?: I know alot about design, volley ball, naturotherapy, nutrition, art, animals, movies, ...I feel like I know a little bit about a LOT of stuff, but that I am master of none...

What awakes your senses?: music can always put me in a different mood, colors attract my attention...

What are your greatest accomplishment, or which moments gave you very intense positive emotion?

Which activity makes you lose track of time? spending time with family and friends, during a v-ball game, painting, reading

What you volunteer for? animals, people in need, taking care of the planet

What do you think is your purpose in life? (top of your head) : to help others

* to do: ask people around about their passions or what they think is you 'thing',reach new interesting fields that might appeal to you, write ALL ideas down

I believe that everyday we should do nice gestures for a stranger everyday -
we are all connected, let's strenghten that bond!