2020 at a Glance

Well, this was a crazy year for the entire world! There was no way I could have anticipated all the crazy things that would occur this year or all the experiences I would have. To say this year wasn't tough on me would be a lie! I struggled mentally, more than I ever have before. Those activities that used to boost my mental health were banned. I felt isolated from others in my life, and particularly from my family as they live on the other side of the country. I've had to learn how to be satisfied not traveling or visiting cities and towns outside of my own. 

On the flip side, it could be argued that I had the best year of my life as well! It was tough, a struggle, but full of rewards!

So what happened for me in 2020?!

I turned 22! I traveled home to Ontario to celebrate with family. Little did I know that would be my last visit for awhile. 

I went to the Passion to Purpose conference in Toronto in early March. There I met up with friends from a previous conference, learned networking, project pitching, and grant writing skills. 

Then bang! Covid happened. Due to job and rent complications, I found myself living in a tent

Then my friend's trailer

Despite Covid, tree planting still happened! It was a highly successful season for me. I felt as if I aged five years inwardly and developed a bit of a crust. I came out of the season older, feeling way older than twenty-two. I was burnt out and tired, but made bank and some pretty incredible friends along the way. 

Paid off my student debt and bought a new truck and camper right after the season. 

After much thought, I chose to move back to Vancouver Island and pick up my job again at the Comox Therapeutic Riding Centre. 

I've done way more hiking and outdoor activities since returning to the Island!

Then in early November, I met my boyfriend Aiden! It's been great to have someone who is so like-minded and devoted by my side. I've never felt more connected to someone in my life! 

Then Christmas happened! I spent it with Aiden's family and it could possibly go down as one of the best Christmas days in my life! 

2020 Goal Reflections: 

Develop more spiritually: I consider this the best year of my life in this area because for the first time I don't feel like I'm holding onto my faith by a thread. I've felt God's presence so strongly this year. In March, I was granted a miracle. A girl prayed over my arthritic knee and it was healed. I've had no pain since. This year, really making the decision in my heart to put God above all else has made a huge difference in my life and given me incredible peace. 

Tree Plant and get my Summit Sweater: Yep did both! Had a $ 500-day tree planting and got my summit sweater!

Work on My Dreams Uganda Project: My tree planting crew raised $3200 to buy a printer, laptop, paper, and ink to provide the students at Nabugalo Primary School with educational material to last them two terms since they couldn't attend school due to Covid. The Passion to Purpose Conference provided me with the skills to raise money for the students. 

Complete Two more Drafts of my Memoir: I did two more drafts and have one more draft to go before I hire an editor, then send it out to publishers or self publish

Get Dental Work Done: Had a dental assessment and got all four of my wisdom teeth removed! 

Compete in jiu-jitsu: Had two lined up and Covid canceled them both

Get my N license: I failed my test then Covid happened and canceled the other one

Renew my Passport: Started did not complete the process due to Covid and life being a bit of a gong show 

My Hopes for 2020 that came True:

- Truck and Camper

- Write another Novel

- Travel (Fort st John, Powell River, 100 Mile House, Cape Scot, Tofino) 

My favorite song in 2020 was Levitating(Dua Lipa, Dababy). My favorite film moment was the end of the last episode of the Mandalorian. 

My favorite moment of 2020 is a secret that I can't disclose yet. Otherwise, it was probably when I paid off my student debt; That was a good feeling! 

That was 2020! Now my goals for 2021:

- Develop more spiritually

- Try Snowboarding

- Tree plant

- N License 

- Gun license

- Buy property 

- Publish memoir

- Build a bus home with Aiden

- Learn how to operate a chainsaw

Hopes for 2021:

- A road trip to the Yukon

- Finish a novel I'm working on

- Get a dog

- That jiu-jitsu gets back up and running

- That the churches are able to open again

- That I will get to see friends and family in Ontario at some point 

A big thank you to everyone for all your support this year! To all the people who have provided me with a roof this year, helped out financially, gave me rides to and from places, helped me learn to drive, and figure out how EI works thank you so much! For all the people who have supported me with their kind words and actions, you motivate me! I could not do the things I do alone and I am so grateful to God for all of you in my life! May 2021 be a little easier on us all! 

Some quotes to lead us out of this year into the next.....

" A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it." - GK Chesterton 

" All get what they want; They do not always like it." - C.S Lewis

" All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us" - Gandalf

Here is the link to my one-second video for this year

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcTyNbToaIg

Welcome to the Wet Coast

 

This past weekend I had the opportunity to take several days off work and go on a date out of town with my boyfriend. If you asked people if it was a smart idea to go camping North Island mid December they would probably say no, so Aiden and I said yes; Let's do it!

It was totally worth it! 

First, we went to Palmerston Beach near Cape Scott Provincial Park. We found a little shack by the beach which we had hoped to occupy. 

Sadly, someone else had the idea too so instead we stuck to camping by Aiden's jeep for the first night. In the morning, the tide was high and the waves were huge and crashing against the beach rocks which was a marvelous sight! 

On our second day, we did the hike into Cape Scott. 

Saw the biggest tree of my life!

And some other cool tree formations as well!

We set up camp just off the beach. It then proceeded to rain and to rain a lot! It's the west coast but really it should be called the Wet Coast. 

After several hours of fighting to start a hot fire with wet fuel, we managed to cook some chicken and roast some apples. We then decided that it was more worthwhile to eat snacks as our dinner instead of attempting to make another fire later. We hunkered down in our tent for the rest of the day; Stayed warm and dry listening to the steady flow of rain coming down. 

The following morning was beautiful! The tide was coming in, the sun was visible, and the rain had stopped. The hike out of the park warmed and dried us off and was beautiful with the water droplets hanging off the branches and trees. 

Just outside of the park was a fossil bed where we found several fossils, which were really cool! 

I think the coolest thing about living on the Island is that you can pretty much camp any time of the year and not have to worry too much about freezing to death! Wet cold is not fun but as they say, there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. We were dressed for our little expedition and it paid off big time in being able to see beautiful sights and have quality time together. Cape Scott is remote and isolated but that's really part of the fun of going there! If you want an adventure I would highly recommend paying this provincial park a visit! 

(Photo creds: Aiden. B) 

Hard Time to be a Nomad

 It's a hard time to be a Nomad! 

Never did I imagine there would be a world crisis forcing me to stay put. Yet, here we are and it doesn't look like it's going to end anytime soon. 

However, I wouldn't say this static time is lost time. I am learning a lot and starting to shift my focus from the next adventure to focusing on why I do what I do. What is it that makes me crave adventure? Why do I feel antsy being in one spot for a long time? What is it that is important in life? What makes a fulfilling life?

I want to live a free life and part of living freely is being free of addictions. It is okay to do things for personal enjoyment but when those things begin to control your life and keep you from feeling at peace then they aren't as freeing or fulfilling as they could be. 

Wanderlust, I have it, and to be honest, it's probably not the worst thing to be addicted to! However, for the last few months it has kept me from being at peace and happy with life. It was a craving that was hard to shake. With no other options with work and Covid though, I had to figure out how to get through the withdrawal. 

Here was my strategy:

Firstly, Live in the Moment. Feel the elements around yourself, focus on the sights , smells, and the emotion of the moment. By doing this everything becomes richer, more exciting, and memorable. We only have right now. It's important in the moment to make good choices for our choices will follow us into the future. However, whatever is going on around you in the moment, pay attention to it!

Secondly, trying something new! Pick up a new skill, hobby, or work on building up your relationships with people. Do something that puts you outside your comfort zone for that is the best place for personal growth to occur. 

Lastly, there are plenty of places to explore right where you are. Get to know your current location and surroundings really well! Often there are plenty of cool experiences and places right close to where we are living. We think we are familiar with our neighborhood but there is often more to be explored. 

These three tips have helped me to become very satisfied with where I am and feel at peace and happy once again. Every day is exciting, I've had many more intense and beautiful moments. There is more meaning and satisfaction in all that I do. The world can be shaken but I can't. If you believe you are strong you are, I say this to myself daily. You are what you dream yourself to be. What does the most truly free version of yourself look like?! Aim for that and you won't be disappointed. 

Thanksgiving - Gratitude Attitude

On Sundays,  I listen to Catholic sermons while at work as COVID has prevented me from being able to attend Sunday mass. The recent podcast I listened to was explaining how we as Christians have no excuse to feel sorry for ourselves. This message stuck with me and it really opens up my eyes to how incredibly privileged and blessed I am! 

Lots of things I took for granted have been taken away this year due to COVID. Things such as the church always being open to visit, being able to walk into a doctor's office without a scheduled appointment, being able to fly home to visit family, and being able to travel; That's a shortlist of things that are now gone. However, as I sat in meditation the other day I consciously went through all the things I have and I was amazed at how really, my list could go on forever! 

I have two hands, so I can work. I have two feet so I can move. I am in relatively good health. I live in a country where I don't need to worry about going out into town during the day or night as a woman. Water is readily available to me, I have a warm place to sleep. I live outside the city in the beautiful countryside where the air is clean to breathe! Wildlife is plentiful in my life, and I get to work with some of the most wonderful animals in the world, horses. The more I think about it, every little thing is a blessing. 

A gratitude attitude; My mother used to say this to us when I was younger. It used to grate on me because I thought she was calling me an ungrateful child. There is truth to this statement though and when you practice this attitude in your life it will transform it. I would exercise this while planting on a truly miserable day. "What am I thankful for?" Then I would go through every little thing. 
"It is hailing, and my fingers are cold but I am thankful that there is warm tea waiting for me back at camp, I am thankful that I can keep moving, I am thankful that I was made strong, I am thankful that at least I back bagged my rain jacket so I'm not entirely soaked, I'm thankful that we get to go home in three hours, I am thankful that this experience will enhance my character development." Once I would go through the things I was thankful for in the moment, I would move onto the things that I was thankful for in the past or the future. A gratitude attitude has helped me through many tough moments in my life. 

This Thanksgiving I have a lot to be thankful for! Firstly, I am thankful to you, all my friends, family, and supporters. You all motivate me, build me up, and encourage me to be my best self. I could not do all the things I do without you!

I am thankful that we were able to have a tree planting season this year. It opened up many doors for myself and has helped out financially making it possible for me to buy my first vehicle and pay off my student debt. I am incredibly thankful for the people who made up the crew I was on and for the hard work my foreman put into making our season profitable and a success! 

I am thankful for my job at CVTRS. For the staff, volunteers, and horses! I'm happy the facility is back up and running and that I can work there full time this year. 

I am thankful for my super awesome living situation this year! I have missed living on a farm and it is great to have horses, a pig, and a dog in my backyard. The family who owns the place are wonderful people and I couldn't be happier with how things are going.

I am most thankful for my faith and the relationship I have with Christ. The isolation I feel, due mostly to COVID, is bearable because with him I know I am never alone. He has given me so much and I feel that I am often blind to the extent of love that he offers me. With him by my side through the good and bad moments I know I will be okay. 

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving! God bless!