Lucky Number 7

Today marks exactly 7 years since I moved to Calgary from Halifax.

Today is also my sister’s 27th birthday.

My mom’s favourite number was, you guessed it, 7.

In honour of my mom, I’d like to share 7 things I’ve learned/discovered since moving here on May 7, 2005.

1. My passion. I’ve always loved sports and knew that whatever I ended up doing had to involve sports but I wasn’t sure how to make that happen. While I was trying to figure that out, I spent all of my time and money playing ultimate frisbee and starting 2 years ago, disc golf and dog disc and last year overalls. I now know that I want my life to involve disc sports. Teaching, competing, performing. I’m very lucky to have had the opportunities I’ve had but I’ve also worked very hard to get there. I know that the last year was just the beginning and I’m so excited to see what is to come.

2. Myself. When I moved here, I was lost. I didn’t really know who I was, I was following what I thought at the time was love, and I was really moving here to get away from my past. Losing my mom was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through and I was hoping for a fresh start moving out here. Over the past year and a half, I’ve really come to love myself and learn who I am. I’ve realized why I was the way I was and am now a better person.

3. My friends. I don’t see my friends a lot but they support me and are there for me when I need them. I try to do the same but I know that I tend to get caught up in my own things and could be a better friend to them. I’ve realized that your friends all bring something unique to a friendship and it’s through those connections that we can grow as a person and enjoy where we live. To me, living in Calgary, Halifax, Edmonton, they are all the same pretty much. But it’s the people you choose to surround yourself with.

4. My family. I don’t get home to see my dad and sister very often but I talk to them every week at least. I do miss them but I’ve learned that there’s no point wishing I could go home more when I’m traveling to many competitions. If I wanted to go home more often, I could, but I choose not to. I love them for respecting and understanding that I’m going after my passion and my dream and I know that when the time is right, we’ll see each other. Being able to have my dad come with me to China last year was one of the highlights of my life.

5. My career. While it’s great to do what you’re passionate about, sometimes your passion doesn’t always pay the bills. I’ve been very fortunate to have some great jobs over the past 7 years and I have learned a lot from all of them. From office moving to metal pipe cutting to teaching skating to building catalogues, I’ve realized what truly inspires me and what doesn’t. In my current role, working in marketing for World Health, I’m able to explore my passions because I have an incredible employer. I’m also able to share with our members my fitness and nutrition passions. Helping them become healthier by being more active and by eating healthier. I’m truly lucky to have the opportunities I have and for that, I thank World Health for making them possible. I’ve always wanted to help people and right now, I’m able to do that in my professional and my personal life. It’s a great synergy.

6. My body. I’ve always been active but I haven’t always been the healthiest. I’ve never smoked, have rarely drank and have never done drugs but I have eaten my fair share of sugar, junk food and fast food. I’ve battled the demons inside for a long time and over the past 2 years, I’ve really taken a look at the choices I’ve made, I’ve started to research more about health and nutrition with books, documentaries and talking to my friends and colleagues and what I’ve learned has changed my life entirely. I have also gotten into barefoot running (and barefoot living in general) and I feel so much better in every aspect of my life. For me, there are always 2 sides to the story and in my experience, usually the majority of people are on the wrong side. The side that has been created and influenced by marketing, by corporations and by the people who want to make profit. You may even be able to find Dentist Brisbane to provide preventative dentistry services. The health care industry is a perfect example. There is no money to be made by people being healthy. The popular slogan “take a pill for an ill” is proof of that. It’s sad and unfortunate and I hope to help others realize what is going on. We are stronger than we realize and we don’t have to be depressed, we don’t have to be sick and we don’t have to be unhealthy. The answer is simple but it requires us to take responsibility for our own lives and many people aren’t willing to do that. I hope to inspire others to want to take that responsibility.

7. My future. I see many amazing things happening all around me and I want to continue to surround myself with that. I want to continue to live a life full of passion, a life full of drive and motivation and a life full of goals and dreams.