Gratitude

September has come and gone. Indeed she followed through with her promise of routine and structure and has left in her wake a month of solid sunshine and warmth that has continued into this glorious October. I have refitted the house with autumn colours and have put away the ocean blue accent pillows for yet another year.

There is something sacred about the ritual of honouring the changing of seasons. It feels slightly tribal. I can find deeper meaning in anything, but when fall rolls around it seems that there is just more meaning in most things and it is easier to find depth in daily life. People slow down again, they stop longer to chat on the street, they pick up the phone and connect again with those that summer somehow kept from us.

There are so many things to be grateful for as we close in on the last few months of 2012. This year has been one of many blessings and many profoundly rich reasons to be humbled in gratitude. If you have read any of my previous blog entries you also know that this year has challenged my family at it's core.

In all of the many blessings and challenges, there is a common thread that binds us into the same boat of grace and gratitude and that, has been our family. Whether I look back at our time in Mexico this spring or fast forward to my nephews diagnosis in June... it is the family bond that has cradled our journey in both the bliss and the blinding reality of a life threatening illness. I am not sure that there is anything more beautiful than the love that comes from the deeply bound family unit that I come from.

Growing up I never felt those ties that bind, but this more than ever I feel them, I sew them and I absolutely tend to them. The past 12 months have brought my own immediate family closer and that of my siblings and I. Don't get me wrong, I have always been close to my siblings, but like I said, when you sit in wait, between life and death, your earth bound connections strengthen in a way that is indescribable. Life changes. Important things become more vital, small things cease to exist, the sky gets bigger and your words become kinder, and you somehow learn to be braver.

I am so grateful for all of the goodness that has come my way this year. I am also grateful for the lessons that have come from the more unfortunate occurrences, for those have taught me the most, and again, at the top of that particular list you will find Cancer. I have a couple of friends and my super, awesome, brave nephew that have been battling that bitch. (forgive my french) I have been watching even closer and have seen first hand what true bravery looks like, what real courages acts like and how true grace carries us when we allow it to.

It's no secret that I am turning forty next year. Growing up, I thought that I would have life figured out by now. Instead, what I now understand is that when people say take one day at a time, it really means that we are to slow down, breathe deeply, love unconditionally and live with passion. "Live each day to it's fullest" is not just some passe quote. It really holds value to our human existence. What I have finally figured out is that there is no figuring life out. It is what it is, and our journey will become what it will, in accordance to how we respond to life on a daily basis.

Everyday is a bounty of blessings if we will just allow ourselves the pleasure of seeing the bright side. It is so easy to find the faults and shortcomings that find us in a day. It is also even easier to choose to reside in the light of each moment that is ours to claim. I am not saying that life is rainbows and butterflies, I know better, I know it is also compromise and acceptance. I also know it is exactly what we make if it.

2012 was filled with beauty. As we approach Thanksgiving, I am profoundly grateful for the love and light that has found it's way into my heart by way of family and precious friendships and I wish the same love and light to find you and yours. I hope you have been as blessed as I, and that next Thanksgiving you will have even more in your heart to be grateful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

In Gratitude,
t. xo

The Stars Are Aligned, We All Get To Live Our Passion.

I find it so interesting that even at the most hectic of times, a fresh snowfall can quiet even the wildest chaos. Waking up to the sound of a (almost) four year old's squeal that it is snowing outside may be the sweetest sound ever. It is the epitome of childhood bliss and anything that brings my children bliss, and my children's elation, is the foundation of my own bliss. I write today with mixed emotions. I am still amazed by what the past six weeks have brought to fruition. I have the Oscars excitement that is still alive and electric running through me. I have been approached by many amazing women who have unexpectedly reached out to offer support to me and my work. I have my amazing friend 'Di' who just had her documentary "Abandon Ship: The sinking of The Concordia" debut on the CBC. It is worth mentioning that her daughter was on that vessel when it sank so her accounting of the event is particularly raw & accurate. To watch this documentary it is evident that 'Di' is living her passion. My other friend 'Care' is following her passion and in the midst of realizing her own dream which I am blessed to be in the inner circle of development in that I am privileged to be a sounding board and a spiritual & creative support to her in this time of her beautiful manifestation. She is living her passion. I recently received an email from one of our s local sirens. I'll call her 'Bif' ;). She was so gracious and generous with her light and love when she reached out to me. She has indeed been a welcome and like minded supporter of women living their passion. 'Bif' is an icon for women aspiring to live their passion because she has long been living her passion. Moments ago I received another email from a fellow jewelry designer who I respect very much. I will refer to her as 'Sugar'. We have been sharing a lot of press these past few weeks and as I have said to her, it is a huge compliment to be in her company- and an inspiration to me as she too is living her passion. A moment ago I opened an email from one of my all time favorite Collingwood students. FYI- anyone who works with children and claims that we don't have favorites...they full of it! That is just a big ole' lie! Those little lovelies work their way into your heart and the space they've claimed only continues to grow and we, continue to grow more fond of them as the years go on. I will refer to this particular little heart stealer as 'CG'. Here is a perfect example of the next generation of amazing women living their passion. 'CG' was one of those students who had supportive parents, great friends, teachers who love her, and whose beauty is immense and shines from the inside out. 'CG' has always held a special place in my heart for all of the above reasons but she won my highest respect when she made an incredibly difficult decision when it came to deciding on which university to attend. Where her family all attended one University, and the hope was that 'CG' would follow suit and many of her other bff's chose another school to attend, 'CG' listened to her heart, followed her passion and was accepted to an incredible university overseas. It takes huge courage and passion to follow your own inner voice at such a tender age. Alas, 'CG' has the personal insight that I wish for my 'Miss. B' when she arrives at that age. 'CG' inspires me and she is listening to and living her passion. And now, here comes the mixed emotion... I also have a friend who I will call 'Em'. Em is the mother we all wish we had. To watch her parent her children you know she was born to be a Mama. She is the queen of play dates. The champion chef for feeding her family healthy, whole, organic foods. Her playroom is every kid's fantasy and her backyard a family mecca. Her world is obviously her family and her family shines for it. Today is 'Em's birthday. Where you might expect her to be spending her day filled with lunch with the girls, flowers, candy, balloons, big laughs, wine, dinner out... just a laid back, fun kind of day. I could see how you would expect that. Rather, she gets to receive her first radiation treatment today. There is no fun involved there. There is fear and anxiety and a deep hope for a miracle. Where the cancer has claimed her body, I am here to say I claim her body too. I knew 'Em' first and I am here to ask all of you to send her light & love and healing energy. She deserves to be healthy and her children, our children, we all deserve to be apart of the love she has to give. I believe if the stars are really aligned then 'Em's fight is really our fight and together we can be part of the story that ends with the sentence... " and that is how they turned the table and how THEY fucked cancer over!" 'Em' deserves to continue to live her passion, but more than anything she deserves to live. Love & Light and a big ole FUCK YOU CANCER..NOT THIS TIME...! ;) t.