Author: sascha

I was bundled up with so many layers. I had long johns, leggings, ski pants, and snow pants for the bottom layers. I had layers of socks and my winter boots on. I layered on the tops starting with a tank top, long sleeve warm layer, a big fluffy hoodie, and not 1 but 2  winter jackets. Even layers of hats and mittens. I felt like a little kid overdressed by a parent. I could hear my parents saying “make sure you are warm enough it’s going to be cold”.  I could barely move my arms or legs. I had purchased all new gear for this winter trip. I am a Canadian who dislikes being cold. I took a trip to Alaska in November, what was I thinking?

I was off in search of the mysterious northern lights. I wanted to ride a dog sled through a quiet snowy forest. Sit in a hot spring with frozen hair. Run through the snow in my winter boots and then my bikini what a fun vacation.

My Opa (grandpa) reported to me that he searched out the very same lights many years ago when he arrived in Canada. He told me they made him feel motion sickness and depressed. I share in his motion sickness on boats so I prayed that I didn’t share the same feeling when I gazed up at the lights.

I am beyond happy to report I have crossed this must-see event off my bucket list. I have dreamed for years of that exact moment. I didn’t think I would be standing on a mountain top in Alaska in November but this trip just came together. Things always have a way of working out for me. Focus on the positive and positive things will happen. How much my life has changed just from changing the way I think.

I took a tour to a mountain top in a little tank-like vehicle on a tour that almost guarantees you see the northern lights. As I stood on the mountain top with my boyfriend freezing I had tears frozen on my face yet my heart was so full. Beautiful sites always bring me to tears. Soon as we arrived on this mountain we started to witness shades of green appearing. The later the hours the more vibrant the colours became. Between 1 and 3 am seemed to host the best displays of colours. The light came alive and started to move and dance across the sky. I stood in awe. I tried to capture the beauty with my phone camera but the pictures do not capture even a tiny bit of the beauty in a front-row seat. I would agree with everyone who ever told me the northern lights are truly a sight you have to see.

Alaska has so much natural beauty. I have dreamed forever to catch a glimpse. My nose, toes, and fingertips were frozen but my bucket list became shorter and my heart is forever full.

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When I wrote dancing in the rain as a title for a blog I immediately had a rock star moment and started singing “If you like pina and gettin’ caught in the rain”. It instantly makes me giggle at how much I love dancing in the rain. I also do love a pina colada. Have I had a Pina Colada in the rain? Absolutely! The combination is perfect. Don’t believe me? Next time it rains get a pina colada and get out dancing in the rain.  Dancing in the rain is the one time when the world slows down and I feel like no one is watching me. I feel like the rain coming down around surrounds me like a blanket and no one can see me. I get lost in the feeling of being the only one in the world. I love that feeling.

Sometimes I invite my son or a friend to run out and enjoy dancing in the rain with me. It always ends the same way being soaked, feeling silly, and filled with laughter. You cant dance in the rain in be in a bad mood. It will instantly cheer you up. I imagine it has others giggling too. Anyone who witnesses that amount of silliness has to be giggling. Laughter makes us feel better. Being silly makes us forget about the seriousness in our lives.

For the record, I am not a dancer so the moves seen during the rain are not those of a professional. I almost never dance unless the rain brings out that feeling. For those few short minutes, nothing in the world matters it’s just pure silliness. You forget anything you were worried about. You get lots in your senses.

When I write a blog I have that same feeling as dancing in the rain brings. I write best on days when I am alone and my house is quiet. These are usually rainy days. On days when no one is watching. When no one can interrupt me. It is one of the few times my phone is turned off. I grab a pen and paper and the ideas just start flowing. I write like no one is reading. Sometimes my blog has a purpose or a message for someone and sometimes it’s just a story or something that has happened and I want to share. I just write the ideas as they come to me. I like to write from my heart. I like to share my experiences in hopes that it helps someone. I write hoping it changes and inspires you to think differently about life. Leave the negativity behind and embrace where positivity takes you.

Like my dancing, I am not a professional writer it is just a dream of mine that I have always wanted to pursue. I want to become someone’s favourite author.  In order to reach that goal, I show up weekly and write a blog. I believe these blogs keep my book dreams alive. Blogging keeps me writing. Blogging keeps me dreaming.

Shockingly I used to be shy and I did my best to avoid talking to anyone. I kept all my feelings silent. I went to therapy and never shared a word. I feared if I shared things about my trauma, my failures, or my rejections people would judge me or think of me differently. When did this change? When I started talking to people. When I opened up to share my stories and started hearing other people’s stories. It was then that I realized we all have trauma. We all have failures and we all have things we wish that we would have done differently. We are all doing the best that we know how to do.

Keep moving forward and never give up. Everything has a way of working out. There is a solution to whatever you are faced with. Pay attention to what life is teaching you. If things didn’t go as planned figure out the reason and a new solution. When you need help reach out. Life is easier when faced together.  Live with no judgments and an open positively kind heart.

I don’t know what happens to us when we are no longer here. Heaven or wherever you go when you pass on from here well it has some of my favourite people. Some of those people I have been missing like crazy. I often find signs from those who have passed on. You are always on my mind and forever in my heart.

Lately, I have been finding dimes. It is said that if you find dimes:

“Someone or something is trying to get your attention. – Guidance or validation that you’re on the right path. – Ancestors, spirits, or deceased loved ones want you to know they’re looking out for you.”

When I find a dime I always look up and smile. I feel like now more than ever in my life I am on the right path. Thanks for leaving me dimes.

I miss you like crazy and I know from wherever you are you are watching out for me.

My house has trinkets all over left to me by loved ones no longer with me. I have gorgeous paintings from my grandmother I can still envision her painting in her sunroom with the utmost look of pure joy as she smiled at what she was creating. I still sleep under quilts she made every stitch by hand.

The abstract Cadillac painting by Mr. Freak makes me smile every day. It’s the first thing you see in my house. The chair you designed sits perfectly on my deck looking out onto the water. It’s my favourite place to drink tea, read my books, and work on my book. You had a way of touching people with your kindness. My son still thinks you’re one of the coolest people.

Today however when I was struggling with what to write about I got a sign that made me laugh and cry. I opened a drawer looking for a document and out of the back of the drawer fell a card. It’s a super old “call me” card. You used to use them back in the day when calling long distance was expensive and not included in your calling plan. You had a card with a code that made the long-distance free. It says “Now you can talk to (name) more often”.

For years after you passed away, I carried this card with your name on it. I haven’t seen it in years and forgot they even existed. Now I am not sure if this is a sign I need to clean out this drawer or if you were just trying to get my attention but it worked. Pat wasn’t my father he was my best friend’s father but he accepted a lot of friends as family. He was a huge inspiration in my life and I miss him. What I wouldn’t do to be able to call you one more time and hear your voice, your laugher, and your sass.  Last year I took a caddy cruise up to your grave just to sit and chat. I brought a beer to sit and talk. I drank some and poured you some. I sat and chatted about all the things that have happened since you passed. I think that chat is what lead me to make the decisions that I have. I wish you could have met my son he would have had so much fun hanging out with you! I will forever keep your memory alive. Cherish all the times you made me smile and laugh. You were one of a kind and I am forever grateful for the time you were in my life.

Finding that call me card made me call a lot of people just to hear their voices. In a world of texting, I love the convince of shooting off a quick text but there is nothing like hearing your voice. I will forever be calling just to hear your voice.

If you could make one phone call who would you call?

At the other end of your leash, I am smiling. I am so grateful for all the dogs in my life.  From the ones I walk to the ones I have adopted as family, you all fill such a special place in my heart. My heart had a giant hole a sense that something was missing. That feeling has since been filled with the love of dogs. Without ever saying a word dogs show us and they teach us what it is like to feel unconditional love. I am beyond blessed for the dogs I have had in my life and the dogs I still get to experience. I wake up and kiss my dog every day and I kiss her when I come home too. You cant resist Kelso’s cute face.  I am forever thankful for how Kelso the corgi became a part of our family when we needed her the most she picked our family to join. My heart is so full.

The dogs pictured here are the ones who inspire me to keep walking from young to old they have ticked along the kilometers. They have motivated me to keep moving. To walk places I haven’t seen before. To venture where they want to go. To meet new people. To make new friends. Dogs have always taken me out of my comfort zone yet showed me it’s okay. Dogs have a way of keeping us safe.

Some days I can be found just walking and talking to the dogs clearing my thoughts. Some days I have my headphones in. I am currently listening to crime podcasts. Secretly my dream has always been to solve crimes. I have always had this passion to work for the wrongfully convicted that speaks directly to my soul. No matter how deep I am into a podcast I always lower my volume or take a headphone out to say hello to someone walking by or stop and chat. I have met some wonderful people around town. You never know how a smile and a simple hello can change someone’s day.

I love how different every dog I walk is. Each has their own personality and they keep me laughing. I get leashes tangled. I always have more poop bags than I can carry to the next trash can. I am sure anyone who sees us gets a chuckle too. I love the cute looks the dogs give me when they know I am struggling. On the days that start out or finish less than ideal I immediately know what will cheer me up. Get a dog and start walking. I walk until I feel like whatever was bothering me is gone. Sometimes I just need a quiet walk to gather my thoughts.

At the end of your leash, my heart is full and I am so grateful for every step you walk with me. Thank you sweet dogs for teaching me so many valuable lessons and inspiring my book. Here’s to many more years being at the other end of your leash.

 

I love thanksgiving.

My heart and my stomach are both so full. I am so thankful and blessed to be living the life I am. I give thanks not just on this day but every day.

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to review the year with positivity, love, gratitude and thankfulness for all that we have and all that we are working towards improving.

Always something to be thankful for! What do you give thanks for?

I spent the holiday weekend working at the hospital with some of my favourite co-workers. I got to give thanks to all the people who make my work a better place. The people who inspire me to keep doing a great job. Iam thankful for my job.

I am thankful this weekend’s weather was that of summer temperatures. The sun was shining and the leaves are now changing colours. So many beautiful shades of red and orange making an appearance. It’s slowly easing into fall, such a beautiful time of year.

I am thankful that my grandparents made a turkey dinner and my family came together to enjoy a delicious meal. I can always count on my Granny to make the perfect turkey. I love turkey, throw in some fixings and I am the happiest of any meal all year! My Opa (grandfather) loves when his family comes together for a meal. He sits at the head of the table in a seat he has more than earned with the biggest smile on his face. I look around from the other end of the table at the crazy bunch of nuts I call my family and even though we have all had our moments like any family I love this crew like no other. We shared great food, stories, and tons of laughter. I am brought to tears with how full I am. How thankful I am.

My phone was flooded with messages from family a far and friends everywhere. My face hurt from smiling so much. I am feeling the love and I love you all so very much!

Giving thanks for each and everyday I have with you all.

Don’t wait for Thanksgiving give thanks everyday!

 

The biggest lesson I learned during my journey of self-discovery was that I built some tall walls around myself to protect my feelings. I was scared to show others how I felt. I have felt embarrassed about where my life has been. Clearly my life hasn’t gone as I had planned.

I only wanted people to see the good and successful parts of my life. The parts that looked like they were all rainbows and sunshine. The success and happiness. Only at the time, I didn’t have any of that. I didn’t want others to see the stormy parts. The failures that caused doom and gloom. Then I couldn’t see the good parts that failing brought me. Embrace failure. Failing has brought some of the greatest opportunities into my life. Failure isn’t the end it’s just the beginning of the journey. If you fail get back up and try it again, try it differently, or try something completely different.

Life is what you make it. You are always capable of change. You are never too old, too broke, or too damaged to make a change.  Just like adding a brick to the wall, you are also capable of removing a brick. I didn’t build tall walls in a day. Every failure I added on another brick. Every time someone was unkind to me I added on another brick. What I didn’t do was remove a brick every time I succeeded or every time someone was kind to me. In my darkness, I just kept piling bricks until my walls were taller than me. Those were some tall walls.  My walls were so tall my whole world became black. Walls so tall I could no longer see a way out. Walls so tall I could not allow anyone in. I stayed distant, alone, and stuck in my own darkness. Let me tell you the wall of darkness lead me to complete sadness mixed with depression.

When I could no longer cope with my tall walls I started to analyze how each brick came to be a part of my wall and my life? What did I have to do in order to remove the brick? I wanted to smash these bricks for good. I didn’t want to tear my walls down only to find myself putting each brick back up on the wall. That is an exhausting process.  As much as I would love to tell you I took a wrecking ball to my walls and smashed all my problems away. I didn’t. I think a lot of us want a quick fix but few of us are willing to put in the hard work. It has taken me years to remove my bricks and destroy my walls.

I spent years discovering my failures, looking over my wrongdoings, my unrealistic expectations of others. I had to accept that I am not in charge of the world. I had to learn how to stand up for myself. I had to review the people in my life and figure out if they had a positive or negative effect. Removing bricks and letting people know the real me feels amazing because I know I am being true to myself. I am sharing my story from darkness to light to inspire others to share in their struggles.  You are not alone. Everyone has walls. What’s holding your wall up? What thoughts and expectations do you need to destroy? I want to help you live a life free from feeling trapped inside tall walls. Let’s knock em down brick by brick you can do it!

Two things I love in life are practicing yoga and enjoying puppy cuddles. I  love basking in all the silliness-happiness that puppies bring.

I didn’t know puppy yoga was a thing but I am sure glad I had the opportunity to experience it. Not only did I get to partake in this yoga event but the puppies that came were corgis. Corgi puppies are my weakness. They are too cute for words. I couldn’t sleep the night before I was beyond excited. I printed my ticket and I was ready to go. Take my money! Start the car!

The yoga class was held at Whozagooddog canine enrichment center. If you have a dog you need to check out this place. It has everything your dog could ever dream of! Great place to tire your dog out in many of the activity rooms, fitness, training,  grab a treat, or even some raw dog food,  and they have full grooming services. Your dog will leave looking top-notch show-worthy! This is the location where Kingston Ontario corgis have hosted corgi parties!. We hope we can do this again soon. All of the cool dogs go to Whozagooddog. Being a part of this dog community has brought so many great dog people into my life. I love following Whozagooddog on Facebook and Instagram because they post pictures every day of the happy dogs attending doggie daycare. If you don’t follow them I suggest you do its an instant mood booster. You won’t be able to stop smiling at all the cute dogs.  Thank you Whoozagooddog for all you do keep up the amazing work! Can’t wait to see you again soon.

The eleven puppies that came to puppy yoga were from Edgebrook Kennels. If you are considering a Cardigan corgi I would highly recommend checking out this kennel.

As I sat on my yoga mat listening to our lovely instructor telling us what puppy yoga would be like I couldn’t help but feel the positive energy flowing. Everyone was sitting on their yoga mats with huge smiles anxiously awaiting the puppies. Then as the class started and we all began to hold our first yoga pose the puppies came running down the hall and burst into the room. They made their grand entrance memorable. Eight-week-old corgi puppies you can’t resist those little fluffy butts. The whole room let out an “aw” as the puppies quickly ran around filling the room with laughter. I don’t know that I ever held a full yoga pose. I would start a pose and then a new puppy would come to say hello. I can’t resist those cute puppies I had to snuggle them all. At the beginning of the class, the puppies were so full of energy and by the end, we had a huge pile of sleeping cuties. They put on a lot of kilometers on those little legs making the rounds to meet everyone. My heart is still so full from this event. Thank you for having me and I look forward to doing this again.

My love of rings started when I was a young girl. I loved to go through my mom’s jewelry box and try on all her jewels.

A moment that I will always remember and cherish from my childhood was the day my mom took me to the jewelry store. It was a  local store on the main street of the little town I grew up in. She took me to get my very first gold ring. I felt like royalty.  The ring I picked out was a yellow gold ring with my birthstone aquamarine. It was simple yet it was the most gorgeous ring I had ever seen. I wore that ring every day up until college when it went missing/ was stolen.  I was devastated. I have spent years searching for a ring like it. I know a replacement ring could never replace the feeling that the original ring gave me but I always keep an eye out.

Now as an adult I wear three yellow gold rings on my right ring finger. These rings have been passed down to me from my family. These rings mean the world to me. These rings remind me how loved I am.

The ring closest to me was given o me when my grandma Davis (my dad’s mom) when she passed away I inherited it. It is a solid yellow gold wedding band. It was a ring given to her by her husband for their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.  It is a ring that carries such loving memories. It is a part of our family history. I feel honoured to wear it.  When I look down at the ring it reminds me that lasting love is possible. Thanks, grandparents your love lives on through this ring.

The middle ring makes me smile and remember my time spent on Vancouver Island. It reminds me I am braver than I know and stronger than I think. I ended up on Vancouver Island as a runaway bride. After close to a year I had pawned my engagement rings to catch a flight back to Ontario. It came to the exact amount I needed, I took that as a sign. My west coast dreams didn’t work out as I had planned. I felt like it failed yet again in life. However, I forged forward and what came next from coming home forever change my life in the best way possible I got my son.  My middle ring was given to me by my cousin Noah. The ring is yellow gold with a few diamonds. When I was leaving the island she wrote me a letter that made me cry and she surprised me with this ring. She said, “No woman should be without a diamond.” I love this cousin of mine far beyond what words can describe. We live thousands of miles apart yet we live very similar lives. You have such a beautiful heart. I am so glad you are a Davis. I’m so lucky to have you as my family. Thanks, cousin I miss you tons and I love you lots. I think of you daily when I look down at this ring.

The ring on the outside is such a unique ring, I fell in love with this ring the first time I found it in my mother’s jewelry box. It is my parent’s wedding ring. The ring is a yellow gold band with partly melted-down gold nuggets. My parents got married in the Yukon. A place I dream to see. Even though they have been divorced for many years I love this ring. Without the Yukon wedding, I might not exist. Thanks for passing down this ring, I am thankful I still have you both here. Every day I see your ring and it makes me smile.

These three rings stacked together make my heart so full of love. Everyone should have some ring bling it’s a wonderful feeling knowing all these rings were worn by the family before me and will be passed down to family after me.

July 30th, 2020 I set out on a writing course through Hay House. Turns out writing a book is harder than I thought. I was stuck so I turned to Hay House for some inspiration.  One of the first exercises we did was to set a timer and write for 7 minutes which seems like an easy task until you sit down to do it. My dream book is a teaching memoir from the messages of my sweetheart dog  Charleston.  I let the book idea flow and in 7 minutes this is what I wrote with tears streaming down my face. It’s hard for me to write my story it still hurts. I miss my sweet boy every day. He wasn’t just a dog he was my reason for living.

I am writing this book because…

I have a story to tell. One I know will help people shift their lives from negativity into positivity. I am writing this book because we all can learn from the animals around us. If you can open your heart up and feel the unconditional love of an animal your life is rich.

Animals have so many messages to teach us. I am blessed to have had my heart dog for 8 years. He left me long before I was ready but what he left me forever changed my life. He changed it for the best.  I want to share his messages with the world.

To know Charleston your life was a better place because of it. I want to capture how he without any words he made me feel. The lessons he taught me and how even from beyond the grave he sent Kelsey (his sister) right into my path. When he couldn’t stay well he still gave us exactly what we needed. He knew he couldn’t stay and he knew I couldn’t live without him. Oh, Charles this sister of yours.

Tears pour down my face with each happy memory. You were exactly the dog  I needed in my life. You healed my life and made me see the good again in the world. You taught me how to approach people with a kinder more loving heart. You made me less scared to be alone. You taught me how to be confident.

If this book can help just one person then I know I have done right by sharing your messages with the world.

I may never find another King and I may spend my current days being bossed around by the Queen but the last 9 years have been a heck of a ride.

From the good, the bad, and the downright ugly to the most amazing life now. You helped me every step of the way. I have never met a spiritual guide with such a fluffy butt. I will never in my lifetime be able to express the feeling of gratitude I have for you but I will write our story and know I did my best.

You make me feel like nothing else ever did. Your power of positivity is captivating.

I miss your head on my shoulder more than anything. I would give anything to spend just one more night snuggled up with you.

I know you couldn’t put into words what you saw in the world but through your actions, my tear, and laugher I am writing our story, good boy. Thank you!

I absolutely loved these writing exercises and the Hay House, writers community. I am still writing my book with 8 positive steps. Like the 2 dogs and paws that inspired me to write.  Corgis have changed my life, they have brought the most amazing people into my life. Charleston forever changed my life in the best way possible. Someday I will be someone’s favourite author so I keep writing.

 

Strike a pose. Yoga pose.

Growing up it was my Oma (grandma) was who introduced me to the wonderful world of yoga. She taught me some poses and every one of them made my muscles feel wonderfully renewed. We focused on breathing and it seemed to slow my world down to a more manageable pace. I always felt instantly calmer. My problems seemed to melt away.

My mother used to do yoga poses for her back pain on our living room floor. My older brother even joined in on the yoga fun. My brother and I would fold into the lotus pose, it was our favourite. We mastered the lotus pose. In lotus pose, we went onto our keep caps and raced across the living room floor. I would say it was a good twenty feet to victory. My knees hurt now just thinking about that.

In my early twenties, I was in a workplace accident that left me with a low back disc injury. I had excruciating nerve damage pain in my legs. I still have pain but it’s a lot less than it once was. My Oma gave me a yoga book for bad backs that changed my life. Yes, I was born before the times of the internet and having videos available. Typing that makes me feel like a dinosaur. We had to refer to books or take a yoga class.

I think my dedication to yoga over the years has paid off. I do yoga pretty much daily. I don’t always do a full online video or class, sometimes I just wake up and hold a few poses. Focus on my breath before I start my day. Most of my days are busy and I find I jump out of bed and just spring into action. Take a few seconds before you get going and hold a pose and breathe. Don’t rush the day.

I don’t do much of anything before my morning coffee. My son can vouch for this. He now starts the coffee for me if he’s out of bed before me. Bless his soul. He even adds in my two milk along with a shot of maple syrup. Don’t knock the maple syrup until you try it! Nothing is better than the first-morning coffee made with love.

I love tuning into YouTube channels to find yoga videos. Yoga with Adriene and her sweet dog Benji is one of my favourites. She has wonderful variations for all her poses so any level from beginners to advanced can join in. What are some of your favourite yoga videos?

I like to do yoga in my living room. When I am posing one way I have a beautiful view of the lake. Water keeps me grounded and relaxes me. When I pose the other day I have a picture of my Oma, which always makes me smile and reminds me she is right here doing yoga with me.

My son now joins in and does yoga with me for an eight-year-old he is quite impressive. Pull the mat up beside me and his teddy bear often joins in. Kelso the corgi does an absolutely spot-on-down dog and often ends up on our mats. She fills our days with kisses and laughter.

Doing yoga with my son has brought calmness to him. Eight-year-old boys have so much energy. I love watching how slowed down he becomes and how he focuses on his breathing. He also started a “three things you’re grateful for every day” journal. It’s mostly filled with how much he loves his cat. However he slows down and he appreciates the things he has, so that’s a win!

I do yoga for a variety of reasons. I do yoga for my back injury, pelvic floor injury, nerve damage, to correct my posture, increase flexibility,  and muscle strength to name a few. I find yoga helps to calm me, elevates my mood, relax me and sometimes help me sleep. It allows me to slow down and focus on one thing when I need it the most. It grounds my thinking and keeps me from overreacting or overthinking.

The relaxation portion of yoga makes you slow down and focus on just your breathing nothing else matters. It’s a great way to release anything you are holding onto. It has made me into a much kinder version of myself. This is why I incorporate it into my day every day for at least a few minutes. I can always find a few minutes or take a few minutes for something that is important. Make the important things in your life a priority.

Slow down, breathe, and strike a yoga pose!