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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!

Happiness.

What makes you happy?

I figured out how to be happy once I placed the responsibility for being happy into my own hands.

I always thought I was unhappy because of other people. I always thought it was someone else’s responsibility to make me happy. I was the queen of the blame game. I happily accepted the victim label. I stayed sad because I thought no one could make me happy.

I want to remind you that happiness starts within.

WAKE UP! This is your life. It didn’t turn out as you wanted?  Join the club, things don’t always go as planned. I have been very unhappy in chapters or parts of my life. I have now stepped up to take responsibility for my part.

I went on a long journey to find out who am I? What makes me happy? I asked myself what can I do to make myself happy?

I know I am happiest when I am alone. Pause: I know I am one step away from living off-grid. Just me and my pack of corgis on a mountain top breathing in a beautiful view. I would be left alone with my thoughts. I could read books. I could be inspired to finishing my book and go on to write many more. I think that would fill my soul with happiness. However, this is not a reality not yet anyway so I work and have a balance of my alone time as well as time with my crew of people who add to my happiness. Other people are not responsible for my happiness but the right kind of positive people can add to the feeling of happiness. I am so grateful for my crew of people you all fill my heart with such love which creates a happy heart.

I take each day I am given and I do my best to spread happiness through my kindness and positivity.

I am happy when I am writing. I block off time to write because it is important to me. I share my writing because I enjoy helping and inspiring others. I keep writing to inspire the chapters of my book to keep flowing. The ultimate book dream. The happiest thought is one day I will be someone’s favourite author.

I am happy when I am near water. I moved to live closer to the water. To always be able to see the water. To be steps away from the waves. Water grounds me and brings out my creativity.

I am happy when I am relaxed and so I do yoga, meditation, and visualization to keep me in a level-headed mind. Start each day slowly without rushing. Start each day with a grateful heart. Start each day doing something that makes you happy.

I am happy when I am driving. I love to sing my heart out and cruise around. I plan road trips to capture that happy feeling I get from being in the driver’s seat. Even better if it’s the driver seat of the caddy. I am always happy when I am sitting upon the crushed velour interior.

I am happy when I am snapping pictures. I love a sunrise or sunset picture, beautiful colours dancing in the sky. Love a picture of waves crashing on the shore. I love pictures of other people and animals. I love to look through pictures and be reminded of a person or place. Pictures make me smile and remind me how blessed I am. I surround myself with some of my favourite pictures.

I am happy when I am laughing. Laughter is a big part of my everyday life. I enjoy watching everything Chris Farley his brand of laugher instantly makes me happier. I love to make other people laugh. I love to hear the pure joy in a child’s laugh. I love a good punny joke. Humour has helped me become a happier person.

I am happy when I am reading. From a young age, my grandma always inspired me to read. My friend giraffe Jen and I battle every year who can read the most books? It keeps me motivated to always have a book in my hand. I love to get lost in a great story. Reading inspires me to keep writing. To reach my book goal.

I am happy at work when I am problem-solving and making someone’s day just a touch better. Helping people fills my heart. I am happy I have a job that I love.

I am happy when I get a phone call I wasn’t expecting. The kind that catches you off guard and you can’t stop smiling. Pure unexpected happiness. Talking is my happy place. I love to talk.

Baby snuggles always make me happy! So many of my friends with so many cute babies thanks for allowing me to steal some cuddles.

Miniature donkeys I don’t know why but instantly make me so happy. I have become a broader line stalker to a local farm. Instantly happy can’t even cope with the cuteness. Also, I can stop watching Jacobs ridge sanctuary videos of Steve the donkey. This sweet donkey is pure happiness. I am glad it doesn’t tell you how many times I have viewed your videos. I follow many donkey groups and all the pictures make me happier. I think I need a donkey in my life.

I am happy to be given this day to fill with happiness.

I think like is too short to be anything but happy. If you are not happy then you need to change whatever is making you unhappy. I had to change almost everything about my life to place my happiness into my own hands. No one is in charge of me. This is my happiness. I bring happiness into my day at every chance I get.

I look at it as if I died tomorrow would I have been happy with how I left my life? Would other people have described me as happy? Today I could say yes, but for many years my answer would have been no. I am grateful that I discovered my own happiness.

Create your own happiness. Discover what makes you happy. If you are struggling as always I am here for you!

Snakes

Snakes are a defining moment in my life that taught me the feeling of terror. I did not know the feeling of terror until snakes came into my life. I do not understand why snakes can move so fast without any legs. Why do snakes always find me?

For the record, I live in Ontario Canada where we have “friendly” snakes. None of the snakes here can harm you. My experiences as a child left me feeling otherwise.

When I was a kid two separate equally terrifying snake events forever change my life and the way I define the feeling of terror.

The first event took place at our family cottage. I was swimming in the water minding my own business, catching a tan, floating around on my air mattress. I was living the dream life. All of a sudden out of nowhere I see this little head pop up out of the water and lock eyes with me like what are you doing here? In the blink of an eye, it’s gone.  I was left thinking what did I just see?  I am not religious but I started praying please be a friendly turtle. Instantly the panic of the unknown set in. I quickly without thinking jump into the water. The same water that the unknown beast was in. What the heck am I doing? I swear my brain shuts down in moments of terror. I started to swim towards the shore when I see this water beast coming right for me. Does it look like a snake in the water? I had no idea we had water snakes this was all new to my kid brain. I reached the shore first like I was speed swimming like I was going for the gold in the Olympics. I thought victory was mine! Surely it’s in the water and will stay there right? Like fish? Do water snakes stay in the water? You cant go from water and onto land? W R O N G! That snake came at me faster than anything I have ever seen, I thought I was going to die. I took off running faster than my legs could keep up. I ran up the hill, up the stairs to the cottage, and in through the sliding glass door. I was inside. I was safe. I looked out the glass door and there was the sad killer snake, who in reality was friendly and couldn’t actually hurt me. The same one who in my head almost ended my life at a young age. I was safe inside the cottage doubled over and unable to catch my breath. My grandpa asked what happened? I wasn’t able to reenact my brush with death. Water/land snake beast zero. Sascha one. Lesson learned snakes survive anywhere. Always be on the lookout.

The second event was while I was visiting my Oma’s (grandma’s) house. I am not sure why I decided to go under the front deck but this is the spot I chose that day to have my tea party with my best doll friend Polly. I had just got the tea party set up when guess who comes slithering around the corner of the house? A snake! Now I am sure it was a regular-sized snake but in my childhood memory, it got bigger every time I told the story. It quickly became the size of a rare mammoth-sized anaconda from the amazon. I was beyond terrified. I jumped up to scream for help surely my elderly grandmother would save me. When I jumped up I threw my doll. Poor Polly doll was left to fend for herself. In the moment of jumping up to scream for help, I forgot how tall I was. As a child, I grew very tall very quickly I had giant-like features.  I smashed my head so hard I must have knocked myself out. I do not remember hearing a scream come out. My plan to scream didn’t go quite as I had planned it.

When I awoke there were so many snakes slithering all over me. It is a feeling to this day some thirty years later that I still cannot shake. They were across my face, in my hair, wrapped around my legs, going across my body. I couldn’t even count how many had joined the original snake. Turns out the first snake invited all of its friends. Yes, I lived to tell this story but I never forgot that day. I later learned this spot was a snake pit. When I see a snake I can immediately feel them all over me. The slithering across the face feeling never fades. I have pushed all my family and friends in front of me to ward off tiny, harmless, friendly Canadian snakes.

I however refuse to live my life being scared. I faced my fear and held one of those giant beautiful boa constrictor snakes. Now, this should have been scary because I am positive if this snake didn’t want to be friendly it could have killed me. Can snakes smell fear? I trusted that the handler brought the nicest snake. I just kept breathing and reminding myself I am safe.

Snakes have a special way of always finding me. I am less scared now but still get that feeling of being uncomfortable in the presence of a friendly snake. I see them on the ground but feel them slithering across me.

Do you have a fear from childhood that you faced as an adult? Does anyone else share my snake uncomfortableness?

 

Have you ever had a dream of a destination you must see? Or someone you just can’t live without meeting?

What is your dream?

Do you have a dream list?

I had a dream list as a kid and I still have one as an adult. I will always be a dreamer.

When I was a kid I carried around two pictures of places I had to see. Dream it, see it, do it. This is still how I think and the reason for my vision wall. Inspiration.

One picture I carried with me was of Peggy’s Cove Nova Scotia. I had to see that lighthouse and dip my toes in the Atlantic Ocean. The second picture was of Paradise Island. Two tiki huts on a small island in the ocean yes, please.

My dad ended up taking me on a road trip to the east coast when I was maybe 10? 12?. When we arrived at Peggy’s cove I was beyond excited. I remember looking at the view and thinking it’s just a lighthouse? I wasn’t blown away like I was the first time I saw the picture. We ate fresh lobster with a gorgeous view. As a child, I didn’t appreciate it as much as I should have. I have been planning for years to go back. As an adult, I want to experience it again! I want to stand in that same place and give the gorgeous view the appreciation it deserves. I will eat fresh lobster with a view and soak in the ocean. I feel a down east road trip in my future.

My girlfriend Stephanie made my Paradise Island dream come true when we took a trip to the Dominican. One of the excursions from the resort was to Paradise Island we had to go. The view was breathtaking the story of how we got there not so much. I was seasick on the sail out. The combination of waves mixed with rum shockingly didn’t sit well. I threw up over the boat as well as all over myself. This was one of my classier travel moments. Lesson learned don’t mix rum with the waves of the ocean. When we got off the boat I stumbled over and I sat propped up by the tiki hut. The motion of the boat was still very much with me. Stephanie was so kind she washed out my clothing. Being a nurse my seasickness didn’t get to her thankfully. Stephanie headed off on a snorkeling adventure and I sat on the shore feeling green. The instructor asked me a few times to join I couldn’t move. Finally, after a long rest period, I got my sickness under control and I headed off proud as could be to join Stephanie snorkeling. I jumped into the waves and headed over. I thought Stephanie was waving her flipper at me to show me where she was. I was fighting the waves and swimming as fast as I could when I realized she was trying to warn me. She had taken in some water coughed so hard and was throwing up. The waves were waving her vomit right into my face. Paradise Island at least the view was breathtaking. It’s a trip I’ll never forget. I hope Stephanie will still travel with me again!

My son’s 8-year-old kid’s dream was to meet Stompin Tom Connors the great Canadian musician. My son non-stop plays his music; he knows the words to all his songs. He enjoys turning them up super loud and singing along. He dresses like him. He absolutely loves him. He is jealous his Papa got to meet him back in the day. Everyone I know who met him agrees that he was such a kind person. I think my son is a lot like him in that way. Sadly Stompin Tom died the same year my son was born. Once he realized he couldn’t meet him he set out to find where his grave was. In an odd turn of events, it’s in Erin Ontario. Guess where my son asked to go on a summer vacation trip this year? You guessed it! He wanted to pay his respects to a great Canadian. You can’t say no to that request,  you can just make it into a fun road trip. We loaded up and set off. I couldn’t wait to cross off something on his dream list. As soon as we pulled into the Erin cemetery you could immediately tell where the stone was under the giant Canadian flag. He has a gorgeous spot and beautiful headstone. My son was wearing jeans, a plaid shirt, and his stomping cowboy boots. He slicked his hair and was so excited to get to this grave.  He almost bailed out of the car before it was stopped. He brought a token to leave on his grave sit. It was the inside of a Stomping Tom tape which he signed his name, put it in a zip lock bag to protect it from the rain (he thought of everything) I have never seen such a big smile on his face. He says that moment was the best moment of his life. I had tears in my eyes watching him hug the gravestone and talk to Stompin. He noticed the spot next to him was free and now wants to be buried there. He also noticed Stompin Tom was laid to rest with his mother. Guess who he thinks should be there with him? Oh, sweet boy, I don’t share the same obsession but my heart was full being able to experience this moment. For the rest of the day I had to hear “Ma, I can’t believe I got to see the grave of great Stompin Tom”. He is already bugging me to print the pictures so he can have a photo album full of pictures. I am so lucky to be this sweet boy’s mom. Here’s to crossing off the next dreams!

 

I can’t wait to see where my son’s dreams take him next. Every year he picks the trip. I just do my best to make it as fun as possible.

Always have a dream and never give up. One day you will get there. From childhood dreams to Adult dreams I will never stop dreaming. I have a long list of places I dream to see. I have a long list of beautiful places I have been so grateful to experience. Both the places I have been and the places I want to go are on my vision wall. Dream it, see it, do it.  I will always carry a picture of the place I am dreaming of next.

 

 

 

 

Lost

Have you ever set out on a road trip thinking you know where you’re going and how to get there?

You have that feeling of full confidence as you set out prepared to take don’t the roads. Then all of the sudden in a blink of an eye you make a wrong turn, or maybe you make a couple of wrong turns. Before you know it you have become completely lost. What if your car breaks down in an unfamiliar place? What are you feeling? What will you do?

Does not knowing where you are riddle you with anxiety? Or panic? Can you read a map? Load the GPS? Ask a stranger for directions? Find your way back to where you got lost? Fix your own car? Call and ask for help?

I love nothing more than to set out on a random road trip. I am usually in search of the next great food item or a beautiful view or dare I say both of those things on the same trip. Those kinds of road trips make for some of the best memories I have created in my life.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. I am not a good planner. I am downright horrible with directions. I don’t know which way is north, east, south, or west. I often get completely turned around. If I have a map it’s most likely upside down. I can never get my GPS to load or live maps to work correctly. I struggle with basic technology. I am always a little lost. My ability to get lost often adds hours to the road trip. When I set out on a road trip I block the whole day off. I leave enough time for wherever I will end up or what problems could arise along the way. When I set out on a road trip it is almost always a guarantee I will get lost. You could bet money on this. Very few times in my life have I made it directly from one door to another without getting a least a little lost. I will make my fair share of U-turns and re-calculate my route over and over. If I have a co-pilot along on the trip I will often turn to them for help. I used to get upset fairly quickly at the thought of being lost or breaking down. The feeling of not being on the right road going exactly where I need to go always riddled me with anxiety. That was when my panic would start to creep up. I could feel myself getting disappointed that this happened to me yet again. Lost again Sascha really? Every time I made a wrong turn and I was lost I forgot to slow down and enjoy wherever I ended up. Make the best out of the day and whenever you are. Have fun with what happened. Cut out the worry, what good does it cause?

Another little secret I have is that not only have I been lost on the roads, I have also been lost in life. Similar to taking a wrong turn I have made my fair share of wrong choices. I have face failure, judgments, labels, and even death more times than I care to admit. I could pull over and give up on life or I could find another way to look at the choice I made that got me to where I am today. Listen, not all of my choices were wrong, just the vast majority of them. I learned a lot of valuable lessons. I would not change any of the choices I have made as they have made me into the woman I am today. Today I am proud to be Sascha Davis. I have found out who I am and I know what I am working towards. One day I am going to be someone’s favourite author. I am not ashamed of my life. I am an open book. I talk about my struggles and my victories in the hopes of inspiring and helping others.

You are not alone. We all get a little lost sometimes and it’s okay. It’s okay to be lost. It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to take some time for yourself, to work on yourself. It’s okay to ask for help. We all get a little lost but it’s how you find your way back that matters. Discover who you are when no one else is around. What is your biggest dream? What roads will you take to get you there? What stands in your way? How will you navigate around?

I still get a little lost sometimes but I approach all situations with love and kindness and I reach out and I always ask for help!

Get lost and love your journey!