To some and even to me sometimes, it might seem like I’m going through a
midlife crisis, and maybe I am and maybe I’m not. Since the Spring was life
altering, I decided to continue the trend into the summer, replacing the
negative experience with that of fun, adventure and happiness. I decided that
it was time to do some of the things I’ve been wanting to do for a long time
and no time like the present to face a few fears and to continue the life of
adventure that I started when at 17, I left home to go work in a hunting and
fishing lodge in Northern Ontario.
I’ve done some pretty
amazing things in my life and have absolutely no regrets about living such an
unconventional existence. After the fishing lodge, I was given the opportunity
to be a deckhand on a commercial fishing boat in BC where I visited, saw and experienced
things that leave me in awe, even to this day. The friends I made there, I keep
in a very special place in my heart and I often think about our time together.
I’ve been to Florida for spring break on the bus ride from hell; I’ve driven on
my own from Vancouver Island to Sudbury, Ontario; I was lucky enough to find
and marry a man who wanted the same adventures in life as me and returned to BC
to introduce him to my friends; my first trip to Europe was in Amsterdam with
my college classmates and teachers; I traveled to Eastern Canada with new
friends; became a mother of the most beautiful baby boy; my parents generously
took us all on a big family vacation to Walt Disney World; I had an amazing
month in Reno, Nevada with my beautiful family, living in the funkiest place
and seeing some of the greatest beauty this earth has to offer including
Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe and San Francisco; I’ve lived and visited
throughout Europe, a most incredible opportunity due to my husband; I’ve gone
on a pilgrimage in Israel; I’ve traveled by plane, train and automobile; I’ve
met new friends and family; I’ve home educated my son(one of the best
experiences of my life); I’ve watched the stars through a telescope; planted
gardens; hiked in some of the most incredible locations; been surrounded by
people I love and who love me; I have felt deep love and deeper losses. I have
lived.
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| Yosemite National Park, Nevada, USA |
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| Virginia City, Nevada, USA |
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| Chipping Campden, UK |
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| Paris, France |
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Botany Bay, Margate, Kent, UK
home for 4 years |
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| Spring Blue Bells near Ashford, Kent, UK |
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| Dinan, Bretagne, France |
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| Hiking in the mountains above Grindelwald, Switzerland |
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Cooking makkara (sausages) over the fire for an after sauna snack
with family in Finland |
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| Having a 60's Hairspray party with friends in England |
This past summer was like a reboot of my system after being on sleep
mode for too long. And what a summer it’s been! For the first time in a long
time, I don’t feel like the summer has escaped me. When the beginning of August
rolled around, it felt more like, wow! I have a whole other month of
adventuring left instead of the usual, oh no! half my summer is gone, I haven’t
done anything yet. So, now with Autumn fast approaching, I’m starting to slow
down to take care of some ‘housekeeping’ and to reflect on all the amazing
things I’ve done. Some of them I did on my own and were very personal and
others were surrounded by loved ones. Alex and Ashley, his girlfriend, were
troupers as I dragged them around either to take part in the adventure or to
record mine. Hopefully, it’s taught them to be more spontaneous and to also
live in the moment. My friends and family, as usual, have been a great support.
They’ve encouraged me, taken part and a couple of people even managed to add a
few things to my list, like a photo shoot and cliff diving. Thanks!
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lyrics from Lush Life by Zara Larsson
my summer bucket list |
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Hiking with friends
Alex and Ashley |
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| Hang gliding |
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| sunrise on Kempenfelt Bay |
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| sunset on Georgian Bay |
Now, before you let that negative inner voice start saying: ‘but I
haven’t done anything…’. YES...YOU...HAVE! The point of sharing this was to
make you think about your own life, because I had let my negative voice take
over, and was thinking I had wasted so much of my life until I started listing
my experiences. And yes there are things that we might regret but they are also
part of the adventure. Just take a minute and think of the things you’ve done
and people you’ve met. I believe there’s a reason things happen the way they do
or that new people come into our lives and it’s our job to figure out why,
again, part of the adventure. And, if you still feel like you’ve missed out,
then start now. Live in the moment. Say YES more often. Get out of your comfort
zone. Try new things. Take chances. Meet new people. Make new friendships.
Create new experiences. Enjoy the little things.
Earlier this summer, I bought a tank top that said: “La vie est faite de
petits bonheurs” (life is made of small pleasures). I decided to make it my
summer motto and have not regretted one moment. I encourage each and everyone
of you to try it out. Create an autumn or winter bucket list and just go for
it!
With much love,
Julie
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