Literature: 2015 Reading Challenge

   Good morning dearest readers! As I prepare myself for another day of reading and homework, I thought I'd take the time to write an entry to the blog. I am proud to report that I've written a new song that will soon be featured (just as soon as I get rid of this nasty cold I got). With that being said, I thought I'd introduce you all to an intriguing challenge I encourage you to take up, or maybe to find your own to complete.
   On New Years, I revised my 30 before 30 list to make sure that everything was possible, but that everything was specific as well. I also wanted to make sure that all the items were all things I really wanted to do. Doing that, I substituted the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge for the 2015 Reading Challenge; it's just as intense, only it doesn't last as long. It's not that I don't mind the challenge, I simply am excited to read something of my own choosing since these past years I've been stuck reading for school.
   I've recently met a friend of a friend of mine and I found out that in his lifetime, he had only read one book from cover to cover. I do not judge him at all, and I hope that he can get over this hypersensitivity to reading. It's not shock I feel for him but a small amount of pity because though he strives to live life to the fullest, he's only lived one life. Thomas Aquinas once wrote "beware of the 'homo unius libri'" which means 'beware of the man of one book'. Therefore I encourage you to encourage others to live many lives to the fullest and to search for wonders that reality cannot always give us. What will your selections be for the 2015 Reading Challenge?

K.P.H.

Love: Dearest Daphné

   Good morning my dear readers and I hope you are all a little excited that we are already halfway through the week. I know that I've been neglecting the blog a little lately, but I did however warn you all that I'd be pretty busy with this semester. All of that aside, on this 21st day of January, I'm taking the time to think about one of my best friends and to wish her happy travels.
   This summer (as you might remember) I got to work with an incredible team of people who have left their mark on me all in their own way. These are the kinds of people that I know that I will remain friends with even if there's many provinces separating us. Today, my dear Daphné is setting off on an incredible journey to South America for four months. I applaud her courage and admire her so much. Françoise will be joining her at the end of her trip and the two of them will celebrate their graduations living life to the fullest. I can say that I will miss them both terribly, but I still have Françoise for this semester.
   Though I know that it might seem scary for them, and at times the road might be tough, but I've never met stronger and more resolved women than this. They have given me the wanderlust urge and now I've started to plan my own trip.
   I've come to realize during Christmas break and throughout this past year especially that not everybody is meant to stay in your life; that some are meant to be there for a little time to help you, or so that you can be of use to them. It's okay to let these people go. But then you have these special kinds of friendships that can last a lifetime and conquer miles. Those are the ones that you should strive to keep my dear readers because they are the ones that will sustain you and make you realize what's really worth in life.
   So on this, your last day in Canada for some time my dearest Daphné, I wish you safe travels and to know that I will be thinking of you always. You're not only my best friend, but a role model to whom I aspire to be. I love you very much my dear and I'll see you in four months.

K.P.H.

Love: The Glass is Half Empty?

   Good morning my dear readers! As you have all probably deduced already from my minimum amount of entries, I am back at school with a full class schedule and heading into work as well. As i visited my mom today since she's in town for a conference, I stumbled upon an interesting article. 

   For the longest time (and it still remains to be so to this day), I dream of living in the woods, in a quaint little cabin with the bare necessities. I've been blessed with a life of comfort and luxury, but I wouldn't mind downsizing. A lot of people want more for their kids than what they have, but maybe they don't actually need more to be happy; they might possibly need less to see exactly how lucky they are and to realize what they have. The article I read and have posted the link at the bottom refers to 80 things we do to not feel empty insde, and yet these things seem to make it worse. 

   This post is not intended to put you in a depressed mood but to make you think. I do a number of these things and I can add to the things I wish to improve about myself. I want to be proud of who I am and feel secure when I tell people that my dream is to live in a cabin in the woods by a lake, and work from home, so I can be surrounded by nature and everything that makes me happy. 

   I've often been told that I have an old soul and I'm beginning to understand what people say more and more every day. Being alone (by yourself) just means that you've got great comany. And being alone is a lot better than being surrounded by people and being lonely. 

http://elitedaily.com/life/72-ways-refuse-accept-emptiness/895094/

K.P.H.

Laughter: Board Game Blunder

   Good morning dear readers! Today's post might be one of the last ones before I begin to lighten up on my entries. I'm going back to Ottawa tomorrow and then I start off the week in a busy fashion. With work, school and my Right to Read program in the making, I will little to no free time. On top of all of that, many of my friends want to come visit this semester so I need to make sure that I stay on top of things.
   Today's entry is all about making your own fun. On my last day back home for quite some time, I've organized a board game tournament. With just a handful of friends and good food, tonight should be really interesting. I'm even raising up the stakes by making a prize to be won to the person who wins the most games tonight. I always laugh so much every time I play a game no matter which one it is. It's an inexpensive way to have fun and spend time with those that mean the most to you. Don't get me wrong, I love being at home but I'm excited to go back to Ottawa and tonight is the perfect send off!
   If you're not sure what to do tonight, get together with some friends and pick a few of your favorite games; fun will be guaranteed. If you can have a good time with your friends, it's also a testament to how good they really are. Be a little careless and a little carefree tonight and all will be great!

K.P.H.

Literature: And the Pile Keeps on Growing

   Good morning my dear readers and I hope that you are all well rested. Today is the first official day that I am still on vacation while everyone else has to return to their normal daily lives. I'm taking the time to relax, hang out with friends and to READ!!!! I had initially decided before I left Ottawa to come home that I would only bring one book with me (since I would probably get more this Christmas) and so I could pace my reading. Well the one book rule didn't really last too long.
   I did only bring one, but I got more than one once I was here. I'm at 13 books that I've acquire; either as gifts or that I've bought for myself with Christmas money. Now I do realize that I have a week left, but even I'm not talented enough to finish that lists in that amount of time, especially since some of them aren't one-a-day-ers. I am proud to say that I've got some from every genre so that when I do find more free time (which probably won't be anytime this semester) I will have a diverse selection to choose from to top the selection from my already existing library.
   Buying books might look like a disease to some people, but for me, it's a much cheaper way to travel while I'm in school. It broadens my horizons and gives me things to look forward to. I've started a list of places I want to visit when I'm done school, and things I want to try when I have the chance. Reading books have made me into the person I am today (in addition to my friends and family who have supported me). I could never understand a person who says 'I don't read' because I feel like they cannot be complete. If you are one of these non-readers, start out small because you'd be surprise at how much just one book can change your life.

K.P.H

Love: Snow on the Slopes & Smile on my Face

   Good evening my dearest readers! I though I'd take the time to share with you the great view I had on the top of the hill when I went to Sault Ste. Marie with my parents this weekend. Unfortunately, we didn't stay long but the trip was worth every minute of it.
   Skiing is one of the many past times that I love to do but it can only be accomplished during a certain time of the year because I'm not a millionaire and I can't travel to wherever there's snow. I am content to have fun every now and then, and enjoy the moments I can get.
   If you're a little tentative about taking up the sport, try it out on the kiddy hill with rentals that way you don't spend a whole bunch of money on something you might not even like. I love both cross country skiing and downhill skiing, but most people prefer one over the other. You can't say you don't like something without trying it and maybe once you see the beauty of nature (meaning the killer view I saw yesterday) you might just be motivated enough to try it for yourself!

K.P.H

ps. a big thanks to my dad for posing for this picture!

Laughter: Giggle Genetics

   Good evening my dearest readers and I hope that you have all been enjoying yourselves during you holidays. I know that many of you have already returned to work and that most of you will be rejoining the workforce or the academic force on Monday. Like I mentioned before, I still have an entire week before I have to go back to school which I absolutely love.
   This Laughter post is literally about laughing. Yesterday, my parents and I went to Sault-Ste-Marie to go skiing and since my dad still had to work in the morning, we decided to keep all of our energy for today. However, since we were staying the night, we went to have dinner at Wacky Wings which is a franchise restaurant that started there in the Sault. With that being said, the food was good but at a time during our meal (and for the life of me I can't remember what had been said) but something was extremely funny that I burst out laughing. What was even better was the fact that that wasn't even the funniest part. As I'm trying to compose myself, my parents realized that my signature laugh was both of their combined to which they both started laughing. It was a melodious and somewhat orchestrated build up of laughter. People were obviously staring at us like we were a bunch a maniacs but everything after that was just so funny.
   I think the lesson here is not that there might a be a possibility that you inherit your folks' laughter (but who knows, you might already have) but that you must not skip on an opportunity to laugh wholeheartedly. So many memories are made when we least expect it and it's in those moments that our lives are made.

K.P.H.