Love: Quarter of a Century

   Hello dear readers! Today's entry will be a short one but important nonetheless since someone very important to me is turning a quarter of a century today. Yes, my older brother Nicholas has officially turned 25 today.

   Through everything we've been through, (though not always easy) we've stuck together. My parents have always told us that in this world of ours, we only have one brother (or one sister) so it's important that we take care of each other. I think we've managed to do that over the years. We've definitely kept each other laughing, kept each other smiling and have always tried to be there when it matters (even if it's not physically being there). Our lives have brought us to different corners of the province, and sometimes, to different corners of the world, but we always make sure to meet somewhere in the middle. Just like when I skyped in a phone call with my family last night as my parents, and all four of my grandparents went down south to celebrate my brother's birthday.

   So as he starts his new life in Oshawa, and I tackle mine in Ottawa, he officially enters the adult life with the support of his family, and the love of those who matter most to him. And though I only met him 22 years ago, I'm sure that I've made up for lost time. Donc mon cher grand-frère, je te souhaite une merveilleuse fête, et plusieurs autres dans le futur!

K.P.H.

Love: One Simple Act of Kindness

   Good morning to all and to all a good day! Yes dearest readers, we are approaching the end of another month and the time won't stop ticking. I thought I'd start off your day with the wonderful little act of kindness that set my day off right.

   I got everything ready so that my morning would go off without a hitch. I got up, got dressed, made my lunch, breakfast and coffee (in that order) and then I headed out the door with music in my ears, and a couple of books in my bag; this was going to be a good day. I got off the bus, but low and behold, I did not see Riley! Things were starting to go downhill because not everything was absolutely perfect (but when are they ever really?). Anyways, so I go sulking into the mall, because I know I'm not late, and then  I notice all of these kids running around because apparently, school is back in session a little earlier for some of them. And see, I don't mind kids, just when they're not being obnoxious or loud. The several I passed by in the mall were both of those things.

   So I kept walking, knowing that I'd get to eat my breakfast and drink my coffee once I was at work, and I thought that that was going to be the only thing that would be able to put me in a good mood, but it wasn't. As I was getting ready to exit the mall to take my connecting bus, I was weaving past slow walkers and readied myself to push open the exit door when it was held open for me; by a young little girl who was about 6 or 7 years old. She smiled as she held onto the heavy door to let myself (and everyone behind me pass through) before she continued on her merry way.

   That my dearest readers is doing a small act of kindness, and turning everyone's day around. I will do the same today to pay it forward, and I hope that something wonderful happens for that little girl today since she took a little bit of her time to do that for me.

   So with that, I leave you my dear readers, with one of the poems from the book I wrote about in yesterday's post, because this little girl made me think back on it, and it's called The Moths Arrive in Black and White.

     The bad news is, people are crueler, meaner and more evil that you've ever imagined.
     The good news is, people are kinder, gentler and more loving than you've ever dreamed.

K.P.H.

Literature: I Wrote This For You - Just The Words

   Good evening dear readers! You have survived another Monday yet again. After a relaxing evening with my roommate, I'm slowly but surely getting ready for bed. I know it may seem a little early for some, but I get up at 6am every morning, and I thrive on a solid eight hours of sleep, so shhhhhh; I'm doing fine. As the academic year is gaining some scary ground for some of you, I can't help but smile knowing all too well that I do not have to set foot on campus again. I've done my time (and I could do a little more) but I'd rather try to reach some of my goals before I settle on plan C or D.

   Now I wanted to mention to you all a very interesting book I picked up recently that stood out to me at the book store, (it's title is that of this entry). Ever since I've allowed myself to read more than the narrow pretentious selections I deemed fit as literature, I've learned so much, and loved so much of it. I'm not a hopeless romantic, but I do enjoy a good rhyme and verse. This strange little book I picked up divided into small poems,(almost like a mind in fragments),  has different sections that the reader is free to read at his own leisure, depending how they feel at that given moment. It's structured in such a way that you don't need to read it from cover to cover, but rather flip through different sections of it and it might actually be better for you.

   What's truly incredible about this book is that it is not addressed to anyone in specific, and its author is anonymous. It is a book that speaks solely to the reader at that present moment, because no one same person reads a book (not even the same reader re-reading a book). We change and we evolve. We grow and we learn. And this collection of poems, of reflected moments, can speak to you in a way you were not expecting, and you tend to discover something about yourself. Pick up a copy of it my dearest readers, read it and let yourself know the words. Don't just glance over them, but really see them, and then, you might just really see yourself.

K.P.H.

Laughter: Morning Meetings

   Hello to all of you dearest readers and happy hump day! Yes it is Wednesday and we are forever inching closer to another glorious weekend. Some people might think I'm too much of a morning person, or that I'm always in a good mood, and those people would actually be right for a change. You've no doubt learned by now that I'm a positive person, but what helps out my great outlook on life is a good start in the morning.

   I always make sure to get enough sleep when I can. I make myself a cup of coffee and often pack myself breakfast if I don't have time to eat at home. I get dressed, put on some music, and have a calm bus ride to work as I contemplate all of everything. You can maybe guess why this seems to put me in a good mood; there's no stress to veer me off track. But another thing that always makes me smile in the morning is that I get to see Riley. We both head over to the mall for work; him to catch a bus to work and me, arriving there to then walk to work. We cross paths almost every morning and simply smile to each other as we pass by one another. It's a little awkward sometimes when we slow down and say hi, especially with other people walking near us, because those people sometimes think (and maybe panic a little on the inside) that we're slowing down to talk to them. It's like that awkward moments when you see someone waving and you wave back, just to realize that they weren't waiving at you the whole time. Yeah, it's like one of those moments.

   What made me laugh this morning is that ever since I've officially moved into my new apartment, I get to the mall a little later than usual therefore I meet Riles at the transfer station instead of crossing paths down the street. Yesterday however, my bus was a little later, and I had just missed him. This morning, I was right on time and was able to smile, and say hi as I passed him by on my way to work. He then proceeded to text me saying: "You were way too excited, Kyla. But hi! Hahahah." I went on to explain that I hadn't seen him yesterday, so my enthusiasm was just a double dose since I didn't get the chance to smile and wave as we passed each other. So even if Riles and I aren't living together anymore, it's basically like we still are! I think I've seen him more this summer than the entire last semester in the apartment with Katie.

   It doesn't take much to start your start your day off right. Sometimes it's a good cup of coffee, and other times, it's a "good morning" from a best friend. Find what puts you in a good mood and add it to your morning routine. Then maybe, just maybe my dear readers, you'll become a little more of a morning person too!

Love: The Type

   Happy Monday to you all and let it be a beautiful day! My dearest readers, I thought I'd start you off this week with a little video that I cannot get enough of. It is a spoken word poem done by Sarah Kay. She's a great poetess that has a memorable way of speaking the truth plainly, yet eloquently. She discusses themes that many people think about on a daily basis, and the one for today's entry is about the type of woman either we, or others expect us to be.

   This is not a rant, or a cry for justice, but rather an acknowledgment that we are the by-product of the choices we make. We are not a mistake, nor an answer, as she clearly states it, but  we are rather independent people looking for the place where we belong; even if that place is only temporary.

   So I encourage you not only to listen to her, but to try to understand the point she is making. Because we so often try to play a certain type, and we lose ourselves more often than not in the process. It's time to realize that we all deserve love; that our choices do not define us but rather mould us into the person we are meant to become. Therefore dearest readers, start off your Monday with a little self-appreciation and motivation!

The Type - Sarah Kay

K.P.H.