I just got back from my dream trip to Iceland, and let me tell you, I had the most incredible time there with friends Randy and Rene. I could go on and on about the vast, beautiful and ever changing terrain or the delish food we had (fermented shark, puffin, lots of lamb), or maybe ramble on about the new friendships we made but no amount of words can capture how important this trip was for me and how I feel today
What happens when you feel stuck? I used to have every excuse in the book for my unhappiness. It was always someone else's fault, or how shitty my upbringing was. I wasn't loved enough, or no one gave me what I needed. My negative attitude led me to a path of depression, anxiety and anger, never able to sustain a healthy relationship with anyone because I would constantly look externally for validation. So that's how I lived my life for decades. I was holding everyone else accountable for my misfortunes, when the answers all came from within.
"What if I can't make this work? What if I fail? There's so many things that can go wrong." I sprawled on the leather couch, staring up into the ceiling, spewing out these exact words to my counsellor. I let out an exhaustive sigh, defeated before I had even begun.
I'm starting to sweat. I can feel a tiny droplet - a moist, salty bead trickling down from my forehead, clinging onto the very tip of my nose, ready to fall. Anytime now. Truth is, I'm sort of nervous. I've not been one to take many chances in life. Mostly everything's been carefully calculated with the usual analytical questions: should I? How much will it cost? What's the worst that can happen?
I've been feeling a little depressed these days and thought I'd utilize some tools I've learned over the years to address it. I realized we can all get affected mentally by changes that happen in our lives. No one is immune to feeling depressed, lonely, anxious or upset, and it's important to recognize even the slightest of these feelings, and address them accordingly.
I just returned from my fabulous vacation to Cancun and finally settling into home life again. I remember two years ago after returning from the Dominican Republic, writing how tough it was to get back into the routine and feeling the Post Vacation Blues. Though I enjoyed every minute of this trip to Cancun (even when I fell ill with the the flu for two straight days), I'm just as glad to be home to feel the warmth of my apartment, my bed, Inori and my environment. There really is no place like home. We made the most of our time and I certainly have a ton of fond memories with my beloved friends and my son. From start to finish, this trip was filled with non-stop laughter, photo shoots, photo bombs, jokes, poolside fun, great dining experiences and so much more.
Remember when we used to describe a person who was quiet and didn't show much emotion as the strong, silent type? I don't often hear that phrase anymore to describe a someone, and I'm glad. I mean, how strong is a person who is silent, especially when it comes to their mental health? Isn't that an oxymoron? For generations, it was seen as a positive trait, to be the strong, silent type. You're cool, collected and can withstand internalized pain. Movies stars portrayed this imagery very well, often looking cool and sexy in the movies if they were stoic.
Two years after publishing my best seller Living with the Dragon, Healing 15 000 Days of Abuse and Shame, I'm back with my follow up book that takes a complete 180 degree turn in writing style from my first book. It promises to be wittier, quirkier and with chock full of anecdotes to amuse you. The best part is, you won't even realize you're reading a self-help book. I'm super excited to share this latest project with you and even more excited to make you smile, chuckle and laugh with my stories of mishaps, missteps and bumbling mistakes. (For example, what the heck does Mah-Mah Lee's Rice-Wrap Steam Infusion Spa Treatment got to do with finding a relationship?)
I can't believe it's been five months since I picked up my pen and began scribbling down notes for my upcoming book. As I've mentioned before, it's been an incredibly enjoyable experience writing Living with the Cat. This time around, I stretched my writing skills well beyond my my familiarity, immersing myself with humor, sarcasm and well-crafted anecdotes.
I hate using the phrase bucket list because it implies life's like a grocery list of to-do's. Not to mention I despise the sound of that haphazard term. Check. Done. Check. Done. Sounds rather unfulfilling when your dreams are laid out that way. So, I'm just going to call it as it is. It's a dream that's coming true!
