Gliding

I love bike riding; it is something I have been doing lots of these days. I can just pop in my headphones and enter a new world as I glide down hills; flying past water and trees and flowery grass. It's really quite divine.

One of my favourite things about it is the releasing of fear as I speed downhill. I'll hesitate to brake a bit, but then I just release and let the flow of natural acceleration happen as it may. Trust. And I love just riding without a plan - going where I end up going for as long as it might take. Kinda close your eyes, feel the wind, the Earth around you, y'know?

The photo I posted was from many months ago... I can't actually remember taking it, however the sky is bright pink and is similar to my bike ride from yesterday evening. It was getting darker somewhat and the sky was painted pink and purple streaks accented with thick wispy clouds outlined in gray. It was magical.

Patient and Still

I have been practicing proper breathing. I'm really enjoying it.

What I've been doing is inhaling deeply and fully through the abdomen first, allowing it to rise to its fullest, then fully through the chest, rising to its fullest. Then exhaling completely through the chest first, lowering to its emptiest, and then abdomen, lowering to its emptiest. I've found that it brings me into a deep state of inner awareness, and it brings me to a very peaceful meditative state while focusing on counting the full breaths I take.

It forces you to be patient and still.

Cottage Trip in New York State

~sunset

This weekend I visited my aunt's cottage in upper New York State. It was so lovely. Wide open, rolling fields, lush forests and a bit of mountainous landscape in the distance as well.

It was nice to get away for a couple days. Although it wasn't all that far from where I live, it was nice to do a bit of travelling.

My curiosity was totally spiked once I entered the States. I suppose it's just so neat to observe another type of place. Street lights were black and they dangled on the wires! Speed signs were in miles instead of kilometers! Food packaging was half in spanish instead of french!

I really need to get out of the house more.

Braces Off!!

I GOT MY BRACES OFF TODAY!
It has been a long wait, I can tell ya that.
I had braces for 2.5 years and I can't even really use words to describe how lovely this feels. But I suppose if I must use words, I'd say that it's like jumping from a cloud onto a rainbow and then sliding down it into a warm lake filled with bubbles.
My teeth feel so smooth and beautiful! I got a retainer too and I chose a cloud pattern with a butterfly on it, he he he. Isn't that creative? Oh it's pouring outside all of a sudden.

The actual procedure to remove the braces was... pretty uncomfortable, to say the least. Removing the individual brackets actually hurt a bit (everyone I've talked to has repeatedly told me it's painless) I guess I have sensitive teeth. The worst part though, however, was the dreaded cement/glue-remover tool. Oh god. The feeling is identical to scratching your fingernails on a chalkboard, except it's on your teeth. I actually thought I might have thrown up just because of how nauseating the feeling and sound was. It felt like my teeth were being carved off. I had to tell her it was making me nauseous because I was beginning to feel really sick from it. After that she just polished them up with a nice smooth tool and it was ok.

I don't really know what else to say about this wonderful experience. I'd say I kind of went through a lot having these braces. I had a baby canine tooth that needed to be pulled out in order for the permanent tooth (which was lodged up in the roof of my mouth somewhere) to come down. So for more than a year I had no canine tooth on my left side, and then I got surgery done where they cut open the roof of my mouth to attach a bracket to the lost tooth. For about 10 months it was being yanked down, which was pretty painful. Not to mention all of this happened when I was away at college and stuff. So it made it a bit worse the fact that I was a bit older having braces. It's definitely all worth it though!

My teeth weren't that bad though to begin with. But today was surely a long awaited day! I'm so happy :) If there's one thing I learned from having braces, it's patience.

Bottled Thunderstorms

If only I could bottle up the sweet essence of damp foliage and flowers, warm air and turbulent clouds I would. And I'd send everyone a bottle to open and to release the sacchariferous breeze contained inside. And if I could capture the harmonious sound of the heavy rain calmly falling about the Earth and the rumbling thunder, I'd send it to everyone as well. And if I could catch a bright white and purple-hued strike of lightning, I'd put it in a jar.

And then I would mail it out to all the people who are not mesmerized by thunderstorms.

Sweet Fallen Rain ~

And I lay there lengthwise
eyes closed
resting my head
upon the arm
and I smelled the air
out the window,
the sweet
fallen
rain.

Sam Roberts @ Massey Hall, Toronto!

Last night I saw Sam Roberts in concert at Massey Hall in downtown Toronto. Ahhh! He's one of my favourite musicians, it was amazing. Of course I hoped he would personally call me up on stage and propose, but I guess that was wishful thinking.

He was SO good live. We got the balcony up above so our seats were actually pretty good. Ah, it was awesome! I nearly had a little wee heart attack when he walked out on stage.

~Lizzy and I

Ground & Release

Yesterday I had a very exciting EPFX quantum bio-feedback session with the wonderful Leija Turunen (www.youtube.com/leijaturunen). I'm not even going to attempt to explain how this device works, it involves quantum physics and it's complicated to say the least. But essentially, it's able to tune into your individual self and detect anything from nutritional deficiencies, food sensitivites, to emotional and mental imbalances and energetic/spiritual blocks. It's very specific to you! It also is able to see your aura and chakras!!

One of the main things it picked up for me was stress, particularly related to daily frustrations (i.e. work... I've had a ton of stress and frustration revolving around my current work situation). It picked up the imbalance in the back of my neck, as I had a concussion a year ago which resulted in neck problems. Along with so many other super cool things, it picked up that I would benefit from more B vitamins, more foods containing sulfur (broccoli, brussel sprouts), chamomile tea, cayenne pepper, the list goes on! I am sensitive to beer, cooked vegetable oil and cow hair ;). Oh also my kidneys need a good cleansing! I could go on forever about the things this device detects for you but I suppose the main things were that I need more grounding, connecting with nature, relaxation and oxygen (like cardio).

The coolest part was how the device is able to "clear" your blocks and imbalances... and today I can definitely feel some release happening. I've noticed a tremendous inclination to bond with nature, more than usual. Hence why I went for a long walk today and sat barefoot on the grass absorbing the energy from the sun! I feel good.

Leija gave me a few samples of some extremely delicious smelling herbal teas as well as a few spoonfuls of chlorella! I put some of that in my smoothie today and danced around my room. My favourite thing to do to boost my mood and get some cardio without even noticing.

Ahhh here's the cool picture of my aura!! You can see the aura goes outside the lines, meaning it is powerful!