#threesmiles

1. Getting to work early

2. Shopping with a good friend; and finding everything I needed

1. Spending some 1:1 time with my Dad

2. Having dinner with one of my oldest friends

1. The Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Canada programs

2. Getting through day 6

I think I’m due for another update here. Kinda been feeling a bit down lately, even despite all the great things that I’ve been up to. Haven’t really been able to kick that “cloud hanging over my head” sort of feeing. So, I figured a good way to try and get over that would be to remind myself (and whoever wants to listen) about a few of the good things going on in my life :)

1) Ed This first one, this person; he’s extremely important to me. This big, happy, old guy is someone I loved, someone I still love. He’s the one that helped keep my head on straight through my most difficult years (college). He also motivated me to become my own person. To stop thinking I need to be the person that others want me to be, and instead, just be me. That process is on going, but I’ve made huge strides. Ed is a big reason I have any of the friends I have today, because I can guarantee you, if any of you met me 3 or more years ago, we wouldn’t be friends. I was absolutely thrilled to be able to introduce him to a couple of my new friends recently. Sharing him and what he means to me with the new people in my life has truly helped heal over some wounds that have been festering. Wounds that started from unfortunate hateful discussion with my parents about this very person. I don't want to get into that though. I could do a whole post about Ed. Actually I could honestly write a whole book about our story, but I think this will do for now. He’s wonderful. He still helps me and I’m extremely thankful to still have him in my life.

2) Getting back out into nature The one thing I actually enjoyed in my childhood was being in the woods. Exploring. Seeing what was out there to see. Be it walking through the fields and forests behind my childhood home, wading through rivers at the motocross tracks, or the two trips to Alaska…it all helped me feel…hmm. I guess I don’t know, but the simple word “happy” comes to mind and I can’t shake it, so let’s go with that. Recently thanks to a gracious invitation by some amazing friends, I was able to get out and explore a new part of the country. I got to go to North Carolina and was treated to many hikes and many sites along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I got to smell fresh mountain air. I ran across rocks and jumped over little parts of the many rivers. I got to escape this life I live for a few days, and probably more importantly, I got to do it with people I was comfortable around. It wasn’t joining my parents for a hike or a bike ride and having to hide stupid crap or pretend like I enjoy the same things they enjoy. No. it was freeing to be out in nature, to take it in at my own pace and be able to share the whole experience with friends that mean a ton to me. Simply put, I loved it, and it has me crazing more :)

3) Creating new things for friends Finally, the last one here is about what I first intended this blog to be about; sewing adventures. Before the trip, a friend sent a very cute picture of him trying on one of the bandanas I had sent him previously. He was thrilled with it and he was wondering if maybe he could get some different ones. I was also all smiles at that announcement. I love hearing the things I make are enjoyed and it gives me something to do to make me feel like I make a different, even a small one, in the lives of my friends. So if I’m able to spend an hour or a day or even a weekend and whip up something that’ll put a smile on one of my friend’s faces, I’m more than happy to do that. I did just that a few days before my trip. It was nice to sit down at the sewing machine again. It really does let my mind relax and forget about the day to day crap, even if only for a little bit. I’m now a bit more motivated to keep at it. To keep trying new things and hey, maybe one day this can actually be something I do to earn a few dollars.