Lessons from the Sea

Every walk on the beach is a healing experience. Yesterday I was not myself. I hadn’t slept. The 35°c heat translated to 28°c in my classroom. With windows that don’t open and a room full of teenagers, it felt like about 40 degrees, and I spent my teaching day battling a headache. I was crankyContinue reading “Lessons from the Sea”

Wildflowers, or Weeds?

No sooner had I decided to change my blog name to Wildflowers & Wings when this happened: My backyard neighbour asked if I could keep my weeds to myself. I live in a subdivision, houses on all sides of me, but my backyard is relatively spacious. Because it’s a lot of work, and because I’dContinue reading “Wildflowers, or Weeds?”

Wildflowers & Wings

My blog was having an identity crisis. A photography blog. A life blog. A blog called “In a Snap” didn’t make so much sense to me anymore. What I really wanted to write about was how my life has changed. How my struggles strengthened me. How I found yoga and meditation and mindfulness. How writingContinue reading “Wildflowers & Wings”

It’s All About Attitude

Covid did a number on classrooms. After three tumultuous school years, there was both excitement and trepidation returning to some sort of normal this year. I had an expectation that my classes would be just like they were pre-pandemic madness. I was wrong. There is a level of anxiety that remains among many. The tollContinue reading “It’s All About Attitude”

Spinning Out

One of the things I tried while trying to escape myself was spin class. Last winter, my yoga studio shut down once again because of covid. I didn’t know what to do with myself. This time, I was working, so I had less time to develop a home practice. This time, I was already strugglingContinue reading “Spinning Out”

The Space of an Hour

Lately the stress has been creeping back in. It’s an expensive time of year, with the holidays ahead and the cost of heating through the winter. Gas and groceries keep rising. Snow removal. Grad year expenses for my daughter. There is never enough. It also seems to be the time of year for appointments. Doctor,Continue reading “The Space of an Hour”

Mindless Mode

Sometimes all you need… is a little mindlessness. At least, that’s how it turned out for me this week. I practice mindfulness regularly : I journal, meditate, do yoga, try to eat healthy, and remind myself to be in the moment. I read more than I watch tv, enjoy learning new things, and try toContinue reading “Mindless Mode”

A Healing X-perience

Last weekend I took my daughter on a tour of my alma mater; she’s in grade 12 and deciding where she’d like to go for university. I was excited to revisit the place I’d spent four years studying for my first degree. I hadn’t been there in over twenty years and I anticipated the memories.Continue reading “A Healing X-perience”

Time for Tea

I’ve recently stopped drinking coffee. It’s an experiment to see if that is what has been making my stomach unhappy. But this is no happy experiment. This summer I replaced my afternoon cup with green tea. I had been eating chocolate every day with my coffee and my pants were getting snug, so it wasContinue reading “Time for Tea”