from hate to love.

as i was growing up,

there were things about myself that i wished i could change.

parts of my body that i felt weren't ideal

and didn't fit in with what i saw as a "perfect" body.

but as i grew older, i slowly learned to appreciate and love my body

for its uniqueness,

and i even found some love for the parts that i used to wish i could change.

for example...

i used to hate my eyes because they were rather round,

and not almond shaped like many beauties i saw on tv and in magazines.

but as i grew older, i realized that my eyes are big and sparkling,

and they are the loveliest shade of hazel,

which changes between brown and green, and sometimes even yellow

depending on my mood.

i used to loathe my ankles because i had the thicker kind

and not the gazelle-like dainty ankles of models.

but i have realized that my strong legs help me

hold the tough balance poses

when i practice yoga,

and they support me when i strive to run

that extra kilometer during my 10km training.

my curly hair has been pretty much my biggest woe since i was little.

i never knew how to style curly hair,

and it seemed that stylists didn't either...

i almost never left a hairdresser without wanting to cry.

but as i grew older i started to experiment

with new products and techniques,

and i gained the patience to let my hair grow out a little

and now i love to fluff it up big and let the curls speak for themselves!

so few people have crazy textured hair like i do,

and i've learned to appreciate it for the unique personality that it has.

i'm on a constant journey to move closer to the place

where i love my body the way it is,

and i know that getting there will be a mixture of

loving my imperfections and

changing the way i live to help my body be as healthy and fit as it can be,

but i'm working on it.

what are the body parts that you have a love/hate relationship with?

images from here&here&here&here&here

my lost love for yoga

i'm not sure if i remember my first yoga class.

i think it may have been at the esquimalt rec center

in victoria

where i had a 2-month membership with my friend G

the summer before i moved to vancouver.

or it could have been at the drop in classes at gold's gym

(where i paid way too much for a membership that i didn't use nearly enough)
but regardless of exactly where or when i started,

the truth is that i love yoga.

yoga makes me feel so peaceful inside.

it makes me feel in touch

with my body

and my mind.

after a good yoga session,
i feel strong and healthy...

physically and emotionally.

yoga gives me confidence,

makes me stand up straighter,

and helps me to live in the moment

and enjoy every bit of life.

but this year, in the midst of

planning a wedding,

moving three times,

getting depressed about not being able to find a job,

then finding a job but working such strange hours

that i didn't feel i could establish any sort of fitness routine,

i lost yoga.

the unfortunate part is that during all these stressful things

is when i should have been doing the most yoga.

but what's done is done,

and now i'm so happy

because i just signed up for a twice a week yoga class

starting in january
through the wellness program at work.

i can't wait to start!

i'm definitely not at this stage (yet),
but one of the reasons i love yoga is because it's not about

being the best

or most stretchiest

or learning the craziest poses...

it's about being you

and being the best you that you can be.

that's something i definitely want to accomplish.

 
images from here & here & here & here & here

story of a weekend...

I spent a lovely & eventful weekend

visiting with family & friends

& thoroughly enjoying myself.

friday

was my birthday,

and i spent the morning with paul

and the afternoon with my dad

& my littlest (although he is now grown up and in university) brother

and then met paul after a short shift at work

for drinks and dinner at one of my favorite restaurants

saturday

i worked in the morning,

and had originally planned to head to victoria

but those plans fell through

& so i had a quiet afternoon

reading & watching movies

before meeting some friends

for an impromptu

belated birthday drink

sunday

marty & julia were here

after julia's sister's wedding

and we all slept in...

after they left, i stayed in my pj's as long as possible

and made yummy breakfast

and watched movies & napped during the day

all in all

it ended up being a wonderful

relaxing weekend

and i am very happy

to have had family & friends 

to spend it with.

now on to another week!

this is our last week of classes,

so soon i'll get to work all days

and enjoy dinners

with my husband

and relaxing evenings

or fun adventure evenings

(depending on my mood).

all photos from here