Great Quotes & Great Blogs...

Make me Smile.

Fave.

"When you have come to the edge of all light that you know and are about to drop of into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: there will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.”

lifeinaventicup.com

MY pursuit for Happyness...

(and yes the spelling is intentional!)

For the next sixty days, I am dedicating this blog to finding the small things in life that truly make me happy, make me laugh, or make me smile. Stay tuned. First post within the next 24 hours!

Today's thought:

Isn't it great when you randomly stumble upon something that somebody else wrote, as if they were thinking the exact same thing you are, but have crystalized it perfectly? Makes me feel connected to this world, a little less lost, a little more sure that we are all learning together.

"Where does your writing go when it is too personal to be a blog and too relevant to be kept in a folder on your desktop?"

I wish I knew. Does anybody out there?

And for a smile:

Who doesn't love break-dancing babies?

x's & o's, 

Leslie

Breakups, Breakdowns and Break-overs...

Not fun. Definitely not a fave. 

Breakups are incredibly hard. There are no words to be strung together that could possibly describe all that you feel. And trust me, I've tried. All that is left is that they are incredibly, incredibly hard.

And it always happens, that you never remember the bad times. Always the good. Only the good. Whether you had a crappy boyfriend, or a great boyfriend, the memories that stick with you at first, and sometimes forever, are only the good. So counterproductive to healing.

And, oh the ups and downs. In life, we should cherish the ups and downs. It's not just a cliché that the lows make you appreciate how truly great the highs can be. But during breakups, you get to a point where you want to stay down and not ride out the highs. Because the shock of each new low chips your heart a bit more, every single time.

And friends. Mmm Friends. Whether they are offering coffee, conversation, good clichés, terrible clichés, legal or illegal substances, you need your friends. Because they make everything worth it. To them, you can say what you're really feeling. You can say what you want to feel, hoping that soon it will become what you actually feel.

And technology. What does that have to do with breaking up you ask? Everything. If you broke up in 2004 all you had to do was "delete from cell phone." Now there are a million more thing to check off, de-follow, de-friend, delete from phone, delete from bbm, etc., etc. etc. 

And what's even harder, is when you understand. You know exactly why you had to break up, but it still doesn't stop your tears. Or your panic attacks. It still doesn't bring your hunger back. Or put you back to sleep when you wake up 6 times each night. It still doesn't make it okay. Because a breakup rocks your world. And not in a good way.

Recommendation: Read it's called a breakup because it's broken.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! F*#k, it hurts. It's rocking the very core of your being. You never saw it coming. You knew this was going to happen. You were going to do it first. You only broke it off with him before he broke it off with you. You guys were supposed to be together forever. You never liked him that much anyways. He was such a good kisser. The sex wasn't that great. You really liked his family. He hated your friends. You hated his shoes. You miss him sooooo much. There's no doubt about it - breakups suck. And now here you are holding this stupid "breakup Book" because, quite honestly, you'd do anything not to feel like this and maybe this book will shed some light on what you're going through. Maybe you'll get some sleep tonight. Or stop sleeping all the time."

There are so many more things that are running through my head, that I have yet to put into words, that I can't say out loud, that I have said out loud but would never want written down. And that, is why I am excited to begin writing in my diary again.  Not sure when I stopped writing, probably around the time I exited University and begun this incredible (but incredibly busy) life called The Real World. But here I go again, and I am so excited, because there is nothing like going back years later and reading a diary. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Because the good makes you smile. The bad helps you understand that you've been here before and that every day is another chance to turn it all around. And the ugly, the ugly shows that yes, you have learned some great lessons on this journey we call life.

So in the spirit of sharing, welcome to a couple excerpts from "Leslie's Diary '05." But let's clarify, one is a personal thought. One, a quote that was applicable in '05 and again in '09 (completely different circumstances, but some thing still never change). And one, a kind note, from a wonderful friend, that picks me up, makes me smile, and puts things in perspective.

"My analysis of the panic attacks last night? It finally got to me that it is completely over. I felt like staying in bed all day but when I saw the sun out? I couldn't. Because I am not going to be one to "over" mourn a relationship ending. I have no clue what I'm doing. All I know is that thinking of a life where I don't get to prove what I could be hurts. I just want to mean more. I want everything to mean more. And now, it's a time for big changes."

"A person can only get over a broken heart if they are willing to let go of all the pieces."

"Le but de ce monde est de voyagé et de visité le plus de merveille possible. Chaque levé de soleil est un nouveaux défi. Prends la vie un jour a la fois, et profite de chaque moment partagé en ce monde!" 

x's & o's, 

Leslie

I love...

...how I have such amazing family and friends that will do absolutely anything at a minute's notice when I reach out in need.

...random Thursday night outings that are filled with old friends, new friends, beer, martinis and sleeping in a cute little downtown den!

...those times in your life where songs speak directly to you. The times when you become a lyrics person over a beats person (though the beats are still pretty good).

...being challenged and learning new things every single day.

...so you think you can dance!

...the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Yes, the lows are tough but it is not just a cliché that without them, nothing would feel amazing.

...flowers from great, giving, wonderful people! 

...the realization that not knowing what's coming next is exciting, not scary.

...shoes, purses, clothes (evident from the 3 closets I have filled at home!)

...a blank slate.

...making someone laugh.

...how you can go 5 years without seeing someone, and when you get together, it's like nothing ever changed.

...how I have had more "moving box" ex-boyfriends, than "shoebox" ex-boyfriends.

...all things MTV. Always have, always will.

...Josh Duhamel, Bradley Cooper, Wentworth Miller.

...Greg Behrendt and Amiira Rutola-Behrendt. "If you were quitting smoking, you wouldn't buy cigarettes, hang out with people who smoked cigarettes, go to places where people were smoking cigarettes, or get drunk and call cigarettes at 4 a.m. begging them to come over for one last smoke."

...all things Kate Hudson! 

That's all for now!

x's & o's, 

Leslie

Currently listening: Swing Swing - All American Rejects

When A Picture says Just Two Words...

"Mmm Summer."

Fave.

(Not sure if "mmm" actually counts as a word but let's go with that!)

Random Thoughts...

Let's try an experiment... I am way too tired to put together a full bloggie but I'd like to send some random thoughts out there and see how that goes!

• So tired and still it seems that I get a second wind. At about 2 am. Every morning. When I am finally ready to go to sleep.
  
• Poor cashier did not know what celery was. A little disturbing.  
  
• Think ahead.  Don't settle for just throwing out some good information.  Anticipate the next question.
• I want a puppy.
• Loved the Nikon Fashion 360 sponsorship at the MTV Movie awards.
• I would settle for a bunny.
• Having Twitter has made me want to put a # in front of all my #hashtags. 
• I do not have the time to have a pet.  Would not be fair for the pet!
• One of these days I will have a puppy and I shall call him Huckle Berry Finn.
• I do enjoy The Hills, but "#imacelebritygetmeoutofhere?" sorry can't do it!
• Rollerblade shopping this weekend! What's up! Hello wrist guards!
• Just because you love someone, definitely does not mean you have to like them at all times!
• People expect the answer to "what makes you the most happy and what would you do if you could just go for it?" to be so easy.  Is it wrong not to know the answer? Yet?
• I have got to be more strategic with my personal charitable giving.  While I do enjoy these one off, fun time all for a good cause events #motionball (which you know, maybe should be one of my annual events!) I do want to invest both some time and money to causes that are important to me.
• It sometimes annoys me more often than not when people bash Twitter without having used it.  There is a reason why on average, the 32 million people on there spend 2.5 hours each day tweeting.  Not everyone is all about "just woke up," "just ate cereal", "what cereal do you like?"! Learn how to use it! Embrace it! And even if you use it, and don't like it, at least you can say you actually tried it.  Have an opinion, but don't judge it before you try it.  To each their own!  And yes, this is coming from the girl who judges for a living.  Or wishes she did! (Sorry, forgot, new years resolution, no judging. Got it. Back on track.)
• #Hotyoga here I come (I have said it online, it must be true).
• #OLGPresentsMusic at Luminato this weekend - come on down for some good times!
• ...and lastly, this Sunday, 10 am.  On the couch. With the Toronto Star (even though they have failed to facilitate my three requests for 'weekend only service', one more try and then subscription cancelled! Step up your A Game Customer Service!)... #CaesarSunday's are starting... Hello summer!

Welcome to life in my head.

x's & o's, 

Leslie

A Great Life.

Fave!

It's not about having countless choices and limitless opportunities.  It's about making the right choices and jumping at the right opportunities.

That's all!

x's & o's, 

Leslie

"How do you have so much hate in that little body?!"

Not a fave.

Kind of a depressing rainy day, so maybe a bit of a depressing subject. Just throwing this out there, seeing where it goes.

Do you ever anticipate the worst and then find yourself unable to let go of that one nagging negative thought?  Have you ever said you hated something (or even someone)... At first, only to try out how it sounds on the tip of your tongue? Maybe to get a rise out of someone? A reaction? Maybe they did something or said something that offended you, maybe they were just at the wrong place at the wrong time, maybe it was just you in a rotten mood.  And it grows, and grows, and grows in your brain - and you can't help but say it over and over again and suddenly you actually hate it (or them) and can't seem to remember why it was so important in the first place?  

I think that we all have something to learn from our past.  And we all have things we need to let go from our past.

Life is all about smiles and cries.  We can't feel the good things, unless we feel the bad.  We can't feel alive, if we don't experience the ups and downs.  The extreme ups and downs.  Sometimes it's okay to just. let. things. be.  

When a fear creeps inside of you, don't let that turn into hate.  Not saying you have to love everyone and everything, but don't let anybody or anything negatively affect the way you feel.  

Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.

And you know, the outcome is never as bad as bad as you think it will be. Take it from the girl who spent 3 years afraid of and hating the very thing that happened in the end. Felt like the worst thing possible, ended up being the best!  

One last thought: "regret makes you old, and bitterness poisons the people around you."

Currently listening:  Always Love by Nada Surf.

Anyhow, enough of that!  Who can stay sad on a night when BOTH One Tree Hill AND the Hills is on! Seriously, with characters like skills and sleazy t?  Loves it!

x's & o's, 

Leslie

Stolen Words...

Well here we are, Sunday night again, and I have about 10 hours of work left just to feel like I am ahead of the game enough to start the work week.  A work week that will definitely not be 9-5.

So no original words from me today.  Just a little inspiration.  Luckily, through the years, I have filled out approximately 20+ journals full of quotes, sayings, lyrics and some original thoughts with this such inspiration.  

I am not even sure where this one comes from, but to whomever was able to put this into words.  Absolute magic.

Moments.  A moment if you please.  Moments can be short, moments can be long.  There are moments of joy, moments of sorrow, moments of passion, moments you'll never forget, moments you've already forgotten.  Moments you didn't get.  There are awkward moments, senior moments, moments of truth and momentary lapses in judgement.  People who ask for a moment, share a moment, I need a moment, you got a moment?  Wait a moment.  You can take a moment, spoil a moment and if the stars align in the right moment.  That moment can be perfect.  Moments can define you, moments can delight you and moments can change your life.  Here's to the moment and squeezing all you can out of every last single one of them.  I live for the moments!

Here's to YOUR moments!

x's & o's, 

Leslie

Connecting...

Fave!

So, I tried twittering a while back and failed (miserably!) to provide more than a beginners tweet.  I could hardly call it a tweet, it was more of a twe...

So here I am 6 months later, giving it another try!  Hey, if anything shouldn't it at least be easier to micro-blog at 140 characters a tweet than these 2-3 paragraph blogs?

Follow me!  

Each day, we have more and more options to stay connected.  Some we opt into right away, some we hold off on to see if they achieve some staying power and some, well they just don't catch on at all!

Facebook, myspace, twitter, linked in, flickr (and the list keeps growing day by day!) Who can keep track!  Social media has been blowing up for a while now.  Heard an interesting comment at a roundtable conference the other day.  Something to the effect of media agencies not having any numbers to prove the impact that social media outlets achieve in influencing customer behaviour. Makes you think, once these agencies figure out the business model on these vehicles I'm thinking the numbers will fall out from there!

Finally, a shout out to all you 13-19ers!  Introducing the "facebook of physical activity"... it's been called the sickest way to live healthy.  Sogo Active!  Register by May 31st and you have an amazing opportunity to be selected to become a Torchbearer for the Cancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay! A once in a lifetime opportunity, my friends.  Tell your sisters, brothers, cousins, parents, friends, everybody. Let's inspire the nation.

So? what are you waiting for?  Go!

Ps.  A word of caution to all, use your social media wisely...  If you bail on plans like a debbie downer with a (not so) truth, don't get caught with photos on Facebook!  =)