I shifted somewhere between Front and Queen Street...

Most recently, I started reading a book called "The Art of Extreme Self Care" by Cheryl Richardson. My friend trey had read it and it seemed to have made a huge impact on her life almost immediately. I have to say, it's done the same for me.

It's an easy read and I carry it with me on the street car and read it when I can. The street car is my time to zone out and just let the driver take me to my destination without the care of having my hands on the wheel. A few days ago, somewhere between Front and Queen Street, I had a shift.

I've always been one who wants to please. Please my parents, please my friends, please my fans. Please others. To be that good daughter, good friend, good community leader. Saying yes to things when I really want to say no, and in the end, disappointing others when I seem to waver back and forth. No is a hard word for me, and so me and Mr.No will be spending a lot of time together over the next little while. Be ok in his company, learn to say it more often, enjoy saying it without fear or guilt. A difficult task, but a necessary one.

Most recently, I've made some very big choices to take projects off my plate that no longer serve me like they used to, and while I hurt some people in the process, I had to be ok with that.

I'm arguing less.

I've always been the one who needs to "be right" or at least go down with a good fight.

I'm tired of fighting.

I'm walking away from the battles and choosing to live a more peaceful life.

I'm having conversations with my parents that are way over due, because time is precious and not on our side.

My friend Jem jokes with me sometimes, because lately, I seem to want to do everything. I want to learn to kick box, I want to salsa, I want to laugh more, learn to sail, travel to foreign countries. And for an outsider looking in, yup, I might seem a bit nuts.

To me...

I think I'm realizing how wonderful and precious life is, and it's about time that I enjoy every moment of it.

And so...

I'm really not sure what inspired this blog tonight. Maybe to put this down somewhere so that I might look back on it and remind myself how joyous I feel in this very minute.

Maybe I'm writing it because there's someone out there who's wasting their precious life talking about what they "can't" do, instead of what they can.

But either way, somewhere between Front and Queen Street, on a TTC street car...My thought patterns have changed and my soul feels lighter.

And I hope yours will too.

Rachael-Lea