Category: Life

Life Lessons Learned From… August 2014

On By Elizabeth Rosalyn TheIn 2014, Dear Diary, Life, Life Lessons, Words Of Wisdom2 Comments

August kicked my ass.

The entire month was ridden with death, suffering, anxiety, and pretty much every terrible situation and miserable sensation imaginable. Between saying goodbye to someone who I really cared about and watching the one person who means the most to me face even more health challenges, my heart was broken and my spirit was shattered. The news stories this month were just as depressing, what with racial tensions in Ferguson, Missouri and the death of actor Robin Williams. In these trying times, my faith in life was put to the ultimate test. I wondered, why should I have hope for a world, let alone trust in a higher power, when good, innocent souls, including the people I love, are put through the ringer of pain, or are taken away forever? How am I expected to hold on while being ambushed with awfulness all around? What is it about life that makes the sadness, the anger, worth it?

People.

I was saved by people. If it wasn’t for my support system, I would have been consumed by my grief and my fears. My friends were there to lend an open ear, impart words of encouragement, provide the smiles and laughs to lighten things up, and offer to do anything they can to help alleviate the situation. When it comes to shared grief, it’s amazing how people who are hurting collectively come together to give each other love and strength, reminding us all that we never have to experience these worst moments alone. The gratitude I feel towards these phenomenal people is overwhelming.

What did I learn from August 2014?

We may not have control over the bad that comes our way in life, but we can control how we go through the dark days. We are strong on our own, but stronger together, and strongest when we take care of each other, stand together, and fight back together, as one.

See you soon, September. I’ll be coming up swinging.

Image by Leon Biss.

Remembering Michael Johns

On By Elizabeth Rosalyn TheIn 2014, American Idol, Cheers To You, Entertainment, Life, Life Lessons, Music, Television, Words Of Wisdom6 Comments

Michael Johns 2009

It is with sadness and anguish that I am writing a tribute in the wake of the sudden and tragic death of a man who meant so much to me, Michael Johns.

Continue reading “Remembering Michael Johns” →

Share Your World – Week 28

On By Elizabeth Rosalyn TheIn Dear Diary1 Comment

Have you ever been a participant in a parade? What did you do?
Back in 2011, I participated in the annual Rogers Santa Claus Parade in Vancouver. I was a member of a street team that was promoting Happy Feet 2, so as volunteers, we were the ones throwing out free swag to all of the folks watching the parade. We even had people in penguin suits, much to the families’ delight! (Sidenote: When I was a kid, I used to attempt to escape a lot. This one time, my mom nearly lost me at Disneyland when I decided to follow the Hercules parade. It sure gave her a fright!)

If you were handed free opera tickets, would you go or sell them? Why?
I’m not one to turn down a good live performance, and I’ve never been to the opera before (and it’s one side of entertainment I’d like to try), so I’d definitely go!

Why did you start your blog?
I started blogging as a way to document my life experiences and reflections as well as to express myself online. Since high school, I’ve always been writing somewhere – beginning with private blogging on LiveJournal and later venturing into public blogging on Blogger. And now, I’m here on WordPress, where I blend the personal and the professional with insightful pieces and entertainment reviews. It’s a constant challenge to maintain a blog regularly, but I still believe it’s essential to have a place where you can share your thoughts without being constricted by a 140-character limit.

What is your favourite tradition?
This tradition popped up in my mind immediately and it’s one that I’ve missed for years – back to school shopping. In grade school, I always anticipated the last week of summer vacation because that was the time when I’d get to buy new school supplies and shop for new outfits. While I can still take advantage of the back to school sales each year, it’s just not the same.

via Share Your World on Cee’s Photography.

Image from Rogers Santa Claus Parade.

Share Your World – Week 27

On By Elizabeth Rosalyn TheIn Dear Diary2 Comments

If you were the architect of one existing building, which building would you select?
The tremendous Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. Acclaimed as the jewel of Muslim art, this instantly recognizable white marble mausoleum (which was built as a tomb for the Emperor’s wife) is one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture.

What is one of your favourite quotes?
I really like this quotation from Amy Poehler: “Curiosity and the pursuit of it makes you a more open-minded and open-hearted person. You’ve never too late to learn new things, and you’re never too young to be very wise.”

What colour do you feel most comfortable wearing?
My power colour, Fuchsia Rose. It combines my two favourite colours – red and pink – and wearing this shade makes me feel and look my best.

What is something you learned in the last week?
A LOT can change in your life within five years. While transferring all of my files over from my PC laptop to my brand spankin’ new MacBook Pro, I spent some time going through old pictures and documents, and I was shocked by how different everything was back then. Even when looking at photos of myself in 2009 (at 20 years old), I noticed that my smile has changed.

via Share Your World on Cee’s Photography.

Share Your World – Week 26

On By Elizabeth Rosalyn TheIn Dear Diary1 Comment

Is your refrigerator, organized or a mess inside?
An organized mess. Everything is where it should be, but there’s a lot of food shouldn’t be there any longer…

If you could be famous for one thing, what would it be?
I’d like to be famous for writing something (an article, a book, a song) that is impactful and inspiring to the masses. Even more important, I hope what I write allows people to feel that whatever it is they’re going through in life, they don’t have to face it alone.

What one thing have you not done that you really want to do?
Go skiing on a mountain. Can you believe I’ve lived in Vancouver for all of my life and haven’t once partook in winter activities at Whistler? And no, snowshoeing in Grade 6 doesn’t count.

Where do you eat breakfast?
As I’m running to and from my room and the washroom, rushing to get ready for work after sleeping through my alarm clock yet again.

via Share Your World on Cee’s Photography.