What I Love About Life

I was fortunate enough to spend this past Sunday (1 June 2014) in Mainz, Germany, where the Mainz Cathedral dominates the city’s skyline. Located along the Rhine River, the old quarter, with its narrow lanes and cobblestone streets, is a popular destination especially with the cafés and boutiques around Kirschgarten Square. But on Sunday most boutiques and restaurants are closed. Mainz offered a welcomed break from the hustle and bustle of Toronto life.

Enjoying a beer on a patio next to the Rhine River was relaxing, and the quietness of the day offered an opportunity to hear myself think. And as 2014 is a year I want to be filled with positivity, I found myself thinking about what it is I love about life.

What I love about life is that each morning, by my own thoughts, I can decide if I’m going to be positive or not about the day ahead. And I’m choosing to be positive, to see the beauty that is this world.

What I love about life is waking up and, no matter where I find myself in the world — Toronto, Vancouver, Shanghai, Montréal, Mainz, Winnipeg — settling in to write. It’s about starting my day by doing what it is that I love to do.

What I love about life is being able to, no matter how silly or “unrealistic” it may seem to some, chase after my dreams. And I believe, as Eleanor Roosevelt reminded us, that “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

What I love about life is that I am blessed with godsends — friends and loved ones who support and encourage me. I call these people my godsends, spread out across North America, who are friends to me and my writing. Godsends send an e-mail or call to say how proud they are of me. They reach out to me (without asking) at a time when I need encouragement the most. They are, as Julia Cameron puts it, a “believing mirror” whose support is constant.

What I love about life is that it’s not linear. There are mountains to climb and valleys to wade through. There are times of progression —when I feel like I’m at the top of my game. There are, also, periods of regression— when it takes all of my energy to soldier on. But life is a journey, and through all the detours and “disruptions,” I’m doing my best to hold steadfast to my dreams and stay centred.

What I love about life is that I am free to be me.