Your Life As Art Photography by Pam

Life As A Caregiver

February 16th is a memorable day as its two loved ones birthdays, but also this year on February 16, 2022 its the “anniversary” of my husbands accident 16 months ago.

16 on the 16th… felt real and heavy.

Although he is still on this healing journey, I wanted to take the time to reflect.

Being a caregiver and a parent and wife is completely different. Neither of us really had any idea of the possible healing journey this could be.

It’s been heavy. It’s felt really challenging at times. My mind has felt pulled in so many directions for so many reasons.

I am grateful.

This quote below sums it up perfectly.

As challenging the last 16 months has been, we have ALL experienced so much various growth. Myself, my husband, healing physically and mentally, and both of our children. All while also in a “pandemic” and more isolated than we normally would have been. Also an opportunity to spend more time within our space and property, to shift things within our home and lifestyle. I love loving our home and my body. I love feeling good. The past 16 months although very challenging at times, I have personally surrendered to the pain and also walked through it. Limping at times, walking and sometimes even running. It’s been an very literal up and down experience, so I’m leaning into trust.

Trusting me! But also cracking open even more. I was taking care of my husband, I couldn’t admit I was having moments of wanting to pull my hair out or about ready to collapse mentally and physically. I HAD to take care of him, I couldn’t let him think he was a burden to me.

Until I couldn’t anymore. It was the hardest thing ever to admit to him that I was crashing.

It was the best thing I did.

NORMALIZE MENTAL HEALTH

Normalize that we cannot do it all and the first step is to stop it! Stop doing it to yourself. I remind myself this. Alot. Society sadly still judges. Normalize getting help. Normalize someone making choices for their health to be right for them (I’ve also been shifting due to food sensitivities and allergies). Normalize everyone living their own life how they choose to – just like you want for yourself.

The past 16 months I have experienced beautiful growth myself, as well seeing it within my husband and kids.

It’s not that I couldn’t live without him, it’s that our life is meant to keep living! I remind to focus on the positives.

They say, everything happens for a reason. It you asked me last June my answer would have been completely different. I can now at least pull a few positives out of what we have experienced. Not that I would have necessarily chosen (not), I am grateful for the growth and healing.

I am also proud of me.

Respect To Others

Someone recently said to me, “oh you wouldn’t be able to go in, you’d have to sit outside and we would throw you morsels of food”…

Yup, haven’t and will not be getting the C Jab, however that shouldn’t matter to anyone else… yet it does… to many!?

I simply replied that the “passport” was bullshit and left. I shouldn’t have to explain my health choices.

This example is exactly why I support the truckers convoy to bring awareness to what IS actually happening in this country I truly used to be proud of. It has started a revolution. Truly I have seen so many people coming together – but not just that… FEELING seen, knowing that no one is alone in how they are feeling. I personally have not seen any reports or videos of any violence. I have seen a lot of videos of police officers supporting, people of all ages, race, men, women, children… coming together to unite vs divide.

This statement that was said to me, 2 years ago would have broke me. In half. Today, not a chance. Why? I’m happy to tell you!

Ever since becoming a mother it’s like a new part of my brain began to quietly, but strongly persistantly open. A wee bit stronger to the other part of my brain that I was often good at ignoring… but this new one, it began to have impact behind it, which I now know is the lion in all of us.

I am so grateful for my decision to shift to holistic health. This has provided me the confidence in my health. To be an example for my children as they grow and learn. MY health has become the most important thing to me, because without it, well I wouldn’t be here.

The judgment I have witnessed from others, some to myself, has been disheartening and quite honestly has strengthened me even more.

Everyone deserves the right to choice and freedom of that. If someone believes that a drug created and out to market in “miraculous time”, that’s their right, just like it’s MY right to use my better judgment to wait and see what the longterm effects might be, after 10, 20, 30 years. Especially, after my own health journey.

If anything this has shown me, sadly a lot of peoples true colours. Who knew we would live in a time where your “status” and “papers” determine what you can do, even though you are healthy.

The icing on the cake was today, Doug Ford, announcing that “you could have one or 10 shots and still get C-19”… so again the point of creating this division in our world?! The point of causing fear that literally ripped through people’s lives… for a virus that affects less than 3% of the world population. I get it people have gotten seriously sick, I am not cold hearted. I am realistic.

It got worse then when he further said that the trucking convoy is hurting more people than the lock downs ever have… Doug Ford clearly does not have young children or teens – his children are adults and actually from what I have seen, quite smart and health conscious, someone their father could learn from!

I will believe the government cares about me, my family and wellbeing when they begin holding massive corporations accountable. Accountable for their business practices and for the products they use and create to sell. Until that happens, which let’s be real I cannot see this government (any of the parties) doing this. Honestly that would save SO many peoples health AND businesses. Do you know how easy the government makes it for “business” people to literally screw over people over and over, hiding behind “corporations” and never being held liable for their choices. The government legally let’s people do this. And has been for years. Even the provincial and federal regulations for various “meat processing”, although they can push for changes within a facility, approve the changes, good luck when the company decides to just not pay anyone. Because he hid behind a corporation, actually multiple. But yes, the government at all levels cares about their people, uh huh.

Truthfully… this is it! Its ok when one chapter ends, because you are continuing YOUR book of life! <3

Heart Felt Connection

Recently I re-connected with friends I haven’t “seen” in a bit… while catching up my heart sank.

I truly am grateful for their friendship, for our heart felt connection and also their honesty.

Of the real struggle it’s been, especially with mental health, being parents and for the children.

My heart, as a parent, also to teens, I felt it drop 💔 as we caught up.

The past two years has been far from normal. People are literally turning on each other, some people are banned from seeing certain family and friends, based on their personal medical choices, others have lost jobs or have literally been coerced into taking something they normally wouldn’t.

Many are speaking out against what “the truckers” are doing, to try and bring an end to these mandates in Ontario. Perhaps those who do not see the point, their lives perhaps have not changed. Or they have simply chosen to follow along with every “new rule” that the government brings out.

Kindness is SO crucial right now.

If you feel you haven’t been affected in your life, great.

There ARE people who have.

And some in VERY big ways, but unfortunately not big meaning happy.

The true pandemic is the mental health state of our province and country. If yours has not been affected, please carry on. However for those of us who HAS felt an effect on their mental health, I not only see you, I send you love and kindness 🙏💗.

There is alot happening that I personally do not agree with on many levels… which I am allowed to, we are all individuals with our own brain and mindset. I believe that every family with a child or children needs a dog. Does that make MY opinion the only way of living, nope. It’s my choice and my own belief.

Before judging ANYONE for their choices or beliefs, please first take a deep breath and ask yourself WHY?!

Why do I need to criticize someone for a choice they are making? Does it affect me? Ultimately, does it really affect me? Whatever the choice may be? (Obviously if it will negatively affect anyone else, this is not the point of the example). If their choice IS affecting me, WHY did they make that choice?

Opportunity for questions. Opportunity to learn. Opportunity for growth and expansion.

💓 TRUE HEART FELT CONNECTION 💓

People’s faces have been hidden for far too long. It’s drastically apparent the negative mental health affects that are literally holding people hostage. I’ve seen it, I’ve experienced it. Our mental health in this country is struggling. ESPECIALLY if you are a parent, child or senior.

Its time to bring back true heart felt connection, allow children to be children, families and friends to re-connect without fear or judgment, let our teens experience what “going to a dance” is for the love of all things holy.

This is not a “new normal”, one I will never accept and quite honestly my reasoning will ALWAYS stem back to my babies and my own mental and physical health.

This country is experiencing a mental health crisis that will negatively affect our “sick care” (aka health care for sick people) far more than this C19 ever has (research the stats). Sadly, the mental health supports in this province and country are quite disgusting. You would think it would be top quality, considering the government just spent $600M on an election that didn’t accomplish anything. I digress.

What I will acknowledge is the fact that the past 2 years HAS allowed a LOT of people the time to take a deeper dive into themselves and their way of life. Many have shifted, holistic health is booming (just you wait!!!) And SO many people are empowered within their own homes. It’s truly beautiful. Many have appreciated time freedom as well as boundaries. Operating a trades business, this has been my forefront priority. As yes, grateful our jobs were not negatively affected, however we know many whose were.

2022… let’s claim it – the year of HEART FELT CONNECTION, whatever that means to you and with whoever lights your heart up!

Yes things have shifted, some in a very strong and prominent way. I know very true to my core that the way I have been treated that times is how I will NEVER treat another human being. Others, haha I will chuckle one day when I tell you the funny story about how you were bragging about being so “firm” not allowing your family members in your home until they “did what the government told them to do”, but you not only shared a meal and appetizers with me, we also had a nice long chat too! 😉 Thank you for showing me a side that, I know for certain, doesn’t deserve my time or energy!

I saw this the other day… truth & authenticity ❤ Life isn’t “easy”, but really who made the definitions?! Define what life is for you and carry on ✌!

February – Citrus Dreams, Oils & Energy

Welcome to February!

Updated Journal NOW LIVE!!!!

Essential Oil Kits I would recommend…

Fantastic Price Point – Aroma Essentials Kit
This kit includes 5ml bottles of Peppermint, Wild Orange, Adaptiv, Balance, Cheer, Citrus Bloom, Easy Air (Breathe), Northern Escape, On Guard and Serenity along with the Lalux Diffuser for $207 Cdn and 115.6 PV.

Fantastic Value – Healthy Essentials Kit
This kit includes 5ml Deep Blue and 15ml bottles of On Guard, Peppermint, Lavender, Easy Air (Breathe), Lemon, Zen Gest (DigestZen), Adaptiv, Copaiba, Balance and the Petal Diffuser 2.0 for $319.50 Cdn and 215 PV

With the purchase of the Healthy Essentials Kit in February you will also qualify to receive the Citrus Dreams 4 pack of 15ml oils – Grapefruit, Wild Orange, Tangerine and Clementine!

CONNECTION

CONNECTION

(A word that 18 years ago would NOT be used to describe anything to do with me and “this bird”… let’s just say it was an adjustment 🤣 )

The connection we have gained, but also lately, she has been wanting MORE affection. She has reminded me SO many times the importance of CONNECTION.

We NEED our people/animals.
We THRIVE on connection.

Purposeful connection in some way with others.

Truthfully, I could have got fed up with her 18 years ago and said that’s it I’m done trying and just walked past her cage daily without a care…

What’s scary is so many HUMANS live that way each day together.

It’s so secret I’ve been loosing the social appeal, missing my “roots” of blogging and being so much more purposeful in my connection. The time before social media literally took over the world, when you had to put effort into looking things up or finding the perfect platform for your voice/arts. There is far too much scrolling and far too less CONNECTION.

I’ve been hanging out more on my blog, it feels like home.

Canadian Winter | Snowmobiling

What better thing to do this weekend, especially Saturday… 🙌 🇨🇦

If you are new here I am VERY much for empowered Holistic health care and living. I truly follow my intuition and have been able to shift my mental and physical health in ways I have never previously been able to.

I support everyone’s right to choice, whatever that might be. YOU deserve to choose.

This weekend and honestly much more lately, my true Canadian Winter love… SNOWMOBILING!

As a photographer… 😍

What is the most Canadian 🇨🇦 thing I could do today…❄

Do you know the difference of…

Snowmobiling AS a Photographer vs
Snowmobiling WITH a Photographer

🤣 📷

SO many more incredible images in my mind 😍

Mother Nature 🙏 Truly Grateful for this beautiful land!

And the other evening, the sunset across the fields was just incredible!

Succumb to the Craving…

One thing that has been slightly frustrating throughout the majority of my life has been the fact that my body is VERY selective of what food and drinks it wants.

I remember a couple years ago, almost very time I drank my body was NOT happy in a very prominent way. I then realized that sulphites is a very BIG no-no for me, so literally drinking wine was hurting my body in more ways that I knew.

Or back when my husband and I met, I got very comfortable, very quickly with him with the digestive challenges I was experiencing. I will never forget the one night, we had nachos… and yup my stomach was NOT happy!

Bless his heart, he is still very supportive for my health and digestion!

In being more comfortable in me and my lifestyle I’ve begun branching out to try more things homemade. Being gluten free throws a quick turn into this, but we roll with it.

Here is why it’s SO important to know your body.

I succumbed to a craving for onion rings. Even found a kick qss recipe that was not only delicious, it was so crispy AND easy!!!

I knew in the back of head, don’t do it. But I wanted to try them so bad, JUST TO SEE IF I COULD MAKE THEM at home!

It hit me the next evening… I know the feelings leading up to, begin to over heat, guts rumbling. That’s the thing with digestive challenges, you need to know your body to know or learn to figure our WHAT caused it so you can shift!

Unfortunately for me, IBS flare ups are typically over a couple days and then it takes time for my body to get back in rhythm again. Also a real reminder of WHY I have shifted my lifestyle and realized what true “normal” is for me!

The dog also decided to veer from his food selection and remembered butter is NOT a dog’s best friend… I felt like I had a newborn again, at one point the first night up after 2am every hour 😳!

Peace Within | The Year of Healing for All

Even before 2022 began I kept hearing “Peace Within”. I knew deep down, these were my words for 2022. Finding TRUE Peace Within.

On January 3rd, 2022 I wrote in my journal “Its the year of healing for all” ❤

Life will never be “perfect”, not one person on this planet is. Check yourself if you are feeling this way to shift out of judgment. Maybe not “Perfect”, BUT we can define what is IDEAL for ourself!

What brings me Peace within, another may balk at.

EMBRACE THAT.
Embrace what you feel called to do or be.

I read something this evening that I wrote down before Christmas…

You need 5 Hobbies in Life…
💫 One to make you money
💫 One to keep you in shape
💫 One to keep you creative
💫 One to build knowledge
💫 One to evolve your mindset

What are these areas for you?

Perhaps they need more definition?

I know myself, as a mother, I put my children and their needs first, but at times I should have been putting MYSELF first with more self care. Healing over the years, leaning in and rediscovering the awesome person Pam is to truly listening and allowing the voices of my children to be heard. As they grow, into their own person.

Everyday isn’t “easy”, I know that. The more I do lean into me, into how I feel or how I want to feel, that’s golden! That’s what “perfection” is🙏.

The Right People Hear You Differently |Projector

Human Design, a fabulously intriguing world to dive into to learn more about yourself and your unique ways.

When I began learning about Human Design, my life changed. In so many ways. I finally felt heard, but myself.

Erin Claire Jones shares some incredible tidbits of information on the various Human Design types. This one hit my heart.

So many times in my life I have felt unheard.

THE RIGHT PEOPLE WILL HEAR YOU DIFFERENTLY ❤

The Social Media Takeover

I remember it clearly.

I was home on maternity leave with my son, in the middle of winter I remember saying to my husband this will be so good to bring a social life to me… now having a newborn.

Next up the smart phones. Super convenient right, 100%. Almost TOO convenient. Ive realized just how much I do pick it up. Yes with work, I am on my phone alot with messages and emails especially.

One thing I am re-learning is boundaries. Especially with my phone and my time. Its almost TOO easy to get a hold of someone. We are way too tied to our phones in a very bad way. I admit I have been guilty of it myself, I am working at being much more conscious in the moment and BE present. I think of back in the day, before cell phones, people were SO MUCH MORE prepared. My parents used to have the business phone ring at home – this meant it rang ALL day and evenings and weekends. I remember may school breaks or snow days sitting answering the phones. However, if we weren’t home… no one answered. Yes, there are clear benefits to having cell phones now, along with healthy boundaries.

People were so much more prepared and present before social media and cell phones! Even within the kitchen alone. True home cooking, very little in “boxes” and if they were it was boxes of real meat. Im grateful I grew up seeing the family side of a trades business. It truly helped prepare me for the woman I am today.

Boundaries are SO important with phones and especially “social” media – cause its not social, thats totally the wrong word in my opinion. Yes its a form of communication, but “social”?! I guess I think of social as being healthy and good for us, however too much social media is isolating, time sucking and not healthy at all. Seriously, can you determine what is real, or many times who is real?

I appreciate social media, for the connection, and Ive noticed when I am feeling completely out of control of something (for example my husbands healing journey the past 15+ months) I grab my phone and scroll. Do I remember anything, nope most times not cause I am literally just scrolling, wasting time.

Im shifting this. As I blogged about yesterday, I used to love my blogs, reading them, learning and sharing my own stories.

I keep hearing – take a step back – actually take a huge step back. Truthfully I think society needs to in a big way. Do we really need things instantly? Nope. Look at how what we search or my god sometimes even just think of something and an ad shows up on our phone – what the hell is that?

A reminder to BE present. Allow social media to take a far back seat. I love sharing about my own health journey and holistic health options, however I feel my blog is so much more authentic to me.

So cheers to more pen to paper and blogging in 2022!