life / quotes

change your thoughts: the ripple effect.

• by kerri

change your thoughts and you change your world

–norman vincent peale

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, even before this quote came into my life.

We define our own variables, our own thoughts, our own worlds.

We have the power to choose how we think about things in our lives, whether those things are positive or negative.  We have the chose to determine whether we are going to be broken down by these things, these circumstances, or if we are going to use them to build ourselves up, and perhaps in turn, use the change in ourselves to build the people around us up.

We can choose to reach farther and climb over the obstacles, or we can choose to freeze in a wave of self-doubt and be stopped by them.  There is no limit to how long we could stay frozen, but any length of time is keeping us from truly experiencing what we were created to do, and wasting precious moments of which we will never have enough.  How we see our world is nobody’s choice but our own, and because of this we are stronger than we give ourselves credit for.  Every single decision we make and every goal we strive to reach, whether it seems small or seems big, affects us in a huge way.

the ripple effect is too good not to mention / if you’re not affected, you’re not paying attention / it’s too good not to have an effect

–rogues, incubus

We have the choice to change our thoughts to change our worlds.

Don’t compromise. Go get it.

12 of 12 / life

12 of 12 – december ’11!

• by kerri

Over the last six years, 12 of 12 has been graciously hosted by its creator, Chad Darnell. though Chad is moving on, I am grateful for his creativity and willingness to host our links over the years and give us an awesome project to tackle once-a-month. Thank you, Chad!

On the 12th of each month, a bunch of bloggers from around the world take 12 pictures throughout the day.  Here are my pictures for December 12th, 2011!

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11:27 am – sidewalk. Our passports are expired, I think, so we went to get our passport pictures redone.  Not that I look a ton different, but my last picture was from when I was fifteen, so guess I’m due for a bit of an update.  I have an incredibly hard time not smiling in the darn things.

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11:34 am – photography place. Passport photo dude’s studio is also part collector’s store, which featured, along with sort of creepy Mario, a large TV playing The Doctors.  Also I yelled at Jillian Michaels about some sort of crap advice she gave.  Soon-ish-to-be kinesiologists are allowed to do this, right?  Am I a kinesiologist if I have yet to graduate?  I’m not sure.

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11:36 am – photography place. Smithers action figure!

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11:37 am – KUNG FU PANDA! Made me think of my friend Mike :]

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11:41 pm – photography place. I kind of want this, is that ridiculous especially considering I’m a vegetarian? Though the burger looks sad :(.

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12:52 pm – road. New extension, how exciting.  (Can you believe this is midday? So dark-ish.)

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12:56 pm – practicum. Can I still call it practicum if my practicum is totally over, as is the course associated with the practicum?  I went back to my practicum place and helped the rec therapist, Tracy, wrap Christmas presents for the tenants! Was super stoked to be back, considering I keep having to tell her I can’t make it to things and ti makes me sad!

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2:36 pm – Lindee’s. Turns out I forgot my phone and iPod at my grandparents’ house [we went there for lunch], so I had to go to my aunt’s house [next door to my practicum place and which I have a key for!] to call my mom to pick me up. I am so smart, S-M-R-T.  Can you guess what this is?

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3:15 pm – bedroom. HOORAY!  Got home to see a giant package in my mailbox, which happens to be the ACSM’s Exercise Management for Persons With Chronic Diseases and Disabilities textbook that I ordered via The Book Depository about a week and a half ago. I had no idea it would arrive so fast.  Also, I definitely ordered this for fun and not for school, and it is fascinating. Because I am a giant nerd! :] (Also, currently reading for Lance Armstrong’s it’s Not About the Bike for the second or third time.)

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5:15 pm – kitchen. Passport picture.  Is it mandatory to dislike these things? No-glasses weirdness!  DEFINITELY better than my old one though! [ . . . not only am I sporting the TWLOHA shirt on my student ID, I will apparently be sporting it on my passport to some degree for the next five years].

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7:29 pm – kitchen. About to have a Skype meeting [read: party] with Dia, in which we try to do work and usually end up not doing work. Also we contemplate taking off and rolling with this project we’re on for our legitimate jobs [except we kind of both love our legitimate jobs too much, and there is the issue that I have to finish school].  It would likely involve kinesiology, road tripping and documentary shenanigans or something equally fabulous.

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9:30 pm – kitchen. And back to the study train, yeah? Final final on Friday. It will be another fabulous day when this term is over!

12 of 12 is a project created by Chad Darnell, Though this is the last official Chad-hosted 12 of 12, I hope to see you all come 2012!

life / quotes / wellness

resonate.

• by kerri

I’m currently in the midst of juggling school, writing a paper, falling further behind in readings, navigating some other stuff, work and picking up where I left off after an intense weekend away at the youth retreat — sometimes picking up after just a couple days away feels like picking up after so much longer.

in an e-mail I got from Jay [my prof] today about some of the above, he added these quotes to the end:

“Learning is how children use experience to modify behaviour. Play is how children use behaviour to modify experience”

–Marshall

“Even in the midst of our own struggles, we can offer encouragement. Even during our personal low periods, we can continue to try and be a mentor to those around us.  If we are honest about what we are facing, we can offer hope to others that they are not alone.”

–John Wooden

Total resonation.

 

life

thankfulness

• by kerri

i’m so glad to be here, this day has become sacred . . . i’m trembling with thankfulness . . .

who am i, who am i that You have brought me this far, this far?  who am i that You have brought me so far?

all those years of spoiled complaining . . . i said “it’s not enough”. and You have forgiven me for everything, everything. and You have given me everything, everything . . . it’s too much, it’s too much, You’re too much, You’re too much

who am i?


Thankfulness . . .

  • My SAVIOUR.  And how FAR Jesus has brought me.
  • My friends . . . near and far.
  • My family
  • The kids and my coworkers at my amazing job.
  • My respite girlies who teach me so much and make me see things differently–BETTER.
  • Cupcakes
  • My badassmatic asthma community
  • Canadian healthcare
  • Music and musicians who share their stories
  • LOVE.
  • That WE are the STORY being WRITTEN

What are you thankful for?

Canada / life

an open letter to canada

• by kerri

Dear Canada,

We need to have a little talk.  It’s October 5th. It’s apparently 31*C outside.  And while I enjoy this, it’s not particularly suitable when I wore my [new] hoodie and [new] jeans to school today.  [Note: in Saskatchewan, they call hoodies BUNNYHUGS.  I love this.  It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy and cuddly.  Because what is badass about a freaking bunnyhug?]  And then it became 31*.  Last week it was like fifteen.

Next week it will be snowing, or hailing.  I swear.  Canada, you’re a little indecisive about this whole weather thing.

Or perhaps you’ll revert to actual seasonally appropriate temperatures and I can wear my new jeans and new hoodie and fuzzy socks and not feel ridiculous about it.

How does that sound?  We got a deal, Canada?

Love,

Kerri