When I moved to Vancouver last September, I started becoming a hippie.

The sort of all-natural, one-with-the-universe, health-nut kind of hippie (not the psychadelic drug trip kind of hippie).

And I love it.

I’ve really been interested in sustainability and protecting the environment for most of my life. I thank my parents for that:
-My parents enrolled my sisters and I in Scouts, where loving nature is a central idea.
-My mother would be scadalized if anyone in the family tried to throw out anything recyclable.
-My family has a composting system we use to fertilize the garden. There are photos of me as a baby frolicking in the freshly fertilized garden bed, muddy and smiling.

On the other hand, my father is a geologist. One day I came home, an impassioned 14 year old, declaring that the entire population of the planet should switch to electric cars, and my sister pointed out that if that were possible and really happened, our dad would lose his job.

And here I am today, a summer student working for an oil and gas company myself.

The oil and gas industry has a bad reputation within this whole green revolution. Which is why I think this shift into a more environmentalist mindset has been a little stunted in Alberta.

I mean, we’re not that bad. When I went to Ukraine a few years ago I was appalled to see piles of thousands of empty glass bottles collecting on the sides of roads and rivers. I tried to rally my tour group to collect some and recycle them, whereupon I learned that the area we were travelling through simply did not have recycling services. That’s bad.

But Albertans aren’t too excited about environmentalism. I feel like a lot of Albertans get uneasy about the “green revolution” because of potentially negative effects on the economy here. Some people just think it’s a joke. So when I went to Vancouver and discovered eco-enthusiasts, my mind was blown.

There were separate bins in my residence cafeteria: composting, recycling, and (off in the corner, to discourage its use) garbage.

There were vegetarian options everywhere.

The transportation system? Way better than Calgary Transit.

I was enthralled.

I’ve also been very interested in maintaining and improving my health and happiness. Upon becoming a bit of a hippie, this interest has increased greatly. Why wouldn’t I want to feel great and full of life? Why wouldn’t I want to ward off disease and aging? Why wouldn’t I want more energy and radiant natural beauty?

It started in September with taking up yoga and becoming a pescetarian (no meat except fish).

They were both for health reasons- my older sister has had a lot of success with feeling better from yoga and no meat, so I thought I’d try it too. I love it. Yoga is the wonderful blend of physical and mental health, and I always feel more at peace and physically limber when I finish a class. When I go a week or two without it, I feel moodier and am less able to cope with stress. As for meat, I don’t miss it at all and really do feel better.

When summer came I took up barefoot running (well, almost, I run in minimalist “barefoot” toe shoes) This fall, I’m hoping to cut out fish too (thus becoming a vegetarian).

The thing is, all the changes I’ve made started off as experiments. I try things to see if they work for me, and if they make me feel happier, healthier, or more positive in some way, then I stick with it. I’ve had a couple failed experiments- such as my spring mission to take morning runs (it turns out I am not a morning person), as well as trying to stop eating cheese (mac’n’cheese is my favourite food… ), but I might revisit them eventually.

What is it that should trace the insuperable line?… The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?
—Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832)

Do you ever just feel down somedays? Like you’re not necessarily sad, but not really happy either? Well, if you have, you definitely aren’t alone. I’ve felt this way before and I figured out ways to cure the sadness!

When you feel sort of empty inside, I feel as though drinking tea always helps. It might just be in my head, but drinking tea is so relaxing. The warmth and the smell soothe and calm me. I guess eating makes you feel better too, but that can get dangerous. I love eating, but make sure not to overeat. Eating your feelings can be unhealthy and may cause issues in your health.

Music always helps. No matter where I am, I always have an earbud in my ear. I find that music distracts you and fills your head with rhythm and melodies for you to sing along too. No matter what the situation, there is always a song that you can relate to. In a lot of ways,  music makes you feel less alone. Music can lift your mood too, when you listen to happy music that makes you want to dance, you forget what you were even sad about!

Do something productive! Do homework and finish it early, maybe practice an instrument, go outside and exercise. Whatever it is, doing something to distract you will give you something to think about, or a way to clear you head. When I’m feeling down, I like to go on a run or stretch. It clears my head and, at the same time, helps me think more clearly.

Read! Reading is my addiction, I love reading because, even for a little while, you can escape this world and enter another. My world will fill with colour and I become part of the book. I probably read too much, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It gives me the opportunity to escape the real world for a while. This, in itself, is dangerous, because I get so caught up in my books that I forget I even live in the real world, but that’s okay every once and a while.

I think the possibilities are endless. I think anything that can distract you is a cure to temporary sadness!

I really hope this helps you when you are feeling down. Have a wonderful life. 🙂

Are you excited for the newest edition to the Jackass franchise? I know I am! This upcoming film is most definitely going to be one of the greatest comedies of the year, I can almost assure you, even surpassing We’re the Millers in comedic genius.

Starring Johnny Knoxville in his infamous “old man” makeup, this film follows the grand road trip of 86-year-old Irving Zisman and his grandson, Billy. Although fictional characters, Irving and Billy vex hundreds of people in real life, not acting, and catch their reactions on film. Though the plot may be a little weak, the stunts are absolutely hilarious.

If a movie can make me roll on the floor with laughter after only viewing its trailer, well, it’s got a thumbs-up from me.

Comedy, just like story-writing, is a delicate art, and Johnny Knoxville and his crew are extremely talented at what they do. In comedy, timing is key, and the performances in this movie look so intricately put together, even though to some they may seem messy or last-minute. Though some find the entire Jackass franchise disgusting, vile, or just plain stupid, I find it daring, inventive, and adroit at giving us, the viewers, a hearty laugh.

This movie will be released on Oct 25, 2013. Bad Grandpa, although not for everybody, is a film that I will definitely be watching.

See you at the movies!

Watch the trailer here!

As we embark upon senior year at High School, we need to start thinking about our future. Where does it lie? At university? College? Co-op? A big, prestigious institution?

But most importantly: Where?

Ultimately, our decisions nowadays are heavily influenced by media. Individualistic ideas have resulted in competition, each person striving for the personal best. The result of such: Rankings. They are an important part for our future decision making.

But is it the best choice for us to go to the best ranked university if that institution is in a small city, or a city you have visited before and are bored of? No, your university years should be a great experience, an adventure every day! So what can be an adventure when we believe we’ve seen it all from the travels with our families?

The answer is, studying abroad, in a different country. Maybe one you have studied in school, one you are particularly interested in, or maybe the country your family can be traced back to.

In any case, making the decision to get exposed to a different environment, eventually in a different language, is a big step in becoming an adult and maturing.

From finding new friends, to navigating in another language, to getting to know a new country and its culture is sure worth it.

And you can trust me – I’ve been studying abroad, in over 15 countries, since I was eight years old. And I’m almost 17.

Next in series: “Don’t let money narrow your choices!”

Information sources:

Connected World: “Millersville University – Welcome to Millersville University.” Millersville University – Welcome to Millersville University. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2013.

Making a Decision: “The TheraVid Blog.” The TheraVid Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2013.

Study Abroad: “… My heart’s in Accra | Ethan Zuckerman’s online home, since 2003.”… My heart’s in Accra | Ethan Zuckerman’s online home, since 2003. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2013.