One Rising Star

“If not now, when?” Puerto Rico had been on my mind for a little while, but I kept finding excuses not to go; I had other places I wanted to see, traveling there can be expensive and traveling solo isn’t always the most fun. But, I've always loved traveling to Latin American countries (yes, I am aware PR isn’t exactly a country), that's essentially where my love of traveling really began. The food, the music, the energy, the language…that Latin vibe is something pretty special in my opinion. T his summer, I finally decided to stop thinking about it and just go for it, even if it meant spending a little more money, doing it alone, and arriving in the middle of a water shortage. What better way to begin the trip than with an entire plane’s  applause upon landing ? It was such an unexpected moment, but one that I later learned was all part of the cultural experience. My taxi driver continued the warm welcome on the way to my hotel, sharing local tips and giving me plenty of recomm...

 “Adventure is exciting, but simplicity has its own kind of magic.” Over the years of living abroad, I've gradually lost that feeling of excitement about going back to Canada for the summer holidays. Don't get me wrong, it's always great to spend time with my family and catch up with close friends, but after living independently overseas for so long, it's often an adjustment to essentially move back into my parents' home; I miss having my own space, my own car, and some of the routines I’ve created for myself living life solo. After working so hard throughout the school year, I typically find myself craving a holiday that feels exciting, and seeing as this past school year was especially challenging for a variety of reasons, more than anything, I really wanted time to switch off and recharge. Also, it never helps that social media is filled with everyone else's exciting adventures around the world, making it harder for me sometimes to be chilling back in my home...

"I've spent enough years becoming her to finally enjoy being her." Recently, I found myself standing at Aura Sky Pool in Dubai, looking out over a pretty remarkable city. The view was breathtaking; the kind of view people travel across the world to see. Of course, I took some photos. As I scrolled through them afterward, I found myself sitting with a few different thoughts and feelings. First, gratitude; for the opportunities I've been given, the experiences I've had, and the cards I've been dealt. Then, pride; in the journey I've been on and the person I've worked so hard to become. And finally, vulnerability; an uncomfortable feeling that seems to show up every single time I think about sharing photos of myself, especially photos that feel a little more personal, such as those in a bikini. The longer I looked through my pictures, the less I found myself thinking about the view and the more I found myself thinking about the woman in them. Maybe it...

“Sometimes the most meaningful journeys are the ones we never planned.” About two and a half weeks ago, I made a very spontaneous decision. After weeks of feeling anxious due to the unstable situation in the Middle East ( and disappointed my trip to Thailand had been cancelled ), I woke up one morning with a clear need to get away. It was impulsive, a little chaotic, and definitely not thought through, but I needed a mental break. I needed to step away from the alerts, the sounds of interceptions in the sky, and the constant ‘war’ chatter. So, I went for it and I booked a flight to France that same day ( who knew I’d be back in France so quickly - but it felt right! ). What I didn’t expect was everything that would come with that decision. Yes, I found moments of peace; time to slow down, to breathe, to step away from the noise I had been surrounded by. But the trip became so much more than that. It brought a sense of calm and joy in a way I hadn’t anticipated. Getting to see my brothe...

“Not everyone processes uncertainty the same way, and that’s okay.” The past few days have been unexpected. What started as a normal Saturday - coaching at the gym, breakfast with a friend, catching up on work with the TV on in the background - quickly changed when I heard a loud “boom” coming from outside my apartment. At first, many of us in the community assumed it came from one of the many nearby construction sites. But, within the next few hours, the loud sounds came again and again, and word spread that these were missiles and drones being intercepted in the sky. I’ve always felt safe here in the UAE, and believe it or not, to a certain extent, I still do. Like many other residents here, I have a lot of trust in the country I’ve chosen to call home for over 11 years. I’ve seen it overcome challenges in the past, such as COVID and floods, and I’ve witnessed how much the leadership cares for the residents, particularly over the last few days.  That said, it’s no secret that I a...

  "The unknown is where the real stories begin." When I heard about the Hood to Coast event happening in the Dubai desert this month, I just knew I wanted to take part. It reminded me of the Wadi Bih run I did a couple of times in the Hatta mountains several years ago, and the idea of a team relay in a new environment sounded so exciting! Of course, I needed to find some teammates. For this event though, I really put myself out there and joined a team where I didn’t know anyone. I’ve been making an effort to meet new people through run clubs and fitness events, and this sounded like a great opportunity. So, when the founder of Original Culprit ( a fitness wear brand ) decided to put some teams together, I went for it. I had a busy work week and a terrible night’s sleep prior to the event, but I’d committed, and there was no way I was backing out. I arrived at the venue ( in the   middle of the desert )  around 4:30am , and it was dark and cold outside. I met my four teamm...