One Rising Star

"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...

“Some of the best days are the unplanned ones.” While staying in Nice, I woke up one morning and decided it was the perfect day for a little adventure. Without much planning, I hopped on the train and headed to Monaco, ready to see where the day would take me. The journey was very spontaneous; one moment I was in France, and the next I was stepping into a completely different country. That’s the beauty of Europe! I started my day exploring the Prince’s Palace and wandering through the charming streets of Le Rocher’s old town while taking in the views from up high. From there, I made my way down to Port Hercule, strolling along the harbour and admiring the yachts before climbing up to Monte Carlo Square and the iconic casino. A pricey lunch in a fancy cafe followed (as expected), but it was all part of the Monaco experience I guess.  I wrapped up the day with a walk through the very elaborate Christmas market, soaking in the festive atmosphere before making my way back to the train ...

“Rester, c’est exister… mais voyager, c’est vivre.” My time in France began in Paris, where I met up with my parents for a few days of exploring the city. I couldn’t wait to finally use my  Canadian  French and take in all the iconic sights , such as the Eiffel Tower, l’Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, and Notre Dame. Wandering the city on foot, soaking up its energy, and sharing those moments with my parents made it especially meaningful. The trip also included hockey, with a short visit to Cergy to watch my brother play an away game before we hopped on the train to Bordeaux, where he currently lives and plays professional ice hockey. There, we caught a home game, watched an away match on the big screen at La Cage, a Québec-roots restaurant that felt like a little taste of Canada, toured the city, and spent Christmas with his family. Of course, I did find my way into a little CrossFit box too to do a couple workouts. Bordeaux was cold, but festive, and I loved how walkable it...