Atonement

I go through periods of writers block.  I need to take the time to process my thoughts until they make more sense. Sure, I could write about whatever comes into my head (which is what I'm doing now) but often it reflects a time that is clearly what I'd like to call "a growth spurt".

It bothers me when I don't write. I can't seem to formulate words to describe anything that is going through my head. I have a zillion thoughts but not one word.

As always, I think about life - my life - and my purpose. What am I truly doing here? Have the choices I've made been smart ones? Am I living my life to its fullest potential? Am I truly following the path that I'm intended to follow? What is next?  Then I must remind myself to live in the present and stop thinking about the past and trying to predict the future.  I'm getting so much better at being grateful for now.

Last week my dear friend Chalium preached a sermon at church. It was a wonderful sermon... but what really resonated with me was the word "atonement". That's the word I've been searching for. The rest of the sermon (as wonderful as it was) escapes me... but the word atonement repeats over and over in my head.

That's exactly where I am. I'm in atonement.

I went to see the movie, Eat Pray Love last week (and I'm going to see it again tomorrow). I can relate SO much to the main character, Elizabeth. She goes off on a journey to discover herself after realizing that she was in the wrong life. The only major difference is that she found herself after one year... and here I am how many years later? I'm still finding myself.

My life was so restless for so many years. I was SO terribly dissatisfied, unhappy, unsettled. As a result, I couldn't just stop and allow anyone in. Looking back, there were some really wonderful teachers who came into my life who wanted to show me how lovable I truly was. The trouble was, I didn't love myself then. I was a funnel, love came in and just went right out the other end. I didn't even realize it was happening. I had no idea how lucky I was that there was always another wonderful teacher wanting a chance to love me... it was fruitless. I could not open my heart to love no matter how great that love was on offer.

Hindsight is always 20/20. I took love for granted. I thought everyone had offers of love like I had. There always seemed to be opportunities to find love around every corner. I was lovable but I couldn't see it! I was blind and I was spoiled. I was clearly not ready for it.

It was imperative to my personal growth to change my environment... and that's when I came to New Zealand. My experience with love was TOTALLY different here. So the lesson began...

One of the first things I noticed when I got to New Zealand was that I wasn't getting hit on by men. In fact, when I walked down the street I seemed virtually invisible. It was such a strange feeling, I liked it at first. That NEVER happened in Canada. Everywhere I went, men would stare, honk their horn, chat me up at Tim Hortons... but not here in New Zealand.  And it had nothing to do with my age either.  When I went home to Canada I lost my invisibility shield and I was a a walking target for loose flirtation.  My options here in NZ got narrower. Before I knew it, I felt desperate. In the blink of an eye, I forgot how lovable men thought I was, because I never saw it in myself.

So that's when I went from being oblivious to love, to swinging the pendulum all the way to being desperate for love. I love this paragraph from Eat Pray Love, it pretty much sums up who I became when I moved to NZ:

Moreover, I have boundary issues with men. Or maybe that's not fair to say. To have issues with boundaries, one must have boundaries in the first place, right? But I disappear into the person I love, I am the permeable membrane. If I love you, you can have everything. You can have my time, my devotion, my ass, my money, my family, my dog, my dog's money, my dog's time - everything. If I love you, I will carry for you all your pain, I will assume for you all your debts (in every definition of the word), I will protect you from your own insecurity, I will project upon you all sorts of good qualities that you have never actually cultivated in yourself and I will buy Christmas presents for your entire family. I will give you the sun and the rain, and if they are not available, I will give you a sun check and a rain check. I will give you all this and more, until I get so exhausted and depleted that the only way I can recover my energy is by becoming infatuated with someone else.

My "love" experiences in the 8 years I've lived in NZ have not been pleasant. I've had two very bad relationships. One relationship was incredibly controlling and became physically and emotionally abusive after I loaned him a very large sum of money (the abuse started when he claimed the money was a "gift" and he didn't owe me a cent).  In the second relationship I tried to save him from his own toxic life in hopes I could make a difference.  It worked for a while, he gave me complete control of his life (which I never asked for or wanted). Then there were a few "obsessive" love experiences thrown in for good measure. Men who desperately wanted me to love them and I desperately wished I could.  And my all time favourite - the emotionally unavailable men (who I am drawn to like a bee to honey) who happily string me along but have absolutely no ability to love anyone but themselves. I am beginning to wise up and realize that love IS a two way street and that I'm not actually desperate after all. I needed to experience those bad relationships in order to truly appreciate when a good one comes along.

So now comes my period of Atonement... which has been ongoing for more than 2 years... but has really only hit me recently. I have been feeling tremendously guilty for the way I rejected love. I needed to make amends, to acknowledge the hurt I caused and to ask for forgiveness. My recent trip to Canada brought closure to every one of my past relationships. As painful as it was for me to accept, they have all moved on and they are all in happy, solid relationships now. They all have loving long term partners and they all have families. They forgave me a long time ago. I was the one who hadn't been able to forgive myself. I was finally free to move on.

I am such a different person now than the person I was.  These last two years have been especially important in my personal growth. It's been the first time since I was 14 years old that I haven't had a boyfriend. I've been entirely on my own - quite a humbling experience when you aren't used to being alone. In many ways I've really enjoyed it. I love the freedom of my independence. I love not arguing or having power struggles with someone. I love the things I've accomplished on my own.  I have impressed myself with what I can achieve and do.  I have totally and completely fallen in love with the woman I have become. I couldn't say that before. I really didn't like the girl I was.

I went from being a taker, to being a giver (to everyone but me).  Now I'm finding the balance between both by listening to my own needs and giving them freely and generously to myself, no more void to fill for anyone else. I am doing yoga every day and discovering the amazing changes it's made both mentally and physically. I'm saying "no" to others and saying "yes" to myself. I'm putting my needs first for a change.

But I have missed having companionship. I miss sharing all the exciting moments with that one person. I miss having someone around to take care of (cook dinner for, mend shirts, scratch their back) and who is there to take care of me. I miss the physical intimacy. I miss the partnership. I'm afraid that I'll never find that again. But I don't miss it enough to go out with any man who comes along. This time I'm going to be choosy. My greatest mistake was not being choosy enough. If you wanted to love me, I'd take you on board, either to fill the void or because I needed a project.

This blog entry is my most revealing, most vulnerable piece yet. Writing it is a cathartic experience, providing relief from held-in, deep emotional trauma. I know that it's important as part of my letting go. My life has always been an open book, I've written about my childhood, my relationship with Brian, my hysterectomy, my faith experiences, etc.  Writing about my heart should be no different. It's my life and it's here to share with whomever wishes to listen.

I am no longer looking for love. I'm going to stop worrying about whether someone is out there or not, because deep down I know he is and he will appear at just the right time and he will have no trouble loving me despite my quirks.  I will know him because I too will be able to love him easily.  It shouldn't be a struggle.  I love my life just how it is and I'm in no hurry to change it. I am however, open to receiving it if it happens to cross my path - but only if cupid's bow hits both of us in the heart.  No more one sided love! I will recognize it as the real thing and I will cherish it.

Until then, I'm happy to see where life takes me. I may not understand it at the time, but just like my writer's block, there's always a good reason for it to turn out the way it has.

CanTeen Wax Wars

On Saturday October 23rd CanTeen held another big fundraiser - Wax Wars. Our local Police and Fire Departments raised over $5000 for the single event and our brave boys in blue stripped down to their superman boxer shorts to have their legs, backs and chests waxed for a good cause - young people living with cancer.

There were also opportunities to have moustaches, beards and heads shaved. Men gave up their Tom Selleck look to reveal a younger, softer side. Imagine not knowing what you look like without facial hair... the last time this gentleman saw his upper lip he was starting puberty!



And let's not forget the wonderful brave souls who shaved off their gorgeous manes, who worried whether they had a nice round head or not. This shows dedication and tremendous support to those who don't get a choice in the matter.




Even our local MP Simon Bridges came out to support the event. He hardly flinched when his legs were being waxed... at one point he said it was actually a fairly pleasant experience. The girls from the beauty school admittedly did such an amazing job to try to make this as painless for the boys as possible... but Simon had far less "fur" than this...



Ouch is right. Poor lad. He won't forget this experience.

I was there to offer pre-waxing massage to help ease the tension. I was surprised more of them didn't take me up on the offer - but apparently they couldn't tolerate a distraction from the mental preparation they needed to "psyche" themselves into it. Still I found a willing participant or two...

Take THAT for the speeding ticket I got doing 57kms/hr in a school zone! ;-)



But when you think about what it feels like to have cancer, this pales in comparison. If this is all it takes to raise awareness and funds to send 30 teenagers to camp or a group of survivors and their peers off to jump out of an airplane or to swim with dolphins... well doesn't it seem worth it?

White Water Rafting vs. The Lake

I've just spent the last 5 weeks in Canada. The number 1 question people ask me is, "Why do you live in New Zealand?" Many people couldn't imagine living so far away from their family. So I thought I'd write about why I decided to make New Zealand home.

First of all, I just want to say that I have strong instincts (and learning to trust them more and more). For whatever reason, I always felt very restless living in Canada. I was the sort of kid who always suspected I was adopted because I never felt like I fit in. In school I was "popular" but I didn't fit in to any particular "clique". I floated around and made friends with everyone. I changed highschool 4 times. I made loads of friends but not a lot of very strong bonds... that came later... with lots of work... and facebook.

Recently there was an article published from CBC saying that facebook attracts narcissists with low self esteem. Of course I am going to disagree (being the narcissist I am - yeah right). Facebook has allowed me to get to know my friends on a much deeper level. I love people. I am friends with every person on my facebook page. I like to think that they are on my page because they like me too. I don't think there is anything wrong with your friends posting a comment on your photos telling you that you still look great after 20 years or living vicariously through your travels. Friends are there to boost your confidence. When did that become a bad thing?

Sorry... I digress... back to my blog;

I moved a lot too. I could never really figure out where I wanted to live. My problem is that I like everywhere. I am one of those people who wants to experience everything. It's a blessing and it's a curse. I had moved 15 times in 13 years. It really started to get to me. With each move, I had to start all over. Having my own business helped but if I had stayed put I would have established myself in my career... but that's not what I wanted. At the time, I had no idea WHAT I was searching for.

So when I took a trip to Australia and New Zealand in 2003, my expectations were low. I knew very little about NZ and came here only because so many people told me how beautiful it was. I planned a little jaunt over from Aussie, intending to stay for a few weeks tops. It's hard to explain what I felt when I got here. All of a sudden, it became clear that this was where I belonged. For the first time in my life, I felt switched on.

New Zealand makes sense to me. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Canada and I had a lot going for me. I had settled in Stratford Ontario which I absolutely loved, my business was thriving, I had great friends... but I was so dissatisfied. I enjoyed my job but I needed more freedom. I was TOO busy and I couldn't turn business away. The busy-ness of life felt overwhelming. I was always off to do things with friends on the weekend or chasing after family that it hardly felt like I was ever able to just relax. I was absorbing all the stress. Thing vibrate at a higher frequency in Canada and so was I.

Life in New Zealand ticks along at a much slower pace. The vibe is slower and I can feel it inside of myself too. It actually took me some time to learn to allow my body to slow itself down but ultimately I knew that I would extend my life on this frequency. There are fewer people, fewer cars, fewer options, fewer distractions... and that's just what I needed.

Allow me to use this metaphor to explain it:

To me, Canada is like a white water rafting trip. It's a lot of fun when you're in the raft (often with lots of other people). You have to keep alert because the rapids can get really fast which causes the adrenaline to pump in your veins. But if you aren't careful, the raft could tip and then all of a sudden you're traveling down the rapids on your own trying to keep your head above water. It's a thrill but I always felt like I was drowning.

New Zealand is more like a lake. It's vast and clear and safe to swim in. You pretty much know what to expect the moment you step foot in the boat. It will be a smooth and pleasant (and dare I say it, boring) experience. I have been learning to swim here for 7 years. I am pleased to report that I am very gifted at treading water.

As much as I enjoy white water rafting, I couldn't to do it every day (I'm the rowdy one in the middle of the raft in the photo above btw which was actually taken in the Swiss Alps which is a pretty laid back sorta place). The constant adrenaline isn't healthy. My blood pressure was through the roof and I needed to look after myself. I have less in New Zealand - less stuff, less money, less options, less stress. When I want more, I just go to Canada for a few weeks and that does the trick. I feel like I've made the right decision. The swimming lessons are paying off. I've toyed with the idea of moving back to Canada but I'm still testing the waters. I'd definitely need a swim coach.

Another thing I love about living in New Zealand is that I actually feel like I can make a difference here. It might be the simple fact that there are fewer people therefore less competition but it is also a place where personality goes a long way. My community needs me and I feel valued being here. I'm not saying I wasn't needed or value in Stratford (because I know I was) but it was more about gaining confidence to make a difference through volunteering my time on whatever needs doing whether its on a charity committee, helping at church, visiting rest homes and running errands for people, or just popping in to have a cuppa tea with someone who needs company. The biggest difference between NZ and Canada is the amount of extra time I have in a day. I don't necessarily want to get paid to do these things. I do them because they make me feel really good. It's amazing how many people just don't get that. I wonder if it has anything to do with not growing up in a close family (we are close as adults but as kids not so much). Being in an environment where I feel loved, valued and respected makes me feel good about myself. It's ultimately what we need for a healthy self esteem. Of course it might also have a lot to do with age and maturity. I'm a different person now to who I was 10 years ago.

The big question I have to ask myself is, "where next?" I can't imagine treading water for the rest of my life - what does that mean? Do I even want to leave NZ? Is that just complacency talking? Am I getting too comfortable? All that talk about "living the simple life" but am I challenging myself anymore? These are the questions that I'm asking myself right now.

Going back to Canada this time has made me think that it might be time to start testing the waters again. I've been paddling around in this lake for 7 years now. I have come back from my white water experience feeling unscathed and refreshed. Is it time to think about doing it more frequently? Is it time to get out there for longer trips? Is it time to get out of my comfort zone? Am I ready to start over? Start over or fresh start?

All I know is that life is so good right now and I'm just taking it all in stride. I've got my eyes wide open to any opportunity that presents itself. I have a good life that I know so many people would give up their busy lives to lead. The truth is, I only seem to become conscious of how little I have when I return from the rafting trips, but living at the lake means not needing much at all. Somehow I feel the link lies somewhere in the whole self esteem issue. I need to mull that one over a little longer...

... in the meantime enjoy this photo from my hometown of Hanmer Ontario overlooking the peaceful Onwatin Lake from my best friends parents home. Note: there ARE lakes out there besides New Zealand (but there is also snow... and that is a whole other issue)!!