Thank YOU and Thank ME

Today is Thanksgiving day in Canada. This day isn't about the turkey, the stuffing, the pumpkin pie or the cranberry sauce. Thanksgiving is a day to really celebrate your blessings. Everyday we are reminded of the things that we are thankful for, but we never really acknowledge them or celebrate them as we should. Each person you meet in life, is fighting a difficult battle. Each person you don't meet, is likely fighting an ever bigger battle. It is disturbing, because I often wonder, why other people aren't as fortunate as I am. 
Today and everyday, I am thankful to God for blessing me with such a beautiful life. I am thankful for my family who have taught me to always be thankful for everything that I have no matter how big or small. I am thankful for my friends who have helped me survive the curves and bumps that were difficult in my life, and the same friends who continuously support me through the best and worst of times. I am thankful for my dog Pirlo - it is kind of strange because I am the human and he is the dog, and although I do everything for him - in a strange, weird, sort of loving way, he does the same for me. I am thankful for all the little materialistic things in my life that I don't really need but have. I am thankful for all the people who have have made my life difficult or who have walked out of my life; because by doing so, they have made me a better, stronger person. They have shown me exactly who I do not wish to be. 
Most importantly (and this is important because most people forget to thank this one particular person), I am thankful for myself (as you should be thankful for yourselves also). It's true that I am who I am because of everyone who has touched my world, whether or not they are still part of it. Everyone who has been in my life has somehow impacted who I am one way or another. I have come a long way with the beautiful people that surround my life, but every once in a while, we all need to just stop and really take the opportunity to thank ourselves. We don't give ourselves a break or enough credit for everything we do each and everyday to better ourselves. For example, without my determination, passion, and dedication, I wouldn't be where I am right now. I am thankful for allowing myself to go through difficult obstacles in life, in school and at work to realize my potential and just how strong I really am. I thank myself for not falling through the cracks or getting side tracked from reaching my dreams. We all have a choice of whether or not we want to succeed or fail, whether or not we want to stay on track or fall through the cracks. Although we have influences, each decision that we make is solely our decision, and each decision we make has a consequence. Depending on your decision, the consequence will be either good, or bad. If you have done something that has made you happy, or you are generally happy with your life, then you have made the right decision. As a result, you owe it to yourself to thank yourself. 

There's No Place Like Home

"Music says words we're too afraid to speak out loud."

The Voice in your Head is a LIAR

You know that feeling that you get when you venture out into something new? That feeling you get when you are trying something new for the first time in your life and you are bombarded with all these emotions of fear and anxiety?
Since I have moved to Dubai, I have had this ongoing feeling that I am not able to do the things that I felt so prepared to do when I was in Toronto, but why?
The problem is that as I landed in Dubai, I thought my life would fall into place rather quickly. I would be able to adapt quickly. However, I learned that regardless of how easy things may look, things aren't always what they seem.
Moving from being completely dependent on myself to being completely dependent on everyone around me is not something to take lightly. This is perhaps the hardest part about being in Dubai - the feeling of being completely needy of everyone's help. However with time, this will change. I am finally starting to adapt to the country and the culture. The jet-lag has finally settled in and I am starting to learn my way around the city. However, I am still left with all these unresolved emotions of not being able to do certain things that I love.

Put all your fears aside and live the life you deserve

I have wanted to be a Zumba instructor since the moment I entered the fitness industry. I am now finally certified and have felt prepared to teach for months now. Yet, after arriving in Dubai, I feel that maybe I am not quite ready yet, or maybe I am not good enough to do it. How will my participants react? Will they like me? All these unanswered questions have been wandering in my mind and making me feel like I am inadequate to teach.
 So, I had some alone time to gather my thoughts and think about whether or not I'm prepared to go into a city that I don't know, and teach people whom I have never met and whose cultural backgrounds are different from mine. From my down-time, I have come up with a very rational response. First and foremost, "the first steps are always the hardest to take." In order for my dreams to come true, I have to look past my fears. I might not be amazing. In fact, I might fail once, or twice, or three times - however, with failure comes success. Secondly (and most importantly), you know that little voice in your head that keeps you doubting and questioning yourself and your abilities? You know, that voice that constantly tells you that you are not pretty enough, you are not smart enough, you are not talented enough, and that you are not good enough? That voice is a liar. 
If you want to do something, do it. Don't let anything or anyone stop you and do not let your fears overpower your confidence. You are a lot stronger and a lot smarter than to allow your fears to take over your dreams. Is there a chance that you will fail? Absolutely. Failure is inevitable, but, the worst regret we can have in life is not for what we have done and failed, but for what we have not done and succeeded.