I think I’ve mentioned it here on my blog already, but in case I haven’t, allow me to share with all of you that I am getting married in a few months. Most of the major tasks regarding wedding planning are done (*touch wood*), but there are a few smaller matters that still require my … More Read this if you’re looking for bridal shoes
A few nights ago, my sister came to me and my parents to chat about an issue she had been keeping from us for quite some time now. I’m not going to disclose the details of the situation out of respect for my sister, but the matter led to her feeling quite embarrassed and ashamed. … More It really is okay to ask for help
Toxic masculinity, for anyone who perhaps hasn’t heard of it before, is a term used to describe social and cultural norms, often considered to be traditional, which have the ability to negatively impact all people. I think a lot of folks hear ‘toxic masculinity’ and assume that it is strictly affiliated with males, but this … More Here’s why we need to stop subconsciously perpetuating toxic masculinity
Mental health is a stigmatized topic of conversation. More specifically, mental illness. This isn’t anything new, and while the topic has gained ground in terms of being more socially accepted, and further, discussed, mental health conversations aren’t anywhere near where they should be regarding advocacy and awareness. We’re certainly moving in the right direction, but … More Read this before approaching someone about their mental health
Allow me to stipulate that I do realize the film Mad Mad: Fury Road isn’t exactly a new release at this point. It premiered in 2015, and I watched it shortly after it was released. Between then and now I’ve watched a few snippets of the movie, here and there, for example, if I catch … More Can we talk about ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ for a minute?
I’m sure we have all heard the saying ‘stick to your guns,’ or something along those lines, at one point or another. In essence, the saying suggests the importance of staying true to ourselves, whether it be a specific choice or decision in life, or perhaps something affiliated with a certain sort of relationship; romantic, … More The significance of sticking to your guns
These days, more than ever, arguably, it seems as though a lot of us walking around with a lot of pent-up anger and frustration. And, understandably so. The past couple of years haven’t exactly been pleasant in regards to the pandemic and all of its lovely elements, and there are a few of us who … More Mind your tongue
A couple of days ago, my mom and I got into it. She and I bicker every now and then, but full-on arguing is a bit of a rarity between her and me, so when it happens, it ain’t pretty. I won’t disclose the topic that prompted the argument, but at one point I said … More How to stop speaking out of anger
The concept of combining friendship and business can be a controversial one, depending on who you ask. It’s a fickle verdict regarding the matter; there are folks who have had nothing but positive experiences in terms of mixing business and friendship, and there are others who might say they would never do it again. When … More The risks of mixing business and friendship
I’m willing to bet that some folks read the title of today’s post, said aloud to themselves, ‘yes,’ and carried on with their day without reading the entirety of this entry. To each their own; I’m not here to judge someone based on whether or not they took the time to read a post on … More Is chivalry dead?
A couple of days ago, my sister and I were discussing the idea of giving and receiving, and how the concept works out, usually, to achieve equilibrium. I’ve been helping my sister out with some chores around the farm because she currently isn’t able to do them as she normally would, and in turn, she … More Giving and receiving: a thing of the past
It is possible that you read the title of today’s post and experienced perplexity. You may be questioning why I would imply in my title that the concept of resilience can be anything other than good; it is an altruistic notion and implies strength. So why the hell would anyone perceive resilience in a negative … More Resilience: good? Bad? Both?
I think it is safe to say that the majority of families involved in agriculture work with each other. This is an observation I have garnered over the years through chatting with other folks who work in farming, and a vast majority of those of us who work in the farming industry work alongside family … More The reality of working with family
I’m a smoker. When I say I’m a smoker, I’m making reference to the fact that I smoke cigarettes, but I also smoke marijuana, so I guess I can classify myself as a dual smoker. Those are the only two forms of smoking I participate in, just to clarify, in case anyone associates the term … More Hypnotism 101
This past weekend, my mom, dad, myself and Blaine ventured into Brantford to go out for dinner. We hadn’t gone out for dinner as a family for quite a while, and although my sister wasn’t able to come as she was working, we decided we would go without her and grab her something to bring … More Here’s why you shouldn’t take your frustrations out on wait staff
I am not someone who frequently visits any type of salon, studio, or beauty-related business. I never have, and probably never will, simply because the world of aesthetics and all of its services have never really appealed to me. Working on a farm isn’t exactly a profession in which beauty and my appearance are my … More Here’s why you need to visit Blush Medical Aesthetics
My mom and I were discussing the concept of traditionalism recently. The topic came up because we received an invitation to an event, and while the invite was addressed to me, my sister and my parents, the wording pertaining to my parents was ‘Mr. and Mrs. Paul Arva.’ I mentioned to my mom how I … More Don’t be afraid to break tradition
I was having a conversation with my mom and dad the other night while having dinner. We were discussing how, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of humans have taken it upon themselves to become the most selfish version of themselves possible. I realize this is a generalizing and therefore inaccurate statement … More Where did all the selflessness go?
I’m not a big fan of the notion that we as humans identify as either dog people or cat people. Why must we strictly be one or the other as opposed to a delightful combination of both, equal parts cat and dog people? I happen to love cats and dogs, therefore I refuse to identify … More Read this to learn more about your cat
As noted in Sunday’s post, this past weekend, my mom and dad celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. It’s a big deal if you ask me, and so my sister and I wanted to do a little something for them on their special day. My mom has a love for flowers and plants, so getting her … More Have you used Bloomex?
I debated writing a post discussing the convoy of trucks that have made their way into Ottawa’s core to protest against Canada’s COVID-19 mandates. Sure, I have my own opinion on the matter, but I’m reluctant to share it because there is a high probability that my own views and opinions will become a target … More Why are we obsessed with hate?
There is a saying that suggests those who are older than us deserve our respect, unequivocally. It is something that we are taught from a young age and are expected to practice for the remainder of our lives. There is some truth that exists in the concept of respecting authority, and in some situations, it … More Respect: earned, not given
When I was younger, I was absolutely obsessed with the television series known as America’s Next Top Model (ANTM), created by the highly celebrated and recognized model Tyra Banks. By younger, I’m guesstimating I began watching this show when I was about 12 or so, which are important developmental years. I couldn’t get enough of … More America’s Next Top Model: a toxic portrayal
The opening of this post is similar to yesterday’s in terms of repetition when it comes to me making mention of things I enjoy and am passionate about. Yesterday’s post discussed my love for the television series Vikings, and today’s is, once again, discussing my opinion of a horror movie I recently watched. Blaine and … More ‘Ghosts of War’: a refreshing take on horror
My love for the television series Vikings isn’t exactly a secret. I’ve watched the show in its entirety about four or five times now, and I don’t think I’ll be getting tired of it any time soon. With so many characters, plot developments and insanely intense battles, I think it would honestly be difficult to … More Celebrating femininity in the Viking era
A few nights ago, Blaine and I were finishing up an episode of ‘Queer Eye’ at his place. The episodes are roughly 40 minutes or so, meaning when it finished we had to find something else to watch. We wanted to switch it up a bit, so after browsing through Netflix, we settled on a … More ‘Midnight in the Switchgrass’: is it worth the watch?
I am a practicing Catholic and have been my entire life, arguably as a result of the influence of my religious mother. She and I attend mass weekly, and have for a while, and I imagine we will continue to do so for a long time. Priests come and go in their designated positions serving … More Challenging expectations in the priesthood
If I were to start this post by preaching to you that a change in attitude can result in a change in your overall life, there is a probable chance you would tell me to shut the hell up. And, honestly, rightly so. We’ve all heard about how powerful a positive attitude can be, and … More The power of shifting perspective
It’s a philosophy that we arguably all have heard at some point or another, but regardless of its prominence, the concept of staying silent when we have nothing nice to say is one that remains absolutely relevant, and likely will continue to be, infinitely. It’s a rather simple yet effective ideology, and I believe it … More The beauty of remaining silent when you have nothing nice to offer
Control is a facet of life that, I believe, a lot of us develop a borderline toxic mentality towards. There are a lot of things in life we can control, for example, what we put into our bodies, the sort of work we do, who we form relationships with, what we purchase, etc. In fact, … More No, you really can’t control everything
ontheedgeofeverything 