It’s funny, when you miss home and want to go back you forget to remember all the reasons why you left in the first place.

When I thought of coming home all I pictured was cuddling in my duvet and pillow filled slice of heaven, playing with my pup, watching Sunday morning TV with my mom and spending time with my nephew and family. I pictured myself curled up in a huge fluffy blanket at my cottage everyday reading a book and reminiscing on old times.

The things I failed to remember is the ignorance and nasty attitudes that most city people have. I failed to remember that life in the GTA moves at an unbearable fast pace and that most of my anxiety has developed from too much stress living the ‘city life’.

I love the fresh crisp Canadian air (though it seems to be drier than Thailand as I have suffered with some bad nose bleeds). I love the time I get to spend with family and my drooling and cuddly nephew, Brody.

I was on my way to an interview today and because of my car predicament (sending it to the junk yard before my travels) I have decided to devote my summer to public transit. A new, eco-friendly me! And a slight excuse not to have to drive in terrible traffic. I started off my morning smiling ear to ear, enjoying the not so deathly sun here in Ontario, but that excitement and happiness of being home came to a halting stop once I remembered how some people act here. A nice, very social 50 year old man had been on the Oakville bus with me and knew the driver by name… In an attempt to make casual conversation I thought it was a pretty nice thing to do since most people don’t acknowledge anyone around them anymore when. The driver wanted nothing to do with this man and ignored every question he asked. Apparently it’s impossible to be friendly around here because he even shrugged me off when I said hi, thank you, and good bye. This friendly passenger decided since he wasn’t getting any attention from the driver he would start a conversation with me instead. If people just gave others the time of day occasionally you would see that people have big hearts sometimes and can make your day with one simple comment. I shared my travel stories and my work stories with this passenger and he threw me compliments left, right and center. I walked off the bus with a smile thinking at least some people still have the common courtesy to be nice around here. Once I arrived at the GO Station, a foreign older woman hadn’t understood the process of ticket purchases for the train and went to the front of the line. I get it, we are all in line waiting for tickets and maybe budding the entire line isn’t the way to go about the situation, but shit happens and there is a word called forgiveness. The station manager instantly came out of his cubicle and announced to the entire line in a really harsh and disgusting way that he apologized for this woman’s ignorance and that apparently she thinks she is better than everyone else in line. Completely uncalled for and rude.

I guess this is a good time to mention my sisters current fascination for the ‘law of attraction’ (if you haven’t watched The Secret, you should). I wish everyone in this world could try and hold their head high and see the positives that every day has to offer rather than everything that goes wrong in this world.

Just smile, life is not so bad.

Aside from all the ‘Negative Nancy’s’ we have here in the GTA, being home with my family has been wonderful… everything I expected it would be and more. I regret ever being difficult to handle when I was a teenager, my momma has given me everything I ever needed!

I am happy to be home and I am so blessed to have such a loving family and to have my nephew staying with my until late July!

Next adventure: Germany from May 16th – June 2nd!
To finally spend some time with my wonderful boyfriend Paul and see a little bit of Europe while I am at it!

PS. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mommy’s out there (including my sister who is a first time mommy this year!)

Don’t forget to take time aside from your hectic lives to cherish the time you have with family, life is too short to miss these opportunities <3