Category — Sticky Note Friday

On my way back from Granville Island this morning, I noticed an older couple taking each others photo in-front of the ships.

I approached with a smile on my face and offered to take a picture of the two of them together.

The gentleman smiled back – a little hesitant to hand his camera over to a complete stranger. I set my purchases on the ground and he shrugged, grinned and handed me the camera as his wife came over.

“This nice young lady said she’d take our photo!” he said. His accent seemed to be somewhere from the southern United States.

His wife smiled and started pointing out what she’d like for me to get in the photo with them.

I took two pictures, including the boats and mountains, and handed the camera back.

“You Canadians are so nice!” the wife said.

The husband laughed and said, “I’m moving to Canada! You guys are just so sweet and helpful.”

I couldn’t help but laugh myself – it’s the old Canadian stereotype: we’re polite and friendly. However, if making that stereotype a reality for visitors to Vancouver makes their day, I’m happy to do it.

I wished them a good visit and as I picked up my things and started towards home, I heard them offer to take another couple’s photo in-front of the ships. “‘That nice young lady took our picture and we’d like to do the same for you.”

The other couple happily accepted and I continued on. I have to admit to feeling absurdly happy; it really is the little things that count.

Yesterday, I attended an Emotus Operandi meeting – the meeting that will help me get my butt in gear and moving forward with my work.

I made a great 2-week plan at the meeting:

• 3 pages of writing
• 2 blog posts a week
• 2 drawings a week

I will have to explain my success or failure with these goals at the check-in in two weeks.

So today, I cleaned the apartment, took out all the recycling – and did I then sit down to work?

I did not.

I found myself suddenly wanting to play World of Warcraft. I thought, “Oh why bother with work now. It’s 1 p.m., starting anything is pointless.”

Part of me was being as charming as a toddler throwing a tantrum – “I don’t wanna work! I wanna play. You’re mean and I hate you!”

But, after meeting the other people at Emotus Operandi, I feel a sense of responsibility. On the days when I can’t get it together for me, I should try anyway because the idea of going back to the group empty-handed after all that great advice I got is unthinkable.

And now that I did some work, I can go play with a clear conscience!

A little haiku to my favourite legal substance:

Oh trimethylxanthine-
psychoactive stimulant,
make my morning great.

I think I’m becoming immune to its effects in small doses though and this makes me sad.

Maybe if I stopped drinking Coke (I don’t drink much, but I’ve really developed a taste for the stuff) and just drank green tea, I’d actually feel the effects of caffeine again.

Come on caffeine – I’ll work better if you work your magic.