bright privileged faces
carving out precious time to slow down
peeling back layers to connect
to properly disconnect
to rightfully ease in to peace

escaping the cruel edges and cold lines
the soulless eyes and helpless despair

of the unrelenting over stimulating
always unforgiving city life
//
long comfortable silences
accepted and embraced finally

deep shadows and dim light
erase the grime and inebriation

off of tired, satisfied and loved faces
happily engulfed by the sun in the centre

hours lost in the flickering gaze
a shared meditation silently agreed upon
governed by the symphony of flames
//
how easy it becomes to forget something
as life-defining as time
every moment baking in to a single experience

how incredible it becomes to gain such pleasure
from observing the simple beauty and awe
of humanity in its most raw states
//
stumbling upon a shallow pool
teeming with fresh...

the prairies -
the memories are blurry - mostly clear, but the edges are
blurry
soon to be hazy
eventually gone

the prairies -
the sky goes on for ever
which can be so powerful
with harsh green lightning
sundogs in the brittle winters
endless blue and warm rays
it’s beautiful
and mesmerizing but also
fucking annoying and suffocating

the prairies -
the warmest kindest
most genuine folks
family
connections
drunk summer love
true compassion and simplicity
a blessing and a curse

the prairies -
where you can’t hide
yet you have to hide
you are scrutinized
people who shouldn’t care
non-consensually involved
you can be ruined
in a single instant
by your own actions
or by a nasty
lie

the prairies -
a cesspool of ignorance,
intolerance & fear
hatred of uniqueness
of difference
cookie cutter humans
following the blueprints
without ever asking why

the prairies -
where the old...

the anonymity
the sense of wonder
the random meaningless interactions
the random meaningful connections
prolonged eye contact
admiration of fashion
observing one’s judgements
nostalgia
the endless daydreaming
being immersed in the soundtrack
the comforting rhythm of the familiar sounds
sharing moments with strangers
altered sense of time and reality
a moment of transition
the crushing sense of loneliness
trying to read other’s emotions
making up stories about stranger’s lives
overhearing the most interesting
and the most sad conversations
observing insecurities
a truly random sampling of humans
watching demographics change with each passing moment
feeling afraid
feeling gratitude
feeling inspired
observing emotional reactions to others actions
the familiar faces - realizing the shared routines
observing others judgements - wondering about them
loving the serenity
watching the sunsets
...

A question I get asked a LOT. Usually it’s asked more like “So did you go vegan for health reasons or ethical reasons?” I usually stick to very brief answers such as “Both”.. or “I don’t want to support animal cruelty.” Most people stop asking questions at this point. It gets uncomfortable for them because they are faced with the awkward truth: they directly support industries which rape, murder, torture and mutilate the living beings that inhabit our planet. Nobody likes to come to this realization. I certainly didn’t.

I usually don’t push it. Mainly because I don’t want to come across as judgemental and condescending. I’m still a baby vegan and am learning more about veganism daily, and how to use my voice to spread the message of health and compassion. I’m also learning how to positively inspire people to consider veganism rather than making them feel ashamed or embarrassed...

This has been years in the making. In every journal I’ve owned in the past 3 years, one of the things I have consistently dreamed and written about is having my own blog. When I used to make goals and resolutions, starting a blog was one for years. I have countless ideas and beginnings of posts saved on my phone, computer and in my journal.

Bits and pieces, never all coming together in to a “finished” product. I think that is where the problem lies. I’ve convinced myself that I need to have something polished, prepared, cohesive, something PERFECT to present to the (blogging) world.

Even AFTER reading a shit ton of articles on “How to be a successful blogger” and “How to start a blog”… I still feel at a loss for where to start. I suppose there is no right or wrong way.

I don’t want to choose a topic to focus my blog on, like many of the above mentioned articles suggest. I don’t...