The Bra Street Rambler

People who know me, know me to be a rather creative individual, but it can sometimes be difficult to explain to others just what that means, how deeply creativity runs. Those who do not fancy themselves to be creative live in a slightly different world than those who do. Of course, I don't mean that to say that we live on different planets, that creative individuals are somehow a different species, merely that our realities differ in the world as we know it. You see, creativity is so much more than the ability to make something pretty. Being creative is part of how a person perceives the world around them, interprets it, draws inspiration from it. Someone who is not creative may look at something and see it only on a technical level, whilst someone who is creative sees the very same thing as a detailed work of art, or an in depth metaphor for something else. For example; a non-creative person might see a bird feeder and think “That's nice.” They can appreciate that it...

Someone somewhere cares for you, more than you could know but the demons inside your head keep telling you to go. To run from all their gazes and go far far away, to simply go and hide yourself, and hang your head in shame, Telling you to just give in, it's too hard to let the feelings show. But you are stronger than you think and braver than you know. You've faced so much already, in such a short lived life, you've seen the many faces of people and their strife. You've helped so very many, and given them oh so much, now it's time to let them in, to feel their friendships touch. The road ahead will not be easy, and yes it can be scary, but worth it it will truly be, to put an end to being weary. Weary of the shame and doubt the demons shout inside, weary of the all the times they told you to just go run and hide. It's time to put the night to rest, and raise your head up high, to tilt your head towards the sun, and finally fe...

While the Bra Street Rambler is usually a light-hearted and humorous blog reflecting my personal perspectives, this week I'd like to get serious again. I'd like to focus on something that I'm actually rather passionate about and have touched on in previous posts. You see, throughout my blog I have tried to communicate the importance of appreciation, but there is one group out there that simply doesn't get enough of it. In fact, often theirs is a thankless job. They work tirelessly but are often overshadowed by the few who simply do not deserve the honour and prestige of their titles. But this post isn't about those few, it's about the many. Rather, this appreciation goes out in two parts. Who are these people who deserve our recognition and appreciation, you might ask? Emergency Services. I'm talking about the police, firefighters, paramedics, ambulance drivers, and even the dispatchers who field our calls. I'm talking about all of the people who ...

While this isn't exactly a topic I would normally cover in my blog, at the request of my sister, today's post will be in regards to things a person needs to consider before adopting a cat. First off, as is the case with any pet adoption, you are making a conscious decision to bring an animal into your home and into your life. This is never something to be taken lightly, or to be done on a whim. Pets are not holiday presents to be discarded when the novelty is lost, or trophy's to be thrown away because they are no longer convenient. They are a commitment. I implore you, do not adopt a pet if you are not willing to take the time to not only ensure it has food and water, but to make sure it is happy, healthy, trained, and entertained as well. Animals have complex needs, just as we do, this must always be considered. Animal needs also include veterinary care. While I understand vets can be quite costly and some people may neglect to keep up to date on checkups, it ...

“The power of a handwritten letter is greater than ever. It’s personal and deliberate and means more than an e-mail or text ever will. It has a unique scent. It requires deciphering. But, most important, it’s flawed.” –Ashton Kutcher Two years ago, I wrote a post on writing snail mail, see here.  For several years, my friends and I have written letters to each other. Yes, long handed, envelope and stamps, snail mail. Sometimes life gets busy and we neglect this form of communication for a while in favor of text, email, and Facebook messages which yield faster results. However, there is a certain level of satisfaction to be had in sending a hand written letter. And an even greater delight in finding a response nestled amongst the junk in your mailbox. Much like receiving your Amazon order, there’s a certain joy in receiving something that isn’t a flyer, bill, or junk mail…. And unlike your purchase, you don’t have to order it for yourself and it is much cheaper. In a s...