“If you work hard enough and assert yourself, and use your mind and imagination, you can shape the world to your desires.”
As part of Mount Royal University’s centennial celebrations, the University will present Legacy of Ideas, a speakers series featuring renowned thinkers with big ideas.
And on March 10, MRU will host the best-selling author, Malcolm Gladwell. I don’t know where I was, but I missed out twice on purchasing tickets to this exciting event. I was sad that I wasn’t going to be among a sold out crowd at the EPCOR CENTRE’S Jack Singer Concert Hall up until last week. That’s when I found out that MRU was going to be having a chance to win two tickets through Facebook and Twitter. To enter their contest, applicants were to visit MRU’s centennial website, find the Mural project, and comment which image they thought best represented MRU and why.
Here is my (the randomly selected/winning) post: I believe that panel number 48, Discovery Flight by Karen Oliver, perfectly depicts MRU. Just like an aviator training for its first flight, Mount Royal students are trained by the most passionate, dedicated and knowledgeable instructors in the field. Pilots receiving directions from their flight deck to navigate them to their destination straight and sound, is just like MRU students. Those that work hard, devote themselves and evoke energy will have the leadership, experience and education from the University’s faculty that will not only drive them towards their dreams, but land safely on them. A degree with MRU is education that takes you around the world and back. But you’ll feel so set-up, and so secure, that you’ll want to be grounded to live the dreams you’ve been studying for.
Why I love MG: Malcolm Gladwell’s ability to deconstruct ‘nothing’ into ‘something’ which in reality means ‘everything’ in the way we think, feel and live is incredibly captivating. Not only living the best life that I can, but understanding the life that I live, is extremely important to me. And it’s because of Gladwell’s thought provoking concepts, beliefs, discoveries and themes that I’m able to connect with his language and stop, think and digest his brilliance. I can’t wait to finally capture Malcolm Gladwell’s energy in real life because his writing has been the fuel to my life’s energy for the last couple of years. I’m fortunate to have this chance.
On a neat personal contrary, I cannot agree with his argument in the case of him saying that Facebook and Twitter are based on ‘weak ties’ and they cannot produce social change. Social change IS happening through these social networks, and if I had the chance to ask him one question, I’d ask him to speak to society being able to leverage these networks to reach larger, further groups than ever before. He hasn’t Tweeted since October, 2009.
Stay tuned for my review post his presentation!
As much as I love a night out on the town just winging it, there is something to be said about planning an evening out ahead of time. With just a little research, the ability to coordinate a sequence of events in Calgary vast.
For someone who loves shopping and putting outfits together daily, I’ve found that for a lack of planning on the ‘going out’ part, I’ve enjoyed the ‘getting ready’ part far more often.
I had a recent conversation with someone I admire in Calgary’s fashion scene and we talked about not really having a ‘chance’ to wear close to half of our wardrobe. We both agreed that women (myself included) should realize there’s no need to save that dress, skirt, blouse or silk top (that you paid full price for) because today already is a special occasion. You bought it because you loved it, felt fabulous and wanted to show it off- so cut off the price tags, rip apart the drycleaner’s plastic and wear it for you, today….
This craving to get dressed up and finally book that rezo into the ‘latest restaurant’ is what helped make the ‘Fancy Dresses. Fancy Dinner’ date come true…
I am fortunate to have made so many fantastic connections via Twitter this last year. I have grown up with an immense desire to feel up-to-date on all things Calgary, but it’s because of Twitter that I’m able to feel connected to the city while also connecting with some of its finest people.@JillianWalker and @AlexandraRutley are just two of the incredible people that I’ve met. I have a thing about energy and some type of force pulled us three together. Both are independent, confident, bold, talented and driven. After plentiful conversation online and offline, we planned ahead and made an appointment to get dressed up for a fine dining and ‘outing’ experience.
Our venue of choice was Alloy restaurant after its great deal of buzz on Twitter. The welcoming spirit felt through their Tweets also proved to ‘chirp’ the same in person. I appreciate the chance to meet people who’ve become leaders in their field by understanding what they’re capable of and mastering how to accommodate their business’ niche. This was true for one of Alloy’s owners that we met, Uri Heilik. Through his hosting (a cordial Champaign surprise) and conversation, you could recognize that he has his heart to thank for his success. Our fancy dresses fit into the gorgeous decor quite nicely. You walkout of Calgary and enter into a world of retro hues and lighting that’s Zen/California- like. The food? The food was a synthesis of today’s favourites with a shout out to Asia. I had the arctic char. Unreal.
An alloy is a partial or complete solid solution of one or more elements in a metallic matrix.
Us ladies with Alloy owner, Uri Heilik.
After I threw one or two more snowballs onto my front window, (on my way to pick up Jillian, I ran out of windshield washer fluid, but nothing was going to hold us three back) we were en route to Ming on 17th Ave. A cozy location to have a beverage and ensure all our chakras was aligned correctly (the Buddha on the wall helped us out with that.) Feeling balanced and refuelled, we headed over to the Heart of the Red Mile, Melrose Cafe & Bar. I don’t know what it is about that place, but I always have a good time. Everyone who works there is grounded, egoless, super friendly and just eager to provide an exceptional customer service experience. They have a significant pull on their social media channels and I think they’re sustaining and engaging their audience extremely well.
Until my next #fancydressesfancydinnder date, cheers. I hope you too go out and plan yourself a magical evening with people that help you become the best person you can be.
Can I say it’s the best I’ve ever had? Yes I can because it is.
This year was a collaborated effort of all years prior. It all just came together.
“Just when the caterpillar thought its life was over, it became a butterfly,” Unknown.
Never have I felt so confident, secure, balanced, complete and me. Not only is it the best feeling in the world identifying what you’re born to do and what you’re good at, but making something of that ’it’ is unreal too. I have big dreams and I’m prepared to work hard to get there. I think it’s allowed to pat yourself on the back when you’ve managed to stay resilient to get you where you are today. Kudos to me, but it couldn’t have happened without those beside me cheering me on like for one, my Mom, my hero….
This year…
I completed and achieved a lot. Since last January… I realized my most rewarding work experience yet at a non-profit organization that is a cornerstone for women and their families; I delivered the communications for a $22M recreational facility’s expansion of two new ice surfaces; I cemented the degree that’s totally me; I ventured off on a celebratory graduation vacation to Hawaii; I developed through involvement in numerous fashion, non-profit and high-performance sporting events and I secured a dream full-time PR job that I’m anticipating to be an amazing opportunity. I did all that while putting forth the effort to cut out sugar, salt, grease, 1 a.m. jonts to the drive-through mid- essay writing, and those fancy a.m. or p.m. chocolate mochas with whipped cream. I managed to replace it all with delicious veggies that I had never heard of, fruits that are made to be eaten unsweetened, 100 per cent solid/all natural proteins, cupateas, plenty of H2O and as a result; my ass kind of disappeared one day and so did 63lbs. I worked extremely hard not to cave into the final year of stress at school and to get to my initial goal of where I was previous to the freshmen 15/30 and when I was a competitive skater. I’m totally happy to be the size I am today. I do feel like it’s no big deal though because I’m just finally in the body that I’ve visualized myself living my life in. Odd I know. Magical things take place when you allow yourself to become completely balanced and simply you. Try it. I dare you.
My commitment to prolong this great year is to sustain: my love of practicing hot yoga; discovering my internal self by uninterrupted intuition; my perseverance through life’s stressful moments with physical activity and eating an apple; representing things I believe in; my dedication to educating myself in all areas of communications; professionally growing through mentorship; surrounding myself with positive and motivating people; continuing to read great writing; showing compassion and forgiveness to family and friends; trusting the universe and just letting go.
I look forward to what’s next for me. And I look forward to sharing my discoveries with the blogosphere too.
