Friday, September 25, 2009

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

No, it's not Christmas. And, as Staples would have you believe, it's not back-to-school either. It's the start of the hockey season!

Despite a loss to Anaheim last night (in OT mind you) the Canucks are on fire this pre-season. And I was fortunate enough to see some live pre-season action, as boring as it was.

Last Saturday, around 7:00 p.m. Colin and I were at the future shop in Lansdowne, looking for a new t.v. series to pick up. I received a call on my cell from my brother's girlfriend - we have connections to Canucks tickets once again. She had some extra tickets (free!).

It was too perfect. Other than late-night sushi, we had no real plans, and I had been gunning to try out the Canada Line. What luck that there should be a stop at Lansdowne, and since we were planning to return to Richmond for sushi, it made sense to hop on there.

We arrived at GM place halfway though the second period. But we didn't miss too much, since all the action happened in the last seven minutes of the game. It was fun, just chatting away, hanging out in the rafters (very back row!). I was half watching the game, and half imaging what it's going to be like in GM Place for Olympic Gold medal hockey! And we won't be in the rafters either. We don't have our exact seats yet, but they're lower bowl, between the bluelines...

But I don't have to wait until February for more hockey at GM Place. I got the other money hockey ticket too... Canucks versus Leafs!

Even if the Canucks bite the big one, this personally will be an awesome hockey season for me.

Oh yeah, I just handed in the work hockey pool picks today...

Shut In, Shut Out

I've been meaning to write this entry for a week or so. But the fact that I haven't written a single entry for the entire month of September mirrors how my September has been: a roller coaster of business and emotion.

I say this every month, but really, where has September gone? Maybe it's the extended summer weather that's making it hard to believe that the calendars turn over to October next week!

But let me tell you about my September - it's been an interesting one.

From the outset of the month, it was destined to be busy (both work and personal) and emotionally trying.

A good friend of mine got married over the Labour Day weekend. It was a time of great excitement and stress. Last week, we had two major events at work. It is only September, but I have already skipped many lunch hours and have stayed late, including working until 11:00 p.m. last Thursday and 7:30 p.m. last Friday.

The week before the wedding and the weeks before that I had been pouring my time, energy, and heart into preparing a presentation (along with other sisters) to re-charter Delta Phi Epsilon at UBC.

They chose another sorority...

My initial reaction was utter disappointment. But this whole time I have not felt sad or shed a tear. I have mostly felt anger. Anger that the young women making the decision didn't understand the countless hours over the past five years our alumnae have put into our return. Our unwavering support to the UBC Greek system in both a volunteer and financial capacity meant absolutely nothing at the end of the day.

Had this decision been made months ago, however, I would have cried. Like a baby. Which was my reaction when the chapter closed down five years ago. I cried at the news. Cried every time I thought about that hole left at UBC. So why didn't I cry this time?

During my month off this summer, I had a lot of time to spend with... me. Something I'm not usually interested in. I thought a lot about myself, my life, my relationships with others, how I react to and deal with things.

I suppose my "epiphany" came while vacationing in Osoyoos. During that time I read the latest book club pick: Eat, Pray, Love. Now you know I don't believe in God or religion, but there was something to the whole theme of the journey of self discovery. And so I started to change things about myself and the way I look at life. I was sick and tired of being so critical about everything and everyone. So I changed that. And it has made a difference. It's been difficult being so positive, especially when times seem not so positive. But it has certainly helped me get through the last couple of weeks.

Anger aside, I thought back to when the chapter closed and where I was in my life. I was newly engaged and recently graduated from BCIT. I was not married. Our alumnae chapter was in it's infancy. I had not been through my dark period (aka my Planet Bingo employment). I had not yet joined curves. I had not yet started Polynesian dancing...

The chapter closing was a very hard pill to swallow, but it also lead to new opportunities and adventures. Things I may not have had the time or need to do if I was still a chapter advisor.

The chapter not returning means things are status quo, but it also leaves an opening for other opportunities. Other opportunities for me, my sisters, and our alumnae chapter.

With the news of the chapter not returning and the craziness of work, and an annoying cold that won't go away, I became a hermit. Over the last two weeks I have avoided friends, not felt much like socializing. Living the life the opposite of me.

I felt so tired when I got up last Saturday, but went to Curves nonetheless. About halfway through my workout the burdens of September went away. I felt light, happy, excited, energized. I have never experienced a 'turnaround' like that before. Dare we say, it was almost spiritual...