Today was one of those days where I felt encouraged by my co-workers and customers. My chosen summer workplace is Stella's Cafe...in the heart of the beautiful land of Wolseley. :) There are some really good people there...chefs, dishwashers, servers, managers...and I enjoy working with them. I sometimes notice how we tend to focus on the the negative in people and forget/don't open our eyes to the good things about them. Sure, in every workplace there is going to be frustrations and moodiness (and I am sure I've been the reason for that a few times...long days can sure bring out the best in you!). The culture of Wolseley is really growing on me...I have noticed many things about this area of the city in the last 10 months and more now that I'm working in a local cafe. Having lived in other areas of Winnipeg before, I see that this is a very open and accepting place. I notice a difference between levels of openness and personal expression and what is culturally "acceptable" here as opposed to what is not in other places. Not that one place is good and one is bad, I just think that the openness I've seen here is refreshing and it would be great to see it in the other parts of Winnipeg.

On a side note - It is quite fascinating to me how you don't have to go too far to see many different cultures here in the city...and quite sad how many middle/upper class people from other areas of Winnipeg have never ventured the 10 minute drive to see the poverty and homelessness of our downtown/northend. hmmm...

Anywho...so here we are...almost into July. I wish I could live each moment as it comes, yet time seems to somehow be swept away in a blink of an eye. Scary, hey?

I feel like having a bonfire and listening to the Beatles. Sounds fun. :)

just another brick in the wall...

I think everyone feels like this at some point. Just another brick in the wall. Nothing special or significant, a mould into what we are told to be or want to be or force ourselves to be - often a result of our conformist society.

I walked past a church the other day that had a sign in the front boldly saying "Stop doubting...and BELIEVE!". As if doubting is the worst thing ever and apparently it's just THAT easy to believe. Believe what?!? I think that any beliefs should come hand in hand with doubts and questions. My own incredible amount of doubting and questioning is apparently not a good thing - according to the sign on the church - and I disagree whole heartedly. I feel like a lot of what the church has encouraged is to become just another brick on the wall...to conform and say all the right things at all the right times. Yet, what about asking the tough questions in order to figure out who we are and why we are here? There is no happiness or satisfaction in conformity, as this picture portrays. Only more brokenness. And I fully intend on continuing my journey being free to ask those questions, and being free to doubt. And in the mean time, I think those people at the church should change their sign. :)