April Adventures and an Impending Election

They say April showers bring May flowers. So what might April Adventures bring? To me, they bring a full time job (and not just your average job either); some more personal growth (as if I needed that) in the form of insane books who found me at the right time (as books do) and (more) difficult men; the return of my mom and dad and various arguments about democracy in Canada, many of which involved me taking the stance of the most right-winged-communist-lover you'll ever meet.

April was a productive month to say the least, but May is looking a lot like a tulip about ready to bloom. A yellow one for sure - those are my favorites.

My new job, the life-altering books, and the male figures who seem to always challenge me to be me and to allow them to be them, will all have to wait for another blog. Instead, I will briefly share with you something I wrote at the end of the dock one day last week out at the lake house, and my personal views on the looming federal election.

20/04/11 You are an image of your parents; we all are, whether we like it or not. For this reason, things that bother us about ourselves certainly will be things that bother us about them, and in times when we are particularly bothered by ourselves (I am unlovable, unattractive, uninteresting, unsuccessful, getting old, have no home, etc , etc - and if you are wondering, yes, that is what I have been struggling to stop telling myself most days lately) those personality traits that are there in order for us to grow (the purpose of family, I think) stick out like a sore thumb. And ouch, yeah, it's sore. In that same 1,000 joys, 1,000 sorrows sort of way, that which make our parents happy or fulfilled are generally things we enjoy too. So being at the lake house, getting to see fish jump, hearing the birds wake up, and going for a daily run with nothing more than a deer as the other animal on the road, were those special things we will always be able to share. During times of stress it is always how you chose to deal with the moment that determines who you are, and I find myself struggling to deal with this moment well. For now I will try to focus on that which we love together: the dock, nature, wine... that should be enough for now...I hope.

The month of April saw celebrations for very important reasons, but much closer to my hear than Easter, April 22nd was Earth Day. This is a day where we are supposed to give back, change our ways, see the bigger picture, and make a difference. What did you do? What did I do? It's not like how on Mother's Day, some people just were not taught proper respect and fail to thank their mums; rather, failing to thank the Earth has no immediate consequences. But not even the Conservative government is dumb enough to claim global warming isn't happening and that we are the root cause. (Oh wait, yes they are. How embarrassing.)

One thing, which you might not have thought of to do for the earth this year, is vote. As the global environmental crises take the back seat to the global economic crisis, your vote has the ability to alter the future of something much more valuable than you or your job security; much more important than your family's health or community's growth. You, your family, and everything you hold dear would not be here without the globe - without a healthy globe, able to sustain all the animals and ecosystems on it.

The vote for our next Prime Minister is only one of three votes which we will see over the next few months; therefore be forewarned, you will be hearing more political rants regarding such things as my love for the HST and my confusion during the provincial elections. But in the grand scheme of things, the federal election is the most important. You are hurting yourself and your country by not voting; you are hurting it even more by voting without considering the grand consequences of your vote's effect on the Earth.

While trying to educate myself about each issue that I hold dear (environmental conservation, environmental protection, international trade, international aid, and taxes) I found this site:  http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/votecompass/

It helped me to realize how annoyed I get about the platforms (abortion and gun laws are not important when the entire planet is being devastated and immigrants with PHD's are cleaning toilets!!!) but also who I felt represented my key issues in the most likely party to have an impact. I highly recommend it.

Your vote is bigger than you, your job, your family, health care and even the economy. Your vote will impact the environment. Without that we've got nothing. Voting for something bigger than you is a concept many of us have never thought of. And why would we? First off, the candidates and media themselves tell you to only think of yourself; moreover, they breed fear and then plague you with commercials promising to alleviate that fear. Don't think we are any different than America in this regard.  

Yes, we all make decisions based on fear (I am afraid of the degradation of our planet) and Maslow's hierarchy of needs reminds me that it is a privilege to worry about the planet. But since it is a right to vote, I will leave you with one question: What is freedom without an environment?