Letting Go...

Today I wanted to write a blog entry on a completely different subject...but lost focus and started going through all my old postings when I came across a draft that I didn't publish for whatever the reason. After reading it, I was very suprised to find how closely this passage related to my life at this very instint. Surely, not a coincedence.

I hope this helps to all those who are in a similar position...

xox
Leah


To let go isn’t to forget, not think about, or ignore. It doesn’t leave feelings of anger, jealousy, or regret. Letting go isn’t winning and it isn’t losing. It’s not about pride and it’s not about how you appear. It’s not about obsessing or dwelling on the past. Letting go isn’t blocking memories or thinking sad thoughts, and doesn’t leave emptiness, hurt or sadness. It’s not giving in or giving up. Letting go isn’t about loss and it’s not defeat. To let go is to cherish memories, to overcome and to move on. It is having an open mind and confidence in the future. Letting go is accepting. It is learning and experiencing and growing. To let go is to be thankful for the experiences that made you laugh, made you cry and made you grow. It’s about all that you have, all that you had and all that you will soon gain. Letting go is having the courage to accept change and the strength to keep moving. It is learning that sometimes the heart can be the most potent remedy. To let go is to open a door, to clear a path and to set yourself free.- Anonymous

All Women are Princesses...It is Our Right

Have you ever watched the movie "A Little Princess"? ....Well ladies, if you haven't, you need to see it. The way this little girls father raised her is EXACTLY how every little girl SHOULD be raised. Like the princesses that we are. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. With so many different evils in this world, most little girls are raised with emotional, sexual, physical abuse in the household. Some are taught to feel ugly, worthless and stupid....and feeling like you aren't worth ANYTHING, nevermind a princess. I've been reading this book called "Captivating" by John and Stasi Eldredge which has truly given me insight on how a woman should really feel in life....How wounds from the past hold a girls heart back...How a true woman's soul longs to be wanted, persued, desired and vulnerable. How we want a night in shinning armour to whisk us away on his brilliantly white horse and live happily ever after...But in 2009, a woman is taught by her many heartbreaking experiences (and 99.9% of the female population has) that having a strong, manlike demenor with a sheild of armour around our hearts is the only way to protect ourselves...we constantly put off a vibe to the world to stay away, or there's the exact opposite where the girl feels like she can get love out of sleeping with multiple men.. Well, I know from experience that I give off a "I can do everything myself" vibe...That I'm teflon and nothing can break me or shake me...when deep inside, all women know different. We WANT to be a princess...We WANT to have our fairytale ending..all of us do. So this blog is just to tell all you women...that it is YOUR RIGHT to feel this way....You were BORN to feel this way...you are WOMEN...The BEARER of LIFE, the NOURISHER, the PRINCESS....We are the "Ezer Kenegdo" to man...and if you do not know what this means, which most of you probably don't, Hebrew scholars have tried to define it as "Lifesaver".
Love yourself entirely with all the vulnerability that God has made in you. You are a Princess.


XOX
Leah

A New Day

Life is weird, you know? When you think you got it all figured out..Then one day, you wake up to find out that you had not the slightest clue. I have recently decided that the whole modeling thing...well...that life just isn't for me. Yes, of course, it was fun...It's glamourous....but it is fake. It can be demeaning. And to be honest, for me, it's superficial. I love it as an art form. I think the human body is a beautiful master piece and photographing it can be like going into an art gallery and seeing a Mona Lisa...BUT...In a society where looks already "make you or break u" it makes you more than second guess yourself...You start to look at your nose...Your boobs...Your lips..Your thighs...Your wheight..etc..And you start to say to yourself, maybe if this was altered, or those were a little higher, I'd be perfect.....Even the most beautiful of beautiful will doubt themselves because that is what the industry does. Period. I've come to learn, that I just want to be me and not be so consumed in such an artificial, superficial, unreal world...I hear my calling else where...And whatever comes up, comes up. It's hard being a real person in a society where everywhere you look, fake smiles and cut eye engulf you. There's more to life then always worrying about how you look...And yes..I am definitely guilty of over analyzing myself in the mirror, being materialistic, wishing that my boobs were bigger and dreaming of a career filled with flashes and stars...but the reality is...If I had all those TEMPORARY things...and indeed, they are temporary....then what is going to happen afterwards when the looks fade? And the lights stop flashing? and my skin wrinkles and my boobs still look droopy? Do nice things REALLY make you happy in the end of it all? Am I really going to be taking all those things to the grave with me? Maybe the silicone..but definitely not all those material things I thought would be necessary to enhance my life in some way...I've always wondered...If being attractive is really more of a curse, then a blessing..

He who finds a faithful friend, finds a treasure.

I've never been the girl to have a million best friends and to be honest, in high school I was always jealous of those girls who did. Especially my sister...I've never known anyone to have friends like my sister. But now as I've grown older, I have found that really true, good friends are hard to come by. I have a million acquaintances but only a handful of people I can really call a friend.

So this is my tribute to all my true friends, who have helped me through my hard times..and who I will always, always be there for. No matter what.

Jojo

My Josie, my wife. You will probably never read this, but if you so happen to stumble upon this one rainy afternoon, I want you to know I love you. We can go weeks without talking, and that moment when we get off of our busy trains, nothing has changed between us. You will forever be my confidant.

Ash

My wonton, apple sauce parmagiano!! We've had so many good times from chop chop carrots to 17 beers to 17 years...I thank God for all the hardships we've been through..it has just shown me that our friendship is strong.  Thank you for always being there, and you know I always have your back!! Remember me when you have your little Montash's...i'm stealing one. I love you girlie!!

Brenda aka Brenda

My Jonesssssyyy...this year wouldn't have been the same without you. I can honestly say, you have to be one of the kind hearted people I have ever met...and you always tell me the truth even if I think you're lying LOL. I love you girlie and I can't wait to go sky diving in July...Don't be surprised if I suffer from cardiac arrest up there. 

My beautiful Alix

It's so weird how people come into your life...God works in mysterious ways. I don't regret one thing that has happened because I wouldn't have come to find what an amazing person you are. I'm always, always here for you even if we're a million miles apart. I love you mama and I can't to come to Australia!!

Last, but not least...My Mikki Dick

My little banana fritter. Even though you are my sister, you are also my best friend. You have to be one of the funniest, smartest, most articulate, beautiful person I know. Your wit surprises me everytime. I can't wait until we have kids and laugh how funny looking they are. 

Love you my moomoo

Challenge Of the Day

All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible.
T.E. Lawrence

BE THE DREAMER BY DAY AND MAKE YOUR DREAMS A REALITY!

Will all the REAL people, please stand up!

Let me start off by saying, that KARMA is one of the most constant things in this world. I have always believed that there is no such thing as a mistake....There's what you do and what you don't do (I'm pretty much merciless). In that moment, in which you are to call a mistake later on in life, you have something buried deep in your gut that I call intuition. Everyone has it. It's a gut feeling that has been scientifically proven to PREVENT you from making those quote on quote "mistakes". Why is it that some people feel they need to justify they're a good person and that they do so much for this and that...yet, seem to hurt the people they CLAIM to care about in the process?

I have a reality check for you.

People who LOVE you..will not INTENTIONALLY HURT you. TO KNOW that what you are doing WILL hurt someone, is INTENTIONAL if you continue to do it.

KARMA is REAL. And I can't wait for some individuals to get theirs.

The Power of a Mothers Love

I have been blessed with many, many things in my life. And just like the majority of people, I can sometimes take those things for granted. I think sometimes God brings certain situations into our lives to slap us in our face and to make us realize what exactly we have in front of ourselves. The one situation that will always stand out in my mind was when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. I still remember to this very moment the day she called all three of her children to the living room to tell us that she had received the news. I don't exactly remember what my initial thought was, but I do remember holding her in my arms while she cried about how scared she was to lose us. And I remember crying right back imagining what my life would be without her. I do not think I will ever know, the love that a mother has for her children until I have my own. Although, I have seen what it can do. In between her chemo treatments, my mom decided to continue working part time so that in case she passed, we can maintain the same lifestyle we were living. Instead of focussing on her health, her main focus was her family. I remember the day we shaved her hair because it was falling out everywhere...I remember she was asked to come into my careers class to talk about her profession and asked if it was OK because she was afraid that I would be embarrassed that she was bald and had to wear a head wrap. I just remember thinking that I have never been more proud of anyone in my entire life. I look back and think of all of the amazing accomplishments my mother has achieved in her lifetime...and I can only hope to be HALF of the woman and mother she is.

She is my inspiration...The reason I am strong and the reason why I believe that no matter what struggle you have in life, you can always get through. 

This is my mother and I when she was on her Chemo. I've never seen her so beautiful.




A mothers love is undeniable and truly unconditional.

Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a *BUTTERFLY*

I found this little story online, and I though I would share it with you all...
BELIEF and FAITH are two of the most powerful things in this chaotic world.


"A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further.
So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon.
The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.
The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.
Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.
What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us.

We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly!

I asked for Strength.........
And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for Wisdom.........
And God gave me Problems to solve.
I asked for Prosperity.........
And God gave me Brain and Brawn to work.
I asked for Courage.........
And God gave me Danger to overcome.
I asked for Love.........
And God gave me Troubled people to help.
I asked for Favors.........
And God gave me Opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted ........
I received everything I needed!
Trust in God. Always.

Love and Blessings.

Gold Digger= 2 Sandwiches Short of a Prostitution Picnic

Growing in a household where my mother was the breadwinner and my father was Mr. Mom, taking care of the house, the kids and cooking dinner, I was raised to have an I.W.A--- Independent Woman Attitude. My mother has told me from a very young age, to never depend on a man for money. Always have your own career, work hard and be successful by your own means...and I've always kept that value very close to heart. Being a woman who has literally worked 5 jobs at once (sounds unbelievable huh? BELIEVE IT) I was appalled at watching the Dr. Phil show yesterday. I felt like being sick. Gold diggers admitting to being full out gold diggers...WTF? This is 2009 people! How are women so proud of mooching off of someone else? And just as equally sickening, men who mooch off of women....Do you not have any shame? Do you not have any integrity? Pride for yourself? Dignity?

There's nothing wrong with finding somebody who has goals and who is ambitious attractive, but to just date or use someone based solely on their income alone is degrading not only to that person, but to yourself. If being independent and successful is attractive in a man, then by all means, it has to be attractive in a woman.


Lauren Lake says it best- Gold digging is just 2 sandwiches short of a prostitution picnic...and I must have to admit, I agree.

A Land Down Under

I've made my decision..it wasn't much of a toss-up aside from getting homesick..but I'm moving to Australia for 8 months to receive my Bachelor of Communications once I've graduated. After lots of research, I think this is definitely going to be an amazing experience. I'm planning on attending Griffith University on the Gold Coast in Queensland....and from what I've heard and seen in pictures, it's paradise on Earth...Kuala's hang from the trees, kangaroos run along the streets, palm trees on the roads...and there's 35 degree weather in February...WHAT MORE CAN I ASK FOR!? February is the month of departure and even though it's a little less than a year away...I SIMPLY CANNOT WAIIIITTTTT!!!

Australian-themed going away party???...I think so...

Here's a video for u to envy HA.

XOXO

The Tears Behind the Smile

2:42 a.m.

Just got home from work, eating my delicious apple, and decided to write about the disgusting experience I witnessed about an hour ago....So, I work outside as a guest list girl at Rockwood, minding my own business, when (like any club in Toronto) a fight breaks out. Screaming, more screaming and then a girl comes out to yell in her drunken state to her boyfriend-no surprise here, it's typical. But then this so-called "man" decided to pick his "wife" up in the air, lit

erally, shake her and throw her to the ground...not put her down, he THREW her...something like what you would see in some crazy wrestling scene..after hitting her head on the pavement she then proceeded to get up and follow him and then he pushed her to the ground in the corner of a building AGAIN...of course the bouncers went and stopped him but I was in shock...but then again, physical abuse is more common then we think...I mean, look at Rhianna and Chris Brown, which just goes to show us that physical abuse can happen in any walk of life, rich or poor, at any time, to any one. And I know the more common case is the man hitting the woman...but there is the few percent of men who are the ones abused....God knows I've wanted to hit a man once or twice....But in all seriousness, I recently signed up to be a volunteer at a non-profit organization called Juliette's Place, which is a shelter for abused women and their children. They are currently looking for more volunteers and if you haven't volunteered before, it is the most rewarding feeling to know you're helping to make a difference in someone else's life because you WANT to. If anyone would be interested in volunteering with me, please visit this site:

WWW.JULIETTESPLACE.ORG

No woman or man should have to suffer from someone else's shortcomings and issues!

Getting Down and Dirty

I've always been the one to spend ridiculous amounts of money on things that will help out in some way, shape of form with my health. It used to be on clothes, shoes and accessories but as I have started to come into my adulthood, my health has become the new focal point of my earnings.

Now let's get realistic here, from one human being to another, we all know that us wonderful beings and every other creature on this plant goes number 2. But what I didn't know, is that a healthy human being goes number 2 at least 3 times a day...3 TIMES A DAY!!??!? And even more interesting enough, I found out that NOT going to the bathroom this much can lead to migraines, acid reflux, breakouts, bloating, water retention, digestive disorders and fatigue....crazy huh? ALL of them I was definitely a victim of...until I came across this site:

www.colonspas.com

Now. .There will probably be a few people out there that think I'm nutzoid for trying this out..but I swear on holy cows that this procedure has made an amazing change to my body ALREADY. Literally, right after I was finished my 45 minute session, I had lost at least 5 pounds, my stomach was FLAT as a board (I went in bloated and uncomfortable) and I couldn't believe the energy I felt. I don't wanna get into details to save you from the mental images, but it was honestly one of the best decisions I made for myself health-wise. 

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms as I was, I suggest a colonic could be an alternative choice for you. I've tried oral detox's, but nothing compared to this...and the price is definitely worth it.

If by any chance, you decide to get it done, refer my name..Leah Gabriel..and recieve 10% off!!!

Love and Blessings

True Love

Ooooo how I've missed my beloved blog!!! Sooo firstly, Happy New Year to anyone who is reading this, who I haven't ALREADY said it to...I hope every single body has a year full of health, happiness and prosperity! I've given up on resolutions, because I never follow them and when I realize I haven't followed them I try to give myself an excuse...so NO RESOLUTIONS..just goals :) 

Number one goal is to maintain a healthy lifestyle! Which includes absolutely NO drinking of alcohol, lots of healthy food (OK, I WILL be sneaking chocolate in there every once in a while) and plenty of gym time.

My second goal is to graduate!! But not JUST graduate...Graduate with HONORS! WOW...Any body who knows me, knows this is quite the goal for me..but I am going to definitely try! 

My third goal is to TRAVEL, TRAVEL, TRAVEL as much as I possibly can!! I already have two trips planned, and looking at my third...If anybody wants to come, you're more than welcome...Otherwise, I'm spending some great quality time with myself :)

And last, and certainly not least, my fourth goal is to try to get to know my being as much as I possibly can! I know that sounds weird..But with every year that passes, I come to find that I am definitely not the same person I was when I was 16, and I definitely won't be the same person in 15 years...So I'm going to get to know my 22 year-old-self and love every inch of it!

I hope everyone had safe and Happy Holidays  :)

XOXO