Today I rode my bike to the library and dropped three different packages of postcards off at three different mailboxes. 

As well as two misc postcards that got returned to me from Mr. Cannings, because he went and changed his office address. You can't run that easily Mr. Cannings. 

The two postcards below are very cool. #42 is one of my favourites. It's a fantastic coincidence that #42 is the meaning of the universe, and the subject of it's respective postcards takes a very universal point of view. I was a bit nervous approaching this man, and was prepared for a flippant answer to "Why do you care about climate change?" But instead I got something thought provoking that I hadn't been expecting. 

#43 is awesome because it features a diverse family and it's full of P R I D E !

Be sure to celebrate this weekend! 

#42- Earthling “Have you heard about the great filter theory? Scientists are baffled that there are no traces of intelligent alien life, even though there should be based on the vastness and properties of the universe. This is where the great filter theory comes in. If a civilization evolves towards industry and greed at a rampant pace it will destroy its planet and therefore its self, and not leave a trace in the universe. Or the civilization can grow to become apart of the planet and because of that never need to leave its home and therefore never leave a trace. What path are we going down? Humans are going towards the first road I think. “

...Is do not procrastinate. Or maybe better put, stay on top of things. I've been behind three weeks on postcards and as a result I spent a good 90 minutes from 10pm-12pm putting stamps on 86 postcards. Each postcard gets 3 stamps- that's 258 stamps...around 3 stamps a minute. Here's what the edges of 258 stamps worth of stamp sheets look like:

It wasn't all that bad. I had a relaxing evening of listening to a podcast called "The Adventure Zone" and achieving my goals.

I've sent 3 surveys out so far, to Mr. Arnold, Mr. Aldag, and Mr. Albas. No response. But! I've only sent three surveys. I'll send some more tonight, and then I rest!

​-Emily

Today I'm stamping #40.  A little bit behind schedule unfortunately. 

"People don't really grasp it. We were talking about this the other day. Some guy went to Mexico, saw the pollution and announced that his restaurant was no longer selling straws. He’s being praised as a hero! I mean that’s great and all but this should just be the norm.”

(Canadians use 57 million single-use straws each day. Each one will take 500 years to compose. Luckily several restaurants and private companies have banished the suckers for good.) Source: https://bit.ly/2pY4EC4 https://ind.pn/2Ov48dv

That's a lovely sunny scene is it not? I think that was before the smoke came. It must've been around this time last year. I'm always on the edge of my seat wondering when the haze from forest fires eastwards are going to drift in our direction. Every time it rains I'm happy. I cross my fingers that it buys the forest just a bit more time. 

<<NON POST CARD RELATED RANT: >>

I've been thinking a bit about what's better: To act spontaneously and live freely, or to plan and be rational. 

Like today for example, I was downtown with my brother and on a whim I pulled him into Mintage which is THE COOLEST STORE IN VANCOUVER. Seriously, check it out. 

Pros: We found THE COOLEST STORE IN VANCOUVER. 
Cons: We were 15 min late for dinner with my grandmother, as a result I missed my tap dance class, as a double result I was stressed. 

I used to be of the mindset that being spontaneous and living on the edge, taking on too much, was the way to go.

A lot of cool things happened because I followed the shiniest thing in the corner. Like I auditioned for a talent show and because of that I met a guy who had be open for Shane Koyzcan, or I managed to get on the Vancouver Slam Poetry team and travel around the world. 

But during the last several months- I've taken a different approach. I've kept the blinders on, avoided the shiny and new and turned down several opportunities to compete at a high level of Slam Poetry. Why? 

One reason: My documentary. I've pledged to myself that I want to prioritize this kicking and screaming creation and thus other opportunities must be held to sacrifice. But! Where is the documentary now? Still breathing, but comatose. Holding it's pasty blue chest- heaving and ho-ing. Unable to open it's eyes. To stand up.

Do I regret not doing at least one of those events I turned down? Kind of. I wouldn't if I had actually taught this documentary how to walk instead of just poking it with a stick now and again. 

Now I have a similar problem. I wanted to go away to the Unist'ot'en camp for ten days this summer. I wanted to learn from indigenous peoples, work on efforts to decolonize and protect their territory. BUT the Fr3@K1N' D0CUM3NT@RY!!!! omg! Also other things too... like preparing for university and cleaning out my room, and working a little bit, and looking after the dogs. 

I worry: Am I behing lame? 

When I think about the life I want to look back on when I'm about to bid "aideu" to this plane of reality, it's filled with spontaneous adventures and fun, and living! Living in the wilderness of yonder! 
....
Am I listening to my parents too much? 
....
If I don't go... am I living in fear of never getting something done?
...
But if I do go...am I just living in fear of the life I fear? 

There's no real way to win this one. I just have to do what I want to do. Fudge. 
I was going to say that I'm not going because I love this documentary and when you love something and you feel responsible for it you make sacrifices. 
I made sacrifices before and they were in vain because I didn't even know what it was like to make sacrifices. I didn't know it wasn't enough to just make sacrifices, you also have to make them worthwhile.

Hmmm. Maybe there's a way to work this out. 
<<NON POSTCARD RELATED RANT ENDS>>
​
Anyways. I'm also sending this little doo hickey: 

It's summer, and that means that all the MP's return to their home provinces. That also means that preparing the postcards takes 4x as long as usual, because aside from printing out the necessary labels and sticking them on, I have to make sure each postcard has correct postage SINCE it's free to mail MP's at the House of Commons, but if you want to reach them pro bono at their constituency you're out of luck.   

Each postcard requires 2-3 stamps depending on the amount listed on the stamp (5¢, 10¢, 40¢, 45¢, 90¢, etc.) I was fortunate to have all these stamps donated- they're old stamps, which means I get to enjoy retro design, but it also means I have to wet them before I stick them on. I'm happy to report the days of stamp licking are behind me. I have discovered the power of a damp rag in a bowl.  

Needless to say, this all takes a long time. So I was able to kick back, relax, and enjoy watching an episode and a half of Stranger Things. When I experience great stories, it lights up my heart and reminds me of what I really want to do in this world. If I can spend my life writing and telling stories, I can die happy, knowing I did exactly what I wanted to do and that I lived for myself. 

I guess that's pretty western/individualist of me to say, but I really do believe that pursuing my passion is also kind of a selfless thing too because it has this element of spirituality. When I'm doing what I love- I feel close to the universe and God and everything. It's like when you're walking in a beautiful garden on a warm spring day, or a purple butterfly lands on your finger and all that jazz. 

I've been reading just a little on meditation and spirituality and have garnered that we shouldn't be ashamed of pursuing self-transcendence and growth- that each individual awakening contributes to the revival of the world. 

Of course, I'm not saying I'm going to write a screenplay and wake up enlightened. Maybe I'll become disillusioned with it all. I hope not. But this love of storytelling is like a marriage I was born with: I love this thing more than anything else in the world, and it makes me feel like nothing else in the world. Even though there are rough patches where I just want to tilt my head back, shake my hands, and shout: "WHY?!" I'm willing to work on the relationship because it's that important to me. 

I guess I can start by giving my better half the attention they deserve. 

The subject of today's photo is also a passion pursuer. My conversation with him thoroughly freaked me out- but because he's an artist I want to believe he hasn't lost all hope.