As we grow older it's easy to become set in our ways. Most of us want a comfortable environment with familiar people and we think that we don't really need any new friends because we have friends, and partners and familiarity - and this is safe. It's much less work to not meet and welcome others into our lives and hearts and to use blinders to stay focused on the things directly in front us. Finding meaningful connections and building new relationships can be tough, so when it's made easier for you, you have to surmise that it's something about the place and it's people that makes it that way.
One of my most favourite things about Newfoundland is it's culture of openness, acceptance, friendliness and warmth amongst it's inhabitants (and if you've been to Newfoundland you know I'm not referring to the balmy temperatures). It is a place where strangers become friends (just because you are sitting next to them in a pub), where smiles and belly laughs come in abundance, where doors are always open, and a place so ingrained in the people from there that even if you leave forever it will always be home. Yes, the rocky island of Newfoundland is a special place with what we like to call, 'salt of the earth' type folk and it's these salty, grounded and genuine people that make it so unique. Maybe it's because horses just aren't that abundant on the rock, but for whatever reason, the use of blinders doesn't seem all that popular.
Since I've lived away from 'home', it's been difficult for me to imagine a place with a people that could replace the well deserved pedestal that I have always put Newfoundlander's on. Of course, there are always amazing and remarkable people wherever you find yourself and everyone has there own unique and special things about them. I'm not certain why Newfoundland is how it is, maybe it's the fact that being on an isolated island in the middle of the Atlantic makes being open so desirable. For whatever reason, and I include myself here, welcoming and bringing others into our community is a part of who we are. So when you find yourself in a new place and find a culture and people who are just as open and just as warm, friendly and accepting you have to believe that something or someone is helping to pull life's strings evenly.
On my very first run, on my very first day as I ran along the paths that populate Canmore, with my head downward and glued forward I past my first local. I heard a unfamiliar, 'hello, beautiful day' and felt the smiling tone of her voice against my back as I passed by, shocked and now yards ahead, I whipped my head around and awkwardly called back, ' ah yes, beauty day!'. Not that Calgary isn't a city without friendly people, but over the years I had gradually dropped the stranger pleasantries, that I had once been so used to exchanging, after the 43rd 'do i know you?' odd stare I received. As my runs and days progressed in Canmore and I interacted with more and more people from the town, I very quickly recognised a trend of positiveness and genuine friendliness from it's proud residents.
There have been so many acts of kindness that have made me feel welcome to Canmore. I have so many reasons to be grateful to have been given the opportunity to live in such an amazing place. Really though, i't's not the magnificent mountains (yes, they are AMAZING), it's the people that make this place so unique and so special. Even in my short time in this town I've already been a recipient to so many acts of kindness that have meant so much to me. I feel like I have so many people to thank and I'm going to try here to thank just a few:
Whether it's a smile, some kind words or a complement, every person has an overwhelmingly powerful force to make others feel really good that can sometimes extend beyond imaginable, no matter how small the act may seem. Taking off the blinders and being open to accepting others into our lives can result in the most amazing of adventures and the greatest of friendships. We are all fighting our own battles and we all want to be love and accepted. Remember that we all fundamentally want these same things. The next time you see someone standing outside the circle, awkwardly starring down at their phone, looking uncomfortable in a new setting or an uneasy newcomer to a group, make an effort to commit an act of kindness and the rippling result may just end up moving that persons life forever.
One of my most favourite things about Newfoundland is it's culture of openness, acceptance, friendliness and warmth amongst it's inhabitants (and if you've been to Newfoundland you know I'm not referring to the balmy temperatures). It is a place where strangers become friends (just because you are sitting next to them in a pub), where smiles and belly laughs come in abundance, where doors are always open, and a place so ingrained in the people from there that even if you leave forever it will always be home. Yes, the rocky island of Newfoundland is a special place with what we like to call, 'salt of the earth' type folk and it's these salty, grounded and genuine people that make it so unique. Maybe it's because horses just aren't that abundant on the rock, but for whatever reason, the use of blinders doesn't seem all that popular.
Since I've lived away from 'home', it's been difficult for me to imagine a place with a people that could replace the well deserved pedestal that I have always put Newfoundlander's on. Of course, there are always amazing and remarkable people wherever you find yourself and everyone has there own unique and special things about them. I'm not certain why Newfoundland is how it is, maybe it's the fact that being on an isolated island in the middle of the Atlantic makes being open so desirable. For whatever reason, and I include myself here, welcoming and bringing others into our community is a part of who we are. So when you find yourself in a new place and find a culture and people who are just as open and just as warm, friendly and accepting you have to believe that something or someone is helping to pull life's strings evenly.
On my very first run, on my very first day as I ran along the paths that populate Canmore, with my head downward and glued forward I past my first local. I heard a unfamiliar, 'hello, beautiful day' and felt the smiling tone of her voice against my back as I passed by, shocked and now yards ahead, I whipped my head around and awkwardly called back, ' ah yes, beauty day!'. Not that Calgary isn't a city without friendly people, but over the years I had gradually dropped the stranger pleasantries, that I had once been so used to exchanging, after the 43rd 'do i know you?' odd stare I received. As my runs and days progressed in Canmore and I interacted with more and more people from the town, I very quickly recognised a trend of positiveness and genuine friendliness from it's proud residents.
There have been so many acts of kindness that have made me feel welcome to Canmore. I have so many reasons to be grateful to have been given the opportunity to live in such an amazing place. Really though, i't's not the magnificent mountains (yes, they are AMAZING), it's the people that make this place so unique and so special. Even in my short time in this town I've already been a recipient to so many acts of kindness that have meant so much to me. I feel like I have so many people to thank and I'm going to try here to thank just a few:
- Thank you Peter for being such an awesome friend since day one, for showing me the ropes and for helping to open my eyes to some of the reasons why this place is so awesome...
- Thank you Krista for allowing me to drag you along on my speed days because I know everyone hates running on the road in Canmore..
- Thank you Val for inviting me (and Papa Woods) to O'Hara - such an epic adventure..and for really being a genuine person and friend since we first connected.
- Thanks to Chanelle, Val, Melissa, Krista and Simon (squared) for welcoming my Dad with the most open of arms...
- Thank you Heather and Tom for exuding kindness, love and warmth in all that you do and with all those around you (including me) AND for making me realise that fairy-tail like relationships do exist AND for making delicious omelette's..
- Thank you to Jeff and Andy for accepting my Facebook invite to Dirtbags and inevitably connecting me to a group of people who are just as crazy as me..
- Thank you to Fitzy for the energy and smiles you always carry and share, for the muesli cookies and for transforming everyday ordinary things into amazing adventures..
- Thank you David for saying you read my blog and liked it - that was nice..
- Thank you Liza for being such a awesome chick and pushing me in a super positive and non-competitive but kinda competitive fun way..
- Thank you Houda for taking me down memory relationship road and for agreeing to fight me - you're going to be really fun to drop..
- Thank you Simon for being a buddy right away...
- Thank you to all the Canmore Trail Culture and Dirtbags folks for all being 'salt of the earth' type folks and for always welcoming newcomers with open arms..
- Thank you Carrie for being the other gal who played shinny hockey and for being so unbelievably friendly..
- Thank you my Newfoundland friends and family for being amazing in so many ways and for so many reasons.
Whether it's a smile, some kind words or a complement, every person has an overwhelmingly powerful force to make others feel really good that can sometimes extend beyond imaginable, no matter how small the act may seem. Taking off the blinders and being open to accepting others into our lives can result in the most amazing of adventures and the greatest of friendships. We are all fighting our own battles and we all want to be love and accepted. Remember that we all fundamentally want these same things. The next time you see someone standing outside the circle, awkwardly starring down at their phone, looking uncomfortable in a new setting or an uneasy newcomer to a group, make an effort to commit an act of kindness and the rippling result may just end up moving that persons life forever.
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| Photo cred Michael Fitzpatrick Erin and Carrie playing shinny hockey : Week 2 |
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