Love, this is for you.

This could be directed to the mojority of my female friends, but one in particular who needs to hear this. We all have a disfigured vission of what we look like, so far off from the truth that we put ourselves through torture. We risk our health, or happiness, and alienate the ones who love us most. I hope that women in particular will chose to heal their minds, get rid of this venomous thought pattern, and one day see their true beauty.

When you read this I hope I know it is meant for you.

I mean this with all my heart:

Sweetie, you're beautiful. You're amazing. You have always been charming, not just because you're so gorgeous, but in your mind too; the way you care and love people so much once they're in your heart.

I see the way you look at yourself in the mirror. When you walk past, I see the short glance that automatically finds those insecurities only visible to yourself, trust me on that part and ignore those thoughts. You see yourself so much differently than everyone else sees you. I look at you and see the most petite little woman, and yet you can't even listen to someone tell you this without cringing. It makes me feel terrible to think about what you think of yourself. I wish you would believe me, and everyone else out there who truly thinks of you this way. I'm not saying this just because your my friend (which really, you're like my sister), I'm telling you this because its the truth. You should know of all people this.

Believe me when I let you know, I assure you, EVERYTHING there is to love about yourself is genuine when spoken. Your laugh is infectious. When you hug someone, the feeling of sincerity is always there. You always have the right words and advice to comfort me. You have a rockin’ body that a lot girls are jealous of. You're wonderful, love.

So please believe me. I don't think I let you know enough which I regret. Its something I should be reminding you everyday.

When I or anyone isn't there to get you through those rough days, remember this letter.

I love you and miss you entirely,
Missy

March 31, day to remember :)

The Great Bear Rainforest is the biggest intact, coastal temperate rainforest left in the world. Pretty incredible to think how close we are to history, eh? Right now we can be content that it stays the this way and doesn’t become another victim to Climate Change’s growing demand and the human greed that has transformed the world’s natural habitat into bridges, by-passes and buildings.

The Great Bear Rainforest, located between Bute Inlet on BC's south coast and the Alaskan border to the north, has fallen prey like countless other forests of our province to industrial logging, where trees were cut down, logging roads crossing watersheds and habitats destroyed.

A promise made three years ago to protect one-third of British Columbia’s especially unique Great Bear Rainforest, home to the Kermode bear (Spirit Bear) and many other biodiversities, and develop the foundations for a conservation-based economy in the region has been accomplished! ForestEthics, Greenpeace and Sierra Club BC, the three top-standing environmental groups that have worked with the B.C. government, First Nations and industry leaders to ensure the promise would be kept, must have been happy to hear the announcement made March 31st, set on the deadline. Although it will be tough to change from a resource-based economy, this is one of those “has to be done“ matters that will impact the future immensely.

Around 6 or 7 months ago, I started an eco-chick rampage. Ok, kind of dramatic there (rampage is such a strong word). I stated emailing the Japanese government about “Saving the Whales” and countless others that I thought had ignorance as their main weapon aimed against the world. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am sure that I am just one of the many nuisances these people and organizations had to deal with, but I also know that without the constant bombarding of their ethics and morals by masses of people, no change would happen. Any little act helps, right? I wanted to be apart of that. This whole concept is like running blind in a race (the run being the change. Not knowing where the finish line is, but confident the end prize will be worth all the trouble you’re bound to be faced with). Ok, maybe not the best parallel to use, but I’m sure you can understand where I’m coming from by this point.

Getting back to where I was going with this whole thing, Gordon Campbell was one of these people I took action on. It was more of an “assurance” that he would follow through on his promise. Bellow is the letter I wrote to him. Its something I felt pretty confident and happy about after finishing, hoping that the Universe was on my side here, and my drive of ensuring the most will come out of this whole thing wouldn’t legally come back and kick me in the ass - and so far it looks like I'm in the clear!

The Letter:

Dear Premier Gordon Campbell,
I am writing to remind you that the world expects nothing less than the full implementation of the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement by March 31st, 2009, including high-bar ecologically sound forestry practices.

With just a few months to go before the final March deadline, I am concerned that critical elements of your promise may not be implemented, putting the ecological health of the Great Bear Rainforest at risk. We both know this cannot be allowed to happen given how far we've come.

Because a promise is a promise, by March 31, 2009, British Columbians, Canadians and people around the world want to know they can trust that the Great Bear Rainforest is indeed saved.

This means:
- A regional ecosystem plan that includes a new set of logging regulations that pose low risk to the ecology of the region.
- Enabling conditions for First Nations and stakeholders to create a thriving conservation-based economy.
- Funding to provide collaborative planning and adaptive management into the future
- Ensuring that world-class protected areas are not threatened by inappropriate developments

The Great Bear Rainforest agreement has the potential to change the way the world protects its forests. Let's create a model of sustainability we can be proud of.

I urge you to honour your government's agreement and to keep a steady hand on these final stages of implementation.

One of the world's last great rainforests depends on your continued leadership at this crucial time.

Sincerely,
Melissa Pick

Spring is here!

Today is, or seems to be, the first day I will officially call spring. This year winter seemed to last a lot longer than usual; every year for that matter winter seems to grasp its hold a little tighter before surrendering to the warmth of spring. I’ve always found it hard to accept that, yes, this is Canada, and yes, I should just quit complaining and live with it, but snow in April?! That’s a bit ridiculous and I refuse to accept THAT (even though I don’t ultimately have a say in this).

The warm sunny day caught me by surprise. I didn’t know what to do to embrace it and show my loving appreciation to the Universe. I decided to capture some beautiful shots to keep the excitement fresh in my mind for those not-so-nice days in this part of the world.
I grabbed my camera and off I went. I didn’t know where I was going, but frolicking aimlessly.

My first photo was of the flowers and bright green grass that sprung up outside the front door under my childhood favourite bush.

It was all gorgeous. I smiled the entire time (probably looking slightly foolish to the folk passing by). It made me think of everything I wanted- I had to do this summer. I made a list in my head to remember and write down a.s.a.p. after my adventure, but I forgot the majority when walking through the door (something that happens way to often in my case haha).
Not all was forgotten though. So this is what I managed to jot down;

Summer To-Do list, i.e. Bucket List ‘09:
Kayaking
Hike as many trails in BC/Ontario
Visit Victoria/Toronto/Montreal-St. Catherine Street here I come!
Trip to Tofino for a weekend
BC old growth forest adventure - Cathedral Grove (MacMillan Provincial Park)
Camping - Buttle Lake/Ralf River*
Find the most beautiful sunset on the island (how could I judge this one?)
Go to the beach with a friend and spend the entire day there. Dawn ‘til dusk.
Gather up friends and play soccer/football/Frisbee
Frolf. A lot. I am determined to master a little skill here…
Photograph every moment. Develop the pictures and make a collage. Do this every year!!
Kussam Climb
Find a parade - and join it.

(List still under construction - always welcoming ideas ^^ )

My fairy tree <3

In a nutshell...

This is a little about me. I could write for hours about anything really, but actually telling someone face to face a little about myself doesn’t really happen too often (or very well). Showing them though, that could be something a lot easier for me.

I’m a woman that loves spending time with friends, getting outside for a day to hike or go to the gym, dancing, reading, and, of course, writing. These are the parts of my life that have seemed to be around a long time now and I don’t imagine leaving me anytime soon; they are my foundation.

Other hobbies of mine seem to pop-up erratically like new diet fads on the book shelf. Usually there is something around every corner that catches my attention, a new ‘minute-long-passion’ to add to my repertoire. Baking, yoga, and the drive to attempt skateboarding are a handful of this (escaping the last with scraped knees and a sore ego. Ouch). Though I will never feel as delighted when I smell the spiced aroma of oatmeal raisin cookies baking in the oven, never as astounded as I am bent in a position I wouldn’t think to be possible unless I were in a circus, the motivation to start-up or keep going to these things seems to fade relatively quickly in comparison.

My foundation, however, has always been something I can come back to and feel the lure even if I took a break to try something new. Some nights, even when I’m in a cocoon of blankets in the middle of winter (when the heater doesn’t seem to be working either…), I can always seem to jump up and reach for a book to dive into, escaping to a different reality for hours until my mind doesn’t seem to be conscious anymore, or jot down a journal entry, even go for a run some nights. Some might think I was mad, but that’s just me.

I love my friends and depend on them for my sanity more than they will ever know. Without them my life would be a sad, lonely adventure. I will cherish them forever and remember all the jokes to make me smile on days I think the universe is against me (though sometimes I don‘t think this, I KNOW its out to get me :P ). I’ll remember the English class in grade 11 with Ariel and Ren and always laugh out loud at the radio when “Total Eclipse of the Heart“ comes on, thinking of the lyrical genius that is the Dan Band.

My health is very important to me, and I believe it should be to everyone. Going to the gym and eating a nutritious diet is something I practice everyday. Knowing what you eat and how it got to be on the table is essential in my eyes, which is why you’ll always see me looking at the nutritional facts on the back of jars and what not, and also why I chose to become a vegetarian.

Dancing is a stress reliever and, in simple, a lot of fun. I’ll dance throughout the day to my own thoughts or out clubbing with my friends. There are days in which a dance off in aisles of department stores will ensue, where a couple of us will dance on each other just to embarrass each other, and ourselves ultimately.

Reading will keep me entertained for hours, days even if I find a good book. Sometimes it turns me into what appears to be a coma-like state, unaware of anything going on around me. it’s a trap. It really is a trap (one that I am always willing to fall for though). Magazines are always around because I love to learn quick facts, recipes, workouts, anything really. I just love to read.

Writing just helps me make a little sense of my thoughts and keeps me on track of my goals and dreams. What else has this power? Nothing I’ve found quite like it.

So this is me (compressed into a page long nutshell).