6 Things from 6 Months at Disney >> AUGUST

6 Things I've learned from 6 Months at Disney

august

Accepting Change // Becoming Stronger

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Two months have gone by and while I've had my moments, I have also experienced lows like never before, and more frequently than ever. Because of these lows, I have been overcome by homesickness; overwhelmed and desperate for the comfort of "normalcy" in Vancouver, whatever that may mean. On those darker days, the only reason why I had still been around was because of the amazing people who I have gotten to know and love. 

It was here that I ended up closing a chapter of my life which sent me spiraling uncontrollably. And now my emotions have become an utter mess. I have never been so confused about myself before. Not being in control of your emotions is one of the scariest things I've ever had to endure, and when it gets to the point where you drive yourself to nausea, you know it's time to end the suffering.

Grouse Grinded!

Whether you are a local or a visitor, Grouse Mountain is one of the most popular attractions in Vancouver. And if you're looking for a real challenge, then look no further than the Grouse GRIND....also known as a steep ass hike...also known as nature's stairmaster....also known as hell...okay now I'm exaggerating.

Cross Country Roadtrip

We are finally settling in after a 25 hour long drive/road trip from Southern California to Vancouver, BC. I drove for a good, long 30 minutes while my boyfriend drove for about 24.5 hours....In my defense, I was better at being the passenger...not that I'm not good at driving.....anyways.

Essentially the whole trip consisted of 4 Costco gas ups/bathroom breaks + 1 overnight stop at a friend's house (+2 cats) + 1 forest fire + more bathrooms breaks...because apparently my bladder is teeny tiny. Everything else that occurred was not captured because 1) I was exhausted and 2) We were going crazy.

Climbing: Facing my Fear

If you have ever written anything at all; a poem, an essay, a short story...heck even your "about me," then you will know how much it sucks when you get hit with the deadly writer's block. You know, when you've literally got nothing in your brain and you kind of just hang out like stagnant water... 

Well, today I'm not going to be talking about English. Today, I will be talking about my "Climber's block." Though there is no such word (because I just invented it), "Climber's block" is when you're gaining some super climbing skills, but then sort of hit a ceiling and plateau...allow me to explain.

Morning Hike at Lynn Canyon

Saturday morning, I surprised my boyfriend by taking him to the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver. Sadly, this place gets waaay less traffic than the more famous Capilano Suspension Bridge. The Lower Seymour Conservation Center, located conveniently next to the bridge, keeps the park well groomed which allows people like us to venture in there. They also serve as an education center for teaching children just how fragile and important the ecosystem is. Bonus!

Vancouver, we slowly transition

Winter mornings in Vancouver is picturesque. Sunday morning at 8am and the air is fresh, cold and clean. The light layer of tiny crystalized frost over the grass and atop the roofs of houses marks the start of the winter season. The world has yet to be awakened. The streets are still and quiet, free of noise. The people fast asleep, dreaming. There is a beauty in solitude.

Like a plane in the distance.

You don't have to look far to find beauty. However, it is up to us to find the beauty in others, to look past imperfections, and to go beyond our shallow perceptions. There is true beauty in people, and it's not difficult to spot, we just have to try.
There's also another type of beauty. It's everywhere, it's all around us, and it's telling us to pay attention. With all the events occurring around us today, one might wonder where the future of the Earth is heading. When I first heard the news of Fukushima, I was very nervous. I later did a bit of investigating and found reports stating that radiation from Fukushima has been detected in BC. That's when it hit me; things could be taking a for the worse. Maybe, because "it is up to us to find the beauty", that we must apply it in this context. It's up to us to to find the beauty in our planet and to learn how to respect it. Changes have already begun all across the globe, so I know I'm a bit behind on the "green" agenda, but it's not too late to start; not for you, and not for me.

We build our lives.

Things have been amazing, and it always has been. These past few weeks have gone by so fast, and sometimes I wonder where the time has gone. The days are shorter now and Vancouver is entering the rainy season, but I am not at all moved. The rain has a way of refreshing me.

My professor explained that in order to succeed, we need to accept full personal responsibility. I can't help but agree. There are always things we don't like, but it is simply a matter of putting it into perspective. We all want to be happy, but sometimes we get stuck inside a vicious cycle, but if we try to percieve things positively, then eventually it will become our reality. Things are never as bad as they seem to be when we look at the bigger picture. :-)

{ Photos © Justina Lee }

This moment

I experienced an hour of fear and excitement yesterday, when my mind was focused solely on one thing: Getting down.

My friend and I hiked up the Grouse Grind, a popular training excersise hike for many Vancouverites, and after a while we decided to hike back down on another trail instead of taking the gondola down. An hour into the hike, the sun began to set. The lower we hiked, the darker it got and the slower we went. Well the slower I went, he moves fast ha ha. After 1 hour and a half, it still felt like we had a lot to go. By then, we already lost most of the sunlight. In my mind, I had the scenario playing in my head of park rangers coming to rescue us. Thankfully, he had brought a small flashlight that helped a ton. I didn't panic but I was worried. He was very calm though which gave me a sense of peace and I ended up trusting him. I was glad I had him with me. He definitely is a lot more experienced when it comes to the outdoors and he which way to go, even in the dark. I would have gotten lost if I were alone. I really did wish I brought my swiss army knife though. So it's true how anything can happen unexpectedly when your in the outdoors. It's crucial be to prepared for any situation.

Take my experience as an example! I'm just glad I got home safe.

Sun-kissed

Yesterday was a great day. Woke up , met up with my friend, had lunch with her, and spent the day soaking up the sun at the beach. We went back to my place afterwards, hit the pool, and then headed for all-you-can-eat sushi.

Greek Mythology

This is shoot I did with Christina Lazaar-Schuler at Filmwerxstudio. She's an amazing photographer whom I've had the pleasure of shooting with during the past year. If you're ever in Vancouver, I would recommend her in a heartbeat!

All of these photos belong to her and is copyrighted.

Hope you like them!