Love From Maria

​ ​ S M L You might say "I love you" every day, but when's the last time you had a serious conversation with someone about the meaning of love?" - Brené Brown  Well then. I talk and write about love a lot. It's my jam, it's my thing, it's what drives every decision I make, or at least I try. But I don't often define it, maybe that's because it's hard to define. Love is being kind, and a friend and supportive. Love is a whole lot of things.  Yesterday was a heavy day. I'm not sure what the universe is up to right now but there's something in the mix. Yesterday took me the edge of myself - I laughed, I cried, I felt defeated and not good enough, I felt afraid. And then, not all at once, I felt stronger, I felt able, I felt empowered and I felt like I belonged.  Yesterday someone reminded me of the ways that love shows up. That love is genuine, it's shared, it's built on trust and support. Love is together, it...

​ ​ S M L I grew up in a house that might as well have had a revolving door. From younger than I can remember we have had extras in our home. My parents hardly thought twice about taking in cousins, nieces, nephews or friends.   We didn't grow up in a big house either, so from a young age we learned to share spaces - I actually didn't have my own room until I was nineteen - but I must credit my step-siblings with that - thanks Paula and Jack. And I'm not complaining, in fact, I think it prepared us with incredible patience and understanding for shared situations.  ​ ​ S M L Extra people always came in handy for things like finishing your lasagne, thank you Colin, or creating the best sandwich ever - the Michael Marchildon. That's ham, mayo and cheese on bread, melted in the microwave, in case you're wondering - haha - and it's delicious.  ​ ​ S M L Extra people also meant extra friends -...

​ ​ S M L I grew up in a household with an incredible man. A man who taught me so many lessons, even if he didn't know he was teaching them. Like many kids, I grew up in absolute love with my dad - he was gentle, kind and full of light. My dad was the fun dad - if we went swimming as a group he was the dad throwing all of the kids like cannons from one end of the pool to the other. He had room in his heart for every child, every person. I remember once asking him why he doesn't hunt or if he ever wanted to and he told me that it hurt him too much to take life from something. He was someone I went to for advice, looked to for behaviour and loved like nothing else. ​ ​ S M L I don't write about him too often, maybe because it's hard and it hurts, maybe because of later life decisions - here's one for him and a handful of the things he taught me. Acceptance : I honestly can't think of a time when my dad didn't include someone, befriend some...

 I did a large part of my growing up at a community centre. My life, from a young age, was anchored by the community centre that I spent nearly six days a week in. And I couldn't write about community without it including figure skating. At thirty-one my mom did one of the bravest things an adult could do - she joined the community figure skating club. Thirty-one. That's a rare age to be signing up for a sport. But my mom, she's rare. She's a one of a kind human that has continually made decisions that have bettered our lives - even if she didn't know that at the time. So there she was, a mother of three young children out on the ice with a bunch of adolescents. She completed her dances and figures and eventually decided to become a professional coach. My mom, always wanting more, doing more, being more.   ​ ​ S M XL It just made sense that my sister and I would skate. My mom was going to be at the rink anyway, we might as well be there too, bein...

This video stirs up all of my pride for my little sister - who never tires of caring for others, never assumes she knows what it is like to be in someone else's shoes and leads with her heart. We need more nurses like you, Kate. I love you. Don't ever let that empathy or compassion escape you - it is the gift that sets you apart. I hope you know the depth of gratitude that people feel toward you. I don't know very many people who hold the hands of the dying, wash and cut the hair of the confused, manicure the hands of elderly patients and laugh with anyone who is willing to.  ​ ​ S M L I think this video speaks for itself - a little empathy goes a long way. I hope for a world where we all lead with our hearts, pause before passing judgement and put effort into understanding one another. I hope for a world with a while lot more Kates. - lovefrommaria 

​ ​ S M L Writing this is tough - I've struggled to figure out the best way to say it. Today was an incredible day and I'm filled with emotion after giving all of my energy and love to a deserving family's future house. When our team finished the landscaping we went for a tour of the house. I was overwhelmed walking through the house just thinking of how this was going to feel for the future owners. Their kids running excitedly up the stairs to their new, very own bedrooms. The parent(s) breathing a sign of relief, of safety and security. Knowing that I had the smallest part in making this dream come true for a family is enough to keep me going for an incredibly long time. I learned today that Habitat for Humanity houses are about 20% volunteer built. That every year there are 60,000 volunteer hours spent building homes. Homes that will be purchased with no down payment and a no-interest mortgage. Without even knowing the homeowners there are all of...

​ ​ S M L In two days I will take part in my first ever house building experience. I am helping to build a home in our very own city with Habitat for Humanity.  Last fall I witnessed a close friend celebrate her birthday by showering her favourite charities with home-baked goodness. This inspired me - how could I also celebrate the day I entered this world by giving back? By making this world a better place? As I like to do, I left the questions to marinate in my brain and one afternoon while posting something to Facebook a post from Habitat for Humanity popped up on my News Feed. Women's Build. In less than ten minutes I was signed up as a fundraiser . Helping to build something, in particular a house, has been something that I have wanted to do since I was a little girl. I can remember hearing stories at church of people who had gone away and helped build homes - this was something I knew I wanted to do. "Finding the right time" has always been the challenge....