This drawing is by Valfre. I’ve never met her but I know her through her blog/twitter. She’s one of my favourites. One of my really good mates in New Zealand is blowing up the charts there and in Australia. This is new track.

Who Gives A Damn ….. by imagine this

I’m sitting in the Boston Logan Airport lounge listening to music and soaking up as much free wifi as a girl can. I got to thinking about life and goals and what I dreamed of doing and where I’m going. Not like, back to Toronto but where am I really going? I think January is a time everyone does that introspective look into their life and wonders, what am I doing? It’s probably also why people get sad and maybe have breakdowns! Last year in January I considered giving up blogging and getting a 9-5 job. I’m really glad I didn’t. 

The last two years have been filled with all kinds of things I only ever dreamed would happen. How did I get to do them? How did I make them  reality? I feel inspired to tell you today.

When I was in Australia at Uni (2004 & pre-blog) I often felt homesick. I missed my sister terribly and everyone from home seemed light years away. One fine day I went to a bookstore in search of  ’something’ that would give me guidance or direction or make me feel better.  I picked up The Power of Kabbalah by Yehuda Berg, a book that claimed to be ‘technology for the soul’. I went home and read it cover to cover in one sitting, staying up all night, moving from couch to bed to floor until it was finished.  I was not raised religious and this book wasn’t about that at all. It was about the power of the universe and creating the life you wanted.  It was spiritual wisdom. It helped me realize that I could have everything I ever wanted. It helped me understand that I already did.

As I embarked on this journey of self discovery (I know how gay that sounds but it is true) I started to change how I thought about things. I’ve always been fairly positive but I really shifted my consciousness to see the light in every situation. By making this change I opened up a whole new realm of my life to accept positivity and my life began to change, for the better. I started writing things down, setting clear goals and striving to surround myself with inspiring people.

I learned something during that time that has stuck with me much longer than the red Kabbalah string on my wrist. It’s a quote by Hillel the Elder and it really inspired me. It’s been adapted by lots of people & things over history including the song “If not not, when?” by Incubus. I ask myself this every single day…

If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when?

Paint a positive picture of your future and go for it. There is nothing holding you back or standing in your way. Your life is your movie and you are the director. Go out there and GET IT. It’s TIME.

I used to write all the time and this year I’m going to write more. Next up on the blog is goal setting and people who positively influence me. I meant to write ‘block’ in that sentence but typed blog instinctively. The blog becomes you, I swear!  Time to catch up on my Young & the Restless and fly home.

Love & light my friends, 

<3 CASIE

* photo by Taylor Jackson at the Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada 2012

When I was in away in the hot sun last month I still worked every day but I added things to my life that made it better, long walk on the beach, smoothie for breakfast, writing in my journal. When I returned to the hustle and bustle of city life, I got caught up in the rush and lumped right back into old habits, drinking, eating bad etc. I got to thinking last night that there is nothing standing in my way of eating healthier and doing more exercise. I have a damn grocery store across the street and two gyms downstairs for christs sake! Took one look right into iPhoto and said STOP BEING A LAZY WOMAN!

Every single day that passes is a chance to make your life better, to start volunteering, to help a friend, to clean your room, to buy better groceries, to walk instead of transit, to hit the gym instead of the bar. You are the director of your movie, cast who you want to star in it and live out the script of your dreams.

I’m drinking a smoothie, watching The IT Crowd on Netflix and cleaning my room AND when I stop for break I will be at the gym.

Enjoy the day! Do something amazing

Love, Casie xo

P.S. Got a beauty rose tattoo beside the ship on my arm yesterday. I know I’ve not really shown many photos but I’m planning to shoot some real nice ones when they’re all healed up & looking bright!

the power of a post: social media with love

I wrote a blog post about him on January 6, 2009 when I WITNESSED him raise money to help a friend who had fallen into an unfortunate situation. It was heart touching to watch as the donation meter on his blog post “Please help Daniella’s Family” went up and up. As I followed along, they raised $12K in 24HR! He’s a rad guy and today we get to meet in person.

Today is going to be awesome Make the most of it, you’re younger today than you will be again!

James Dean reading poetry, 1955