encouragement note

You know that feeling when you feel like you're just really tired and you can't do it? And then there are people that tell you the same? I don't think I'd be where I am right now if I gave up, if I listened to them instead of following my heart. I think we need people in our lives that tell us the honest truth, that can tell us not to listen to what other people say. We need people that believe in us, so we can have the confidence to believe in ourselves.
I remember the poem that was on the cover of my old diary:

Don't quit when the tide is lowest,
For it's just about to turn;
Don't quit over doubts and questions
For there's something you may learn

Don't quit when the night is darkest,
For it's just a while 'til dawn;
Don't quit when you've run the farthest,
For the race is almost won.

Don't quit when the hill is steepest,
For your goal is almost night;
Don't quit for you're not a failure
Until you fail to try.

-Jill Wolf

I thought it was kind of silly that we had encouragement week at school. Everybody commented on how "middle-school" that was. In the end, everyone got into it, writing encouragement notes to each other, building each other up. We need to do that. So here's my little encouragement note to you. Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, don't give up.

Sometimes...

Sometimes you have have to fall to learn
Sometimes you get hurt, but it makes you a better person
Sometimes you build a wall, just to have it broken
Sometimes you have to notice everyday miracles
Sometimes saying sorry is all it takes
Sometimes you just have to tell them you love them
Sometimes it's okay to let your true colours show

I was having a conversation with a friend, and he said, "it's not like you see miracles every day." But I do. I mean, maybe not MIRACLES exactly, but extraodinary things happen every day, we just have to look. I mean, people always talk about what they "don't have," and sometimes I do that too, but the truth is, we have so much to be thankful for. There's always something better, it's hard to be content sometimes. Instead of complaining about what you don't have, make the most of what you DO have.
Today is a gorgeous day, despite the weather forecasts of rain for the next two weeks. What a nice surprise:)

Hey Patrick, sometimes I wonder if what you're doing right at this moment. If you're having fun, if you're sad, etc. Some people might just think I'm being obsessive, but I'm not. I know what obsession is and sure, I've been through that, but this isn't it. Yes, sometimes I do go over-the-top cheering for you, but it's only out of support. I think I used to want to meet you, and would probably go to the ends of the earth to do it, but thankfully I've grown up a little. Of course, it'd be so great to meet you because you're such a great role model to young people, but most importantly, I hope you're happy. I hope you find what you're looking for in life. I hope you meet the most amazing people that you can build life-long relationships with. I hope you enjoy the everyday miracles and all that life has to offer you. You're 19, prime time of your life, pretty much. I love being young because I feel like right now, I can steer the wheel into any direction I want. Of course, God always has His hands on my wheel, helping me make those turns and avoiding the roadblocks. It's true, I don't know you, but I pray for you every day.
Anyway, have a great day PC.

Love,
Tiffany

photo recap anyone?

okay well, the whole indoctrination of coca cola's "open happiness" has gotten to me. that and the rest of the olympic hype. now i can't sleep. Soo photo recap?

eclectic memoriess

Hey Patrick,

Soooo recap of my day of being a tourist in my own city. AGAIN. So, we went to olympic village, but unfortunately, we were only able to observe from a distant. The police looked kinda intimidating...ya and.. don't really wanna be going to jail anytime soon! I told my friends we needed binoculars, but they just stared at me in shock. Haha but I get that a lot.
Oh and then I went to Livecity Yaletown again. Watched the hockey game.. WOO GO CANADAAA. one step closer to gold babyy. The other day, I was on the skytrain with my friend and I saw your picture on the other skytrain, and I told my friend, "LOOK PATRICK IS ON THAT TRAIN!" My friend just stared at me in shock, and then I had to correct myself: "OH no I meant his PICTURE is on that train.." Then she was like.. "No wonder you're still sitting here."
Another awkward moment: I saw this athlete wearing a Belarus jacket, and my nerd instincts kicked in and I unconsciously yelled Minsk (the capital) out loud and the guy stared at me weirdly.. haha oops:S
Anyway, I hope you're still enjoying Vancouver!

Love,
Tiffany

but it's not just a dream

Dear pc,

I keep hearing people tell me where they've seen you downtown and everything!Somehow, I'm not that worried because I'm sure I'll get to meet you one day, whether it's 5 yrs down the road, or mb 10. Lately, I feel like I'm not very motivated to do work. I mean, I can write in my blog just fine, but somehow, I can't write a single word on my history paper. For a second, that kinda scared me because I'd hate to know that I'm starting to get lazy. These last 2 months are the most crucial ones, and I really need to stick it out.
I watched tessa and scott skate yesterday. They are absolutely breathtaking, perfect. The way they skate and look at each other is so genuine and special. It's amazing to know that they began skating together sinc 7 and 9, growing up together, becoming Olympians together. And I remember that Olympics commercial that you were in, where you said that it was your dream to go to the Olympics, promptly adding, "but that's just a dream." Look at you now, you lived that dream, and you should be so proud of the person you have become. From Alex Bilodeau to tessa and scott, to you patrick, you all show passion and respect for your sport and most of all, you show respect to others. In my opinion, that's what makes true Olympians. The moments where two countries can be competitive, but still congratulate each other in the end, that's what true sportsmanship is. It makes me really proud to be Canadian because our athletes are so gracious.
Women's singles is today! Joannie: you know that all of Canada is behind you. I hope you find that inner strength.
Although the weather today isn't as great as yesterday, I hope you still enjoy the day.

Love,
Tiffany

Another beautiful day

Dear Patrick,

Good morning, err.. afternoon. Another beautiful day today. I'm sure you are enjoying Vancouver right now. This week has been great, well.. except for yesterday when Canada lost to US in hockey! a;sdlfkajsdflkajs;. Silly Americans, hockey is Canada's game. It's ok though, I believe in Canada. We're going to make a perfect comeback and it's going to be epic. Up until this past week, I always wanted to win in arguments and to prove my point, but I realized that it doesn't even matter what other people think. I know where I stand and what I believe, and that's enough for me. So, where have you been so far? I absolutely love Vancouver. I guess you could say that I'm biased because I live here, but it really is a great place to live. I've done a bit of travelling myself, but Vancouver is always home to me. Don't just visit the touristy places. That's what everyone sees, but Vancouver is so much greater than that. Rent a bike and ride along the seawall at Stanley park. Watch the sunset at English Bay. Take walks in parks. Let yourself absorb everything that this city has to offer. If you don't already, you'll learn to love it, trust me.
I think you're an only child. Well, I am anyway. I really enjoy it actually. I never really get bored because I enjoy alone time. It's nice to take a jog outside when the weather's nice, sit at Starbucks and have a coffee, listening to your fav music on your ipod and just tuning everything else out. Don't get me wrong, I love hanging out with my friends, but there's just something really nice about setting time aside for yourself.
Patrick, enjoy your days here. Here's a song I have recently come to love.

The Script Live Like We're Dying

Sometimes we fall down and can't get back up
we're hiding behind skin that's too tough
how come we don't say I love you enough
till it's to late, it's not too late

Our hearts are hungry for a food that won't come
we could make a feast from these crumbs
and we're all staring down the barrel of a gun
so if your life flashed before you
what would you wish you would've done

Yeah... gotta start
lookin at the hand of the time we've been given here
this is all we got and we gotta start livin it
every second counts on a clock that's tickin'
gotta live like we're dying

Yeah we got
86 400 seconds in a day to
turn it all around or throw it all away
we gotta tell 'em that we love 'em
while we got the chance to say
gotta live like we're dying

no controversy at all

Dear Patrick,

I'm so proud of you. I cheered for you the whole way and tried to exude positive energy to you:) With the Olympics behind you, there is nothing you can't face now. I totally agree with you that Evan deserves to win. The quad isn't everything. Although Plushenko did pull a quad, his other jumps weren't clean, and figure skating isn't just about the jumps. How can people say that figure skating is moving backwards just because people choose not to do the quad? At the Olympics, it's called playing smart and evaluating the pros and cons. He won without the quad, which goes to show that the quad isn't everything. I wish people would stop targeting him AND you for not having quads. Plushenko is a sore loser for saying all those things, that the quad makes you a man. A real man and a good sportsman would show respect to other athletes and appreciate their talents. Unfortunately, Plushenko has shown that he doesn't have the class to do so. It's hard living life like that because you're always living with resentment and you're only living for yourself. It gets tiring. For all the Plushenkos and Stojkos out there, figure skating is advancing. FYI, it's not all about the technical jumps anymore. It's the technical, coupled with the artistry and the presentation as a whole. That's how we're moving forward. If the quad is everything, then why don't we just having the skaters do quad after quad, who even cares about the transitions then? It's so frustrating that valuable sportsman like you and Evan are being critisized when their line of thinking is just out-of-date. Please, Plushenko, show some respect for others: aka, suck it up. newsflash, there's someone better than you.
PC, i hope you're enjoying yourself now that the pressure is over. I heard you were downtown yesterday. I was too, too bad I didn't get to see you. I heard you were mobbed by a huge crowd, haha no surprise there.
You are so talented and you're still so young. Needless to say, you have a long road ahead of you. There are always going to be people that want to put you down, but hold your head high and dwell on the good things in life. Above all, you have character. You can appreciate others' talents and that makes you a true sportsman.
Good luck in Sochi. I'll be watching.

Love,
Tiffany

Canadian girl

Right now, I'm so proud to be Canadian.
Congrats to Alex Bilodeau for winning the first gold medal on home soil! But it's not just that. When I see the Canadian team and its tight-knit community, the determination and the trust in partnerships, it makes me believe that there is something greater going on here. Olympics brings the world together. It certainly doesn't make everything better, it doesn't solve the world's problems, but that's okay, because during this time, athletes and people of different countries can come together and celebrate sports and competition. Olympics is such a great event. Every country gets the chance to show their best athletes here and put their best foot forward.
These athletes train so hard. Years of training leading up to this event. Sometimes, they only have a couple minutes to prove that they can make it to the podium. They put everything on the line and risk everything, in those couple of minutes. At times, they fall, and they may fall hard, but the amazing thing is, they just get back up, give a little shoulder shrug, and finish the race. Like Jessica Dube, after her injury and 80 stitches on her face, she went back to practice a week later. I can't even imagine how much courage and determination that takes. There are a lot more stories like that, and I applaud them for their willpower.
There's something we can learn from these athletes. These Olympians make it big because they never give up, no matter what hits them. It is with this love for what they do, and this perseverance that make them true Olympians.

Go, Canada, Go.

dear patrick

Olympics has finally come. I remember a couple years back, I was thinking about how long it would be until 2010, but now it's finally here. I wish Olympics would come around more often, though idealistic, I wish we always had that Olympic spirit and passion for our countries and be able to celebrate the talents within it. It's exciting to know that so many athletes are going to be in Vancouver, and the buzz of excitement is all around the city. Right now, I'm so proud to be Canadian and to live in the host city of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Dear Patrick, I hope you are enjoying this experience. Live in the moment. Revel in the present and all that it has in store for you. To me, you're not just that talented Canadian figure skater that's plastered all over the walls. You're that young, goofy teenager that always has a positive attitude, a bright smile, and a fervor for life. I think that's why so many people look up to you. I hope you never lose that sense of passion for life. I pray to God that you can perform your best, that He can give you a peace of mind that no one else can. I pray that you won't have any regrets, that you can come out with that same smile. Most importantly, I pray that somehow, you will draw close to God. I don't how and I don't know when, but I know that if you support someone, you want the best for them. I wish you the best in life. Trust yourself and have a little faith. Believe.

the best

In my life, I've had two "best 2 weeks of my life." Ironically, none of those were spent at home. They were spent with strangers that I came to know as family.