Let it Go

I've always loved Disney movies and have found different ways to connect to them.

Yes there is the controversy with Disney movies and the hidden sexual content within them. But let's just put that aside for a moment and focus on the positive messages within, in this case the newest Disney movie Frozen.

This movie speaks so strongly to women and how they are powerful and shouldn't be afraid of their inner strength. We see this huge development of Elsa. She is told to fear her powers, to fear herself and to not allow anyone to see who she really is. She lived in isolation, never allowing herself to grow. When she finally breaks free and is willing to take control of her own life, she becomes powerful. I'm not just talking about her magic, I'm talking about her as a person. She's no longer afraid to be who she's meant to be.

The song "Let it Go" talks about letting go of the past and moving forward. It's about being true to yourself and not letting anyone tell you who you're supposed to be. Young girls today can take a lot away from this song. When Elsa sings about letting go, it's about not being afraid to show what makes you special, letting your inner light shine. It's about not caring what other people care or think, it's about knowing who you are and knowing that's all that matters.

It's such a beautiful song and message. Disney did something right with this one.

I encourage everyone to Take A Moment and take their daughters to see this movie. After the movie is done tell your daughter they can do anything and be anything they want to be.

Hard Work Has Its Rewards.

Over the years it's become apparent that hard work pays off and that working hard comes with it's rewards.

Last week I was presented with a generous gift for the volunteer work I've been doing at Macdonald Youth Services (MYS). I was beyond shocked and just overly grateful for the gift. It was so unexpected. I love volunteering at MYS. I think that the work they are doing to help the homeless youth of Winnipeg get off the streets and help them build a better life for themselves. I first learned about MYS when I went there for my three-week work placement through school helping them with their brochures and donor highlights for their Capital Campaign newsletter. I was so lucky to have been there that I continued volunteering my time as I believe in what they do so much.

I love what I'm doing and I never expected anything from MYS, so when I was presented with tickets to The Winnipeg Jets game last Saturday, I just couldn't believe it. It just meant so much to me that my work was appreciated that much.

It was so much fun going to the game and the seats were amazing. It was disappointing that the Jets lost but I'll always remember the experience and the reason I was there.

MYS is truly an exceptional place with amazing staff who not only take care of the homeless youth of Winnipeg but their staff and volunteers.

I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to work with such an amazing team.

Try Yoga - It's Amazing

Amanda Burkowsky Yogi

I've always wanted to try yoga but always felt to nervous to go. I'm no where near being flexible the way I was when I was a child taking gymnastics. I knew there was no way I would be able to do those crazy poses. So I never tried.

This past Monday a few friends and I decided to try yoga with a personal instructor. My friends have each tried yoga at least once before, this was my first time. I felt a little more comfortable since I was with good friends, an amazing instructor, and it was in my basement.

Amanda Burkowsky was super nice and down to earth. She made us feel relaxed and comfortable. She didn't mind that we were laughing and giggling from nerves or that we couldn't get some of the poses. Amanda Burkowsky laughed along with us and was very encouraging.

We're all still sore from that night, but in a good way. It's been way too long since I've had a good workout.

One of my friends boyfriend (the reason we were able to connect with Amanda) created a video on Amanda and her passion for yoga.

I'm so glad that I decided to try yoga and that I did it with a private instructor. It just made the whole experience that much better. I recommend to anyone who is wanting to try yoga for the first time that they contact Amanda Burkwsky because she is amazing.

The "Job" Thing

It's that time of year. University/College students are a month to two months away from finishing school, either for the year or they're graduating. So what does that mean?

It's time to find a job!

This is also the time when most job postings come up. It's almost overwhelming trying to figure out what job is the right one for you.

You're thinking one thing, your friends or family are telling you another, and the job posting may or may not sound right for you. So how do you choose?

It can be mentally and physically exhausting trying to figure out the whole "job" thing. For most people, they can't afford the wait. Needing the money becomes a priority over what they really want to do.

The advice I'm following right now is finding that happy medium.

I'm going to be finished my second degree at the beginning of May and I need to find a job. I haven't worked since last summer and my money is non existent. It's stressful not having any money, so the push to find a job is weighing heavy on me. So what do I do? I need a full time job but I can't find one.

The solution...term jobs. They pay like a full time job. The hours are like a full time job. The experience is like a full time job. The only difference is that it's for a shorter period of time. Term jobs are a great way to start into the field that you want to get into. The other benefit is that they are usually looking to hire within a few weeks of the job posting.

So this is my advice. If you're not sure where you want to go after school, but you need the job and the experience, look at term jobs. They are more beneficial than you think.

Never Give Up!

courtosey of Google

I've always been the type of person who never liked giving up. I hated feeling defeated. I always pushed myself to do my best and see everything through. Even if it didn't work out at least I could say I tried.

A friend of mine recently told me that they felt like giving up on their education. They are so close to finishing their first year of Creative Communications. In the short time that I have know Tyler*, I know that this is something that he wants to be doing.

Tyler told me that he wants to get into radio. The Creative Communications program is something that can help him get their. Yes he is struggling to get through first year. First year is hard, second year is even harder. But if this is something that you want to do, push yourself and don't give up.

I've been telling Tyler to go and talk to his teachers, even the other teachers in the program to get help. He's been refusing mine when I've offered to look over his assignments. To me it seems obvious to go and talk to the teachers and get their advice. He won't do it. I'm at the point where I don't know how to help him anymore since he's refusing to help himself.

The last thing I want to do is give up on him, but I don't know how to help him anymore. I feel like he'll be letting himself down if he gives up.

This is essentially what Tyler told me. That he wasn't giving up, that he had just had enough and it wasn't worth putting his health at risk. He told me that he was feeling depressed from the way things were going at school. I felt sick hearing this. I wish he would talk to me but he refuses. Tyler said he will finish out the year but that he won't be coming back to finish his education. That post secondary isn't for him. I hope that he will take this into consideration.

Take A Moment to remember why you started something and keep pushing to see it through. Never Give Up!

*Name has been changed.

Spare Change?

Fundraising for a good cause can make you feel absolutely wonderful.

My Live Television Production class has been working hard to put on a telethon for the Winnipeg Humane Society. 

Bethany, Janessa, Megan and myself make up the fundraising team. It is our job to come up with different ways to raise money to go towards the IAMS' 1001 Donations telethon at the Winnipeg Humane Society. All proceeds from the fundraising and live telethon (on March 16th) is matched by IAMS'.

So far the fundraising team has had a cheesecake sale (cheesecakes from Double D's) and a coffee sale (coffee from San Vito). Today we had a bake sale and on March 7th we will be having a book sale.

To date we have raised $1,213

I could not be happier with the work that we have done to help support the Winnipeg Humane Society. They do so much great work to protect, rescue, and find animals a safe and happy home.

So the next time you have some spare change that you're not sure what to do with, Take A Moment to donate it to your local charity. It's amazing how far spare change can go.

Breaking Down the Stigma Wall

Mental illness is something that has been ignored for way too long. It's something that people feel ashamed to talk about because there is this stigma that surrounds it. All of a sudden people are being told that it's not ok to be feeling the way that they're feeling. That it's some how wrong. That they're choosing to feel that way.

Many people go day by day not speaking up about how they are feeling for the above reasons. Someone may ask them how they're feeling and they'll say "fine" and we go on accepting that response and move on instead of asking if they really are "fine".

In 2003 I learned that accepting "fine" as a response isn't good enough. I will admit, however, that I sometimes still accept "fine" as a response and wish that I wouldn't. This is why.

My friend Kieran wrote a very touching and inspirational blog that deserves to be seen by the world. The blog talks about his personal struggles with mental illness and how he found the strength to reach out to someone for help in what could have been his final moments. Not many people are able to find that strength. 

I don't know what my life would be like without Kieran in it. He is such a fun-loving, energetic, humorous guy that I couldn't be luckier to know. People struggling with mental illness tend to think that no one would miss them if they were gone. I can tell you his funeral is one I would not want to go to any time soon. This world would be a much sadder place without him. 

I had my own personal experience with depression when I was younger. It's not something I talk about often. It's still something I struggle with from time to time, though I feel after eight, almost nine years that I have better control over it. I still remember that night, holding the knife in my hand, I didn't think my life was worth it. I thought about my parents and how they would feel. I honestly don't know where I would be had it not been for my dog coming up to me at that very moment and nestling his head against my leg. My dog saved my life that night. It was enough for me to say something to my mom and seek out help. 

Once I found my strength in accepting the way I was feeling wasn't wrong and that I wasn't alone, I wanted to make sure that anyone feeling the way I was never feels alone.

Music has always been something to help me through the tougher times.

So I ask you to Take A Moment everyday to ask someone how they are doing. That simple concern can save someones life.

Any Publicity is Good Publicity

Any publicity is good publicity, it's a adage everyone has heard when it comes to celebrities. If they're making the news, and people are talking about them, they must be doing something right. for the second people stop taking about them, everyone forgets who they are.

Now what celebrity wants that? They chose the "Lime Light" to be seen, but at what costs?

On January 23, 2014, Canadian pop singer Justine Bieber was arrested in Miami and charged with a DUI and resisting arrest.

What is going on with our young stars? Are they getting into the "business" too early in life that they forget there are consequences to their actions. They are not immune to life, plain and simple. 

So I ask you this, how is this good publicity? Think about the fans who consider Justin Bieber to be a role model. How is this a positive example of what to aspire too. It's almost like young celebrities need a person with them 24/7 to act as their conscience until they can make appropriate decisions for themselves.

So Take A Moment to ask yourself is any publicity good publicity? 

Making Choices

Life is full of choices. We can never be sure if we are making the right ones. What may seem right could easily turn out to be wrong and what seems wrong can turn out to be right.

There is no sure way of knowing. It's just a matter of making a choice. Making choices allows us to live our lives with no regrets.

Ok yes people have regrets for choices they have made. But it's those choices that have made us into who we are today. We took a chance on something or someone instead of letting ourselves wonder What If?

So don't be afraid to make the choice that scares you. Make the choice for you and not because somebody told you to. Take A Moment to make choices for you so that you can live your life and say that you lived it your way.

Giving Back The Voice

I had the most beneficial work placement back in December that I could have ever asked for. I spent three weeks interning at Macdonald Youth Services (MYS). They work hard to give youth a better life and to help prepare them for the "real" world and the harsh realities that come with it.

I enjoyed my time with them so much that I am continuing to volunteer with them. The youth that MYS helps are people that have had their voice taken from them because society has written them off. I want to help MYS give these youth their voice back. Everyone has something to say, it's a matter of getting people to listen.

Through MYS I will be working with their program coordinators to be able to tell the youth's stories. You can find these stories on the MYS website coming in February.

I hope that everyone will Take A Moment to read these stories as they deserve to be heard.

Moving Foward

Next week I will be starting my first work placement. I'm excited to be going and gaining all the experiences the job has to offer. This will be my first job experience working in the field of communications. I've been studying creative communications for a year and a half now and I couldn't be more excited to put the skills I've learned to use.

I want to thank all of my instructors who have helped me and pushed me to be better than myself. I appreciate all that you all have done for me.

I know some people who are not willing to get job experience unless it's paid. The problem with that is that without experience you can't get a job. So take the experience where you can. Paid or not. There is always room to learn and expand your skills.

So don't sit back and wait for the "right" job to come to you. Go out and get the experience to better prepare you for the job you want an deserve.

It Only Takes 1 Hour To Save A Life

If you had the opportunity to save someone's life, would you?

Approximately every minute of everyday, someone in Canada needs blood. In fact, according to a recent poll, 52% of Canadians say they, or a family member, have needed blood or blood products for surgery or for medical treatment.



Donating blood is, in my opinion, one of the greatest random acts of kindness a person can do. When a person donates blood, they don't know who they are helping or why that person needs their blood. All the donor knows is that they are doing something that is helping to save a life.

Again I ask, if you had the opportunity to save someone's life, would you? Would you take that hour out of your day?

For more information on how you can save a life please visit Canadian Blood Services or call 1-888-2-DONATE to book an appointment.

Is Life Getting In The Way?

Courtesy of Google

Life. It has this amazing way of getting in your way when you need to get things done. Life just happens and there's not much we can do about it.

Over the past few weeks it has felt almost impossible to stay in control. Not only was there my school work to worry about, there were the things going on in my everyday life that felt too hard to handle.

I wanted to just give up. Say goodbye to everything and just not deal with it any more.

That would be ok right?

Would any one really care?

Life can get overwhelming most of the time. I think of it as a test. A test that takes us to the limits, but proves that we will not go over the edge.  That our limits are limitless.  That it's possible for us to do anything that we set our minds to.




This does not mean that we will not struggle.  That struggle is a part of life. The life we want to so easily give up on sometimes or ask for a do over.  Sadly there are no do overs in life. We make a mistake and it's up to us to fix it and learn from it.

Courtesy of Google

If only real life was as easy as "The Game of Life."

But the truth is, real life is hard and we need to work hard for everything we do. We can't just expect someone to make life easy for us.

So Take A Moment to step back and consider what life is really throwing at you. "Everything happens for a reason" right?

Give Back

Today I visited Siloam Mission for a group class assignment.  My group and I were given a tour of the building and got to see first hand what Siloam Mission has to offer its patrons.

It was amazing to see everything they do to help those in need.  I never knew that Siloam Mission gave its patrons clothing and toiletries, or that they have a donated weight room for physical rehabilitation, or that they help their patrons make a resume to help them find a job.  i always thought of Siloam Mission as a place for people to sleep and get a healthy meal.

I feel pretty naive having not known this before. But I'm sure I'm not alone.

Siloam Mission is always looking for volunteers and donations.  Siloam Mission accepts clothing, bedding, toiletries, shoes, and much more as donations.  These donations help to better serve their patrons and Siloam Mission's mission.

So Take A Moment to help out. Volunteer your time, or donate your gently used items to an organization that could put them to good use.  Not only will you be doing a good deed, you'll be helping to make someone's life better.

Making the Difference

Courtesy of Google

At one point this is what we all thought bullying was. That it would never grow from this.  Bullying used to be something parents could handle and help their kids through.

Sadly this isn't the case.  Whether you're the one being bullied or the parent who's child is being bullied, you all feel alone, isolated.

When bullying took to social media, it felt like there was no escape.  You were constantly trapped by the negativity, harassment, and the photos and videos.  There was no way to shut it off.

Courtesy of Google

The disappointing truth is that it took the losing of someone's life before cyberbullying was taken seriously. 

After the untimely death of Amanda Todd, the Canadian Government set out to pass Bill 18. Yesterday, October 10, 2013, Bill 18 passed as a law in Manitoba.

It's sad to think about the world we live in today, were a law against bullying needs to be passed.  To me it should be common sense that intentionally hurting someone is wrong. Yet, there are so many people who thrive off of the tormenting of others.

I would like all my readers to Take A Moment out of their day, everyday, and be kind to someone.  You just might save their life.

Opportunity Knocks More Than Once

Opportunity, I've heard time and time again that it only comes but once in a lifetime.

I've come to learn that this isn't true.

Opportunity comes when you least expect it and when you need it most.

Through the Creative Communications program, I've been given the greatest opportunity I could ever ask for.

I'm being given the opportunity to learn.  The opportunity to gain experience.  But most importantly, I'm being given the opportunity to grow.  I couldn't be more thankful for the strength and courage this program has given me.

Sure I may get frustrated by it and feel as though giving up may be the best thing. But then I stop and think about where I was just a year ago to where I am now.  It's something that I'll never take for granted.

So Take A Moment to appreciate ALL the opportunities that life has given you.  Believe me, you've been given more than one.

Never Gone

Yesterday was my Nonno's birthday.  He would've been 79 years old. My Nonno passed away on June 9, 2013 from cancer.

I miss my Nonno every day.

Yesterday felt like saying goodbye all over again.  I know that he is in a better place now and that the pain has finally stopped, I still wish that he was here with his family.

There is still so much that he had yet to see his family accomplish, but I know that he is still watching over us.

I cherish every memory that I have of you Nonno.  I just want you to know that to me and you're family you are Never Gone.

Love, Bella

Try Dancing...Or Whatever It Is You Want To Do

Last night I was watching the premiere of Dancing With The Stars and I noticed the reoccurring theme from this seasons cast.

During each of there interviews, the cast all mentioned how they wanted to do something that scared them, or something new, or something they never had the chance to do.

It got me thinking that not a lot of people are given the opportunity to do the things they always wanted to, or they're to afraid to put themselves out there.

So it got me thinking about the things I've always wanted to do and the things I'm too afraid to do.  Let's just say my fingers don't count high enough. I do have to admit that right now isn't the greatest time to do the things I want to do.  Being in school does take priority.  But once school is done, I'm not going to let myself hold me back any more.

The truth is, we're our own worst enemies.  Only we can tell ourselves no.  So Take A Moment to say yes to the things you want to do in Your Life.  You'll be happier for it :)

What to Write??

Writing, the simple action of putting pen to paper and the forming of simple yet magical words when put together.

Sounds simple right?

Not so much.  Not when the writing is personal, when the words come from deep within your soul.

Since I was 11, I feel in love with the written word and the stories that could be told.  I wanted to be able to do that too.

So my journey began to becoming a published author.  I began writing short stories and fan fiction.  Anything that I could think of I would write.

But like any writer, I have had my set backs.  I have had writers block, the lack of motivation, and worst of all the lack of a big idea!

A few years ago my big idea came. Through inspirations from Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and The Covenant, I knew what I was going to write.

So what's the problem?

I'm back to having writers block. I've got my ideas, though they may be small, I know what I want to write.  I just need to write.

I'm now working on giving myself smaller writing goals.  The plan is just to write. Write my small ideas and hopefully they will form into bigger ideas.

I'm taking a page out of my own book and I'm Taking A Moment to write.

So Little Time

Ever feel like your life is spiraling out of control?

Or that there is just never enough time to get everything done or figure everything out?

With everything going on in our day to day lives, it's hard to know where to begin and where it all ends. This unknown can make you feel helpless and scared.

It's a dark place the unknown, it can feel like the world has swallowed you whole and there's no way to get back out.  What's worse is when you don't want to get out.  When staying in the dark begins to feel comforting.

I'm in my final year of CreComm, which means it's time to get my life in order.  We have to pick our work-placements soon which got me thinking, am I doing what I really want to be doing? Have I made the right decisions in my life? Have I just been wasting my time? Can I do this?

I felt like I was having a panic attack as I watched my life spiral out of control. I don't know if I'm ready to do this.

I felt like giving up.

Quit before life got too out of control.

That's when my mom had a very helpful talk with me.  She told me that it's ok to be scared.  That she was happy I was scared because it meant that I cared about what I was doing with my life and that I wanted to make the best of it.

Sometimes, when life feels like it's spiraling out of control, it's ok to reach out and let someone know how you're feeling.

I guess the saying "mother knows best" is true.  I'm glad that my mom was there for me when I needed that much needed advice.

So Take A Moment to breath. Even if life may seem like it's spiraling out of control, it's really just trying to keep up with you.