shewasavisitor

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In the great scope of my life, right now – in this moment! – I am here.
I am not an ordinary person. This is not an ordinary experience.
And for this, I honour myself, this space, and this time.
I am so fortunate to be here, in this moment,
and I choose to celebrate this every day.

(Leap)

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29 days of self-portraits in the advent of Leap Day

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In late September of 2016, Hurricane Matthew ravaged a tremendous part of southern North America. Its effects were felt locally – Toronto’s boat-dwelling marina folks were told to batten down our hatches. The winds were very very strong. Here is a strange drawing I drew of myself as I sat in the window of my houseboat watching the spoils.

The morning after, I spoke about the storm with a neighbour. He shared that he had been living on boats his whole life and that he’d weathered many storms on the open water. I was moved by his stories and felt grateful that we in Toronto had it so easy against what was being revealed internationally. Five months later, I traveled to Haiti to assist in a grassroots rebuilding of that freshly devastated nation.

The conversation I’d had with that neighbour about Hurricane Matthew was the first time we’d shared anything personal and it forged a new familiarity between us. On this day three years ago I returned from my trip to Haiti. On this day three months ago, my boat neighbour very suddenly passed away.

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29 days of self-portraits in the advent of Leap Day

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29 days of self-portraits in the advent of Leap Day

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29 days of self-portraits in the advent of Leap Day

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29 days of self-portraits in the advent of Leap Day

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29 days of self-portraits in the advent of Leap Day

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29 days of self-portraits in the advent of Leap Day