I’ve been away for so long, I feel like I have been a bad tumblr-er.

I’ve been spending time away working, training, reading and generally trying to carve a place for myself in this mad city of T.O. i have lately been reeling between trying to become this woman that I wish to be and building some sort of “stability” around my life and just saying “fuck it all” and jumping on a plane to an unknown destination.

However, I am a Capricorn at heart and pragmatism/ practicality are close to my moral framework. Also I am terrified of the unknown and the idea of planning a trip without scrupulous planning gives me heart palpitations.

I think my priorities have changed and I’ve realized that I do actually need to carve something solid in this city. It’s been 10 years. It’s time to stop running away from identifying with Canada, with Toronto, with responsibility and conformity.

I realize these are random words I am throwing out there without any sort of clarity or clue as to what the hell I am referring to.

This is why I like tumblr so much, because I can come on here and read and read and read, and learn and be inspired by the many wonderful blogs I follow and I can feel like I am a step in the right direction.

fromsoiltoflight:

Afghan girls teaching Afghan girls! A pic from Skateistan’s Facebook page.

Skateistan is a Kabul-based Afghan NGO (Non-Governmental Organization), which is non-political, independent, and inclusive of all ethnicities, religions and social backgrounds.

The simplicity of using skateboarding as a tool for empowerment is really moving, and even better: It works. 

faineemae:

Muslim women who choose to wear the Hijab but are also Athletes of the fiercest kind.

racismfreeontario:

Anna Mae Aquash was a Mi’kmaq activist, born in 1945, who became a member of the American Indian Mouvement in the early 1970′s. She was murdered in 1975, and the case of her murder is still going on today. The murder of Anna Mae Aquash will never be fully resolved, but she will always be remebered as a powerful woman who fought for the rights of her people. An active American Indian Movement (AIM) member, as well as mother, wife, social worker, and day care teacher, her image is powerful as much for her untimely death as for her life’s work. Found murdered on the Pine Ridge Reservation during a time of tremendous social and political upheaval, she has become a symbol of the movement for Indian rights.

Anna Mae Aquash Quotes:

- “I’m Indian all the way, and always will be. I’m not going to stop fighting until I die, and I hope I’m a good example of a human being and of my tribe.”

- “These white people think this country belongs to them. They don’t realize that they are only in charge right now because there’s more of them than there are of us. The whole country changed with only a handful of raggedy-ass pilgrims that came over here in the 1500s. And it can take a handful of raggedy-ass Indians to do the same, and I intend to be one of those raggedy-ass Indians.”

Day 100! of Racism Free Ontario’s 100 People of Colour Spotlight. .(more info  at Anna Mae Aquash)

lisbethdarsh:

Toss it.

Toss something today. No, not the barbell or a medicine ball or a kettlebell. (Although that is a lot of freakin’ fun.) I mean, throw something away. Get rid one thing in your life today that is weighing you down.

Something, anything. A pile of outdated magazines. An old…

racismfreeontario:

Beverly K. Jacobs (Gowehgyuseh). She is the current President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada. She was born into the Bear Clan of the Mohawk Nation on the territory of the Six Nations of the Grand River in Southern Ontario. Her traditional name, Gowehgyuseh means “She’s visiting.”

Jacobs is a lawyer by profession and holds a Bachelor of Law Degree from the University of Windsor and a Masters Degree in Law from the University of Saskatchewan. She has taught at the University of Windsor, the University of Toronto, the University of Saskatchewan and Ryerson University and began her career as an entrepreneur and consultant with her own firm, Bear Clan Consulting where she dealt with issues such as Bill C-31, Residential Schools, Matrimonial Real Property, and Aboriginal Women’s health issues.

Jacobs’ work on Missing and Murdered Aboriginal women was inspired by her work with Amnesty International as the Lead Researcher and consultant for their Stolen Sisters Report. This 2004 groundbreaking document highlighted racialized and sexualized violence against Aboriginal women in Canada. Her work with Amnesty International led her to run for President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) in 2004. There she successfully secured funding for Sisters In Spirit, a research, education and policy initiative aimed at raising public awareness about Canada’s missing and murdered Aboriginal women.

In her role as NWAC President she has traveled extensively to raise awareness, rally citizens and inspire young Aboriginal women. Jacobs was re-elected for a second term as President of NWAC in 2006; in the same year she was appointed Chair of the National Aboriginal Council on Species at Risk (NACOSAR), which advises the Minister of Environment and makes recommendations to the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council. In October 2008, Jacobs was honoured by Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, Canadian Department of Peace Initiative, and Civilian Peace Service Canada as one of 50 Canadian women whose work and dedication has helped to further a culture of peace in Canada. In November 2008, she was the recipient of the Governor General’s Award in commemoration of the Persons Case, which salutes Canadian contributions to the advancement of women’s equality 

• Day 98 of Racism Free Ontario’s100 People of Colour Spotlight.
• Follow our facebook fanpage , tumblr, twitter and website for daily updates.

(via Beverly K. Jacobs)

deafmuslimpunx:

Silambam, the South Indian martial art of stick fighting

deafmuslimpunx:

Silambam, the South Indian martial art of stick fighting

okay, here comes another rant

I’ve been on this paleo diet for exactly 6 days. So not even a week and I am struggling. For several reasons

1) this sugar withdrawal my body is going through is making me really moody and     emotional. I damn near broke down and cried after the WOD today, which for anyone interested was this:

4 rounds of:

400m run/ 20 squats/ 20 handstand push ups (piked)

2) this may or may not be related to whatever the hell my body is going through currently due to the diet, but my frustration level with myself, my performance and my results is through the fucking roof. Now, I understand that crossfit is not about “competition” per say, its about doing your best, and making progress and hitting your goals and essentially being the best you can be. But its awfully hard to keep smiling and celebrating your accomplishments when you finish last in the WOD or get the lowest reps. And yes, I am speaking for myself only. Its silly I know, mainly because I am often comparing myself to a man who is 3 times my size, or a super flexible ex-gymnast. 

I recognise that we all have our strengths and our weaknesses. And although the goal of crossfit is to create well rounded athletes, all of us have areas we can improve on. For me, it’s cardio (not just running but any met-con) and muscular endurance, AKA doing any sort of strength/power stuff for long periods of time.However, I am awesome at some things: I can do kipping pull ups, I have awesome form on things like tricep push ups, burpees, box jumps, hammer strikes and anything with a barbell. (at least I think I do)

It’s just really frustrating sometimes, because I know I can do better. I KNOW I am strong…it’s just sometimes I cannot, for whatever reason, go faster. I cannot muster the confidence in myself, the determination and the will to keep going. I need a break, both mental and physical. And that’s a primary reason as to why my times suck sometimes. And yes, if I were to compare my WODs now to when I first started, yes, there is a massive difference. True, my cardio sucks, but running is ALOT EASIER for me than when I first started. I don’t get as out of breath as before.

Maybe this is part of the process. Destroy/remove the ego and it will be better. 

I just have to trust the process.

Here’s to the process :)

Um, so I’m on day 3 of paleo. And it sucks, but not as much as I thought it would. Day 2 (yesterday) sucked. I had a massive sugar craving which seems to have mostly disappeared. I do love breakfast and brunch and having an omelette with NO CHEESE and a coffee with NO CREAM AND SUGAR was just depressing.