7 Days of Organization

Everyone in my life knows. Everyone!
There is no hiding from it anymore and no way to escape the decision.  Sometimes in life when you don't tell people your inner most thoughts they seem less real. Less concrete. They have less validity.  Yet, now that everyone knows there is no backing out. "No Choice! Like Indian marriage" - Bikram Choudhury


Everyone  in my life has an enormous amount of love for me. I am very blessed in this sense. I have so many great friends scattered across Canada accompanied by an extremely supportive family. My life is so full of love, however I have found that with this much love and support also comes questions, concerns, and opinions. Therefore conversations tend to become focused on the topic of travel, money, hostels, packing, and time lines.  Everyone asks me the same three questions;

1. Aren't you scared?
2. Are you excited?
3. Are you going alone?

My answers are always as follows;
1. Yes. But of never coming back to Canada.
2. Yes! Of course I am silly! If I wasn't why would I do this?
3. Yes.

After the three questions are answered people begin to enquire about how this is all possible. How do you leave it all behind? Where is your stuff? What about your job? Your apartment? Your cats? The above are all answered and peoples facial expression reveal they are slowly trying to put together the pieces, attempting to understand the logic, reasoning, and feasibility of this drastic life change.

During this week off, from my big girl job, I organized my entire existence in Ottawa and began the preparations for my departure. In seven days I organized my whole life and advanced towards leaving.

Shiraz and Vino
My BABBBBIIIEEESSS

Everything that I possess in Ottawa has been accounted for, shipped away or purchased. All my dearest material belongings were shipped in rubber bins to Winnipeg, stuffed to the brim, and kept closed with duck tape.  My lamps were sold to a random couple who met in Thailand and fell in love. Vino & Shiraz, my beloved kitties, were accounted for & my bed is gifted to the beautiful soul who will love them once I am gone.  All that remains is to pack my suitcase, complete an educational assignment for my college & say goodbye. Literally. That is it!




With all this talk about the future I have found that I am not really living in the present. My thoughts and conversations are focused on planning my route through Asia/Europe and figuring out Visas.  Yet..... I continue to teach mindfulness in the hot room.

As I taught class tonight at Bikram Yoga Ottawa it dawned on me all the beautiful things I will miss about Ottawa...perhaps that should be another post....

So after a week of organizing, planning, sorting, and packing I decided to spend part of my Sunday absorbing my current surroundings. Get back to my current location and bring my mind back within my body. So I started walking.... and I walked and walked and walked...through Westboro, Downtown, Centretown, Elgin, Parliament Hill, Byward Market and Sandy Hill. My ears were filled with the sounds of Alexi Murdoch and my eyes soaked up the sights of Ottawa. For your Information -  this is a drop dead gorgeous city! I love Ottawa and feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to live here for almost two years.

As I crawled into bed tonight I feel completely satisfied, content, ready and happy.  Today showed me a very valuable lesson.  In the near future I will be travelling the world yet that day is not here but today is. My life is still here so my mind must be here too. Tomorrow will come, when it's ready, but tonight I am just a girl, in Ottawa, working 9 - 5, saving her money for a dream.

Thank You Ottawa.

The Journey Begins in Canada's Capital

Dear Universe,

Today marks my last 30 days in the province of Ontario & ever-so-beautiful capital of Canada, Ottawa.

Today marks the beginning of my journey because everything must end where it starts. Ottawa has shown itself to be a transformational city for my mind, career and heart.  My guru always says that "the only thing constant in life is change" which has proven to be true in every compartment of my life.  

It's difficult to find a place to start. I feel as though I must explain to you my journey, my past; explain what led me to sell everything I own and book a one-way ticket to Hong Kong! However perhaps the past isn't as important as the future. Our past may shape our character, change the direction of our lives but it doesn't define who we are. I will always appreciate my past. The challenges, the disappointments, the mistakes and even the deaths. For the highs would be nothing without the lows - two waves down create one up. Thank you (past) for making me who I am today. There is nothing I would change, nothing I regret and nothing I would want to re-do. In the end, my past will stay where it belongs, in my past, & only the silver lining of life's challenges will accompany me on this journey around the world. 

As I look around my room my life is scattered across the floor in boxes, bags and storage containers yet my soul is at ease. I feel complete! I feel this because I know that this is where I am exactly meant to be.


Let's be straight - I am not running from anyone or anything nor I am setting out in the world to find myself or find something. The only place we can find ourselves is in the present, regardless of geographical location, and the only thing we truly need in life is love. I have completed everything society demanded and my family requested of me. The letters are now behind my name & the certificate hangs on the wall. Therefore my reality is as follows;

For the first time, perhaps ever, I love myself, I love my life and I am no longer scared of the unknown or of being alone. Everyone I know seems to be getting married or having children yet I have no desire to do either. My dream, my desire is to pack a bag and travel the world! I have come to accept that before I can commit to anyone, any place, job, or anything I must escape into the unknown & give myself the gift of 12 months of true freedom. 

I have learned that this life is not meant to lived safely nor is it meant to be watched. This life is meant to be lived! We are the Michelangelo's of our own lives!! "Whatever the mind can conceive the mind can achieve!" - The Secret. Therefore, there is no room in my soul or mind for negative emotions such as fear, doubt or worry. I only see the beauty of the unknown; the joy of my new found freedom; and the excitement of the adventure ahead! The journey. Our journey. My journey.

My life may be in boxes but my mind is whole and my soul is at peace.

To the unknown I raise my glass - Cheers!

Leah K. Sommerfield