Chez Speciale K

What I learned from slowing down

Fri, 16 Jan 2015 11:30:16 -0500

On September 24th, I was having the bike ride of my life: the sun was in my back, the weather was gorgeous, and I was 15 kilometres from reaching my goal of 2500 clicks on my bike that summer.

And then it all stopped.

The car hit me, broke my bike, my leg and my brain.

Five days later I was back home, on medical leave for at least 12 weeks. I could barely go to the bathroom in my own and slept half the time.

Going from an intense life, intense job and intense training schedule to nothing at all is a big change. I was used to my life zipping by and suddenly I found myself with nothing to do: no going out, no computer, no reading. Just sitting on the couch all day.

Four months later, I am getting ready to return to work. Here is what I have learned from going full stop on my life.

1. Silence is great
We live in a noisy world. Background music, open workspaces, phones everywhere, the tv in the background. I was so used to this noise it felt quite eerie to sit in silence at home. At first it felt like emptiness, like something was missing. Over time, this emptiness has become comfortable. It’s easier to think in silence, it’s easier to observe. Now I spencer my days without background music or television, and I enjoy the silence. You should try it too - go for a walk without a podcast or music playing, you may feel like your perceive more around you.

2. Sleep cures a lot of stuff
I have never slept as much as I have in the last four months. Sleep has been linked to faster healing, stress relief, weight loss, and many other health benefits. I do feel that my injuries required me to sleep more, and I can observe the difference between my physical injuries before going to bed and after waking up in the morning. In my case, sleep has also helped work through the trauma of being hit by a car - I dreamt through those issues for weeks and feel better for it today. Don’t deny yourself sleep - splurging on sleeping when you can could help you be more productive, more creative and in better control of your emotions.

3. Slowing the mind down helps it go deeper
Being on medical leave means disconnecting from work. This cleared my mind of the zillions of little things that work demands. I found that my yoga sessions produced a higher quality of meditation, that by slowing down my entire self I was able to go deeper. If I decided to reflect on a subject, I was not distracted and I could go deeper and think longer about it. Being a person who is always busy, always accomplishing something, it was an interesting change to take the mental scenic route.

4. It’s OK to depend on others
That is a tough one. From a young age, I was taught to be self-sufficient and not need others. With the injuries, my autonomy was severely affected. I had to rely on disability insurance for money, on my boyfriend to take care of the house, all our meals, all our shopping, and in the beginning even to help out with showering. I had to rely on my family to drive me to my medical appointments. I had to rely on the health professionals taking care of me to know what to do and how to get better. I can say I was far, far outside my comfort zone.

Through this I have learned that people want to help. And people will help if I ask them. And I am not a smaller person for it. I have learned to detect when someone needs a break from helping me out. I have learned to identify the symbols that show whether a door is automated, where the wheelchair ramp is, and how to use the provisions made for the disabled in public places.

I have learned that it takes a stronger person to ask for help than to struggle with the problem alone.

5. The human ability to adapt is underrated
My physical therapist was worried I’d go into depression, going through such a drastic change of pace. I felt like there was no way I could spend all that time doing nothing.

And then time happened. I started spacing out my rehabilitation exercises throughout the day. I became less bored. I organized my days to even out the amount of time between “events”. I got used to a slower rhythm and started to enjoy it.

I never thought I could enjoy living such a slow life, yet I adapted. Four months later, I am preparing for to readapt to my work life.

6. Life goes on
My dad taught me this one. When the accident happened, there were a lot of visitors, phone calls, flowers, etc. Over time, these dried up: people went back to their lives. They were not on medical leave, they had jobs and families and houses. It’s ok, they’re not the one injured. The seasons passed and I was home and they were getting ready for the holidays. Life goes on.

My life changed, but it still went on. I healed, I gained more autonomy, I started going outside the house more.

+++
Over all, slowing down taught me that it’s nice to take time to smell the roses. Life does not need to be jam-packed all the time.

I hope I can keep this with me as I get back to a more normal life.

ycphotographs:#CharlieHebdo This post completely summarizes my...

Wed, 07 Jan 2015 17:33:03 -0500

ycphotographs:

#CharlieHebdo

This post completely summarizes my thoughts on the Charlie Hebdo massacre.

The first beautiful signs of spring - finally. with Pierre-Luc –...

Sat, 03 May 2014 14:42:40 -0400

The first beautiful signs of spring - finally. with Pierre-Luc – View on Path.

I’ve shared 326 memories with my friends on Path - see...

Mon, 28 Apr 2014 21:03:38 -0400

I’ve shared 326 memories with my friends on Path - see them now at path.com!

nicolaformichetti: Going out with friends will never be the...

Sat, 21 Dec 2013 21:50:31 -0500

nicolaformichetti:

Going out with friends will never be the same after this

Love this idea!

Sunrise colors along the river at Parc Cartier-Brebeuf – View on...

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 07:45:56 -0500

Sunrise colors along the river at Parc Cartier-Brebeuf – View on Path.

Winter beauty at Parc Cartier-Brebeuf – View on Path.

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 07:41:59 -0500

Winter beauty at Parc Cartier-Brebeuf – View on Path.

Chocolate Is From Heaven

Tue, 05 Nov 2013 21:44:32 -0500

historical-nonfiction:

According to the Aztecs, Quetzalcoatl created cocoa when he descended from heaven on a beam from the morning star, carrying a cocoa tree stolen from paradise.

Well this is nice!

I like the angles on these shoes.

Fri, 30 Aug 2013 20:53:41 -0400

I like the angles on these shoes.

Adaptation at Mont-Wright – View on Path.

Mon, 26 Aug 2013 18:02:13 -0400

Adaptation at Mont-Wright – View on Path.

Moment de beauté pure. at Mont-Wright – View on Path.

Mon, 26 Aug 2013 17:59:09 -0400

Moment de beauté pure. at Mont-Wright – View on Path.

Recurring Void: Getting your application ready for iOS 7

Sun, 25 Aug 2013 20:48:18 -0400

Recurring Void: Getting your application ready for iOS 7:

recurringvoid:

I took a look at what’s coming with iOS7 and wrote about it. You can view the end result on Mirego’s blog. My thanks to the small group of people who reviewed my draft and made the the final just so much better.

miregoshift:

iOS 7 is coming this fall, and it’s very likely that people will…

The best lobster pounds around Acadia Park - reviewed This...

Mon, 24 Jun 2013 21:38:00 -0400

Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound

Beal's Lobster Pier

Thurston's Lobster Pound

The best lobster pounds around Acadia Park - reviewed

This weekend we went to beautiful Bar Harbor for hiking and lobster -
because that is what Bar Harbor is for, really: Hiking in the oldest
national park in the US, and stuffing yourself with the some of the tastiest food in the world: lobster!

You can check out my pictures here.

We decided to research the best lobster pound in the area, and chose 3
finalists to try out: Thurston’s, Trenton Bridge, and Beal’s Pier.

Now before I get into the details of each place, let me make one thing
clear: we belong to the school of thought that lobster is best enjoyed
simply boiled in salt water, at a picnic table near the water, eaten with
our bare hands. So, dear reader, if you think lobster should be a fancy
meal consumed at an expensive restaurant, then this review is useless to
you. Although, I would urge you to try it the “lobster pound” way.

Now, on to our three finalists:

3rd position: Beal’s Lobster Pier, Southwest Harbor.
http://www.bealslobster.com/
This lobster pound is located on a working lobster fishing pier, right next
to the coast guard building.

The staff is friendly and lets you pick your lobster from the tank. Beal’s
was also the least expensive of all 3 locations (but not by that much).
Beal’s also offers a wider menu and offers fried foods.

We ordered:

- 2 2-pound hard shell lobsters
- 2 corn on the cob
- 2 water bottles
- 1 large fries
- Total cost: 60$

*The pros:*
The lobster was delicious: not overcooked and fresh. The setting on the
pier was super pretty and we could watch the sunset over Southwest Harbor
bay.

*The cons:*
The fries weren’t very good: they were the cheap frozen kind. The melted
butter seemed to have been diluted with oil and did not taste right. And
worst of all: the lobster was pre-cracked and no cracking tools not skinny
forks were provided to help us reach the delicious meat. We ended up trying
to get to the meat with regular plastic forks and our bare hands.

Thank god there was a sink and soap to wash our hands.

2nd position: Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound, Trenton.
http://trentonbridgelobster.com/

Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound is located just at the entrance of, you
guessed it, Trenton Bridge. It’s a much more popular location than Beal’s
(at least at the start of the season).

At Trenton, there is a system: one guy helps you pick your lobster, then
you wait in line for a lady to charge your order and take payment, and a
third lady call out your number once it is ready. And no fried foods at
this lobster pound.

We ordered:

- 2 2-pound hard shell lobsters
- 2 corn on the cob
- 2 water bottles
- Total cost: 57$

*The pros:*
This was a very efficient operation. All the tools you need were there in
the lobster pan that serves as your tray. The lobster was very well cooked
and delicious, and the sitting was confortable.

*The cons:*
The staff was more focused on getting the clients to follow the process and
less friendly than the other locations. The parking lot was cramped and it
definitely felt like more of a tourist trap. The pound is on the side of
the road and offers less scenic views that the other pounds.

1st position: Thurston’s Lobster Pound, Bass Harbor.
http://www.thurstonslobster.com/

We really liked this place because it stuck to basics and did it with a big
smile. Every customer was served with a smile by all involved. The view
from the pier was gorgeous.

We ordered:

- 2 2.5-pound hard shell lobsters
- 2 corn on the cob
- 2 water bottles
- 1 home-made woopie pie
- Total cost: 76$

*The pros:*
The overall customer experience is the best we had. The smiling staff, the
tools provided, the process flow from choosing your lobster to getting your
food. Choosing our lobsters was definitely a lot of fun!

*The cons:*
Service was a little slower than the other pounds, and it was definitely
pricier.

Our recommendation
Lobster is lobster, and it was equally good at all three locations. In the
end, what made the difference was the service and the customer experience.

If you’re willing to drive out of Bar Harbor for your lobster meal, then take the time to go to Thurston’s and make it an exploration of the other villages and islands beyond Bar Harbor.

Enjoy!

My favorite picture from the weekend, the window of this small...

Mon, 24 Jun 2013 18:56:42 -0400

My favorite picture from the weekend, the window of this small fisherman’s house on the pier

Flickr: http://flic.kr/p/eUEpga

Panorama de fin de journée - magnifique with Pierre-Luc – View...

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:31:42 -0400

Panorama de fin de journée - magnifique with Pierre-Luc – View on Path.

How to make a pedestrian smile

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:13:13 -0400

File this in the easy little things to do to make someone happy.

You’re driving and stopped at a corner: someone is waiting on the curb, waiting to cross the street. Stop the car, and wave that person across.

I guarantee they will smile!

I know in a lot of places it’s the law, and in other places people have to walk to a street corner to cross.

Whether it’s mandated or not, taking a few seconds to show some courtesy always earns me a smile :-)

About the passage of time

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 18:42:33 -0400

I’ve been watching the Friends series… It’s still very funny! But technology and fashions are two things that don’t age well…

The shoes! The shoulder pads! The phones!

La réplique culottée de la semaine

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:20:31 -0400

La réplique culottée de la semaine:

arobitaille@ledevoir.com (Antoine Robitaille), ledevoir.com

C'est à la fois la réplique de la semaine doublée d'un mot d'esprit et de la déconstruction instantanée d'un cliché maudit.

Pissant!

Green shoes, I like!

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 14:07:46 -0400

Green shoes, I like!

So cuuuute!

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:47:55 -0400

So cuuuute!