YOLO

Sometimes, I can't see the forest for the trees.

I get so overwhelmed by the minutiae of everyday life that I forget how blessed I am just to be alive.

After a particularly detoxifying (sweaty!) hot yoga class last night I went home and made an ever-so-slightly barf-inducing tofu and vegetable stir-fry.

Side note: Is it possible to be too healthy, like... to the detriment of your actual health?

When I was done, I felt like I could finally see the forest for what it is.

Life. 

My life. 

When I was younger I used to look down at the ground while walking around (I thought I was looking for lost money but according to a quick internet search it turns out I was actually shy). Everything was dirty, dark and gross. Also, there were lots of cigarette butts.

A slight adjustment in my posture, looking up - and around - instead of down, totally changed my perspective (if not my attitude).

Life in Montreal has been a little like the filthy ground of my youth lately. Dirty, dark and gross. 

Not to mention cold and rude. 

And hectic.

When I first moved back here in August everything looked shiny and bright - full of hope and promise. The trees, streets and buildings all held a little magic. 

That magic has since been replaced by work, apartment living and... the minutiae of everyday life.

In an effort to recapture a little of that magic, I thought I'd dig up (or download) some pictures I took of my hometown upon my return.

 clearly, i didn't take this one

PS: On my way into work this morning I came across a handwritten sign that someone had made and taped to a pole. It said "Smile!" I wanted to take a picture of it but I also didn't want frostbite. The sign achieved its goal though... it made me smile. And guess what? I wouldn't have seen it if I had been looking down.

 the killers

PPS. YOLO. "The battle cry of a generation." Too funny...

the lonely island

Seeing signs everywhere

Some (or even most) people like to take pictures of people. 

Then there are those who enjoy photographing landscapes... and such.

Then there's me... who can't get enough of signs!

 so clever!

Whether I'm travelling in Europe or walking around my hometown I often find myself drawn to signs.

I'm not sure if it's the images, the writing, or the combination of both, but I find signs fascinating and have accumulated quite a photo collection of them.

 lol

 stop and take some time to... do some art?

A sign can be one of many things. 

It can used to identify or advertise a place of business, to indicate the rules of the road or to express a feeling or thought. It can also refer to an object or event whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else.

I'm always looking for signs... of all varieties.

I've come face to face with a couple of interesting ones lately (again, of all varieties) and have thus decided to share a few... the ones I could photograph anyway.

My dad recently told me that we hailed from Gypsy stock so the following sign really caught my attention...

And just look at these... an adorable (and bilingual) missing dog and found tefilin (sic)...

According to Wikipedia and in case you're curious, tefillin (correctly spelled with two l's), also called phylacteries, are a "set of small, black, leather boxes which contain scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah."    

And finally, an artist who enjoys signs as much as I do.