Arts | Culture | Living
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VOL.1. ISS. 3. JUNE 2012
FUTURÉALE how do we
UN-PLUG overtaking the machine
Victoria Duffield tells us to
RESPECT
ALE.co
FUTURÉ
what ever happened
SHUT UP & DANCE
m
INNER THOUGHTS
deciphering our dreams $9.99 CAD/$8.99 USD
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THIS MONTH’S COVER Courtesy of Warner Music Canada © 2011
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credits:
Letter from the Editor FUTURÉALE Vancouver
Executive Director Omar Murji Editor-in-Chief Jess Morton Senior Layout Designer Ahmad Issawi Layout Design Ahmad Issawi Omar Murji
This month is a dose of optimism. This June many young people are finishing either their high school diploma or their university degree. This time of the year most feel the relief and rush of finally achieving a labour-intensive goal. Consequently, this rush is followed by the brief honeymoon period and summer is the perfect season for it. Every time we finish a semester, a pet project, or in the case of Victoria Duffield, that record deal, the rush is followed with a new question. What do we do know? New, more ambitious goals keep us going, and push us further. FutuRéale looks into how life is a journey and the idea that people change and develop along the way.
Jess Morton
Contributing Writers Jess Morton Cindy Ng Man Him Setareh Motevalli Stephanie Young Ria Renouf ISSN 1916 3215 Published by the Organic Press Publishing Company www.organicpress.ca A proud member of the ONAMAP Network www.onamap.ca
Editor-in-Chief of FutuRéale Vancouver
Visit us at:
FUTURÉALE.com
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n i d e g g u Pl People Todays Youth,
Technology
and
Social Net working
Ria Renouf
Can
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Escape
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Not too long ago, I went into a job interview where I thought much of the work was Facebook and Twitter based. I was applying for an entry-level social media specialist position with a successful company looking to reach a wider breadth of clientele. When I got to the interview, everything was going fine – I had previous experience running a beauty web site for one of my former employers – until the interviewer started running through a list of social networking sites I had barely been familiar with. Instagram. Pinterest. Hootsuite. Linked-In.
What?!
Even the platforms these social media sites use are not just for the home computer anymore. Your tablet, iPhone, Android phone, smart phone, selected portable gaming systems and more can access these sites. I was so shocked I was actually waiting for the interviewer to tell me about some sort of wristwatch people could access the internet from. Laughing from such a thought, I checked to see if such a thing existed. I stopped laughing when I found out...internet and phone watches DO exist. Wow. Should this be a surprise, though? I took inventory of what technological gadgets I own: much of my life exists on my Samsung Galaxy Note, which enables a multitude of functions – I can even draw pictures on my phone – and I also own a Nintendo 3DS, a Wii, have a TV in my room and typed this article on my laptop. When I’m trying to multitask, I connect to my Bluetooth headset. After looking at all of this technology, I had to ask myself, “is this all really necessary? Do I really need to be THIS plugged in to all of my gadgets?” It’s no surprise our technological developments tend to move at break neck speed. The newest and hottest gadgets soon become ‘outdated’ when the next big thing comes out. Remember the Walkman – and I mean the original Walkman where you had to put a cassette tape into it to listen to your beloved music? Probably not so much in that manifestation, because it’s recently been discontinued in favour of current electronic systems like MP3 players and iPods. What’s more, we tend to spend plenty of time Facebooking, Twittering and updating our lives through the filter of social media systems. There
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have been many times I have seen people texting during their lunch or dinner dates at restaurants, yet they don’t speak with one another. Rare are the days when I hop onto the bus and see no one without a pair of headphones in their ears. Was I the only one feeling this way? I sat down with three people who are ‘technology integrated’ at various levels, and spoke with them about their experiences when it comes to being ‘plugged in.’ “Technology...it’s such a broad subject,” says Jamie Schneider, a twenty-year old video game tester. “I mean, I’m all for technology. I love it and it’s all I do...but at the same time I see a lot of reliance [on technology], especially for younger people.” For Laura Gobbo and Jessica Redlick, both postsecondary students, the perceptions are a bit more disturbing. Says Laura, “I always see people with something in their ears, or texting, especially on the bus. People just seem to be in their own zone when they’re on their phones.” For Jessica, the observations are similar. “It feels like there is disconnection [between people]. It seems there are going to be people who grow up being antisocial, with no ability to connect with people on an in-person level. We talk to people in other countries through texting and through computers, yet we can’t even talk to someone two feet away from us.” Oddly enough, however, there is such an
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incapability to escape the pull of technology, in particular because today’s world contains technology everywhere. In Jessica’s opinion, it’s all about being cognisant of what you choose to utilize. “There’s a lot of junk, but there are many things available to us through technology, too. It’s really just a matter of being aware. I mean, technology has the ability to save people through health, for example, and it’s cool in that way. I like to use it for little things that bother me. When I walk home late at night, I’ll talk to people – like my boyfriend – on the phone. It makes me feel safe.” Yet the technological web that tangles together social media and technological gadgets seems to continue to strengthen in presence. “I’ll go to class,” Laura explains, “and there will be someone sitting in front of me with their laptop open. And I can see the screen...and fifty percent of the time they’re surfing Facebook. It’s a little distracting!” Smart phones are also not exempt from the plethora of distractions that might indirectly affect other people. Jessica claims, with a hint of frustration, “It almost seems like people have Attention Deficit Disorder. They just can’t sit still. They have to check their phone, their Facebook page, whatever they’re using. I know it seems like there are a lot of positives but some of these negatives seem like they drown out the positives of technology.” Adding to this is Jamie’s tendency to notice complaints some people make about the length of particular enjoyments, like music and entertainment. “It just seems to me because of YouTube and its tendency to use short videos to share with the audience, people can’t enjoy a
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decent two or three-hour movie anymore...though even movies today have an overkill of 3D and CGI effects in them.” Music is also another aspect that Jamie says is only understood in one way: the mainstream way. “Good music isn’t always three minutes long and isn’t always over-processed with electronics. I’ve got good songs that run for seven or eight minutes, and even twenty-five minutes...yet people I know complain it’s way too long for a song to run because they’re used to listening to the stuff that’s only a couple of minutes long. It’s just too common.” It is important, at the same time, to recognize that technology and its ability to interconnect on so many levels through many factors can have a positive influence on people’s lives. Taking his work experiences into consideration, Jamie cites his video game testing company as being a way to open new doors into new possibilities. “My company has actually been creating jobs. It’s amazing because the job I have right now
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as a game tester is a great step in the door and I get paid to play video games – although there’s more to it than that. Really, it’s one of many jobs available. And having this job has made me even more interested in pursuing my career in this industry.” On a simpler, everyday level, having access to portable technology can pass the time much faster when you’re waiting for something. Laura, an experienced visual arts performer, testifies to this strongly, especially while waiting for her auditions to be completed. “If I don’t have a book to enjoy, I can just pull out my phone in the hallway – if I’m allowed, of course – and play Solitaire on my phone. It beats sitting around and doing nothing.” Technology has existed in many forms, and the advancements we encounter in this day and age are certain to develop. For Laura, Jamie and Jessica, the common denominator between the three – and even my own self – is to be appreciative and not take for granted the gift of technology.
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As Jamie puts it, “I think technology should be fully embraced, and continuously advanced, but at a pace people, especially younger people, can fully understand. Embrace the ‘old’ technology, too. Try and listen to a cassette tape. See how frustrating it is to sit there and rewind the tape, then go to your iTunes and see how easy it is to download a song or rewind it by dragging your mouse over the music bar. Imagine life without social networking sites. Don’t lose grasp of reality. And understand what’s
going on when you Facebook, use your smart phone or play a video game.” Indeed, we are a society fortunate enough to see these technological advances in existence, and should be grateful for the opportunities to use these tools. Perhaps by exercising care with the way we use such a gift, and stepping back to appreciate its power, we can have a better understanding of technology’s existence in our generation. FR
5 Tips to get you Unplugged
Read a book or go for a run or a walk! You’ll feel like you’ve accomplished so much once you’ve turned the last page or completed that last kilometre! Get involved in group activities with friends and attend regularly! Try ballroom dancing, or, for an out-of-the-box experience, try finding a dance class that specializes in Capoeira (a martial art that mixes music and dance) or even Bollywood dance classes, a current favourite of many! Ditch the phone for a day – turn it off and leave it at home! (If you can’t, then try doing it for an hour or two.) You’ll be surprised at how relaxed you feel without all those notification sounds going off every few minutes! If necessary, be sure to let people know you are unplugging for a day, so they don’t feel offended or worried if you don’t get back to them. Turn off your phone when you are having a meal with someone – don’t let it interfere with your dining experience. Food is a great common denominator which brings people together – but you can’t enjoy it if you’re reaching for that cell phone in your purse or pocket! Check it before or after your meal, but not during, so you can focus on conversations with other people. Take a break while gaming or participating in any type of heavy technological interaction. Some video games actually prompt you to take a break if you’re feeling tired. Even if you’re not, heed their advice. We might not necessarily feel exhaustion, but stepping away for a little bit refreshes your mind and body. VANCOUVER
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dream a little dream Interpreting Your Deepest Thoughts Stephanie Young
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We have all had them. Films rolling in our minds, imagery so vivid when you wake you
can’t decipher whether it was real or not. Then there are times when it is so bizarre you can selectively alter the outcome. These are dreams.
When you are aware you’re dreaming it is called a lucid dream. According to the Oxford Dictionary a dream is: “a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person’s mind during sleep”. There are varying degrees of dreams, ranging from adventurous to extremely freighting to sexual. But what do they all mean? For thousands of years philosophers have tried
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to uncover the reasoning behind dreams but to no avail. There is still not a consensus on why we dream but there are many interpretations of the events. It is thought we dream every night so if you rouse after having one write it down while the experience is still fresh in your memory, then use this guide to the most popular dreams to decide what it means. Everyone has had this dream. You’re walking to school or work, enjoying the bright sunny day, when you look down and low and behold you are butt naked. You have no idea how this happened because it has never happened before but for some reason putting on clothes in the morning simply slipped your mind. This is a very common dream and is closely associated with our fear of exposure and being judged. Although you may try to cover yourself in the dream, whether that is through finding clothes, hiding behind something, or using your hands, it never quite seems to work. When naked our flaws and insecurities are on display, we have nothing to hide behind. Upon waking from a dream like this, consider what your insecurities are
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and face them. This more than likely is not physical so much so as emotional. Perhaps you’re worried the new guy at work will take over your position or you
“WHERE am I? HOW did I get here?”
merely feel less needed. Evaluate differing aspects of your life at the time and consider what could have triggered this.
Not knowing the directions or getting lost in a foreign place is common in everyday life, but when it’s in a dream it can be rather terrifying. Often times being lost or trapped in a dream is very cliché. In a lost dream it’s dark, you’re in a forest, or on a darkened street where your subconscious has thrown in some owls for good measure. Although you are walking, or running from those owls, you just can’t seem
FAILURE Whether you are in school, or have been out for quite some time the anxiety around failing a test stands strong. In this dream you may find yourself sitting at the desk, pen at the ready and noticing the
to get to where you are going. If you are trapped while dreaming it is often in a dark confined place, where breathing quickens, panic sets in, and sweat beads build up along your brow line. These dreams are thought to be the result of having decisional conflicts in real life. Ask yourself what is making you feel lost or trapped in your wakened life and what the scenario in the dream reminds you of.
test is in another language. Similarly, you may have studied for hours but when the test is handed out you have no idea what it is on. Although this dream is demonstrated using a test, it can relate to several components within your day-to-day life. Naturally we want to succeed in all aspects of life, but having this dream
insinuates a feeling of scrutiny and not living up to expectations. Also, because you are unable to answer questions in the dream it shows you are unprepared for a challenge. Assess a recent ill-prepared moment and think about how you can do things differently the next time around.
TOOTHLESS In this dream you smile and one by one each tooth falls out and crumbles, or perhaps you catch your reflection in the mirror and your teeth are black and rotten. Clean, straight teeth play a large part in beauty. Depending on the state of your teeth can impact how others perceive you, as a smile is one of the first things noticed. When you dream your teeth are broken, crooked or falling out it can symbolize a change or loss in a developmental period. Nice teeth often represent a well-kept appearance, which is associated with money, and therefore power. From this, dreamers who envision themselves without teeth symbolize a lack of power. Question what may be making you feel insecure and vulnerable. Being recently embarrassed or faced with rejection may play into the role of conceiving this dream.
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Facing your own demise or seeing a loved-one pass away, death-dreams are always frightening. But dreams involving death may not represent the end at all, but rather the beginning of something new. If you dream of a person’s death consider what qualities they possess that you no longer. Seeing death in this manner may be an indication of the death of a former trait of yours. Witnessing dead bodies in your dream
R.I.P.
You may be walking alone when you hear footsteps. You glance behind you to see someone, or something, chasing you. Without hesitation you try to bolt; occasionally getting away but often times finding you cannot escape fast enough. Being chased in a dream is the most common dream and is a result of anxiety faced in your waking life. These dreams can leave you feeling defenceless against your pursuer. Next time you find yourself running, stop and turn around. Face the attacker or pursuer to see who is chasing you. Tell it to stop, or even ask why they are following you. Doing so will confront the situation making you realize who you are trying to get away. The figure may represent you and your feelings of jealousy or anger, rejected characteristics of yourself. Something moving toward you means you
is associated with loss opportunity. To understand why you are having such a dream look back at a time where you may have opted out of something you later regretted. Dealing with the issue firsthand will help to alleviate similar dreams in the future.
are becoming more aware
“You’ve been FOLLOWED.”
FALLING
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of it, and because you are running you are trying to avoid the situation and/or feelings brought on. Consider what is stirring these emotions within you so you no longer feel threatened.
You’re walking up a hill when all of a sudden your last step plunges you off the side. You’re free falling and there is nothing you can do. Falling in dreams represents the anxieties, insecurities, and instabilities you may feel in your waking life. While free falling, there is nothing to grab onto, nothing that can stop you or help your from hitting the bottom. You are unable to control the situation and therefore have no power, making you feel a sense of failure and inferiority. Think about what may be causing you to feel as if you are losing power and address the situation. FR
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“It feels like a hobby, I work hard like its work, but its great that something that I can have so much passion for can be my career.”
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Victoria Duffield
The risi n for a ch g star from Abb at with o FutuRéa tsford, B.C. sto discuss p l her goa ls, influe e’s Jess Morton s persona nces, ro to l though ots and ts. some
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Through luck and chance I managed book an interview with rising
star, Victoria Duffield. The young singer, dancer, actor has just finished the eleventh grade and loves math. Signed with Warner Music Canada, Victoria Duffield currently has two singles out, Shut Up and Dance and Feel, and is also working on her first EP. Although Victoria is notorious for being an academic with balancing work, life, and career she is absolutely sure of what she wants. When did you start singing and dancing? I was always a very musical person, and right from when I was very little I had a rhythm, and my parents noticed. We had so much music going on in our household, and they just thought, ‘Seems like Victoria would enjoy dancing!’ At the age of two I started dance and continued my training, and started getting into singing, at age seven. How did your parents bring that musical influence into your daily life? They were always playing lots of music growing up. My first musical influence was Bob Marley, my dad played lots of Bob Marley. We had what was called ‘The Bobin’ Couch’ my parents would take the cushions off the couch and we’d bounce on the springs. We were just encompassed by music, which I’m so thankful for that, it definitely influenced me. When did you get signed on with a professional agent? That was not even a year ago. It was really recent. For acting, I had an agent right from the very beginning when I was seven. For singing, I’ve just been working hard for many years, doing lots of performing, doing songwriting, without being signed. All this hard work putting it together, and I just got signed with Warner last April. Did you always know that music was going to be your profession? Was it your goal from the start? Yeah. I’ve always wanted to do something in the Entertainment Industry. I still have a passion for acting, and I keep that up as well. The singing side of it was definitely something I knew that I really,
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really wanted to pursue first and foremost. I just absolutely love being on stage in front of live audiences. What’s your favourite thing about performing? Its just so thrilling for me. I love being up there and having that interaction with my audience, and feeding off them, and performing for them. Just seeing their reaction, its just gets me on this high. I love it, and just don’t want get off the stage. Are there any particular artists that influence you? Yeah. Growing up I was definitely influence by, with just dance being such an important thing for me, the singer/dancer artists. Britney Spears was a huge influence for me, as well as Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake. Just those people that really put that full show together. It just really impacted me and really influence my direction of where I wanted to take things. Are you more focused on the acting, or the singing and dancing at the moment? I’m keeping up the acting on the side. There’s probably more focus on my singing right now, just with the importance of my first single being out, doing so well. So I’m putting together and EP right now. There’s a lot of focus on that right now. I’m also keeping up the acting. I’ve done over thirty commercials and different spots on television shows. I just did an episode of Mr. Young on YTV, which is super cool because I got to play the role of myself. I love the acting too, its just hard with the singing. Moving back forth to Toronto, not always being there for the auditions, or the shoot dates. Whenever I can
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make it work its awesome. Do you have a favourite actor that you aspire to work with? It would be great to play the daughter of one of those amazing out there right now. Like Leonardo DiCaprio, or Tom Hanks, or Tom Cruise, all those people that have been in it for so long. I could learn so much from them. I think being in a movie with them would be such a cool experience. What is the songwriting process like for you? Its different each time I work with a writer. Shut Up and Dance, the writer kind of had a set idea for the track, so we did all of it together. Feel I came in with an idea, we started from scratch, made the track, worked on the lyrics, melody. It all just kind of depends on the writer and what I bring to it. I love the process. It’s such a creative process and its great being connected to the song right from the beginning. You get to write it, so when you’re performing it, it means more. What is your ultimate goal as an artist? My goal as an artist is to get lots of music out there, release albums, become known internationally –
world domination! But really get my music out there to people. I love the performing, so go on tours. Tour Canada, the States, a European tour, go to Japan. I want to get everywhere and spread my music out. If you went on tour in Canada right now where would you go? What major cities would you hit? I’d probably hit all the capital cities, hopefully do a show in Toronto. I’m really looking forward to that. I’ve always looked forward to the touring part of things. I’d go to Vancouver, it would be super cool because I live in Abbotsford. Performing there would be really neat, and it would be such a fun crowd to perform for. I mean I don’t know everybody in Vancouver, but if a bunch of my friends came out it would be really cool. Since you know Vancouver a little bit better, do you have a favourite venue that you’d like to perform in? Rogers Arena. I’ve gone to concerts there and seen people perform. In this past year I saw Rihanna Britney Spears, and Selena Gomez. To be performing there, or opening up for somebody there would be amazing. FR
For more information on Victoria Duffield visit her website at: victoriaduffield.com
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“I love that too. I love filming music videos, but for me my huge passion is the live performances. Every time its like ‘Yes! Definitely, this is what I want to do.”
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R-E-S-P-E-C-...? What does it even mean anymore? Cindy Ng Man Him
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Although a teen’s rebel behaviour is no surprise to us all as all of us
have been one once and know what it feels like when an adult suppresses our rights, it has come to my attention that respect amongst teens and adults have severely deteriorated over the years. There are several issues that cause this lack of respect, such as influence from the environment, the media (i.e. music, video games, TV shows, etc.), and the government, but it is also due to the poor judgement of the individual himself. From a very young age, a child’s environment is important, as it has always had an effect on the child’s behaviour. Whether it is family, friends, neighbours, or strangers, children are always observing and listening what they see and hear, and, thinking they are right, imitate the actions or words without realizing what they mean. Eventually, they grow up with their environment and attitudes take root. But interaction with the environment doesn’t solely depend on what the child sees or hears at a young age, it also depends on how he or she is treated. If parents, friends, or other adults do not show the child friendship, integrity, and love, then that child will usually grow into a spiteful and rebellious adult. This environmental interaction also applies with today’s media because of how often people interact with them. TV shows, music, video games, and the internet are especially influential to children and teens as
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they are easily accessible through a computer or television and can promote bad behaviour through jests like “cool” pranks and rude insults just for a couple of laughs. But influence from the media is not a primary concern for the child’s behaviour. Because of its intangibility and static qualities, media influence is not as bad as human interaction. A child or teen looks up to an adult and is guided by them, not a fictional intangible being. So it would be wise to guide the child or teen back on the right road instead of letting him or her do whatever he or she pleases. Finally, I mentioned the government. While I know the government creates laws against terrible behaviour and crimes, people still go against the law and steal, abuse, or kill. What makes this worse, however, is that some of these people take advantage of these laws and use it in their favour. For example, a parent has less authority over his or her child nowadays because something as menial as lightly
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spanking –as in a light tap on the bum– yelling or grounding the child for misconduct, is considered abusive, emotionally scarring the child, or ridding the child of his or her freedom. Without being able to set the child straight, there is a lack of discipline in the child, which will eventually grow into a lack of respect for others when the child reaches adolescence or even adulthood as well as a lack of self-respect. But children and teens aren’t the only ones who disregard respect in today’s society. Although there are numerous kids who are rude, adults have had their fair share as well. The only difference is that because adults are older, it is assumed that the adult is simply doing what’s right or fighting back after being wronged. It’s this warped idea of “respect your elders” that has them thinking they are always right. But in all honesty, they are not. Although I think the saying “respect your elders” is necessary, there is a limit to how far a person is willing to respect that older person. Rather, I think people should stick with the idea of “earning respect” instead of giving it out when it’s not even deserved. Because let’s face it, respect is the foundation used to build relationships. If there isn’t any respect, the whole thing crumbles. FR
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u L u Lfor short
Come to Vancouver, and you’ll see many men and woman wearing some sort of clothing item from Lululemon Athletica (or simply referred to as ‘Lululemon’ and ‘Lulu’), a Vancouver based clothing company designed specifically for yoga and running. Founded in 1998 by Chip Wilson, Lululemon was developed as apparel for yoga. Wilson, who had twenty years in the skateboard, snowboard, and surf business, took a yoga class and decided that a specific fabric would need to be worn during his session of power yoga. Thus, Lululemon Athletica was born, an apparel company that has quickly grown and loved not
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only by the residents of Vancouver, BC, Canada, but also the rest of Canada and the world as well. What makes Lululemon clothing so unique is the special technical fabric that is designed to move with the body, instead of confining it; the fabric is also sweat resistant, making it much more comfortable when doing activities such as dancing or running.
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the Rise of a Canadian Brand Setareh Motevalli
The very first store opened in the neighbourhood of Kitsilano, near the beach side in November 2000. Prior to that, the clothing was sold in a yoga studio, having the clothes worn by yoga instructors to provide back their feedback. The company wanted the first official Lululemon store to be community orientated, focused on the importance of healthy living; however, this
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soon became problematic as the store became too busy, with not enough merchandise being sold. Therefore, now all employees are trained and taught to be advocates of healthy living, providing knowledge on not just the apparel, but the foundation of healthy living by exercise and dieting—something the company desired to be based upon.
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Most of the reusable bags given by Lulu to customers have meaningful phrases, known as the ‘Lululemon Manifesto’, to inspire customers to live a well deserved life: • Drink FRESH water and as much water as you can. Water flushes unwanted toxins from your body and keeps your brain sharp. • A daily hit of athletic-induced endorphins gives you the power to make better decisions, helps you be at peace with yourself, and offsets stress. • Do one thing a day that scares you. • Listen, listen, listen, and then ask strategic questions. • Write down your short and long-term GOALS four times a year. Two personal, two business and two health goals for the next 1, 5 and 10 years. Goal setting triggers your subconscious computer. • Life is full of setbacks. Success is determined by how you handle setbacks. • Your outlook on life is a direct reflection of how much you like yourself. • That which matters the most should never give way to that which matters the least. • Stress is related to 99% of all illness. • Jealousy works the opposite way you want it to. • The world is changing at such a rapid rate that waiting to implement changes will leave you 2 steps behind. DO IT NOW, DO IT NOW, DO IT NOW! • Friends are more important than money. • Breathe deeply and appreciate the moment. Living in the moment could be the meaning of life. • Take various vitamins. You never know what small mineral can eliminate the bottleneck to everlasting health. • Don’t trust that an old age pension will be sufficient. • Visualize your eventual demise. It can have an amazing effect on how you live for the moment. • The conscious brain can only hold one thought at a time. Choose a positive thought. • Live near the ocean and inhale the pure salt air that flows over the water, Vancouver will do nicely.
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• Observe a plant before and after watering and relate these benefits to your body and brain. • Practice yoga so you can remain active in physical sports as you age. • Dance, sing, floss and travel. • Children are the orgasm of life. Just like you did not know what an orgasm was before you had one, nature does not let you know how great children are until you have them. • Successful people replace the words ‘wish’, ‘should’ and ‘try’, with ‘I will’. • Creativity is maximized when you’re living in the moment. • Nature wants us to be mediocre because we have a greater chance to survive and reproduce. Mediocre is as close to the bottom as it is to the top, and will give you a lousy life. • Lululemon Athletica creates components for people to live longer, healthier and more fun lives. If we can produce products to keep people active and stress-free, we believe the world will become a much better place. • Do not use cleaning chemicals on your kitchen counters. Someone will inevitably make a sandwich on your counter. • SWEAT once a day to regenerate your skin. • Communication is COMPLICATED. We are all raised in a different family with slightly different definitions of every word. An agreement is an agreement only if each party knows the conditions for satisfaction and a time is set for satisfaction to occur. • What we do to the earth we do to ourselves. • The pursuit of happiness is the source of all unhappiness.
The manifesto is designed to bring inspiration and empowerment to customers to get up, move around, and enjoy life. Possibly for this reason is why Lululemon Athletica has been such a successful company in Vancouver, making their brand desired, and noticed by all Vancouverites with the simply designed logo (which is a stylized “A”).
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HAPPINESS...
IS NOT A FISh
ThAT YOU CAN CATChî
a i r o h p u rsuing E
Pu
Stephanie Yo
ung
It has been said the pursuit of happiness is a failure waiting to happen. That true happiness doesn’t exist and trying to find it will bring turmoil and sadness. Everyone has his or her own definition of happiness; everyone has an individual perception of what makes them happy and finding that happiness can arrive in many achievable ways. VANCOUVER
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Yet, today no matter where we turn there is news on the troubled economy and health scares. It’s important we remain happy throughout rough times. This may be easier said than done, but here is a list of 20 daily activities to ensure you feel up even when you’re feeling down.
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1. Accept yourself. Flaws exist in every aspect of the world, from nature, to objects to people. Learning to love and accept yourself through triumphs and tumults will ultimately boost your self confidence. 2. Happiness is a state of mind. Believe you’re happy, believe in happiness and you will become it. There are many moments that can feel like years, in which life seems to beat us up. Believing you are happy will bring good thoughts, making you feel better. 3. Be with happy people. If there are people in your life who make you happy, stick with them. Increase the positive energy. Make family time more than sitting in front of the TV eating dinner. Have each family member contribute to making it. Valuing the meal and the activity will stimulate conversation. 4. Prioritize. Set your priorities straight to avoid stressful late nights. Keep a calendar updated to see when the next project is due. If your favourite TV programme is on and you have a paper due in the morning, put the programme off for another time. 5. Take care of your health. Stress is a factor in most healthrelated issues. See a health professional regularly, get your daily fruits and veggies, and try for a balanced lifestyle. 6. Just go. It may have been a while since you peddled to your destination, but during those dry spring evenings grab your bike, and go. You don’t have to have a destination. Hold on to the anticipation of not knowing and enjoy every second. As the saying goes it isn’t about the destination,
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but the journey taken to get there that matters. 7. Find beauty in everyday things. When hearing about serious issues in the world, it is easy to forget about the good that occurs around us. Take a moment and see the beautiful moments, in your city, and in your backyard; the sunset’s glow along the water or the moon glistening on the branches outside of your window. Beauty does exist. Choose not to always focus on the negatives. 8. Be grateful. Find something to be thankful for everyday. Write it down and when you are feeling down, read it. 9. Do something that scares you. Getting your heart racing and your adrenaline pumping feels good after the initial scare. Go skydiving, try a new dish, watch a thriller, or swim out further than you’ve ever gone before. 10. Quit nagging. It’s not only irritating to the person who has to hear but gets you nowhere. Nagging can end up placing stress and resentment into a relationship. When something comes up and needs to be addressed. Choose a calm scenario and explain working together is the best way to solve a solution. 11. Let loose. Listen to your inner child and have fun. Walk in the rain, jump in a puddle, let down your hair. However you want to say it, understand it’s okay to have fun at any age! 12. Don’t beat yourself up over failure. Understand failure happens, and is sometimes inevitable. Accept challenges. If you don’t make it, get back up, try again.
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13. Learn from mistakes. There is a lesson in everything we do. Learn from it, and improve. 14. You don’t always have to be a “yes” man. Learn to say no and know why it’s important. Value yourself and your time, as well. By saying no you will begin to understand your worth. 15. Make time for others. Giving back will make you feel better about your life because you are bettering someone else’s. 16. Help a stranger. Hold the door for the person pushing the stroller, offer to buy a coffee for someone short on change, or just offer advice to someone in need. It may be a small gesture but a little goes a long way. 17. Learn to love. Do it with all your heart. Don’t be afraid to take that leap. 18. Forgive. Forgive yourself and others. It can often be a difficult process but “Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned”. It can even improve your health. 19. Accept changes. Through evolution and revolution, life changes and we need to move with it. Don’t get stuck. Keep swimming. 20. Live in the Moment. Take the time to smell the roses. Don’t always rush through your day, and eventually through your life. Breathe and realize what you have accomplished. Embrace even the smallest moments, because it’s the little pictures that make up the bigger image. FR
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photo credits PLUGGED-IN PEOPLE Instagram logo ©2010 Pinterest logo ©2011 Image courtesy of LinkedIn ©2003 Image courtesy of HootSuite ©2008 DREAM A LITTLE DREAM All images appear courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net ©2012 COVER STORY All photos courtesy of Warner Music Canada © 2011 R-E-S-P-E-C...? All images appear courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net ©2012 LULU FOR SHORT Table of Contents Photo: Jessica Dugdale HAPPINESS IS NOT A FISH THAT YOU CAN CATCH Cichlid appears courtesy of Gimbok at sxc.hu Smiley appears courtesy of Jaylopez at sxc.hu
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