Shauna

Unfortunately for some reason my photo of Shauna disappeared! I decided to post this one anyway, partly because it was such a great conversation and I want it documented, and also because I know Shauna will be checking this out. (Sorry Shauna!) Trust me people, she's a beautiful woman and she had a very cute tiny puppy with her.

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: The first day I met my fiance on the Greyhound bus. We randomly bumped into each other at the gym six months later and have now been together for ten years.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: I'm not really a worrier. It's more, 'water of a duck's back', than about worrying for me.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to Paris with my fiance.

Lola

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: When all of my relatives are together, singing and playing instruments.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: My family. The future and safety of my children.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to Uganda (my other home, where my husband is), and I'd take our son Oren.

Analisa

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?

A: When I married my husband and realized I could have sleepovers with him for the rest of our lives together.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: What don't I worry about? I worry about car accidents all the time. I can see death in everything.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to Tahiti, to a hut on the water with my husband and two boys. But then I'd worry that my kids would fall into the water and drown.

Barbara

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: Going to Cuba with my boyfriend recently. Especially the day trip to Havana.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: At my age, I start to worry about my life coming to an end. (I had a brain tumor last year, but I'm glad I'm okay now.)

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to Paris with my boyfriend.

Dave

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: My years at the University of Manitoba, from 20-22 years old.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: All of the things I shouldn't. Because I can't do anything about it or don't want to do anything about it.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: The Maritimes, because it's peaceful and the people are nice. I'd go alone.

Jesse

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: Kayaking with the Beluga whales in Churchill.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: People dying.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to Fiji with my girlfriend.

Kai

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: I try to have fun everyday, at work, with friends, playing in my band.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: Myself and my family. (They are all in Burma.)

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go, and who would you take?
A: I'd go see my mom in Burma, I'd take a friend.

Mariah

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: Being in my first (and last) school play last year.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: Finding my place in life.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go, and who would you take?
A: I'd backpack through Europe and take my little sister.

Jackie

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?

A: Tobogganing on New Year's Eve.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: My non-profit work not having enough funding.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: Cypress and Lebanon with my husband Lucas.

Ten Weeks

This morning I talked to Rob. I arrived at work today in a particularly down mood. I'm feeling so sad these days, with the anniversary of my mom's death hanging in my weary bones, in the position of the sun in the sky, in my broken heart. But I was early for work and determined to get through the day, so I sauntered by the food court to see if there were any potentials for an early-hour interview. Then I saw Rob, a middle-aged, long-haired, kind-faced man, sitting alone in the sun with a cup of coffee. Perfect. I approached him, he reluctantly welcomed me, and what followed was a stepping out of my own pain, and into the story of this human. Regular and real like me. Rob had beautiful responses. I learned that he's a hunter and a fisher, that he loves his kids, and that he worries about the people in his life too much. "Add that, 'I worry too much!'", he said with a laugh. Rob asked me, "Why are you doing this?" As I got up to leave I said, "To get into other peoples' heads, and out of my own." He smiled.

Rob is one of the many folks I talk to who didn't want his photo taken. Respect. No problem. Although there's part of me that wants to share every connection I have, maybe it's good that I get to keep some of these stories all to my own heart.

If there's anything that has surprised me after doing this daily for the past 10 weeks, it's how ready people are to connect and soften and share super personal things. Even when there is an initial bristle (sometimes coming from me too), the smile and story opens with the first question I ask. I walk away from these conversations feeling more alive and connected 100% of the time.

I began this project for my own sanity. As I told Rob, it is meant to push me outside of myself, to continue to strengthen my compassion for others in spite of my own shit, and to help me remember that I am not alone in joy or in sorrow. We are travelling together.

Also, regular people are the most special.

Sandy

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: I've been lucky and have had lots of fun. Laughing so hard that my stomach hurts when I wake up the next morning. The last time was recently when I was out with friends.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: Stupid things. Like me or something not being good enough.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you bring?
A: An all-inclusive resort down south. I'd take as many friends and family as could fit in the plane.

Allyssa

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?

A: Going on a trip to Banff last summer.

Q: What do you worry about?
A: School and my future.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: Hawaii with my boyfriend.

Vida

Q: What's the most fun you've ever had?
A: When we went out of the city last summer. (It was my first summer here, away from the Philipeanes.)

Q: What do you worry about?
A: My future and my studies.

Q: If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go and who would you take?
A: I'd go to the beaches in the Philipeanes and I would take my classmates.

Jennifer

Q: What are you most proud of?

A: My strength and kindness. (Both thanks to my mom and dad)

Q: What regret do you have, or what would you do over if you could?

A: I wish I had worried less throughout my life.

Q: If you had one wish, what would it be? (I get two, because this is my blog!)

A: That there would be love instead of fear.

Jessie

Q: What are you most proud of?
A: My (ex) football career.

Q: What regret do you have, or what would you do over if you could?
A: That I stopped playing football.

Q: If you had one wish, what would it be?
A: To be rich. I'd buy a car.

Bhabe

Q: What are you most proud of?
A: My family.

Q: What regret do you have, or what would you do over if you could?
A: Not finishing school.

Q: If you had one wish, what would it be?
A: Good health.

Troy

Q: What are you most proud of?

A. Being a good friend, uncle, brother and son every day, or at least trying to.

Q: What regret do you have, or what would you do over if you could?
A. It took me a long time to realize that I shouldn't be afraid to speak up when I believe in something.

Q: If you had one wish, what would it be?

A. To love life every day, and stay close to my favourite people.

Kristy

Q: What are you most proud of?
A: That I got my Master's. (And that I'm not having a nervous breakdown.)

Q: What regret do you have, or what would you do over if you could?
A: I regret buying a house with someone I didn't really know.

Q: If you had one wish, what would it be?
A: To live happily ever after.

Les

Q: What are you most proud of?

A: Right now, the fact that I'm in group therapy.

Q: What regret do you have, or what would you do over if you could?
A: I regret not having a plan for my money.

Q: If you had one wish, what would it be?
A: The ability to live freely in life, doing exactly what I want to do every second of every day.

Bethany

Q: What are you most proud of?
A: Living on my own for this long. (It's been a few weeks)

Q: What regret do you have, or what would you do over if you could?
A: Being scared to do things, and then not doing them.

Q: If you had one wish, what would it be?
A: To be happy and have money.