Vegan MoFo – Things I Love Thursday – Produce, TEDxToronto #TILT

It’s almost hard to believe that another week has gone by so quickly. Time flies when you’re having fun? Or maybe it’s just when you’re busy. It’s nice to reflect on the things I love and am thankful for at least once a week, because it keeps things in perspective. Looking back, I can see what’s important to me, who’s important to me, and what matters. Having a rough day? Read (or write) a TILT. Makes a huge difference in my state of mind.

I loved Thanksgiving and it was another opportunity to share what I’m thankful for.

I’m thankful for a quiet thanksgiving at home. I’m thankful for an amazing partner, that supports me, and encourages me, and eats my food and always says he likes it. I’m thankful for family. I’m thankful for large plots of land, and small plots of land around the city, province, and country that I get my produce from. I’m thankful I still managed to find Ontario apples for my crumble, despite the terrible growing season. I’m thankful for flaky pastry dough, and beginners luck. I’m thankful for amazing people that make organizations like Marineland Animal Defense, Cedar Row Farm Sanctuary, and Toronto Pig Save happen. I’m thankful for kitchen bravado. I’m thankful for the new World of Warcraft expansion. I’m thankful for my health, my families health, and finally, I’m thankful for love, life, and happiness.

All of these things are still true.

I’m also thankful to the powerful and inspiring people in this city. Like Laura Reinsborough, the Founder & Director of Not Far From The Tree.

I’m especially excited that I’ll be seeing her talk at TEDxToronto at the end of the month. I’m not sure how many more times I can mention TEDx, but I’m sure jazzed about going, even though it interfered with some plans to travel to Philadelphia on Thursday night. We’re still going, but instead leaving town right after the conference and skipping the After Party. Goodness knows when I do anything, I love to pack on as much as possible in a small period of time.

I like the topic of this years conference as well – Alchemy, the seemingly magical process of taking ordinary, common elements, usually of little value, and combining them to make something extraordinary of great value.

This is something I really believe in. Small acts of kindness, or actions, or behaviours, combing to do something amazing, to inspire change. People of different backgrounds, connecting, gathering, and making things happen. I know I will leave inspired, and knowing that in advance just makes it all the better.

Other things I Love:

This amazing bounty of produce from Fresh City Farms

And that some of these things are sitting in a slow cooker right this very second waiting to turn into a perfect fall soup!