An Improvement Over The Present

We often find ourselves thinking about the past, of those beautiful memories that we have stored away or of times before our own that seemed so much better than certain moments of this life that we are living now. Other times, we find ourselves thinking about the future, about what we're going to do tomorrow or in a few days or months or years, of how much better it will be. We think of these times rather than the present, the moment that we are living right now. These days, months, years that will pass by which we will someday wish would return.

One of my favourite poems, "Nostalgia" by Billy Collins, deals with these ideas. He asks us to think of various eras and of all of the wonderful things during those times. He speaks of these eras as though he has lived through them. He goes on like this until he gets closer to the end of the poem and moves onto remembering his own past. He says "or at least let me/ recapture the serenity of last month when we picked/ berries and glided through afternoons in a canoe" and he also states that "Even this morning would be an improvement over the present." At the end of the poem, he describes how he was thinking about the past and how he was even thinking about the future as well. This poem is about how we reminisce about the past and we imagine the future instead of being here and now in the present moment.

I often find myself reminiscing about the past or dwelling on bad experiences from the past. I even think about what it was like during the different eras before I was even born. I also find myself planning for the future and imagining what it might be like. Both things are nice and we should remember the past since we can learn from it as well as plan for the future because planning is important but we must remember that we are living right now so we should enjoy it. Each moment that we live slips away so quickly and before you know it, several days, months, years, or decades have passed and you wonder where the time went. For me, high school and my university undergrad went by so quickly. I still can't believe that I finished high school four years ago. It doesn't feel like it has been that long. I also can't believe that I have my Bachelor of Arts degree. I still remember when I was in my first year of university and I knew a young woman in her third year and I felt so young compared to her. Now I'm done university and I feel so much older than all of those kids who are currently working on their undergrad (the ones who are actually younger than me, of course, I realize that someone older than me could be working on their undergrad right now).

It can be difficult to stay in the present if you're like me and your mind is like a person rushing through a library grabbing book after book off of the shelves. My thoughts often jump from one thing to the next, so much that I need to remind myself to write down good ideas that I come up with before I forget them. My imagination can be pretty crazy too although I am definitely grateful for having a wild imagination. I try to just look around me sometimes, noticing what is happening around me right now. I try to meditate as well, focusing on my breath and not dwelling on thoughts, however, that is proving to be more and more difficult. I guess I just have some improving to do.

Cheers,
Kay

90s/Early 2000s Canadian Childhood Nostalgia

I was born in 1993 meaning I was 4 years old in 1997 so I got to experience some of the kiddy goodness from the 90s and also the kiddy goodness from the early 2000s. I am also a Canadian, therefore I didn't just get to experience the kiddy goodness from the 90s and early 2000s, I got to experience Canadian kiddy goodness. Without further ado, let me take you back on a trip down memory lane with some of the things that I remember from my Canadian 90s/early 2000s childhood.

Sugar from YTV's The Zone

Sugar (real name: Stephanie) was a host on YTV's The Zone from 2001-2007. The Zone is an afternoon programming block on YTV where the hosts entertain viewers and also introduce the TV shows that are on the YTV station at that time. 

I remember watching The Zone when I came home from school. I will never forget her high voice! Just watch some old videos of her hosting The Zone on youtube and you will know what I mean. I remember when Sugar hosted The Zone with Pat and then when she hosted it with Carlos once Pat left. I also remember when Sugar left for Hollywood. Apparently Carlos is still the current host.

Concerned Children's Advertisers: "The North American House Hippo" and "Don't You Put It In Your Mouth"

The North American House Hippo:

Don't You Put It In Your Mouth:

These two advertisements, "The North American House Hippo" and "Don't You Put It In Your Mouth," are the ones that I remember most from Concerned Children's Advertisers (now known as Companies Committed to Kids). "The North American House Hippo" was part of their media literacy advertisements and it encouraged kids not to believe everything they see on TV. "Don't You Put It In Your Mouth" was part of their child safety advertisements and it encouraged kids to ask someone they love before putting anything in their mouth. Concerned Children's Advertisers/Companies Committed to Kids also made and still makes other advertisements about various children's issues. 

"The North American House Hippo" is such a neat advertisement because 1) it seems so real and 2) it mentions Canada as the home of the house hippo. It's so funny and cute! I always remember the part about how the house hippo eats "the crumbs from peanut butter on toast." This is such a cool Canadian advertisement that so many people remember! In my opinion, it's one of the best Canadian advertisements ever made. I'm really excited about how you can actually buy house hippo shirts and bags now!

"Don't You Put It In Your Mouth" is a really goofy and kind of creepy advertisement but that's one of the reasons why I remember it so well. The song was so catchy that I can still recite some of the lyrics.

Crosscountry Canada

Crosscountry Canada is a geographical and educational computer game made in 1991 which you can now play online for free! Basically, you drive around Canada in a truck and you have a sort of mission where you have to pick up certain items and bring them back to certain certain cities. To do this, however, you have to type in the commands (for example: drive north, look at map, go to gas station, etc.).

We had this game on the computers at my elementary school. I remember how annoying it was to have to type in the commands. After playing it recently, I got so frustrated because I couldn't remember the commands that you have to type in and the game kept telling me that it didn't understand or when wanting to go in a certain direction, it kept telling me that I couldn't go that way. Seeing a hitchhiker was always exciting, however, and it's cool how the game would give you a little safety warning before picking up the hitchhiker.

Sharon, Lois, & Bram

Skinnamarink:

Sharon, Lois, & Bram formed in Toronto in 1978 and they have been entertaining kids ever since! Their singing is unforgettable, especially "Skinnamarink." Apparently Sharon and Bram still perform together but Lois left the group in 2000.

Well, thanks for strolling down memory lane with me! If you're a Canadian 90s/early 2000s child, I hope this brought back memories!

-Kaylie