Expansive Reality, Overflowing Creativity and a Hot Poetry Obsession

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Who are you sister? Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Maggie, and I live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (hello fellow Canucks and hosers!). I’m an aspiring poet, writer, and photographer and all around creative, puggle mama, dreamer, lover, tender-hearted warrior, and adventurer. I’m also a fellow Elevate Sister from 2015! In the real world I work full-time for a government agency doing heritage conservation work, which allows me to indulge in my super nerdy love for all things old.

I live with my (super dreamy dreamboat) man recently turned fiancé Kent, and Lennon, my rescue dog.

Oh, and I make a pretty mean homemade pizza. And brownies. And cuppa joe.

Let’s do some one word answers. Ready, set, go!

Morning Drink? All. Of. The Coffee.
Indulgence? Nachos. If I could eat them for every meal, I would. #obsessed
Lusting after? A new loveseat for our living room. Is that weird?
Spirit Animal? Elk – but some days, I feel more like it’s Doug the Pug.
Headspace? Seriously proud – I navigated my away around Denmark for a week without knowing a lick of Danish all on my own!
Heartspace? Inspired, and overflowing with creativity. Willing to fully trust that what I want is mine for the taking.
Bloom of Choice? Daisies, or ranunculus!
Turn on? A willingness to go deep – and sparkling eyes and the ability to make me laugh so much it hurts.
Go-to Gemstone? Lately, blue agate – harmonizing and rebalancing mind, body and sprit.
Celebrity Icon? Duchess Catherine – I am utterly and completely smitten with her.
Favourite Compliment? That I’m a brave spirit and trust my gut.

What Does Practicing Joy Mean? For me, it means that even when shit gets messy – and lord knows it does – there is beauty to be found in everything that remains. That I make time for me, and take care of me in the ways I want and need to be taken care of. It’s more than a practice; for me, it’s living it, every day.

Biggest Life Lesson I’ve Learned Lately? If it feels right – that is, if your body and heart and mind feel it and want it – trust it and just go for it. Trust that even if it’s scary as fuck, the leap is worth making, the path is worth following – you have the answer.

What’s your definition of success? That whatever my day job may end up being, I have the chance to indulge and create whatever my heart desires. That I am joyful, happy, and trust fully in my badass self.

Name 3 things from your Life List that light you up

Owning a heritage stone house

Meeting (and writing?!) with Tyler Knott Gregson

Traveling back to Finland and maybe even moving there someday

What do you do when life gets messy? I start with a deep breath. Or ten. And then I probably cry, because sometimes, it’s exactly what I need. I meditate or take a yoga class. I spend some serious time journaling. But mostly, I load on the self-care and self-compassion: I turn inward, journal, and treat myself – a plate of nachos, a pint of beer, a hot bath, and glass of champagne, or I buy myself flowers. They may be little things, but just showing myself a little bit of gentle loving kindness goes a looooong way.

3 Songs, 3 Books, 3 Instagram Accounts

SONGS

“Sorry” by Justin Bieber (sorry not sorry you guys)

“I Need My Girl” by The National

“Up We Go” by LIGHTS

BOOKS

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Tiny Beautiful Things by Dear Sugar (Cheryl Strayed)

Chasers of the Light by Tyler Knott Gregson

INSTAGRAM

@tylerknott

@itsdougthepug

@kpunkka – (a Finnish photographer who takes the most stunning photos of nature and the outdoors)

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What do you absolutely love about yourself? That I am a tender-hearted warrior. I’m a sensitive badass. However you want to say it, it’s me: I love that I feel things on a deep level. I used to hate that I was sensitive, but now I embrace it: I might have a tender heart, but I’m always willing to soldier on and keep on loving. Even when it’s hard. Even when it hurts. I feel that it makes me more compassionate – to myself and to others.

What has been your greatest regret? I think that I was so so so mean to myself and so hard on myself for so long. That I said and did terrible things to myself for years, and that I believed these terrible things. That I believed the terrible things others said to me. That I didn’t think I was worthy.

I feel that I would be a different person entirely today if I had spent nearly half as much time loving myself for who I have always been instead of hating myself for it.

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