Men's Monday

Lead by example

Scenario:It was Saturday evening and the skytrain was packed full. Sitting by myself, I overheard a gentleman, probably around my age, who was sitting just a seat away from me declare openly to his friends, in a very quiet yet very stoic manner, that he was homophobic. A look of uneasiness flooded the face of one friend while another nonchalantly knodded his head in agreement. I didn't do anything...I sat in silence wallowing in my own feelings of disappointment in not only myself, but for my fellow man.
In my mind I had this clever response:
'Sir, can you please sit over there? I wouldn't want to catch your disease'
but unfortunately thinking something is not the same as doing something.



So in effort to clear my conscience, I'd like to bring your attention to an amazing organization I came across over the weekend known as "Athlete Ally" founded by Hudson Taylor.

Athlete Ally is a non-profit organization with the mission to "encourage all individuals (coaches, athletes, and parents) involved to respect every member of their communities, regardless of perceived or actual sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, and to lead others in doing the same."



This topic is especially important to me being in such a gender sensitive and stereotyped sport. Derogatory, racist, and homophobic/transphobic words have no place in dressing rooms, at schools, and in public settings; it is our responsibility to speak up so I encourage you to sign the pledge and take a stand with me. I hope by bringing my situation to light, I can encourage more to do what I didn't and to speak up; to share knowledge.

The creator of Athlete Ally, Hudson Taylor.

To learn more visit http://www.athleteally.org/ and sign the pledge!
You can also watch this inspiring short video:

Jer xo

Men's Monday

I would just like to start off by saying thank you to Kat for taking over Men's Monday for the past 2 weeks while I was off gallivanting about.

I want to take a break from fashion this week
and do an inspiration post which is something
I haven't done before. These past 2 years,
I've dealt with a lot of obstacles and adversity
to get to where I am now, which is only the
beginning of where I want to be in 2 years. So
to kick start this next chapter in my life, a chapter
that I'm sure will be filled with highs and lows,
endless days of hard work and determination,
sore muscles, perseverance, sacrifices and hardships...here are some quotes from a journal that I've been keeping which inspire me:





"Fear may be the toughest obstacle to overcome, for it will eat your heart out if you let it. Fear -- of whatever your opponent may be -- will cost you more dearly and cause you more pain than any other person ever could.

It is through this realization, this intimacy and closeness with ourselves, that we see past the obvious battles with gravity, speed and the elements.


It is here that we discover one simple truth about competition: In sport, as in life, the real opponent, the only real enemy, is within.

Your primary opponent, your biggest rival, is your own fear. The battle can be won. It happens every day to people all around you. No need to  be afraid. Go out and play."




"The quickest way to acquire self-confidence is to do exactly what you are afraid to do."

"L'espoire me reste dans l'orage. / My hope remains even in the storm."
 

As tweeted by @JGuthrie46 

"There are thousands of people with exceptional talent 

stuck at 'end of the bench' like Jeremy Lin was 

2 weeks ago, never give up! #Inspiration #MakeItCount"

"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you can appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."
      -Marilyn Monroe

 
No matter what happens to me in the next 2 years while chasing my dreams, one thing I know for certain, is that I will be happy as long as I can look in a mirror and know that I put 100% -if not more- into everything to achieve them; to look in the mirror and say to myself "it was worth it."




"To will is a great thing...for Action and Work usually follow Will, and almost always Work is accompanied by Success. These three things, Work, Will, Success, fill human existence. Will opens the door to success both brilliant and happy; Work passes these doors, and at the end of the journey Success comes to crown one's efforts. "
      -Louis Pasteur

 #MusicMonday

 "I promise you that,
We're marching on." 

                              - OneRepublic

xo,
Jer

Heart of a LION

Kat here!

As you all know {unless you've been living in a hole this past week} the Grey Cup is here! In Vancouver!

The city has been absolutely buzzing; the feelings and energy are reminiscent to the days of the Olympics and the Stanley Cup Finals!

The great thing about the Grey Cup is that the host city is predetermined before the teams playing in it are - so we're getting fans from all over the CFL filling the streets of Vancouver.



Grey Cup celebrations have been happening all week, topped up with the Grey Cup Parade yesterday, and the game today.
Our very own BC Lions led by Travis Lulay and Geroy Simon will be fighting for the 99th Grey Cup, the last time they won the championship was in 1996.





So many wrote off our boys early on in their season with a 0-5 start; well they've bounced back and with the Western Division title and an 11-7 record, they're more than ready to face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers today.






The game starts at 3:00PM but if you're planning on catching it at a sports bar or lounge, or a restaurant {or anywhere in Vancouver for that matter} GET THERE EARLY!!!!

I for one cannot wait to watch this game and see the Lions give this city something to celebrate!!!!!

Lion Pride

GO LIONS GO!!!!!

Kat, xo.


Globe and Mail//National Post//The Province//Lion's Den