We Day! And a song!

Today I was part of the Vancouver We Day Crowd Pumping Team! Wow! I felt happy, sad, moved, inspired, uncomfortable, energized, tired, confused, clear, hungry, full, disappointed, overwhelmed, amazed… and more! What a day! I spent 11.5 hours at the arena (arriving at 6AM today) and still went to improv practice after! Bam!

I have been writing SO MANY songs lately (like 5-7 a week!) and I have decided I need to start sharing some of them and putting the music down so I don’t forget the vision I have in mind when I write. I really wanna be in a band but I don’t have time at the moment so I have to plunk my own guitar haha.

I have more thoughts I want to share later but for now I was inspired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Demi Lovato’s messages (at We Day Today) to write this song:

For My Children – Lyrics

VERSE ONE

When I think about what I need

I got clean water and a place to sleep

I’ve friends and community

but there’s something missing

separation that I see people hating and being mean

I want respect for everybody

PRE-CHORUS

That’s the world I want to live in

A world that I want for my children

CHORUS

When you’re scared, turn to love

When you’re alone, remember love

We can change the world with love

Before you judge, remember love

Show somebody that you care

Speak up for those who are not there

Treat each-other with respect

and believe in what comes next:

it’s love, it’s love, love

VERSE TWO

It is easy just to blame

Other people for our pain

If they’d only change their ways

“The world would be much better”

We all have a role to play

You contribute everyday

We have to work together

PRE-CHORUS

That’s the world I want to live in

A world that I want for my children

CHORUS

When you’re scared, turn to love

When you’re alone, remember love

We can change the world with love

Before you judge, remember love

Show somebody that you care

Speak up for those who are not there

Treat each-other with respect

and believe in what comes next:

it’s love, it’s love, love

BRIDGE

Structures are in place that make it hard to see beyond the struggle

Hating only add more hate. I think that love’s the only way to move beyond… and make the world incredible.

CHORUS

When you’re scared, turn to love

When you’re alone, remember love

We can change the world with love

Before you judge, remember love

Show somebody that you care

Speak up for those who are not there

Treat each-other with respect

and believe in what comes next:

it’s love, it’s love, love

Meeting Craig Kielburger

On Thursday I had the distinct pleasure of attending a business event where I got to meet Craig Kielburger, the founder of Free the Children.

I have met some people that are really obsessed with Craig and despite how amazing he is, I am blessed to have stayed out of the “fangirl” zone. However, I was captivated by his interpersonal skills. Each time I have encountered him (mainly at We Day) I am captivated by his ability to connect with people and inspire them. Things like a smile, eye contact, a firm handshake (with elbow touching?), and using someone’s name really go a long way.

Hearing him speak really brought up many emotions for me. I was go grateful to have a reminder to BE THE CHANGE. Whenever I am motivated by someone I feel this funny feeling inside. I noticed it especially when watching inspirational videos. It is like someone has tied a string around my heart and is connecting it with the hearts of others. I kid you not, this is a very physical, embodied experience. I was almost in tears. I think that’s why I love film so much, you have the power to really affect people.

The event I attended was centered around Haiti and it was really interesting to reflect back on what happened a year ago. Had I forgotten? Do we ever really forget?

I’ll end with this. What motivates you? And what are you doing to make the world better? Think about that. Everyday.

PS: I wore my vegan Doc Martins. Yeah.

Which one is your favorite paradise?

At present I am thinking about my plans for the future. What do I really want in life? What should I devote my time to? And most pressingly… where should I be this summer?

I could stay here in BC and return to my summer camp leader job from last year. I could apply for a job at a different camp. I could go WOOFing (http://www.wwoof.ca/). I could apply to intern at GIFTS (http://www.giftsfilms.com/). I could be a Community Advisor at SFU Residence for the semester. I could take classes and not go anywhere (well except back to Hawaii for a week at the end of the summer).

I could go to California. I could intern for TOMS Shoes, Invisible Children, Falling Whistles or just go get a place and apply at Cafe Gratitude…

Where do I really want to be? At the end of last semester I was SO SURE I wanted to be in California and that was the place calling my name. But now… And even if I apply to all of these amazing opportunities, I don’t control the results of who selects me as the ideal candidate. But maybe that’s good. Maybe the decision will be made for me.

I saw this article today with amazing photos asking:

http://abduzeedo.com/random-paradises?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+abduzeedo+(Abduzeedo+Feed)&utm_content=Google+Reader

And it really made me wonder. I think in general warm places appeal to me more. I’m one of those people who is cold very often. Last summer in Hawaii I still wore sweaters, but I wasn’t cold. And that was awesome. So maybe that’s the type of climate I should look to live in. But then, what of my life here? Hmm. Much to ponder.

The Pledge

Dear Friends,

I no longer believe in “live and let live” or “to each his own”.

I want to change your life. I cannot let you continue living the way you have been living. It’s time to shake things up. I want to challenge you to live fuller, healthier, happier and better than ever before. And I want to help you to do so. I want us to help each other to live the best life possible. And I want us to do it in a way that lets everyone live the best life possible. So that we all can be the happiest, healthiest, and most fulfilled citizens of the happiest, healthiest, and most fulfilled planet… hell, UNIVERSE ever.

I want us to start right now.

Smile

Repurpose

Go Vegan

Laugh

Upcycle

Eat Raw Food

Be Kind

Practice Good Manners

Love

Be Grateful

Support Ethical and Ecologically Friendly Initiatives

My pledge is to do everything I can to help you. We can do it, together. It might even be fun.

Sincerely,

Jenni Rempel

September 9th, 2010

Thank You World… and a bike ride!

The other day I recorded this while I was riding my bike home. Basically I am really happy and content with life right now. I’m so grateful for this wonderful planet! And i’m so lucky that I get to sit in my backyard blogging looking up at this:

Think of how many branches this tree has, and leaves… such abundance. And still it grows! Mind blowing.

Review: Vegan Freak

The last book read was Vegan Freak by Bob Torres and Jenna Torres (yes they are a couple and yes I think it’s adorable). I love the cover and carrying the book around was a great conversation starter (I was sad to return it to the library). As someone who has been vegan for a while (a little over a year now) most of the information was not new to me. After a while you get used to dealing with common questions and you learn how to find things you can eat. I expected the book would deal more with social ethics, something I am struggling with. For example, what to do when someone gives you a non-vegan gift and similar situations. I also disagreed with some of their advice. I do not think you should get rid of all your non-vegan things. I still have shoes with leather and will wear them until they wear out. Waste is a huge problem in North America and throwing things out only contributes to this. Also, when you give things away to people it tells people that it’s okay for them to continue to be non-vegan. I am a huge advocate for up-cycling and reuse. I would love for the world to stop abusing animals but I don’t think we should waste all the animal products currently in existence.

For new vegans this book may be very helpful and I enjoyed the comical and entertaining voice they write with. Read this book with a grain of (sea?) salt and form your own opinions. Reading vegan books if a great way to open dialogue (skytrain conversation anyone?) and promote the cause.

“Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.” – Aldous Huxley

Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. – Aldous Huxley

This is the type of graphic design that matters. I’m really excited to take some information design courses during the rest of my undergraduate career. We need to fix this.

Tell yourself how lucky you are. – Dr.Seuss

via

Lend a hand!

Love your shoreline, love your community

Join the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup.

September 18 – 26, 2010

Sign up for a shoreline cleanup and join Canadians from coast to coast who are helping to keep Canada’s shorelines healhy!

http://shorelinecleanup.ca

The Venus Project

I first learned about Jacque Fresco and The Venus Project through the popular and controversial internet movie Zeitgeist (i’ve included it at the bottom of this post).I highly advise that everyone see this movie, it will blow your mind. I am not saying that I agree 100% with everything in it but it definitely gets you thinking, which is really important (I think). I recently learned that the venus project is going on a world lecture tour. I am quite excited because it is coming to Vancouver. I am very excited to hear from some great thinkers and meet some like-minded people. You should come : )

Here’s the link to get tickets.

Zeitgeist: Addendum