Have a Break; Have a Mental Health Day

As the fall term comes to an end and students are slowly gearing up for exams I took time this morning to think about how to manage stress levels during a stressful time like this. It is important to work as hard as one can but it is also important to make sure your mental state is in check. Coming from personal experience I have experienced what happens when your don't look after your mental self.

This morning I listened to a song written by one of my favourite artist Shakey Graves who wrote Bully's Lament. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gc8J3FM_MI (Click the link. It's good music.)

I came across this song over facebook and I have a love for Shakey Graves ever since two summers ago when I went tree planting. My crew boss has a beautiful music library and played him while we were driving around northern ontario and it made the land that much more beautiful and free. I created a connected with Shakey Graves with my summer and I listen to him whenever I am stressed out and it calms me down.  He makes me think about the importance of happiness and feeling free even when stress levels are off the charts. He reminds me about the importance of mental health and finding ways to manage stress in order for personal success later on.

Mental health is an issue we should be aware of and as a university student post secondary education can get very stressful. It is really easy to overwork yourself until you come to a point where it is all too much. As exam season comes closer and closer make sure you take the time to take a break from your work and smell the roses.

The Do's and Don'ts of Political Behaviour

We are now aware Canada had a federal election around two weeks ago. The results came to an end as the CBC announced that Canada has a liberal majority government. Canadians including myself are all excited for what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has in store for our country and while most of us are on the edge of our seats there are some people that are not too impressed with the results. That is completely fine because as a country with a democratic political system citizens have the freedom to have different political morals but with being said I have noticed the bashing of our new prime minister in a poor matter in terms of how they are stating their view point. What I have noticed is the act of Canadian citizens attacking Mr Trudeau as a person and not basing their argument on the liberal parties mandate. I find this astonishing because this style of debate is an example of poor argumentative skills. To have a sound and valid argument is to have this formula:

This formula is called Modus ponens. In logic it is a formula that creates valid, simple argument form or rule of inference. How this is related to what some opposing citizens are saying is their 'argument' does not follow this formula thus, their argument is not sound. What they are actually using is a fallacy called the straw man fallacy. They are using the opposing political views, comparing to the liberal parties mandate and using it to attack Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a person and not towards liberal party mandate. They are bashing Mr. Trudeau on behalf that he is going to do a poor job running the country because he supports views/ideals that are not equal to the opposition. An example would be the legalization and regulation of marijuana. How they use this to attack him as a person is they found out his past work experience and the degree he received in post secondary school and combine all three to form an argument. They think that base on this ground he will perform poorly as a prime minister of Canada which in my personal opinion is not a solid argument. I can understand why people would think that he would not perform as well because having prior experience related to his new role would have a better outcome. What is I find unprofessional about this form of argument is Mr Trudeau has not have a chance to act as a Prime Minister of Canada. His views are very new and scary to some citizens but give him a chance to get comfortable in this new power position. I am not saying that the political morals of the opposition because I find no wrong in having different views politically. What I am proposing instead is the idea of having an open mind which is something that we all need to work on.

Having an open mind is a powerful skill to possess because it allows for the freedom to think freely and discuss various topics with the opposition in a civilized manor. It allows the prevention of possible racist comments towards minorities and/or majorities of any race, colour and gender. It allows for the prevention of oppression to happen within communities and it allows for the prevention of the act of positionally and bias to take place nationally and globally. In order for the country of Canada to develop on good grounds is to allow for our new prime minister to perform successfully as a representative of the liberal party and Canada is for us Canadians to not simply attack him as a person but to raise questions that we believe should be heard all under the umbrella of an open mind.

Playing and Planting

Last year was the year I went to England to study abroad where I met wonderful new friends, learned a lot about a new country and its culture. After I got back I went straight into the woods of tree planting with HRI and man, that was one hell of a a job. It was an experience I have never experienced in my life. Tree planting is a really hard job but once you get over the mental block it starts to become really fun where instead of work it starts to be more like playing in the woods. I really enjoyed myself because I learned a lot about my self and understood the lessons my mom was trying to teach me as I was growing up. I learned how to push my self to the limits even when my mind was yelling at me to stop. I learned how much fun it is to be in the woods and not have a phone that dings, pings, and rings all the time. Being in nature for three months of the year is really insightful and a great eye opener to the natural beauty of our world. We turn our attention to our 'brain melting' blocks of metal we call phones so we miss all the action happening right under our noses. After those three months of planting trees in Northern Ontario and Alberta I am going back to the the exact same thing. I am crazy to do it again but even though it will be hard physically and mentally I do miss it the crazy adventures and the Alberta Mountains. 

I used this blog in terms for communicating during my time abroad in England but I will use it in terms of my tree planting experience. I do get internet and cellular service on my day off so when I do I will post about my adventure so you lovely lads and ladies can stay informed. I don't know what this season of tree planting will bring but it will be one hell of a ride. 

Till Next Time,

S.R.H.