Author Archives: Kamryn Hamagami-Postill

Don’t Count The Days….

Posted on by

As the weekend comes to a close and Sunday night is getting closer I can’t help but get this feeling of dread. The week can be a lot, and 5 full days of the grind can be overwhelming. If you’re anything like me then I bet once you go to bed on a Sunday night you’re already counting down the days till Friday.

DSC_1149

When I was younger there was a little coffee shop near my house that had a sign “don’t count the days, make the days”. I don’t think I’ve ever had something stuck with me so much as this statement. 

There’s this huge culture around the whole TGIF thing and just living for the weekend. I’m even guilty of it too, but now and again I think of that message and it really puts things into perspective for me. I’m counting down and wanting to get past 5 days just so I can live for 2? And on the last day of the weekend I’m already feeling anxious for the next week? Kinda sad. And I know a lot of the world feels this way too? So why do we all just collectively carry the TGIF attitude with us?

And I know not everyone is going to loveeee their job and sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do to put food on your plate and a roof over your head but there has to be some kind of cheat code to living your life to the fullest 7 days a week right? The average human if lucky lives around 27,000 days (wow right) and guess how many days of those are weekends? 3910. So if we’re just living for the weekend we are dreading around 23,000 of those days. 23,000 days where you’re just passing time to the weekend.

I’ve always just waited around for the weekend, passing time throughout the weekdays just to get to Friday. But I realized that I am doing it all wrong, life is about balance, and if I only have 27,000 days to live I’m making the most of every second. 

Ya I know it can be hard with the 9-5 grind and finding time to do things but hey, even something as small as an afterwork walk with a coworker, or going out for a quick bite to eat? Maybe even trying out a workout class before work? Just adding something to your day other than the work grind makes a huge difference. Get out there and don’t just count the days, make them count. 

Underrated Sports: Part 2

Posted on by

Time and time again, I find myself turning to the same three leagues for my sports fix: the NFL, NHL, and NBA. I mean, can you blame me? That’s where the action is, and during the season, there’s always something exciting to watch. But when your team has a day off, or you need a break and want to switch it up, I have some underrated sports that are worth the watch and filled with excitement and action. 

  • Gymnastics

I mean I do carry a bit of bias with this one because growing up I was a gymnast but even if you are a retired gymnast or just a fan of watching sports gymnastics will definitely put you on the edge of your seat all the way from the warm ups to the podium. And it’s not like you’re just watching the same thing the whole time. Gymnastics has 4 main events: the bars, beam, floor, and vault. So that’s 4 different events to keep you entertained the whole time. Gymnastics is a mesmerizing sport that balances strength and endurance with grace and beauty. So if you’re looking for something a bit different then your usual go-tos, gymnastics is for sure one you don’t want to miss. 

Lori Gillan 2019-02-19- Gymnastics Ladies-8

  • Synchronized Swimming

This is one that I’ve recently caught on to, and again it balances the whole strength and endurance with grace and beauty like gymnastics does. I mean really, these athletes are holding their breath for long periods of time while doing movements that take some serious strength, while being synchronized, andddd while looking graceful! Insane! I also love their outfits that they wear and their mannerisms before they even get into the pool. 

syncronized swimming

  • Waterpolo

Sticking to sports in the pool, waterpolo. Even if I wanted to try water polo I couldn’t. The reason I love watching waterpolo is because I can’t get over how physically demanding of a sport it is. Imagine swimming back and forth in a pool for nearly an hour while battling it out with six other players, trying to score goals. Now add the fact that there’s no standing—you’re constantly treading water or swimming at full speed. And on top of that? The players are tough. Grabbing, pulling, and kicking, kinda like underwater MMA. I would not even stand a chance. 

Water Polo-Masculino

 

These are just some sports I believe deserve a bit more of the spotlight in the world of sports. They are all so different and fun and I never want to take my eyes off the TV! So if you’re looking for a new sport to keep you on the edge of your seat, check these guys out. 

 

I Still Live At Home

Posted on by

I am a proud member of the “I still live it at home in my 20s” club. I mean what’s wrong with that?? Especially in this economy?! I may never leave!! But I can tell you for sure that it isn’t all just sunshine and rainbows, free rent and home cooked means, there are definitely a lot of pros and cons when you’re a part of this club, willingly and unwillingly. 

I guess I should start this off by saying if I could move out I totally would, and don’t get me wrong, I love my parents and my house, but I’m 20, to constantly explain why I’m coming home so late does get a bit annoying. And I also see how living at home can be a tricky thing for my parents, I mean I’m 21, they were all moved out when they were my age and of course they are going to give me my freedom but they can’t help but worry from time to time.

House

I think the best part of living at home is the home cooked meals. I never have to worry about coming home from a long day of work or school to having to make dinner for myself and then clean up, all I have to do is clean up! It’s a good trade:)

The hard part is seeing all my friends who aren’t in school working and living alone. I do get jealous about that but then remember that hopefully my education will lead me to a good job and from there to my own place (a girl can dream). But the thing that is the hardest is seeing all my friends who went away for college in their college houses living their best lives, I mean common wine Wednesday with your roommates after a long day, sounds awesome. But again, I remember I’m saving a lot of money this way…. (I think). 

Bringing my friends over can sometimes be hilarious, like ya guys for sure we can hang out at mine, if you don’t mind sharing the living room with my mom and her friends. I think most young adults in Vancouver live at home in their early 20s so that makes me feel a little better, I mean common, how are you supposed to spend around $2000 a month on rent on top of everything else like your phone bill and gas? Seems a little out of reach to me.

But at last we’re all in it and figuring it out together, so if you’re a part of the  “I still live it at home in my 20s” club, consider yourself just making smart financial decisions. 

Dry January: Day 26

Posted on by

Another weekend done and dusted in the dry January books. 

I don’t know why but these days just keep getting harder and harder. I think I’ve narrowed it down to the fact that the weather is nice and school is getting stressful. Sitting down on a patio at the end of a long study day feels like the perfect way to destress but that’s just not an option right now. 

I’ve been following along with a couple influencers doing dry January. They all talk about it in such a positive light and attitude like they aren’t having a hard time at all. I think the other frustrating thing about seeing all the influencers on their platforms talking about their dry January journey is the fact that they are just going off and listing all these physical changes they’ve noticed. Not that I started this to notice any physical appearance changes or anything but seeing that it seems like everyone else on the planet is kinda annoying. A lot of people talk about how they lost the puffiness in their face or feel less inflamed and I have yet to notice any of that. 

The one nice thing about following along with these influencers is that since they are all super social and have to go to so many different events it’s nice to see their take on how they handle dry January. It makes me feel less alone in a sense that they still are surrounded by a lot of drinking and they still go out and make a night out of it. 

It’s funny to back on my attitude change towards the weekends in the past month. Before I did dry January I’d base and plan my weekends around my drinking and the hangovers that would come with it. I’d cram all I had to do that week and feel so overwhelmed and stressed on the weekdays so that the weekend could just be fun with friends. Now I don’t have to worry about the hangover in the mornings and worry about getting stuff done with them. My week days are a lot more relaxed now cause I know I’ll be able to find time on the weekend. 

Well, I conquered the last full weekend of dry January and only have one more Friday left to show up and be accountable. If you’re in the same boat as me right now, keep up the good work cause I just know how good you’ll feel waking up on February 1st knowing you conquered one full month, 31 days, drinking free. 

I Don’t Have Only Child Syndrome

Posted on by

“What’s it like not having any siblings?” is a question I always got asked growing up. How can I even answer that without having any siblings? Like seriously? “It’s quiet” was my usual response.

Siblings

When I was younger every single one of my friends had siblings and they kinda used me being an only child as a way to shut me out of conversation. “Omg my sister stole my shirt, you’re so lucky you don’t have to deal with any siblings”, comments like this always made me so jealous. When I was in early elementary school I wanted a sibling so bad. But it wasn’t till I grew up that I realized I was super content being an only child.

Growing up as an only child, I’ve heard all the “only child” stereotypes, like how I must’ve been lonely or spoiled, or how I must’ve spent every day playing by myself bored out of my mind. I think there’s this whole culture and attitude based on just the negative sides of only child life, but honestly, from my point of view it wasn’t like that at all. 

I won’t lie, sometimes I wondered what it would’ve been like to have a sibling, having someone always there to do something with, but honestly? It taught me to be my own best friend. I know that sounds kinda sad but I don’t see it as sad. From a young age, I got used to being alone, and I got pretty good at entertaining myself. My independence took off from a young age which I think is one of greatest assets today. 

I think one of the best things to come from being an only child is how close I am with my parents. My mom is seriously my best friend (and I know, that also sounds sad). Now that I’m older and self-sufficient I just see my mom as a friend, we go to happy hour together, run together, go shopping, everything, it’s awesome. 

Dealing with the whole assumption of being “overly spoiled” was the most annoying part. For me, being an only child didn’t mean I was showered with whatever I wanted  or let off the hook when it came to responsibility. If anything, I was expected to be more self-sufficient and responsible because there wasn’t another child to balance the family dynamic. The idea that I was “spoiled” by my parents feels like a total oversimplification of what it means to grow up in a family of three.

I wouldn’t trade being an only child for anything and I’d rather deal with the annoying negative culture of being an only child than dealing with an annoying sibling:)

Sunday Resets

Posted on by

By no means am I a messy person, I’m generally pretty clean, I mean my car is a different story but I just blame that on my 90 pound golden retriever, Goose, who loves car rides. I like to keep my room clean and tidy and I really lean into the statement a clean room = clean mind.

cleaning gloves

But I never really had a cleaning schedule. When I ran out of clean clothes I did my laundry, the room was starting to look like a tornado swept through it, time for a clean up. But in the summer my social media became flooded with this whole culture and ritual of “Sunday resets”. I thought it was kinda weird at the start, like why do all these influencers need to document their cleaning as it’s not like something any other regular person does. But I kinda liked the way it sounded. Cleaning your room, getting all the laundry done and starting the week off fresh. 

Fine, I’ll try it out I said….. And wow I’m hooked. It’s my new Sunday tradition, it’s not a Kamryn Sunday without a whole reset. And the feeling after, oh my, it’s the best. Getting into my bed at the end of the night with clean sheets, pjs, and everything put away nicely for the week ahead is seriously life changing. 

But I felt like I needed to take this feeling a step further…

Now I’ve turned a bit crazy with this whole reset thing. But kinda for the better.

I’ve found I’ve been way more on top of my school work. The feeling of having all your work done by Sunday night – chefs kiss. And now I’m a big week planner. In my notes app I have everything I need to do on each day organized in bullet points. I punch in important dates, appointments, and meetings into my calendar and live my week days nicely planned out how I made the Sunday prior. Sometimes if I’m feeling extra crazy and some to kill I even meal prep. But that’s pretty rare. 

So I hope you don’t think i’m totally insane, I mean reading this back does make me out to seem like a clean freak but I swear I’m not that crazy, I’m just overly organized:)

Unity In Rivalry

Posted on by

Well football fans, the time has come, the games are set, and tomorrow is the Conference Championships.

So what’s on the docket for tomorrow? The Washington Commanders are in Philadelphia and will face the Eagles with a 12:00 kickoff tomorrow. These two rival teams are fighting for the NFC Championship title. And at 3:30 the Buffalo Bills will take on Taylor Swift and the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC Championship title.

It’s a heightened time for all. I mean your team could be knocked out and done for the year I get it, but I think it’s a good time today to realize that sports is there to bring people together through a shared love of the sport, the team, and the players. 

Whether it’s your local high school soccer game, or a professional football championship like tomorrow, sports have a unique ability to bring people together. There’s nothing like a whole community, town, province (or state) or even a whole country rallying together to show support to teams. This isn’t just about cheering for a favourite player, it’s about identifying with the larger group—the fans, the city, the neighbourhood. Having a collective identity to strangers you’ve never met through the highs and lows, triumphs and losses, is truly magic. 

In a world where diversity can lead to discrimination and division, sports stands as a powerful force that breaks those walls down. No matter your race or culture at the end of the day the sport is still the same sport with the same rules and field, same ball or play time. Whether it’s the field or the ice, we are all equal, sharing in the love of the game. 

The stakes are high right now and in the world of football and the build up to February 9th might feel like a whirlwind. But in the middle of all this intensity, it’s good to look back on what sports is all about, the passion, camaraderie, and pure joy of the game. 

So enjoy the rivals, get competitive, and show your team spirit and share in the love and passion of the game. 

Solo Dates Are IN This Year!

Posted on by

When was the last time you treated yourself completely on your terms? Like taking yourself on a date where you don’t have to argue about where you’re going to eat, if you’re going to get that dessert or not, or who’s picking up the bill. I’m going to guess a long time or even never right? Why are solo dates such an avoided thing? 

The fact that yes it can seem a bit awkward to eat alone is totally valid. Sitting alone in a booth, the server wondering if you got stood up, or just the feeling of being a loner is all totally understandable. But at the end of the day, why care about what someone else thinks, let alone, a complete stranger. And if you were seen out alone by someone you know and you think they are judging you, they are probably just insecure with themselves that they don’t have the confidence to go out alone. 

Like anything hard or scary in life, starting a new job, getting a tattoo, or even ending a relationship it’s all about diving into the deep end from the wise words of Taylor Swift “head first fearless” . It’s all about getting over that initial hump, the first solo date. Just like a first date with a random hinge guy, it’s going to be uncomfortable, a little awkward, and just unknown territory, but the major difference? There’s no pressure to worry about ending the night at his place.

The joy of solo dates is that you don’t have to entertain anyone, worry about awkward silences, or cater to someone else’s schedule. It’s just you, doing what you love, and appreciating your own company. It’s good to treat yourself, be selfish! Do what you want on your terms without anyone nagging in your ear. 

Take yourself out for a spa day, book that reso at that fancy Italian restaurant you’ve been dying to try, or go see that movie in theatres. Life is so short, do things for you and don’t wait around for anyone else to make up their minds. 

IMG_0628

So eat that dessert, pick where you’re going out to eat, buy yourself those flowers, and pick up your own bill. Cheers to more solo dates in 2025! Make this year about you!

The Art Of Small Talk

Posted on by

Small talk. 

The thing we do as a society to be polite, but the thing most people hate. The awkward elevator conversations about the “weather we’ve been having” or small chats in your local coffee shop’s busy line – “sure is busy today, right?”. So simple, a bit unnecessary, but kinda sweet?

talking

So why do we do it? I mean I guess there’s an art in sparking up a conversation with a stranger, I mean you never know where it will take you. Maybe this random person could be the perfect candidate to date your sister. Or maybe this stranger will one day become your boss. Whatever it may be, we all engage in small talk from time to time but whether you like it or not, is up for you to decide. 

I honestly love it, I want to talk to a stranger. Everyone has their own unique perspective and stories so why not hear it? My job practically revolves around small talk. I’m a server and when I’m on the clock I can’t even count how many groups of people I talk to. Every conversation is so different, sometimes it’s something I completely disagree with and the conversation kinda goes in one ear then out the other, but sometimes it’s awesome. I can learn new things, make connections, sometimes I even feel like a therapist for people.

CoffeeBar_Albuquerque

Last summer I served an older man all alone who didn’t seem up for small chat, but still to be kind, when I brought his food over I asked him how his day was going and if I could bring him anything else over. He went from being quiet to having a full 30 minute conversation with me. He let me know that his wife had passed and he was having a hard time. He left the restaurant and I realized that who knows if he had anyone else to talk to. And it brought me back to you never know what someone is going through. Everyone has something going on in their life that you may have no clue about and just asking something as simple as how their day is going and change their day for the better.

So next time you run into a moment where small talk is inevitable go that extra mile to ask the person how they are. You never know the last time they were asked that and it could really make a positive influence on their day. They say it’s all about the little things in life and a little chat truly can go a long way. 

 

Golf, A Love – Hate Game

Posted on by

This sunny weather is really building up the anticipation of summer for me. The birds chirping, T-shirts and shorts weather, and getting together with friends, nothing better. There’s something in particular I’m really looking forward to. I’ll give you 4 guesses to guess what I’m excited for

  1. Somewhere it’s acceptable to drink at any hour of the day.
  2. Somewhere you get a lot of steps – or get to drive around (your pick).
  3. Somewhere you need to be on time for.
  4. Collared shirts. 

In my opinion, I think it was an easy giveaway with the first one, but if you weren’t able to get it I’m talking about golf.

DSC_6868_edited-1

I’ve never loved something so much and been so bad at it my whole life. I do consider myself to be a perfectionist, I like things to go my way and be done how I like, and for me, golf is the exact opposite. On the course rarely anything goes my way. I’m aiming right down the green and my ball goes into the trees, I’m putting, skips right over the hole, but even then I still find it so fun.

And it’s the whole experience that goes along with golf that I love. Waking up knowing you have a tee time, putting on a good golf outfit, riding around in the golf cart, and of course you can’t forget it’s one of the few places where it’s socially acceptable to drink at any time of the day, even if you have a 7am tee time. 

Golf course

By no means am I a serious golfer, I kinda suck, but for me golf isn’t just about the game, it’s the whole social aspect that comes with it. Whether you’re playing a round with old friends, co-workers or even strangers, golf banter is always fun. My friends always like to remind me that you’re not supposed to hit your ball into the pond cause that’s where mine always ends up. And you can’t forget where the 19th hole leads you – the clubhouse! After a full round of golf in the summer sun (with possibly one too many beers) the post round recap over a burger (and possibly more beers) is the perfect end to the game.  Reliving the best (and worst) shots of the day with your friends is one of the best parts of the day. 

So as the summer rolls around and you’re looking for fun ways to get outside and make the most out of summer try golfing! And there’s plenty of places to start. Like the Stanley Park pitch and putt or Murdo Fraser pitch and putt. Whether you’re playing at a private club or just at pitch putt with some buddies, a day on the greens is like no other.