Blog Feed: Aaron Outward

I have been a little lacking on the blog lately, life has just been super hectic lately and this unfortunately was one of the things that needed to take a back seat. As many of you know I always set a goal of entering two photographic competitions a

2012 Year In Review - Part 1

Published on 2013-02-11 07:00:03

I have procrastinated on this post long enough.

valentines Giveaway - Deadline Approaching

Published on 2013-02-08 08:00:03

This is just a quick reminder that this is the final weekend for entering the Valentine's Day contest for a

A Valentine's Day Giveaway

Published on 2013-01-21 07:30:03

With Valentine's Day around the corner I thought it would be fun to do a small give-away:

A quick Update

Published on 2013-01-14 07:30:03

Hey Everyone,I want to apologize on my extended silence around here.

Stepping into the Past: Exploring Ottawa Street

Published on 2012-12-28 07:00:03

One of my favourite places to explore in the entire city is Ottawa Street.

Five Street Photography Clichés

Published on 2012-12-20 07:00:06

A couple months ago my photography friend and fellow Hamiltonian friend asked me to contribute to an article on his blog, Modes of Flight.

Another Night Time Camera Adventure

Published on 2012-12-17 07:00:08

It isn't always the easiest to get out on weekends for my shutter therapy.

The Little Grape that Could

Published on 2012-12-13 07:00:10

Let me first say that today marks an incredible milestone.

A Downtown Photographic Event

Published on 2012-12-06 07:00:01

Earlier in the year I was in an artistic "crisis".

Rubbing It In

Published on 2012-12-03 07:00:16

I thought today it might be fun to rub something in to everyone.

The Beach and the Blustery Day

Published on 2012-11-29 07:00:12

Our true strength comes from getting through the hard times.

Skipping the Subway

Published on 2012-11-26 07:00:18

In order to continue keeping the camera in my weekly life and achieve my Like-A-Leica weekly requirements I have found compromises to help keep me shooting. While I was off recovering from my leukemia one of my fruitful times shooting street photogr

Snowy Saskatoon

Published on 2012-11-22 07:00:07

I alluded a couple posts ago that I haven't been entirely successful in my Like-A-Leica Year photographic challenge.

Learning to See at Night

Published on 2012-11-19 07:00:03

Avoiding the End of Year Overload

Published on 2012-11-15 07:00:09

Learning to Light

Published on 2012-10-25 07:00:15

Practicing is not enough.

Don't Believe the Myth - The Camera Does Matter

Published on 2012-10-22 07:00:01

We often hear the saying that the camera doesn't matter.

Golden Hour Exploration

Published on 2012-10-18 07:00:15

I have a very prescribed method of testing out a new camera and have been doing it for everyone of the cameras I have owned.

Like a Leica

Published on 2012-10-15 07:00:20

I know what you are thinking not another person doing another camera porn blogpost dedicated to the Red Dot god named

What LiveStrong Really Means

Published on 2012-10-08 07:00:11

The livestrong bracelet was originally created as a method of fundraising for cancer with the original goal of achieving 25 million. Since 2004 when this bracelet took off it has successfully sold over 80 million copies and inspired countless other charities and organizations to create their own bracelet. I see many people wearing livestrong and I often wonder if they know what it really means. Are they wearing it for a fashion fad, or to make a statement or is it truly a declaration that the [..]

Street Photography for Beginners: The Social Butterfly

Published on 2012-10-03 07:00:20

We are all on our way to becoming the next masters of street photography, continually developing and practicing our foundations of street photography. But there is one more skill that is often overlooked. It is very common place for a street photographers to be out shooting and not say a single word the entire time they are out. Our society has slowly moved to a place where people no longer smile or greet each other as they walk by on the street, everyone is preoccupied with their own situatio [..]

Exploring the Morning Light of James Street North

Published on 2012-09-28 07:00:12

As many of you know when I returned to work earlier this year but photography took a bit of a backseat while I learned to rebalance everything in my life again.

Street Photography For Beginners: Taking the Gloves Off

Published on 2012-09-26 07:00:13

The Golden Rule has finally been put to bed and now it is time to take the gloves off. You have worked hard at practicing all the foundational skills that make up a great street photograph. Now is the time to get out there and put all that practice to good use. Just remember your foundation while you are out there! Now that the old Golden Rule is over, it is time to add a new Golden Rule for your street photography: HAVE FUN Nothing could be more important than you having fun with you st [..]

A Broken Hearted Super Hero

Published on 2012-09-24 07:00:09

I am so pleased to present another post from my new contributor, Kristine.

The Invisble Men of Buskerfest Toronto

Published on 2012-09-21 07:00:13

As thousands of people descended on Toronto for the Buskerfest festival, my friend Tony and I decided to head downtown to do some street photography.

Street Photography for Beginners: The Foundation

Published on 2012-09-19 07:00:13

By now we should now not only be masters of our cameras but well on our way to becoming masters of composition as well, so it is time to start having a little more fun. Don't get too excited though, because our Golden Rule still applies. Refrain from shooting street photographs for just a little bit longer, we are almost there.Spending time learning to use our cameras and learning compositional techniques are the foundation of photography, now we need to put those skills to use to start buildi [..]

Suriving Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: The Misunderstood Cancer

Published on 2012-09-17 07:00:10

Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or ALL is a very misunderstood cancer because it is not very common. When most people think about cancer they turn to sources they know; either from family members who have experienced a bout with Cancer or even TV programs, movies, or books. Unfortunately most of the times the forms of Cancer found in their search have something in common; the time from diagnosis to survivorship can be very "short". Now enter the realm of Acute Lymphoblasic Leukemia; it is [..]

Heading Out Into The Rain

Published on 2012-09-15 07:00:07

Street Photography for Beginners: Compose Like A Master

Published on 2012-09-14 07:00:14

Now that we are all now masters of our cameras, and it has truly now become a tool that enhances our ability to make art. It is time to begin working on our second required skill for improving our street photography.

A Festering Problem

Published on 2012-09-12 11:30:17

A problem has been brewing.

What Would You Do If You Knew Too Much?

Published on 2012-09-10 19:59:17

Today I have something really special for everyone.

Sunsets by the Seashore

Published on 2012-09-08 07:00:07

While in New Brunswick we were down by the shore and were blessed with a magnificent sunset. For some reason when I was putting together this set of images all I could think about was the tongue twister "Sea Shells by the Sea Shore". Sunsets by the Seashore isn't as much of a tongue twister but are much prettier to look at. So out of the five images, what is your favourite?

Street Photography for Beginners: Become A Master

Published on 2012-09-07 07:00:05

In my installment of Street Photography for Beginners I shared my golden rule on becoming a better street photographer; Don't Shoot Street Photography. I know this seems a little backwards but trust me on this, ignore your urges to attempt to capture street photographs and focus on the required skills. You will have plenty of time in the future to do as much street photography as you like but for now lets focus on the basics. The first skill required for becoming a better street photo [..]

A Vanishing Moment

Published on 2012-09-06 07:00:05

Our lives are made up of moments.

Dream as if...

Published on 2012-09-05 07:00:21

Dream as if you will Live Forever.... Live as if you will die today

A Great Cause Needing Your Support

Published on 2012-09-04 07:00:19

On September 19, 2012 Amy will be participating in the ride for Diabetes research and needs your help!

Saving Another's Life (Blood Cancer Awareness Month)

Published on 2012-09-01 07:00:07

Today marks the beginning of Blood Cancer Awareness Month.

Street Photography for Beginners: The Golden Rule

Published on 2012-08-31 07:00:05

Street photography seems to be gaining popularity with each passing day.

Live and Intimate

Published on 2012-08-30 07:00:04

Something really special happened earlier this year, Amy and I got the oppurtunity to go see Jason Mraz live at an intimate session with 100 other fans.

Arms and Legs Inside the Vehicle

Published on 2012-08-29 07:00:00

If the engine can't be fixed they could always put a "Flinstone" engine in it.....Or have they already?

Shooting From the Hip: Lessons of a Gunslinger

Published on 2012-08-28 07:00:10

“Are you talking to me punk?” What has a stronger correlation to the cowboy times of old than these simple words?

Getting Over an Identity Crisis

Published on 2012-08-27 07:00:08

So how do you go about writing a great post that all your readers are going to love?

In and Around Beresford

Published on 2012-08-26 05:00:06

One morning while I was waiting for the other vacationers to wake up I decided to take my camera out for a little walk around Beresford.

Black and White Photography

Published on 2012-08-25 07:00:00

I need each of your help.

Cole Trickle, the Best Street Photography Teacher

Published on 2012-08-24 08:25:16

Street photography is gaining popularity with each passing day.

Striking a Pose

Published on 2012-08-23 07:00:11

Port Credit just isn't about the water though, its "downtown" area is also an area that is full of life.

Lending a Helping Hand

Published on 2012-08-22 07:00:16

Port Credit isn't just about the Credit River, the shores of Lake Ontario are also bustling with activity as well.

Shadow Giants

Published on 2012-08-21 07:00:13

The late afternoon sun was one of my favourite time to explore the shores of the river.

Bird Watching

Published on 2012-08-20 07:00:18

The protected waters of the Credit River provide an excellent place for bird watching.

Ghosts of Union Station

Published on 2012-08-19 07:00:02

My thoughts are dominated with photographs.

Gone Fishing in New Brunswick

Published on 2012-08-18 07:00:02

There is something liberating about the thought of catching your own dinner.

Wrong - Weekly Photo Challenge

Published on 2012-08-17 07:00:12

I know I have already done a post on the weekly photo challenge this week but by the time I was able to post my take on the growth assignment the challenge had already moved on to the next assignment.

The Old and New

Published on 2012-08-16 07:00:15

Port Credit is full of constrasts, everywhere you look there is a constant battle between the old and the new.

Looking for Fish

Published on 2012-08-15 07:00:02

The decision to make a photo series on life in Port Credit was a bit of a natural one since I lived there and spent so much exploring it with my camera.

Growth - Weekly Photo Challenge

Published on 2012-08-14 07:00:15

I have been a long time follower of a local Hamiltonian photographer named Allan.

Regaining Balance

Published on 2012-08-13 07:00:16

With everything that has been going on in the past few months around here you can imagine I my Life's Pie had gotten quite out of balance with adding full time working hours back into the mix (make sure you go get a refresher on Balancing our Life's Pie)

A Sunset Story

Published on 2012-08-12 07:30:02

If done right a photograph should require no introduction or explanation,

A Brand New Muse

Published on 2012-08-10 22:05:47

For those that have been around here for awhile

As the Pages turn to Chapters

Published on 2012-07-22 16:23:49

In my last post I discussed how our experiences form the stories of our lives; this of course including the good and bad experiences we encounter.

Turning a New Page

Published on 2012-07-14 09:14:21

We like to look at our live's as stories that take a lifetime to tell.

The Barren Blog

Published on 2012-07-09 19:30:54

Aaron Outward has become something I never intended; The Barren Blog.

Livestrong: Its more than a bracelet when you are Living Strong

Published on 2012-05-08 08:26:18

I see many people wearing the livestrong bracelets and I often wonder if they know what it really represents.

Into the Fog

Published on 2012-04-05 07:11:02

I have always felt a magical connection to the fog.

Capturing the beauty of Aruba

Published on 2012-03-26 13:32:08

I must say this post is very overdue but nonetheless I am happy to finally be sharing these images with you.

My Journey to the Camera

Published on 2012-03-21 15:41:23

One of my images ever shot - of course it is of my favourite model First let me start by saying thanks to everyone that responded to my last post and for giving me your feedback.

Your Help Needed

Published on 2012-03-19 13:42:35

I must admit I haven't been the most consitent poster with the advent of the new year.

The Unknown Truth- You are Stronger than you Think

Published on 2012-03-02 07:47:37

When tragedy comes knocking at your door one of the most common things you will hear is, "I don't know how you do it, I could never get through what you have been through". I know this because I have heard this countless times. First, when my father died when I was 12 years old and again the past two years as I have undergone the treatment for my Acute Leukemia. A common response to this statement is, "You are never given more than you can handle", if fact I wrote a short post about this ve [..]

Branding Ourselves

Published on 2012-02-27 08:01:54

We are all branded machines; everything about us is a carefully selected brand that we use to portray a certain image. Our selection is often persuaded by the constant bombardment of marketing we see on a daily basis, and by what is "in style" at the moment. But at the core of it all we select the brands that we want to portray a statement about us and who we are. If we think back to the parable about the golf balls and mayonaise jar we read late last year (to re-read it click here), we can [..]

how aDORAble

Published on 2012-02-17 10:56:00

Well my other valentine got jealous, Amy got all the attention on Valentine's day but I have been getting the cold shoulder from my other valentine since. So today is my attempt at balancing the scales :) Last fall my photography was one of the things that got put on the side burner with the getting ready for our wedding and the dips in my health. I did get to do a bit of photography but it was mainly portrait stuff for my portfolio. With the start of the new year a couple things have happ [..]

Who Said You Can Only Wear A Wedding Dress Once

Published on 2012-02-14 08:30:54

Being that today is Valentines Day I thought today's post would be dedicated to my Valentine. Who ever said that you can only wear a wedding dress once. Every bride knows this conundrum. You spend countless hours (and dollars) finding that perfect wedding dress only to wear it for one day. Well my stunning bride, Amy, was not happy with this reality and sought to change it. Throughout the fall Amy was always the first to see the results of any of my photoshoots but she was never the mus [..]

I think I may be a Senior Citizen

Published on 2012-02-10 08:06:34

Well the day has finally come, I think I may be a senior citizen. I am sure you are thinking how can this be? Well let me lay out the facts and see what you think. Exhibit #1 - Well the first exhibit is that I chose to do this posts in exhibits instead of paragraphs. This is inspired of course by my favourite new show the Firm, but it could have just as easily been inspired by Murder She Wrote. Exhibit #2 - I own a 4 level pill dossier. Really think about it, who do you know that has the ne [..]

Developing My Own Photographic Style

Published on 2012-02-06 16:56:07

Last fall I started doing some portraiture work with the intention of adding another dimension to my work. When starting out I was looking for my own personal voice as an artist; something that would differentiate me from the pack. I was reminded of a story Amy told me years ago that has stuck with me and been my inspiration on numerous occasions. At a training event they had one of Tiger Woods coaches come and speak to their group. (I am paraphrasing here) He told the story of how Tige [..]

An Analog State of Mind

Published on 2012-02-01 16:23:10

Some forms of nostalgia I have always had a soft spot for, maybe that is why my hair went grey :) Last year my experience using a rangefinder started to pique my interest in the possibility of using film. In photography film has a nostalgic feeling to it for me. I love having to do everything manual with the camera, it engages the brain so much more in my photography because you have to do the thinking for the camera instead of the other way around. Sure you can do all this with digital but [..]

Searching for a Perfect Compromise

Published on 2012-01-26 07:47:00

My Rangefinder and I Photography is an amazing artform. It can envoke feelings of sadness, happiness, and inspiration to name a few; the list is simply endless. Photography can be so much more though, like cancer, it is an excellent teacher of life skills as well. Photography has easily taught me as many lessons about life as my leukemia. But probably the best lesson it has ever taught me is; Nothing in our world is perfect, life is about compromises. It is no secret [..]

Surviving Leukemia - It's Not About the Numbers

Published on 2012-01-24 07:46:00

Less than 100 is all you need to know A diagnosis of Acute Leukemia (or any Cancer for that matter) is a very scary and confusing time. You are bombarded by so many different things that you have no prior knowledge of and as such start seeking out sources to try and help you gain a better understanding. In the first couple hours and days (and truthfully including even years later), the mountain of questions of the unknown is continually growing. The ultimate question and summit of your mounta [..]

My Favourite 8 "Street" Photographs from 2011

Published on 2012-01-22 19:53:44

I really don't like using the term "street" photography anymore. I haven't in a long time. I find it has such a negative connotation these days, often seen as being creepy, aggressive, or invasive. I strive now to make more than just a photo of a person walking down a street. I will continue to use the term street photography for the purposes of this blog but know I am not a street photographer just a regular photographer who likes to photograph what I see; it just so happens to be most time [..]

Spreading Ourselves too Thin

Published on 2012-01-20 07:31:20

You wake up and go to make breakfast. As your toast is cooking in the toaster, you cue up the tassimo for some nice coffee. Your toast just finishes cooking and rush to spread the butter on the toast so it melts nicely but the unthinkable happens, there is not enough butter. You try to "make it out" scraping every last scrap of butter onto your bread, but it just isn't enough. Has this every happened to you? In the end you eat that piece of toast but it is never that satisfying. This p [..]

Reflect then Resolve

Published on 2012-01-12 08:02:59

I wrote recently about how we are often not successful in our New Year's Resolutions because we come at it from the wrong angle. Instead of just randomly picking resolutions we should take the time to analyze our life's pie and what's important to us. Before any resolutions can be made there is something that must be done first; reflecting on the year that has passed. This is such an important step that so many people often ignore or forget at the beginning of each year. In your reflection [..]

Its Me Again

Published on 2011-06-28 09:30:31

"What the Hell?" I haven't written you all in quite some time so thought it was about time to do a follow-up post. There are a number of reasons why I haven't been writing but it all stems back to my steroid taper. As ma

Life's Simple Pleasures

Published on 2011-06-14 09:02:14

I was laying in bed the other night, with Amy fast asleep beside me, thinking about a million different things and trying to get to sleep when Dora came into the room and jumped up into her bed. You see in our bed Amy sleeps about a foot down fr

A Cause Worth Blogging About

Published on 2011-06-09 18:01:48

Over the past year 6 months we have built a pretty good relationship, I write my posts and you, the reader, keep reading them and seem to enjoy them. As such I have only used this platform to promote certain causes that truly need our help and

A Photo That Changed Everything

Published on 2011-06-09 09:14:43

When I got home from the hospital I was very excited. It was still winter so I knew in my weakened state I couldn't start back up my photography hobby but I had a trick up my sleeve. Before I went into the hospital I had sold of

Loneliness

Published on 2011-06-08 09:38:24

For the past little while I have been participating in a weekly project called Street Photography Now. Each week a famous street photography gives a theme that we have to interpret and then we have that week to go out find a moment that fits ou

Passion on a Whim

Published on 2011-06-07 10:08:54

Many of you would be surprised to learn that photography wasn't something I always aspired to do. To be truthful I had never had any interest in the visual arts. All throughout my life I have spent time learning different musical instrume

May's Best Street Photographs

Published on 2011-06-03 05:21:41

As has become tradition, when a month comes to an end I go over all my photographs from the past month and post my favorite shots. Here are my ten favorite street photographs from in and around Port Credit from the month of May. As a

I Have A Disease

Published on 2011-06-02 06:32:07

No, No, this is not an obvious post about my leukemia or gvhd, we all know I have those (it says so right in the title of my blog :) ). Although, the leukemia can be debatable, if you are in molecular remission does that mean you don't hav

I Don't Photograph Flowers.......or MAY I??

Published on 2011-06-01 06:58:06

Well today is June 1 and for most it isn't anything more special than just another day. For some there is a mini celebration because it is hump day. We have gotten through the first half of the week and everything from here forw

Our Sense of Self

Published on 2011-05-31 06:36:34

The official part of the engagement party was winding to a close and the "real" party was about to start. Amy's cousin's husband, Andrew, and I slipped down to the basement to get a little quiet and truthfully just to lay out of the couches and

A Street Shooter's Evolution

Published on 2011-05-30 08:25:22

Many times I am asked what I use to shoot my candid photos, if the people know they are being photographed and how I got into this type of photography. The answer to the second question is no, for the most part the subjects do not know the

I Fell in Love Again....

Published on 2011-05-27 10:32:19

Don't worry Amy and Dora are still my first loves. This falling in love has to do with my photography. As you may know the past couple of weeks, especially last week I was feeling a little mentally down and uninspired. This translat

Port Credit Candids

Published on 2011-05-26 09:45:21

As many of you know I don't like to classify my street photography work as street as I find the street community can be extremely rigid and sometime harse in their definitions. I don't personally don't think there are is any place for rigidness

A Hauntingly Beautiful Story

Published on 2011-05-25 09:45:29

For the next little while I won't be posting as much writing with my posts as it is been bothering my eyes when I spend extended time periods on the computer. But with that said I can still continue to share some of my favorite photos w

Geese are Nice Too...

Published on 2011-05-24 09:35:32

I don't shoot wildlife photos too often usually only doing it when I need to change things up and keep it fresh. When I do shoot wildlife it is no secret that my two favorite subjects are mallard ducks and swans. A little while ago while

Broken Down

Published on 2011-05-20 13:49:50

Well it happened, the rain finally broke me (but I will get to that in a minute). Many of you may have been wondering where I have been since I haven't posted in a week now. Truthfully I had a post planned for last Friday with some great

One Protective Swan Father

Published on 2011-05-12 06:23:06

There has been a little method to my madness over the past few days. Like I said earlier in the week, there was a request from one of the great readers for some birds shots so I did not want to disapoint. Today's series is my absolute fav

The Flight of the Swans

Published on 2011-05-11 07:53:43

As part two of my photo posts on swans, I wanted to share one of my favorite behaviours to capture photographically, flight. Swans are a magnificent bird when just sitting docile, and become even more so when they start spreading their wings to show

A Swan's Dominant Display

Published on 2011-05-10 09:36:24

You will have to forgive me as I cheated in yesterday's post a little bit. The final image I included was not by definition a still life photography. So why did I add you may ask? Well for a number of reasons. First, I dont co

A Simplistic Still Life

Published on 2011-05-09 09:29:49

This is a fairly busy week for me so unfortunately I won't be able to do any long winded reflection posts. Instead I thought I would keep in line with the personal project I started awhile back and keep this week's posts simple. If you re

April's Best Candid Captures

Published on 2011-05-06 05:00:13

As promised here are my favorite candid "street" photographs from April. I put street in quote because it is more like park photographs that I adapt the street photography technique too. There were so many great photos to choose fro

April's Best Urban and Landscapes

Published on 2011-05-05 07:57:15

I had mentioned earlier in the week that this past weeked I went through all of the photos I shot in April. I thought I would share what I believe to be my best shots from the past month in a two part series. I hope you enjoy! &nbs

Imagine....Living in Peace

Published on 2011-05-04 07:35:31

Note: This is not my usual post reflections but it was pretty powerful reflection and I thought I would share it with you all. I hope you enjoy As human’s, one of our most natural instincts is retatialitation after we are hurt. But how

April Showers bring May Showers??

Published on 2011-05-03 07:21:37

What ever happened to that poem where the April showers were supposed to bring May flowers? Apparently this year our April showers decided to bring us some more showers for May. This past weekend was one that mimicked the weather quite litera

365 Days of Photos Updated

Published on 2011-04-30 19:05:27

I have updated the 365 Days of Photos page. Here are the latest photos. Hope you enjoy them :) Day 27 - How could I not shoot this sunrise Starbucks at Dusk - I love the royal blue skies right after the sun goes down

Hitting the Streets HCR style

Published on 2011-04-29 07:59:00

I guess I should start by saying in no way am I comparing my images to the great to the great Henri Cartier-Bresson. By saying "HCR style" I am talking more in style and approach to the shooting. You see Bresson was legendary for his

Reawakening Our Senses

Published on 2011-04-28 06:10:44

Messing with the senses I have always said my journey with Leukemia has changed me. I think one of the biggest things it has done is drastically change how I look at the world. I find I am in much less of a rush, and I tend to find beau

My Fisherman's Quest (a photostory)

Published on 2011-04-27 06:20:56

If you really think about it, it is not only a little surprising that I have been able to maintain my passion for photography but my passion has increased by leaps and bounds. The reason I say it is surprising is because over this past year I h

365 Days of Photos Updated

Published on 2011-04-26 16:57:09

If you are interested my 365 Days of Photos has been updated up until today with photos and stories/descriptions to go with each. Just click the dedicated page tab and it will take you directly there or you can CLICK HERE. As always I love hearing

Simplify Simplify - Taking Is Less Really More One Step Further

Published on 2011-04-26 14:31:56

A Bench's Daily View My personal challenge of “Is Less Really More?” has been achieving exactly what I had hoped it would. It eliminated a lot of useless distractions and got me back to just focusing on taking better photographs. The

Is Less Really More (A personal Challenge)

Published on 2011-04-25 11:13:30

Late last year photography for me started moving from a simple hobby to a passion. I had begun studying it much more detail and actively working towards becoming a better photographer. Then some great news came my way, they found my bone

My Easter Weekend Update

Published on 2011-04-23 08:39:53

Willows of the Night Health UpdateEverything is continuing to track well on the health front. I haven’t had any major GVHD flare-ups in a long time now and we are continuing on our weekly taper. This Friday I reached the 50mg milestone

Shooting From the Hip - Lessons from a Gunsligner

Published on 2011-04-21 06:34:01

“Are you talking to me punk?” If there is any quote that brings a quicker mental image to your mind I would love to hear about it. This quote instantly transports me into the good ol’ country western days. Standing on a dusty wind

The Bad Stuff Sticks?

Published on 2011-04-20 08:55:39

Today is a very special day for me. I am honoured to have a blogger that I have followed and looked up to for sometime now honour with writing a post for me. Today Corinne Rodrigues from Everyday Gyaan has agreed to write a post for my bl

Why Leukemia Was the Best Thing To Happen To Me

Published on 2011-04-19 05:59:01

Have you ever heard the cliché, “Cancer was the best thing to happen to me”? If you have been following my blog for a bit, you will have heard some variation of this over the past year. You must think the person is crazy to be utteri

A Greyish Morning - Self Evaluation

Published on 2011-04-18 09:55:26

Today was originally going to be the beginning of my series titled "A Black and White Affair" in which I would share my favorite black and white shots. The reason for the title difference is I have included two images which aren't quite black a

A Swan's Special Gift (A Photo Story)

Published on 2011-04-15 05:59:00

I originally planned to do a different post for today but while I was out on my walk yesterday I was treated to a special gift that I wanted to share with each of you. Yesterday was "chore day" for me where I try to cram as much of chores into

Adding A Little Colour To Your Day

Published on 2011-04-14 05:59:01

I thought I would share my favorite colour photos from the past week. This is a tough time of year to get good colour photos because most days are overcast with really bad light. Thankfully there were a couple days this week where the clo

The Core of Our Happiness

Published on 2011-04-13 05:59:00

This past weekend I had a one on one photography lesson and the “inevitable” question came that most people dread, “What type of photography interests you?” I drew a blank, then uttered a coupled different things. This question ha

Navigating Life's Storms - The fourth and final P

Published on 2011-04-12 15:41:24

Our world is one scary and overwhelming place. All the outside negative influences can easily push us into situations that can make even the strongest amongst us want to curl up in the fetal position. So how do we get through these diffic

Summing Up my Life in 700 Words or Less (Projects and Updates)

Published on 2011-04-11 06:40:01

A lot has happened in the past week so I thought I would start this week off with an update. Commenting at Aaron Outward I just wanted each of you to know that I love and cherish each and every one of your comments. I think they add so much t

Photos of the Week

Published on 2011-04-08 13:48:02

Untitled - I need a name for this photo. I would love to hear your suggestions Stairs Remembering Days of Past Break A Helping Hand These were my favorite four photos that I shot over the past week.&nbs

Our Relationship With Technology

Published on 2011-04-07 05:59:00

Today’s post is a bit of a treat, it doesn’t come from me J. Today’s post comes from another blogger that I have recently connected with, JP Brandano Photography. This blog has quickly become one of my favourites to read as it not y

Our Preconceived Expectations

Published on 2011-04-06 08:22:23

I was practicing eliminating unwanted things from my frame. So I was using the vines to get rid of an ugly building from the frame It is one of the most natural human obsessions; before we go into any situation we have always analyzed it to d

All Stories Teach

Published on 2011-04-05 05:59:00

I had a story to tell, I was living an ordinary life by all standards and then one fateful day I was thrust into a big new scary world. It was a world where you didn’t know if you would survive to see another year let alone the “golden year

Challenges and Updates

Published on 2011-04-04 09:38:54

HEALTH UPDATE As time is progressing providing updates on my progress has become a little more challenging. I haven’t really wanted to put the same post up on a weekly basis that basically says the same thing; my GVHD is tracking well, no noticeabl

Favorite Nature Pictures

Published on 2011-04-03 07:17:06

Here is a collection of my favorite wildlife shots from the past week. Hope you enjoy, and remember I love hearing which ones are your favorite and why? If you do leave a comment check back because I often reply with questions :) Right

My New Monotone World

Published on 2011-04-01 05:59:00

You might be wondering why the first thing you see in a post about My New Monotone world is a colour image. As many of you know I have been experimenting with my photography over the past week by delving into the world of monotone images.

Winter's Final Grip On Spring

Published on 2011-03-31 21:32:41

Have you ever noticed that the weather can affect our mood and energy levels? Overcast days just seem to make us feel more tired than usual. Why do you think that is? It is that time of year again. The final remants of winter are s

Positivity Always Needs Some Passion

Published on 2011-03-30 05:59:01

Over the past couple weeks I have been discussing how to maintain a positive outlook while overcoming smaller difficulties in our lives with the help of my handy 4 P’s (Peace, Perspective, Passion, Purpose). Up until this point I have discuss

Why Hope?

Published on 2011-03-29 12:28:02

According to Wikipedia hope is defined as “the belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life”. For me hope can be defined as…… For today’s post I am actually going to be sending you all to a different

Motivation for Your Monday

Published on 2011-03-28 05:59:01

I came across this cartoon last week and I just had to share it with everyone. I wanted to start using Monday's posts to provoke some thought and discussion. I find this cartoon particularly interesting because it doesn't just focus on

Holding up after The Intense Treatments

Published on 2011-03-24 11:23:38

Today I thought I would make today’s post a dual purpose post. First, I will give a quick update on my health. The second half of the post I am going to address a question from yesterday’s post on how I am holding up after the treatme

We really are put on our deathbeds in treatment

Published on 2011-03-22 05:59:00

In a couple of my posts I have referred to me being close to my deathbed last year. To many people reading I am sure they look at this is a hyperbole used to emphasize my chemotherapy treatments. After all, we have all known people going

A Walk to the Pier

Published on 2011-03-18 10:13:17

I first wanted to start today's post with some pretty exciting news. My story has been published on the Canadian Cancer Society's Webpage. Check it out http://convio.cancer.ca/site/News2?news_iv_ctrl=-1&id=23135 Last year before I we

A Call For Help To My Wonderful Readers!

Published on 2011-03-17 06:01:00

The foundation for the strength behind any person lies in their support system they have built around them. For me I was a wonderfully supportive foundation in all of you, my readers, that has enabled me to be so successful in my recovery. Tod

Perspective - the 2nd Key To Positivity

Published on 2011-03-17 05:59:01

My Morning Breakfast I started a series last week discussing how to remain positive during the smaller difficulties we face in life. A few weeks ago I shared my steps on remaining positive when we are faced with life altering challenges in our

My Weekly Update

Published on 2011-03-16 05:59:01

Health UpdateYesterday I had my check-up with my doctor. Everything has been coming along nicely with regards to my health over the past few weeks and it continued this past week. My GVHD continued to stay under control despite the taper

Overcoming Our Problems with the Help of some P's

Published on 2011-03-11 06:46:14

As many of you have noticed I haven’t written on the blog in a couple days. To be frank, the reason for this is I haven’t had anything to write about. You see the weather creates this little mini isolation “prison” for me in my apartment. How

From Bad to Amazing News - A Weekly Update

Published on 2011-03-09 05:59:00

It has been a little while since my last update so I thought today would be as good as any for another update.GVHD UpdateMy GVHD has been well controlled over the past couple weeks. Last Tuesday we tapered my prednisone down to 125mg from 150mg

Shedding Some Light into Life with Acute Leukemia

Published on 2011-03-08 05:59:00

There is a little secret they don’t tell you about Acute Leukemia, it is unlike all other forms of Cancer. I would never downplay or wish to have any other form of Cancer, but Acute Leukemia can be one nasty partner. This post is not in

A Little Wisdom to Start Your Week

Published on 2011-03-07 05:59:01

Although this comes from a children's book the message is so powerful that I just had to share it with everyone. Did you enjoy my post today? Save yourself time and get the posts delivered directly to your email. Click Here to get the latest posts

Creativity Is Always Better in Multiples

Published on 2011-03-04 05:59:00

In last week’s post, The Two Biggest Myths of Creativity I tried to dispel the major myths that I believe are used as “crutches” and stop many people from even attempting creative endeavours. We learnt that creativity is not solely for artists

Two Mantras for Improving our Creativity

Published on 2011-03-02 05:59:00

So What Feeds Our Creativity?

Published on 2011-03-01 05:59:01

And The Bloscar for Most Helpful Blog Goes Too......

Published on 2011-02-27 23:01:06

First I want to send a huge thank you to Sunny author of Idyll Toast and Sunny Sings the Blues for nominating me for this award. It was both a surprise and extremely humbling to be nominated for something like this. I wanted to say

My Bloscar Nomination Interview

Published on 2011-02-26 06:43:03

Hey Everyone, I know I said I would be taking the weekend off but I couldn't resist taking the time to get on the blog and catch up on some commenting :) I wanted to include a link if any of you were interested. It is the interview

Reducing My Visits from 2 to 3 - Week in Review

Published on 2011-02-25 05:59:01

Time to Grow Contest UpdateThe race for first place opened up a little this past week. We had someone take a big jump into the lead with 18 referrals. Second place is a much tighter race with one person at 6 referrals and another at 5 ref

The Two Biggest Myths of Creative Thinking

Published on 2011-02-24 05:59:00

The key question isn’t “What fosters creativity?” But it is why in God’s name isn’t everyone creative? Where was the human potential lost? How was it crippled? I think therefore a good question might be not why do people create? But

BLOSCARS - Your Votes are Needed!!

Published on 2011-02-23 10:08:44

I have been nominated for a BLOSCAR in the category of Most Helpful Blog by the Sunny and her blog Sunny Sings the Blues. I feel so honoured and humbled to be recognized by my fellow bloggers and nominated in this category, I actually feel speechless

It Can't Be a Leukemia Blog Without A Leukemia Diagnosis Story

Published on 2011-02-23 06:34:25

Although this blog does not completely focus on just Acute Leukemia anymore, it was the catalyst that caused the creation and inspiration of this blog. I have tried over the past year to touch on issues related to chemotherapy, treatment,

What Do You Do When Everything Is Going Wrong?

Published on 2011-02-22 05:59:00

Have you ever had those days that no matter how hard you try to focus on completing something you can’t? Instead of being able to accomplish what you set out to, you end up sitting in frustration watching the seconds turn to minutes, and god

What Cancer Cannot Do....Let's Discuss

Published on 2011-02-19 07:47:38

Even with our mouth sores, Cancer cannot stop Tony and I from celebrating his birthday with Eggs, bacon and sausage breakfast "Cancer is so limited, It cannot cripple love, It cannot shatter hope, It cannot corrode faith, It can

My Jealous Housemate (Friday Photos)

Published on 2011-02-18 05:55:00

Dora hasn't been happy with me this past week, she feels I have spent too much time writing for the blog and not enough time with her. For those that don't know her, she likes to have all my attention directed towards her:) So I t

Mathematics Magic - Withstanding Life's Toughest Storms

Published on 2011-02-17 06:24:54

Not my sharpest image, but it was cold. I wanted to use this illustrate the interconnectedness of our world. Although the steroids I am on don't let me sleep much, I get to see these beautiful sunrsies each morning. With each bad is good

Why Are We Given Challenges...To Make Life Wonderful

Published on 2011-02-16 05:59:00

The Sunday discussion on The Importance of Struggles in Our Lives has had me reflecting this past week. The main consensus was we need challenges in our lives because the process of conquering them makes us stronger. Now although I&n

The Story of My Acute Leukemia Diagnosis - A Third and Final Day of Infamy

Published on 2011-02-15 11:46:10

Have you ever wondered what goes through the head of someone when they are diagnosed with Cancer, or more specifically Acute Leukemia? Today I will finish the story telling it as candidly and honestly as I can. If you haven't read th

Why We Really Should Celebrate Valentine's Day

Published on 2011-02-14 08:35:58

Today marks the most hotly debated holiday of the year, Valentine’s Day. To some it is a celebration of love and others it is consumerism at its best; a "Hallmark" holiday designed to spend money. But on a day dedicated to loving anothe

You are a Giant...You Will Change The World

Published on 2011-02-13 07:30:01

"You are amazing. You are unique. There has never been and never will be another you. Never before, in the history of time have all the circumstances necessary for your arrival come together in the exact right way. You are your own mysterious... [[T

Implementing the Z List

Published on 2011-02-12 12:17:09

I was cruising the blogs and thought I would try this out and see what happens. To anyone who has come here through backlinks please check out my homepage Aaron Outward I got this information from: Ogbonge Blog Secret Tech Infos Make Money.

My Blood is over 50 Days Old - A Weekly Update

Published on 2011-02-12 09:44:23

GENERAL UPDATES It has been 2 weeks since my last update so I thought today would be a good day for a "Week in Review". WELCOME AND HELLO! First off we have had a number of new readers and subscribers that joined us this week. I... [

+30 days Post Transplant Check - My Week in Review

Published on 2011-02-12 09:43:53

Up and Down Energy - For the most part my energy levels are pretty good. I haven't had to have a nap during the day in the past week but it is hard to know whether that is the steroids or me getting stronger (I will go with the getting... [[Th

Attitude for achieving Greatness (Sunday Dialogue)

Published on 2011-02-12 09:43:24

This week I reflected a lot of the beginnings of my journey. I came across this quote awhile ago and thought it was so powerful. "No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway.

Where Is Your Personal Sanctuary?

Published on 2011-02-11 05:55:00

"Sanctuary, on a personal level, is where we perform the job of taking care of our soul." - Christopher Forrest McDowell I am writing today sitting in the same early morning darkness that enveloped the beginning of my last post, An Insane to.

An Insane to Insanely Beautiful Morning

Published on 2011-02-10 06:02:45

For today's post I am trying something new. I hope you like it and would love to hear your thoughts and comments! An Insane to Insanely Beautiful Morning As you roll over to stop the alarm, the blackness of the previous night still fills.

Overcoming Life's Greatest Struggles: Lessons from History's Greatest Survivors

Published on 2011-02-08 05:30:00

Theme so far this week has been focused on the importance of struggles in our lives. If you were to discuss overcoming struggles and its benefits with most people, the common answer would be... [[This is a content summary only. Visit my websi

Just When The Caterpillar Thought The World Was Over...

Published on 2011-02-07 06:06:30

"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly" - Proverb When a personal tragedy first strikes, our "bubbles" often burst and we feel completely overwhelmed. In this state we often feel like our world is com

The Importance Of Struggles in Our Lives

Published on 2011-02-06 04:30:00

Acute Leukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Bone marrow transplant, Self improvement, Personal Growth, Daily Inspiration, ph all, philadelphia chromosome,Acute Leukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Bone marrow transplant, Self improvement, Person

A Second Day of Infamy - The Story of My Acute Leukemia Diagnosis Part 2

Published on 2011-02-05 10:05:22

Acute Leukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Bone marrow transplant, Self improvement, Personal Growth, Daily Inspiration Have you ever wondered what goes through the head of someone when they are diagnosed with Cancer, or more specifically Acu

A Day that Will Live in Infamy - The Story of My Diagnosis Part 1

Published on 2011-02-03 23:42:23

One year ago today, February 4, 2010 - "a date which will live in infamy" I "was suddenly and deliberately attacked by" acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells and my life would change forever. Today marks the one year anniversary of the be

The Good Side of Disapointments

Published on 2011-02-02 23:47:35

If there is one thing I can assure you of, your life will be filled with disappointments. Don't let this dishearten you but excite you. Disappointments are often the best things that can happen to us. We just need to know how t

Rebalancing Life's Pie

Published on 2011-02-02 15:43:21

With the beginning of a New Year, come New Year resolutions for many people Unfortunately, now that is is a couple of days into the New Year most people have already failed at keeping some of their resolutions. -Why are resolutions s

The True Definition of Personal Freedom

Published on 2011-02-02 00:19:57

I'm Free!! Personal freedom is something I think we are all seeking in some form or another. Unfortunately the term freedom brings up a grandiose image in most of our minds that is often so large that it is unachievable. What is the fir

Time to Grow (new contest details)

Published on 2011-01-31 23:12:36

If you only have time to read one post this week make sure this is the one you read.....:) Lately I have done lots of reflections on the previous year, must be the nostalgia of the big upcoming day ;) One of the main themes I have focused on

You Pay Love Forward - The Blood Challenge Results

Published on 2011-01-30 23:01:04

"You don't pay love back, you pay it forward" - Lily Hardy Hammond Getting a blood transfusion During my first time around in the hospital I had to receive a fair bit of blood products in order to be kept alive.

Optimism...a Nice Thought but Can we Actually Achieve it? (Sun Dial)

Published on 2011-01-30 07:13:53

Last week we ended up having a very interesting discussion around optimism and pessism centered around a Hellen Keller quote ,"No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human

Week In Review - Day +38

Published on 2011-01-28 23:01:02

Site Changes - I have been working on the design of my blog the past few days. You will notice that I have changed the design of it slightly. In addition, I have added two pages to my blog in the past few days. First I have add

The Truth and Facts about GVHD

Published on 2011-01-27 23:01:02

I have decided to start a new page and post topics. I have come the realization that I take can take for granted the amount of educating I have done on my disease and may brush over things that can sound very scary or worry many of you who don'

You Are Never Given More Than You Can Handle

Published on 2011-01-26 23:01:00

Many people when they are given the devastating news that they have Cancer are obviously devastated (I was no different :) ) but afterwards are left with a bout self pity constantly asking the question why me. I did not go through thi

Positivity is Spelt with 4 P's

Published on 2011-01-25 23:01:00

Today marks a very special occasion. It marks my 100th post! When I started this blog I never imagined I would make it to the century mark. I thought today I would talk about something that I have been asked a number of times over the pas

Taking Steps to True Happiness

Published on 2011-01-25 08:16:49

I wrote last week how when I first got out of the hospital and was recovering I had a really difficult time getting used to the slowed down lifestyle. One of the main reasons for this frustration was my illness forced me to stop doing most of t

Finding Purpose For My Life

Published on 2011-01-24 23:01:01

Just having the belief that your life has purpose is such a powerful thing. It builds an inner fighting spirit that can defeat anything. This I believe is the true meaning behind the Nietzsche quote, "He who has a why to live can bear alm

Don't Forget to Update your Blood Donations

Published on 2011-01-24 07:23:33

Hey Everyone, A year ago I created my blood donation challenge as a way to give back. During my induction hospital stay I realized just how important blood is. Many times leukemia patients require blood products everyday while their coun

Day +26 - Update Time

Published on 2011-01-24 07:22:58

Good Morning, I didn't give an a final update at the end of last week so I thought I would use this time to do so. Everything went well at my Doctor's appointment on Friday. All my blood counts were good and my body seems to absor

Don't Worry it is Okay to be Petrified

Published on 2011-01-24 07:22:27

You just found out you have cancer, don't worry you are allowed to be petrified. It is not often you hear the news that you have an illness that you may not survive. Although this is such a scary time, the lesson I learnt is you have to s

Everyone Needs Inspiration in their Darkest Hours

Published on 2011-01-24 07:22:07

Yesterday I wrote about how important it is to embrace your fear when you find out about cancer enable to move past the fear and bring out your inner fighting spirit. But I think what really brings out our fighting spirit is being inspired by o

Cancer's Positive Side Effect

Published on 2011-01-24 07:21:49

Why on earth would someone say getting cancer is the best thing that ever happened to them. You all have heard it said before, heck I have even said it. But from your vantage point I could imagine what you are thinking, "Are they f'ing cr

My Leukemia's Poetic Justice

Published on 2011-01-24 07:21:26

When I think back over the past year the hardest thing for me to learn to accept and embrace was that my life was to move at a much slower pace than before. Before I got sick I was the type of person who when I put my mind to something I wanted

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