Comments on: SUNDAYS AT THE PARK http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/ Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:30:02 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The realities of the Downtown East Side « Random Thoughts of a Student of the Environment http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/comment-page-1/#comment-2315 The realities of the Downtown East Side « Random Thoughts of a Student of the Environment Mon, 24 Mar 2008 06:56:50 +0000 http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/#comment-2315 [...] ADDENDUM - And if you want to hear another story about this troubled area, you can mosey over to Keira’s post. Her account of her experiences while walking her dogs around Crab Park is quite touching. [...] [...] ADDENDUM – And if you want to hear another story about this troubled area, you can mosey over to Keira’s post. Her account of her experiences while walking her dogs around Crab Park is quite touching. [...]

]]> By: Nick http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/comment-page-1/#comment-2220 Nick Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:26:42 +0000 http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/#comment-2220 um, do we use food stamps in Canada? um, do we use food stamps in Canada?

]]> By: Tawcan http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/comment-page-1/#comment-2219 Tawcan Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:06:44 +0000 http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/#comment-2219 Great post. People that live in Downtown East side are people too, they all have their stories for ending up in the neighbourhood. Perhaps one day the government will finally have affordable housing for these poor souls. Great post. People that live in Downtown East side are people too, they all have their stories for ending up in the neighbourhood. Perhaps one day the government will finally have affordable housing for these poor souls.

]]> By: Dan http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/comment-page-1/#comment-2218 Dan Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:34:20 +0000 http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/#comment-2218 Excellent post. You have a superb writing style. I've only just discovered your blog but I feel I'll become a regular reader. Stories like this never fail to make me smile. Dan Excellent post. You have a superb writing style.

I’ve only just discovered your blog but I feel I’ll become a regular reader. Stories like this never fail to make me smile.

Dan

]]> By: Amanda Kyffin http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/comment-page-1/#comment-2217 Amanda Kyffin Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:53:42 +0000 http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/#comment-2217 "This is a city in which there is no love - no real love. So many people are only out for themselves, in competition with everyone including their own selves. It’s harder still for those that do nothing but give, only to have more taken." Keira I think that you'll find this is the case in most places on this planet. The pressure to "succeed" in life takes everyone away from actually living. Everyone is merely a slave in the system... taught to be self absorbed in order to serve this system. Taught to ignore the things which really matter in life. Pressured to give themselves a good image (or something to envy) in the eyes of the other competitors to raise the level of competition. To be the best seems to be the destination for most, but this goal is all consuming of life itself... when it's all over what will you have to show expect for hard hands and a cold heart? When I walk down the street I make an effort to look into each and every persons eyes and smile... I just wish I received the same sincerity back. I wish people weren't so detached... I wish we put the same amount of effort into giving as we currently put into taking. Great post by the way Keira! I'm glad you actually take the time to talk to people and sincerely listen to them, as you've noticed you can learn a lot from someone. And knowing that someone actually gave a darn about his story probably meant the world to him :-) “This is a city in which there is no love – no real love. So many people are only out for themselves, in competition with everyone including their own selves. It’s harder still for those that do nothing but give, only to have more taken.”

Keira I think that you’ll find this is the case in most places on this planet. The pressure to “succeed” in life takes everyone away from actually living. Everyone is merely a slave in the system… taught to be self absorbed in order to serve this system. Taught to ignore the things which really matter in life. Pressured to give themselves a good image (or something to envy) in the eyes of the other competitors to raise the level of competition. To be the best seems to be the destination for most, but this goal is all consuming of life itself… when it’s all over what will you have to show expect for hard hands and a cold heart?

When I walk down the street I make an effort to look into each and every persons eyes and smile… I just wish I received the same sincerity back. I wish people weren’t so detached… I wish we put the same amount of effort into giving as we currently put into taking.

Great post by the way Keira!
I’m glad you actually take the time to talk to people and sincerely listen to them, as you’ve noticed you can learn a lot from someone. And knowing that someone actually gave a darn about his story probably meant the world to him :-)

]]> By: Eduardo http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/comment-page-1/#comment-2216 Eduardo Tue, 11 Mar 2008 05:11:28 +0000 http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/#comment-2216 Great story, i never thought I'd be reading about my people and my country in your website its such amazing... Miguel is one of the many Salvadorians who left this country trying to find a better life, following a dream that for some might come true but unfortunately for many others this dream never come. Personally i really admire these people for their courage and the love for others, the latter is the biggest reason for them to leave to whats unknown. Living in a big city (specially one you don't know) is hard, you desensitize yourself, time normally flies, and suddenly you are living under a robotic routine. Taking care of others, sharing with real friends, spending a few minutes during the night looking at the sky, traveling to those areas where you know everything is more real, and of course, spending time with your family, are actions that really fulfill life; in other words SIMPLICITY. Thanks so much for sharing stories like Miguel's, and thanks for Miguel and many others who bring us back to reality. Great story, i never thought I’d be reading about my people and my country in your website its such amazing… Miguel is one of the many Salvadorians who left this country trying to find a better life, following a dream that for some might come true but unfortunately for many others this dream never come. Personally i really admire these people for their courage and the love for others, the latter is the biggest reason for them to leave to whats unknown.

Living in a big city (specially one you don’t know) is hard, you desensitize yourself, time normally flies, and suddenly you are living under a robotic routine.

Taking care of others, sharing with real friends, spending a few minutes during the night looking at the sky, traveling to those areas where you know everything is more real, and of course, spending time with your family, are actions that really fulfill life; in other words SIMPLICITY.

Thanks so much for sharing stories like Miguel’s, and thanks for Miguel and many others who bring us back to reality.

]]> By: Tanya http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/comment-page-1/#comment-2213 Tanya Tue, 11 Mar 2008 03:29:36 +0000 http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/#comment-2213 That was beautifully written Keira. I loved reading it. That was beautifully written Keira. I loved reading it.

]]> By: Raul http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/comment-page-1/#comment-2210 Raul Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:51:30 +0000 http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/#comment-2210 I loved your post, and I agree - Vancouver is a city where love seems to be particularly absent, despite the fact that just about everyone says how much they 'love this city'. But really, do they give their love freely just as you did with Miguel? Do they really think about ways to improve people's lives? I think often they don't. I dug up an old post that I wrote about Vancouver being a toxic city. I think it is, I really do. Not to me, because I got a great group of friends, but to other people, it really does kill their soul. I am, however, very glad to see that it has done nothing to your soul, and that you have such positive energy! Here's the essay: http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/2007/08/08/is-vancouver-a-toxic-city/ I loved your post, and I agree – Vancouver is a city where love seems to be particularly absent, despite the fact that just about everyone says how much they ‘love this city’. But really, do they give their love freely just as you did with Miguel? Do they really think about ways to improve people’s lives? I think often they don’t.

I dug up an old post that I wrote about Vancouver being a toxic city. I think it is, I really do. Not to me, because I got a great group of friends, but to other people, it really does kill their soul. I am, however, very glad to see that it has done nothing to your soul, and that you have such positive energy!

Here’s the essay:
http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/2007/08/08/is-vancouver-a-toxic-city/

]]> By: Phaedra http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/comment-page-1/#comment-2208 Phaedra Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:16:02 +0000 http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/#comment-2208 this story brought a tear to my eye, especially since I've been a little caught up in my own 'problems'. I have a feeling that Miguel is thankful for people like you - one of those rare individuals who take the time to listen, without judgement. I'm sure he appreciated the smile and conversation that had unfolded as much as you did. this story brought a tear to my eye, especially since I’ve been a little caught up in my own ‘problems’. I have a feeling that Miguel is thankful for people like you – one of those rare individuals who take the time to listen, without judgement. I’m sure he appreciated the smile and conversation that had unfolded as much as you did.

]]> By: bicyclemark http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/comment-page-1/#comment-2207 bicyclemark Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:37:50 +0000 http://www.keira-anne.com/2008/03/10/sundays-at-the-park/#comment-2207 Very nice.. I mean.. the writing.. the post.. obviously his story should not be given the term nice... its.. important and well.. real. I wouldnt call into question how tough his life has been and how cruel city life can be, especially when you got nothing going for you... but compared with some cities in places like.. El Salvador.. down in Brazil... or even Detroit or Baltimore... Miguel is much better off... but ahh.. i guess its all relative. Ill revert to my first statement. Very nice.. I mean.. the writing.. the post.. obviously his story should not be given the term nice… its.. important and well.. real.

I wouldnt call into question how tough his life has been and how cruel city life can be, especially when you got nothing going for you… but compared with some cities in places like.. El Salvador.. down in Brazil… or even Detroit or Baltimore… Miguel is much better off… but ahh.. i guess its all relative. Ill revert to my first statement.

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