While it costs quite a large dollar to go to a Ted conference, you can see them on the internet for free.  Or, if like me, you want to be in a room surrounded by hundreds of other people getting fired up and inspired by their fellow human beings, then you could head out to Pecha Kucha for only $15.

Similar to Ted Talks, there are a variety of speakers speaking on any number of topics.  The difference is, each speaker only gets 6 minutes and 20 slides each lasting roughly 20 seconds.

I attended the Vancouver chapter of Pechu Kucha with a few friends on June 13th for the first time.  The main theme was “Around The World” and featured native Vancouverites sharing the work they are doing around the world.  One guy was developing a water filter to give to families in developing nations, another volunteered at an elephant sanctuary, another was founding girls soccer clubs around the world and the list goes on.  The innovation, hard work, and what seemed to be random happenstance, came together to create something beautiful and inspirational.  These people’s small hopes to change one person's life, teach soccer, or take photos, lead to the changing of communities, countries and entire lifestyles.

Pechu Kucha has put a fire in my belly to live beyond myself, keep dreaming, and get connected to the silent voices in my heart that are leading me towards whatever it is that I will do to help better the world around me.

This all leads back to the wonderful accomplishments of people immediately in my world, like the Fashion For Freedom fundraiser that my fellow Poiema Gals pulled off with major success.  Who knows, maybe us Poiema Gals will be up on a stage at Pecha Kucha in Edmonton or Vancouver one day to talk about the things that we have been doing, and hopefully all the lives we are positively affecting.  I’m so proud of my fellow Poiemians and privileged to count myself among them.  Can’t wait to see what great things come out of your lives, ladies.  I love you so much.

Find a Pecha Kucha event near you, and be inspired. 

-S

Good day!  I have returned home from my extended and wonderful trip to Australia and Hong Kong.  Ah, the perks of having family all over the world.  Traveling has become an accidental hobby of mine, a passion I happened to fall into.  From year long backpacking trips with friends, to family visits 26 hours away, I've got to experience many different parts of the world. 

When I travel somewhere new, I try to live life like the locals: taking off my tourist shoes and discovering a local bar, a secret waterfall, or getting short-term jobs that most visitors don't get to experience.  I think the desire to find these things stems from our innate passion to fit in, to belong and feel like we're part of something.  I was talking to my sister about the importance of traveling and she stressed the fact that so many people don't do it.  Yes, many don't have family they can visit in exotic places, but some just don't want to either.  I hope that everyone has a time in their life when their curiosity brings them to a new place, out of their comfort zone, across the language barrier, and to a place overflowing with a new culture.  It teaches you humility, modesty, and respect.  Most of all, the experiences stay with you and become a part of who you are.  

Happy traveling!

-B

It's Easter time, and I have just finished a thirty day yoga challenge!  My first one ever and, to be honest, I never thought it would be possible. But, here I am 30 days later and I am so much stronger physically, mentally, and emotionally.  The ambition boost you get when you accomplish something you committed to is invaluable.  With this item crossed off my bucket list, I also got to shed a limiting thought: 'I won’t be able to be very physically active due to my flat feet.' A though I have been holding on to since high school. But yoga is slowly helping to change my posture and strengthen the arches in my feet. I have also challenged the idea that good physical activity should be a struggle.  Yoga encourages you to relax in order to become stronger, and to release in order to go deeper. 

I wonder what Easter means to you?  Does it remind you of the Energizer bunny commercials?  For me, it is the time of year where I pause to think about the burdens I am carrying that have long since passed their best before date. As I mentioned, yoga helped me to confront a few ‘that’s impossible’ thoughts and ‘i can’t do that’ comments.  Those comments serve, on one level, to keep me safe from failure.  If I never try, then I’ll never fail.  Problem solved!  But, being intimidated by the unknown, and deciding I could never produce an album, for example, because ‘I’m not talented enough’, ‘I don’t know enough’, or ‘I don’t have enough money’ are all fear-based thought patterns that stop me from realizing the fullest expression of who I am.  When I believe that ‘I don’t know enough’, I make an assumption that others know more than me.  But the truth, I often discover, isn’t that others know more to begin with, they are just brave enough to take a risk and make mistakes until they figure it out. 

Easter reminds me to examine the limiting beliefs I have, nail them to the cross, and move forward a new person. 

What junk are you carrying around? 

-S

A few months ago, a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to be a part of a new improvised musical workshop. I was honored and terrified. As usual, my instinct was to say no, but, against my natural reflex, I said yes. In some unspoken way, I made a choice for myself a few years ago that I would always say yes to a good opportunity, especially the scary ones. Since that choice, I have skydived Fox Glacier, scuba dived the Great Barrier Reef, jumped from worn ropes into unknown murky waters in Laos, walked through the haunted house at Universal Studios (I regret that one), stage managed shows with no experience, and treaded ice cold water in the Rocky Mountains… nude.

Improvisation may not seem as scary as these things, but my mind was filled with doubts and the heightened expectations I’d be under. I pictured an audience of people, watching me as they waited for a full solo number that was funny and impressive. But I said yes already. I had to go. 

My assumptions couldn’t have been more wrong. I showed up to the Varscona Theatre and was met by my friends and peers, all with the same excitement and slight fear in their eyes. My friend, Byron Martin, who put it all together calmed our worries right away. No expectations. No judgments. Improv shouldn’t be scary and he was right. We just began to play, something I haven’t done in a very long time. We played games, laughed A LOT, and even tried singing some songs accompanied by the extremely talented Erik Mortimer on the keys. And that is what we’ve been doing every week for the past few months. I’ve met amazing new people, surprised myself with what lyrics come out of my mouth when my brain has no time to prepare, but most of all I’ve had fun. I always leave with a smile on my face that has been stuck there for the past 2 hours of rehearsal. I am in awe of the local artists that come to rehearsal and blow me away with their talent and quick wit. I am proud to be on stage with these people. And as far as the ‘rules’ of improv go, my practice of always saying yes has come to good use. 

So come and see the “11 O'Clock Number” at the Varscona Theatre. Our first show is this Friday, January 11th at 11pm. We will perform a fully improvised, two-act musical on the spot based on suggestions from the audience. Produced by Grindstone Theatre, directed by Byron Martin, with pianist Erik Mortimer, and starring tons of local Edmonton artists. The show gives you a chance to get out on a Friday night and laugh, or cry, or be angry… because who knows what show we’ll come up with. 

-B

Find the event on Facebook here.
Buy tickets now here!

"The 11 O'Clock Number" plays every second Friday evening at 11pm at the Varscona Theatre starting January 11th until April 20th.

Block 1912, a cafe full of like-minded people, an aroma of chai lattes and steeping teas, and couches who’s overuse and gratitude engulfed their guests. We sat. Four girls ripe out of college with dreams and goals and no doubts or fears, not yet tainted by the failures and lessons life kindly hands over when you go for something big. 

We needed a name. As so many theatre companies that have come before us and the endless amount that will be born after. We started with a need, a great desire to create but most of all, create together. It isn’t everyday you find a group of people with the same amount of passion for a singular thing, each bringing their own special gifts. We shared a need to work in theatre, and if the roles we were itching to play didn’t exist, we’d create them ourselves. How hard could writing a show be?

But we still needed a name. As we sat in the cafe, we discussed every possible company name that came to mind. Inside jokes, popular titles, funny words, sappy and heartfelt labels. What would describe who we are and still be pleasant to a stranger’s ear? Melissa sat in her large, tufted chair as we debated, looking through a book she happened to have with her at the time. And she found it. Poiema. Google came in handy as we searched it’s exact meaning and context. 

Poiema (noun) po-ay-mah. A hebrew word meaning masterpiece and workmanship. The words were epic, meaningful… and a bit dramatic for our small theatre company. But we knew we were beginning something great and lasting, and having a powerful name to live up to was the perfect way to set our goals high and have a constant reminder of where we started and the passion that brought us together. 

It hasn’t been easy. We have failed, succeeded, fought, cried, laughed, argued and lost sight of goals. But, as Sara so importantly wrote in our blog two weeks ago, we’ve always tried to enjoy the process. The workmanship. What is the point of having a great show if you hated the year leading up to it? If you lost friends in the process? If you became unhealthy due to stress? To us, there is nothing more important than spending time together creating in a positive and healthy way and learning as much as we can in the process. 

As an avid 'diy'-er (of clothing), I found a great craft of writing on fabric with bleach to create a design. As all the Poiema Gals (except for me) have birthdays in October and November, I thought it would be a great present. I made us all “I am Poiema” shirts and it occurred to me what that means. I am hardworking, I am a masterpiece, I have big dreams, and I do my best to enjoy life as it comes without constantly pushing myself for a final result. It makes me wonder: Are you Poiema?

-B