Janice Valdez

Welcome!  I have been off my blog since last August and I am really happy to be back.  What have I been up to?  I took a time-out from needing to be “up to something”.  I spent the fall and winter getting in touch with my personal truths and re-evaluating my life choices.  I took the time to be with myself for the sake of being; releasing the self-imposed and external expectations and obligations.  I slowed down to a halt, abruptly and unexpectedly, and found reserves of patience, strength, and resilience that I didn’t know I had.  I connected spiritually, physically and mentally to my creativity and at the turn of 2009, I began the process of applying it.

Some new skills I have begun developing are: hand-building and throwing clay, fashion design, and jazz dance.  Having moved to a new house in September that has a fantastic roomy kitchen for baking, I baked at least once a week for a month or more.  Cookies mostly, sometimes cakes and I’m getting into pies now, but not nearly as frequently as once a week.  I am writing much more now too, with joy and acceptance.

In February, as part of my work to uncover more of my hidden self, participated in the Transitions Career Exploration program.  It was a great experience in which I was reminded and affirmed of my purpose and life values.  I met some wonderful people, with whom I hope to stay in touch and develop friendships.

March has been about sowing the seeds and gratefully, one lovely sprout popped up this past Sunday.  At the request of International Service Learning Advisors, I created a forum theatre presentation for UBC’s Go Global Volunteers as part of their pre-departure series.   It was a pinch of time to prepare the scripts and cast the roles, but it all worked out and I look forward to future possibilities to work with Tamara, Zahida, and Kristin.

I look forward to April’s possibilities.

Jea Uncategorized

I have a great appreciation for systems and options that can save time. I value efficiency. When given a choice between a route that will take 5 minutes and a route that will take 15 minutes, I’ll take the five minute route. If I can do yoga in an hour versus an hour and a half, my initial preference is the one hour class. However, does fast necessarily equal efficient? I sometimes overlook the value of things that take more time. As a result, I miss opportunities for growth and learning.

This morning, I took my time getting out of bed, and I took the time to make french toast rather than regular toast. Rather than create my list of “to-do’s” straight away, I took some time to watch a few TED talks. And the talk by Carl Honore on the benefits of slowing down inspired me to write this article to reflect on my concept of efficiency and how it relates to the use of time and the pace at which I move and act.

Have you ever done something very quickly but it turned out not to be so efficient? Efficiency, the way I see it, is when the ratio of value adding effects exceeds the investment or output of resource to create them. For instance, let’s say I am in a rush to bake a cake for a potluck. In my hurry to get ready, I start multi-tasking and I get distracted and lose focus and I forget to include one of the necessary ingredients that helps the cake rise well.  In effect, I end up using twice the amount of resources (ingredients, time and energy) to create the cake and I fail to prepare for the party in an efficient manner.

What are we omitting from our experience in this age of high-speed technology? While our focus is on getting somewhere more quickly and acquiring more quickly, what are we doing for our human consciousness to keep up with the astonishingly powerful technological creations? Are we evolving our behaviours to be wise, mindful and consciously connected?

Another way to look at the fast vs. slow question is to consider a human and how we develop movement. A baby who crawls typically moves more slowly across a floor than a toddler who walks.  They get to their destinations differently and develop the skills they need along their way, just by honouring their own pace.  I’ve actually heard it taught in a yoga class once that in some cases, babies who do not crawl enough during this developmental stage of learning to move, can develop challenges in their learning later in life. It’s as if the nervous system creates a foundation for our body’s processes during each stage of physical growth and to rush any stage of it makes it more likely that one will skip over valuable development in other areas of cognitive functioning.

So, as contrary as it may be to our habitual pace of modern life, it could be that slowing down really is essential for quality of life. Moments for pause and reflection, are to humans as baking soda is to cakes. Slowing down can help us to rise…to our potential. When I am training my body to do new things, it’s when it is at rest, that it integrates the new information. Slowing down and taking pause plays a critical role in allowing change to occur.  It has much to do with being present to the moment of now. That’s not to say that one can only be present when moving slowly, but it seems that it is easier to be fully present of mind and body when one is not in a frantic hurry. The state of being in a hurry is really driven by the anticipation of the future, isn’t it?  So to be fully present would require a detachment from our linear perception of time; perhaps a detachment from any construct of time.

This weekend certainly has been that for me. I’ve taken time to spend a day with my neices at the kitislano pool, a day to stay indoors and rest, and today I attended a community festival for arts and social change. All were choices that can be seen as time away from doing “business” things, but at the end of this slower paced weekend, I felt more inspired with more clarity of ideas for business than if I had spent my time working on spreadsheets and filing. So even when I slow down, I’m “getting stuff done.” That’s a great realisation and something to consider when I start worrying about whether or not I’m getting enough done in a day.

Jea Down the Rabbit Hole Carl Honore, efficiency, TED

It amazes me how quickly things can change. On thursday night at11:30pm, I decided to give notice to vacate my apartment @ Dunbar & W16th ave. after Jennie and I decide that it would be best to share a suite to live and work from.  I spend parts of Friday finding listings and create a viewing agenda for us to follow during the weekend.  Saturday morning, we hit the streets. The open houses for the garden level suites have trails of students and young couples looking for new homes; several needing to find something in one day because they have come from 4 hours away, or more.

We take a break at a coffee shop on Broadway and Vine and look through the classifieds of the Vancouver Sun. Finding our specifications for quality and value did not prove an easy task going through the fine print. I made a few more calls and left messages. We viewed three suites that morning and went back home until it would be time to head out for the afternoon open houses.  While I was making my lunch, I got a return phone call from Edwin, the landlord of a 4 storey house.  He had a pleasant voice, the price was one of the best I’d seen for a 2 bedroom and he could show it to us that day.

I was so optimistic about Edwin’s suite that we decided to skip all other plans and just go straight there.  As soon as I walked in, I was smitten. Every step further into the place simply confirmed that this would be our place.  He was supposed to show it to someone else after us, but we just kept talking and making friendly. By the time the next couple came around, we had already written up our own receipt and the deposit cheque.

This is my second great apartment find from the Vancouver Sun. In my experience, Craigslist gets the mobs when it comes to housing, but the Vancouver Sun advertisers seems to go for quality, not quantity.

Jea Uncategorized

I’ve wanted to explore Italy, and many other parts of Europe since I learned their names and shapes in grade 7 social studies.   In a couple of weeks, I make this fantasy a reality.  Along with Jane Gair, I’ll be presenting the workshop that I designed in 2006 for a pilot research project at UVic.  We explored the use of art and reflective process drama to teach medical students about empathic communication.  I’m excited to be able to take it to Prato, Italy for the 3rd International Social Sciences Conference.

Having spoken with Deidre Scherer this afternoon, the artist of the exhibit we used for the workshop in Victoria, B.C., I’m optimistic that the work has great potential for applications in other areas of medical education.  While I’ve known the value of using the arts and reflective practice for many years, it’s satisfying to see that others are also recognizing the value, upon hearing of the work.

Jea Uncategorized

If you haven’t heard of Mark Hildreth’s music yet, you will!  Check out his music! His CD is ready for purchase too!  I can’t stop playing it and the lyrics are full of honestly and love.

Jea Books

Monday of this week, Yumi had me over for waffles and tea.  She put out all the accessories for dressing our warm fluffy waffles that she made with her handy electric waffle-maker.  “I think everyone should have one of these,” she said with a deep appreciation for her kitchen gadget.  I was very excited about sharing this afternoon snack with Yumi.  It is not often that we are able to take a couple of hours in the middle of a weekday to share in a sweet treat and chatter.

I enjoyed my waffles and tea with Yumi so much that the very next day, I phoned her up and asked to borrow her waffle-maker.  I had the idea that I could make a batch of waffles at home and freeze them for a later date.  This way, I could enjoy homemade Belgian waffles at home too.  So I did just that.  I spent part of tuesday afternoon making waffles, packaging them for the freezer and eating a few too.  This morning, I delighted in taking a waffle out of the fridge, warming it up in the oven and having it with strawberries and bananas for breakfast.  Late last night, I also invited Christina over for a waffles and tea session, since I still have the waffle-maker and enjoy making them so much.  So at 3:00pm today, we took joy in making more waffles, with strawberries and bananas and whipping cream and maple syrup.

While we sat at the table enjoying our waffles, Christina mentions a place in the US that serves chicken and waffles.  I thought that sounded odd.  But I guess I can appreciate savoury and sweet combos.  And then we talked up a vision of an eatery that served only waffles and teas.  I like pancakes and I really enjoy crepes too.  And thanks to Yumi and her waffle-maker, I’ve discovered that I also love waffles and tea!

Jea Food tea, waffles, Yumi

The other evening, I met a woman who served me my meal at a Japanese restaurant who helped me put my current challenges into perspective. Let’s call her Ate (ah -teh). She immigrated to Canada from the Philippines alone and took work as a nanny, as many immigrant Filipinas do. And for the past ten years, her part-time job has been with the restaurant where we met. I was struck with admiration for this woman who is now 50 (but looks 40) for how graciously she does work that is well below her capabilities and potential.
Still at 50, she works two jobs! And there I am 31, the one being served, with no job. Her face lit up when I told her that my work is in the arts. I told her about the Aswang movie and her excited response was just enough encouragement to help me escape my pessimism. The look in her eyes as she eagerly asked to hear news of my next project reminded me how this time of unemployment is valuable.  I have a lot of work of my own I want to develop and now I have the time to bring forth those ideas into action! And it just feels different and new because for the first time in a very long time, the impetus to work and create is for me and the pure joy of creating and learning. Previously, I would take on work to fulfill a requirement for school, to gain approval from my family, my mentors, and very practically, I’ve taken work purely to make money. That just won’t do anymore. I am committing myself to creating a life in which my work is playful and valuable to for me, and then, and only then will my work have the highest value I have to offer for the world. Meeting Ate reminded me of why it is important that I build my skills as a storyteller through the arts; something I have struggled to get permission to do, to get acceptance to do, and to get paid to do. And now I’m coming into a recognition that all the struggle was within myself; between what I wanted and what I believed to be possible. I am reminded that uplifting one’s Self is uplifting the whole of humanity. Do what you love. Be where you love to be. And the how of your life will Be Love. It begins with believing. That’s my theory, anyway.

My parents immigrated almost 30 years ago with valiant hearts and bright dreams of bringing their children into a world of possibities in Canada. They did this because they believed in possibilities despite many things unknown. When I begin to feel doubtful, I’ll think of my parents and the hopeful eyes of Ate, who saw great possibilities where I was failing to look.

Jea Down the Rabbit Hole

I saw the most incredibly bold and inspiring solo production of Hamlet last night at the Uno festival in Victoria.

I can’t think of anything more artistically frightening and challenging than performing a solo show, except performing a solo show of the greatest play by the most brilliant playwright.  Raoul Bhaneja performed it like a poetic warrior.  Amazing!

It was just the thing I needed to see, while I’m in process of writing my own solo peice.  I’m realizing that even though I no longer work with a mining company, I still maintain the business of digging for gold; the literary variation.  I’m taking myself places I thought I’ve been to before, places I didn’t know existed, and places I dare not return to, all the while making new discoveries and coming upon deeper understandings of my humanity.  I’m transitioning now from a phase of thinking,  ‘Who is going to care about witnessing this story?” to “Hey, this is my story.  I wonder what would happen if I told it.”

I’m so thankful to Intrepid Theatre for putting on the Uno Festival and giving our island community another opportunity to share in the beautiful art of storytelling.  Check out the shows at the Uno Festival!

Jea Performing Arts

Today I had a glorious dayfor several reasons, starting with my morning. I woke up before 5:00am to the emerging sounds of the bright sunny morning; birds chirpping and zero traffic. I decided to walk down to Cobs bakery and fetch a mini-loaf and I was happy to take time to get acquainted with the neighbourhood at the bottom of Dunbar hill. I rediscovered the joy of taking an early morning stroll and freshly baked bread for breakfast.  A bit reminiscent of mornings when I walked the  Camino in Spain.  Another highlight to my day was meeting up with my former co-workers at Peak Gold. I got the most lovely card with a sassy pair of cuff links…and was even sent home with a delicious chocolate cake! Yum!

The sun was incredible! I have never felt so sun-deprived anywhere as I have living through a winter in Vancouver. I may need to make my residence in this city seasonal…for summer only. To remedy my vitamin D deficiency, I sat on a blanket with Yumi under the sun whilst processing our shared state of artistic unemployment.  After talking a bit about various options within the Vancouver Arts community, she shared a comment made by an established theatrical actor and hollywood celebrity. After approaching two professional theatre companies in Vancouver with a request to work as an actor and a willingness to take any role, only to be turned away, the seasoned actor said that the Vancouver Theatre scene is more difficult to break into than the Los Angeles film scene.  This is the sorry state of the theatre Vancouver theatre scene…and so we moved onto more optimistic perspectives - like all the other artistic endeavours we are also excited about.

I showed her the greeting card that I got earlier that day and said, “See this. I can do this.” And I went home and selected all my greeting card ready photos. Touched up, cropped, tuned and sent them for printing. In a few days, I’ll have greeting cards to sell.  I know that by the way I’ve written it here is can easily sound as if making greeting cards is a meantime thing, but I’ve actually had it on my mind to do for many years.  For whatever reason, today I just decided that I was ready to do something with the idea.  I’ll sell them individually and in little mixed bundles.  I’ve also been a long time collector of poetic and inspirational quotes, and sometimes will come up with my own verse.  So designing greeting cards feels like a great opportunity to marry my love of images and words.  Even though e-cards are animated and less expensive, I’m still a fan of mailing a card. There is something about holding the sentiment in the hand that I feel has a special value to it.

So if you’re one who likes to keep cards on stock for the uexpected or nearly forgotten occassion, keep Jea’s cards in mind. I’ll post here when the first batch is ready.

Jea Uncategorized

I am blogging while sitting in a Bolt Bus, cruising down the New Jersey Turnpike. It’s an amazing age when we can blog and email from a seat on a bus! If I book online at boltbus.com, I could get a ticket for as low as $1! I bought my ticket this afternoon from 34th St. and 8th Ave. in Manhattan so I paid $15 for this trip. It’s a brand-spanking new bus and our driver is super friendly and professional, with a great character for service.

The sun is shining and I’m on my way to Philadelphia for the Arts in Health conference. I’ll definitely come on board the boltbus for my return trip to NYC. There are only two other passengers aboard this bus, but that’s only because it’s a new service. I’m sure that when the rest of the commuting world in NYC and Philly find out about boltbus, these seats will be in high demand.

The first thing I’m going for after I check-in at the hotel, is a Philly cheesesteak, baby!

Jea Uncategorized