I’m a third year office staff at the Taylor Statten Camps. I must admit, I was anxious coming up here in the beginning of June and staying until the end of September. I could’ve looked at four months away from the city as a negative thing or use these months as a positive filled with gratitude, new experiences and challenges. I made up my mind in the first few days that my experience here will be a positive one. I’m surrounded by beautiful nature and welcoming people. Just like that, I choose happiness. I could’ve looked at this summer as I don’t know many people here as I was never a camper or I’d rather be spending my summer with friends and family back in Toronto. Negativity is a state of mind and just like that, positivity is also a state of mind. I’ve learned that happiness comes from mastering the art of appreciating what’s around you. No matter how small or insignificant it may seem to you, letting yourself know that “hey, that was nice” makes a whole load of difference. It changes your attitude and your outlook. In the past couple of weeks, when I wake up in the morning, I lie in bed for a few minutes, just thinking of my day yesterday and things that made me happy. Looking back to yesterday, I worked out (pretty good in my books!), I welcomed a new September Camp guest that hasn’t been here in 25 years and walked them to their cabin, and someone emailed me saying I made their day. No matter how small they may seem, these little moments are what made my day! If you’re able to think of a few things that made you happy, slowly and surely, you’re that much closer to always appreciating what’s around you.

Happiness and positivity go hand and hand with the way you behave and look at your surroundings. Now, look at your surrounding and as you sit here with your family, old friends and new, take a minute to think about what made you smile yesterday – whether it was laughing with an old friend, doing a couple of laps around the pool or just enjoying being up here on Canoe Lake.

I can’t wait to return next year for another summer here on Canoe Lake!

– Khatija Saleem