Making Sacrifices

Making sacrifices is very hard to do. It means giving up something valuable to make things better. The most notable sacrifice is going to work. We give up being in our comfort zones to go to work, and making money to help make ends meet. This blog will look at making sacrifices, and what you can do to make up for them.

Over the course of a lifetime, we will have to give up many things that are in our comfort zone in order to help the people we love. A huge example is when we become parents. It is because parents have to give up a lot to be there for their kids. Giving up sleep is the most common thing parents have to give up to help their children (especially when there are young). Another thing parents must sacrifice is leisure time. When we become parents, there is little to no time for a social life. We must put our children first which means giving up going out and stay home with the kids.

In life, we must give up our time to go to work. It is because we need to go to work to help pay the bills, and to keep our lives afloat. This means giving up our free time, and putting activities that we want to do on hold. In the end, it is worth giving up time to work so that way we get a pay cheque at the end of the day. Unfortunately for some people, making ends meet means that they have to give up their personal dreams.

Of course, whenever there is a problem, there is a solution. It is possible to make up for the sacrifices made. The question is how?

Well, it is possible to achieve your goals despite making sacrifices. In terms of reaching your dreams, you can still enroll in classes that relate to achieving your dreams (example, to become a photographer). You will still have to sacrifice time for the course, but at least you our on your way to your goals.

This blog post is very personal to me because my parents sacrificed a lot to help me and my sister. Over the course of my childhood, my dad worked two jobs while my mom (R.I.P.) was a stay at home mom. My mother gave up a lot of her time to be the person I am today. Without her, I would not be writing a blog, posting my views to others.

In the end, making sacrifices is worth it when you have people that look up to you. They are the beacons of your life and are the reason why you shine every day. It is also worth making sacrifices to make steps in your goals. If you continue to set goals and follow them step by step, you will feel like a champ in the end. Remember it hurts to make sacrifices, but once they have paid off, it will no longer hurt.

Until my next blog post, take care and thanks for reading.

Robert Toto

Blogger

Smartphone Usage

Most of us have smartphones. We use smartphones to mark events, set deadlines update our social media accounts, playing games, call people, and message people. It has became an addiction because we need to be constantly up to date on things. This week’s blog will look out the problem of smartphone usage, and what can be done to reduce our dependence on this addictive device.

Addiction

Smartphones refer to phones that has applications that make you connect to the world. It is an easy way to get access to social media. Unfortunately, we have become so dependant on social media that we are constantly on our phones without realizing it. Everywhere you go, you are most likely to run into someone that is glued to their screen. It is as if they rather look at a screen then to pay attention to their surroundings. In many cases, people tend to look at their screen rather than paying attention to people that are in the same room as them.

With smartphones becoming an addiction to many people, there must be a way for people to cut down their screen time usage on their phone. However, it is not as simple as saying “I’m only going to check my facebook account, once a day”. It can be tempting to check their latest news feed when people are bored or are easily distracted. Thankfully, there are apps that can help cut off the amount of time they use on their social media apps or games.

How to Reduce Time Spent on Smartphones

Another way to help reduce your screen time is to put your phone away from where you are. You can leave it in the same room in case of receiving phone calls or texts, but resist the urge to look at it, and concentrate on other tasks you need to do. Then when you’re done, you can check your message and catch up on social media trends. Just make sure that you do not spend too much time on it.

Another way that might help you cut off your screen time is by checking the amount of time spend on screen. For Iphone users, go on settings, and then click on screen time. It will tell you the amount spend on your phone that day, as well as the past seven days. This should make you decide how long you want to be on your phone. If you feel like you spent too much on it, then maybe it is time you put your phone down.

Until next week, take care and thanks for reading.

Robert Toto

Blogger

Montreal Grand Prix

On a previous blog, I wrote on the various summer festivities that go on in Montreal. Well, with next weekend being grand prix weekend, I thought I would share my view on the festivities and why it is always a great time.

History

The Canadian Grand Prix has been taking place on Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Ile Notre-Dame since 1978. It has only been cancelled twice since then, in 1987 and in 2009. The race attracts thousands of race fans from Montreal, as well as from people all over the world. Montreal will continue to host the Canadian Grand Prix for at least the next ten years.

Since Montreal hosts the event every year, it is a popular venue for the city. There are bars and shops that have the race track flags up to coincide with the annual event. The Grand Prix can also be seen as the beginning of the summer season in Montreal.

Grand Prix flags flying over Sir Winston Churchill Pub on Crescent to coincide with the race.

Grand Prix Festivities

The festivities is not just restricted to the circuit, but there are also events that coincide with Grand Prix as well. Several streets are closed to traffic as festivities take place. Crescent street has hosted grand prix festivities since 1999. It hosts a huge party that goes on all day and into the night. Attending the festivities on Crescent is for sure to bring in a good time. There are also grand prix festivities on nearby Peel street.

The best (in my opinion) is going on St. Laurent in little Italy. The street is closed to traffic during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend as kiosks, stands, and old vintage cars takes over.

Having gone every year since 2013, I have always enjoyed the atmosphere, food, and walking up and down St. Laurent to look at the different cars that are displayed, and enjoying lunch at their pizzerias.

Overall, the Canadian Grand Prix will guarantee a great time because it brings people together, and it is interesting to see the different types of cars and shops. Even if you are not into cars, there is live music (especially on Crescent street), and you can take advantage of sales going on at various kiosks on St. Laurent.

If you are planning on going to festivities, have a great time and stay safe!

Until my next blog post, take care and thanks for reading.

Robert Toto

Blooger

Coffee Culture

Ah, the smell of caffeine. The smell that perks you up in the morning. Oh the taste that makes you feel more alert. Coffee is a very popular form of beverage to help wake people up and start the day. Coffee is everywhere. When people meet up, coffee is a common beverage that people have. A lot of people will meet up at coffee shops to sit and chat of whatever reason. Coffee shops is also where an individual (or individuals) will go and study for their exam or write their essay. This blog will focus on coffee shops, and how it brings people together.

Every morning, I like to start off my day with a cup of Joe. It may be in a form of an espresso or I will put a coffee pad in a Keurig machine and will instantly pour coffee into my mug. Going to coffee shops is one of my favorite past times. I like the culture of coffee shops because it helps bring people together.

A coffee shop can be seen as a second home. The staff is generally kind to their customers as they want them to come back. They even take the time to get to know them. In the end, customers keep coming back because of the good coffee, and service. Some customers go to their “second home” just to talk to the staff. They are so comfortable with them, that they are willing to talk about their personal problems to them.

The way coffee shops are setup is that you go to the counter and ask the barista what you would like to have. Once your older is placed, the barista will give you your order, and then your good to go. There is no limit in the amount of time you can spend there so feel free to stay as long as you want (until closing time that is).

Personally, going to small coffee shops regularly is a great way to meet people. It is also a great way to support a local business. It is fascinating on how the staff and the clients interact with each other. I really like on how the staff gets to know their clients and asks how they are doing. Eventually, the staff becomes like family to the customers. It shows that there is always someone to look up to and there truly is a place where everybody knows your name.

Until my next blog post, take care and thanks for reading.

Robert Toto

Blogger

Summer in Montreal

Ah summer. A time to step outdoors, and to enjoy the warm sun. It is also a time to go to the beach or enjoy the many happenings that go on in your hometown. For this week’s blog, I will go through the events that go on in Montreal, Canada.

There are so many festivals that go on in Montreal throughout the summer that I will go through the most popular ones.

Grand Prix

       The grand prix formula takes place on the Gilles Villeneuve race track on Ile Notre-Dame (just south of Montreal). It usually takes place during the second weekend of June, and is seen as the beginning of the summer season. Although the grand event takes place on Ile Notre-Dame, there are plenty of festivities that go on throughout the city. In Little Italy, St. Laurent street is closed to traffic between Beaubien and Jean-Talon streets as the street is filled with vintage cars, and little boutique kiosks that sells Italian food, and clothes. Being at the festival in previous years, Little Italy is the place to be during grand prix weekend.

       There are also festivities going on in downtown Montreal. Crescent street is known as a party street due to the many pubs and nightclubs that are on that street. During Grand Prix weekend, Crescent street is closed to traffic as there are many performances from top bands which turns Crescent street into party central. 

This year’s Grand Prix festivities takes place from June 7-9. 

There will be a upcoming blog on the Montreal Grand Prix, and how it brings everyone together so stay tuned.

Francofolies

The francofolies brings many francophone artists around the world to celebrate the french culture. If you are interested in francophone culture, then the Francofolies is the place for you. This years edition takes pace from June 14-22. 

                                                Jazz festival

The Montreal jazz festival is very popular in Montreal. Since it first launched in 1980, the jazz festival brought in several jazz musicians such as Oscar Peterson, Ray Charles, and Aretha Franklin. If you are a big fan of jazz, it is a great opportunity to hear great jazz. Even if jazz is not your prefered music genre, you might want to check it out just to see why the jazz festival is a yearly success. This year’s event will take place from June 27 to July 6. 

                                                Just for laughs

The just for laughs festival brings in comedians from around the world. There are shows that take place each night. It takes place at the Quartier des Spectacles. 

                                                Osheaga

Osheaga is a outdoor concert venue takes place in early August. It is a party festival that attracts tens of thousands of people. Osheaga features various artists. Click here for more information on this year’s lineup. This year’s edition will take place from August 2nd to August 4th. 

                                               Italian week

Ah, Italian week. A cultural event where the Italian culture takes over Montreal. Italian festivals take place in various neighborhoods across Montreal. The most notable one is in Little Italy. Like the Grand Prix, St. Laurent Boulevard is closed to pedestrians during the last 3 days of the festival. It is a great place to get exposed to Italian culture. It offers various activities for everyone. Italian week will take place this year from August 9th to the 18th.

The many festivals of Montreal is for sure going to bring a good time. Take advantage of these summer activities as before you know, we will back to keeping ourselves hibernating in the winter.

Until my next blog post, take care and thanks for reading.

Robert Toto

Blogger

Cycling

In Montreal, there are different ways of getting around town. The most popular method is by car (if you can get around all of the construction). Another method is through public transit. There is also another great way to get around the city. That method is by bike.

Montreal has seen an increase in the amount of people commuting through cycling. Bike paths are popping up across the greater Montreal area. Cycling has become very popular due to the ever increasing amount of bike lanes, and that cycling is good for the environment. The great thing about cycling is that it is efficient, and is good exercise. It also beats finding a parking spot, especially in the city where finding parking can be very challenging.

Blogger’s Story

My passion for cycling began when I was a child. I remember looking at bike paths and wondered how far the path would take me. My dad and I rode along the bike path that lies on the northern edge of the island of Montreal along the Riviere des Prairies (Prairie River). It is a gorgeous path to ride along as you are by the river or on nearby Gouin boulevard that runs parallel to the river. My dad and I would venture on our bikes as far as we can, and would resume from where we left off. When I got into my teens, my bike rides expanded throughout the greater Montreal area. During that time I got see the various suburbs in Montreal, and would travel to places where I would never go by car. My passion for cycling lasted a few years before I gave up on it as I entered college.

Now, ten years later, I have renewed my interest in cycling. After going on a bike ride for the first time, it felt great to be back on the wheel and I am looking forward to using this great exercising tool to get myself around. It felt good as I felt the gentle breeze while riding, and feeling the warmth of the sun go through my face. The experience of cycling is very rewarding, especially on gorgeous sunny days.

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Enjoying a beautiful sunny day in my hometown of Montreal.

Overview

In general, cycling is a pleasant way to get around nature, and enjoy the fresh air. It can be used to get around daily. However, it can be tough to ride in bad weather, though I would not discourage anyone from cycling because of rain or snow. Personally, I would not ride in the winter, but if you have experienced riding in the winter, please feel free to write a comment below.

It is important that cyclists obey the rules of traffic. Cyclists share the road along with pedestrians and motorists which can be a challenge to do in the city due to constant traffic. Therefore, cyclists must obey the roads like motorists and must give the right of way to others.

Enjoy riding and ride safe!

Until my next blog post, take care and thanks for reading.

Robert Toto

Blogger

Owning a Business

Owning a business is a lot of work. It takes dedication, patience, hard work, and being able to keep up with the rent. People own a business because they like to own their own place. It can be a convenience store, a coffee shop or a restaurant.

How a Business is Born

The birth of owning a business begins with an idea. An idea that could start off with an object, or by being inspired by a business owner, and wants to do exactly like the owner is doing.

Owning a business can be fun, but it can also be exhausting. The first thing to do think about is “what kind of business would I like to own”? When planning on opening a business, you must do a lot of research on how to advertise, and sell. The next thing to think about is location. It is important to learn about the area of where you want to put your business. When finding a location, use the SWOT analysis to examine your location (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats). Strengths and weaknesses looks at the advantages and disadvantages respectively while opportunities and threats looks at the external advantages and disadvantages. You must know the demographics of the location you want to settle your business in, and how much the landlord charges rent. Once you find a location you must negotiate with the landlord on rent.

Economic Challenges of Owning a Business

It takes a lot of savings before being able to afford to opening up your own business. You also need to consider the economic reality before seeking a business. So when you are ready to run your own place, create a budget, get an accounting system, hire people, and advertise on social media as this is the fastest way you will attract customers.

This Blogger View of Running a Business

Running a business runs in my family. My uncles own a resto-bar for the past 35 years, and it is still going strong. It is an italian style bar that offers coffee, pasta, pizza, submarines, and hamburgers. Hanging out at coffee shops is a good place to watch a soccer game and hang out with friends. What is great about small coffee shops is that the staff (especially the owners) interact with the customers and if you are a repeated customer, you become like family.

What made my uncles business a success is through word of mouth. 35 years ago, there was no social media and therefore promoting a business through word of mouth was the most efficient way of promoting a business. It can still be a great method to use today in addition through social media.

Overall, owning a business is a challenge, but with the right tools, it can become a huge success. As a consumer, it is important to support small businesses because they rely on their clients to keep their business afloat.

Until my next blog post, take care and thanks for reading.

Robert Toto

Blogger

Earth, our Only Home

Everyday, we take our precious resources for granted. We assume that we will always have resources like water and electricity. Earth, our planet, our only home. Population: 7.7 billion. The only planet that supports life. Life comes in a form of humans, mammals, and living creatures. Unfortunately, there are many scenarios that threatens our life on this planet. One of the main threats is climate change.

Climate Change

Climate change is a term used to describe changes that is happening with our climate. Unfortunately, when we hear about climate change, the scenario is not good. It is predicted that sea levels will continue to rise which threaten coastal cities around the world. It will also created more extreme weather events such as floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, droughts, ice storms, and blizzards.

The main cause of climate change is believed to be caused by the amount of carbon dioxide that humans release into the air. With rising pollution being released into our atmosphere, we can expect things to get worse before it gets better. With all of our garbage ending up in the ocean, our eco system is in danger of becoming extinct. Although our world is in a climate crisis, there are definitely ways that we can help that could make a difference.

How can we Save Our Planet?

With extreme weather events becoming more common, here are five ways to help slow down the effects on climate change.

Plant a tree

Trees are our best friend since they help trap carbon dioxide. Planting a tree can help clean up the air, even if it is just a little. After all, every journey begins with a single step.

Try to buy a hybrid car

Hybrid cars are clean and environmentally friendly. Although expensive, and it can take a while to get used to, it uses less gas and therefore you don’t have to use as much gas compared to the average type of car.

Recycle

Recycling is a very common method to help reduce the amount of garbage being taken out.

Reduce consumption

Making changes in your everyday diet does not only have health benefits, but also environmental ones. Meat uses a lot of energy and therefore, eating less meat can help have an impact on the environment. I am not suggesting to go all vegan, but taking out a bit of meat in your diet can help reduce consumption.

Reuse

Re-using things such as shopping bags can help reduce the amount of plastic that gets thrown away. Although plastic is recyclable, most of it ends up in industrial waste, and therefore ends up in the ocean, threatening mammal life.

If there are any other ways that we can save our planet, feel free to write a comment below.

Come back next week (I promise there will be a new blog published) as this blogger will give out his views on owning a business. Until then, take care and thanks for reading.

Robert Toto

Blogger

Summer Job Hunting

Summer is right around the corner. It is a time to enjoy the sun, and grasp in the warmth. For students, it is a time where they try to seek a summer job. Students do this to get a little pocket change, and experience in the workforce. With summer right around the corner, what would be the best types of jobs for students? This reader will explore the challenges of getting a summer job, and what can one do if they do not find a paying job.

Finding a Summer Job

Most companies hire students for the summer because they are off from school, and therefore will be able to commit to the company. Outdoor summer jobs include working at a amusement park, tour companies or at a outdoor event. Indoor summer jobs include restaurants and stores.

It can be very challenging, and exhausting to find a job. Students end up sending dozens of resume to various companies. It is difficult to find a job since companies receive hundreds of resumes, and positions are limited. The most likely way for a student (or anyone for that matter) to get a job is through networking. It is because the employer knows the person that recommended their employee. A great way through networks is through your family, friends, acquaintances, and social networking sites like linkedin.

Volunteering

An great alternative to gaining work experience is through volunteering. Although one does not receive a pay cheque volunteering gives valuable working experiences that one can put on your resume. One can volunteer as little or as often as one wants, and it is a great way to meet new people and be part of the community. Volunteering an hour per week or volunteering six hours a week can make a difference in that person’s confidence, and working skills.

Advice

The best time to look for a summer job is around April/May. Companies start hiring around that time to attract students. Make sure that your resume is up to date, and do not be shy to go around town, sending resumes. Try not to give up if you do not get a call. It may not be that they do not like your resume. It could be because they do not have time to browse through resume’s or that the job positions have already been filled. If there is a job that you feel that you are the right fit, do not be shy to call for a follow-up. You may get a interview if you do. If worse comes to worst, go volunteer. There are a lot of institutions that are looking for volunteers. For more information, contact your local volunteer center or try to volunteer in a cause that you are interested in. A simple google search could help you find a organization that is associated with your cause (ex. fighting to end cancer).

Good luck with your summer job search, and come back next Monday as I will look at our planet, and what can be done to save it.

Until next week, take care and thanks for reading.

Happy Easter!

Happy Passover!

Robert Toto

Blogger

Autism Awareness

Welcome to April. A month where we can expect warmer weather, and a transition from winter to summer. April also marks Autism Awareness Month. This week’s blog will focus on autism, and why there must be awareness of this neurological condition.

What is Autism Awareness Month?

Autism awareness month coincides with autism awareness day on April 2nd (which explains why I have postponed this release to today as opposed to yesterday). It began in 2007, and was selected by the United Nations. The purpose of this occasion is to help raise awareness of people on the autism spectrum, and that they have their own potential to succeed, just like everyone else.

The Different Types of Autism

Although the latest edition of the diagnostic model puts the term “Autism Spectrum Disorder” to anyone who has the symptoms, autism can be divided into two categories, mild and severe.

Mild: People that have a mild form of autism are usually very bright, yet they have difficulty in socializing. They would usually have a specific interest (ex. the human body), and would have an extensive knowledge of that subject. They are also capable of living independent lives. Although they are usually very smart, their communication skills are very poor, and therefore have a hard time socializing. Examples of syndrome’s in this category includes Asperger’s Syndrome.

Severe: People with severe autism, not only lack communication skills, but there level of IQ is below average, and they are unable or will have a very hard time to live independent lives. They are likely to have difficulty with their speech, and even when they reach adulthood, there are likely to still have a mentally of a little child. They also have difficulty doing basic everyday things like going to the bathroom or getting dressed.

Robert’s View on Autism

Autism people are unique individuals, and are the most kindest people you are likely to meet. Growing up on the autism spectrum (Asperger’s Syndrome), I know what it’s like to be “different” from everyone else.

It can be tough to fit in with other people. It is like your brain is telling you “Don’t talk to that person” or “Don’t say anything”. In my experience, the best part of being different is that a lot of people like me probably because of my kindness. The worst part of being different is that people might feel misguided towards me. People might see me as being more sensitive than I am already am. Another disadvantage is that might think that I am ditzy or eccentric, and therefore may have a hard time communicating with me.

It is important to know that autistic people have feelings, regardless of who they are. Autistic people will react to different situations in their own way. Although they may have a different way of approaching situations, they end up achieving the same results as anyone else would.

There will be no blog next week as I have a final project that is due on Monday, and will take up much of my time. I apologize for the inconvenience. Come back in 2 weeks as I will discuss job hunting. Summer is around the corner, and for many students, it means that it is a good time to find a part time job to make more money, and gain experience in the workforce.

Until then, take care and thanks for reading.

Robert Toto

Blogger