instagram.

We are now on Instagram! 

Five years ago when I started this blog, having a social media component (or straetegy) was just NOT a part of the equation. 

I've decided to hold my self accountable, continue to be creative and express what I want as a writer here as often as it seems fit. Instagram will give a peek into my musings and updates on new articles and posts. 

Follow along if you would like! @SunriseJunction

Have a beautiful weekend friends. 

graves.

One thing you might not know about me...I used to review music, hardcore.

It started during the summer of 2010 when I replied to a Craigslist ad looking for writers. What happened next was two years of reviewing live shows, EP's, interviewing bands and generally, living out my Almost Famous dream.

After a few years and an upcoming internship, university graduation and other opportunities, I had to let my music journalist career go.

Do I miss it? Absolutely. Would I go back? Maybe.

It's changed, I learned a lot about music, and I am thoroughly enjoying being in the audience at a show and not taking notes throughout it.

My good friend Emma posted this video on her blog a few months ago, and I remember it really hitting me when I first watched it. I have met countless band guys like Shakey Graves, but he takes the cake. His story at the beginning of this video is just, fantastic.

Enjoy.

sip.

Happy Monday! 

Fresh off the weekend, and it's another busy start to the week at Portia Favro HQ. Quite a few things fell into place last week, and I'm finally starting to feel the wheels turn and things clicking here in Vancouver. 

I'm working on another big, exciting and also risky project. More details coming soon. 

For now, I'll leave you with a little something to sip on...

101.

Happy Tuesday! I hope you all had a great long weekend - don't you love that tomorrow is already Wednesday (and that means we're almost to the next weekend...)

Life has not been short of projects, classes and work since I got back from B.C. last week. If you didn't know already, my latest client, DivaGirl Fitness and I have teamed up to run a series of "how-to" articles about social media.

I'm constantly asked many little questions about how to use Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and many other networks effectively for both personal branding and businesses, and I'm hoping these posts will be a good resource and reference point for interested parties.

Check out my first post here - "How to be a social media diva - Twitter 101". Stay tuned, I'll be posted my next article in June!

Have a great afternoon.

pausing.

Looking back at 2012, this has easily been one of the best years (so far) of my life.

Some incredible opportunities have come my way personally and professionally, and I'm happy to say that I feel like I've been able to take full advantage of as many as I could.

Although the tweets, photos and posts may seem like this year was smooth sailing, there were definitely some down moments. There were a couple of rough days (and weeks) where no one was calling me back about any job prospects, dance gigs or things to do.

Maria Shriver spoke at the University of South California earlier this year about the "Power of Pause". This video came across my path on one of my down days, and reset the tone for my approach to life.

Shriver spoke to the communication graduates about slowing down, and instead of jumping on the "fast forward" lane, to instead, pause.

"Pausing allows you to take a beat - to take a breath in your life. As everybody else if rushing around like a lunatic out there, I dare you to do the opposite," said Shriver. 

I can see where she is coming from, however, with the financial pressures of paying for your rent, utilities, and well, just trying to have a life, how can we pause?

That's when I put two and two together. Pausing doesn't mean having to run away on a vacation. Maybe pausing means still working, still trying to figure it all out and still giving everything a chance.

This philosophy helped me I take some risks this summer. I didn't marry myself to anything that would have kept me away from projects I wanted to pursue (like working the Olympics). My pause included working as much as I could, doing anything - writing, life guarding, choreographing - but with a goal in the future I wanted to reach.

Having the stability of the work and power to call the shots before the Games gave me a refreshed and clear mind heading into that period of time.

I thought I would have no work after London 2012, and still took a risk to stay in Toronto. Since then, I've had the chance to participate in so many interesting projects and gigs. Had I moved home or taken the "safe" path, I wouldn't have had any of those opportunities.

In so many ways, I think I'm going through another "pause". I know a heck of a lot more about what I want to do now, and 2013 will be my year to attack those goals head-on.

If you have 20 minutes, I highly recommend listening to Shriver's whole speech. Even if you're en route on your path of life, it still puts things into perspective.

paulo.

"If you’re brave enough to say goodbye,

life will reward you with a new hello."

- Paulo Coehlo

Never before in my life has this statement run so true.

This is my first real summer away from home, my normal routine, et cetera.

I debated whether to go home, to go travel, to get ready for school again.

However, I had this pull to stay where I am. It was a tough few weeks of figuring things out, but now I feel at the brink of some major opportunities and a fantastic part of my life.

Now I just have to decide what the perfect outfit will be for training tomorrow AM...

carry.

My first day and first class of my day twelve year is one of those that completely changed my life. I remember what I was wearing (a nipped-waist blazer with a summery dress) where I was sitting and knew absolutely no one around me.

A man came into the classroom, scribbled his name on the board. "I'm Marzio Manderioli," his voice warm and kind, "But you can call me Mr. M."

Mr. M then proceeded to have us all interview a few people sitting around us. I remember most of them were in grades eleven and ten, and were either feisty or couldn't carry on a conversation.

What had I gotten myself into?

We were now supposed to all work together and create the school newspaper and keep track of the school news. We had to be dedicated, but not insane. We had to be aware, but also flies on the wall.

What had I gotten myself into?

Little did I know that week to come I would meet a few really important friends that I still have in my life (who are from all age demographics - friendship has no number), worked and created relationships with much more tech-savvy people that I to create Photoshop magazine covers we had never done before and changed what I wanted to do with my life.

Before it had all been about pursuing dance or history...but I applied to a journalism program because I couldn't let go that there is a world that could be as much fun, and challenge me as much as that hour and half class every other day did in high school.

Looking back on the past four years, I had no thought that I would do any of these things in 2008. It's good to slow down, look back, and carry on forward.

Just a thought.

Have a fantastic weekend! I'm looking forward to spending and entire day off - what a treat!

mentality.

To be honest, I really, really dislike when people update their Facebook and Twitter statuses constantly.

Even in a choice career that favours the constant updating of social media (which I have no problem doing under a company account, that's the job) I have found it hard to share my work with others over the medium.

Every once in awhile, I would throw up a blog post or reporter piece for some people to actually see, instead of me constantly telling, what I was doing.

Things have changed. I'm addicted - especially when I'm generating fresh content every day.

Sorry in advance.

That's why I have created my profession Facebook page to share my latest work, thoughts, videos, et cetera on.

I find myself updating constantly, hope that's okay!

And I now take it all back. I'm now a part of the constant-update club. Le sigh.

Check out my latest piece below, it will be printed in tomorrow's copy of The Ryersonian.

Inside the Black Swan Mentality

All I can remember are the lights. White, bright, hot lights beat down from above and cause sweat droplets to form and drip down my spine. There was complete silence in the theatre; the audience held their breath, waiting for my next move.

“Okay Portia, get up, continue with your solo,” my brain said. Using all the energy I could muster, I tried to move my legs, but they were defiant and remained crumpled beneath me. Moments before, I had leaped into a grande jeté (a split leap) — a routine move I had been practising my entire dance career.

The next thing I knew, a pair of hands picked me up and carried my limp body off the stage. The show couldn’t go on.

rye.

This week has been a busy, but good one to say the least. I have been working with some fantastic people in the masthead for The Ryersonian, and I am so impressed by the talent and work I have seen my peers do.

My first piece for the paper was about my trip to Montreal with a couple of friends last weekend on a budget.

You can check it out online here with a photo gallery and all the bells and whistles.

If you missed it, we have two daily broadcasts on Wednesdays in the Rogers Communication Centre, and produce a newspaper that comes out the same morning.

Today, one my colleagues and I produced and broadcast a quick hit of local arts news (i.e. for film award season and some entertainment...)

Check out the segment here.

I applaud my peers and all their hard work this week - looks like it's going to be a lot of work (but also fun) for the next few weeks until we head off into our internships around the world.

Thanks for all the support and help to so many for helping make on these stories happen!

I'm exhausted and definitely ready for the weekend, but this new year, new hair, new job equals a large welcome to the rest of my life. I kinda like it all.