Kylen O. Lefave loves living in Victoria, British Columbia, which is a bit like the TV Show “Cheers”, where “everybody knows your name”.
Victoria, British Columbia has been my home for 17 years now, and it felt like home since the very first moment I set foot on this beautiful island paradise. This picturesque capital city of British Columbia has somewhat of a small town feel, despite it’s size, and it’s home to many interesting and amazing people from all walks of life. There is an energy about this place that is, in my experience, wonderfully magical.
Victoria is both quaint and captivating, perhaps because it is a seaside city surrounded by an abundance of nature: be it the breathtaking view of majestic snow-capped mountains across the ocean, or its close proximity to awe-inspiring magnificent giant trees within our neighbouring ancient rainforests. In truth, those things never held any interest for me until moving here. Now, 17 years later, they combine to weave the very fabric of my many passions and unwavering reverence for life.
The city itself holds a very special place in my heart. It is unique. There is something here in tremendous abundance that I have yet to experience anywhere else…love. As I’ve said, there is a sense of small town community here that is rare for a city of this size [area pop. 365,000]. I’ve always found it surprising to hear people says how hard it is to meet other people here. This notion is completely foreign to me, as my experience has been the opposite.
I often feel that living in Victoria is much like walking into an episode of the popular TV sitcom “Cheers”. Not so much in the beer drinking aspect of the show (although yes, beer is definitely a highly consumed beverage for Victorians, as is for many Canadians across the entire country).
My reference to “Cheers” is based on the sense of familiarity, friendliness, and loving energy. It’s a place where, you know, “everybody knows your name” Everywhere I go, on any given day, I inevitably run into someone I know — acquaintances, beloved friends or one of the countless people that fit somewhere in between (I really wish there was a word for that). In short, I know a whole lot of people here. Having been a server at the same restaurant for almost 15 years will have that effect, I suppose. Again, it’s like “Cheers”, only with food — although, it’s much more than that.
Perhaps it is my experience, or rather what I bring to it, that has created the amazing and wonderful journey I’ve enjoyed since moving to Victoria. By being open, kind and loving to all who cross my path, I have set the stage for my own version of “Cheers” …”where everybody knows my name, or so it seems, and I LOVE it!
I love knowing that I may run into someone I know at any given moment. It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling to see the familiar smiling face of someone who is as happy to see me as I am to see them (usually accompanied by a huge loving hug). What a wonderful gift to brighten an already amazing day. Quite often, I find myself standing on some street corner chatting with someone who I just crossed paths with and end up saying a smiling hello to two, three, sometimes even four other familiar faces as they walk by. LOVE it!
I suppose I could bring this positive and open-hearted attitude with me to other cities…but I really wonder how well it would be received. It wouldn’t be impossible, but it would definitely be more challenging. It all has to start somewhere, right? This is an attitude that can be cultivated if we have open minds and hearts and don’t allow ourselves to get sucked into the hustle and bustle of a faster pace and densely-populated environment.
There is a certain anonymity in other large cities I have experienced that just seems to lack kindness…warmth…connection. Now, some people prefer the anonymous way of life. Not me. I love connecting with people way too much, whether it’s for a brief moment or an entire lifetime. Connection is what fuels my fire and makes life worth living.
There seems to be a suspicious uninviting tension between large city folk as they pass each on sidewalks, and if you dare to smile at them they’re not quite sure how to respond, if at all. Of course, there are certainly exceptions; however, I have found it to be more common than not.
Although Victoria is no stranger to such cool reactions to friendly overtures, I find the people here tend to have more of a willingness to engage. For the most part, they want to reach out and connect, or at least they are more receptive to it when I put forth the effort to engage with them.
I believe there truly is something special about this magical place — an energy that inspires people to be more open and receptive to a way of being that many other places have yet to embrace.
I may be completely biased, but I will tell you this: if you truly open yourself up to it and put forth genuinely friendly energy towards others (if you feel safe enough to do so, of course), it may very well begin to shift for you, wherever you happen to be. Your city may likely become your own personal “Cheers” as well.
For more on this topic read my Life As A Human article entitled “Random Acts of Hello“.
Namasté
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