The present moment is the only moment available to us, and it is the door to all moments.

– Thich Nhat Hanh

Welcome to the here and now ,

Can you believe how fast time flies? It feels like only yesterday we were counting in the New Year, and yet here we are, already in the month of May! It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, in the stress of deadlines, assignments, extracurriculars, chores, socializing, university applications and ahhhh what do I want to be when I grow up??? Before we know it, our gaze is stuck either looking towards the horizon of life or lost in the vertical scroll of reels and TikToks, the minutes and hours passing us by without notice. At this moment, however, as you read this newsletter, we’re embracing this month’s theme – Moments – how to live in the now and fully enjoy the experiences coming your way.

Especially in an age of instant gratification, of Amazon Prime (right now!) and “what do you mean I have to wait a week to see the next episode of Ted Lasso?!” it’s so important to take the time to appreciate the moments we’re given – the small ones and the big ones. Whether it’s the feeling of the sun on your face, the sudden realization of unexpected shared interests with a stranger, or the laughter among loved ones. We all have unique moments that we cherish, but sometimes time seems to be moving much quicker than we realize (there’s an interesting link below which explains why!).

So how can we make the most of the moments we have now? Well, it starts with being intentionally present. It’s so easy to get lost in thoughts about the past or the future, but in doing so, we miss out on what’s right in front of us. Take a deep breath, be mindful of your surroundings, and focus on the present moment. Try to see the beauty in the small things, and give yourself wholeheartedly to the experience of the now. It’s impossible to be perfect every single moment; none of us are perfect; perfect is impossible! What is important is that you try.

👀 Perform & Record 👀

What moments are you thankful for? Take a moment to reflect on your day and write down one thing that you’re grateful for. It can be as simple as a kind word from a friend, a favourite song that played on the radio, or even just the feeling of school finishing 5mins early. (Feel free to hit reply to this email and let me know what you’re thankful for today!)

Some of the moments Youth Science Canada wants to share with you:

• 😍 CWSF is almost here!! 😍
  400 finalists, 53 STEM exhibitors, 10,000 visitors, $2 million in prizes and awards, and we’re back in person for the first time since 2019!! Canada’s largest youth STEM event is coming to Edmonton, May 13-19. Plan your visit in person or virtually, watch the live streams, and follow the excitement on social media.
• 2023 Nature Inspiration Awards nominations are open
  Do you know an individual or organization whose specific projects encourage Canadians to take an interest in natural history, create links with nature and contribute to its preservation? Submit a nomination by May 23! Peek the 2022 Award winners for a CWSF Alum 🙌

 purpleSTEMwave – Regional STEM Fairs

For the past few months, right across the country, 96 regional STEM fairs have showcased ~20,000 incredible youth STEM projects.

“What I most enjoyed about The Quinte Regional Science and Technology Fair 2023 is the enthusiasm and expertise of the scientific youth. The students eagerly wait for the public or the judges to ask them about their work. They are truly great communicators.” – Scott Berry, Quinte

“My regional STEM fair gave me the opportunity to explore my curiosity in a way I had never experienced before, far beyond traditional learning. It can pave the way for a lifetime of wonder and discovery and has allowed me to realize my true passion for science. For that, I will forever be grateful.” – Hooman, Waterloo-Wellington

Fun Stuff That’s Caught My Attention Recently

If you have something to share, fill out this form

• Why our sense of time speeds up as we age – and how to slow it down
• It’s easy to think inventions need to be more complex than existing solutions, but sometimes a simpler design lets us see more clearly
• We’re big fans of encouraging the curiosity of youth, and so is The Conversation – I love this youth-accessible science communication! Thanks for the submission, Katie!
• Maybe it’s just because we’ve come out of Winter, and the magic of Spring has me thinking of new beginnings, but here is a helpful article about finding your life’s purpose
• Creativity and innovation go hand in hand, and AI is all that seems to dominate my newsfeed. So what might a vision of the future of creativity look like?
• Remember above when I said perfection is impossible? There’s a lot coming at us all the time & cheese is amazing – let me introduce you to the Swiss cheese model of self-care.

Remember, life is made up of moments, and it’s up to us to make them count. We can’t prevent time from marching on toward the future; our only task is the savour the present. I’m grateful that you have spent your moments reading words I wrote from a small mountain town in BC. The sum of our moments, each unique and special to ourselves, forms the entirety of our life experience. We may live some moments similarly, but in the end, I am me, you are you, and all we have is now.

I would love to hear how you choose to spend your precious moments, and if there are books, poems, songs, activities or anything else which helps you relate to the present, please feel free to hit the reply button and share your wisdom.

💜 Much love!

Stuart McKelvie

Communications Manager

Youth Science Canada

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