A Love Letter Recently, I was asked to write a note to my Grade 6 teacher, upon her retirement. After decades of wondering what had happened to this woman who changed my life, her son had reached out for me. Of course, a teacher myself, September is a long and treacherous month and I left … Continue reading A Love Letter
Gratitude--Oprah-style (Anybody else start singing "Gangnam Style", but substituting "Oprah-style? --It can't be just me...) Every morning when I open my curtains for that first look at the day, no matter what the day looks like—raining, foggy, overcast, sunny—my heart swells with gratitude. I get another chance.-Oprah Winfrey Do you hear the birds singing this … Continue reading Gratitude: Oprah’s Life Lessons
In my family, story-sharing has always been a part of life--it could be that we are suckers for free entertainment over a strong cup of coffee. Although this weekend was supposed to be about me going on a road trip with my sister-cousin to do a reading in Calgary, it became about so much more. … Continue reading The Beauty of Families Sharing Stories
Do you feel that? The tug towards change—lean your ear toward the birds chirping beyond your windowpane. Pull open the curtain—better yet, yank the blind like they did in our childhood cartoons so that it hits the top with a BING! Come on. I dare you to rebel—put on your rubber boots (or don’t) and … Continue reading A Change of Season
On Detours Detours--what a waste of time, huh? Driving home from a weekend away, engrossed in conversation with my travelmate I didn't pay attention to the signage on the way out of Regina. What felt like moments later, I felt a shift in direction as we passed through the Qu’Appelle Valley. I’d taken the wrong … Continue reading On Detours and Finding Your Way Home
Lately, I’ve been feeling as though I’ve been handed back my life and given a second chance to rethink my future. “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something … Continue reading A Second Chance
Start Fresh with Self-Forgiveness and Gratitude Forgiveness is difficult, but self-forgiveness sometimes feels impossible. If you want forgiveness from others, just ask. Listen to their terms. It will rid you of mental and emotional clutter. These days, I am taking a deep breath, and I am forging through this difficult process. To actually fall in … Continue reading Self-Forgiveness and Gratitude–Starting Fresh