For several months, Yvonne E.L. Silver’s elegant book, Words, Women & Wisdom: The Modern Art of Confident Conversations sat on my bedside table. But once I picked it up and cracked it open, I was immersed! Overview Silver packs a mass of empowering content into her work, including flashbacks of moments with her abusive father, […]
Now and then I watch the popular, some say feminist, some say b%$#ch fest, TV show, The View. It was launched in 1997 by the American broadcaster and journalist, Barbara Walters. Co-hosts included Meredith Vieira, Star Jones, Debbie Matenopoulos, and Joy Behar. Only Joy Behar, a feminist, comedian, writer, actor, and resilient woman remains. Behar […]
Dwayne Peace and I are members of Calgary’s chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers. From the day we met, I have been impressed with Dwayne and his work as an ex-police officer, School Resource Officer, and now youth and parent speaker. He is a strong, no-nonsense, reliable, caring, and gentle guy, who willingly […]
If a key factor to increasing mental health is a sense of humor, perhaps we could all use a booster shot of smile and laugh.
When I was in my early fifties, I met the psychologist, shaman and poet, Gwendolyn Jansma. While living in San Diego, she offered events called Heart Seek Gatherings in the U.S. and Canada. Gwen, as many of us called her, was intuitive, insightful, fun-spirited, creative, healing, and loving. She spoke words of wisdom. Many times […]
How often do we hear a sigh and then, “I wish my children acted more responsibly!” We’ve also heard, “She is so irresponsible. I have to do everything for her.” Or “At his age I had to act responsibly. I did not have any choice.” What has happened in an era when children have more […]
“I would have been more successful if I had a wife like me.” I said this years ago and in jest. Yet, it holds significant truth. Gender differences exist! Women are still under-represented in all levels of government and in corporation boardrooms. At the same time, women are over-represented in family shelters and as ‘single […]
It was at a Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) convention that I met Brad Coulbeck. Brad is the author of The Resilient Mind: Achieve Success by Building Mental and Emotional Toughness. He is a calm, solid kind of a guy, who is a Certified Trauma Service Specialist, a hypnotherapist, and a police officer. Plus […]
There has been a movement afoot to bring back virtues. With the fading of organized religion in many people’s lives, there has been a lack of, and a hunger for, old fashioned wise guidance for goodness. Virtues are different from values. Definition of Values Values are what we deem important to us. To assess our […]
For years people have said, “I love your home. It’s warm, welcoming, and cozy.” We have had at least three realtors say, “I would like to purchase your house myself.” How did Les and I discover how to make our home, sweet home? I was blessed with a mother, a poor-farm housewife, who used to […]
Recently Les and I stayed with our daughter, Katie and son-in-law, Mark in their 720 square foot Amsterdam home. Mark passionately told me about a book he and Katie used to help bring order to their space. He introduced me to the work of petite, sweet, and neat, Marie Kondo, author of The Life-Changing Magic […]
Whether you call it the Holidays, like my Jewish friends, Ken and Natashia or Christmas or something else, it is a special time of year. There is the hustle and bustle of the season, the gifts. and the dining table laden with festive food. What better time to gather with friends or family to watch […]