Didn't bake it? That's okay (store-bought cookies are a vibe). Didn't buy it? That's okay (we/they already have too much). Burnt it? That's okay (charcoal chic is a flavor, right?). Didn't wrap it? That's okay (bag it, tag it, or just hand it over-stil...

It started out innocently enough. My friend, John, sent me a text sharing some positive testimonials from a virtual keynote he had just delivered. I was proud of him and wanted to celebrate his success. After reading the testimonials, I quickly sent b...

'Tis the season for... ahhh, so many things. Joy, happiness, family, holidays, overindulgence, consumerism, loneliness, pressure, traditions... One tradition I've embraced in recent years is joining my friend's annual wreath-making gathering. She invites a...

Let's Talk About Beeping... To say this changed my life might be a bit of an exaggeration. But imagine something that mildly annoys you numerous times a day-something that's been grating on your nerves for years, maybe even decades. And then, one day, ...

While clearing out my bookcase (again), an oldie caught my eye: Body, Mind, Mouth - Life's Eating Connection by Margaret Marshall. This book has some serious mileage on it, with dog-eared pages, highlights, and my own notes scribbled in the margins. I ...

It's World Kindness Day and it just so happens to be my birthday! My friend dreaded her birthday. Year after year, she was miserable on and around her birthday and was not afraid to show it! Until...her hubby took matters into his own hands and st...

I hope this note finds you so well and happy! Are we connected onlline yet? If not, please feel free to add me on your favourite social media platform. But...The truth is, I've been posting a lot less online lately and there is a very specific reason...

Meet Chris and Claire, this week's inspiration! This cool couple has a very unique life; they live on their sailboat and head out on the open seas for months at a time - alone, together! It might not seem like we have much in common right off the bat, ...

Case #1 - We were playing Pictionary, a game where you are not allowed to talk- only draw, it was guys against girls, and the word our teams were racing to get was 'neighborhood'. A 'drawer' from each team began to draw a neighborhood scene and while...

I do one nice thing. I try to do it every day. It doesn't always work out that way, but I try. I'd like to think I'd remember to do this nice thing without a reminder, but I'm not convinced I would - so I have a note on my calendar to r...

Even when we fall, Even when we fail, Even when our bikes careen off of the trail. Even when they laugh, Even when they doubt, Even when they don't understand what we're talking about. Even when I pause, Even when I cry, Even when, even I, don't ge...

I vividly recall the effort it took to plan our first child-free vacation. Coordinating three kids' schedules, arranging carpools, lessons, meals, school events-felt like an endless task. At one point, I wondered if the hassle was even worth it (spoil...

It was just after my keynote program, and I found myself sitting at a round table, having lunch with other attendees when a woman approached. She knelt beside me and, with quiet tears in her eyes, began to share her story. She explained how deeply so...

Having a night swim with friends to play in the bioluminescence - it was so cool, like millions of stars under the water! This is my most favorite quote about friendship! "We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a ves...

I'm a pro at being last, but if you're the type who likes to win, let me prove that you can be last and still come out on top! Try being last to: Hang up - you know when there's a last-minute "Wait!" or a sweet final word. Let go of a hug - sometimes t...

"Be yourself - not your idea of what you think somebody else's idea of yourself should be." - Henry David Thoreau I have a belief. It's personal. I don't know if it's right or wrong. I don't know how to test it. It may seem shallow, but here it goes...

"No good thing is pleasant to possess without friends to share it." Seneca I have a pet peeve about friendships. It drives me up the wall when I see or talk to a friend, and all we discuss is what we've been doing since we last saw each other. We 'catc...

It had crossed my mind more than a few times in the last couple of years - usually followed by a 'nah'. But that niggling thought would never quite subside. Every time I saw someone else do it, the feeling got a little stronger. Could ...

I recently took my Little (age 6) to see the movie Inside Out 2 - what a brilliant, insightful crowd pleaser and no, you don't need a child to go with you. It's made just as much for adults as it is for kids. It's been an emotional year for me, so I ap...

One day while at the store with my young son, he wanted to buy (yet another) Matchbox car, I mindlessly told him we couldn't afford it. "But if we could afford it, then you would buy it for me, right Mommy?" he replied. His question stopped me in my tr...

Last week we talked about the Pomodoro Technique, if you missed that short, easy read, here you go. This week we are going to talk about what to do when you give yourself a little cognitive and emotional break away from the screens. Ev...

Love this graphic from Todoist! The Hub - "Tell me when you are done work and we will go for a walk." Me - "Tell me when we are going for a walk and I will be done work." Just like any parent or homeowner or p...

It's been an explosive year, so far. I try to see the positive, it's my job after all - who wants a cranky 'motivational speaker'? But if I'm being honest, 2024 has been a bear of a year, so far. Though I like to give people the benefit of the doubt ...

"Why are you tied together with a bungee cord?" That's a very reasonable question - why were we attached at the waist with a bungee cord? I had been super inspired by a duo who ran the Boston Marathon. One of them was blind so they attached themselves...

Me, Terry, Brenda and Carolyn with the majestic Mt. H'Kusam towering in the background! See the

It's Pride Month - what a wonderful time for me to show off my daughter, Gina (on the right) and her wife, Allison. They are a beautiful example of a loving relationship and we couldn't be more happy with our new daughter-in-law! *** By the time he dro...

This is my new speaker reel - it's been a long time coming (I have demonstrated procrastination at its best, thank you very much). As much as you can love the uncomfortable promotion of yourself - I can say I love this video! If you've seen me speak or...