Hello American Neighbors… You are next door to the south of us. We watch your televsion shows, we shop in your stores, we send you our fabulous musicians to enjoy, and some of our vast country’s resources. I’ve lived in the U.S. when I was studying and enjoyed the experience. Many of you have visited our beautiful …
A Scarf of Warmth, A Basket of Care
It’s lonely to have an eating disorder. Or maybe, people have an eating disorder because they have a loneliness. Or maybe both. I remember the winter that First Husband was thinking he would leave…but had not yet left. I was in such turmoil, I would forget to eat. Sometimes, I was so worried about what …
#2 of Top Ten: Practice Gratitude and Check your Facts
Last night I was hurt by something that I thought my director had done. In the morning I wrote to her about this. She responded by saying that she hadn’t done that. I double checked and, sure enough, she was innocent. I felt like a jerk.[1] The irony is this: Even when I thought …
September 29
Two years ago, I was driving home from the west coast in early September, rather bereft. I was a little scared and a lot lost. You see, I’d been a single mom for almost a decade. I’d been single-mindedly focused on getting my Junior Tribe Members “all growed up”. That meant working, driving, cooking, connecting with …
A Letter to Dahlia: TGDK
Dear Dahlia, Your signature, “TGPF”-Thank Good People Friday is something you are famous for in the city. You have made the city a kinder and gentler place, as you encourage people to express gratitude for a kindness they have received in their lives. Gratitude is a value we both share as vital…so today, for me, on …
Our new door is open!
I’ll be honest..I care about Conexus Counselling so deeply, sometimes it feels like another Junior Tribe Member. It’s a baby of mine. I take it seriously that we impact the lives of hundreds of people every week. And I love that me and some of my favourite people get to work together in space that …
#3 of Top 10: Gracious and Firm in Setting Boundaries
alternate working title: How to Say No to a Beatle It’s a delicate thing, saying no to a Beatle in 1966. There’s an art to it. First you have to say “Yes” to their request to teach them how to play classical Indian music. You happen to be in England anyway and it might be a …
Weighing the cost of overfunctioning…
My recent back injury taught me about the pain and discomfort when one set of muscles under function and another set of muscles compensate to overfunction. Underfunctioners often don’t realize that they are underfunctioning…they just aren’t awake in their life. They don’t realize others are looking after the practical and emotional demands in the world …
Weighing the cost of underfunctioning…
So I hurt my back several months ago. The physiotherapist said I likely ruptured a disc. The pain has been more in my leg than in my back. It’s been not good for several months. I went to see a physiotherapist…Mike’s a prof at the University of Manitoba. I met him when I taught there. …
Husband: How you make my life better
Dear Husband, Remember on the front porch a few weeks ago, the sun was streaming in, and we had fresh, steaming mugs in front of us? Remember how, as part of the morning’s conversation, you took the time to carefully and thoughtfully tell me about how I make your life better? It would have followed for …