The chandelier in the laundry room

I put a chandelier in the laundry room this week. Well, actually, Husband put it up. Whimsy. That’s what it is.  Whimsy.  Basement laundry rooms are places of damp and dark and rough unfinishedness. Furnaces, tanks, and ducts. The underbelly of the house. Practical without any flash. A room of work…there’s not a lot of …

An Open Letter to Ms. Rona Ambrose

Dear Ms. Ambrose, Wow…did you see this coming? Your role as leader of the Official Opposition?  I know your party was anticipating a re-election, with Mr. Harper continuing to be Prime Minister.  And now–you’re the interim leader of the Conservative party. That’s an enormous job to land in.  I applaud your courage to take on …

Self Compassion: Being loving to your suffering

I’ve had self-compassion on my mind lately.  I gave a workshop to a group of foster parents on the topic last week, and have had a couple of profound conversations with colleagues about being compassionate towards ourselves. Self compassion:   gives staying power to those in helping professions.  It takes a lot of energy to …

Introducing…Carolyn Klassen

This is not your typical “introducing our newest therapist/intern” blog.  I’m introducing me…my new name. Same therapist…different name.  Used to be Carolyn Bergen. Now…Carolyn Klassen. I got married in April.  And when I got home from my honeymoon, I was still a Bergen… You see, I got a whole new pack of Junior Tribe Members …

The Hidden Destruction of Inverse Scorekeeping

I read Donald Miller’s Scary Close book late last fall…and it was one of the best books I’d read in a long time.  It was funny and clever and engaging, and all about relationships, my favourite topic. Y’know it’s a good book, when months after it’s been read, it comes back to bite you in …

The story of the story

Picture this: Four children are lying on the dock and happily playing looking at the minnows.  They are chatting a bit back and forth, adding sound effects as the little fishies swim back and forth in the water.  All of a sudden, one child looks up and notices something: “Hey guys, l like sand.  Let’s …