I want to tell you about my friend Janice. She runs a small bakery, and for years, everyone told her she was doing it wrong. “You need to focus on wedding cakes,” said one expert. “Cupcakes are where the money is,” said another. “You should go online and ship nationwide,” said a third. Janice […]
Let’s talk about something we all do. You know, the one where we beat ourselves up for things that weren’t really our fault. You know that sinking feeling when something doesn’t work out as planned? That immediate rush to figure out what you did wrong, how you messed up, and why you should have […]
When my husband was recently hospitalized, I found myself staring at our increasingly wild back lawn, feeling overwhelmed by yet another task I couldn’t handle alone. That’s when I remembered the handmade flyer I’d tucked away months earlier—crafted by our 16-year-old neighbour who’d been cutting grass around the neighbourhood for five years. Something about […]
For a few months, I have been noodling around the concept of why (or why not) we believe or trust another person and why it has become increasingly difficult to do so. I have landed on a concept that may eventually go mainstream. I firmly believe we are currently in the midst of a ‘Trust […]
I’ve been having frequent conversations lately about the word NO. And saying far too often, NO, is a complete sentence. Given that I once struggled with the concept and had to learn the hard way that saying NO is not a deal breaker, I thought I’d share some of the ideas I have learned. Saying […]
There’s been a horrible sexual assault/sexual consent trial happening here in my country. Five young guys beginning their careers in the minor hockey leagues. Each with their own lawyer. Lots of alcohol and admissible and inadmissible detailed texts between the boys. One young woman. A police department trying to make up for a shoddy first […]
It’s 2025, and did you know that the global smoking rate has dropped to around 15%? (The last known statistic is from 2020, and it was 23.6% then. Clearly, 15% is my estimate, and as you can see, I try to put a positive spin on it.) On the other hand, climate change awareness has […]
“99% of the people you’re talking to have heard something pretty similar to what you’re saying.” That’s what you’ll hear when you tune into the 5Cs podcast this week. My guest, a professor, nonprofit director, and author, drops this truth bomb while discussing funding for sustainability projects. But here’s the thing: this applies […]
This is a little story about courage, trust, and the magic that happens when we drop our masks. Three months ago, I invested a few thousand dollars in someone’s quest. Three weeks ago — perhaps foolishly — I sent the creator some unsolicited feedback on how to make her offering more customer-focused. This week, she […]
Last weekend was the “May Two-Four” weekend in Canada—our unofficial start of summer and usually a big celebration. But mine began with a 13-hour wait in the Emergency Department. (Don’t worry—I’m fine, and my husband, as of this morning, while still in the hospital, is recovering well.) Sure, I grumbled about wasting my precious […]