Between 2009 and 2014, I joined Toastmasters—much to the bewilderment of everyone who knew me well. After all, my employers had already invested thousands in speechwriters, presence coaches, and confidence boosters. I was accustomed to inspiring audiences of up to 1,000 people and had been leading teams of all sizes since I was 25.  ...

Sometimes the best tools come into our lives exactly when we need them most. Ten years ago, my world changed in an instant. A brain injury scrambled the part of my mind that had always made writing feel as natural as breathing. Since I was five years old, words had been my friends. Throughout my...

I’m writing to you from an unexpected classroom.  The physical therapy clinic where I’ve spent most of July recovering from hand surgery. What started as a necessary step toward regaining full mobility has become one of the most profound learning experiences, and I couldn’t wait to share these insights with you. It all began with...

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...