personal stories blog posts

How Practicing Gratitude Changed my Life

Jul

For many years I wore a string of prayer beads on my left wrist, to act as a reminder of the important and powerful practice of gratitude. There were 27 beads and each morning upon awakening, I would touch a bead and be grateful for something -- my kids, my health, the antics of our... more

World Autism Awareness Day: what I would like to share with others

Apr

I don’t have autism, and up until ten years ago, I can honestly say I understood very little about autisms or the lives of families who have children affected by autism. There was a boy in my daughter’s grade three class who was non-verbal, had some severe behaviours and spent very... more

How Kindness Makes you Happier

Feb

I want to be kind, I really do. Kindness matters, I know this, I coach this, I speak about the power of kindness, and yet – yes there is a yet. In my primary relationship with my husband, being kind seems to be in a wrestling match with being right. Being right just feels so good. It is a... more

Being A Strong Athlete Didn't Save Me From An Eating Disorder

Feb

Four years ago, I shared my struggles with anorexia and disordered eating by writing a book, Unsinkable. Journalists in the following weeks expressed disappointment that another athlete had an eating disorder. They had held me up as a strong woman who went after her dreams, and suddenly I... more

Today's Kids Could Use A Lesson In Healthy Competition

Feb

It seems to me that the word "competitive" is getting a bum rap in today's school systems and sports programs. When I was growing up in primary school, there were awards for top marks and effort -- there was the most improved student, the award for highest achievement, the athlete of... more

My Cat Lived Up To The Name 'Mischief.' Today I Say Goodbye

Mar

Our family cat Mischief is aptly named. Ten pounds of tabby trouble, this cat has cost us a small fortune in vet bills in his short life. First there was the tin can he found in the neighbours recycling bin, I am sure it was something yummy but the ten stitches in his mouth couldn’t... more

How To #BeFearless in 2017

Jan

As we race breathlessly through January, energized by our resolutions, we may find ourselves sliding rather rapidly into February. Where did the month go? More importantly where are we in relation to all those resolutions? You know, the fitness programme, the commitment to eat no sugar,... more

Becoming a mom forced me to deal with my mental illness — and my family’s.

Jan

Last night I was putting my stepdaughter to bed, when she ran downstairs and frantically opened every cupboard in the front entrance looking for two flashlights. Once she found the two flashlights, she moved them to another drawer, aligning them meticulously. When she was satisfied they... more

Do You Want To Be Right Or Do you Want To Be Kind? (And How To Choose Kindness Daily)

Jun

I want to be kind, I really do. Kindness matters, I know this, I coach this, I speak about the power of kindness, and yet -- yes, and yet. In my primary relationship (you know, that relationship with my husband), being kind seems to be in a wrestling match with being right. Being right... more

We Need To See Ourselves In The Mentally Ill

May

Here is a thought. Until we can see ourselves in the mentally ill we will not stand up and fight for better care, increased awareness, and greater funding. As long as we stand to one side and not recognize that we are all vulnerable, that mental illness can happen to any one of us, we... more