November 1 - December 15 Join me for 45 days of noticing and practicing acts of courage. From November 1 until December 15, I will share with you what courage looks like and ask questions to draw out more courage in my life, and hopefully in yours. Will you join me?

It has taken more energy than I thought it would to write about 45 things I am grateful for. It wasn't hard to choose 45 things. I am thankful for so much in my life. What was difficult was expressing why. And that is good. We all need to take a little time to consider... Continue Reading →

Today is Thanksgiving in Canada.  To be honest, I have been feeling a little down over the past few weeks.  One thing I find that helps me gain some perspective is gratitude.  No matter what may be happening around me, being mindful of the good keeps me focused on what truly matters in my life. ... Continue Reading →

I can hardly believe it has been over a year since I began my journey of Forty Five Things.  It has been a great year of learning, of exploring and of becoming more of the person I want to be.  It has also been the most challenging year of my life.  I have faced family illness,... Continue Reading →

I have never been particularly at ease with stepping out of my comfort zone.  At least not personally.  Professionally I think outside the box, question the status quo, press for change when change is needed.  But in my personal life, making big changes, asking for help and showing vulnerability make me so uncomfortable that I... Continue Reading →

I've been thinking a lot about a story I heard years ago.  It seems to be reappearing in my life right now and I think I need to listen... An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight... Continue Reading →

Two or three years ago I started a blog to talk about educational topics. While I did not keep that blog going, I wrote this piece about turning stumbling blocks into stepping stones for some of our most vulnerable students. I have edited this piece, and refocused it a little. Forty-Five Things has really been... Continue Reading →

For much of my life, I feared saying yes. To say yes might mean I have to follow through on doing something I don't want to do. To say yes might mean having to face my fear. To say yes might mean I experience feelings I am not comfortable with. There have been times when... Continue Reading →

I am not known for being comfortable with spontaneity. Quite the opposite. I have a need to know that everything is taken care of. I am very responsible. If I am going to do something spontaneous, I need to first put a plan in place...which really is not very spontaneous, is it? Last week my... Continue Reading →

A couple weeks ago, I went to Escapology, a wonderful escape room in London.  I went with my partner, in an attempt to try something we would have to do as a team.  Don't get me wrong, we have to work as a team all the time.  Any relationship of 20 years, building a family... Continue Reading →

The other day I was enjoying a salad at work (ok…I wasn’t enjoying it as much as I was tolerating it) with a balsamic dressing. Admittedly I was annoyed because I would have preferred ranch, but I am trying to watch what I eat a little more.  As I shook the dressing and watched the... Continue Reading →