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 →

When you consider your favourite place, how does it feel?  Is it comfortable?  Is it energizing?  Do you go there to recharge or to get introspective?  Is it a solitary place or is it filled with laughter and the love of others?  The spaces in which we live, work and play really can affect our... Continue Reading →

Every morning I drive the 45 minutes east from my home to the school where I am a Principal.  It is a beautiful drive along a quiet country road.  As the sun rises, the silhouette of the forest becomes darker, the pastures where cows lazily graze become brighter and the fields, white with snow or... Continue Reading →

For the past three years, I have chosen not to make a New Year's Resolution.  Not only does it feel inauthentic to declare huge changes on this particular day, and not only do I feel like a failure when, inevitably I fail, but I am also very aware that I am making huge life changes... Continue Reading →

A year ago, I had a conversation with a friend of mine, sharing with her that I felt like I needed to find myself, to seek out joy and wholeness and belonging.  I told her that I felt like my life was in chaos and nothing made any sense.  Her response to me was that... Continue Reading →

Spice was just a pup when she came into our lives ten years ago.  She was a ball of energy, always loving (except for that one time with the dog who tried to dominate her) and she lived each day with joy.  I loved getting up every morning at 5:00 to share some time drinking... Continue Reading →

Nowhere in my list of 45 things did the phrase “recharge my batteries” appear.  But I think it is important to talk about.  I work in a job where I always have to be “on”.  Throughout the day I welcome students and parents and teachers into my office, where I listen to their struggles and... Continue Reading →

In my list of 45 things, I posted an intention to learn how to make wine.  And not surprisingly, I had a number of people offer to help me with that task.  I have debated about how open to be about this, and ultimately, while I feel a lot of fear about it, I am... Continue Reading →