It can be embarrassing. I’ve been standing at the counter paying for a book and suddenly I’m sharing all about why I love this book and what this author means to me. The salesperson usually smiles politely as they hand me my receipt and I walk away sheepishly, realizing I’ve overshared…again. Self-Awareness I was lucky… Continue reading Oversharing: Rambling On To Others
Category: Mental Health
Growing From A Caretaker To A Listener
I’ve recently become aware of the caretaker role and how much I have invested in being a caretaker for family and friends. I thought it was a good thing, but now I’m seeing it differently and realizing that caretaking has a harmful side that I never intended. As Maya Angelou said, “Do the best you… Continue reading Growing From A Caretaker To A Listener
Should I Google That?
In the information age, where the answers to every question are available with a quick search on my phone, what information is actually important enough to remember? I don’t think I value the answers to my questions as much any more. I’ll watch a show and wonder what other programmes the lead actor was in,… Continue reading Should I Google That?
Being Stuck
I’ve been there. Stuck. It’s that despondent feeling that you have to put up with a life situation because change is too difficult to even contemplate. As a young parent, I was stuck. I didn’t drive. Struggling In Winter Weather. I used a stroller to push my toddler through the snow to daycare before hopping… Continue reading Being Stuck
We Bring The Meaning
The meaning we give to an experience is unique to us. A butterfly landing on a sunflower can be a beautiful collection of colours to one person, but to another person it represents a visit from a beloved ancestor. We often believe that we know how an experience that we shared with others, effected them.… Continue reading We Bring The Meaning
We All Need Play
Play has often been reserved for children and considered something superficial once our lives are filled with grown-up concerns. As an elementary school teacher, I arranged my science lessons as play-based investigations. The students would have fun exploring stable structures and quickly learn how to create a secure base with the materials. However, play is… Continue reading We All Need Play
Beyond The Grocery List: An Antidote To Over-Thinking
I love a list! They give me that sense of accomplishment and organize my day. When I was teaching, I used them all the time to keep track of the vast number of things I needed to do in a day. As I try to make decisions about my next steps after retiring, I often… Continue reading Beyond The Grocery List: An Antidote To Over-Thinking
“You Are Not Alone”
“You are not alone.” This is one of the most powerful statements I’ve ever heard. Knowing that my experience and struggles are shared by others, brings us all into a community. We share the same challenges and therefore feel less isolated. We don’t even need to talk to each other. Just knowing that we exist… Continue reading “You Are Not Alone”
No News Is Good News
My mother has a saying that applies to people who are far away from us, “No news is good news.” It implies that if the news about our loved ones is bad, we will hear about it. Bad news travels quickly and good news does not. Therefore, no news means they are safe. These days… Continue reading No News Is Good News
To Label Or Not To Label
Being kind to others involves letting them do their own self-discoveries. As a teacher, I was able to read my students fairly well. It would take only a few moments after meeting my class in September, to realize which kids might need extra support. It’s a skill teachers develop over time, after interacting with many… Continue reading To Label Or Not To Label
Retired, And Now What? 