“The holiday season is the best time to reflect on our blessings and seek out ways to make life better for those around us.” ~ Terri Marshall Wow I’ve missed you! Life just got so busy with traveling again for speaking engagements, and fulfilling my commitments as National President for the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers, that I needed to put these messages on hold… which was a tough decision because I enjoy the connecting with all of you here. That being said, I didn’t want the year to end without sending a message of thanks for coming on this journey with me. If I spoke for yo ..read more

“Do not fear the leaves changing, for it is leading to the best season of your life yet.” ~ Jennae Gegelia As summer comes to end, I admit I often get a bit wistful. I’m usually not ready for the shorter, cooler days and the responsibility that comes with my non-summer-schedule. That being said, once the temperatures actually drop and the leaves change, I start to get energized for the work ahead, and begin my transition into work-mode. Sometimes that transition can feel a bit clunky, and I have to refocus my energy and reestablish my routines, so this week I’m sharing three reminders I recent ..read more

“An alcohol hangover comes after binge-drinking. A productivity hangover comes after binge-doing.” ~Ben Whiting If you’re like so many busy people I talk with, you may find it challenging to switch from high-productivity and a hectic work schedule, to the slower relaxing pace of holidays. It just feels a bit uncomfortable. Well, if you’ve been binging on to-do lists, and getting sh!t done week-after-week leading into the break, you’ll feel a bit of a let-down when you stop. Yes, a hangover of sorts. In this week’s blog I talk about that very thing, and provide a few suggestions for easing into ..read more

“Your calm mind is the ultimate weapon against your challenges. So relax.” ~ Bryant Gill Challenging day? Just relax. I know it’s the last thing you want to hear when you’re stressed to the max, but hear me out. Stress increases heart rate and blood pressure, and causes agitation and loss of focus, so you won’t get through it if you keep fighting it. The good news is, you have access to a simple stress management hack that only takes moments to implement, but can reap worthwhile benefits. Want to know what it is? I share it in the 2-minute video below, so give it a watch or read the transcript ..read more

“It’s not the load that breaks you down. It’s the way you carry it.” ~ Lou Holtz Stress sucks, and most of us are feeling it more often these days. Myself included. When we’re in the thick of it, we tell ourselves, “I’m too busy to deal with it.” Then, we sling all that stress over our shoulder and carry on despite how heavy it is. I’m not sure that’s the best strategy. With the busyness of work, and the craziness of life, holidays ramping up, (not to mention trying to process everything that is going on in the world), a bit of overwhelm is to be expected, but that doesn’t mean we should just ..read more

“Don’t let age change you. Change the way you age.” ~ Unknown It happens to all of us. We get older. And for women (and the men who love them) part of that journey involves navigating menopause and all its mysteries. As a health expert I thought I knew enough about eating right, exercise and sleep to figure my way through the weight gain and energy drain, but there’s more to (peri) and menopause than that. I ended up enlisting help from a couple of my good friends who happen to know a lot about the topic, and I immediately knew that a) they know their stuff, and b) they can help a lot of women ..read more

“Take action! An inch of movement will bring you closer to your goals than a mile of intention.” ~ Dr. Steve Maraboli If you’ve been injured or haven’t been physically active for awhile (thanks Covid), it can be hard to overcome inertia and get back to it. I haven’t been able to run for almost two years because of an injury, and for awhile there I thought my running days were over. Thankfully, with a bit of work and a lot of patience, it’s once again something I can do, just not as fast and far as before… and that’s something I’ve had to come to terms with. I haven’t been talking very nicely t ..read more

“A great song should lift your heart, warm the soul and make you feel good.” ~ Colbie Caillat I think music has been key in helping me navigate the highs and lows of pandemic craziness. How about you? It’s why I was so excited about my friend Jennifer’s new book that’s all about why music playlists are so good for our mental, emotional, spiritual and even physical health. Think about it, depending on what you need for yourself, there’s a song that will lift you up, or calm you down, give you energy, or strength, or inspiration. And, until I read Jennifer’s book, I never really thought about ho ..read more

“Always surround yourself with people who are better than you. If you’re hanging around bad people, they’re going to start bringing you down . . . But, if you surround yourself with good people, they’re going to be pulling you up.” ~ Donny Osmond There’s a saying that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. Well, research suggests that influence doesn’t stop at five people, so for success, it truly pays to choose who you associate with. We’re pack animals by nature, and if we run with the wrong pack we’ll eventually get bitten. You won’t be inspired to higher le ..read more

“It’s not happiness that brings us gratitude. It’s gratitude that brings us happiness.” Unknown It’s a simple truth. When you’re faced with a grey day, a good start is to look for the little bright spots. They may be difficult to find at first, but eventually they’ll reveal themselves in a dog’s wagging tail, or a strangers smile, or in that first sip of coffee. The hits of gratitude don’t need to be big to be effective, but you won’t see them if you’re focused on the dirt on your shoe. Look up, look around and see what gifts are here right now. Then watch this week’s video for another thought ..read more