I’ve been thinking a lot about fear lately. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m an entrepreneur or perhaps I seem to others like someone who is ‘fearless’ (which for the record, I’m definitely not) but I find people often share with me the things they really want and wish for, but are just too afraid to pursue.  When I’m contemplating a new idea or big decision, I often feel a lot of fear and anxiety about it but I’ve adopted a simple practice that’s really helped me re-frame and overcome my fear. It involves asking myself and answering three simple questions. The first question is: What am ..read more

Whether you’re jet-setting away this March Break or planning an extra special staycation, we’ve got you covered. We’ve compiled a list of our ‘must-do’ activities, all of which have one thing in common: connection. Feeling well connected to others contributes to mental health, meaning in life, and even physical well-being. This March Break, we challenge you to feel connected to yourself, to others, to nature, to creativity and beyond. Spend the day at High Park:High Park is Toronto's largest public park featuring a handful of hiking trails and one of Ontario’s largest outdoor playgrounds, loca ..read more

We want to celebrate everyday kindness (no matter how big or small) by shining a light on some extra special people. Addison Stegu, a sixth grader in Mississauga, Ontario, wanted to give her teacher, April Fynes, a shout out for making this year a bit easier for her. "I am nominating my teacher April Fynes because I admire and appreciate how caring and kind she is. She understands how we all feel right now. She always explains everything so well and makes sure that everyone is comfortable. She has a special way to help us feel safe and she is so welcoming in the classroom each day ..read more

Most teenagers spend up to 8 hours on social media every day, and none of them truly realize the effect it has on them until it’s too late. Many of my friends and family members know me as someone who actively uses social media, and has for most of my youth. From the time I was eight years old, I saw all of my older cousins using social media and grew very jealous. I begged my parents to let me download social media, and they eventually agreed not fully understanding the effect it would have on me. I would consistently post content on different platforms growing up and accumulated hundreds of ..read more

Our first born son wasn’t able to walk, talk, see or move. We were told he wouldn’t live until the age of five. Jacob couldn’t see, but his view towards life was 20/20. He couldn’t speak, yet he communicated so many powerful messages. He couldn’t move, yet he moved many and touched numerous minds and hearts. So how did he communicate? Through music. Music spoke directly to Jacob’s soul. As soon as he heard a few notes on the guitar, his eyes lit up, his face brightened and his smile stretched from ear to ear. His love for music attracted many talented musicians, of all ages. They loved to sin ..read more

February is Black History Month, a time to honour and celebrate the legacy of Black people and their communities. The 2023 theme for Black History Month is “Ours to tell”. This theme represents an opportunity to engage in open dialogue and a commitment to learning more about the stories and experiences of Black communities in Canada and beyond.  In line with this year’s theme we’re sharing a round-up of recommended children’s books written by Black authors. Sulwe - Lupita Nyong'o: from Academy Award–winning actress Lupita Nyong’o, Sulwe is a picture book about colorism, self-esteem, and l ..read more

Last year on Bell Let’s Talk Day, I shared a post on my personal Instagram account about my own struggles with my mental health, which go back to my teenage years, when I developed an eating disorder which I struggled with for many years. I had never really shared openly about my mental health journey and at the time that I posted, I still didn’t feel comfortable sharing it more widely (i.e. with the whole mini mioche community). There was still a big part of me that felt like I was supposed to be this strong, pulled-together, invincible leader and worried about the judgements and thoughts of ..read more

At the beginning of 2022, we made a decision to create The Kind Human Fund - a commitment to donate 1% of all mini mioche sales to organizations and initiatives that support children and help them to thrive, with a focus on mental and physical well-being.  When it comes to our children's mental health, the stats on bullying are pretty scary. In Canada, 1 in 3 adolescent students have reported being bullied and almost half of Canadian parents have reported having a child that is the victim of bullying. Some people may think that bullying is just part of growing up - a right of passage and ..read more

The other day, I got lost scrolling through the thousands of photos on my phone and couldn’t help but reflect on how much has happened these past couple years. When the world stopped and was seemingly falling apart, we were asked to keep going, wear all the different hats, and somehow keep it together. Here we are now, as the world begins a new way forward and parents are understandably burnt out - physically, mentally and emotionally. Can your relate to feeling overwhelmed, experiencing lack of patience and yelling more? These can be signs of emotional burnout. At a time like this, it’s impor ..read more

I don’t know about you, but I’ve found 2021 to be more of a challenge than 2020 was (I honestly didn’t think that was possible). I feel like it’s been a long, often heavy year, with a lot of ups and downs and from the many conversations I’ve had with friends, family and colleagues, it seems as though I’m not alone in feeling this way. Yet here we are with just over a month left of 2021 – we’ve almost made it through – we’re in the home stretch! It recently occurred to me that there is one thing that I can pretty much always count on to help improve my mood, increase my energy, and shift my min ..read more