Pictures + Words are a first person chronicle of stories, lessons of life, creativity, sometimes humour, and always a picture.
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This is the second installment in a chapter or section of the book about Sedona. Links to previous installments: First Trip to Sedona – Part One We followed Highway 179 as it wound through Oak Creek. Dusk became dark while we filled up with gas and bought some necessities. We checked into Quail Ridge Resort, […]
How long does it take to build a daily habit? It depends what kind of habit it is. There’s lots “out there” on how long it takes to build and sustain a daily habit — 21 days, 40 days, a lifetime. At the beginning of the year I set my intention that 2020 is the […]
Have you had “The Relentless Conversation” yet? It goes like this: “Hey, good to hear your voice.” “Ya, you too.” “How are things?” An update is given, followed by “It’s been relentless.” Acknowledging your experience of Relentless is not negative. It’s not defeat. These days, acknowledging what’s relentless is a statement of truth. It’s […]
This is the first installment in a chapter or section of the book about Sedona. Click here to read subsequent installments. My first trip to Sedona had nothing to do with personal development, spirituality, or business. Quite the opposite. In the early 2000s, I spent a lot of time with my two single girlfriends, Debbie […]
It’s taken five months to build the writing muscles for my memoir. I established my writing habit in the first run of Seth Godin’s The Creative’s Workshop. The experience of writing in and for a community – throughout the pandemic – has been a game-changer. It’s changed my outlook on coaching, how to have […]
I’ve driven across Canada the equivalent of three times in my life so far. I use the word equivalent because I’ve never gone coast to coast in one trip. Toronto has been the departure point for all of my drives but one. The first time was in July 1993. It was the end of my […]
Fifteen years ago this week, I packed up my life and moved 4061 km west. My move from Toronto to Kelowna was fraught with uncertainty. There was just one thing I knew for sure. I wanted to live closer to nature and follow my dream. I had two consulting clients who had committed to work […]
Things don’t always unfold the way we expect. It was June 29, 2008. I had just attended the first personal development workshop of my life. I was high on inspiration, and eager to explore San Francisco an the surrounding area. I had dreamed of returning to the Palace of Fine Arts in the Marine District […]
These three thoughts are floating around in my head after private client session today: 1. Actions speak louder than words. 2. You can’t say “Yes” to growth and “No” to discomfort. 3. Our discomfort isn’t the problem. It’s how we respond to our discomfort that counts. Here are two free resources designed to support you through discomfort: […]
The agenda for last Friday’s Leadership Community Zoom was to pool our answers to the question “Where Are We Now?” After we said good bye, I organized my notes and scheduled up this post. It was due to go out this morning. But when I looked at it last night, it was already outdated. I […]
It’s understandable if you feel things are out of control at the moment. Powerless. Please don’t misconstrue my empathy as permission to shrug with indifference or molding s into the couch out of apathy or helplessness. Or roll over and let chaos prevail because it’s just too overwhelmingly big. Or to imply we are just […]
Today’s Daily Letter was prompted by the experience of having to navigate getting care for my relentless eye infection in our dramatically altered health care system. I’m on the mend and happy to resume at a different – and more effective – pace. Come join us for our community call on Friday if finding your […]
I had a rough weekend. It’s not staying home, or not seeing friends, or having to line up for basic necessities, or wait for days and days while deliveries miss their arrival date. It’s not my husband’s layoff, or the losses in my business. It’s definitely not all the goodness in the new Free Your […]
Going through old photos has become my favourite activity of spring 2020. Before almost anyone lost their job in Canada, my husband Tony was laid off mid-March by Porter Airlines. We had just returned from vacation to Hawaii and were expecting he’d go back to work. Except Porter Airlines was among the first companies in […]
Do you have strong boundaries and structure designed into your life right now? Rusty old fences are the perfect metaphor for loose or undefined boundaries. They look great in pictures, but do a rotten job protecting what’s inside. Create and uphold your boundaries on time, space and routine. Your sense of well-being will be stronger […]
The journey through a dark canyon is always stoked with uncertainty. We don’t always know what’s on the other side. And we can’t pretend it’s not there when we’re in it. We need to keep putting one foot in front of the other to move forward and bring in the new. We know in our […]
We’ve been served a reminder: We are passengers. Riding on a giant rock As it circles a star. Our jewel of a rock sustains us, Not the other way around. She has many lessons to share. If we tune in, we will receive them. Today is a good day to slow down, Remove our blinders. […]
The balance between self care and taking the next right step is delicate. Rest, or take action. Slow down, or speed up. Go inside yourself for reflection, or reach out for connection. Take a step back, or move forward. Make adjustments, or stay the same. There’s a lot of decisions to be made and it’s […]
