Stand and Share Your Story

God, I love this quote!  I want to plaster it on billboards and t-shirts!  Never in my life have I been afraid to share my story, talk about my struggles, and celebrate my successes.  To some, this is considered brave.  To others, stupid.  Some even distance themselves from me because they fear that MY story will somehow impact THEIR story in a negative way.  Whatever.  To each their own.

Taming the Worry Dragons

My 13 year old son started with a new therapist recently.  We moved to a new town about 6 months ago and have been searching for someone suitable since our move.  He had been in therapy previously for his Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and had been utilizing the skills he had been taught over the years, but we knew that ongoing support in the form of therapy would be necessary for him.  Navigating the teen years without anxiety is hard enough.  Navigating it WITH anxiety is going to be a challenge.

The Coffee Lie

I should preface this blog post by saying that I'm a little pissed off at the moment.  No, no, that's not true.  I'm a LOT pissed off at the moment.  And that anger has led to hurt, and confusion......and this blog post.

"No" Is A Complete Sentence

As I sit here writing this, I have no idea if this will ever be published.  But I'm writing because it needs to come out.  Because I am strengthened and inspired by all the #beenrapedneverreported stories trending on Twitter right now, and because it has remained hidden in the shadows for too long.

The Little Free Library Movement

 So, in case you haven't noticed, I have become OBSESSED with the Little Free Library Movement since discovering there are 2 (that I know of) in Grimsby already.  They are beyond cute and the most basic, yet important, idea ever!

I Am Finally Home

I have to begin this post with a HUGE thank you to all of you who read my blog on a regular basis, and to those of you who are new here over the past little while.  The response to my last post entitled "My New Small-Town Life" has been nothing short of overwhelming.  It has been read (to date) more than 225 times, shared on Facebook pages and websites, and I even received a message from the woman who owns the Little Free Library that I raved about!  Talk about a small world!  

My New Small-Town Life

For 3o of the past 40 years of my life, I lived in what I deemed to be a medium-sized city.  Burlington, Ontario - current population 285, 000.  We had everything we needed right there - a great hospital, waterfront trails and beaches, annual music festivals, Canada's Largest RibFest!  Did I mention RibFest? ;)  And because I had lived there for 30 years Burlington grew along with me, so it never felt big to me.  I could get around it with my eyes closed, knew where obscure little side streets were when people mentioned them, and could do that whole "jeez remember when the Go Station was a corn field?" thing, that proves you have grown right along with your city.

And then, 4 months ago, we made the decision to uproot ourselves from that safety zone (my 12 year old son has never lived anywhere else) and move to Grimsby - population 25, 200. Blending households with a significant other in your 40s inevitably means one party makes the sacrifice of moving to the other party's comfort zone.  We were willing to make that sacrifice.

The Results Are In!

Well folks, the results are in!  Our family doctor called yesterday with the results of my son's abdominal ultrasound and blood work.  It is essentially good news but still leaves a lot of questions regarding what he can and cannot eat.

Gluten Free - 2 Hits & 2 Misses

 Good morning everyone!  And a warm hello to all of our new followers.  Udi's Gluten-Free was kind enough to direct many of you to my blog via their Twitter account and I am very thankful for the kind words and useful advice that has been coming our way.  As many of you know, we are only 2 weeks into this gluten-free journey and it is an adventure filled with trial and error.  So, as we try to figure out what my son likes, and inevitably doesn't like (!!) I thought I'd share some of those Hits & Misses here.

The Surprising Gifts Relaxation Will Bring You

Recently, my husband and I drove 3 hours north for a peaceful 4-day vacation, free of children, dogs, and technology.  It was heavenly!

OK, let me address what you are all now thinking.  Husband?!  Say what?!  When did THAT happen?  Well, it didn't.  But it did.

The Lost Art of Kindness

My grandmother taught me this the minute I could talk.  I can still hear her voice telling me to treat others the way I want to be treated.  In fact, this pillow looks like something she would have made and had in her home.

"If you don't have anything nice to say.....don't say anything at all."

"Treat others the way you wish to be treated."

OK So I Have Clarity.......Now What?!

Clarity is a wonderful thing.  And it took me 40 years to get it!  Clearly I am a slow learner!  But here's the thing about clarity.....now that I have it, I don't know what to do with it.

As I sit here on this rainy Monday, sipping tea and listening to the dogs snore on their beds, I have a very clear picture of how I got to where I am.  How I became this person that I have become.  The way I was raised.  The choices I've made.  The inevitable mistakes I've made. (sometimes more than once, just to be sure)  

I Am Enough!

Why is it that such a simple statement - "I am enough" - is so difficult to digest?  Why is it that even though we KNOW this to be true, we still crave the attention and the validation of those around us?

Why, at 40 years old, do we still wish for the day our parents will respect us as an adult?  Our choices, our opinions, our mistakes and our triumphs.  When will they be enough?  And if they are never enough, why do we care? 

Exactly How Long Is This Gonna Take?!

Getting your thoughts down on paper (or screen, as the case may be) is therapeutic, as I'm coming to learn.  But sometimes, as some things become clearer, others become a little more muddy.

So I'm sitting in a bit of mud right now.  Having learned over the past year or so, that I no longer want any part of one way friendships and relationships, I have the gained the backbone and the self-respect I need to ensure I teach people how to treat me.  And twice this past week I had the opportunity to do just that.

Less Than.....

Oh how I know this to be true!  I referenced in my last post a quote by Dr. Phil - "You teach people how to treat you" and I believe this to be true.  Sadly, I was close to 40 before I realized I had collected a lifetime of people who I was allowing to treat me as "less than."

Yeah, that's right.  Less than!  

Friendship - The Two-Way Street That Wasn't

This quote, sent to me by a dear friend last week, rings so true for me lately.  She sent it to me after a long discussion about friendships and family relationships, and how they grow and change as we get older.

Wait, maybe I need to re-phrase that.  Not necessarily how friendships/relationships grow and change, but how our views of those relationships change with the wisdom of age and experience.