Finding Joy in Everyday Moments
“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” — Henri Nouwen Don’t you love it when really amazing things happen to you? Those moments may seem few and far between but, if we take time to notice all the treasures we...
Are You Living In The Moment?
What do you miss the most about being 5 years old? I miss the incredible joy of riding my bike. I miss the excitement of helping my mother make Jello. I miss the anticipation of having my father arrive home from work. I miss enthusiastically embracing large amounts...
Pump Up The Volume… On Your Life
“Be yourself, everyone else is taken.” Oscar Wilde It’s been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But, if you think about it, the moment you try to imitate someone, you’re stuck. Imitation is the opposite of being your authentic self. You were born...
Stepping Into The Margins
As the Salama Shield drama group gyrates, the beat of African drums escalates. A snake-line of young and old dancers dressed in bright green and red writhe past. Their sweat-soaked faces shine as they dance with the joyful message of, “Hope with a Plan”. Minutes away...
Let Your Light Outshine Your Fear
Olive Kay was a depression era single mother with a grade three education when she was abandoned by her alcoholic husband and began cooking for farmhands in the Prairie dustbowl. Decades later, when the Quebec Chronicle newspaper advertised for a “Women’s Editor”, she...
Supersize Your Dreams
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” – Albert Einstein. ‘Would you like to Supersize that?’ Before the “super sized” option was phased out in 2004, McDonald’s employees used to ask customers if they would like the largest size of...
To Dream Or Not To Dream
At the beginning of every New Year I take the time to reflect on what I’ve achieved during the previous year on a personal and business level. I assess how far I’ve come, the lesson’s I’ve learned, and of course, evaluate myself against the goals I set the previous...
Wake Up To Your Worth
Are you asleep? I know you’re thinking, “how can I be sleeping if I’m reading this?”, but I ask because I find that many of us sleepwalk through our lives. By being extremely critical of our bodies or blind to our talents, by constantly comparing ourselves to others...
An Explosion of Artistry
It’s a rare entrepreneur who begins their work day when it is too early and too late for a cup of coffee. But for Robbin Wenzoski, rising from a warm bed in the blackness of the night is not only the norm, it is when he does his most creative thinking. At 2:30am,...
Remember Your First Love
I love my job! I guess I'm one of those lucky people that actually dared to find a vocation that fuels my spirit and has me jumping out of bed every day just raring to go! Can you remember that feeling? As an entrepreneur and small business owner there's no doubt the...
Wild Success: Be Determined and Always Give Back
My philosophy has always been to give back. In fact, that’s exactly the reason I became an entrepreneur. I’ve worked hard from a very early age (my first entrepreneurial venture was operating a bang-up lemonade stand with my friends) but I’ve always been a saver,...
Stand Up, Stand Alone
In a recent radio interview the host asked me, “What can the government do to improve your life as a blind person?” My response: “Nothing.” Lend me your ear and I shall explain. Stand-up comics are notorious for being late - or nearly so - getting to gigs. They are...
Be Bold, Be Daring, Be Audacious
“You’re a bold little one, aren’t you?” When I was younger, those were the words parents never wanted to hear about their children. At the time, it meant that you tended to misbehave. Throughout the years, the word ‘bold’ has taking on a new meaning to me. Now, I see...
Living The Life Of Your Dreams
It is important to take the time to identify your passions and discover your life purpose. When you do, and live in line with those tenets, you will never again work a day in your life. Discovering your passion - the things you love, the people who are important to...
Climbing Out Of The Rabbit Hole
Last year, I decided to start a blog. It was like falling into a rabbit hole – part dream, part nightmare. I was sucked into a new world populated by smiling avatars. I was writing and creating at a rapid pace. People left comments, asked questions, invited me to...
Today’s 20-Somethings – Worth A Second Look!
If you’re over 35 there’s a good chance you don’t speak fondly about the 20-somethings of the world. –Also known as “Generation Y”, “Millennial”, “Generation Next” or “Net Generation”, this group continues to be lumped in a category all of its own. –And, not in the...
Holding On While Letting Go
I am Silken. I am woven of the varied experiences of my life: alternately the wire that tangles together to create a steel cable or the fine threads that create the most exquisite of silk scarves. Each event, each fleeting observation, each subtle betrayal, crushing...
Driven By Curiosity
I proved Stephen Hawking wrong. Whenever I say those five words during a speech, people in the audience suddenly perk up, as if a little jolt of electricity has been delivered to their seats. I always get a kick out of that. When I say “I proved Stephen Hawking...
Turning 40, Compassion, and One Day, Forgiveness
I’m turning forty. I like to think of it as growing into forty. It doesn’t scare me or keep me awake at night. I don’t have fears of losing my hair, gaining weight or of ill health. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. As my hair thinned, I took a proactive measure and...
“The Girl In The Picture” Forgives
My story begins in a village in Vietnam…with a bomb and a photograph. Until June 8, 1972, the day napalm fell on Trang Bang, I was a happy child. I was nine years old; I knew nothing about war. My most serious injury had been scraping my knees when I fell off my...
The Art Of The Apology
From choked up business leaders to shell-shocked sports stars and bleary-eyed Barenaked Ladies, 2008 was unquestionably the year of the apology. Faux penitents and the truly sorrowful offered mea culpas across Canada at an unprecedented rate, proving that a heartfelt...
The Power Of The Heart
Most of us don’t have our dreams handed to us on a silver platter by a man dressed in black. –But, I did. On the cusp of turning forty, I was presented with my dream, perfectly packaged and ready to open. Unfortunately, I needed to walk through fear and face my worst...
Ignite The Fire Within
Passion is the fuel that ignites the flames of transformation and burns in the hearts of those who live authentically. A number of years ago I watched a movie called, The Never Ending Story. It’s a 1984 fantasy film based on a German novel by Michael Ende. In the...
Money Talks, Meaning Whispers
In life, there's "True Wealth" and "False Wealth". False Wealth is very seductive but has no real or lasting power. True Wealth is one of the greatest powers on earth when harnessed and employed correctly. The problem is, few people know the difference between True...
Beer: The Taste Of Success
To those living on the East Coast, enjoying a refreshing pint of Garrison beer means enjoying fruity aromas, malty carmel flavours, and a beer with a citrusy finish. To Brian Titus, President of Garrison Brewery’s Co. and winner of the “Canadian Beer of the Year”...
Freeing the Spirit Within
The drum roll builds as David Letterman playfully introduces the top ten list winner of "Pieces of advice I gave my celebrity child," and I slide onto the stage. "Say hello to Lance Armstrong's mother Linda!" wows Letterman. Looking out into a sea of faces, I deliver...
Saluting Life, Love and Laughter
When I confided to my grade nine guidance counselor that I wanted to be a comedy actor he told me to, “Smarten Up!” I half expected the wallop against the side of the head to follow; he thought I was being a smart aleck. The truth was, I had never been more serious in...