“Fear is not real. It is a product of thoughts you create. Do not misunderstand me. Danger is very real. But fear is a choice.” Will Smith Fear is a feeling induced by perceived danger or threat that causes changed in our metabolic and organ functions. It also changed out typical behavior: a person who … Continue reading Shout It From the Rooftops: Facing Fear
My mother taught me lots of lessons--some lessons I learned, others I'm still learning. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my mother it’s that you’ve got what you’ve been given, so you’d better make it work. (Yes, Mother. I know—I hear you loud and clear, “I have never said that!” But, just like my … Continue reading Show VS Tell and Other Lessons My Mother Attempted to Teach
No More Excuses In my mind, everyone’s got a list of things they dream of doing yet tell themselves they don’t have time for. Lack of time followed by lack of money are the biggest excuses people use for not doing what they know they should be doing. I’m going to call your bluff —I … Continue reading Carving Out Your Dream 101
Truth-telling was passed down the family chain the moment I took my breath. I swear it must be part of my genetic code. “Always tell the truth,” my mother told us even before we could speak. And so, I grew up telling the truth. It would be hard to find someone out there who does … Continue reading On Truth-Telling–in Writing and in Life
Roll that Giant boulder—Sisyphus style Believe it or not, there are days when I don’t feel like writing. There are days when I question why I spend so much time reading words nobody’s going to read. Words I’m only going to delete later. And I wonder why I’m choosing to be that clueless hamster running … Continue reading On Why We Must Write, Rupi Kaur and Sisyphus
Experiments, Seinfeld and Literature are three of my big favourites in life. Experiments Ask my mother—even as a young girl I loved to experiment. When my aunt and my mom went dancing, my cousin Mickey and I would take all of my mother’s baking supplies and half of what was in the fridge and play … Continue reading On Experiments, Seinfeld and Literature
Do you believe you're a badass? Well, I do. I believe you are a badass, and I believe I am a badass. Even you, Mom. You are a badass too! Ever started reading a book and think, “Man, does that ever sound like me!” As you might have guessed, I have found an echo of … Continue reading Jen Sincero is a Badass Superhero
If I can give you advice on anything, I'd have to say write about what you know—and what you don’t know. It took me over forty years to realize that most people don’t analyze things as much as I do. In April, a friend told me I was making him crazy with all of my questions. … Continue reading Write About What You Know—and What You Don’t Know
I’ve been thinking of rejection a lot lately—and I’ve realized I’m pretty darn good at it! How did this happen? Was I always good at rejection? Is it something to be proud of? I did a bit of research. Experts would agree that North Americans are more or less proficient when it comes to maintaining … Continue reading Rejection 101
If you google “slab” you’ll find: noun 1. a large, thick, flat piece of stone, concrete, or wood, typically rectangular. "paving slabs" verb 1. remove slabs from (a log or tree) to prepare it for sawing into planks. Until April, in my mind, slabs were either a type of fencing used to corral pigs or large hunks of … Continue reading Pottery: Slabs are my Thing