[2020-08-06] First day of health leave - where my story begins: a week after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer and my first day on medical leave

[2020-08-14] First oncologist visit - discussion of my prognosis and next steps: surgery and chemotherapy

[2020-08-19] Pre-op and blessings - pre-op consultations with a registered nurse, an anesthesiologist and a pharmacist

[2020-08-29] Surgery - longer note - a report on my surgery and day one of my recovery

[2020-08-30] Little victories - progress two days after my surgery: disappearance of nausea, removal of the tube into my stomach and the catheter into my bladder, reduction of my medication through the epidural, start of solid food

[2020-09-05] Mental energy - return of mental energy, a good sign of my recovery

[2020-09-06] Physical energy - return of physical energy, reflecting how I measure success these days: in slow baby steps rather than brisk strides

[2020-09-11] Milestones - recovery is not linear: I can have a good day followed by a not-so-good day; I can have one pain disappear, only to be replaced by a different ache; I can feel mentally and physically energized one day, only to lose the drive to move around the next

[2020-09-16] Week-over-week progress - comparing my progress in recovering from surgery on a weekly basis is more helpful than comparing it on a daily basis

[2020-09-23] Baking - further signs of my post-surgery recovery: walking faster than my 13½-year-old dog, going up and down stairs with ease, sleeping with little discomfort, and baking on my own

[2020-09-24] Post-op oncology visit - confirmation that my cancer was at stage 3 and that the surgery was optimal

[2020-10-01] First chemotherapy session - a report on my first of six rounds of chemotherapy

[2020-10-02] Pyjama day - a description of how I felt on the day after my first round of chemotherapy: tired but not especially sick

[2020-10-03] Worse than the first - a description of how I felt on the second day after my first round of chemotherapy: more nausea and pain, and less energy and appetite

[2020-10-17] Messy and magical - confirmation that my ovarian cancer tumours contained a mutation in my BRCA2 gene, which is the gene that suppresses tumours

[2020-10-20] Hair loss - the first signs of hair loss: a sore spot on my scalp and wet strands of hair clinging to my shoulders, the walls and floor of the shower as I took my shower

[2020-10-22] Chemo treatment #2 - my second chemo proceeded more quickly, due in part to the fact that I knew what to expect

[2020-10-26] Buzz cut - my husband shaved my head; I thought: "Lose hair, but don't lose hope."

[2020-10-27] Genetic testing - implications of and next steps in my testing for genetic mutations that could increase my risk for further cancers

[2020-11-10] Going public - my first day of publishing my blog to the world rather than simply sharing it via email; sharing my story in a public way is scary, but the potential for good outweighs the possibilities for bad

[2020-11-13] Chemo #3 and 100th post - I watched I Am Woman, the story of Helen Reddy, the Australian singer best known for her song of the same name; when that song played in the film, I cried, but I also felt inspired

[2020-11-16] COVID silver lining - the things we've learned to do to guard against COVID—washing our hands, wearing a mask, physically distancing from others—are exactly the kinds of things we would want to be doing to protect me while immunocompromised during cancer treatment

[2020-11-18] Patterns of recovery and online shopping - data about the impact of chemotherapy on my water consumption, nausea and energy

[2020-11-26] Happiness - happiness comes from contributing despite being in chemotherapy: "happiness is not a state of euphoria, but rather a state of wellness, peace, and innate love"

[2020-12-02] Just part of the process - low neutrophils and delays in chemo treatments are part of the process

[2020-12-03] Chemo #4 and good news - after three rounds of chemotherapy, I received news that the level of cancer antigen (CA125) in my blood was normal

[2020-12-24] Five down - Christmas came early: my neutrophils were high enough (just high enough!) to proceed with my fifth round of chemo, right on schedule

[2020-12-26] Nausea and love - a reflection of the nausea I felt after my fifth round of chemotherapy

[2021-01-07] Eyebrows and eyelashes - I lost the hair on my head after my second chemotherapy treatment and my eyebrows and eyelashes after my fourth chemo; it didn't bother me to lose my hair, even though it made me look more ill than I felt

[2021-01-08] Carrying on - my resolve to continue living my life despite my encounter with occasionally somber healthcare professionals

[2021-01-09] A nap and kind words - still feeling down after a somber meeting with my oncologist, I decided to take a nap and felt better for it, along with kind words from readers

[2021-01-14] Final chemo and ringing the bell - the final step in my chemotherapy treatments, and the beginning of hope that these interventions have slayed my cancer

[2021-01-18] I am - I am more than a cancer patient; I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, employee, lover, baker, writer, storyteller, woman, survivor

[2021-02-02] Follow-up oncology appointment - an update of my layer cake analogy regarding everything on my side to increase my chances of survival: Layer 1 - good base health, Layer 2 - successful surgery, Layer 3 - successful chemotherapy, Layer 4 - maintenance drug (outcome to be determined)

[2021-02-11] Phase 3 - start of the third phase of my treatment for ovarian cancer: a maintenance drug designed to keep cancer cells from growing

[2021-02-16] Medication - I misread the instructions on my new drug to treat ovarian cancer and was taking only half the prescribed dose, illustrating how easy it is to misread a medication label

[2021-02-19] Managing your healthcare - results of blood work to ensure that my new medication (the PARP inhibitor olaparib) is not overtaxing my immune system

[2021-02-21] 200th post - a reflection on living with cancer, taking inspiration from poet and historian Jennifer Michael Hecht quote that begins "We could stop being lost if we were to just stop trying to get out of the forest."

[2021-02-26] A thousand-mile journey - results of key indicators, including my CA125, and a look back at the milestones in my ovarian cancer journey, one on which hundreds of people have joined me

[2021-03-05] Results, side effects and growth - an update on treatment side effects, and optimism about the growth and regrowth I am experiencing as I continue to deal with ovarian cancer

[2021-03-10] Showing up - an update on my adjustment to olaparib (Lynparza) and the lingering effects of chemotherapy, such as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

[2021-03-14] Give it enough time - parallels between my recovery and baking bread: both require patience

[2021-03-26] Blue sky - admission of the despair I feel in the face of the enormity of ovarian cancer, but with the conviction that—in time—the dark cloud hanging over me will move on and the blue sky will appear once again

[2021-03-30] Living - after a visit to my family's sugar bush today and a call with my family doctor, I feel better than I have in a few days—more optimistic, more knowledgeable, and more motivated to continue the fight

[2021-04-09] Genetic testing results - announcing the results of my genetic testing, which found that I have a mutation in my BRCA2 gene in all my cells

[2021-04-13] Tests and fears - an acknowledgement that I worry about the possibility of a recurrence of ovarian cancer in addition to fretting that I will develop breast cancer given my BRCA2 gene change

[2021-04-20] COVID vaccine: first dose - as a cancer patient, I was eligible to receive the vaccine earlier than most people

[2021-05-04] Coaching - my first call with an Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation coach, a healthcare professional with a background in oncology, who said that sometimes, coaching is about giving coachees an opportunity to hear their own voice

[2021-05-05] Latest CA125 result - the first month my CA125 is 7

[2021-05-28] Womanhood - how I felt facing cancer in the context of society's views of what it means to be a woman

[2021-06-03] Lucky 7 - getting a 7 on my CA125 is like Christmas every time I see a figure like that

[2021-07-07] The power of 7 - my latest CA125 result: three 7s in a row, landing on the 7th day of the 7th month in '21

[2021-07-29] A year in my cancer journey - a look back on the year since I learned that I had ovarian cancer, one marked by greater presence in the lives of my family members, tremendous love and concern, and many little victories

[2021-08-04] CA125: the good news continues - my CA125 remains at 7, representing 8 months with my cancer marker in the normal range

[2021-08-17] Just clean the vanity - what started out as a plan to just clean the vanity turned into a complete washing of two bathrooms, which made me feel like my pre-cancer energy was back

[2021-08-23] COVID test and ultrasound - results of two tests: negative for COVID and no new issues identified during an abdominal ultrasound to check my gallbladder

[2021-08-24] Inherited faulty gene - the results of my mom's genetic testing—shared with her blessing and encouragement—indicating that she does not carry the BRCA2 gene change that I do, meaning I inherited my faulty BRCA2 gene from my father

[2020-08-27] Preparations - visits from family, gifts from colleagues and friends—all in support of my surgery tomorrow

[2020-08-28] Surgery - short note - a quick update to say surgery was a success and that I felt all the support

[2020-10-06] Acceptance - coping with the effects of chemotherapy: lightheadedness (perhaps from a lack of hydration) and tingling in my fingertips

[2021-09-02] Whole heart - a post about hope—how easy it is to lose it, and how important it is to maintain it; I am striving to enjoy life, not wasting my days anticipating worse ones ahead, and taking comfort in my latest CA125 result: another lucky 7

[2021-09-03] Wear Teal Day - an update on today's follow-up with a member of The Ottawa Hospital gynecologic oncology team, who informed me that I would move to calls once every three months rather than every month

[2021-10-07] Nadia Chaudhri's story - a comparison of my cancer journey with that of Nadia Chaudhri, a Concordia University professor who documented the last few months of her life on Twitter

[2021-12-04] CKCU-FM Interview - an interview with Bob LeDrew, host of CKCU FM's Can I Have a Word?, about my cancer journey

[2022-03-03] Good for another month - a reminder, upon receipt of my latest CA125, that your body is the one home you will always occupy and can never sell

[2022-03-11] Quarterly oncology follow-up - everything continues to look very good: consistently low CA125, recent MRI suggesting no recurrence of ovarian malignancy, positive blood work results) men

[2022-04-20] New video: nine questions - an interview I did with UK-based Frog Systems, sharing my story of living with ovarian cancer by answering nine questions

[2022-04-26] Meanderings with Trudy - an interview Trudy Chapman did with me for her excellent podcast Meanderings with Trudy, which explores joy through the stories and lives of regular people and examines what makes life good

[2022-05-07] Interview with Diana - highlights from an interview with Diana Ash, who—like me—is an ovarian cancer survivor and uses her various platforms to draw attention to the disease and its symptoms

[2022-06-10] A very pleasant lady - the results of my brief quarterly check-in with my gynecologic oncology team, a discovery I made in MyChart,and a cute story about being pleasant

[2022-06-23] I had cancer - my latest CA125 test and a recent shift in my language from "I have cancer" to "I had cancer"

[2022-07-21] Living beyond ovarian cancer - a change in my language from "I have cancer" to "I had cancer" and from "living with ovarian cancer" to "living beyond ovarian cancer"

[2022-07-29] Two years later - life two years after my ovarian cancer diagnosis; my husband and I spent the day in Perth doing something very different from what we had done on July 29, 2020

[2022-08-18] Another 7 - my latest CA125 result (another 7) is more than a number; it represents another month with no evidence of disease, another month of life, another month of being present for family and friends, and another month of writing and making a positive contribution to the world

[2022-09-13] Quarterly oncology follow-up September 2022 - a quick update following today's quarterly oncology follow-up: I remain stable, with no evidence of ovarian cancer recurrence

[2022-09-28] The four stages of change - I used my story of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer to illustrate the four stages of change: shock, anger or fear, acceptance, commitment

[2022-10-18] My cancer journey - reflections on the value to me and others of documenting my cancer journey as I live it, as opposed to looking back with rose-coloured glasses at what I experienced; we all have storehouses of information and assets that others wou) menld appreciate accessing if they knew they existed and could easily put their hands on items of interest

[2022-11-09] The controllable and the uncontrollable - reflecting on what things related to my cancer are beyond my control and what things are within my power to influence

[2022-12-08] A momentous milestone - two years with a CA125 in the normal range

[2022-12-13] Quarterly oncology follow-up December 2022 - evidence for a continued benefit from olaparib among those with a BRCA mutation years after they stop taking the maintenance drug

[2023-01-05] Two years on - confirmation that my CA125 remains normal, steady and low

[2023-02-02] Groundhog Day - getting another positive CA125 result is like the best form of Groundhog Day

[2023-02-10] A hope-filled gynecologic oncology follow-up - Dr. Faught said something that is rarely heard among ovarian cancer patients: "You could remain in long-term remission and, at some point, we might even say you're cured."

[2023-03-01] CA125 and hope - my latest CA125 result and reflections on the power of stories like mine to give hope to others

[2023-03-30] The beat goes on - continued low and steady CA125

[2023-04-12] The hope of science - the story of a woman who—like me—has a mutation in her BRCA2 gene and has been taking the targeted drug olaparib; once told that her ovarian cancer had spread and was inoperable, she went on a clinical trial for the drug and is still going strong, 12 years later

[2023-04-27] CA125: new number - a new CA125 result that I haven't gotten before: a 9; for more than two years, my CA125 has been a 7 or an 8, but even a 9 is well within the normal range of 0 to 35

[2023-05-12] Nurse Jacinthe and National Nursing Week - an update on my latest oncology follow-up and a celebration of one very important nurse in my cancer journey

[2023-08-28] Three years after ovarian cancer surgery - three years since my surgery to deal with ovarian cancer—every year without a recurrence of ovarian cancer is a reason to have hope that it won't come back

[2023-09-08] Feeling safe - safety is a place where I can be myself, feel accepted, and have confidence that the people around me care about my well-being

[2023-09-12] Ovarian cancer follow-up, CA125 and a sequel - promising news from today's ovarian cancer follow-up along with my latest CA125 number

[2023-10-13] CA125 October 2023 - my latest CA125 test result remains normal and steady

[2023-10-24] Ovarian Cancer Canada Board of Directors - announcement of my appointment as a new director to the Ovarian Cancer Canada Board of Directors

[2023-12-05] CA125 and a hopeful message - my latest CA125 result, which feels like a Christmas present and a three-year anniversary gift all rolled into one, and a hopeful message for those experiencing cancer, other serious illnesses or the sickness of a loved one

[2023-12-08] Gynecologic oncology follow-up December 2023 - a summary of my meeting today with my oncologist for my three-month follow-up on ovarian cancer

[2024-01-04] CA125 January 2024 - a poem to share my January 2024 CA125 result: another glorious 7

[2024-02-07] Breast reconstruction decision and CA125 - my final decision regarding breast reconstruction following my prophylactic bilateral mastectomy last summer and subsequent complication as well as my latest CA125 result

[2024-03-06] CA125 March 2024 - my latest CA125: another low, steady, single-digit result

[2024-03-08] Ovarian cancer follow-up March 2024 - the outcome of my quarterly ovarian cancer follow-up suggests that I'm in the best category of the best category of people with this disease; this was not a given, so I'm grateful to be where I am

[2024-04-05] CA125 April 2024 - my latest CA125: another reassuring 8

[2024-05-01] CA125 May 2024 - the results of today's CA125 test: another normal level and another reason to be grateful

[2024-06-05] CA125 June 2024 - my latest CA125 result: another 7

[2024-06-11] Ovarian cancer follow-up June 2024 - an update on my quarterly ovarian cancer follow-up, including questions pertaining to olaparib and studies regarding the drug's efficacy and the reduction in risk of cancer recurrence over time

[2024-07-03] Chris Evert and my latest CA125 - my latest CA125 (a reassuring 7) and an update of a story on tennis great Chris Evert, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2021

[2024-07-29] Diagnosis: ovarian cancer - four years, to the day, that I learned I had ovarian cancer—an opportunity to continue raising awareness about ovarian cancer

[2024-08-07] CA125 and talking to strangers - my latest CA125 result and the story of two conversations I had today, which demonstrate that we can positively influence strangers and near strangers in the simplest ways

[2024-09-04] CA125 and radiation oncology follow-up - positive results from today's monthly blood work as part of my ovarian cancer follow-up and yesterday's semi-annual visit with my radiation oncologist as part of my perianal skin cancer follow-up

[2024-10-02] CA125, genetic testing and National Hereditary Cancer Week - my latest CA125 (continued good news) along with information on genetic testing, National Hereditary Cancer Week and Previvor Day

[2024-10-18] Ovarian cancer follow-up October 2024 - a discussion with my gynecological oncologist about discontinuing my use of the ovarian cancer maintenance drug olaparib should an upcoming CT scan show no evidence of disease

[2024-11-06] Up-and-down day and CA125 - reflections on my up-and-down day, examples of what uplifted me and strategies for coping when life feels out of control

[2024-11-18] CT scan to check for ovarian cancer recurrence - though a cancer recurrence is not suspected, the CT scan was ordered to check whether there are any signs of cancerous tumours, in advance of a conversation about potentially discontinuing my use of the maintenance drug olaparib

[2024-11-19] My interview with the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition - a seven-minute video of an interview I did with the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, focusing on my experience as a carrier of a mutation in my BRCA2 gene, which not only contributed to my ovarian cancer but also put me at increased risk of developing other cancers, most notably breast cancer

[2024-11-21] CT scan results - the results of Monday's CT scan of my abdomen, pelvis and chest, which was done to look for any possible cancer incidence or recurrence; bottom line: "No recurrent or metastatic disease in the abdomen or pelvis" and "No thoracic malignancy"

[2024-11-22] Next step in my ovarian cancer journey - my decision to discontinue my ovarian cancer maintenance drug, olaparib, based on a clear recommendation from my oncologist

[2021-11-15] More surgery - surgery to remove what was thought to be precancerous cells in my perianal area

[2021-11-18] Day 3 post-surgery - speculation on whether the third day after surgery is the most difficult

[2021-11-22] Patience and time - an update on my slow recovery from surgery for perianal skin cancer and appreciation for Leo Tolstoy's quote: "The two most powerful warriors are patience and time."

[2021-12-15] More cancer - clarification that I had both precancerous and cancerous cells in my perianal area; this issue is not behind me

[2021-12-02] Setback - I developed an infection as a complication of my surgery for perianal skin cancer and spent a night in hospital after developing a fever

[2021-12-03] Home - a summary of my excellent care at The Ottawa Hospital to deal with an infection

[2022-01-03] Pelvic MRI - how I passed the time while getting a pelvic MRI to ensure that I didn't have cancer in my pelvic lymph nodes

[2022-01-05] First radiation treatment - first of 25 rounds of radiation to kill precancerous cells that remained after surgery

[2022-01-07] Lifesaving treatment - I see radiation therapy like chemotherapy: a life-saving treatment that will increase my chances of remaining in the lives of the people I love

[2022-01-10] Radiation oncology check-in #1 - a discussion of the advantages of radiation over surgery for dealing with precancerous cells that remained after surgery

[2022-01-13] Medical oncologist follow-up - confirmation from my medical oncologist that I had no cancer in my pelvic lymph nodes, that I would therefore not need chemotherapy, and that the chances of my having any recurrence of perianal skin cancer following radiation was very small

[2022-01-17] Radiation oncology check-in #2 - the only impact of my radiation to date is a mild tingling and a pink hue in the skin of the target area—nothing that a little cream can't soothe

[2022-01-24] Radiation oncology check-in #3 - the side effects of radiation (inflammation and prickling) have arrived, exactly halfway through my treatments

[2022-01-27] Radiation oncology check-in #3.5 - efforts I'm taking to cope with the side effects of radiation, including sitz baths to keep the treated area clean and provide a soothing coolness, antibacterial cream to hydrate my skin while ensuring that I don't develop an infection, and air to promote healing

[2022-01-31] Radiation oncology check-in #4 - the side effects from my pelvic radiation continue to accumulate and worsen: my entire pelvic area feels irritated and swollen; my skin has opened up; urinating is painful; I am fatigued

[2022-02-02] It can't rain forever - the toughest day since I began radiation; I spent the day in bed, dulling the pain with painkillers

[2022-02-03] Cheerleader - I met with Nurse Hilary, who recommended I add ibuprofen to the acetaminophen I was already taking and that I use an over-the-counter medication to deal with itch and irritation (Dermburo)

[2022-02-06] Chipil - it's okay to feel "chipil," a Mexican Spanish word for when people, especially young children, need hugs; if Morrie Schwartz, who battled ALS, could pause the pity party despite the certainty of his impending death, surely I could do that for something temporary like radiation treatment

[2022-02-07] Radiation oncology check-in #5 - how radiation treatment for perianal skin cancer differed from chemotherapy for ovarian cancer

[2022-02-08] End-of-radiation bell - ringing the bell to signify the end of my radiation treatments; I was more emotional than I thought I would be

[2022-02-15] Radiation recovery - an update on my recovery from radiation—documenting my experience with radiation therapy and increasing awareness of the challenging effects of this type of cancer treatment

[2022-02-18] Some day - a new timeline for my recovery from radiation treatment: it could take two weeks from my last radiation treatment before I start to improve, and some days after that before I recover fully

[2022-02-23] Looking up - hopeful signs that I have finally stopped sinking following the end of radiation therapy; I still have a few weeks of recovery ahead of me, but things are looking up

[2022-02-26] Christmas tree - we decided to keep our Christmas tree up until after I completed radiation therapy—a bit of cheer to lessen the discomfort of treatment

[2022-03-02] Practicing gratitude - an update on my slow recovery from radiation, but also a more hopeful focus on what I can control and what I'm grateful for

[2022-03-19] Radiation oncology check-in #6 - while my skin has healed completely, I continue to experience internal discomfort—to a small extent with urination and to a greater extent with bowel movements

[2022-04-27] Radiation oncology check-in #7 - an update on my recovery from radiation treatment, following a check-in with my radiation oncologist; with one exception, I feel completely back to normal

[2022-06-01] Surgical follow-up - a summary of today's follow-up with the surgeon who removed my perianal skin cancer last November, and a reflection on how far I've come in the more than a year I've been dealing with this issue

[2022-07-26] Radiation oncology check-in #8 - an update on my recovery from radiation treatment for perianal skin cancer; I've healed as well as can be expected

[2023-01-04] The first 100 days - major life changes (such as undergoing radiation therapy) will often make life harder for the first 100 days before improving—it's a reminder that early struggle doesn't mean it was a bad choice

[2023-01-20] Passing the time in an MRI - another technique for passing the time in an MRI: translating sentences into Brazilian Portuguese

[2023-01-26] Pelvic MRI results - results of my pelvic MRI, finding no evidence of a recurrence of perianal skin cancer

[2023-02-28] Radiation oncology follow-up - an update on my radiation oncology follow-up; I sometimes hesitate to share the side effects of radiation but do, in the end, because it's useful for people to understand the impacts of cancer treatment

[2023-07-25] Virginia rail, oncology follow-up and recovery day 18 - a follow-up appointment my radiation oncologist Dr. Jin, which confirmed no signs of recurrence of perianal skin cancer

[2024-03-19] Two years after radiation treatment - an update on my perianal skin cancer, two years after radiation treatment—an important milestone since most cancers that are going to come back do so in the first two years

[2024-09-04] CA125 and radiation oncology follow-up - positive results from today's monthly blood work as part of my ovarian cancer follow-up and yesterday's semi-annual visit with my radiation oncologist as part of my perianal skin cancer follow-up

[2021-04-16] MRI and COVID-19 vaccine - three weeks after learning of my faulty BRCA2 gene, I have up-to-date results from a mammogram and MRI, both of which are normal

[2021-05-25] Cancer coaching #2 - my second call with my cancer coach helped me prepare for a call with a breast surgical oncologist to discuss the possibility of having a preventive double mastectomy

[2021-06-02] 2b or not 2b - my first meeting with breast surgical oncologist Dr. Cordeiro to discuss the options for reducing my risk of breast cancer; option 2b (prophylactic bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction using implants) appeared to be the best choice

[2021-06-22] Cancer coaching #3 - appreciation for my cancer coach, whom I found through the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation; it's valuable to talk with someone who specializes in supporting people with cancer

[2021-09-08] 2b continued - my first meeting with plastic surgeon Dr. Frank to understand the options for reducing my risk of breast cancer

[2021-09-22] 2b goes on - a discussion with breast surgical oncologist Dr. Cordeiro about the risks and implications of a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction using implants

[2021-09-29] 2b determined and CA125 - my second meeting with plastic surgeon Dr. Frank at which I signed the paperwork to proceed with what I've called Option 2b: a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction using implants

[2021-10-26] Keep going - my third meeting with Dr. Cordeiro, at which I signed paperwork to proceed with a planned prophylactic bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction

[2022-03-29] Results and days - results of my mammogram and breast MRI (both normal!) and reflections on not 600 posts, but on 600+ days since the start of my life with, after and beyond cancer

[2023-03-24] Mammogram and breast MRI results - grateful for these annual diagnostic tests, which provide reassurance as I wait in a slow-moving queue for a planned prophylactic bilateral mastectomy

[2023-04-28] Health news - results of a breast ultrasound requested by my family doctor as a complement to my mammogram and breast MRI: negative, normal, everything is OK

[2023-06-13] Breast surgery update - the day I received a call to schedule my long-planned prophylactic bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction to reduce my risk of breast cancer

[2023-06-14] A day of gifts - reassurance from friends that I was making the right decision to have a bilateral mastectomy, which gave me tremendous peace of mind

[2023-06-19] CA125 and breast reconstruction - first meeting with Dr. Zhang (plastic surgeon), who will do my breast reconstruction after Dr. Cordeiro (breast surgical oncologist) removes my breast tissue

[2023-06-30] Setting up home nursing care - the countdown to my bilateral mastectomy a week from today; a call this morning to set up home care nursing made the surgery feel more real and imminent than it had previously

[2023-07-04] Reporter, columnist, blogger, writer - thoughts on different communicators—reporters, columnists, bloggers and writers—and a conversation I had with a pre-op nurse in advance of my prophylactic bilateral mastectomy

[2023-07-07] 2b done - a short post to let readers know I was back home after my bilateral mastectomy, feeling tired and sore but happy that the surgery was behind me

[2023-07-08] Surgery long note and recovery day 1 - details of the surgery for my bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction and an update on day 1 of recovery

[2023-07-09] Saturday Synopsis #51 and recovery day 2 - details of how I was feeling on the second day after surgery: on surgery day, my chest felt like the day after a new personal trainer had convinced me that I could bench press 50 pounds; the following day, it felt more like I had bench pressed 30 pounds; and today, it felt like I had lifted an unweighted barbell; I can also take deep breaths again with no discomfort

[2023-07-10] Recovery day 3 - update on my healing from my bilateral mastectomy; after an uncomfortable night, I enjoyed a relatively peaceful day

[2023-07-11] Recovery day 4 - today's update on my healing from my bilateral mastectomy, with a reminder to myself of why I took this path in the first place

[2023-07-12] Evert, Navratilova and recovery day 5 - the story of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, two women who shared tennis courts, friendship and experience with cancer; plus an update on my recovery, including today's visit by a home healthcare nurse

[2023-07-13] Good morning, good night and recovery day 6 - inspiring quotes from Lin-Manuel Miranda's book Gmorning, Gnight! Just as his book offers "little pep talks for me & you," my writing helps me (and perhaps others) to remember that this pain will pass

[2023-07-14] Recovery day 7 - the occasional steely stabbies have been replaced by intermittent tingling, of an intensity similar to that of Pop Rocks

[2023-07-15] Saturday Synopsis #52 and recovery day 8 - today was my best day since my bilateral mastectomy on July 7

[2023-07-16] Green heron and recovery day 9 - my first sighting of a green heron—a welcome find on our first walk around Rice Lake since my surgery; it brought a little joy on recovery day 9

[2023-07-17] Sweet treats and recovery day 10 - another "first" since surgery: baking on my own

[2023-07-18] Perspective, joy and recovery day 11 - two new "firsts" since my mastectomy (driving and taking a shower), a different perspective on my drains, and stories of recent kindnesses I have received and joys I have experienced

[2023-07-19] Letting go and recovery day 12 - an interview with author Isabel Allende on the podcast Wiser Than Me; Allende tells host Julia Louis-Dreyfus what she's letting go of, and I share what I'm letting go of, as my slow recovery continues

[2023-07-20] CA125 and recovery day 13 - the results of my latest CA125 and an update on my recovery from a bilateral mastectomy; if yesterday felt like one step backward, today felt like three steps forward

[2023-07-21] Girl's day, pathology and recovery day 14 - celebration of a girl's day I enjoyed with my daughter, the results of the surgical pathology report following my bilateral mastectomy, and acceptance of my reality

[2023-07-23] Goodness and recovery day 16 - some goodness that came into my life today in the form of a nurse (whose name means goodness) and a funny little pillow; recovery day 16 started rough but finished well

[2023-07-24] One down and recovery day 17 - celebration of a milestone—the removal of one of my two drains following my bilateral mastectomy—and applause for the nurses who have been angels during this healing process

[2023-07-25] Virginia rail, oncology follow-up and recovery day 18 - a discussion with a nurse at The Ottawa Hospital's Women's Breast Health Centre that I was feeling unwell but did not have a fever

[2023-07-26] Great blue heron and recovery day 19 - an update on today's bird sightings and my recovery

[2023-07-27] Setbacks and recovery day 20 - significant developments in my recovery; this was to be the day my second drain came out; it didn't go to plan

[2023-07-28] Steps forward, two down and recovery day 21 - a surgeon today in the Breast Health Centre diagnosed my breast infection as minor and removed my drain

[2023-07-29] Saturday Synopsis #54 and recovery day 22 - my right breast remains red and a little swollen, but it doesn't appear to be getting worse; my temperature hovers just below or just above a fever reading

[2023-07-30] Turning a corner and recovery day 23 - what I hope is a turning point in my recovery, characterized by no fever, more energy and a positive visit to nurses at a CBI Health community healthcare clinic

[2023-07-31] Roundabout and recovery day 24 - experiencing chills, fever, fatigue and mild discomfort and starting a new antibiotic

[2023-08-01] Wounds, wisdom and recovery day 25 - hope that today's energy and lack of fever bode well for the future and that a new appointment with the plastic surgery department tomorrow will bring reassurance that I am indeed on the road to recovery

[2023-08-02] Short update - I received some unexpected news at my appointment today: my right breast implant was infected to the point that it needed to be removed

[2023-08-03] More surgery and more recovery - details of the surgery to remove one of my breast implants, necessitated by a serious infection

[2023-08-04] Tears, detours and gifts - a few tears, but also optimism for the future, a celebration of my third wedding anniversary, and some of the many gifts I've received in the past 24 hours

[2023-08-08] The land of little victories - a post about measuring success by little victories—processing life as it is, rather than as I think it should be or wish it could be

[2023-08-09] Laughter heals many hurts - a lighter approach to my current situation—after almost a week as the unaboober, it's time to start laughing about the whole thing

[2023-08-10] 1100 posts and surgery follow-up - marking 1100 days that I've been documenting my story and—in the process—making many individuals feel a little less alone as they face challenges in their own lives

[2023-08-16] Breast surgery follow-up and CA125 - a follow-up with breast surgical oncologist Dr. Cordeiro after my bilateral mastectomy and explant; regardless of what happens with my reconstruction in the future, the fact remains that the mastectomy reduced my risk of breast cancer to one-tenth of what it was before

[2023-08-24] Breast surgery follow-up: healing well - a follow-up with plastic surgeon Dr. Zhang who noted that I am healing well and mentioned that if I wanted to have a new implant on the right, I would need to have two surgeries because the skin would need time to stretch to accommodate an implant of the same size as my existing one

[2023-09-04] I like living - a quote by one of my favourite authors, Agatha Christie, who comments on the gift of just being alive, and progress I've made since my prophylactic bilateral mastectomy

[2023-09-21] World Gratitude Day - a follow-up visit my my plastic surgeon and the arrival of a knitted knocker (made by my mom), which is soft, lightweight, easy to shape and highly adaptable; not quite the same size? add or remove stuffing; not quite the same shape? shift the batting around

[2023-10-04] What's meant to be - inspiration from a poem by Erin Hanson that embodies patience, positive self-talk and faith that things will work out; it reminds me of my breasts—mismatched today, but not forever

[2023-11-06] Breast reconstruction options - discussions with my plastic surgeon about options for breast reconstruction following the failure of one implant after a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction

[2023-12-18] Resilience and a little humour - a picture of me and my knitted knocker; as my family doctor noted, you'd never know which breast had an implant and which breast had a knitted knocker

[2024-02-07] Breast reconstruction decision and CA125 - my final decision regarding breast reconstruction following my prophylactic bilateral mastectomy last summer and subsequent complication as well as my latest CA125 result

[2024-02-23] Pelvic CT scan - another step on the road to my breast reconstruction surgery: a CT scan of my pelvis; the CT scan will identify where the blood vessels are in my belly, which will help my plastic surgeon plan the removal of two flaps of fat and tissue from my belly and their reconnection to blood vessels in my chest

[2024-02-29] Graduation from breast screening program - having had a bilateral mastectomy, I no longer need to have an annual mammogram or breast MRI

[2024-06-24] Pre-op call for breast reconstruction - while I still don't have a date for my breast reconstruction, I moved one step closer to that day when I took a call this morning from a nurse in The Ottawa Hospital admissions department to prepare for my upcoming surgery

[2024-07-11] Surgery date - the date and location of my breast reconstruction surgery, following a bilateral mastectomy a year ago to reduce my risk of breast cancer associated with a mutation in my BRCA2 gene

[2024-08-09] New date, new surgery - announcement of both a change in date for my breast reconstruction surgery and a change in plans: starting over with two new implants

[2024-08-19] Breast surgery pre-op - today's pre-op appointment at the Queensway Carleton Hospital is another step toward my breast reconstruction surgery on September 12

[2024-09-10] Nesting - a post about the drive I experienced today to get my household in order before my surgery in two days; it reminded me of the nesting instinct many pregnant women experience just before giving birth

[2024-09-11] 8:00 AM surgery - my breast reconstruction surgery is scheduled for 8:00 AM on Thursday, September 12, 2024

[2024-09-11] 2b the sequel - an update on today's breast reconstruction surgery—I'm home and resting after a successful surgery—along with a recap of what brought me here

[2024-09-13] Third time's the charm - more details about yesterday's surgery day and today's first day of recovery' I'm hopeful that my third surgery in the mastectomy-reconstruction journey will follow the adage "third time's the charm"

[2024-09-16] Mending - on Day 4 of recovering from breast reconstruction surgery, I slept better, had less pain, decreased my intake of pain medication, and had one of two drains removed

[2024-09-17] Keep on walking - a quote from theologian and philosopher Soren Kierkegaard on the power of walking—I miss walking and expect to start adding a few more steps each day, while being gentle on myself as I heal

[2024-09-18] A more patient patient - perhaps I'm feeling better about my recovery because I went into this period of recuperation with low expectations based on past surgeries, or maybe I'm becoming a more patient patient

[2024-09-19] Lunchtime walk - I took at lunchtime walk with my daughter—another step in my return to normalcy

[2024-09-20] "Looks great" - a reassuring update on my breast reconstruction surgery following this morning's check-in with my surgeon. Her assessment that everything looks great and her removal of my one remaining drain gave me a mental and physical boost

[2024-09-22] Richmond Fair 2024 - reflections on my continued recovery, the Richmond Fair, and feelings of familiarity and connection that come to me whenever I find myself in pastoral settings

[2024-09-23] World GO Day, stigma and women's health - reflections on women's health and stigma, and belated marking of World Gynecologic Oncology Awareness Day (or World GO Day, for short)

[2024-09-27] First expansion - the first expansion, following my breast reconstruction surgery, of my expandable implants—the procedure was efficient and painless

[2024-09-29] Sleeping after breast surgery - a description of my post-breast-surgery sleep routine; my strategy is based on what I've discovered works for me, advice from friends and ideas from the experts

[2024-10-01] Successful recovery continues - an update on my continued recovery from breast reconstruction surgery: all signs point toward a successful recuperation

[2024-10-02] CA125, genetic testing and National Hereditary Cancer Week - my latest CA125 (continued good news) along with information on genetic testing, National Hereditary Cancer Week and Previvor Day

[2024-10-15] Breast reconstruction recovery update - an update on my recovery from breast reconstruction surgery: I feel remarkably good a month after my operation and extraordinarily grateful for the healing my body has done

[2024-10-16] Speed bump on my road to recovery - a potential speed bump on my road to recovery: a possible rupture in one of my expandable implants

[2024-10-17] Thank you for your support - a thank you to the many people who reached out to commiserate with me on the latest setback in my breast reconstruction journey, to let me know that I'm not alone, and to reassure me that I would make it through this newest challenge

[2024-10-29] Breast reconstruction reset - an update on my breast reconstruction and two options for fixing my ruptured expandable implant: I expect to be back in surgery in the next one to two months to replace my faulty inflatable

[2020-08-18] Reaching out - suggestions on what to say to someone who has recently been diagnosed with cancer or another illness

[2020-09-02] Caring for the caregivers - encouragement to remember the family and friend caregivers in our lives—the people who are caring for ill loved ones while grappling with their own emotions, such as sadness, fear and guilt

[2020-09-13] Spoon theory - according to Christine Miserando, creator of the Spoon Theory, the difference between being sick and being healthy is the amount of energy you have to spend on everyday activities

[2020-10-13] Permission to feel all emotions - a list of emotions associated with cancer and my reflections on the extent to which I have felt these feelings and my sense of how those around me are experiencing these same sentiments

[2021-02-17] Overcoming - often we hear only one part of the story: the beginning or the end, and, even less often, the middle; there is value in seeing the full arc of someone's experience of living with cancer; just as I have learned to co-exist with winter and even experience moments of joy despite the cold and ice and snow, I have learned to co-exist with cancer

[2021-02-23] Sitting with negativity - people who insist on positivity may end up minimizing other people's feelings because of their own discomfort with unhappiness, shaming others when they don't have a positive attitude, alienating and isolating those who are already struggling, or shutting others down, thereby preventing them from voicing what they're experiencing; this posts offers alternatives to statements one might hear in an organization given to toxic positivity

[2021-10-30] The what-if tree - the what-if tree has a sturdy trunk with strong roots at the bottom—that’s the present moment; as you climb the what-if tree, with each branching what-if scenario the branches get thinner and your footing gets shakier; at some point, it’s not useful to think that far ahead

[2021-12-01] You are valuable - tips for talking with someone who feels like a burden because they are ill and not capable of doing everything they did in the past

[2022-01-26] How to talk to someone who has cancer - advice for supporting someone newly diagnosed with cancer

[2022-02-20] Family matters - the next time you ask someone how their ill family member is doing, follow it up with a question about how they are doing—the caregivers need as much support as the patients, perhaps even more

[2022-02-22] In your words: cancer's impact on loved ones - stories of the profound grief experienced by people who have lost a loved one to cancer, with a glimmer of hope

[2022-04-05] National Caregiver Day - a post about National Caregiver Day, a national awareness campaign led by Carers Canada (a coalition of organizations dedicated to increasing recognition and support for caregivers); the 2022 campaign includes my story

[2022-10-28] How to validate someone - the first thing we need to do when someone approaches us expressing sadness, disappointment, frustration or any negative emotion is to validate; this post offers four steps to validating someone, including specific language

[2023-06-01] Supporting a cancer patient - tips for supporting a cancer patient you know a little and a cancer patient you know a lot

[2023-06-05] Supporting a loved one from a distance - practical tips based on research and my own experience of being supported during my cancer treatment, often by people who weren't able to be physically present in my life

[2023-08-17] Shared joys make a friend - a post about the contributions we make to science and future patients through the medical treatments we undergo today, the value of speaking plainly and publicly about health challenges, and the gift we give to loved ones when we allow them to help us

[2023-11-02] Caregiver activation - a summary of a study that concludes that supporting caregivers in gaining knowledge, skills and confidence to provide care to a loved one may improve their own well‐being

[2024-03-03] Compendium of posts: Caregivers - a compendium of posts for caregivers, offering suggestions on how to care for a loved one while acknowledging and addressing your own needs, and reminding all of us to care for the caregivers

[2024-04-03] National Caregiver Day 2024 - marking National Caregiver Day, which increases recognition and support for caregivers, and World Autism Awareness Day, which promotes acceptance and appreciation of autistic people and their contributions to society

[2020-08-11] Exercise - why exercise is recommended for cancer patients

[2020-08-13] What cancer cannot do - a reflection on what cancer cannot take away and, in fact, what it might give

[2020-09-01] Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month - a quick description of the symptoms of ovarian cancer and which ones I experienced

[2020-10-13] Permission to feel all emotions - a list of emotions associated with cancer and my reflections on the extent to which I have felt these feelings and my sense of how those around me are experiencing these same sentiments

[2020-10-29] The role of genes in cancer - information about cancer in general and hereditary breast and ovarian cancer in particular

[2020-10-31] Halloween isn't just for treats - the inspiring story of grade-2 student Ethan Smallwood of Newfoundland who raised more than $25,000 for cancer research by dressing up for Halloween as his hero, Terry Fox

[2020-11-03] Cancer's impact on the family - acknowledgement that family members can experience even more distress than the cancer patient

[2020-11-06] Fatigue and exercise - recommendations from the Mayo Clinic to continue light exercise, eat well and drink lots of fluids while on cancer treatment

[2020-11-15] Eating and cancer - tips for cancer patients for healthy eating and food safety from the US National Cancer Institute's booklet Eating Hints: Before, during, and after Cancer Treatment

[2020-11-27] Staying strong - six ways to remain strong while undergoing chemotherapy

[2020-12-10] In support of youth - a story from Kurt Vonnegut that being good at things is less important than trying a bunch of experiences that help us acquire skills, that teach us things and that make us interesting persons

[2020-12-21] Stories - excerpts from Forever Terry: A Legacy in Letters, a book about the extraordinary contribution of Terry Fox and the value of stories

[2020-12-29] Terry Fox's challenge - more tributes to Terry from Forever Terry: A Legacy in Letters, including from Steve Nash, Perdita Felicien and Catriona Le May Doan, as well as Terry's own words

[2021-01-04] Lessons from the great big C - a poem by John Brewer (whose mother died of ovarian cancer) based on a post about what cancer has taught me

[2021-02-08] Recovery time - perspectives on how long it takes to recover from cancer treatment

[2021-02-17] Overcoming - often we hear only one part of the story: the beginning or the end, and, even less often, the middle; there is value in seeing the full arc of someone's experience of living with cancer; just as I have learned to co-exist with winter and even experience moments of joy despite the cold and ice and snow, I have learned to co-exist with cancer

[2021-02-20] Making the best - inspiration from comedian Gilda Radner (who died of ovarian cancer), who said: "I've learned what I can control is whether I am going to live a day in fear and depression and panic, or whether I am going to attack the day and make it feel as good a day, as wonderful a day, as I can."

[2021-03-01] Tools and techniques - tips for dealing with the side effects and implications of cancer treatment, such as taking medications on a full stomach, using an app to keep track of medications, and using a heating pad

[2021-03-07] Ovarian cancer awareness - five facts everyone should know about ovarian cancer

[2021-04-30] Survivors - a post about the benefits of positivity for those dealing with cancer; connecting with others, both survivors and supporters, can help in cultivating gratitude and optimism

[2021-05-02] Acceptance of my story - gratitude toward Jenesis readers who have given me the latitude to normalize a conversation about cancer

[2021-05-08] World Ovarian Cancer Day - an occasion to retrace the discovery of my disease and, in recounting my story, to remind readers of the symptoms of ovarian cancer

[2021-06-04] Active - a photo showing me engaged in physical activity as part of a Government of Canada active movement initiative (#GCActive); my daily walk is an integral part of my recovery from ovarian cancer

[2021-06-26] Fundraising for Beau’s 5K for Ovarian Cancer Canada - invitation to support my fundraising effort to advance progress on and awareness of ovarian cancer

[2021-07-02] Tomorrow's fundraising walk - an update on fundraising for my walk tomorrow in the Beau's 5K for Ovarian Cancer Canada

[2021-07-03] A huge thank you! - in the past 24 hours, you more than doubled my fundraising total for the Beau's 5K for Ovarian Cancer Canada, from $3,436 to $7,086

[2021-07-05] Final tally - together, we raised $7,741 for the Beau's 5K for Ovarian Cancer Canada, and your likes and shares of and comments on my social media posts help to raise awareness of ovarian cancer

[2021-08-13] Mysteries you do not yet understand - inspiration from a quote attributed to Rembrandt: "Paint what you already know, and in time you will discover the mysteries you do not yet understand."

[2021-08-28] Cancer fundraisers: two choices - an invitation to support me in one of two upcoming fundraising efforts: the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope and the Terry Fox Run

[2021-09-01] Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month #2 - five things you may not know about ovarian cancer

[2021-09-10] A penny a post - with 400 posts published, if each of the several thousand readers who follow Jenesis donated a penny per post to the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope or the Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research, the individual contributions would be $4, but the total would be much larger

[2021-09-12] Walk of Hope appreciation - thank you for your support of my Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope; together, we raised $1,295, which will help provide support for people and families affected by ovarian cancer, raise public awareness and fund much-needed research

[2021-09-19] Terry Fox Run appreciation - a thank-you to all my donors, cheerleaders and social media sharers for making my first Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research memorable: we raised $1,030 for cancer research in Terry's name and I was humbled to wear a red Terry Fox shirt today

[2021-10-20] Cancer Champions Breakfast - with a link to a documentary that reminds us that nearly 1 in 2 Canadians will develop cancer in their lifetime and that shares the stories of four cancer patients

[2021-10-28] Charitable Campaign videos - highlights from, and links to, English and French videos I recorded in support of the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign

[2022-01-15] Chris Evert diagnosed with ovarian cancer - tennis champion Chris Evert was diagnosed with Stage 1 ovarian cancer after genetic testing showed that her sister, Jeanne, who had died of ovarian cancer carried a pathogenic variant in her BRCA1 gene

[2022-01-26] How to talk to someone who has cancer - advice for supporting someone newly diagnosed with cancer

[2022-01-28] How has a loved one's cancer affected you? - a invitation to readers to share how a loved one's cancer has affected them; for instance, one person noted that a cancer diagnosis in a friend or family members has left him feeling frustrated, powerless and fatigued

[2022-02-04] World Cancer Day - more than a third of all cancers can be prevented by reducing your exposure to risk factors such as tobacco, obesity, physical inactivity, infections, alcohol, environmental pollution, occupational carcinogens and radiation

[2022-02-09] Not the same after cancer - since getting cancer, I am more focused on my immediate family, have deeper relationships with members of my extended family, have reconnected with friends from my past, have met many people who have been inspired by my story—in short, my life is richer now than before cancer

[2022-02-20] Family matters - the next time you ask someone how their ill family member is doing, follow it up with a question about how they are doing—the caregivers need as much support as the patients, perhaps even more

[2022-03-22] The other side - the part that comes after the treatment—when we celebrate our own success and, later, when we cheer the success of those who come after us

[2022-03-27] Breast MRI - guidelines for breast screening, who qualifies as high risk and how to access breast screening (with a focus on Ontario)

[2022-03-30] Aging and cancer - inspiration from a discussion of aging on Glennon Doyle's podcast We Can Do Hard Things in which guest Ashton Applewhite dispels some of the myths about aging, which are similar to those pertaining to cancer

[2022-05-08] World Ovarian Cancer Day 2022 - a summary of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer

[2022-05-15] FiftyForFox fundraiser - Lauren Small is doing a 10 km run in each of Canada's provinces to raise money for The Terry Fox Foundation; her campaign, #FiftyForFox Canadian Tour, refers not only to her fundraising goal of $50,000 but also to her age, a beautiful and vibrant 50 years

[2022-06-06] Surviving and thriving - reflecting on National Cancer Survivors Day, I'm happy to be a cancer survivor, but even happier to serve as an example to inspire the newly diagnosed

[2022-08-08] Annual cancer fundraising walks 2022 - an invitation to readers to support my annual walks to raise money for Ovarian Cancer Canada and The Terry Fox Foundation

[2022-08-19] Brighter future - modeling this year's Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope t-shirt and sharing the slogan for this year's walk: Taking steps for a brighter future

[2022-08-24] Terry's Team - modeling this year's t-shirt for cancer survivors participating in the Terry Fox Fun; I hope to continue adding to my collection of Terry Fox Run t-shirts for many years

[2022-09-01] The whispering cancer - a reminder of the symptoms of ovarian cancer

[2022-09-11] Walk of Hope 2022 - a report on my participation in my first in-person Walk of Hope for Ovarian Cancer Canada

[2022-09-20] World Gynecologic Oncology Day - information about gynecologic cancers (cervical, ovarian, uterine [endometrial], vulvar, vaginal), including the symptoms

[2022-10-10] Cancer and mental health - a World Mental Health Day post speaking to cancer and the unique mental health journey of each person living with and surviving cancer

[2022-11-01] Life after cancer - sharing my story provides hope to those who have just been diagnosed with cancer and who wonder whether they will be OK, to those in the middle of treatment and who question whether they will ever feel whole again, and to people who have completed treatment but who worry that their cancer will return

[2022-11-08] Wild and precious life - inspiring, hopeful and realistic stories from four survivors of ovarian cancer

[2022-12-12] The cancer queue - how sharing your experience with cancer or another challenge, even if it's to a tiny audience, makes a difference—in the moment and in the months or years that follow

[2022-12-27] Just live - "just live" is the motto of Michelle Hughes, a PEI woman with a rare form of cancer, who refuses to be defined within the three-year lifetime her doctors told her she had to live

[2023-01-31] Writing through cancer - expressive writing is writing about thoughts and feelings related to stressful or traumatic life experiences without concern for style, spelling, punctuation or grammar

[2023-02-19] Elective removal of fallopian tubes - a summary of a CBC article about the option to remove the fallopian tubes when undergoing pelvic surgeries for benign conditions as a way of reducing the risk of ovarian cancer

[2023-03-20] Coincidental encounters - those of us who have gone through cancer and survived just get on with life: we work or volunteer or travel, we savour life, we do not spend our days thinking about cancer, or maybe we busy ourselves with life so as not to think about the possibility of cancer recurrence

[2023-05-08] World Ovarian Cancer Day 2023 - awareness of this illness helps everyone—those diagnosed with ovarian cancer, those at risk of developing the disease, and everyone who loves them

[2023-05-16] Healthy eating tips - a webinar organized by Ovarian Cancer Canada provided healthy eating tips, particularly for people in active treatment for cancer

[2023-06-26] National Cancer Wellness Awareness Day - celebrating the fact that cancer and wellness can coexist

[2023-06-01] Supporting a cancer patient - tips for supporting a cancer patient you know a little and a cancer patient you know a lot

[2023-06-05] Supporting a loved one from a distance - practical tips based on research and my own experience of being supported during my cancer treatment, often by people who weren't able to be physically present in my life

[2023-08-14] Gearing up for September's cancer walks - preparations for my participation in Ovarian Cancer Canada's Walk of Hope (September 10) and The Terry Fox Foundation's Terry Fox Run (September 17)

[2023-09-03] Walk of Hope and Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month - we are more likely to notice a famous person's diagnosis with a given disease when we know someone who has personally faced the same illness, so there is value in both types of stories—those of the well known and those of the little known

[2023-09-10] Walk of Hope 2023 - a report on today's Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope; it was a pleasure to talk to other Teal Sisters, people who are living with ovarian cancer, and the loved ones who support them

[2023-09-17] Terry Fox Run 2023 - a report on today's Terry Fox Run and a heartwarming story of a conversation with a boy who—upon seeing my red cancer-survivor's T-shirt—said that Terry Fox was a real hero; I agreed

[2022-09-18] Terry Fox Run 2022 - my thanks to everyone who supported me in the Terry Fox Run I did with my son, and who liked, shared and commented on my social media posts

[2023-09-20] World GO Day 2023 - World Gynecologic Oncology Day (World GO Day for short) aims to improve awareness of gynecological cancers: cervical, ovarian, uterine (endometrial), vulvar and vaginal

[2023-09-22] Variant of uncertain significance - two people who test positive for a change in a given gene may have different variants that fall within different categories—some pathogenic, some of uncertain significance, and some benign

[2023-09-26] Early cancer detection - a report on an Ovarian Cancer Canada webinar about a research initiative aimed at developing a blood test for the early detection of cancer in people at high risk of the disease

[2023-10-30] Solving the puzzle of ovarian cancer - a summary of a fascinating interview in The Ottawa Hospital Foundation's Pulse podcast with Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden, a senior research scientist with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, who described two scientific breakthroughs she and her team have made in recent years—discoveries that give her hope for a reduction in the risk of ovarian cancer and new treatments for the disease

[2023-11-01] World Ovarian Cancer Coalition - a post about some of the excellent work being done by the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition

[2023-11-09] Ovarian Cancer Canada's bold new look - Ovarian Cancer Canada's bold new look embodies the organization's ambitious mission to boldly and unapologetically take action against ovarian cancer until the number of deaths from this disease is zero

[2024-02-04] World Cancer Day: spotlight on cervical cancer - the Union for International Cancer Control—which leads World Cancer Day efforts to raise awareness, improve education and promote action on cancer—has put a spotlight on cervical cancer, which it describes as "one of the most highly preventable and curable forms of cancer"

[2024-02-05] Every so often - a post about the experience of some cancer survivors—even me, from time to time—who worry about cancer recurrence

[2024-02-15] Ovarian Cancer Canada appears at health committee - a spotlight on Ovarian Cancer Canada's appearance before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health, including information on what it delivered with the $10 million the Government of Canada entrusted to it in 2019

[2024-02-25] Prevention of ovarian and cervical cancers and treatment of endometrial cancer - key points in the testimony of five expert witnesses before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health on February 12, 2024; the topics covered included the prevention of ovarian cancer and cervical cancer and the treatment of endometrial cancer

[2024-04-22] Hope through research - the research presented at the Ovarian Cancer Canada Board of Directors meeting gives me hope that one day the disease will be curable and preventable

[2024-05-03] Honouring Diane Deans - a message I sent today to former Ottawa councillor Diane Deans, who is in palliative care because of ovarian cancer

[2024-05-08] World Ovarian Cancer Day 2024 - in honour of World Ovarian Cancer Day, a post about the few opportunities to prevent ovarian cancer—through genetic testing and opportunistic salpingectomy—as well as the importance of awareness

[2024-05-13] Good worth working for - praise for ovarian cancer patient Diana Austin, who—in her own words—has "become an unashamed one-woman advocacy movement telling *everybody* ... that removing the fallopian tubes ... can hugely reduce the incidence of ... ovarian cancer"

[2024-05-14] A generous spirit at rest - a quote from Leo Buscaglia about the greatest impacts from the smallest deeds—in memory of former Ottawa councillor Diane Deans, who passed away today from ovarian cancer

[2024-06-02] National Cancer Survivors Day 2024 - advice from British comedian Sara Pascoe on taking comfort in the face of a new, painful experience by remembering that you've felt pain before and recovered

[2024-06-17] Understanding Ovarian Cancer: patient support guide - information about Ovarian Cancer Canada's new patient support guide: Understanding Ovarian Cancer

[2024-07-17] Join me in supporting Ovarian Cancer Canada's Walk of Hope - the launch of my 2024 fundraising campaign as part of Ovarian Cancer Canada's Walk of Hope

[2024-08-08] Terry Fox Run 2024 - launch of my fundraising efforts for cancer research as part of the Terry Fox Run for 2024 on Sunday, September 15

[2024-08-13] In memoriam - in memory of a friend who died yesterday of ovarian cancer, after having been diagnosed with the disease in February 2023

[2024-08-20] Moment of Good: Terry Fox - a post inspired by a letter from Fred Fox, brother of Terry Fox. Fred wrote: "You make the world a better place because it matters to you."

[2024-09-01] Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month 2024 - for the start of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, I share a tool from Ovacome, the UK's ovarian cancer charity, to help you remember the symptoms of ovarian cancer

[2024-09-03] Joy hiding in the darker corners - a tribute to a woman who recently died of ovarian cancer and who dedicated the final year of her life to raising awareness of a procedure that researchers have found can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer: opportunistic salpingectomy

[2024-09-08] Cold weather doesn't cool Walk of Hope - photos and memories from this morning's Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope in Ottawa

[2024-09-15] Terry Fox Run Day 2024 - though my recent surgery precludes my taking part directly, I'm using the occasion to express my appreciation to all those participating in Terry Fox Run activities and to thank everyone who has donated to my fundraising campaign

[2024-09-23] World GO Day, stigma and women's health - reflections on women's health and stigma, and belated marking of World Gynecologic Oncology Awareness Day (or World GO Day, for short)

[2024-09-24] Terry Fox Wrexham Run - results of a recent contest to win a weekend in Wrexham, Wales, and to take part in the first ever Terry Fox Run in that country

[2024-10-02] CA125, genetic testing and National Hereditary Cancer Week - my latest CA125 (continued good news) along with information on genetic testing, National Hereditary Cancer Week and Previvor Day

[2024-10-03] Planning eases travel worries - a post about the superpower of organizing to diminish stress; as I added each item to my suitcase for my upcoming trip to Wales, my apprehensions eased and I increasingly felt #ReadyForWrexham and the first #TerryFoxRun in Wales

[2024-10-04] Wonder Woman - a tribute to a song released today by Ottawa-based Nashville recording artist Arlene Quinn; she recorded "Wonder Woman" in honour of her sister Cheryl, who recently (and successfully) underwent treatment for breast cancer, and is donating all proceeds of the sales of the single to the Canadian Cancer Society for breast cancer research

[2024-10-09] Ontario lowers age for self-referral for mammograms to 40 - news that Ontario has lowered the minimum age for people in the province to self-refer for a mammogram from 50 to 40 years of age

[2024-10-10] En route to Wrexham - heading to Wrexham to participate in the first Terry Fox Run in Wales; I'm humbled to have won the Terry Fox Wrexham Run contest and to be representing Canada in Wales

[2024-10-11] Wrexham recollections: the kindness of people - a post about the kindness we encountered throughout the day in both London and Wrexham and my emotional meeting with Fred Fox, Terry Fox's older brother

[2024-10-12] Wrexham recollections: history - a day of exploring the history of Wrexham, and seeing how so many pay respect to the past while living in the present

[2024-10-13] Wrexham recollections: Terry Fox Run - highlights from today's Terry Fox Run in Wrexham, whose funds raised benefit the UK's Institute of Cancer Research; I learned today that research carried out at The Institute was instrumental in my own cancer treatment

[2024-10-14] Wrexham recollections: wrap-up - the final instalment in my recollections of Wrexham series, focusing on some of the wonderful people Shane and I met over the past four days

[2024-11-25] Ovarian Cancer Canada Board Meeting: Fall 2024 - highlights from today's meeting of the Board of Directors of Ovarian Cancer Canada

[2024-11-26] "The mundane has begun to sparkle" - a post that builds on what author Kate Bowler describes as the "terrible gift of a terrible illness": the guidance to live in the moment; after being treated for cancer, Bowler found that "the mundane has begun to sparkle"

[2020-08-20] Sleep - sleep influences our effectiveness in waking life more than any other behaviour

[2020-09-03] Pill nausea and a funny little pillow - how to avoid nausea when taking medication and using a pillow for support after surgery or during cancer treatment

[2020-09-10] Rest - distinction between passive rest—sleeping and napping—and active rest—which is resting in four domains: mental, physical, social and spiritual

[2020-09-13] Spoon theory - according to Christine Miserando, creator of the Spoon Theory, the difference between being sick and being healthy is the amount of energy you have to spend on everyday activities

[2020-09-18] More on sleep - observations on the link between sleep dysfunction and cancer, and tips for achieving better sleep

[2020-09-26] Health-related apps - a review of four apps—MyChart, MyTherapy, Kegel Trainer, Fitbit—which were instrumental in helping me keep tracking of appointments, medications and activities related to my cancer treatment

[2020-10-12] Staying hydrated - tips for staying hydrated, which is important at all times but especially when undergoing chemotherapy

[2020-10-16] The Sleep Solution - observations on sleeping and tips for a good night's sleep from The Sleep Solution by W. Chris Winter, MD

[2020-10-08] MyTherapy app: an excellent tool - review of the MyTherapy app and details on how I use it to track meds, activities, measurements, symptoms and progress

[2020-12-27] Self-care - checklist of self-care activities - a helpful checklist of activities that should be on everyone's self-care list

[2021-02-19] Managing your healthcare - tips for managing your healthcare, such as keep medical records, track your medications, note side effects, invite a family member to listen in on appointments with healthcare providers, write down your questions, consult reliable sources of information, and go for tests

[2021-03-08] A champion - a story of a nurse who made a profound impression on me, helping me to think optimistically about the future at a time when I was worried about the chemotherapy that lay ahead for me; we connected as two people, not simply as healthcare professional and patient

[2021-04-07] Health matters - my latest CA125 result and a reminder, on World Health Day, to make time for wellness or be forced to make time for illness

[2021-05-12] International Nurses Day - a day to honour nurses—something that is more significant to me than ever given my health issues over the past year

[2021-05-14] COVID vaccine: second dose - an update on my second dose of the COVID vaccine

[2021-05-15] Side effects - an update on side effects to my second dose of the COVID vaccine: nausea, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills and mild fever

[2021-05-17] Take care of your health - tips for taking care of your health; as has been brought home to me these past few months, health is the foundation of everything in our lives

[2021-06-05] Walking meeting - a post about my first walking meeting and updates to a 2014 Café Jen article to fit the current times, explaining the whys and hows of walk-and-talk sessions

[2021-06-07] Health history - the why and how of knowing your health history and using the information about diseases and health conditions that run in your family to reduce your risks

[2021-06-13] COVID cautious - still feeling COVID cautious despite being fully vaccinated

[2021-06-15] Happy gallbladder - my efforts to maintain a happy gallbladder—that pesky little organ that I credit with saving my life

[2021-07-28] An ounce of prevention - my day in bed following vaccines against shingles and pneumonia to reduce my risk of contracting those illnesses or their severity if I do develop them

[2021-08-12] Patient activation - my cancer coach told me that patient activation is the knowledge, skills and confidence to manage one’s health—people with higher understanding, competence and willingness to participate in decisions about their health take better care of themselves, enjoy improved health outcomes and ultimately use fewer healthcare services because they stay on top of their treatment

[2021-09-13] Decisions - advice on how to make decisions, particularly health-related decisions

[2021-10-05] COVID vaccine: third dose - there are many things related to my ovarian cancer and BRCA2 gene mutation that I can't control; choosing to get every dose of the COVID vaccine I am eligible for is a small way that I am taking action where I can

[2021-10-06] Protecting health - a short entry on my recovery from the third dose of a COVID vaccine; feeling off for a day or two is a small price to pay to avoid COVID and the worry that I might contract it

[2021-10-21] Flu shot, history and Joni Mitchell - the history of the creation of Canada's Department of Health, my visit to the Museum of Healthcare at Kingston, four diseases that were eradicated or whose incidence was greatly reduced as a result of vaccines, and Joni Mitchell's experience with polio

[2021-11-26] If Plan A doesn't work - when a doctor prescribes a course of action, consider asking three things: What should I expect from the prescribed treatment? How will I know if it isn't working? When should I follow up with you about other options?

[2022-01-04] The price of being alive - challenges (especially those related to health) and the lengths we go to overcome them are the price of being alive

[2022-01-18] COVID vaccine: fourth dose - after two surgeries, 6 rounds of chemotherapy, monthly blood draws, adjustment to a drug, several trips to emergency, wound care, and 25 rounds of radiation, coping with the side effects of the COVID vaccine seems like a small sacrifice

[2022-01-19] Vaccine recovery - I had a strong reaction to my fourth COVID vaccine, experiencing chills, fatigue and a headache; despite this, I made it to my radiation therapy appointment

[2022-01-20] Live out loud - there is value in sharing your health status, even if that's just with your immediate family—people who could benefit from knowing your health history

[2022-01-21] Pyjama days - shifting one's perspective from what being sick prevents one from doing to what being sick affords one the opportunity to do, including slowing down and doing something quiet and cozy

[2022-04-11] One task you can't outsource - encouragement to take care of your health and a reminder that you are the head of your medical team

[2022-06-16] Getting what you need from medical appointments - how to get the information you need from your doctor or other healthcare professionals to make sound decisions

[2023-03-02] Eye health and coffee - a quick trip to my optometrist to make sure a niggling issue wasn't something more serious, a coffee chat with a fellow cancer thriver, and my takeaways from both moments in my day

[2022-03-24] Just get it done - if you have an unpleasant task on your to-do list, take Bruce Lee's advice: "If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done."

[2022-05-05] Head of your medical team - a summary of today's physical with my family doctor; more than once, I said, "You are the head of your medical team," which was wise advice given to me at the beginning of my cancer journey

[2022-06-09] Gracie and George - an update on my gallbladder ("George") and its mobile gallstone ("Gracie"); at my doctor's suggestion, I've opted to keep them, avoiding surgery if at all possible

[2022-06-11] Deafblind Awareness Month - art installations in honour of Deafblind Awareness Month, which is celebrated in June, the birth month of Helen Keller

[2023-04-07] World Health Day - marking World Health Day and honouring the World Health Organization on its 75th anniversary, plus a link to a moving video: "I had a black dog, his name was depression"

[2023-04-10] Was it a stroke or a migraine? - a story from 2011 when I experienced an incident that was first thought to be a transient ischemic attack (a temporary blockage of blood flow in the brain), then a minor stroke, then a migraine with complications

[2023-04-17] Annual checkup - being diagnosed with ovarian cancer made me keenly aware of the fragility of life and the complexity of my body

[2023-08-06] Jenesis, Portuguese and hospital kits - a list of things I would pack if going into hospital

[2023-08-17] Shared joys make a friend - a post about the contributions we make to science and future patients through the medical treatments we undergo today, the value of speaking plainly and publicly about health challenges, and the gift we give to loved ones when we allow them to help us

[2022-09-26] COVID vaccine: fifth dose - my last jab was in January, so I welcomed the opportunity for a boost—a decision that feels right for me

[2022-09-27] Loud immune system - my loud immune system seems to make a noisy fuss after every vaccine I receive; I'm feeling pretty lousy after getting my fifth dose of a COVID vaccine yesterday

[2023-10-03] Reducing barriers to genetic testing - a post questioning whether barriers to genetic testing, particularly for the first-degree relatives of people known to carry a pathogenic mutation, could be reduced

[2023-10-31] COVID vaccine #6 - a post about my sixth COVID vaccination and the percentage of Canadians who had antibodies resulting from a past infection but neither previously tested positive nor suspected an infection

[2023-11-03] Prepping for a colonoscopy - tips, triumphs and a little humour in prepping for a colonoscopy

[2023-11-05] Love for libraries - libraries are so much more than buildings with shelves of books—they are a welcoming environment for individuals and groups, a place to learn and grow, a site to feel connected to others even if simply sharing a table

[2023-11-14] The mysteries of menopause - highlights from a session on the mysteries of menopause from Ovarian Cancer Canada's November 2023 National Symposium

[2023-11-23] Better sleep - a summary of a session on how to improve your sleep from Ovarian Cancer Canada's November 2023 National Symposium

[2024-01-19] Rarely all bad news - medical news is rarely all bad; as often as not, an initial scare turns out to be less problematic than first feared

[2024-02-13] Wear Red Canada 2024 - Wear Red Canada is marked every year on February 13 to raise awareness about women’s heart health; heart disease is the number one killer of women worldwide and the leading cause of premature death in women in Canada

[2024-04-18] Personalized health review - guidance from doctors about annual check-ups or what the Ontario health system calls "personalized health reviews"; regardless of the term, there is value in touching base with a family doctor once a year to screen for potential illnesses, update any vaccines and possibly prevent molehills from becoming mountains

[2024-05-07] National Nursing Week 2024 - a salute to nurses during National Nursing Week—if there's a silver lining to being ill, it is nurses

[2024-10-25] Testing one's limits - advice about going back to work after sick leave: slowly reintroducing activities that you did before your illness—including enjoyable ones such as traveling—is part of testing your limits and determining whether you're ready to return to work

[2024-11-05] Knowing where the line is - wisdom from a friend about knowing where the line between treatment and recovery is: "Sometimes you have to cross the line to know where the line is… then respect the line!"

[2020-08-12] Perpetually upbeat - perspectives on whether a positive attitude can improve the chances of surviving cancer

[2020-08-21] Meditation and voluntary simplicity - guidance on meditation from Jon Kabat-Zinn's Wherever You Go There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life

[2020-09-02] Caring for the caregivers - encouragement to remember the family and friend caregivers in our lives—the people who are caring for ill loved ones while grappling with their own emotions, such as sadness, fear and guilt

[2020-09-17] Random acts of kindness - excerpts from the book Random Acts of Kindness, which refers to acts of kindness performed by strangers or, sometimes, anonymously by acquaintances, such as neighbours

[2020-09-21] The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse - excerpts from Charlie Mackesy's The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse on kindness, love, facing challenges, and making a difference

[2020-09-22] Listen to the elderly and other life lessons - life lessons from a senior, including this one "I stopped telling the elderly that they've already narrated that story many times. The story makes them walk down memory lane and relive the past."

[2020-09-25] The nap won - realization that napping can make me more productive than simply pushing through fatigue

[2020-09-29] COVID test and positive thinking - encouragement to see the light within the darkness, to look for the good in others, to rest and play, to accept one's limitations, to embrace a slower pace

[2020-10-04] The sun always peeks through - a quote that reminds us that "no matter how bad a situation may seem, the sun will always find its way through"

[2020-10-10] My lumpy, bumpy belly - a post about loving our bodies and seeing them as beautiful

[2020-10-19] Time - reflections on where we spend our time, including a beautiful poem by Irish poet Liam Porter called "Take Time"

[2020-11-02] Surround yourself with positive people - tips for how to remain positive when dealing with cancer, such as surrounding yourself with positive people and keeping a gratitude journal

[2020-11-04] Be here now, be somewhere else later - a simple mantra that I repeat to myself whenever my mind drifts to some other place and time than the one I'm in

[2020-11-07] What I like doing best - an invitation to spend time doing nothing, which Christopher Robin defines as "just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering"

[2020-11-08] Today - encouragement to focus on the present rather than remembering all the things left undone because there weren't enough hours in the day to accomplish everything, or thinking about all the things that need to be done

[2020-11-22] Making joy - finding joy in the midst of gloomy circumstances is good for our mental health; so is making joy, which starts with giving ourselves permission to experience joy and continues with unashamedly acknowledging the things that make us happy

[2020-12-01] Self-love - instead of criticizing who you aren't, what if you spent time focusing on what makes you extraordinary?

[2020-12-04] International Cookie Day - a celebration of the small things that bring joy to life, including cookies, puppies and good news

[2020-12-07] Who sits at the head of your table? - we all have a board of directors in our head, and we allow different people to assume the role of chairperson; each member of the board is a version of ourselves

[2020-12-14] How will you celebrate the winter holidays this year? - questions about different ways of celebrating the holidays, including favourite music, food, gifts and activities

[2020-12-15] Cancer and positive emotions - the power of a story to heal both the storyteller and the receiver, and a list of positive emotions I have felt while going through cancer treatment

[2020-12-16] Work hard but... - advice on living your best life—as you define it—such as making time for family and friends plus activities outside work, nurturing friendships, eating well, walking, letting others know what you think of them, and being kind to yourself

[2020-12-18] Big box of happiness and Christmas trivia - examples of self-care activities from a card set called The Big Box of Happiness and a link to a Jeopardy-style Christmas trivia game

[2020-12-20] The holidays: what you said - ideas from readers about how they will celebrate the holidays in 2020

[2020-12-28] Comfort food - there's something comforting about making a recipe that reminds us of our ancestors or of our childhood

[2021-01-10] A better day - advice on feeling sad but remaining hopeful, and the first reference to the idea that you are the head of your medical team

[2021-01-12] Baking as therapy - the benefits of baking to our mental health

[2021-01-15] It does get better - when everything is going wrong, allow yourself to cry, shout, or be upset, but then surrender into what is; time, surrender and healing will bring solace—it does get better

[2021-01-26] Optimism rekindled - advice from Jenesis readers about coping when you're feeling down

[2021-01-27] Lean on each other - advice from Séan McCann, a founder of the band Great Big Sea and an advocate for people with mental health and addiction issues, on taking care of oneself and each other

[2021-01-28] Music as medicine - a selection of songs if you are in need inspiration, feeling rejected or unloved, in a dark place, reluctant to reach out, looking for reassurance, searching for beauty or inner strength, longing for home, striving to live in the moment, helping someone who is struggling

[2021-01-31] Building campfires - connecting with others, even if only online, is like building a campfire; making time to talk to people whose company we enjoy may bring us comfort, particularly if we learn that others are experiencing similar challenges

[2021-02-03] Presence - advice on how to live in the moment, including taking a break from the digital world

[2021-02-07] Writing as therapy - evidence for the therapeutic benefits of writing, such as reducing depression and stress and boosting healthy emotions

[2021-02-14] Valentine's Day self-care - a suggestion to think about the love we show to ourselves, including tips on how I use audiobooks to help me sleep

[2021-02-22] Wintering - inspiration from the beautifully written and timely book Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May; as inescapable and universal as such cycles of distress are, we often don't anticipate them or talk about them when they come

[2021-02-24] Gardening - a garden represents vitality, growth and an investment today in anticipation of a return in the future; "Gardening is cheaper than therapy and you get tomatoes."

[2021-03-09] A beautiful life - affirmations from a lovely boxed set of cards (a gift from a dear friend), which remind us that we have the power to love ourselves fully, to know our worth, and to live our best life

[2021-03-19] Happiness and spring - In honour of the International Day of Happiness and the first day of spring, take stock of all that is good in your life

[2021-03-31] So much more - the beauty of a solo walk (walking is therapy) and the perception of abundance that comes from contemplating what we're grateful for

[2021-04-14] Processing emotions - understanding, making sense of and dealing with emotions in healthy and productive ways

[2021-04-17] Heartache - solace to those experiencing heartache, which must be acknowledged, felt and worked through—all of which take time

[2021-04-19] Emotional intelligence (part 1) - the first in a two-part series based on an interview with Daniel Goleman, psychologist and author of Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ

[2021-04-21] Emotional intelligence (part 2) - Goleman's views on motivation, self-confidence, perfectionism, goal orientation, high-performing teams and emotionally intelligent organizations

[2021-04-24] Languishing and flow - psychologist and professor Adam Grant defines languishing as the feeling somewhere between depression and flourishing on the mental health spectrum; flow may be an antidote to languishing

[2021-04-25] Mindfulness and meditation - tips on the why and how of meditation as well as mindfulness

[2021-05-03] Processing emotions: a how-to - seven techniques beyond traditional therapy that we can use to deal with our feelings, such as self-help workbooks, creative activities and walking

[2021-05-10] Planting day - gardening reminds me to invest my time, attention and love in others, to be patient, to recognize that life comes with both good and bad, and to strive for balance

[2021-05-20] Everything you need - inspiration from a Cicero quote: "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."

[2021-06-11] It's the journey - my previously chaotic, demanding and work-focused life has been stripped down to the basics: activities designed to nurture my physical and mental health, such as walking, baking, gardening, reading, writing, and connecting with family and friends

[2021-06-17] Outdoors - a celebration of the restful benefits of being outdoors, based on May Sarton's quote: "It is never a waste of time to be outdoors, and never a waste of time to rest, even for a few hours."

[2021-06-24] Healing power of nature - a post about the healing power of nature and gardens: one of the most nurturing activities I have undertaken as part of my cancer recovery has been gardening

[2021-07-15] Re-energizing - I can feel mentally energized even while feeling physically tired; pausing and reflecting can boost my physical energy

[2021-07-20] Caring for our mental health - a model for essential daily activities needed for optimum mental health: focus time, play time, connecting time, physical time, time in, down time and sleep time

[2021-07-25] Garden gifts - a celebration of nature: growing a garden and taking a daily walk in nature have been healing for me

[2021-07-26] The power of touch - a discussion of the power of touch to connect, communicate and reassure—the absence of touch brought about by our needed adherence to public health measures against COVID has had a negative effect on many of us

[2021-08-01] Selflessness - when our extending ourselves is driven by love or passion, the work energizes us, but when the effort is driven by fear—fear of not measuring up or of disappointing someone—then the work can lead to burnout

[2021-08-02] Visit to the farm - a celebration of the beauty of spending time in the country, with its soothing and healing sights, sounds, smells, feels and tastes

[2021-08-07] Random acts of self-kindness - an idea for a random act of self-kindness: write a few kind words about yourself on small pieces of paper and tuck them away in unexpected places, such as your wallet or a coat pocket, to be found later

[2021-08-10] Adventures - a celebration of a spirit of adventure, be it in trying new foods or exploring the world around us; as Eleanor Roosevelt said, "The purpose of life is to live it, to taste it, to experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience."

[2021-08-19] Revive and have courage - a post about reviving ourselves and maintaining courage when things don't turn out as we thought they would; at the same time, we mustn't despair if overcoming adversity takes time

[2021-09-14] Self-talk - a post about self-talk—the running commentary in our mind—with suggestions for three ways to identify, check and modify negative self-talk

[2021-10-12] Be kind to your future self - ideas for things you can do today to make life easier for your future self

[2021-10-29] Tomorrow is another day - for many things in life, the world won't come crashing down if something we hoped to get done today has to wait for another day—tomorrow is wide open with possibilities

[2021-10-30] The what-if tree - the what-if tree has a sturdy trunk with strong roots at the bottom—that’s the present moment; as you climb the what-if tree, with each branching what-if scenario the branches get thinner and your footing gets shakier; at some point, it’s not useful to think that far ahead

[2021-11-01] Mental health self-care - excerpts from Self magazine's article "50 of Our All-Time Best Mental Health Tips to Help You Feel a Little Bit Better"

[2021-11-02] Feeling down? Get busy! - doing something physical that requires limited concentration—such as walking, cleaning a room, or gardening—allows me to contemplate an issue without focusing on it directly; it offers a perfect balance between fixating on a problem and ignoring it completely, which often leads to a fresh perspective

[2021-11-09] Spontaneity - "empty days" are important—days when we do not expect to produce anything, even a few lines in a journal; days when we let our psyche "rest, wander, live in the changing light of a room"

[2021-11-27] Coping with uncertainty - seven tips for coping with uncertainty, such as don't believe everything you think, stop looking for someone to rescue you, and find meaning in the chaos

[2021-11-30] Your gifts - many of us discount our strengths, assuming that everyone else has those same qualities, and overemphasize our weaknesses, thinking that we'll never be as good as others; remember that you matter

[2021-12-01] You are valuable - tips for talking with someone who feels like a burden because they are ill and not capable of doing everything they did in the past

[2021-12-05] Focus on what you love - inspiration from The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse: "When the big things feel out of control...focus on what you love right under your nose."

[2021-12-10] The life-changing magic of slowing down - inspiration to slow down, which can be a magical first step toward spending a pleasant moment with someone you love

[2021-12-13] Busy - advice from Effortless author Greg McKeown to never do more today than you are capable of recovering from by tomorrow

[2021-12-19] Coping with COVID and cancer - how I'm coping with COVID and cancer (round two)

[2021-12-26] Conflict vs. kindness - to keep my spirits up during cancer treatment, I avoided stories that presented conflict—I skipped over them in my news feed, changed the channel on the radio, and chose something else for my entertainment

[2021-12-28] Your work is important - if you have a choice over the work you do, it's OK to take a break from activities that leave you drained, and it's OK to focus your efforts on people who appreciate them

[2021-12-30] Coping with anger, frustration and impatience - 16 techniques for managing anger, frustration and impatience

[2022-01-25] Self-care truths - eight hard truths about self-care, such as you will disappoint some people when you prioritize your self-care

[2022-01-30] What I can control - when life feels out of control, make a list of things you can control, such as your words, beliefs, attitude, thoughts and reactions

[2022-02-01] How full is your bucket? - our buckets mental health buckets can be filled or emptied in many situations; for example, when a couple's interactions are 5 positive for every 1 negative, their relationship is more likely to succeed, but when the ratio approaches 1 to 1, the two people are more likely to go their separate ways

[2022-02-19] Haircut - the first professional haircut I've had since December 31, 2019—a welcome return to some semblance of normalcy, or at least to some of the more mundane aspects of life

[2022-03-15] Message for a friend - know that you are loved, that you are important, that you are enough

[2022-04-05] National Caregiver Day - a post about National Caregiver Day, a national awareness campaign led by Carers Canada (a coalition of organizations dedicated to increasing recognition and support for caregivers); the 2022 campaign includes my story

[2022-04-07] Things other people want me to do - the challenge of minimizing tasks that others want you to do but that you neither need to do nor want to do

[2022-04-23] Choose things that make you happy - going beyond the tendency to settle for things that make everyone happy, and instead choosing things that make you happy, even if it's something you have to enjoy alone

[2022-04-24] Codependent No More - a review of Codependent No More by Melody Beattie, who explains in her book what codependency is and offers suggestions on how to detach from the people and situations we are trying to control and focus instead on taking care of ourselves

[2022-05-02] Flawsome - a post about being "flawsome"—embracing our flaws because we know we are awesome regardless

[2022-05-06] Speech during Mental Health Week - in a speech as part of Mental Health Week, I recounted the story of my cancer journey, what helped me cope with cancer, and what I've learned about empathy

[2022-05-09] Simple pleasures - a post about noticing and appreciating the simple pleasures life has to offer, such as the bleat of a baby goat, the tender green leaves bursting forth from deciduous trees in spring, and a visit to the country

[2022-05-14] Joy in service - if you find joy in service, embrace it; do it until the joy wanes and then do something else; do ordinary things with extraordinary love

[2022-05-30] Burnout: helping yourself and others - guidance for a person facing burnout and suggestions for a partner of such a person

[2022-06-05] Garden 2022 - an update on this year's experiment with container gardening, sharing the changes I implemented in 2022 based on what I learned in 2021; regardless of the outcome, I'm enjoying the process, which feeds my passion for organization and learning

[2022-06-08] Another message for my friend - forgive me for assuming what might bring you joy and for suggesting ways that you might bring these pleasures into your life; I simply wanted to help you recall the delights that you have enjoyed in the past and could still enjoy now, albeit in a different way

[2022-06-21] How to stop ruminating - a post about ruminating—thinking the same negative thought over and over—and how to stop the cycle

[2022-07-03] This feeling is temporary - a post about those moments in life when we are blown off course and need to adjust our sails and our expectations; it is helpful to remind ourselves that whatever we're feeling is temporary

[2022-07-25] Peace as a priority - prioritizing peace of mind leads me to deliberately avoiding certain people and situations to protect my mental, emotional and spiritual state

[2022-08-09] Our own cheerleader - we often need to be our own cheerleader, reminding ourselves of the attributes that make us unique and valued

[2022-08-15] In search of inner peace - suggestions for a path to inner peace; the one I'm working on the most is to see the good in the people around me

[2022-08-17] Joy of missing out - JOMO is not just about missing out, it’s missing out consciously so that you can make time for other, equally or more important things

[2022-08-23] You matter! - a simple entry to remind you that you matter: your feelings matter; your voice matters; your story matters; your life matters

[2022-08-31] Mantras - mantras are pithy sayings that help me see the positive side of any situation; I chose four new ones to add to my collection of affirmations

[2022-09-12] Finding yourself - inspiration from a quote by Emily McDowell, who said: "Finding yourself is actually returning to yourself. An unlearning, an excavation, a remembering who you were before the world got its hands on you."

[2022-10-03] Action for Happiness - this is a UK-based movement to create a happier and kinder world; one of the organization's most popular products is its monthly calendar, with activities for each day of the month to promote happiness

[2022-10-12] How we see ourselves - tips for nurturing self-esteem; our sense of self may have taken a hit because of things we heard or experienced while growing up, but we can develop new ways of seeing ourselves at any age

[2022-10-21] Thank you for sharing - a common phrase we use when we encounter a dog and its owner: "Thank you for sharing," which means thank you for sharing your dog, thank you for sharing your story, thank you for sharing your time

[2022-11-07] Try something new - beyond taste and sustenance, food represents a chance to discover something about another culture, an occasion to show someone you care, and an opportunity to try something for the first time

[2022-11-13] World Kindness Day - take care of yourself; make memories; cherish all that is good in your life

[2022-11-14] Alone time - the older you get the more time you spend alone, so you need to love yourself; embrace your solitude as an opportunity to serve yourself, your loved ones and your community

[2022-11-16] HOPE - HOPE stands for Hold On Pain Ends; this post includes guidance on building resilience in men

[2022-11-17] Christmas wish list - a wish list full on intangibles, such as a family dinner and game night, because time spent with family is what's most important to me

[2022-12-01] Music and memories - listening to and performing music reactivates areas of the brain associated with memory, reasoning, speech, emotion and reward

[2022-12-07] Take the help - advice for getting better at accepting help: recognize the insecurities that make us reluctant to take the assistance, and change the narrative in our heads when what we're telling ourselves doesn't serve us

[2022-12-19] An average day - giving yourself permission to let the holidays be an average day

[2022-12-28] Getting what you deserve - make a list of what you deserve—not what you desire—but what you deserve, and give yourself that

[2022-12-30] Dishes can always wait - some things don't need to be done immediately; we don't need to push through everything when we're tired; and taking care of ourselves is often our most important responsibility

[2023-01-10] Virtue in rest - "There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither." ~ Alan Cohen

[2023-02-17] Mother Nature's random act of kindness - the beauty of an early evening walk with my daughter, as we wondered whether Mother Nature had performed a Random Act of Kindness by creating a display of quiet splendour

[2023-02-24] Relax in a sunbeam - a new expression my daughter used today: "Relax in a sunbeam"; it conjured up images of a sleepy cat, basking in the sun streaming in through a skylight, or a little girl reading a book in a comfy spot by a window

[2023-03-05] Three words - no matter where we go in life—school, work, volunteer teams, community groups, our own families—it is so comforting to feel we belong, to know we are valued, to believe we are accepted exactly as we are

[2023-03-09] Not welcome at my table - a mantra my daughter and I came up with to silence the critics in our head: "Unkind people are not welcome at my table"

[2023-04-11] Be patient with yourself - it's neither realistic nor healthy to always look on the bright side; the person newly diagnosed with cancer, for example, probably doesn't want to maintain a positive focus, at least not immediately; they need to know that it's OK to feel all their emotions

[2023-04-19] I'm proud of you - for all the people who get up, show up and step up, every single day

[2023-04-30] Adversity advantage - recall the challenges you overcame in the past as you face obstacles in the present; as Michelle Obama said, "your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages."

[2023-05-03] Well of Strength - a Well of Strength is a community resource to which we can contribute—through acts of kindness, honest work, positive parenting, service, art—and from which we can draw energy when we need it

[2023-05-04] Rice Lake - a hidden gem: a trail around Rice Lake, which is adjacent to the Bruce Pit dog park in Ottawa's west end—a lovely place to meander, with well groomed trails looping around the lake and eventually connecting with the dog park

[2023-05-15] Walking - a quote from Søren Kierkegaard about walking as a means of attaining a state of well-being

[2023-05-17] Shine brightly - in honour of International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, excerpts from two poems: "you have a right to be here" and "Stand in your light and shine brightly because that is how you defeat darkness"

[2023-05-19] Feeding the soul - a visit to Almonte that fed our soul with delicious food and numerous encounters with pleasant people whose values we admired: kindness, inclusion, attention, enthusiasm, generosity and gentleness

[2023-05-22] Flânerie - the concept of flânerie is taking a leisurely stroll with no specific purpose other than to wander, explore and observe; like many ideals we aspire to, perhaps we can find time to include a little flânerie in our lives: a few moments in our week when we can stroll, meander or stop to chat with a friend or stranger

[2023-05-24] Sanctuary - find or create a space that is your own personal sanctuary; this could be your home, a spot in nature or a public space—you are allowed to protect your peace

[2023-05-26] Merlin - the Merlin app by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology allows users to record or photograph birds or answer questions about the birds they're seeing to help identify them

[2023-05-28] Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind fundraiser and giveaway - a post about the wonderful experience Mel and I had at today's Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind Dollars for Dogs Fundraising Walk

[2023-05-29] Friendship benches - a post about buddy benches for elementary school students, friendship benches for secondary and post-secondary students, and chat benches for older people

[2023-05-30] Trumpeter swan - a magical morning of seeing what I believe was a rare trumpeter swan on Rice Lake

[2023-06-07] Coping in times of stress - suggestions on coping during times of stress, as many of us are experiencing now because of wildland fires in Canada; it's normal to feel anxious

[2023-06-08] The miraculous in the common - a gift I received today: a calendar filled with breath-taking photographs of birds, a photo of a sanderling, and a card; it was sent "for no special reason," but it made me feel very special

[2023-06-20] Reading - the benefits of reading, including how reading can positively impact our mental health

[2023-06-21] Communing with nature - Bruce Pit and Rice Lake in Ottawa's west end are places where we can momentarily forget the stress, commitments and obligations of the outside world and simply commune with nature

[2023-06-22] Joyful movement - joyful movement is any activity that gets you moving and brings you joy

[2023-06-25] A day to flâner and observe - another post about the idea of flânerie—wandering with little purpose beyond observing, savouring and appreciating what we encounter

[2023-08-07] Staying in the present and serving others - trying to keep my feet planted firmly on the ground—not digging into the past or climbing into the future, up the what-if tree

[2023-08-18] Know your magnificence - a post inspired by a gift from a friend: a self-love blessing banner, inspired by Tibetan prayer flags, which are used to bless one's surroundings and promote peace and compassion

[2023-08-21] Rest is not idle - a reminder that rest is not idle, wasteful or unproductive; indeed, it can be the best thing for a body in recovery

[2023-09-27] Social connection - a summary of findings about loneliness, isolation and social connection from the U.S. Surgeon General's 2023 Advisory on the subject, as well as the Advisory's tips on what individuals can do to avoid loneliness and foster connection with others

[2023-10-10] A great day - in honour of World Mental Health Day, a post suggesting a tiny habit that you can adopt: starting each day by declaring, "It's going to be a great day."

[2023-10-12] The peace of wild things - acknowledges the challenge of remaining positive when events in the world can make us feel sad, helpless and heartbroken while suggesting one path to inner peace: observing wild things

[2023-11-02] Caregiver activation - a summary of a study that concludes that supporting caregivers in gaining knowledge, skills and confidence to provide care to a loved one may improve their own well‐being

[2023-11-07] CA125 November 2023 - my latest CA125 result and appreciation for little things that help to reset our moods—in this case, a dog named Bear

[2023-11-12] Activities that delight you - do something creative for its own return—not for the praise it may garner, not for the rewards you might receive, not for the attention and gratitude you may get; do it because it delights you, because it feeds your soul, and because it allows you to express the love you have in your heart

[2023-11-17] Releasing hurtful words - the story of a woman who dealt with the hurt of being bullied at work by releasing the hurtful words into a lake

[2023-11-22] Keeping the kudos - why and how we may want to keep a kudos folder, a smile file or a compliments journal; saving and rereading past praise helps to counter emotional rainy days

[2023-11-28] Not today - giving ourselves permission, when we have the luxury of time, to avoid dealing with a personal challenge when we're not ready to do so

[2023-11-30] My peace is more important - always say "my peace is more important" when you find yourself reacting to something that doesn't deserve your energy

[2023-12-15] Therapy through club sandwiches - the story of an Ottawa man who is looking for the best club sandwich in town; that might not be a compelling story, except that Jay has Stage 4 cancer, and documenting his story in a Facebook group that has more than 1,600 members has been therapeutic for him

[2023-12-22] Breathe love in, breathe love out - a mantra to use when you're feeling impatient: "Breathe love in, breathe love out"

[2024-01-09] I'm in no rush - a post about the opportunity afforded by a winter storm to slow down, to be in no rush and to savour life's sweet moments

[2024-01-21] A circle of care - a post about seeking and accepting care from others—when your heart is broken, when you feel lost and alone, when you are sick

[2024-01-26] Uncommon advice for dealing with stress - "The best way to deal with stress is to get rid of the thing causing you stress."

[2024-03-01] Canada Agriculture and Food Museum - a visit to the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum in Ottawa, where we saw baby lambs (two that were just hours old), took in two food demonstrations, and petted calves and a rabbit, among other things

[2024-03-12] Went out into the morning - a contemplation of moments when we get knocked back and times when we worry, including about things that are not our issues to solve

[2024-03-15] Gentle grieving and the gift of words - beautiful, poetic words by English actress Anne-Marie Duff: "words...are the gifts we give each other"; "get your face out of the dirt and try to feel the sun on it"; "gentle grieving...that I just carry with me"

[2024-03-20] Rules for a happy life - Helen Mirren's top five rules for a happy life

[2024-04-10] Just "being" is a success - a thoughtful and eloquent comment from a reader about measuring success in "being" rather than "doing"

[2024-04-14] Learning, play and joy - inspiration from an interview in which Gabor Maté said he would live his life differently if he had it to live again and from a friend who says his mantra is that a better future awaits

[2024-04-17] The joy file - when I'm unhappy, I remind myself that it's OK to feel down when things don't go right, because happy always comes back, as it did today

[2024-05-06] Mental Health Week 2024 - in honour of Mental Health Week, the Canadian Mental Health Association offers ideas on noticing acts of compassion and performing acts of kindness

[2024-05-26] Being alone - something I wish I had learned years ago: to enjoy my own company

[2024-06-28] A stroll at Andrew Haydon Park - a few photos and reflections on this afternoon's stroll along the Ottawa River at Andrew Haydon Park

[2024-07-23] Sleep peacefully - "As the night gets dark, let your worries fade. Sleep peacefully knowing you have done all you can today." ― Roald Dahl

[2024-07-28] Seeking flow to quiet the mind - a recent article in The Guardian describes the benefits of striving for flow: decreased susceptibility to depression, a sense of growth and purpose in life, a counter to ruminative thinking, and greater mental peace

[2024-08-28] Counting blessings - a post about counting blessings, inspired by a gift from a friend today

[2024-10-21] Constant companion - a post about the companionship that a dog can provide during a difficult time; my dog, Freddie, saw me through cancer treatment, twice, before succumbing to the disease himself

[2024-10-30] Happiness, awe and finding what makes you strong - a post about dentifying what gives you strength and chasing that, finding the awe-inspiring things that stop you in your tracks, and discovering the extraordinary in the ordinary

[2024-11-03] Moment of awe - an invitation to answer the question: "What was your moment of awe today?"

[2024-11-06] Up-and-down day and CA125 - reflections on my up-and-down day, examples of what uplifted me and strategies for coping when life feels out of control

[2024-11-14] A journal of tiny achievements - inspiration from an episode of the podcast Everything Happens with Kate Bowler, in which Parker Palmer describes a tool that helped him emerge from "three deep descents into clinical depression": he called it "a journal of tiny achievements"

[2024-11-20] Forest bathing and tree hugging - reflections on the therapeutic benefits of spending time around trees, which researchers have found can lower stress hormones in the body; I spent the day with friends in a woodlot in the Ottawa Valley and came away feeling calm, connected and loved

[2020-08-07] Gratitude - advice from Jennifer Lopez, who says three things she's grateful for every morning and three good things that happened to her that day in the evening, plus my own list of things I'm grateful for on day 2 of writing Jenesis

[2020-08-08] Life goes on - a reminder that we play many roles in a day and in a life; while we are often defined by just one role, such as our job or our illness, we are always more

[2020-08-10] A beautiful struggle - counsel that you can't skip chapters; you have to read every line, meet every character; you have to keep going

[2020-08-26] The little things - happiness is like a scale: little moments of happiness add to the positive side of the scale, while little moments of sadness (or disappointment or humiliation or guilt) add to the negative side

[2020-09-04] Mission - because I didn't want my world to become just about cancer, I adopted a new mission: wring every positive thing out of cancer, grow from the experience, and be an even brighter light in the world, both during and after treatment

[2020-09-14] Love is letting go of fear - excerpts from the book Love Is Letting Go of Fear, including that all emotions stem from two basic ones: love and fear—when we are kind and generous and complimentary, we are acting out of love; when we are angry, jealous and disappointed, we are acting out of fear

[2020-09-28] Terry Fox - taking inspiration from Terry Fox, as reflected in the book Forever Terry: A Legacy in Letters; as Canadian Olympian Perdita Felicien said, Terry Fox was not a millionaire or a politician but an ordinary Canadian who did what was in his power to do—he ran, every day, until he couldn't

[2020-09-30] White space - a professor gives her students a test that consisted of a sheet of paper with only one small black dot in the middle and instructions to describe what they saw; the moral: we are surrounded by many awesome things, represented by the white portion of the sheet, but sometimes focus on small failures and disappointments, represented by the black dot on the sheet; we are encouraged to see the dark spots in our lives as small and few, focusing instead on the miracles in the white space, such as friends, jobs, love and family

[2020-10-05] Patience - reflections on patience—choosing acceptance over anger in the face of suffering, understanding the disconnect between our expectations and reality, and learning from any situation—and tips for cultivating patience

[2020-10-09] Profoundly beautiful - a post about seeing your surroundings with the eyes of a tourist, imaging everything around you as if it were the very first time you were seeing it

[2020-10-11] Awesome things - a list of awesome things, such as never losing my favourite pair of gloves, the first snow of the season, that point in doing a jigsaw puzzle when the remaining pieces almost place themselves

[2020-10-15] Stoicism - stoicism isn't what happens to us but how we frame what happens to us; it's about focusing on things we can control, values that lead us in the right direction, and goals we are able to achieve

[2020-10-18] Sweet and bitter - lessons from The Pocket Pema Chödrön by Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön: (1) life is both sweet and bitter, glorious and wretched; {2) no matter the circumstances, we can learn from what's happening right now in our lives; (3) the difficult moments in life can soften us, make us kinder and help us to better support others

[2020-10-23] Pyjama Day 1 (Round 2) - lessons I've learned in my lifetime, such as people love to be listened to because it tells them that their lives matter

[2020-10-24] Optimism - reflections on optimism while recovery from chemotherapy, including quotes on optimism

[2020-11-12] The link between thoughts and feelings - a suggestion to figure out what thought is prompting a negative emotion, challenge the thought and, in so doing, change the feeling

[2020-11-17] Thinking ahead to the holidays - reflections on what 2020 meant for me: COVID, cancer and, most importantly, caring

[2020-11-19] Enjoy the ride - a summary of Tom Power's interview with Michael J. Fox about his book No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality, in which Fox talks about the day his optimism ran out

[2020-11-20] What will you do? - a post that asks what you will do with the time you have left in your life

[2020-11-30] MRI: Most Respectful Interpretation - "doing an MRI" means taking the Most Respectful Interpretation of a situation: when you don't know someone else's intent, there's little value in assuming the worst when, in fact, the opposite may be true

[2020-12-17] The beauty of self-acceptance - what we think about ourselves has a lot to do with how we react to the comments of others: if we feel good about ourselves, we accept compliments and downplay criticisms; if we don't, we take in the criticisms and discount the compliments

[2020-12-22] Waiting - tips for coping with anxieties and worries while waiting for test results or waiting in line

[2020-12-23] Love isn't cancelled - consolation that no matter where our loved ones are, their love for us and our love for them is not diminished

[2020-12-31] What I learned in 2020 - lessons from a year of COVID, cancer and caring

[2021-01-02] Kintsukuroi - an analogy between Kintsukuroi (a Japanese ceramic style) and embracing one's flaws and imperfections

[2021-01-03] What are you here to teach me? - 10 things I've learned from cancer that you can apply in your own life

[2021-01-06] Control the things you can - listen to your body and advocate for yourself when it comes to your health

[2021-01-11] Fearlessness and hope - a quote from John Lennon about embracing life and not surrendering hope

[2021-01-13] Expectations and stress - tips for how to deal with the stress and frustration of unmet expectations

[2021-01-16] When life gives you vinegar - an old Taoist proverb about the response of three Chinese Masters who taste vinegar

[2021-01-17] Long may it continue - I don't believe that cancer will be something I'm ever done with; it will always be a part of my life; also "Three things in life—your health, your mission, and the people you love. That's it."

[2021-01-24] Choosing an extraordinary life - a suggestion that how you perceive the world is how you will live: you can choose to focus on each awful, imperfect experience, assume the worst possible outcome and expect people to fail you, or you can allow yourself to be in awe of what is right, beautiful, sacred and profound

[2021-01-25] Courage - encouraging words from The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse about self-love, sharing how we feel, what to do when our heart hurts, and carrying on

[2021-01-29] So easy to take for granted - a list of things to be grateful for, such as our senses, healthcare, nature, family and freedom

[2021-01-30] Every story is unique - snippets of stories from people who have survived ovarian cancer and are thriving

[2021-02-01] Living in the moment - inspiring quotes for how to live in the moment

[2021-02-04] Indomitable spirit - naturalist Tom Brown Jr. wrote, "We learned to be patient observers like the owl. We learned cleverness from the crow, and courage from the jay.... But above all of them ranked the chickadee because of its indomitable spirit."

[2021-02-09] Choices - advice from Maya Angelou that we can't assess the choices we made in our 20s against the wisdom we have in our 30s; as we gain wisdom, we make better choices

[2021-02-10] Alive - the best piece of advice I received on going through cancer: "Do not die while you are yet alive."

[2021-02-13] Love and meaning - quotes from Tuesdays with Morrie, a book summarizing a series of conversations that author Mitch Albom had with Morrie Schwartz, a former college professor who was dying of ALS

[2021-03-03] Inherently good - thoughts on how to see the inherent goodness in humanity despite the negative stories we might see in traditional and social media

[2021-04-05] Critics - a post about the critics who project their insecurities, negativity and fears onto others and how to deal with their criticisms

[2021-03-28] Lotus flower - a lotus flower takes root down in the mud and rises up through the water to blossom at the water’s surface; the path of the lotus is the journey from darkness to light

[2021-04-10] Weeds - "We don't cease to be a garden because one day we find ourselves surrounded by weeds"; while it would be easy to focus on the weeds, it's better to remove the weeds we can, learn to live with the ones we can't and focus on the flowers

[2021-04-11] Life's too short - two questions: "what would you do if told you had only six months to live?" and "If today were the last day of your life, would you want to do what you are about to do today?"

[2021-04-26] Perspective - lessons on resilience from comedian Martin Short and his perspective that "tough experiences...strengthen you against further adversity"

[2021-04-29] The future - we have influence over the future; it is not something over which we have no control; as John Schaar said, the future is created first in the mind and the will, and then in activity

[2021-05-30] Best days - a post about the challenge and sometimes necessity of walking away, such as from a relationship, a job or an unhealthy situation; as difficult as it can be to leave, we have to believe that the best days lie ahead

[2021-06-06] Serenity - various thoughts that came to mind today, with the common theme being serenity, mingled with gratitude

[2021-06-30] Getting through - an acknowledgement of the pressure some may feel to have learned something or grown as a person during the pandemic or to have derived some meaning from the events of the last year; there is value in our hearing that it's OK to be merely surviving the pandemic

[2021-07-14] Scenic roads - a post about the scenic roads we take in life that lead to unexpected discoveries

[2021-07-30] Joyfear - "joyfear" is the simultaneous mix of glee and trepidation; the term, coined by blogger Leo Babauta, refers to life-changing moments marked by joy and fear

[2021-08-11] Things will get better - inspiration from a quote from Colin Powell in his book It Worked for Me: In Leadership and Life: "Things will get better. You will make them better."

[2021-08-25] My own headlines - a post about seeing the world through a personal rather than a public lens; when asked whether 2020 was a particularly challenging year, an elderly man noted that he had learned not to see the world through the lens of daily headlines, saying "I just choose to write my own headlines."

[2021-09-06] Have a nice day - in an audio drama about the final day in the life of a man visited by an agent of Death, he delivers an address at his daughter's high school graduation, in which he speaks about choices, legacy and love

[2021-09-26] Ebb and flow - a post that draws parallels between the changing seasons and the ebb and flow of life: sometimes there is sun, other times there is rain, and occasionally there are rainbows

[2021-10-01] Okay once again - time keeps moving forward—whether you are dealing with an illness, have lost a loved one, are having difficulty finding your first home, are recovering from an injury, or are just tired of the seemingly unending pandemic—in time, you will be okay again

[2021-10-11] Thanksgiving - 10 things I'm grateful for, including adult children, technology and being alive

[2021-10-14] Tears of gratitude - I shed tears of gratitude while delivering a speech to former colleagues at Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada as part of a Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign event, along with some lessons that I've learned on my cancer journey

[2021-10-10] Accepting reality - encouragement to see acceptance of results, circumstances, yourself and others as a necessary step in the process of changing what you can and letting go of what you can't

[2021-10-16] You can do hard things - inspiration for doing hard things, including recalling past successes that resulted from our having pushed through something hard and gained benefits as a result

[2021-10-17] Real life - real life is a mix of beauty and responsibility—pausing to take in a breathtaking sunset and rising again the next day to take care of the ones we love

[2021-11-14] Standing up - sometimes, taking a stand is the best option; other times, walking away is the only choice; in many cases, doing both is the optimum course

[2021-11-19] Making someone's day - when we think we haven't given enough, we need to recognize that our expectations and not those of our intended recipients are often the source of our self-doubt; what we give with love is always enough

[2021-11-25] How I respond - it's not what befalls me that determines the quality of my life but how I choose to respond

[2021-11-28] When a tree falls - when an obstacle to her dreams impeded her progress, Nevin Harrison simply created a new path to the Olympics, switching from running to canoeing and winning a gold medal in the process

[2021-12-07] Quarterly review and gratitude - one approach to cancer: finding things to be grateful for while dealing with cancer instead of focusing on a battle going on in one's body

[2021-12-08] Enjoy the winter - do not put off enjoying today because you're waiting to get through a difficult period—a proverbial winter

[2021-12-11] Positive news - it may be impossible to escape negative news, and it may take more effort to find positive stories, but good news is out there, such as the story of a UK school that teaches teens with ADHD how to cook

[2021-12-16] Keep moving forward - a one-day-at-a-time philosophy: while some days the ground underfoot is a little less certain, we keep moving forward; that's just how life goes

[2021-12-17] Little bright moments - a selection of anecdotes and quotes to remind you to notice the joys life has to offer rather than waiting for hard times to be over

[2022-01-01] A new year - it may help to consider all the hardships we have faced and overcome and to remember that "It always seems impossible until it's done"

[2022-01-02] Peace - peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work; it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart

[2022-01-09] Winter - "We have seasons when we flourish, and seasons when the leaves fall from us, revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again." Katherine May, Wintering

[2022-01-11] Being grateful - being grateful doesn't mean pretending that everything's perfect; it means seeing the positives within a difficult situation

[2022-01-16] Hope and happiness - hope is associated with positive emotions, happiness, well-being, less depression and anxiety, improved performance, greater productivity, and more solutions to problems

[2022-01-22] Irreplaceable - a reminder that to our work colleagues, we may be unforgettable, but to our family members, we are irreplaceable

[2022-01-23] Better days - a quote about better days to help us see the glass as half full

[2022-01-29] Angels - inspiration from Ricky Gervais' series After Life, in which character Anne notes that angels are all around us: nurses, charity workers, dogs; she says, "If you want to be an angel, you've got to do it when you're alive. Be good. Do good things. Introduce a lonely woman to a nice man."

[2022-02-10] Look for the lessons - if you’re going to go through some s**t, you might as well learn from it, for example, although you can't control your cancer, you can control the decisions you make regarding treatment of the disease

[2022-02-13] You get stronger - a poem by L.R. Knost, reminding us that life doesn't always get better, but you do: stronger, wiser, softer; life is imperfect, challenging, wondrous, and an endless opportunity to learn and grow

[2022-02-25] Purpose - advice to someone worried about a health issue

[2022-03-01] My purposes - a list of the many purposes I strive to fulfill in my life; having a purpose in life—or many—helps to make the hard stuff feel more meaningful

[2022-03-12] Appreciation, gratitude, acceptance - a story about Luther Vandross and Whitney Houston that reminds us to appreciate what we have, to be grateful for the talents we possess, and to accept what is good in our lives right now

[2022-03-26] Secrets of happy people - in The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People, David Niven states that the difference between unhappy and happy people is that unhappy people spend more time thinking about unpleasant events, while happy people tend to focus on information that brightens their outlook

[2022-03-31] Happy, fun, grateful life - exploring the possibility of having a happy, fun, grateful life while dealing with cancer, and the inspiration that such a story can be for others

[2022-04-13] The best things - a reflection on the role cancer has played in my life as a catalyst for positive action

[2022-04-18] Look for the thing you CAN do - Glenn Doyle: "Can't clean up the whole room? Clean a corner of it. Can't do all the dishes? Do a dish. Can't get in the shower? Wash your face. Always look for the thing you CAN do, with the energy and focus you DO have. Little wins pave the way for bigger wins. 1% beats 0%."

[2022-05-10] Seize the day - encouragement to do your part to make humanity the best it can be rather than worrying about health threats or uncertainty about the future

[2022-05-17] All the other ages - Madeleine L'Engle stated that we never lose all the ages we've ever been; as I reflect on my life, I recall milestones that helped make me the person I am today

[2022-05-21] Today's top 10 - advice for my kids based on ideas that came to mind today (after the derecho) and in recent weeks, for example, if a storm is coming, stay put

[2022-05-29] Dancing and other quotes - a recurring theme in my blog: what happens to us in life is less important than how we choose to respond to it

[2022-06-02] Opportunity - opportunity exists in every dark patch; just about anything can be an opportunity if we choose to see it that way; it may be helpful to remember that the future doesn't just happen to us; we have a hand in shaping it

[2022-06-04] Learning from sadness - taking a page from a July 2003 edition of Highlights for Children magazine, we often learn important lessons during sad times

[2022-06-14] Life is in motion - we all have had moments when we needed to get up and carry on: doing so is brave and magnificent, not only for us but for everyone else who bears witnesses to our struggle and takes inspiration from us to keep moving forward in their own lives

[2022-06-22] Bitterness and love - a post about bitterness (a poison that causes harm to the person who harbours it) and love (a choice we can make each day)

[2022-06-27] Optimism and longevity - research finds that optimistic people enjoy higher levels of wellbeing, better sleep, lower stress, better cardiovascular health and immune function, and a greater likelihood of longevity

[2022-06-29] Giving one's very best - "as much as anything life is about finding oneself and giving oneself and others one’s very best!"

[2022-07-15] Positive influence - transformation of an alleyway from a dumping ground into a beautiful passageway—testimony to what's possible when one person takes a step and others join in

[2022-07-31] Precious time - a post inspired by Barbara Stanny's quote "Release the extraordinary buried inside you"; she advises you to silence your fear, speak with your own voice and own your power

[2022-08-07] Best part of your day - the question "The best part of your day?" focuses the mind on this specific day and the moment—big or small—that was the best; such reflection can tell you a lot about what's important to you

[2022-08-14] Be useful - inspiration from an article by Arnold Schwarzenegger, as he celebrates his 75th birthday—among his goals is "be useful"

[2022-09-04] Better - a quote from Maya Angelou: "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."

[2022-09-07] Change - a selection of quotes that inspire me, comfort me and remind me of the wisdom of others

[2022-09-15] Gaining perspective - we gain perspective in many way: from our own experience and education, to travel, writing and strangers; the key factor in gaining perspective is keeping an open mind and acknowledging that maybe we haven't figured everything out

[2022-09-22] Hello Fall - welcome to the autumnal equinox—the point in the fall when day and night are roughly equal in length; the first day of fall got me thinking about all the things I love about this season, from its comfort food to its cozy fashion to its brilliant colours

[2022-10-12] How we see ourselves - tips for boosting your self-esteem

[2022-11-15] Sharing gifts - once we figure out what we love to do and what we're good at, we want to share our gift with others, and it's often in that sharing that we find purpose

[2022-11-20] Becoming the ocean - a beautiful poem by Khalil Gibran: "The river needs to take the risk of entering the ocean because only then will fear disappear, because that's where the river will know it's not about disappearing into the ocean, but of becoming the ocean."

[2022-12-04] Freudenfreude - cultivating freudenfreude (pleasure derived from another person's success) can make us happier, more resilient, more satisfied with life, more cooperative and more likely to perform acts of kindness and to help others

[2022-12-09] Kindness and civility - observations on ordinary moments that were extraordinary for the kindness and civility they demonstrated

[2022-12-16] Hold on - the power of mantras to help us avoid panicking and focusing on the worst-case scenario, and to remind us that we've gotten through tough circumstances in the past and will do so again

[2022-12-26] When loved ones leave after the holidays - 10 tips for dealing with sadness that comes when loved ones leave after the holidays, based on guidance for coping as an empty-nester

[2023-01-03] Happiness is the new rich - if we can be rich without becoming unhappy, successful without sacrificing our peace, wealthy without becoming unhealthy, cool without being unkind, our lives will be in harmony

[2023-01-11] Make a contribution - "Get in the game. Do the best you can. Try to make a contribution. Learn from today. Apply it to tomorrow." ~ Cal Ripken Jr.

[2023-02-06] Love, present moment, connection - when Iain Thomas and Jasmine Wang fed AI "the most profound, poignant, spiritual, and awe-inspiring texts from mankind's history" and ask the AI questions, a pattern of principles emerged: (1) Love is the meaning of everything, (2) We do best when we live in the present moment, (3) Connection is fundamental

[2023-03-12] Today I helped someone - sometimes a fresh perspective and a newcomer's energy can make a difference

[2023-03-13] You will find your way - the Committee of Sleep is the wise voices in our head that interject in a thoughtful way after Shame and Fear have wreaked havoc; things will get better—you will make them better

[2023-05-07] Antidote for rejection - in your career and in your life, sometimes you are accepted, valued and cherished; other times, you are rejected, ignored and excluded; the post offers an antidote for rejection

[2023-05-09] Bibliotherapy - the use of stories to help us understand and process our experience; for example, reading about successful women before taking a test felt can make younger women and girls feel more confident and perform better

[2023-05-25] Empathy and CA125 - an excerpt from an interview with Michael J. Fox about the documentary of his life with Parkinson's; he hopes that by sharing his story, others will have greater empathy for people living with the disease—something that resonated with me

[2023-06-15] How far you've come - a post about recognizing how far you've come, how much you've learned and how significant an influence you've had on others

[2023-09-07] Beauty and joy in daily rituals - a post about the beauty and joy we can find in daily rituals; James Clear says that when we love our habits, we love our days, and when we love our days, we love our lives

[2023-10-15] There's no shortcut to experience - a few of my favourite notions: there's no shortcut to experience; good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement; do the best you can until you know better, and then when you know better, do better

[2023-11-16] Questions to ask when criticized - series of questions you can ask yourself when criticized

[2023-11-20] A woman getting married - a touching story by UK hairdresser Trevor Sorbie of a woman whose wig he styled on her wedding day; it's a story of love, memories and perspective

[2023-12-11] Working in the home - a pet peeve: saying that someone "doesn't work" because their job is in the home, for example, as a stay-at-home parent or caregiver; they are "working in the home" and their contribution is crucial even if they don't draw a salary

[2023-12-17] A little rebellious - an anecdote that illustrates the notion that in a world disheartened by hate, sometimes the most rebellious act is to choose kindness, love and compassion

[2024-02-02] Facing and overcoming adversity - inspiration from a Michelle Obama quote: "It's important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages."

[2024-03-04] Joy sneaks in - "Joy Chose You" by Donna Ashworth and "The Station" by Robert J. Hastings remind us that joy does not arrive with a fanfare on a red carpet strewn with the flowers of a perfect life or appear when we finally reach some imagined goal, like a station at the end of a long train trip; joy sneaks into our life—a life that must be lived as we go along

[2024-03-05] To repair with gold - if you are feeling tired, broken, less than whole, you may find comfort in the wisdom of Kintsukuroi, the Japanese practice of repairing ceramic with gold

[2024-03-11] It is good to believe that hope can exist - good news has the power to give hope; the success of one increases the possibility of the success of many; and it is good to believe that hope can exist

[2024-03-21] The stories we tell ourselves - a post inspired by a Gabriel García Márquez quote: "What matters in life is not what happens to you but what you remember and how you remember it."

[2024-04-08] Success changes the narrative - taking inspiration from poet Wendy Cope and novelist Marlon James, when we succeed at something, our life's narrative can change from defeat to determination

[2024-04-21] Off to Toronto - life is a combination of luck and influence

[2024-04-26] Failure connects us all - when we admit our mistakes, we acknowledge our humanity, we take the first steps towards learning from our failings and forgiving ourself, and we're more likely to accept that others fail too

[2024-05-02] The value of a moment - not every day produces a moment that will become a memory, but many do, especially if we pause to see the extraordinary in the ordinary

[2024-07-21] Challenging assumptions - two anecdotes from Maggie Aderin-Pocock—a UK scientist, presenter, author and speaker—who demonstrates that re-education is preferable to anger and confrontation in the face of automatic assumptions

[2024-07-22] Choosing a lane - I may not have all the information I need to make the best decision, but I can decide to give myself grace when hindsight reveals whether I chose the right lane

[2024-08-12] It's going to be a great day ... somehow - a prescription for the tired, the sleepless and the discouraged—anyone convinced that the day ahead will be tough: every day is a new day to bring good things to life

[2024-09-09] The stakeout - observations I made while waiting for my daughter; for example, the crescent moon hung like a neon apostrophe in the dark blue sky, just above the treetops

[2024-10-20] Spring always returns - the red camellia symbolizes beauty, grace and perseverance in Japanese culture, and is viewed as a sign of hope since it starts blooming in winter as a promise of the spring that is soon to arrive

[2024-10-22] Early morning walk - a parallel between my early morning walk and my health journey over the past four years: no matter what was happening and where I found myself, there was always something beautiful to behold

[2024-11-07] The story you tell about your past - even when you fail to reach your goal, you can take the lessons from the failure and use them in the future, you can recognize the gains you made even if you fell short of your primary objective, and you can take pride in the values you embraced in the pursuit of your goal—values that have stood the test of time and will continue to guide your actions

[2024-11-24] Being human - a post about Kate Bowler's book No Cure For Being Human (and Other Truths I Need to Hear); it's funny how a piece of art can feel overwhelming on one day but perfectly suitable on another

[2024-11-27] Do not die while you are yet alive - the best piece of advice someone has ever given to me: "Do not die while you are yet alive"; it could be summed up as this: do not ruin the present by fretting over an uncertain future

[2020-08-22] Greg - recollections of my brother Greg on the one-year anniversary of his death

[2020-12-09] Secrets of resilient people - researcher Lucy Hone, who lost her 12-year-old daughter, shares these secrets: resilient people understand that bad things happen, resilient people focus their attention on what's good in the world, resilient people ask themselves, "Is what I'm doing helping or harming me?"

[2021-02-10] Alive - lessons from Sheryl Sandberg after the death of her husband; her perspective is relevant to someone mourning any loss, including the loss of one's health after diagnosis with a life-threatening illness

[2021-04-26] Perspective - lessons on resilience from Canadian comedian Martin Short, who lost his wife, Nancy, to ovarian cancer and who said "tough experiences...strengthen you against further adversity"

[2021-08-22] Greg's day - we all experience loss, grief, sadness, regret; it is comforting to know that we are not alone, that others struggle with their emotions even years after the death of a loved one, that it does get easier with time

[2021-09-27] Grief - sometimes, it feels like grief is all around me, hanging in the air like heavy smoke; other times, it feels like it has invaded me, like a damp chill that seeps into my bones

[2021-10-22] Interviews on grief and cancer coaching - grief is not just about when you lose a loved one; we can face grief whenever we experience loss, including loss of employment, status, financial security, routine, human connection, and—as in my case—health

[2022-02-12] Is what you're doing serving you? - a reminder that resilient people (including those who are grieving) do three things: they understand that bad things happen, they focus their attention on what's good in the world, and they ask themselves: "Is what I'm doing helping or harming me?"

[2022-02-22] In your words: cancer's impact on loved ones - stories of the profound grief experienced by people who have lost a loved one to cancer, with a glimmer of hope

[2022-04-15] How did you overcome grief? - an invitation to readers to share how they coped with grief after losing a loved one, inspired by one person's story

[2022-05-11] In your words: living with grief - after asking readers "How did you overcome grief?" I learned that most people don't overcome grief; they simply learn to live with it

[2022-05-12] You are not alone - a different type of grief: one woman's story of mourning the loss of the expectation that she would raise a typical, healthy child

[2022-08-22] Greg's Day 2022 - a tribute to my brother on the third anniversary of his passing; Greg lives on in my thoughts and in the memories of the many people who loved him

[2022-09-19] Service and dignity - reflecting on my cherished memories of loved ones I have lost in the context of Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral; the ceremonies to honour the Queen reminded me of the importance of acknowledging the service our loved ones rendered in their lifetime and commemorating their life with dignity

[2023-02-15] Compendium of posts: grief - my efforts to support people who are grieving and links to all previous posts on mourning

[2023-06-06] The wind phone - unconnected phones in public places where the grieving can "speak" to their loved ones and have their words "carried on the wind"

[2023-06-27] A life well lived - there is value in attending memorials to support the loved ones of the recently departed—as a way of saying "I care about you, your loved one mattered, you matter"

[2023-08-22] Greg's Day 2023 - a post that celebrates my brother Greg, who passed away in 2019; I am certain that many people have fond memories of Greg and feel a lasting loss because he's gone

[2023-09-18] Go grab life - a post that honours the memory of Nicky Newman, a beautiful soul who passed away from incurable stage 4 breast cancer; her final post on Instagram reminds us to cherish our loved ones, to go grab life and not to take anything for granted

[2023-11-29] Filling the absence of a loved one - a post inspired by Bono's statement that, after the loss of his mother, he had filled her absence with music

[2024-03-15] Gentle grieving and the gift of words - beautiful, poetic words by English actress Anne-Marie Duff: "words...are the gifts we give each other"; "get your face out of the dirt and try to feel the sun on it"; "gentle grieving...that I just carry with me"

[2024-04-29] Precious and precarious - a three-decade-old story that still touches the journalist who wrote it, and reminds me of how precious, precarious and priceless life is

[2024-08-22] Greg's Day 2024 - in remembering my brother Greg, I take comfort in the words of author Bruce Coville: "Nothing you love is lost"; if you hold someone in your heart they're still yours

[2020-08-09] Being vulnerable - how being vulnerable and sharing our stories creates a safe space for others to open up about their lives

[2020-08-16] The value of a simple thank you - when we negate what someone says or offers, we take away the good feeling that they might otherwise experience in doing something nice for someone else

[2020-08-18] Reaching out - suggestions on what to say to someone who has recently been diagnosed with cancer or another illness

[2020-08-23] Timely acts of kindness - think about the people in your life who could use a quick call, a funny email or a little surprise at their front door; your reaching out may be exactly what they need at that very moment

[2020-08-25] Vulnerability - according to research professor and author Brené Brown, vulnerability is about sharing our feelings and our experiences with people who have earned the right to hear them; being vulnerable and open is mutual and an integral part of the trust-building process

[2020-09-07] Sowing the seeds of love - it becomes easier to sow seeds of love as we mature, learn to love and accept ourselves, and perhaps have more time to show we care

[2020-09-08] Kindness and compliments - suggestions for ways to be kind and pass along a compliment

[2020-09-12] Invincible love - social support—whether it comes from friends, family members or a spouse—is strongly associated with better mental and physical health, lower stress levels, improved mood, more positive health behaviors and fewer damaging ones, better cardiovascular health, and improved illness recovery rates

[2020-09-19] Loving more deeply - perspectives on living and dying, inspired by the Tim McGraw song "Live Like You Were Dying," which reminds us that time is not an infinite resource and that we should do and be what we want now, not at some point in the future

[2020-09-27] Friendship - a list of things friends did for me since my diagnosis, which could easily serve as inspiration for anyone looking to support a friend who has cancer or who is going through a tough time

[2021-10-02] Likeable people - likeable people like people and themselves; in general, likeable people are sincerely interested in others, non-judgemental, optimistic, confident, real, and good at listening

[2020-10-07] A tribute to my husband - what my husband and I have learned: to accept each other exactly as we are—scarred or unblemished, sick or healthy, working incessantly or reclining in a La-Z-Boy—not to try to change each other, and not to try to get the other to do what they don't want to do

[2020-10-14] Terry Fox and Me - the story of the deep friendship between Terry Fox and Doug Alward, the only person by Terry's side for every kilometre of his Marathon of Hope; the story is about friendship, humility, selflessness, a positive outlook, hard work and determination, and the key to overcoming any challenge and achieving something remarkable

[2020-11-01] Staying connected - ideas for connecting virtually when you can't be together in person, such as potluck plus videoconference or a virtual book or poetry club

[2020-11-23] Appreciation - advice from Dale Carnegie and others about how to deal with people, including don't criticize, condemn or complain, and give honest and sincere appreciation

[2020-11-25] Empathy - stories and poems to help you have empathy for others, particularly people with ADHD

[2020-11-29] The value of a smile - according to Dale Carnegie, "Your smile is a messenger of your goodwill. Your smile brightens the lives of all who see it. To someone who has seen a dozen people frown, scowl or turn their faces away, your smile is like the sun breaking through the clouds."

[2020-12-05] The sweetest and most important sound - a post about learning and using people's names; as Dale Carnegie says: "Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language."

[2020-12-11] Making the most of the holidays - advice on celebrating the holidays during the time of COVID

[2020-12-12] What's your favourite kind of cheese? - link to a list of questions, organized by categories, to get to know someone and to spur a conversation

[2020-12-13] Spread a little sunshine - inspiration for a care package to cheer someone up: a box of sunshine, which typically includes gifts that are yellow

[2021-01-05] Pay it forward - a heartwarming story about a scarf that my young neighbour knitted for me when she learned that I had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer

[2021-01-19] You are more than - suggestion to think of someone who does something for you and how that thing means so much more to you than they may realize, and find a way to let them know

[2021-01-22] Whoever starts the conversation sets the tone - a reminder that our approach often triggers the response we get

[2021-01-23] In lieu of - a funny obituary (yes, obituary!) that encourages us to do something nice for somebody else unexpectedly, and without explanation

[2021-01-31] Building campfires - connecting with others, even if only online, is like building a campfire; make time to talk to people whose company you enjoy, as you may find comfort in knowing that others are experiencing similar challenges

[2021-02-12] Remember your friends - a reminder, as Valentine's Day approaches, to remember your friends—the family you choose

[2021-02-23] Sitting with negativity - people who insist on positivity may end up minimizing other people's feelings because of their own discomfort with unhappiness, shaming others when they don't have a positive attitude, alienating and isolating those who are already struggling, or shutting others down, thereby preventing them from voicing what they're experiencing; this posts offers alternatives to statements one might hear in an organization given to toxic positivity

[2021-03-04] What's in a name? - encouragement to use your recipient's name when sending a first email, contrary to what one article promoted on Grammar Day

[2021-03-24] Words - consideration of the impacts of our statements—positive and negative—on others and the likelihood that they will remember what we said long after we do

[2021-03-27] Special power - we all have at least one special power: recognize yours; use it; trust that you are making a difference

[2021-03-29] Listen with your eyes - listening with our eyes communicates that we are attending to what the other person is saying and can tell us whether the other person understands or is confused, whether they agree or disagree with us, and whether they've misinterpreted or been offended by something we've said

[2021-04-01] Good karma - when we put kindness out into the world, it comes back to us—sometimes from the same person, oftentimes from someone else

[2021-04-03] What to say - suggestions on what to say to be an effective leader, parent, friend, relative or colleague, such as what do you need from me to make this a success?

[2021-04-06] Reach out and touch someone - reach out and touch someone, not only to make the recipient's day but also to cultivate friendships that will give back to you in many ways

[2021-04-15] Friendship and illness - wisdom about the importance of friendships from Irish poet and philosopher John O'Donohue, and a reading of "Blessing for a friend on the arrival of illness"

[2021-05-16] Ask - a post about having the courage to ask for what we need: one of my biggest takeaways from my cancer journey is how willing people are to lend a hand; all I need to do is ask

[2021-05-21] Take the first step - a reminder of our power to take the first step: to be the love we want to receive, to be the joy we seek, to be a step closer to the person we care about

[2021-05-22] Moments between moments - a celebration of the ordinary instances between the extraordinary occasions; in our efforts to create quality time, we can miss the special moments that emerge naturally

[2021-05-26] Even if you never know it - would we be more generous and helpful if we knew the positive effect that our words and actions would have on others?

[2021-05-27] Kindness and Mr. Rogers - a story of kindness extended to Fred Rogers that had a profound impact on his life; the post also explores the benefits to the people who show kindness to others

[2021-06-09] Beauty - a celebration of the beauty within: how we look isn't what makes us beautiful; it's the positive energy we put out into the world and the way we make others feel about themselves that make us attractive

[2021-06-12] Love - three perspectives on love: love is not merely what we feel, but also how we act; it's okay—even imperative—that we have healthy expectations for what we will get back from the ones we love; at the end of our days, we will be remembered for how and whom we loved, not what we achieved and amassed

[2021-06-25] Sow some kindness - in our interactions with others, we tend to find what we expect to find and to reap what we sow, so cultivate kindness, for the benefit of ourselves and others

[2021-07-04] Getting what you want - sometimes, we remain stuck in an unhealthy circumstance because—as a famous quote says—"When one door closes, another opens, but often we look so long and regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us."

[2021-08-08] Something kind - an email exchange I had years ago in which a colleague wrote"When you wrote something kind last night…your words gave me a real lift when I needed it"; it reminds me to appreciate everyone who has done something kind for me and to do the same for others

[2021-08-16] G'day - the beauty in a simple hello—the older I get, the more likely I am to greet complete strangers; as I see it, life's too short not to say g'day

[2021-08-26] As easy as breathing - complimenting others is "as easy as breathing"; like any habit, praising other people becomes easier the more you do it

[2021-09-04] Beyond the imperfections - it's impossible to find perfection in another person; in any relationship, we can ask: Does this relationship nourish me? Does it give me the kind of support I crave? Is this person committed to sticking with me in good times and in bad? Does this person accept me, imperfections and all? Am I a better version of myself when I'm with this person?

[2021-09-11] Clementine - inspiration from a story about Clementine, wife of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, which reminds us of the influencers in our lives, the people who helped get us to where we are today

[2021-10-15] Go for it - life's too short and too uncertain not to let others know how we feel about them; if you think of someone and wonder how they're doing or want to pass along a compliment, go for it

[2021-10-24] Picture - the power of food to bring families together

[2021-10-31] The Proust Questionnaire - a series of questions that originated from a parlor game popularized by Marcel Proust, who believed that, in answering these questions, respondents would reveal their true nature

[2021-11-21] Catch them doing things right - advice for parents (and leaders) to notice when their kids (and employees) do the right thing and reinforce that behaviour rather than harp on what they do that is wrong

[2021-12-23] Photos - when someone says "get in the photo," get in; one day, someone will be grateful you got in the photo

[2021-12-27] Sharing - give what you are uniquely placed to offer: a compliment, a sympathetic ear, words of wisdom, recognition of someone else's reality, and confirmation that they are loved

[2022-01-08] Respect for service providers - tips for showing appreciation to service providers, including following their instructions, using their names, sharing a positive review online

[2022-02-11] Youthful inspiration - inspiration from the youth in the UK's Junior Bake Off—children who are resilient, free spirited and imaginative, but also remarkably kind, which serves as a reminder that no matter what is going on in the world, there is always kindness, generosity and authenticity to be found

[2022-02-17] Resting not lazy - inspiration from a video on 3 things to consider before you call someone lazy, reminding us that "You never know what someone may be going through and silently struggling with."

[2022-03-04] Relationships - conclusions of an 80-year study that found the secret to a long and happy life is deep and meaningful relationships; taking care of your relationships would appear to be as important as taking care of your body

[2022-03-13] Empathic listening - a post about the comfort that comes from seeing someone who has been ill face to face, which often allays our fears

[2022-03-18] Charity - seeing charity not merely as a gift but as a lifestyle as well; we can make being charitable a habit—something we do as much as something we give

[2022-03-20] Launch of the Jenesis Happiness Award - invitation to nominate someone who makes you happy

[2022-04-02] Gifts - instead of hesitating to buy gifts when I worried they wouldn't be perfect, I learned to keep receipts handy and to offer to return anything the recipient didn't like.—more often than not, my choice was just fine

[2022-04-03] Rich - having a lot of money is not the only way to be rich: you can be rich in time, friends, interests and love, and you can place an equal or greater value on any of these factors when examining the richness of your life

[2022-04-21] Feeling appreciated - expressing appreciation is about more than saying "thank you"; it's about letting others know that their efforts made a difference to you

[2022-04-22] Spreading joy - doing what we can, with what we have, where we are; sometimes, what we have is a beloved pet, which can bring cheer to others

[2022-04-25] Kitchen floor - the opportunity that work—no matter how extraordinary or ordinary—gives us to serve ourselves and others

[2022-04-30] People who feel like sunshine - spread a little sunshine wherever you are, especially in interacting with service providers

[2022-05-01] Boundaries - establishing limits makes it possible for people to co-exist in a relationship that works for both parties

[2022-05-13] Be gentle - what I learned from the individuals who spoke as part of our Changing our Organization through Respect initiative at Natural Resources Canada: every speaker reinforced how little we know about other people's realities

[2022-05-16] Compliments and kudos - research about why we may be reluctant to compliment others even though we think kind things about them

[2022-05-22] Helping - a post about helping, especially in times of disaster; sometimes, we are the helpers; other times, we are the helped; in either case, we are changed by the experience

[2022-05-24] Baking for brothers - food has always equaled caring; when we receive an edible gift, we know that someone loves us, is thinking of us and wants us to be happy

[2022-05-25] Going beyond "how was your day?" - answers to questions that go beyond the simple "How was your day?" I share whom I had lunch with, something that challenged me, what made me smile, a kindness I received, and the best thing about today

[2022-06-12] Fueling friendship - Julie Beck's six forces that help form friendships and maintain them through the years: accumulation, attention, intention, ritual, imagination, and grace

[2022-06-15] Inexpressible comfort - a montage of photos from a walk in the woods with two friends with whom I haven't had a proper get-together in years

[2022-06-26] People-pleasing - people-pleasing is the urge to put others' wants before our own needs; this post explains what people-pleasing is, where it comes from, how it manifests and what to do about it

[2022-07-14] Being present - a new way of looking at the concept of "being present": it's not exclusively about doing something active with another person, with no distractions; it can also mean simply being available, just in case you're needed

[2022-07-27] Making invisible gratitude visible - recognition of my former staff who gave me a gift certificate to a restaurant; I'm trying to make my gratitude—sometimes invisible to the gift-givers—more visible, particularly when their present is enjoyed months later

[2022-08-03] Live with love - living with love includes empathizing, being grateful, showing appreciation, being gentle and being present; it can also mean setting boundaries to preserve a relationship and walking away if a relationship is not healthy for you since doing so is loving yourself

[2022-08-10] Thank you etiquette - thank-yous should be timely (extended as soon after receiving the gift as possible), specific (acknowledging what the gift was) and effusive (expressing enthusiasm for the gift and explaining why it was a good choice)

[2022-08-12] A strategy for generosity - take action the moment you are inspired to be generous, for example, to give money, check in on a friend or send an email praising someone's work

[2022-08-16] Neighbours - reflections on the privilege of having time to interact with neighbours and the joy that comes from living in a neighbourly community

[2022-09-29] Preserving relationships - inspired by this comment by James Clear: "The benefits that arise from a good relationship—whether it be in marriage, friendship, business, or otherwise—are often produced over a long time span."

[2022-10-06] Why we tune out - explains why we may tune out when talking with the people closest to us. as Kate Murphy says, "The closer we feel toward someone, the less likely we are to listen carefully to them."

[2022-10-27] Sunshine for your soul - write, call or go see the first person who comes to mind—you may be reaching out to them at exactly the moment they most need to hear of their positive influence on another person

[2022-10-28] How to validate someone - the first thing we need to do when someone approaches us expressing sadness, disappointment, frustration or any negative emotion is to validate; this post offers four steps to validating someone, including specific language

[2022-11-04] I just wanted you to know - message to a loved one who has gone through a tough time recently: I thought of you today and instead of letting that thought drift away, like so many other thoughts I've had of you in the past, I decided to say hi

[2021-11-13] Us and them - a post about seeing the similarities between people rather than focusing on differences, featuring a video from Denmark called All That We Share

[2022-11-27] Let them know - if you appreciate what someone does for you, especially when their effort is expended at a different time from your enjoyment of it, let them know

[2022-11-29] Recognizing opportunity - with time, patience and willingness, we can often reach a person in ways that would not be possible through a brief, chance encounter; we simply need to recognize the opportunity

[2022-11-30] Tenderness - when we do something tenderly, we do it in a soft and gentle way, in an affectionate, loving or kindhearted way, in a sensitive and careful way; we need more tenderness

[2022-12-05] Meditations on being seen and heard - quotes and ideas on the importance of being seen and heard

[2022-12-20] Connecting - being thanked generally for a gift is nice, but being acknowledged specifically for the choices we made is delightful; knowing that our recipient not only appreciated our gesture but also loved and would use what we gave them makes us feel good about giving

[2022-12-22] Influential people: a follow-up - a post about my most influential elementary school teacher and her response to my card expressing gratitude

[2023-01-17] Take the compliment - when we accept a compliment, without reservation, we honour the complimenter and acknowledge their kind words

[2023-01-27] Inner child - it is a gift to others when we see the child in them and want nothing more than to laugh with them, to hug them, and to grow old with them

[2023-02-13] Speaking and listening - inspiration from Zig Ziglar's quote about speaking so others will listen and listening so others will speak, along with a little Dale Carnegie on how to be a good conversationalist

[2023-02-14] Good relationships - the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which tracked the lives of 724 men, beginning in 1938, finds that social connections are really good for us, it's the quality of your close relationships that matters, and good relationships don't just protect our bodies, they protect our brains

[2023-02-23] Soft words - a post inspired by this quote: "Good manners and soft words have brought many a difficult thing to pass."

[2023-03-21] Paths to friends - may the paths to your friends be well-worn and your footsteps always welcomed

[2023-03-23] Practical responses to complaining - prolonged complaining can feel like a "grump dump," but not all complaining is unproductive

[2023-04-13] Serving others - a composition for a friend who has served others throughout her lifetime, myself included; as she faces her own challenges, I am honoured to put my experience to use in serving her

[2023-05-05] Passion projects - a vintage car show illustrated that shared passions can be a source of deep connection

[2023-05-10] Mental Rolodex - I use a mental Rolodex to note details about family members, cherished friends and colleagues—this has been a valuable tool for starting conversations and building connections

[2023-05-31] Mango moment - following an exchange with a couple who gave me a mango in the self-checkout line of my local supermarket, I coined the expression "mango moment": it's any encounter with a stranger that leaves me feeling happy, appreciated or amused

[2023-06-09] Hugged, heard or helped - a simple question you can ask a loved one who comes to you upset: "Do you want to be helped, heard or hugged?"—this memorable phrase reminds you to ask others what they need from you and to avoid suggesting solutions before showing empathy and validating them

[2023-06-12] The third place - "the third place" is a term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg to describe settings that are neither home nor work—locations where we can exchange ideas, enjoy a good time, and build relationshi

[2023-06-29] The power to make a difference - the story of an adorable boy who hides stuffed kitties at IKEA; the post is about the power we have to make a difference in the life of one person or creature, and to see beauty, kindness and innocence in the world

[2023-08-20] Joy to go - celebration of friendship and the people who make us more than we might otherwise be—through their love, encouragement and wisdom

[2023-08-23] Friendship pyjamas - a simple post celebrating friends for checking in; kind gestures say: "I am here for you always," "I'm thinking of you," "You matter."

[2023-08-30] Share - as we disclose the difficulties we're facing, we often help someone else cope with their own hardships

[2023-09-14] Gov't Mule and patchouli - a brief review of a performance at CityFolk and a story of a quick chat I had with a couple at the festival; we can have awesome exchanges with strangers if we just have the courage to start a conversation

[2023-09-15] Welcoming new people - five ways you can welcome new people: be enthusiastic, learn and use their name, offer to help, help them get up to speed quickly, encourage them

[2023-09-27] Social connection - a summary of findings about loneliness, isolation and social connection from the U.S. Surgeon General's 2023 Advisory on the subject, as well as the Advisory's tips on what individuals can do to avoid loneliness and foster connection with others

[2023-10-05] World Teachers Day - having previously written about my most influential elementary school teacher, I thought about personnel from my high school, focusing on the librarian—a kind, gentle, helpful person

[2023-10-06] Pumpkin - a pleasant exchange I had today with a young man about pumpkin puree; as Yo-Yo Ma said, "Good things happen when you meet strangers."

[2023-10-09] Hundreds of angels - a post on the many people in our lives who are angels: individuals who love us because of the positive impact we have had on them, cheer us on, and want us to realize our dreams

[2023-10-17] Radiothon and hugs - I find it easier to give and receive hugs from former colleagues since retiring, liberated from any perceived prohibitions about such interactions between bosses and employees

[2023-11-08] The good in others - encounters with kind people make me feel like there is still much good in the world

[2023-11-19] 1,200th post - a celebration of my 1,200th post and the friendships that have sustained me in the 1,200 days since I launched Jenesis

[2023-11-21] Prescription: make friends - the value of friendship, the things that make some people click, the role of differences and similarities in bringing people together, the power of traditions, and why some relationships endure while others fade

[2023-11-26] Nixtamalized corn - a family feast that all started with nixtamalized corn—dried corn kernels that have been treated through a process of soaking, cooking with an alkaline solution, and washing, resulting in a product that is said to be "more workable, tasty, and nutritious than it would be otherwise"

[2023-12-06] Mel's birthday 2023 - a birthday card to my daughter and a reflection of the magic of being in one's thirties

[2023-12-14] Overheard in a bookstore - a few pleasant moments in my afternoon of browsing, proving that joy can be found in everyday encounters

[2023-12-21] Tea, treats and talk - the rituals we create around food—including something as simple as enjoying a cup of tea and a treat after an evening out—and how these rituals often lead to special moments

[2023-12-27] Be a friend - a reminder to me and you of all the ways we make others' lives better and encouragement to be a friend

[2024-01-02] The power of food to bring people together - a post about the power of food to bring people together—communities, families and friends

[2024-01-03] The enthusiastic response - praise for the enthusiastic response—the kind of exuberant "yes" that leaves no doubt in the mind of the asker of the recipient's true desires

[2024-01-10] The THINK acronym - the THINK acronym is a mnemonic device to help us decide whether and how to say something; THINK invites us to ask is it True, Helpful, Inspiring (or Important or Improving on silence), Necessary and Kind

[2024-01-12] Adoptions between friends - a post about friends who adopt each other, such as the woman who "adopted" a neighbour's child as though she were her own granddaughter; "adopters" are people who enter (or re-enter) our world by choice and decide to stay

[2024-01-18] Maintenance love - maintenance love is that sensible concern for another that is expressed in everyday acts of kindness; it is holding up another person, providing unwavering support as the winds of life huff and puff, and threaten to blow everything down

[2024-01-22] Respect for names - despite my commitment to getting them right and my efforts to do so, I still make mistakes with names: misspelling them, mispronouncing them, misremembering them, but I keep trying because I know how important a person's name is to them

[2024-01-31] The good of giving and receiving - if we recognize that givers benefit from their giving, we might experience less reciprocity guilt when welcoming help or kindness from others; far from being selfish, our acceptance and appreciation of another person's gift may be the most generous and giving thing we can do

[2024-02-14] Valentine's Day 2024: the joy of loving - a simple post on Valentine's Day about the joy of loving

[2024-02-16] Acts of love and two angels - excerpts from a New York Times article about 100 small acts of love, and a story about two angels sent to Earth: one to look for the good, the other, for perfection

[2024-02-28] Pink Shirt Day - marking Pink Shirt Day—a day to show support for the values of respect, diversity and inclusion

[2024-03-29] Would you like to play with me? - a story of mother-daughter table tennis and how a little kindness can turn a child's day around

[2024-04-29] Precious and precarious - a three-decade-old story that still touches the journalist who wrote it, and reminds me of how precious, precarious and priceless life is

[2024-05-23] Where everybody knows your name - the community spirit Mel and I encounter each week when we play table tennis at the Richcraft Recreation Complex in Kanata feels like the fictional bar Cheers—a place where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came

[2024-06-26] What we have in common - another video from Denmark suggesting that its citizens have more in common with their neighbours than they might realize; this video focuses on strangers who weren't aware that they share a similar story

[2024-07-09] Love speaks in silences too - inspired by a conversation with a friend over lunch and a post that was suggested to me on Facebook, I was reminded of the value of validating people who are going through a tough time

[2024-07-16] Showing gratitude - a reflection on several good things that happened today, which reminded me that we don't always know the effect we have on others, so it's a gift when we hear that we make a difference to them

[2024-07-30] Mango moment: watermelon edition - a mango moment is any encounter with a stranger that leaves me feeling happy, appreciated or entertained; today's moment was about a watermelon

[2024-08-21] I help people - in response to the question: "What do you do?" I'm trying to focus on why I do what I do, as opposed to what I do, which leads me to the answer "I help people"

[2024-08-24] Radiate positivity - recognition of several positive people my daughter and I met at the Bells Corners Summer Bash; positivity makes interactions so much more pleasant

[2024-08-29] Presents and presence - a post about the gifts a friend gave me today—her presents of coffee and an exquisite hand-blown glass butterfly and her presence, which was caring and inspiring

[2024-08-30] Green flag people - individuals who will clap for you and speak highly of you in the rooms that you're not in, who will celebrate your wins, remember small things about you, and allow you to be fully yourself, who will leave you feeling energized after seeing them

[2024-09-02] Finding family - we can find family not simply amongst those we are related to and grew up with but among friends, colleagues and acquaintances

[2024-09-25] Connecting through baking - a post about the magic of cooking and baking with a loved one—what a pleasant practice to while away the hours

[2024-09-26] Never let a bad day bring out the worst in you - powerful advice: never let a bad day bring out the worst in you

[2024-10-06] Parallel play in relationships - a post about parallel play—a form of interaction that lies between quality time spent together and time spent apart—in which each of you pursues individual interests while appreciating each other’s company

[2024-10-08] Letting people take care of you - for the people who readily give help to others but reluctantly take it themselves, remember that accepting help from a loved one is showing love—twice, in fact: first to your loved one and second to yourself

[2024-10-24] Fika: the Swedish coffee break - fika is a Swedish ritual of spending time with a friend or loved one while enjoying coffee and a sweet treat; it's about setting aside deliberate time to take a break from one's day and enjoy the company of another person

[2024-10-27] "I'm proud of him because he's a good person" - a story from Dr. Billy Garvey about his mum's last words—as proud as she was of him for being a doctor, she was even prouder that he was a good person

[2024-11-04] When paths cross - for the man who stopped to talk to me this morning as well as for others who may be reluctant to strike up a conversation with a stranger: know that magical things can happen when two paths cross

[2024-11-13] World Kindness Day 2024 - I celebrate World Kindness Day by sharing a story of kindness from my day, offering ideas from the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation for performing acts of kindness, and highlighting quotes about caring

[2020-08-08] Life goes on - a hilarious comment from my young neighbour who was confused when I said I had married Chris: "you married your dad?"

[2020-08-24] Music - music therapy can calm anxiety, ease pain, and provide a pleasant diversion during chemotherapy or a hospital stay

[2020-08-31] Little victories revisited - a tongue-in-cheek celebration of small achievements following my surgery for ovarian cancer

[2020-09-09] Laughter - a funny exchange with a doctor while I was in hospital, and the connection between laughter and health

[2020-10-21] Laughter and inspiration in abundance - amusing and inspirational messages related to my chemo-induced hair loss, including that it sounded like I had taken a shower with a hairy bear

[2020-10-25] Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening - an interpretation of Robert Frost's poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening"

[2020-10-28] Gifts, tips and inspiration - inspiration for anyone going through a hard time, from Patrick Watson's song "Here Comes the River," Dylan Thomas' poem "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" and Elizabeth Kübler-Ross' quote on beautiful people

[2020-11-05] Love in a cup - a song by the group Outside I'm A Giant that is an open invitation to a friend to stop by the singer's home, not just for coffee ("It's brewing for you") but for support ("if you're still hurtin' | Call out to me")

[2021-01-21] There is always light - inspiration from "The Hill We Climb" by American poet laureate Amanda Gorman at the inauguration of US President Joe Biden: For there is always light, | If only we're brave enough to see it | If only we're brave enough to be it

[2021-01-23] In lieu of - a funny obituary (yes, obituary!) that encourages us to do something nice for somebody else unexpectedly, and without explanation

[2021-02-15] Be brilliant - a recognition from Brené Brown that "If I'm going to show up and be seen—in other words, put myself out there—I am going to be criticized" and a quote from Nelson Mandela, who said, "We ask ourselves: Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Who are you not to be?"

[2021-02-28] The promise of spring - a celebration of the spring, hints of which were evident on this day, and a reading of Edith Nesbit's poem "The Promise of Spring"

[2021-03-06] What if you fly? - I've been like the little girl in Erin Hanson's poem, asking "What if I fall?" though, in my case, the question has been "What if I die?" But in the past few days, the breezes of the sky have whispered in reply: "What if you live?"

[2021-03-23] Songs by the decade - "If each decade of your life were represented by a song, what songs would you choose?"

[2021-04-12] Embarrassing stories - a post about better brainstorming that starts with my own embarrassing story (do you have cats?)

[2021-04-23] Being - inspiration from Erin Hanson's poem about a girl who is a "human doing" more than a "human being"

[2021-05-01] Indecision - a humorous look at indecision; for example, "The road of life is paved with flat squirrels who couldn't make a decision."

[2021-07-22] On being an artist - a reflection on the struggle of being an artist, from Rembrandt to Maya Angelou to Julia Cameron, to you and me; perhaps an artist is simply someone who is willing to sacrifice looking good in order to get better over time

[2021-08-14] You gotta laugh - misreadings of product labels (½ Lune Moon) and signs (no Ps allowed)

[2021-08-20] Unconquered - William Ernest Henley's poem "Invictus" speaks of his unconquerable soul, to his unbowed head, to his not being afraid, and to his being the master of his fate and the captain of his soul

[2021-10-19] The Older I Get - inspiration from Alan Jackson's song "The Older I Get": "And the older I get / The more thankful I feel / For the life I've had / And all the life I'm living still"

[2021-11-16] Unabashed - playful comments and puns people sent to me when I revealed that I had had surgery for perianal skin cancer

[2021-12-17] Little bright moments - humorous and uplifting stories from my day plus several quotes

[2021-12-21] Funny stories - comedic tales make us laugh, but also remind us of our humanity, allow us to see that we are all on a similar journey, and prompt us to not take life too seriously

[2022-02-21] Humour and humanity - humorous definitions of the word "sorry" plus stories of kindness and love

[2022-03-10] Better photos - 10 tips for taking better photos

[2022-03-21] World Poetry Day - peruse more poems; abandon any that don't make you think or feel; compile and read your personal favourites many times

[2022-04-19] No place like home - expressions and pronunciations I heard (and used) growing up in the Ottawa Valley

[2022-05-03] Getting older - inspiration from Willie Nelson's latest album A Beautiful Time: the 89-year-old music legend reflects on his life, aging and mortality and provides a little advice along the way

[2022-05-26] Wishlist - I completed an experience that had been on my wishlist since I was first treated for ovarian cancer: see a drag show

[2022-08-26] Nostalgia - a short entry about our volunteering at Nostalgia—a music festival featuring bands and artists that pay tribute to some of the biggest acts of the '70s, '80s and '90s

[2022-09-02] Capturing stories - advice from Atomic Habits author James Clear to write down the funniest or most interesting thing that happens to you each day

[2022-10-24] Being boring - inspiration from Wendy Cope's poem "Being Boring": I've just one ambition in life: I aspire / To go on and on being boring"

[2022-10-25] The label avenger - my husband likes to poke fun at my penchant for labeling containers of food by making sarcastic and whimsical anti-labels

[2022-10-31] Happy Halloween - memories of Halloween from my childhood, including sweating behind plastic masks with a single tiny air hole in the middle of our mouths, and small almond-shaped eyes

[2022-11-18] Video games - a trip down memory lane of the video games I played and connecting with loved ones on a shared quest

[2022-11-24] Turnip fries and other lies I told my children - admission that I cut rutabaga into the shape of French fries and told my kids they were turnip fries

[2022-12-21] The label avenger strikes again - more humorous sticky notes from the Label Avenger

[2022-12-29] Creativity - inspirational ideas for being more creative and advice for sharing your output with others

[2023-01-02] Soundtrack of my life (volume 1) - certain songs are like rocks in a pond: while many memories from my past remain buried under water, songs help me to uncover at least some of them; recalling songs that make up the soundtrack of my life allows me to step from rock to rock—from memory to memory

[2023-02-03] Francis Ford Coppola on art - a post that draws on a 2011 interview Francis Ford Coppola gave on the subject of art, such as the necessity to take risks: "If you don’t take a risk then how are you going to make something really beautiful, that hasn’t been seen before?"

[2023-03-14] The label avenger returns - the third installment in the Label Avengers Chronicles and the introduction of the Labeler's Apprentice

[2023-03-29] Miss Wellington and other assumed identities - three stories about times Chris, I or the two of us pretended to be someone other than who we were

[2023-04-20] To have enough - inspired by a quote from record producer Rick Rubin about the secret to creating hit records (or making anything great): "If you need 10 of something, make 30. Then pick the best."

[2023-05-21] The label avenger reappears - the fourth installment in the Label Avenger's Chronicles; my favourite labels from this episode are "SEATING CAPACITY ONE" and "IT'S NOT THE SAME BOY"

[2023-08-11] Great blue heron - a photo I took today of a Great Blue Heron and a poem by T. Alan Broughton about this majestic bird

[2022-08-25] The purpose of art - a post about the power of art to open us up, to draw us out, to change our perceptions and, as Ursula K. Le Guin states, to get us out of our daily routines

[2023-09-28] Try again tomorrow - a quote about being tired, resting, realizing the world will go on, and knowing that one can try again tomorrow

[2023-09-29] Soundtrack of my life (volume 2) - Volume 2 covers the period from the start of my family with Chris to the present: the post includes songs and stories from my life with my husband and children, my work and my cancer journey

[2023-10-01] Begin - a poem inspired by a William Wordsworth quote: "To begin, begin."

[2023-10-11] October - a poem about October: every day, every month, every season offers something special

[2023-11-03] Prepping for a colonoscopy - tips, triumphs and a little humour in prepping for a colonoscopy

[2023-12-20] Mondegreen - mishearing or misinterpreting a phrase in a way that gives it a new meaning, which is called a "mondegreen"

[2023-12-26] The chef is here - a cute story about my great niece who helped me make pizza for Christmas dinner

[2024-01-11] The power of poetry - as William Zieghart, creator of The Poetry Pharmacy, notes, poetry has the ability to make us feel like we are not alone—like we are not the only one who feels a certain way

[2024-01-14] The Poetry Pharmacy - a summary of a TED Talk by William Sieghart, publisher and founder of The Poetry Pharmacy, who believes that there's a poem for every human anxiety and that if you find a poem that fits your circumstances, it's as though a hand has come out and taken yours

[2024-01-17] What is a poem? - excerpts from the 90-minute poetry reading The Power of Poetry, including what a poem is, why we may struggle to understand poems, and four poems that resonated with me

[2024-01-18] Maintenance love - maintenance love is that sensible concern for another that is expressed in everyday acts of kindness; it is holding up another person, providing unwavering support as the winds of life huff and puff, and threaten to blow everything down

[2024-01-28] The wise trees stand sleeping in the cold - how quickly the month of January seems to be melting away, plus the poem "Winter Trees" by William Carlos Williams

[2024-02-01] Life imitates art - a humorous exchange that Mel and I had this morning. When she discovered that I had eaten the orange she had peeled for yesterday's lunch but forgotten at home, she asked: "Was it delicious, sweet and cold?" She was referencing William Carlos Williams' poem about having eaten the plums in the icebox

[2024-02-09] The label avenger resurfaces - in the latest installment in the Label Avenger's Chronicles, I present evidence that the Label Avenger has not retired

[2024-02-22] A blanket of words - a post inspired by a crowd-sourced poem called "A Blanket of Words," which begins: "I would like us to take a break I would like us to contemplate How much better we all are with rest"

[2024-03-04] Joy sneaks in - "Joy Chose You" by Donna Ashworth and "The Station" by Robert J. Hastings remind us that joy does not arrive with a fanfare on a red carpet strewn with the flowers of a perfect life or appear when we finally reach some imagined goal, like a station at the end of a long train trip; joy sneaks into our life—a life that must be lived as we go along

[2024-03-18] Why does music matter? - "because there has to be another way of saying things without words"

[2024-04-12] They won't be coming back - poking a little fun at a Company's Coming Easy Entertaining cookbook: "If company's coming and you use this cookbook, they won't be coming back!"

[2024-04-30] The ugliest man in the world - another funny story from my mom, this time about a Christmas skit—part of a growing series I'm calling Don't-Forget-Olivette

[2024-06-13] Stand - an inspiring poem called "Stand" by Ruth Forman; it appears in This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets, edited by Kwame Alexander

[2024-08-26] Nostalgia best in show - a look back at yesterday's performances at the Nostalgia music festival: while all three tribute bands were excellent, Hotel California—performing the music of the Eagles—stole the show and was, for me, the best of the festival

[2024-09-05] Baked beans amnesia - a humorous anecdote, stemming from a semantic misunderstanding between my daughter and me, culminating in Mel's suggesting that I was having "baked beans amnesia"

[2024-10-07] Canada geese - a post about Canada geese, which we recently saw in the hundreds on the pond at Bruce Pit; it brought to mind a poem by former president Jimmy Carter

[2020-11-09] Scheduling white space - for any business meetings that are back-to-back, reduce the time allocated by 10-15 minutes: "Make it a practice to schedule shorter meetings with white space between—you need time to digest and assimilate before absorbing more information."

[2021-01-20] Impressions - every day you come to work, you're auditioning for a potential employer; everyone you meet in your professional journey is a potential reference

[2021-02-18] Permission - advice from Kevin Kelly, founding executive editor of Wired magazine, to find your passion by mastering something, almost anything, which will inevitably move you towards your passion

[2021-02-25] Informational interview - how to do an informational interview, which is a meeting you arrange to talk to someone in a field, industry or organization that interests you

[2021-03-12] Officers don't run - encouragement to cultivate your ability to manage stress and not pass it on to your employees

[2021-03-15] Practice - practice—and lots of it—is the surest way to get better at something, and when we combine that practice with feedback from an audience, a director or a coach, we can improve all the more quickly

[2021-03-18] Feedback - three ways to help others feel safe before you provide feedback and three ways to help yourself feel safe before you receive feedback

[2021-03-25] Zeigarnik effect - the desire to complete a task once begun is known as the Zeigarnik effect; when I'm struggling to start a project, I'll tell myself, "just get started"

[2021-04-03] What to say - suggestions on what to say to be an effective leader, parent, friend, relative or colleague, such as what do you need from me to make this a success?

[2021-04-08] Traditions, habits and boundaries - when we establish habits to separate work from home as part of our daily or weekly routine, we are more likely to stick with them and to garner our boss's respect for them

[2021-04-27] Efficiency and effectiveness - tips from Timothy Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek, on how to ruthlessly prioritize your activities

[2021-04-28] Confidence - 12 tips for building and maintaining a sense of self-assurance

[2021-05-06] MITs and other habits - advice on how to do less but ultimately achieve more by focusing on the essential; the first in a two-part series based on Leo Babauta's book The Power of Less

[2021-05-07] Simplify your life - tips on how to streamline goals, tasks, time management, email, internet access, filing, commitments, and health and fitness; the second in a two-part series based on Leo Babauta's book The Power of Less

[2021-05-11] Potential - tapping potential is seeing others for what they can grow to be, rather than what they are

[2021-05-18] MACJ writing method - an approach for breaking the writing process down into smaller tasks based on four characters that lead the various stages of writing: the Madman, the Architect, the Carpenter and the Judge

[2021-05-24] Lollipop moments - examples of small ways that you can exercise leadership

[2021-05-30] Limits - inspiration from an article on managing your energy more effectively by setting upper and lower limits to the amount of time you spend on certain activities or projects; the aim is to avoid burnout while maintaining momentum

[2021-06-05] Walking meeting - a post about my first walking meeting and updates to a 2014 Café Jen article to fit the current times, explaining the whys and hows of walk-and-talk sessions

[2021-06-10] Leaders and followers - how a boss treats their employees accounts for at least 50% of their performance

[2021-06-14] Mentoring - 13 tips for mentees on how to get the most out of your mentoring relationships

[2021-06-16] Compendium of posts: career - a compendium of Jenesis articles related to career management, citing 16 articles on the subject of career

[2021-06-18] Recognition - recognition from the Deputy Minister at Health Canada of my leadership of health communications in the early months of the pandemic

[2021-06-19] It's in the giving that I take - a maxim that suggests that our growth comes from all the demanding stuff we do in our jobs and lives; as we give, we take, in the form of learning, growth and connection

[2021-06-23] Learning French - advice on how to learn French or any second language

[2021-06-27] Advice for career and life - 10 pieces of advice for succeeding in your career and life

[2021-07-11] Make your CV scannable and other tips - tips for creating a CV that is more likely to be read by a prospective manager; for example, highlight the most important information, and focus on what you achieved in each job, not what you did

[2021-07-12] Free time - activities you can pursue in your free time that could support both your well-being and your career goals

[2021-07-18] Reputation - seven tips for building your reputation at work

[2021-07-19] What's wrong with being a chicken? - a parable of the eagle who lives his life thinking he's a chicken; I ask: "What's wrong with being a chicken?"

[2021-07-21] Go find a geek - find someone who knows more than you about the technology you use regularly, such as email, social media or your smartphone; ask that they observe how you work and then suggest how you can save time

[2021-07-27] A true leader - how to lead through influence rather than authority

[2021-07-30] Joyfear - "joyfear" is the simultaneous mix of glee and trepidation; the term, coined by blogger Leo Babauta, refers to life-changing moments marked by joy and fear

[2021-07-31] Preparing for this moment - our past and present experiences prepare us for future roles or callings, many of which we cannot anticipate

[2021-08-09] Advice for new leaders - advice for new leaders, including one thing they should avoid and three questions they should ask

[2021-08-15] Networking - six tips for reaching out to prospective employers

[2021-09-07] On it! - a reflection on how we have increasingly relied on electronic tools to communicate with each other and assign work and suggests that two simple words communicate receipt, acknowledgement and action in one fell swoop: "On it!"

[2021-09-15] What would you be? - what would you be if you weren't who you are, in other words, what occupation, calling or passion might you have pursued instead of the one you did?

[2021-09-20] The greatest team - expressing gratitude to my team, who took me to lunch today in celebration of my upcoming retirement; I was blessed to have been surrounded by such a caring, dedicated and talented group of individuals

[2021-10-13] Kindness with a backbone - girls and young women should not be taught that "positive rudeness" is something to be embraced—have a backbone, yes; don't allow yourself to be pushed around, yes; stand up for yourself and remain respectful, yes; but leave the rudeness behind

[2021-11-04] Trust - repercussions of a lack of trust by managers towards their employees and advice on how to build trust

[2021-11-10] Your job as a manager - your job as a manager is to make every employee you supervise better than they were before you managed them: to make D students C students, C students B students, B students A students, and A students A+ students; it's about incremental improvement and realistic expectations—moving employees up the competence continuum

[2021-11-17] Be a time-giver - tips for respecting your boss's time: take note of what your boss has asked you to do, let your boss know when you've completed a task, be prepared for briefings

[2021-11-23] Invisible mentors - invisible mentors are not necessarily someone with whom you have a personal relationship; you simply learn from observing and following their example

[2021-11-24] Retirement Day - a look back at my Public Service career, as a student at Veterans Affairs Canada for 3 years, as an employee then executive at Natural Resources Canada for 28 years, and as an assistant deputy minister at Health Canada for 5 years

[2021-11-29] What's your point? - deductive thinkers want the point first and then the details that support it; inductive thinkers need to hear the details first before they can consider the point

[2021-12-09] An archive of losses - James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, states: "Every winner has an archive of losses, but each attempt creates the chance for a victory."

[2022-01-12] Skills-based CV - advice on developing a CV that draws attention to your education and skills when you have limited experience at the beginning of your career

[2022-02-01] How full is your bucket? - our buckets mental health buckets can be filled or emptied in many situations; for example, the number one reason people leave their jobs is that they do not feel appreciated

[2022-03-06] Bench strength - "one reason organizations get stuck is that they stick with their 'A' players so long that they lose their bench," writes Seth Godin

[2022-03-09] Graffiti - messages that uplift, inspire and entertain colleagues—whether shared virtually or in person—remind me of a whiteboard and bulletin board we had outside my office, which we called Graffiti

[2022-03-16] Three questions - three questions to help you assess whether a role is or would be a good fit—be it paid employment or a voluntary role during your career or in retirement

[2022-03-25] End users motivate employees - a post about the benefit to employees—in the form of motivation, performance, and productivity—of hearing directly from the people who receive the goods and services they provide

[2022-04-04] Kindness award - be kind, be a model for others, be the person others are waiting for

[2022-04-28] Outstanding Career Award - appreciation for an Outstanding Career Award I received from my peers in the Government of Canada communications community

[2022-05-19] Offering feedback - six tips for talking to a colleague to provide feedback that would be well received

[2022-05-20] Giving and taking constructive feedback - both giving and receiving constructive feedback, requires, as a first step, the adoption of the right mindset

[2022-05-28] From feedback to coaching - coaching conversations are not only for bosses and employees, but also for anyone in a position to transfer knowledge to another person: a parent teaching a child how to cook, a child helping a parent learn a new technology, an experienced volunteer instructing a new volunteer

[2022-05-31] Saying no - a how-to for avoiding burnout: why it's hard to say no, prioritizing requests from the boss, when to say no, and eight tips for how to say no gracefully

[2022-07-07] Empathy in the workplace - a post about fostering empathy in the workplace, drawing parallels between the world of parenting and the world of leadership

[2022-07-10] Amazing - a post about what others value in us—such as kindness, respect, helpfulness, curiosity or gentleness—qualities that make others feel safe with us

[2022-07-12] A great team - a reflection on the qualities that make for successful teams; in a multi-year research project, Google found that successful teams give everyone a chance to speak and members are good at sensing how their teammates are feeling

[2022-07-18] Know yourself deeply - advice for employees: listen to feedback, ask yourself what you can do differently in future, and take steps to improve—know yourself deeply

[2022-07-19] Writing emails your recipients will read - 12 tips for writing emails and other messages to increase the chances your recipients will actually read and respond to them

[2022-07-20] Six questions - six questions managers can ask their employees to help their staff do more of what they love and are good at, be successful and achieve their career objectives

[2022-07-28] Succeeding in a job interview - good answers respond to the interviewer's question, are structured and easy to follow, are concise while providing sufficient detail, are supported by pertinent examples, reflect an understanding of the organization's challenges, are pitched at the level of the job being filled, and are neither all "me" or all "we"

[2022-08-01] Chemistry - chemistry between a boss and an employee is an elusive concept, hard to define, but clear when you have it and when you don't have it; I share five approaches for building a positive working relationship with your manager

[2022-08-04] Give it a week - a wise response a former colleague would provide to her coworkers when they raised concerns about a move: "Give it a week," she would say, "then come see me if you're still having issues."

[2022-08-21] Tips for asking someone to provide a reference - seven tips for approaching someone to provide a reference; when you ask someone to be a referee, be polite, make their job as easy as possible, and show your appreciation

[2022-09-21] Where you are - the story of Dr. Kimberly Becher, a rural doctor who pushed herself until she burned out; there is value in sharing our struggles, as doing so may spur others to consider whether the place they are is healthy for them

[2022-10-15] Making a habit of learning - tips for making learning a habit, including scheduling time, being specific, setting an easy starting goal, monitoring, and spending time with like-minded individuals

[2022-10-20] Empowering story - an exercise to remind ourselves that we can get through whatever tough issue we face, just as we've gotten through other issues before

[2022-10-23] Becoming more positive - five activities that can help us rewire our brains to make us more positive

[2022-10-26] Take care of yourself and others - a summary of a speech, presenting three things leaders can do to take care of themselves and six things they can do to help their employees

[2022-11-03] Enhancing communication with employees - tips on how to improve communication with employees, including seven things leaders should regularly say to their employees to build better connections

[2022-11-06] Offer choices for better decision-making - when we give others choices, they can make faster decisions and give better feedback

[2022-11-22] Balancing work, community, personal life - advice on striking a balance among the commitments pertaining to our work, community and personal life, with "community" defined as anything and anyone that didn't fit in the other two categories

[2022-12-02] Articulating experience and skills - six tips for advancing in your career and 10 questions to help you recall professional and personal successes that allowed you to acquire sought-after experience and skills

[2022-12-14] Advice for implementing a new initiative - tips for implementing an initiative in the workplace: be clear on the problem you're trying to solve, identify what success looks like, develop a strategy, communicate the benefits for employees, know your target audience, communicate often using multiple channels, give the initiative a memorable look and name

[2023-01-06] Manager's guide to giving written feedback - a collection of tips for providing comments in writing on written work, which is one of the most common ways in which managers give direction to staff

[2023-01-13] Win-win networking - giving to someone with whom you have a networking, mentoring or coaching relationship is not only a professional thing to do but ultimately the best way to achieve an ongoing association

[2023-02-12] Best job - my answer to the question: "The best job you've ever had?"; common factors were respectful bosses, nurturing colleagues, supportive employees, challenge, autonomy, encouragement, meaning, purpose, impact, appreciation, and freedom to be authentic

[2023-02-16] Relationships, Possibilities, Action - before a group of individuals can move to action, they need to explore the possibilities, and before they can explore the possibilities, they need to build relationships with each other; only then, can the group take action

[2023-02-21] Take a leap - encouragement to reach out to someone with whom you would like to have a conversation, even if that person is a stranger

[2023-03-06] Visual communication - we would all benefit from honing our ability to both think and communicate in images; visuals are more memorable and can be comprehended more quickly than words

[2023-03-07] Origin of Take Me With You - the origin story of the Take Me With You Campaign in the Canadian Public Service; while I gave voice to the concept, the credit for the initiative ultimately goes to the people who planted the idea and to those who shaped, nurtured and sustained it in the almost 10 years since

[2023-03-13] You will find your way - the Committee of Sleep is the wise voices in our head that interject in a thoughtful way after Shame and Fear have wreaked havoc; things will get better—you will make them better

[2023-03-31] Seize what's left of the day - an unproductive morning doesn't have to be an unproductive day; if you weren't able to seize the day, seize what's left of the day

[2023-04-03] Tapping into retirees' experience and expertise - a Seniors Bureau would be akin to a Speakers Bureau but with a roster of retired executives or employees as opposed to an inventory of speakers

[2023-04-24] Advice for managers - it's all about relationships plus tips for providing feedback to employees

[2023-05-07] Antidote for rejection - in your career and in your life, sometimes you are accepted, valued and cherished; other times, you are rejected, ignored and excluded; the post offers an antidote for rejection

[2023-05-11] Making the invisible visible - if you're feeling overwhelmed, inundated with work, and in over your head, it's normal to be frustrated, disheartened and scared; this post suggests trying to make the invisible visible, as there is often help available if we can muster the courage to ask

[2023-05-18] Six career questions - answers to career-related questions put to me by a friend: skills that served me, interview moments that stood out, traits I liked and disliked in employees, and advice for public servants and the Canadian Public Service

[2023-05-23] Commemorative coin - a special ceremony today to thank members of my former communications team for their contributions to the Government's response to the COVID pandemic

[2023-06-23] Helping employees cope with change - seven things managers can do to help their employees cope with change, and three things I learned in my career to help employees navigate uncertainty

[2023-09-11] Tea and TED - a recollection of the Tea and TED events that two employees at Natural Resources Canada created in the mid-2010s; the concept was simple: gather a dozen or so coworkers, watch one or a few TED talks (maximum 20 minutes), then have a conversation—all while drinking tea and eating snacks

[2023-10-02] Confidence builders - the story of Rita Tushingham, whom director Tony Richardson cast in the lead role in his 1961 film A Taste of Honey despite pressure from his financial backers to give the part to Audrey Hepburn; Tushingham would later say that she wouldn't have been in film had it not been for Richardson

[2023-10-20] Supporting employees touched by world events - concrete approaches and language to use when supporting employees negatively impacted by world events

[2023-10-29] Lessons of a daytime cook - lessons I learned from my first experience as a daytime cook, such as don't try to do everything at once and start with a reasonable chunk of work

[2023-11-22] Keeping the kudos - why and how we may want to keep a kudos folder, a smile file or a compliments journal; saving and rereading past praise helps to counter emotional rainy days

[2023-11-24] Doing what you love - advice on doing what you love and what you're good at; if that's not possible, a second-best choice is to do what you love and what you're not yet good at

[2023-12-01] The seemingly inconsequential - a post about a 2015 paper on civility in the Canadian public service and the disproportionate impact of seemingly inconsequential words and actions

[2023-12-03] Feeling unappreciated? - suggestions for when you're feeling unappreciated at work, including potentially different ways of viewing the situation and actions you can take

[2023-12-04] Reclaiming our power - the biggest barrier to change—and, often, it's only by changing ourselves internally that we can change our situation externally—is believing that there's nothing we can change

[2023-12-07] Managing virtual teams - a summary and update of two 2016 Café Jen posts about bridging the headquarters-regions divide—many of the ideas for respecting regional employees apply in today's virtual teams

[2023-12-10] Polishing coconuts - a concept called "polishing coconuts," which you can think of as having several irons in the fire; when you're stuck somewhere, you never know which lead will result in a new opportunity—a big break that will help you get unstuck

[2023-12-19] Three key questions for a reference provider - three key questions that may elicit more helpful responses than traditional questions about a candidate's strengths or weaknesses

[2024-01-05] Maximizing employee engagement - highlights of a white paper published in 2015 by the Association of Professional Executives (APEX) of the Public Service of Canada called Maximizing Employee Engagement within the Federal Public Service

[2024-01-15] Opening doors for others - inspiration from an article by organizational psychologist, professor and author Adam Grant, who says that highly successful people open doors for others who are underrated and overlooked

[2024-01-25] Helping employees advance - a staffing approach to respond to employee frustrations that job openings were being advertised and sometimes filled before they had a chance to express interest

[2024-01-29] How to get your foot in the door - suggestions on how to start a job search, with the aim of getting your foot in the door

[2024-01-30] That's so InTREEguing! - the story of a short weekly bulletin I conceived and implemented at one point in my career to keep my boss, colleagues and employees apprised of news they needed; the lessons I learned and the approach I took could serve as inspiration for anyone wanting to quickly update others on their work

[2024-02-19] Timeless advice for business writing - advice for better business writing, drawing on an essay by George Orwell in 1946 and an article by David Silverman in 2011

[2024-03-13] A short story about confidence - the story of an occasion when I had the benefit of my boss' advice coupled with his vote of confidence that my choice would be right, whether it was the same as or different from his

[2024-04-01] Elevating energy through purpose - author and organizational psychologist Adam Grant says "Relaxing is not the only way to recharge. Finding meaning is a source of fuel."

[2024-04-08] Success changes the narrative - taking inspiration from poet Wendy Cope and novelist Marlon James, when we succeed at something, our life's narrative can change from defeat to determination

[2024-04-16] Take your bright mind - if need be and if you can, take your bright mind to a place where it will be valued

[2024-04-23] Culture of positivity, teamwork and efficiency - the welcoming atmosphere visible in Café Landwer does not happen by accident: I imagine the tone is set at the top

[2024-04-24] Show 'em what you can do - a tip for employees who feel they aren't getting the opportunities they think they're ready for or whose experience outside the organization is not understood or recognized

[2024-05-29] Sending cold emails - a proposal to use cold emails when looking for a new job; these introductory emails are a worthwhile addition to your employment-seeking toolbox

[2024-07-24] Authentic leadership - a post about authentic leadership and the expression of a range of qualities—both those traditionally associated with women and those traditionally associated with men

[2024-08-15] Canadian Forest Service memories - reflections from a celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Canadian Forest Service

[2024-08-30] Green flag people - individuals who will clap for you and speak highly of you in the rooms that you're not in, who will celebrate your wins, remember small things about you, and allow you to be fully yourself, who will leave you feeling energized after seeing them

[2024-10-28] Gratitude for former colleagues - gratitude for the many former colleagues I met at a retirement gathering for a former boss; I recalled moments from our work together but mostly kindnesses they showed me

[2020-09-20] Family - few experiences top spending time with family—to reminisce with people with whom I share a history and loved ones is incredibly satisfying

[2020-12-06] Pyjama birthday - celebrating my daughter's 28th birthday while recovering from my fourth round of chemotherapy

[2020-12-25] Merry Christmas - a year-end newsletter looking back at 2020 for my family

[2021-02-06] Questions and stories - questions I put to my mom and the stories they elicited, such as getting into Ottawa Rough Riders games for free at half time, and taking the streetcar to work

[2021-02-27] Thirty years - reflection on the birth of my son 30 years ago, parallels between my life in 1990-1991 and my life in 2020-2021: unexpected news, uncertainty, courage, and ultimately my emergence as a better person

[2021-03-20] Special moments - a celebration of the everyday occurrences—doing dishes, going for a walk, chatting on a deck—that enable us to spend one-on-one time with loved ones

[2021-05-09] Mother's Day - a day to thank all the mothers, grandmothers, adoptive mothers, foster mothers, caregivers, aunts, big sisters, mentors, coaches, leaders, neighbours, nurses, teachers and volunteers who have cared for, listened to and guided children: thank you for mothering the next generation

[2021-06-20] Father's Day - Father's Day could have been called Foodie Day in my house

[2021-07-06] A happy birthday - on the occasion of my 55th birthday, I thank my family and everyone who has been following my journey through Jenesis for their love and support

[2021-07-16] The rewards of showing interest - today, Chris and I visited Upper Canada Village, where everyone who worked there rewarded our interest with a generous sharing of their knowledge

[2021-07-17] A cherished privilege - a post about the privilege of teaching someone, of working in service of ourselves and others, and of spending time with a loved one

[2021-08-05] Kingston - a trip to beautiful and historic Kingston and this quote: "Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be."

[2021-08-27] Happy birthday, Mom - a short entry after a busy day celebrating my mom's birthday

[2021-09-05] Freddie - at almost 15 years old, our large goldendoodle has lived a long and, dare I say, happy life; I feel blessed that he has been part of our family for so many years and grateful that he continues to be

[2021-09-16] Free period - a short post as Chris and I are volunteering at Ottawa's Fall Festivals, also known as Cityfolk and Bluesfest

[2021-09-18] A little soirée - Chris and I took in the headline act at tonight's #CityFolk in Ottawa; going out after dark, especially to see live music, makes me feel like I'm back in my youth

[2021-09-24] A cool soirée - a brief review of this evening's Bluesfest concert, featuring the Barenaked Ladies and Jan Arden

[2021-09-28] Proud of my son - sharing my pride in my son, who made his first offer on a property: he did his homework, listened to advice, and was decisive and consistent

[2021-10-08] Fluffy Freddie - Freddie's spa day was a lovely opportunity to pamper my pooch; I am grateful for his enduring presence in my life

[2021-10-23] Accomplishment - a post about seeing accomplishment in the simple act of spending time with people we love

[2021-11-08] This day - a day spent on the farm, enjoying connection, nature and history

[2021-12-06] Melanie's day - in celebration of my daughter's 29th birthday

[2021-12-14] Christmas mystery gift - one of the most memorable gifts when I was a kid: my mom wrapped a bag of balls but left the rest of the gift—a small pool table—in her closet

[2021-12-20] Time and energy - a reflection on the perfect timing of my son's taking possession of his apartment condominium, landing during a reprieve in my health issues

[2021-12-24] Christmas Eve - Christmas traditions from my youth and own family

[2021-12-25] Seasons Greetings - a simple greeting from my family to yours: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, with best wishes for good things in 2022

[2022-02-14] Appreciation for the ones we love - appreciation for my husband, children, family, friends, colleagues and new acquaintances; Valentine's Day is a perfect opportunity to remind others of their significant contributions to our lives

[2022-02-27] Shane's 31st birthday - as in 2021, I find myself once again, on Shane's birthday, just a few weeks beyond my last cancer treatment—this time radiation to treat perianal skin cancer

[2022-04-06] New beginnings - there can be merriment in the mundane, pride in the prosaic, satisfaction in the stuff of everyday life, such as helping my son make his first place a home

[2022-04-10] Siblings Day - sharing a few photos and one thing I learned from each of my siblings

[2022-04-16] Husband Appreciation Day - a tribute to my husband, who allows me to spend hours every day writing this blog and gives me the freedom to share our stories

[2022-06-19] Family Foodie Day - Family Foodie Day is a twist on Father's Day that has become a tradition

[2022-06-24] Priorities fulfilled - the kind of day that ticks the boxes on my priorities: time spent making and eating Food, supporting Health, Organizing my son's home, and—most importantly—being with Family

[2022-06-30] Freddie endures - we took our old dog to the vet today, which is always a scary prospect when your dog is old; he is now back at home with us, which gives me tremendous comfort

[2022-07-01] Happy Canada Day - a memory of my son's reaction to fireworks from Canada Day many years ago

[2022-07-04] Jen's Storybook - a very special birthday gift created by my sister and family members, containing memories and tributes from many loved ones

[2022-07-06] 700th post and other milestones - the 700th entry in Jenesis, my 56th birthday and Freddie's half birthday (he's 15½)

[2022-07-08] Freddie update - an update on our beloved dog, Freddie; we should continue to have him in our lives for a couple more months

[2022-07-11] Celebrating Freddie - we celebrated our cherished dog, recalling fond memories of him

[2022-07-13] Shane's new closet - the before and after view of Shane's closet—an organizing project we did together over the past two days. I do not take for granted my ability to undertake projects like this, as there were many times in the last two years when I would not have had the energy to do so

[2022-07-17] Birthday celebration #3 - a summary of my family's third celebration of my birthday since my planned surprise party was upended by COVID

[2022-08-27] Olivette's birthday - a celebration of my mom on her 84th birthday

[2022-08-28] Family gathering - a celebration of family get-togethers; how wonderful that we are increasingly able to spend time with loved-ones, breaking bread and catching up

[2022-09-08] Rest in peace dear Freddie - the sad news of the death of our dog, Freddie; exactly two months after being told that we would have two more months with Freddie, we made the heartbreaking decision to let him go

[2022-09-09] Help and support - I thank all the people who expressed condolences to me and my family on the passing of our beloved dog, Freddie, and reflect on how helping others has helped me

[2022-12-06] Mel's 30th birthday - even though it was Melanie's special day, it felt equally special for me

[2022-12-18] Video game day - a post about my family's video game day

[2022-12-25] Merry Christmas 2022 - a simple wish from all of us: Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noël and Feliz Natal

[2023-01-01] Happy New Year - a montage of photos of my family in 2022

[2023-02-27] Shane's 32st birthday - as proud as I am of the many roles I have played in my life, I am most proud of my role as mom to Shane and Mel, two amazing kids

[2023-04-09] Easter in the sugar bush - reflection on an afternoon in my mom's sugar bush—collecting sap, enjoying nature, and smelling the sweet aroma of maple syrup—followed by good food and time spent in the company of people I love

[2023-04-02] Happy birthday Chris - a montage of photos, reflecting some of the roles Chris plays: husband, father, animal lover and jokester

[2023-04-06] Our own coffee shop - a post about the simple pleasure of a hot coffee and a fresh muffin, still warm from the oven, an engaging conversation, and the comforts of home

[2023-05-14] Happy Mother's Day Olivette - a montage of photos of my mom, which honour her role as a mother, grandmother and great grandmother; I am lucky to have her in my life

[2023-06-02] Walk by the water - a peaceful moment in my day: a walk by the water with my daughter this evening

[2023-06-04] Perth pride and positive people - on our visit to Perth for the Pride Parade, what stood out for us was the people of the town: to a person, they were friendly, warm, welcoming, accepting, diverse, generous and helpful

[2023-06-18] Family Foodie Day 2023 - a celebration of Father's Day as Family Foodie Day: our meal was delicately proportioned, nicely balanced, well seasoned and not overly indulgent

[2023-07-02] Memories - a memory-filled day, marked by family time, fun activities, and the hospitality and thoughtfulness of family and friends

[2023-07-03] Upper Canada Village July 2023 - a family visit to Upper Canada Village, something we like to do at least once per year, and the reasons we purchased a season's pass

[2023-07-06] 57th birthday - a celebration of my 57th birthday and reflections on just some of the reasons I am grateful

[2023-08-13] Grateful for my husband - gratitude to my husband for his pride in me, for his support as I have gone through a litany of medical issues in the past three years, and for his continued kisses, which communicate that he is as in love with me now as he was when we first met

[2023-08-27] Olivette's 85th birthday - a celebration of my mom's 85th birthday

[2023-08-31] Upper Canada Village August 2023 - what I learned on my second visit to Upper Canada Village this summer; I learn something new at every stop in the Village

[2023-09-01] Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario - a post about the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario in Smiths Falls and its volunteer Maintenance Supervisor, Brian, who made our visit extraordinary

[2023-09-06] Perth September 2023 - a summary of a day trip to Perth, where my husband and I visited some familiar places and some new spaces, all while making memories and enjoying a day together

[2023-09-13] CityFolk 2023 - after my first volunteer shift at CityFolk, I reflect on my favourite part of the job: helping fellow volunteers succeed

[2022-09-16] Upper Canada Village - a day with Chris at one of our favourite destinations: Upper Canada Village; there's something magical in this place, with its old buildings, docile animals and pastoral setting of trees, water, gardens and fields

[2022-09-25] Taste test - a family tradition that we call the taste test; occasionally, we do blind taste tests (like the old Pepsi vs. Coke commercials), but mostly we gather around the kitchen table to sample a selection of foods that one of us has purchased for the family to try

[2022-10-02] Pumpkinferno - photos from our family's trip to Pumpkinferno at Upper Canada Village—a mesmerizing, peaceful and joyful event

[2022-10-09] Thanksgiving weekend - things I'm grateful for on this Thanksgiving weekend: family, food, friends, farms, coffee, kindness, puppies, trees, memories and no cancer recurrence; as part of our day with family, we visited Fluid Solar Roasted Coffee in Clayton

[2022-10-11] Kingston 2022 - a post from the historic city of Kingston, which is becoming one of our favourite places to visit; our two-day getaway includes today's sightseeing and tomorrow's visit with a couple I would not likely have met had I not started this blog

[2023-10-16] The Doobie Brothers - a few photos and reflections from The Doobie Brothers concert in Ottawa this evening—my daughter's birthday gift to me

[2023-10-22] Tiny trip to Toronto - Chris and I are spending a few days in Toronto—our first getaway as a couple since our wedding in August 2020 at the height of COVID and cancer

[2023-09-24] Cheerful conversations - a series of cheerful conversations I had today at a local craft market, some with vendors and one with a girl about her creative input to her parents' crafts

[2023-10-08] Giving thanks - giving thanks for family, holidays, health, fall colours, visits to the country, and delicious food

[2023-12-13] Date squares for date day - a love note to my husband, recalling an ordinary day that felt extraordinary for the simplest of reasons: Date Squares for Date Day

[2023-12-24] Christmas Eve 2023 - being together as a family is the best Christmas present

[2023-12-25] Merry Christmas 2023 - Merry Christmas to all celebrating today

[2023-12-31] 2023 in review: health and family - a look back at 2023, a year focused on health and family, my two highest priorities

[2024-02-12] Cousins - a post about the declining number of cousins globally and my appreciation for my many cousins who have liked, cheered and extended best wishes to me over the last 3½ years

[2024-02-27] Shane 2024 - celebrating my son's 33rd birthday, I'm proud to be his mom and happy to celebrate another birthday with him

[2024-03-22] Montreal food tour - a self-guided food tour in Montreal to a cat cafe, a Brazilian restaurant, a Greek bakery, a Brazilian cafe and a smoothie bar

[2024-03-31] The chef is back - highlights from my day—making it to my mom's sugar bush in time to see the last boil of sap in this year's maple syrup season and spending time with Elsie the chef

[2024-04-02] Happy birthday Chris 2024 - a birthday wish to my husband

[2024-04-04] Rabbit hole to the past - a delightful project I've embarked on to document my and my husband's stories and those of our ancestors as a gift to our children

[2024-05-12] Mother's Day maternal lineage - a post tracing my maternal lineage, all the way back to the early 1600s in France; I am blessed to both be a mother and have a mother in my life

[2024-05-15] Recording your family history - the first in a series of posts about interviewing an older family member or friend to capture their life history, based on the book Recording Your Family History

[2024-05-16] Library and Archives Canada resources - resources on the Library and Archives Canada website to aid in my genealogical research, including a single database of records in census years from 1825 to 1931

[2024-05-19] Tulips, swords and family - a summary of our visit to Commissioners Park en famille to see the tulips, updates from my son from a fencing competition, and my hopes for outsmarting the squirrels

[2024-05-20] The love of gardening - a reflection on the family tradition of gardening, which is part of my heritage and no doubt the culture of many people

[2024-05-28] First meal - the answer to a question my daughter recently posed to my husband and me: "What's the first meal you made for each other?"

[2024-05-31] The most important person - most of us could think of someone for whom we are the most important person in the world; so take the pictures, have the family meals, play cards outside, hug your kids, reach out to a friend

[2024-06-03] Perth food tour and Pride parade - our annual pilgrimage to Perth for the Lanark County Pride Parade, combined with a self-guided food tour and visits to the Perth Farmers' Market and the Perth & District Union Public Library

[2024-06-07] Family history: youth - the fourth installment in my series about conducting a life history interview with an older family member or friend; this post focuses on questions about the interviewee's youth

[2024-06-09] Connecting in person - a simple post to express gratitude for time spent in the company of loved ones and appreciation for family (especially husbands who cook and clean)

[2024-06-13] Adonis and the Gods at War - this highly enjoyable play is full of rich dialogue, convincingly performed by the cast (including my son); it reaches a satisfying conclusion in the final minute of the show

[2024-06-16] Father's Day 2024 - a salute to the father of my children and Happy Father's Day to all the dads and all the men who provide a positive example to others

[2024-06-18] Family history: courtship and marriage - a continuation of my series about conducting a life history interview with an older family member or friend; this installment focuses on courtship and marriage

[2024-06-20] My favourite repast - a little dessert in the evening, shared en famille, is my favourite repast: tonight, I stopped to toast a scone and share it with my sweet

[2024-06-21] A day of firsts - an enjoyable day shared with my daughter and made possible by my husband and son: taking the O-Train, visiting Library and Archives Canada on Wellington Street, and partaking in high tea at the Chateau Laurier

[2024-06-23] Strawberry Social - an event that my mom, my daughter and I attended today at the North Lanark Regional Museum in Appleton

[2024-06-25] Family history: parenting - the sixth installment in my series about conducting a life history interview with an older family member or friend; this week's focus is parenting

[2024-06-27] Air raid sirens during the Second World War - another charming story from my mom, this time about the air raid siren she would hear during the Second World War

[2024-06-30] Family slang - family slang is defined as words and phrases created, used and generally understood only by the members of a family; an example from my family: "coffee will be coming 'round"

[2024-07-01] Happy Canada Day 2024 - highlights of our simple celebration of Canada Day: pickleball (our first venture into the sport), time with a favourite dog, a stroll around Walter Baker Park (site of Canada Day in Kanata festivities) and a raspberry sorbet on a shaded patio

[2024-07-02] Tips for researching your family history - tips for researching your family history; this post responds to a query from a friend starting his own genealogy search and reflects my participation in a genealogy drop-in at my local library

[2024-07-04] Back at Bluesfest - a short post about our return to Bluesfest after 5 years; in many ways, we enjoy the volunteering as much as the music

[2024-07-05] Bluesfest and birthday eve - another short article, showcasing a few sights and sounds of Ottawa Bluesfest and a themed present from my sister on my birthday eve

[2024-07-06] Jen's Birthday 2024 - a summary of my very full, very special birthday, which included time spent with family, a few surprises and delicious food

[2024-07-10] Family history: grandparenting - the seventh in my series about conducting a life history interview with an older family member or friend, this one focusing on grandparenting

[2024-07-12] New trail - a post about the very picturesque Trillium Woods in Kanata North, which we took for the first time today

[2024-07-25] Family history: historical events - inspired by a visit to the Nepean Museum, this post presents the latest installment in my series about conducting a life history interview, this time focusing on historical events

[2024-08-04] 4th wedding anniversary - though we didn't exchange formal vows on our wedding day, Chris and I have demonstrated, for 34 years, that we would be there for each other—in sickness and in health

[2024-08-06] Cherished mementos - the story behind two cherished objects: a statue my mom won for achieving one of the top three scores in her parish on the catechism exam and a medallion that belonged to her dad

[2024-08-11] Family history: general questions - the final post in my series about conducting a life history interview with an older family member or friend; this article suggests general questions and includes a link to a compilation of all posts in my Family History series

[2024-08-14] Upper Canada Village 2024 - a short post after a long day, sharing reflections on our annual visit to Upper Canada Village

[2024-08-18] Taste Test: Barista Oat Drink and Bulk Barn Finds - a report on two taste tests: five brands of barista oat drink and eight finds at Bulk Barn

[2024-08-23] Bee Gees tribute band brings back memories - a memory of a funny family moment that came to mind while listening to a performance of "Tragedy" by the Bee Gees tribute band Night Fever at the Nostalgia music festival

[2024-08-27] The birthday girl - reflections on a day spent with my mom and my sister as we celebrated my mom's 86th birthday

[2024-09-21] Scholar of European Medieval Martial Arts - my son achieved the rank of Scholar within the Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts; I'm proud of him and enjoyed watching a group of people who are passionate about their sport

[2024-09-22] Richmond Fair 2024 - reflections on my continued recovery, the Richmond Fair, and feelings of familiarity and connection that come to me whenever I find myself in pastoral settings

[2024-10-27] "I'm proud of him because he's a good person" - a story from Dr. Billy Garvey about his mum's last words—as proud as she was of him for being a doctor, she was even prouder that he was a good person

[2024-10-31] Memories of Halloween - observations from Halloween and memories from past trick-or-treat occasions

[2024-11-08] Making memories in the kitchen - an afternoon of creativity in the kitchen, making memories with my daughter as we collaborated on turning random ingredients into delicious dishes

[2024-11-15] Christmas cookie memories - a memorable experience of a Canadian Christmas tradition shared with the young son of my Brazilian neighbours: making Christmas sugar cookies

[2024-11-16] Forebears, food and family - a summary of a delightful day my daughter and I spent searching for the graves of family ancestors in Beechwood Cemetery and exploring foods in Ottawa's east end

[2021-05-19] Becoming - inspiration from the epilogue of Michelle Obama's inspiring memoir, Becoming; she writes: "Becoming is never giving up on the idea that there's more growing to be done."

[2021-07-23] Retirement - the announcement of my retirement from Canada's Public Service, which felt both bittersweet and anticlimactic, coming after a year of medical leave to deal with ovarian cancer

[2021-07-24] Transition - advice from readers on how to navigate the transition to retirement, including don't look back, don't overcommit, recognize your value beyond work, and begin your new chapter

[2021-08-03] Thinking vs. doing - an exploration of the thinking mindset vs. the doing mindset; while planning (thinking) is critical to success, taking action (doing) is essential to making progress

[2021-09-09] Packing up a career - cleaning out my office today, I felt nostalgia—artifacts aid recollection but never provide a complete history of the people and places we encounter over a career; fortunately, we have memories for that

[2021-09-23] Thank you CPAB - my thanks to my team in the Communications and Public Affairs Branch for their tributes, stories, videos, smiles, surprises and love during my virtual retirement sendoff

[2021-10-03] Retiring activities - inspiration from a humorous essay entitled "I'm not lazy, I'm just retired"; while retirement has a way of readjusting our priorities, so does facing cancer—there's a lot to be admired in knowing what's important to us and avoiding what isn't

[2022-03-16] Three questions - three questions to help you assess whether a role is or would be a good fit—be it paid employment or a voluntary role during your career or in retirement

[2022-03-30] Aging and cancer - inspiration from a discussion of aging on Glennon Doyle's podcast We Can Do Hard Things in which guest Ashton Applewhite dispels some of the myths about aging, which are similar to those pertaining to cancer

[2022-05-03] Getting older - inspiration from Willie Nelson's latest album A Beautiful Time: the 89-year-old music legend reflects on his life, aging and mortality and provides a little advice along the way

[2022-05-23] The story of our possessions - a post about the stuff we accumulate over a lifetime and leave to our loved ones to sort out after we've gone; for many such objects, only we know the stories behind them; there is value in sharing these stories

[2022-06-28] Purple with a red hat - an amusing look at things we'll do differently as we grow older and bolder—the things we'll let go of, the principles we'll stand on, the conventions we'll drop

[2022-09-06] Happy retirement - a year after retiring, I reflected on what I had learned, sharing eight tips to help people prepare for the emotional effort needed when bowing out of the world of work

[2022-11-28] Freedom to choose - how I schedule my day in retirement versus when employed: the biggest difference is the freedom to choose what I do in most moments

[2023-02-07] Retirement is not a time to retreat - if you're contemplating retirement, think of it less as withdrawing from your career and more as moving forward with a new phase of productivity, purpose and contribution—starting older

[2023-03-10] To work or not to work after retirement - paid employment after retirement may offer extra income, a cure for boredom, social engagement, a sense of purpose, a way to fill time, and a means of remaining mentally, socially and physically active, but if you're not seeking those things, the job may not be worth the diminished time, greater stress and increased complexity

[2023-09-05] Life is the story you tell yourself - life transitions are a skill we can and must master: to navigate life's disruptions, begin with your transition superpower, accept your emotions, try something new, seek wisdom from others, rewrite your life story

[2023-10-18] Aging successfully - a post inspired by the book Successful Aging in which author Daniel J. Levitin argues for a very different vision of old age, one that sees the elderly as a resource rather than as a burden and aging as a culmination rather than as a denouement

[2023-10-19] Avoiding loneliness and staying connected - factors that increase one's risk of social isolation and concrete suggestions for staying connected with others

[2023-10-23] Crossing a bridge - Mel Robinson writes: "if you’re currently crossing a bridge in your life, remember it’s only temporary...something absolutely amazing is waiting for you on the other side"

[2023-10-26] Talent and passion - simple formula for retirement: (1) develop your talents to the fullest, and (2) leave the world a better place

[2023-10-27] Compendium of posts: Retirement - a new grouping on my Categories page called Retirement, Transitions and Aging Gracefully, which offers questions to ask yourself when assessing a new role, tips for having a happy post-career life, and considerations for whether or not to work after retirement, plus much more

[2023-11-13] Endless possibility - a post about the serenity that comes when one has the freedom to pick and choose what one does in any given moment, especially in retirement

[2024-07-19] Transitioning to life after work - questions that the soon-to-retire could reflect on in transitioning to life after work

[2024-08-15] Canadian Forest Service memories - reflections from a celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Canadian Forest Service

[2024-11-01] Enriching others' lives through one's talents - an inspiring story about a former BBC news reader who, when living in a care home in his 90s, would clip newspaper articles during the day and read them to his fellow residents in the evening, representing an inspiring story of using one's talents and interests to continue doing meaningful work and, in the process, enrich the lives of others

[2020-11-21] My to-don't list - activities that I choose not to do anymore, such as consuming news stories that are depressing or disturbing, and trying to convince someone that I'm not the person they think I am

[2020-11-24] Routines - advice for building a new habit, including James Clear's counsel to identify a current habit you already do each day and then stack your new behaviour on top

[2020-12-08] From the to-do list to the to-day list - motivation to get things done, including advice from David Allen, who suggests you write down the project most on your mind, describe a successful outcome for the project, and write down the next physical action required to move the project forward

[2021-03-02] Life after cancer, COVID and career - a reflection on where I wanted to spend my time post cancer, COVID and career

[2021-03-16] Put on your shoes - we probably all have things we avoid doing because we can't do them in the way we used to; we would be wise to heed the words of Mark Twain: "Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection."

[2021-04-02] Habits - bad habits I've left behind and good habits I'd like to re-establish, inspired by something I haven't done in years: bake a layer cake to celebrate my husband's birthday

[2021-05-13] Start, quit, reread - Atomic Habits author James Clear rewrites the formula for success at reading: start more books, quit most of them and reread the great ones

[2021-06-21] Tiny improvements - Atomic Habits author James Clear argues that tiny changes in our habits can make a huge difference over time

[2021-06-28] It's me―only better - 10 tips for learning something new, among them: love what you're learning, get a teacher, do it a lot, and—my favourite—find your unique voice

[2021-07-08] From drudgery to delight - turning drudgery to delight by doing everyday activities with people we love to spend time with

[2021-07-09] The climb - choose goals where you can enjoy the struggle on the climb as much as the triumph at the top

[2021-07-10] Needs versus solutions - my daughter was able to avoid a large consumer purchase by opting for an inexpensive workaround, reminding me of the book How to Survive Without a Salary

[2021-07-13] Estate information - a document that would provide answers to questions my family members might receive if my husband and I were to pass away suddenly; the post shares the headings I use in my estate information document and the rationale for including each piece

[2021-08-18] No one has time for everything - advice on where to spend your time, including deciding where you won't spend your time, setting up automatic time investments, and aiming for a balanced time budget

[2021-08-21] Reducing food waste - fifteen tips for reducing food waste, such as shop with a list, store foods correctly, and make a weekly meal plan

[2021-08-29] Be decisive and move on - on the big decisions, it's worth doing our homework, considering the options and making an informed choice, but on the myriad little decisions we make every day, it pays to make a choice and get on with life

[2021-08-30] Leftovers and snacks - a template for lists of leftovers and snacks that you can post on your fridge door, thus decreasing the chance that they will get pushed to the back of the fridge and forgotten

[2021-08-31] Getting started - Mark Twain's take on a journey of a thousand steps: getting ahead requires getting started, and getting started can be facilitated by breaking the journey into many steps and starting with the first one

[2021-09-17] Never miss twice - reclaiming a habit—getting back on the proverbial wagon after you've fallen off; the key to success, writes Atomic Habits author James Clear, is to never miss twice

[2021-09-21] Live first, write second - a post about prioritizing our activities so that we make time for the activities most important to us; as committed as I am to documenting my cancer journey, my priority is to live first and write second

[2021-09-25] Comparing options - another decision-making tool I frequently use: a table comparing the features of multiple options, colour coded using traffic-light colours: green for the best feature, yellow for second best, and red for third best

[2021-10-18] Six Thinking Hats - a technique for looking at a proposal from six different perspectives: White Hat (focusing on the facts—what’s known or what’s needed); Yellow Hat (looking at the positive aspects of the proposal—the value and benefit it will create); Black Hat (spotting the difficulties and dangers—where things might go wrong); Red Hat (exploring feelings, hunches and intuition); Green Hat (considering alternatives and new possibilities); Blue Hat: ensuring that the principles of the Six Thinking Hats process are followed

[2021-10-25] Learning from others - a post about the value of learning from others; as James Clear says, "One of the only true shortcuts in life is finding an expert and apprenticing under them."

[2021-11-03] Use what you have - inspiration to use, repair and embellish what you have—it's good for the environment, good for your pocketbook, and good for your well-being

[2021-11-05] Take notes - take notes from all important conversations; note to whom you spoke, their contact information, when you chatted, what you discussed and what you both agreed to do next; keep your notes in one place; review them to ensure you've followed up on your action items

[2021-11-07] Shane's choice - there is no one path to a fulfilling life; similarly, there is no requirement to remain on one path once you've chosen it: you can change majors, careers, cities, households, relationship status; you can follow in the footsteps of those who went before you, or you can set out in a completely different direction; you can emulate your contemporaries, or you can do the opposite

[2021-11-12] Making essential activities enjoyable - advice from Greg McKeown, author of Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most, on how to pair essential activities with enjoyable ones

[2021-11-20] Fuss-free entertaining - 10 tips for entertaining that will lower your stress and increase the enjoyment for both you and your guests

[2021-12-12] The Checklist Manifesto - a summary of the book The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right, which describes why checklists are valuable and how to create one that works

[2021-12-22] What brings you joy? - my answer to the question "What brings you joy?": a job well done

[2022-02-28] To achieve... - things you can do to achieve certain aims, for example, to improve your mood, exercise; to understand yourself, write; to protect your health, take charge of it

[2022-03-05] Digital decluttering - 4 steps to declutter your digital life and online assets

[2022-03-14] Tips for resolving problems over the phone - as much as I like technology and am good at finding information online, I increasingly pick up the phone when I need answers to questions, whether for myself or someone else

[2022-03-23] Better late than never - for many things, it's never too late: filing an outstanding tax return, apologizing, repaying a debt

[2022-04-08] Technical challenges - I wonder how people without the time, technical skills and cognitive abilities can cope in this world of rapidly advancing technology

[2022-04-12] The endless chatter of our minds - Tony Schwartz: "We create plenty of distractions for ourselves by juggling tasks, making ourselves perpetually available to others, opening several windows on our computers, and focusing on whatever feels most urgent at the moment, without regard to whether what we're doing is really important."

[2022-04-14] Accomplishments log - a daily list of things I do that further a goal, such as exercising, spending time with loved ones, or serving others

[2022-05-04] Rich life - financial decisions and the value of balancing short-term wins with long-term goals

[2022-06-03] Where we spend our tie - more reflections on where we spend our time, including a friend's 10 areas of priority and reference to the Healthy Mind Platter, which identifies seven essential activities to maintain mental health

[2022-06-13] My priorities - my first attempt to identify a list of priorities, which helps ensure I spend my time in areas I've deemed a priority and serves as a tool against which to compare any new request or potential activity; my priorities are sleep, health, family, friends, writing, food, organizing and learning

[2022-06-18] Household chores schedule - 10 reasons why having a household chores schedule works for me, including a cleaner house and more peace

[2022-06-20] Cleaning and mental health - research shows that cleaning—or the lack of cleaning—can have a direct impact on mental health

[2022-06-25] Dusting day - the stories behind the stuff we've accumulated, the objects we may touch only occasionally, and the keepsakes that mean something to us

[2022-07-02] Becoming myself - a post about the influence of our habits on our identity and vice versa; I have found value in looking at my habits for an indication of my identity and in defining my desired identity and using that to drive my habits

[2022-07-05] Birthday party ideas - several birthday party ideas specifically designed to promote interaction with the guest of honour and to overcome some of the challenges of hosting a party in a restaurant

[2022-07-09] Simplifying as a form of self-care - simplifying and decluttering can be a form of self-care

[2022-07-16] Mise en place - a French term, mise en place is having all your ingredients prepped before you start cooking, which can simplify the cooking process and reduce stress

[2022-08-02] Slowing down - a post about my desire to slow down—to avoid thinking about the next thing before I'm done with the first thing, to break the habit of multitasking, and to engage in peaceful pursuits

[2022-08-05] Tidying up - how and why I tidied and organized my home, ridding myself of items that no longer sparked joy

[2022-08-29] The practice of saying no - insights from four scientists who spent 10 months collectively saying no to 100 work-related requests in a bid to counter burnout; they share four insights to help people align their finite energy with seemingly infinite possibilities

[2022-08-30] Organizing digital photos - 6 tips for organizing digital photos: gathering, culling, renaming, organizing and backing up my digital images

[2022-09-05] Comfort clean - rituals of organizing and cleaning that self-soothe and provide a sense of control over our environment and reduce feelings of helplessness

[2022-09-23] Preparing for next year's garden - things I did today to prepare for next year's garden and thereby make Future Jen's life easier; if, as Audrey Hepburn said, "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow" then perhaps to prepare for next year's garden is to remain hopeful that there will be many more days after tomorrow

[2022-10-04] Curate your life - building on advice from Leo Babauta to be a curator of your life: slowly cut things out until you're left only with what you love, with what's necessary, with what makes you happy

[2022-10-07] Capturing stories through photos - tips for how to get a handle on your photos, both print and digital

[2022-10-13] Digital minimalism: step one - definition of digital minimalism, with examples of the value of turning off distractions

[2022-10-19] Digital minimalism: email subscriptions - suggestions for decluttering email, focusing on unsubscribing to flyers, newsletters and other messages that clutter our electronic inboxes

[2022-11-02] I'm too old for this - a list of things I and others have determined—through age, wisdom or reflection—aren't working in our lives and gently let go of

[2022-11-25] Choose to be choosy - encouragement to focus on the things you love for the holiday season and to leave the things you don't

[2022-12-15] Take the leap - advice from Adam Grant to tackle a new challenge by taking the leap rather than waiting until we feel ready, which may never happen

[2023-01-08] Family photos - photos become more important as we age: they capture moments in our lives, they remind us of our past, and they reflect the many relationships we have developed over the years

[2023-01-15] Digital photos - six advantages to digital photos, including the ease with which they can be edited and shared

[2023-01-19] Ask the reader: Supporting seniors - have you ever had to support a senior (or someone who struggles to understand complex information) in accessing services from the Government of Canada?

[2023-01-29] Supporting seniors: Follow-up - suggestions from Jenesis readers and my own research about how to support seniors in accessing government services; an example is 211.ca, which provides links to 211 services in all 13 provinces and territories, which help connect people to the social services, programs and community supports they need

[2023-02-08] Categories: Organizing and Simplifying Your Life - launching a new weekly series where I spotlight additions to my Categories page—this week's focus is Organizing and Simplifying Your Life

[2023-02-20] Ding-ding-ding - a family ritual that celebrates our triumph over food waste; when we've eaten the last of something, we'll proudly proclaim "ding-ding-ding"

[2023-03-16] Incremental changes - a weekday schedule that emphasizes time for my priorities, which gives me peace of mind

[2023-03-19] Managing smartphones - tips for achieving a healthier relationship with our devices

[2023-04-05] A year of accomplishments - writing down what I accomplish is self-affirming, reminding me of what I have done when it would be easy to focus on what I haven't finished

[2023-04-21] Imagining your possible self - advice for reaching a goal by building a bridge from your "now self" to your imagined "possible self": envision your future, take action, find an expert companion, share your goal and reach out to connections

[2023-08-29] Organizing for stress-free food prep - organization tips for stress-free food prep and entertaining, based on our recent Family Foodie Day and an upcoming birthday brunch for my mom

[2023-10-25] Priorities 2023 - an update of my priorities, which are sleep, health, family, friends, writing, food, organizing, learning, peace and community

[2023-11-27] Finding joy in action - a post about finding joy in action based on three questions: What are you good at? What is the work that needs doing? What brings you joy or satisfaction?

[2023-12-12] Reconnaissance browsing - rather than go shopping with the intent to buy, we go reconnaissance browsing with the intent to survey the landscape, to see what's out there, to get ideas for an eventual purchase

[2024-03-24] Pleasure in the practice - the value of practice, whether making biscuits, playing table tennis, or hosting brunch; if the practice is pleasurable, we're more likely to do it, and the more we practice, the better we get

[2024-03-28] Finding clarity through writing - a reflection on the power of writing to help us make sense of the complex and to find clarity in confusion, such as filing an income tax return

[2024-04-04] Rabbit hole to the past - a delightful project I've embarked on to document my and my husband's stories and those of our ancestors as a gift to our children

[2024-04-09] Start where you stand - inspiration from a quote that led me to remind myself: (1) start where you stand, (2) work with what you've got, (3) trust that better strategies will emerge over time

[2024-07-08] A deep sense of who you are - taking inspiration from Fred Rogers: the best choices are those that come from a deep sense of who we are, and discovering who we are is a lifetime's work

[2024-08-01] Things you say no to - keeping a list of things you say no to can give you a sense of accomplishment at your ability to say no and to focus on what matters according to Atomic Habits author James Clear

[2021-06-23] Learning French - what I've discovered about learning French, focusing on the mindset and environment that are conducive to acquiring and using a second language

[2022-01-14] The rewards of being uncomfortable - from James Clear: "many rewards in life will elude you if you're not willing to be a little uncomfortable at first"; this includes learning a second language

[2022-09-14] Portuguese - the story of a lovely chat I had with the man who inspired me to learn a little Portuguese

[2022-11-10] Becoming an expert - how to apply tips for developing expertise when learning something new: commit, find mentors, practise in the real world, get comfortable with making mistakes, accept feedback, reflect and learn by doing

[2022-11-21] Virtuous circle of learning - how learning with others can be inspiring, and one suggestion for how to create associations to help you remember new vocabulary

[2022-11-23] 100 days of learning - an explanation of gamification in Duolingo and a reason to learn another language

[2023-01-12] 150 days of learning - tips to stay motivated when learning a language

[2023-01-18] Six favourite language-learning tools - six language-learning tools (an app, vocabulary builder, translator, dictionary, pronunciation helper and grammar guide) plus other tips for picking up a language

[2023-01-23] Number 1 in the Diamond League - how Duolingo's gamification motivates me to push myself more than I might otherwise—to maintain a streak, to earn additional points, to acquire a badge—and to thereby accelerate my learning

[2023-01-30] The pleasure zone - how Duolingo strikes the perfect balance between pleasure and challenge, with lessons repeated frequently enough to learn a concept and apply it in different contexts and enough curve balls thrown in to keep users on their toes

[2023-02-01] Compendium of posts: language - information to help and inspire someone wanting to learn a language

[2023-02-09] 100 People - if the global population were represented by 100 people, 12 would speak Chinese, 6 Spanish, 5 English, 4 Hindi, 3 Arabic and 70 one of a possible 6500 other languages

[2023-02-26] Grammar: patterns in language - even if Duolingo spends little time on explicit grammar rules, users learn, absorb and internalize grammar with every exercise they do, including when making mistakes and subsequently discerning the pattern that makes one answer correct and another one incorrect

[2023-03-03] 200-day streak and first English-Portuguese lesson - tips on helping someone learn your language, which, in turn, helps you to learn theirs

[2023-03-28] Duolingo level 75 - celebration of the milestone, on Day 224 of using Duolingo, of my reaching the end of the Brazilian Portuguese course—all 75 levels—with only the Legendary Trophy for each unit to complete

[2023-04-14] Feeding two birds with one scone - how to find time for discretionary activities, such as learning a language, by combining the task with something else, such as exercising

[2023-04-23] 250 days of learning - reflections on learning a language, including this one from my son: "Children acquire languages like a gift. Adults must labour for them."

[2023-06-11] 300 days of learning - what I've learned in the past 300 days and over a lifetime of trying to acquire a second language (French) before working on my third (Brazilian Portuguese)

[2023-08-06] Jenesis, Portuguese and hospital kits - celebration of my completing the entire course work for Brazilian Portuguese, acquiring the Legendary Trophy for each of the 75 levels

[2023-08-15] A year of Duolingo - studying a foreign language will have given you a better understanding of your own language or of another language you may be asked to acquire

[2023-08-25] The best tool for learning a language - the best tool is the one you actually use

[2023-09-19] 400 days of learning - my comfort in Brazilian Portuguese has increased immensely since those first tentative steps I took to learn the language 400 days ago

[2023-12-28] 500 days of learning - language learning tips from a university language centre and my own experience of learning Brazilian Portuguese over the past 500 days

[2023-12-29] More tips for learning a language - part two of language learning tips from a university language centre, including using real-life sources, holding shadow conversations and creating flashcards

[2024-01-01] Tiny changes - a post that takes inspiration from a Guardian article that provides 100 suggestions for tiny changes that can make a big difference in your life; I share my favourite ideas and add a few of my own—aspirational habits I wish to adopt in 2024

[2024-02-21] Can you learn a language in 6 months? - can you learn a language in 6 months?"; the answer, according to the Duolingo blog, is no and yes, depending on how you define words like "learn" and "fluent"

[2024-04-07] 600 and 500 days of learning - my son and I have extended our streak on Duolingo to 500 and 600 days, respectively, in part because the content is always just a little bit more advanced than what we already know

[2024-04-15] Que legal - today's what-I-don't-want-to-forget moment is an exchange I had in Portuguese with a woman from Brazil whom I met in my neighbourhood; que legal (how cool)

[2024-07-15] 700 days of learning - a celebration of my 700-day streak learning Brazilian Portuguese using Duolingo, along with French and—more recently—Italian; and a look at the role of lingua franca in facilitating communication

[2024-08-16] Two years of learning - a celebration of two years of using Duolingo to learn Brazilian Portuguese, refine my French and, more recently, pick up Italian, and a look at whether it's easier to learn your family's language

[2024-10-23] 800 days of learning - my 800th straight day of using Duolingo to learn Brazilian Portuguese, which has unquestionably enriched my life, allowing me to connect with others on a deeper level than if we spoke exclusively in English

[2020-08-17] Write It Down, Make It Happen - the premise of the book Write It Down, Make It Happen is that we are more likely to achieve the goals we write down than the ones we merely contemplate; for me, that included these goals from 2020: "I will return to health" and "I will be a force for good in the lives of friends, colleagues and strangers"

[2020-09-15] Writing to share our honest reflections - writing fosters a tenderness that is not always present when we talk to each other: we might be willing to commit in writing what we are too shy to say in person; writing also allows time for reflection and editing, which enhances the expression of our feelings

[2020-10-30] The dignity of speaking the truth - as Natalie Goldberg said in Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, "Writing can teach us the dignity of speaking the truth"; there is dignity in honestly reflecting what we are thinking and feeling, especially when documenting a story in all its colours

[2020-11-28] From the inside out - as Sark says in Juicy Pens Thirsty Paper: "We write for so many reasons. We write and share our stories because it's fun, it's important and because it changes us from the inside out. And others are changed by our offerings."

[2020-12-19] Gmorning, Gnight - Lin-Manuel Miranda writes in Gmorning, Gnight that the greetings he shares are often the greetings he wishes for himself; I do the same: if I'm trying to be more empathetic, I write about empathy; if I'm trying not to worry about tomorrow, I write about focusing on today

[2020-12-30] Identity - my increasing comfort with identifying as an advocate for ovarian cancer and as a storyteller, sharing my experience with cancer

[2021-01-01] Wishes for 2021 - three words for 2021 that represented the path I hoped to take: healthy, altruistic and fearless

[2021-02-05] Making a difference - three reasons I blog: to increase awareness of the disease, to help others who may face a similar challenge in the future, and to provide a hopeful example of one person's journey with cancer; while my stories are told through the lens of my experience with ovarian cancer, they are relevant and inspirational to many people

[2021-02-07] Writing as therapy - the benefits of writing, from revealing emotions, to organizing thoughts, to acknowledging fears, to allaying concerns, to expressing gratitude, to connecting with others

[2021-03-10] Showing up - a story from Baltimore Orioles' Cal Ripken Jr. about playing hard and playing honorably

[2021-03-11] What Jenesis has taught me - lessons from blogging, including that stories put a human face on cancer, blogging supports ongoing communication with loved ones, and writing creates a record that would not otherwise be captured

[2021-03-13] Art - writing (indeed, any form of art) has the potential to enlighten, move and inspire—in short, to change others

[2021-03-15] Practice - practice is the surest way to get better at something, and when we combine that practice with feedback from an audience, a director or a coach, we can improve all the more quickly

[2021-03-16] Put on your shoes - how to overcome the fear of looking foolish, lazy or out of ideas and the fear of making a mistake, disappointing others: just figuratively put on your shoes and get out the door; in other words, as Mark Twain said: "Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection"

[2021-03-21] Poetry - inspiration to keep writing or producing content (such as paintings, photos, music) to express your voice and silence the critics

[2021-03-22] Helpful kids - where parents welcome young children to participate in family chores and work, even if the child's efforts will be messier and slower than the parents' approach, kids are more likely to be helpful

[2021-04-18] Learning, teaching, mastering - the way to learn is to do: the teacher learns more than the student; the speaker learns more than the audience; and the writer learns more than the reader

[2021-04-22] Books - one of the most influential books I ever read was The New Diary: How to use a journal for self-guidance and expanded creativity; this posts explores how I used this book and offers questions to spark your own writing

[2021-05-18] MACJ writing method - in his book the HBR Guide to Better Business Writing, Bryan Garner recommends breaking the writing process down into smaller tasks: the Madman gathers material and generates ideas; the Architect organizes information by drawing up an outline; the Carpenter puts thoughts into words by laying out sentences and paragraphs; and the Judge polishes the writing

[2021-05-23] University - reflect on what I learned in Carleton University's School of Journalism, such as the ability to pick up the phone and call someone I didn't know to get information I needed

[2021-06-01] 300th post - 300 days of Jenesis—a work of art as well as a gift of love; it is a reflection on my past, a distillation of my current reality, and a peek into my hopes for the future; in contemplating my condition, I am helping others to consider their own lives

[2021-06-08] Everything is copy - every moment in our lives can serve as the basis of a story we tell to others—to entertain, to teach, to inspire; sharing stories helps us to connect with other people, whether we are recounting an embarrassing incident, admitting an error, or acknowledging a health struggle

[2021-07-22] On being an artist - what we can learn from James Clear, Julia Cameron (author of The Artist's Way), Rembrandt and Maya Angelou about producing art, including writing: you have to work at it

[2021-07-31] Preparing for this moment - what we learned in the past and what we're struggling with today might be the basis for something wonderful in the future (an idea illustrated by Canada's women's eight rowing team at the Olympic Games in Tokyo)

[2021-08-06] A year of Jenesis - a reflection on the first anniversary of Jenesis: I reached my goal of chronicling my cancer journey by writing every day for a year; I think I'll just keep going

[2021-10-04] Influential people - celebration of the parents, siblings, teachers, friends, coaches and others who turn us on to a particular subject or activity; for instance, I owe my grounding in grammar to my grade 5 teacher

[2021-10-09] Never stop learning or teaching - being open to what we can learn from others—particularly younger people who have more time, energy and drive to delve into new domains—can enable us to learn more quickly than if we tried to explore a subject or technology on our own; at the same time, sharing our guidance can make a huge difference in the perspective, knowledge and performance of a young person

[2021-11-06] Talker's block - Seth Godin points out that we don't get talker's block because we speak every day; so if we want to cure writer's block, we need to write every day

[2021-12-18] 500th post - in praise of writing: "With every sentence you write, you have learned something. It has done you good. It has stretched your understanding." ~ Brenda Ueland, If You Want to Write

[2021-12-29] Vaccine Hunters Canada - the story of Vaccine Hunters Canada, a non-profit group of volunteers who helped eligible Canadians find appointments for COVID vaccines during the pandemic

[2021-12-31] Happy always comes back - a story about how an encounter, more than four years before, with a young girl while walking my dog, Freddie, which led the girl to become a dog lover after years of being a dog fearer

[2022-01-06] Get the W - the story of seven-year-old Callan Perks who likes to give motivational speeches, including in almost all his addresses the expression "Get the W" (W = win)

[2022-02-16] Human library - a human library is an event in which people who are willing to share their story (the books) meet one-on-one with people who want to know more about their experience (the borrowers of the books)

[2022-02-24] The Book of Jen - what a blurb on the dust jacket of my book might look like and the answers I might give if I were a human book

[2022-03-28] 600th post - best bits from my favourite posts to mark my 600th post

[2022-04-01] Resources page updated - updates I've made to the blog's Resources page, a one-stop shop for links to almost all the resources I've mentioned in my posts

[2022-04-09] Pleasant surprises - it is flattering to be thought of as a purveyor of hope and as an inspiration to others to live and love better

[2022-04-17] Parenting - reflections on the challenging job every parent has to let their children make their own way in the world

[2022-04-29] Respecting children - I've always tried to talk to children as equals, to let them know that I see and hear them, that I respect them and that they matter

[2022-05-18] Editing your work - tips for polishing your writing, such as reading it out loud, reviewing your writing in different formats, and asking a friend or colleague to review it

[2022-05-27] Is your hair like mine? - inspiration from a story about a boy who asked former US President Barack Obama: "Is your hair like mine?"; our story, our achievements, our very existence can light the way for the next person who, in big or small ways, is just like us

[2022-06-07] The story of Café Jen - what I learned from my first blog, including to be comfortable sharing my story and perspective, and—as May Sarton wrote in Journal of a Solitude—to give my "specific fears and desires a chance to be of universal significance"

[2022-06-17] Finished crap can be edited - more inspiration for getting on with writing: "Finished crap can be edited. Unfinished greatness languishes forever. The only bad writing is the thing you didn't write!" ~ Margarita Gakis

[2022-07-19] Writing emails your recipients will read - 12 tips for writing emails your recipients might actually read

[2022-07-22] Pride-in-your-child day - a proposal for a new day of observance: Pride-In-Your-Child Day, inspired by a question from my daughter: "What makes you proud of your children?"

[2022-08-11] How to get into the zone of effortless action - 6 suggestions for finding flow, including when you write

[2022-10-05] Coming soon - a commitment to creating and publishing a new page in Jenesis—selected posts organized by categories

[2022-10-14] 800th post: Categories - in celebration of my 800th post, I've published a new page called Categories; this selection of posts provides information readers may wish to come back to

[2022-10-17] Slow and steady - Cancer remission is like the nap the Hare takes, which allows the Tortoise to simply get on with the race; many of us have Hares in our lives that threaten to play spoiler; perhaps as we cheer on the Tortoise, we cheer on ourselves, and every story of slow and steady progress gives us hope

[2022-12-23] Reading out loud - reading your written work out loud allows you to hear errors that you might not otherwise see; it also slows down your review so you're more likely to find mistakes, awkward language and repeated words

[2023-01-09] Writing is like a mirror - advice from Dr. Stutz, subject of Jonah Hill's documentary Stutz, on activating your unconscious through writing: "If you start to write, the writing is like a mirror. It reflects what's going on in your unconscious, and things will come out if you write in journal form that you didn't know that you knew."

[2023-01-16] Work for a cause - "Work for a cause, not for applause. Live life to express, not to impress. Don't strive to make your presence noticed, just make your absence felt."

[2023-01-22] 900th post - when I first learned that I had ovarian cancer, I could not have predicted that I would be alive and thriving 900+ days later

[2023-01-31] Writing through cancer - in a webinar on writing through cancer, Sharon Bray defined expressive writing as "writing about thoughts and feelings related to stressful or traumatic life experiences without concern for style, spelling, punctuation or grammar"

[2023-02-22] Compendium of posts: writing - a compendium of posts on the subject of writing—both writing as therapy and writing as a discipline

[2023-03-15] Documenting and sharing our stories - a post on why more of us aren't documenting our memories, plus suggestions about how we can make the process of capturing and sharing our stories more efficient

[2023-03-22] When one story becomes the only story - inspired by Nigerian-born novelist Chimamanda Adichie who said, "The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story."

[2023-03-27] This is love - how we treat our children today could become the blueprint for the treatment they expect and accept from others tomorrow

[2023-04-25] Values - a post about values and how we communicate and amplify those values through what we share—values such as optimism, kindness, responsibility, harmony and inclusion

[2023-05-01] Stories give others hope - the power of story to educate, entertain and influence us, both in the moment and whenever we go back to them

[2023-05-02] 1,000th post - a celebration of my 1,000th post; for the past 1,000 days, I have used this blog to narrate my journey, to connect with many people, and to find meaning and purpose in the face of cancer

[2023-06-28] Epistolary writing - a post about epistolary writing, which is communication in the form of letters

[2023-07-04] Reporter, columnist, blogger, writer - thoughts on different communicators—reporters, columnists, bloggers and writers—and a conversation I had with a pre-op nurse in advance of my prophylactic bilateral mastectomy

[2023-07-05] Awesome Ottawa - the fulfillment of a seven-year-old commitment to give away money, part of which I received from Awesome Ottawa in 2016

[2023-11-15] On writing and life - inspiration from Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott, who grew up in a house of readers and learned to "put a little bit down on paper every day"

[2024-01-08] Sharing insights and meaning - observations on why people write memoirs, blogs and social media posts: to understand themselves and to share insights and meaning with others

[2024-01-16] Tips for making homework fun - examples include working together, turning homework into a game, using rewards and incentives, encouraging curiosity, and being positive

[2024-01-23] Partake in life - advice for parents from Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, who says we should encourage our children to explore a broad array of interests; deep knowledge in one area is good, but not at the expense of a diversity of experiences

[2024-01-24] Oh the mom guilt! - a post especially for all the single moms and dads who are struggling to do a whole lot of things: work outside the home, work inside the home, take kids to activities, help kids with their homework, sacrifice their own interests to give their time, energy and resources to their children

[2024-02-06] Everyone deserves a champion - in her TED Talks, teacher Rita Pierson says that every kid deserves a champion—someone who believes in them and connects with them on a real, human, personal level

[2024-02-11] You're a writer - the story of English author Jane Gardam's encounter with novelist, critic, historian and poet L.A.G. Strong, who told her "you're a writer—beyond all possible doubt"

[2024-02-18] Write what should not be forgotten - various quotes about writing and creating: do not wait for inspiration—just show up and get to work; the writer is an explorer; no writing is wasted; being a professional means writing even when you don't want to, don't much like what you're writing, and aren't writing particularly well; write what should not be forgotten

[2024-02-19] Timeless advice for business writing - advice for better business writing, drawing on an essay by George Orwell in 1946 and an article by David Silverman in 2011

[2024-02-20] What I've learned from a month of tutoring - tips for teaching a young person and helping them reach their potential, based on a month of tutoring a 5th grader

[2024-02-26] 1,300 posts - it's been 1,300 days since I started this blog and 1,308 days since I heard the words, "You have ovarian cancer"; I hope that Jenesis provides hope to others

[2024-03-10] Creative rest - a post about creative rest, not—as one person suggested—to engage with art, music or nature to be inspired, but rather to take a break from creating so as to stave off or bounce back from creative burnout

[2024-03-25] Stories: a gift from the past - a reflection on history and the essential nature of stories to our sense of self

[2024-03-26] Recognizing talent and potential - some individuals have struggled to fit into a narrow definition of academic and professional success—a world in which their talents were neither recognized nor valued—while others have, sometimes by chance, encountered a parent, a teacher or a coach who recognized an aptitude for something and encouraged them to pursue it

[2024-03-27] Curiosity inspires learning - a post about the role of curiosity in learning and about three stages of learning: mystery, mastery and mysticism

[2024-04-04] Rabbit hole to the past - a delightful project I've embarked on to document my and my husband's stories and those of our ancestors as a gift to our children

[2024-04-25] Helping kids find their passion - James Clear speaks of finding the thing that ignites your curiosity and drive, while Eric Barker speaks of finding the thing that is meaningful to you and important to the world beyond yourself

[2024-06-06] 1,400 days of memories - every day during that past 1,400 days, I've documented my experience with ovarian cancer, perianal skin cancer and prophylactic mastectomy, and I've written about many topics beyond these

[2024-06-10] Inspiration - Pablo Picasso's "Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working" rings true for me, on many levels

[2024-06-12] 10 ideas for a blog and more - ideas for anyone who regularly creates content for others: perhaps you're a blogger, or you maintain a page for a Facebook group or you're looking for ideas for questions to ask during an oral history interview

[2024-07-18] You will make them better - in a conversation with a grandmother who was trying to teach her granddaughter to speak, we shared Mel's story of being a late talker and gave the woman encouragement and tips to use with the child

[2024-08-02] School lunches - recollections of school lunches—my own and those of eight chefs

[2024-08-05] Uninterrupted clickety clack of the keyboard - for actor and comedian Rob Delaney, "the measure of a successful day is how uninterrupted was the clickety clack of the keyboard, absolutely not the quality of what was written"

[2024-09-06] The work of a writer - a post based on the guidance of writer and memoir writing coach Alison Wearing, who describes the work of a writer as crafting, sculpting, polishing, sharing, accepting and learning from rejection, polishing some more and sharing once again

[2024-11-12] Be the reason a child smiles - a post about the positive influence that people outside the family can have on a child

[2020-10-21] Laughter and inspiration in abundance - Many friends and family members (both women and men) sent messages when my hair started to fall out from chemotherapy: among the comments from women were jokes about taking a shower with a hairy bear, encouragement that my hair would re"Jen"erate, and conviction that "You can't hide beautiful ......you will still be JEN."

[2020-11-13] Chemo #3 and 100th post - On my third chemo treatment, I watched I Am Woman, the biopic of Helen Reddy, and cried during the scene where she sings "If I have to, I can do anything, I am strong, I am invincible, I am woman." I also reflected on the therapeutic benefits of my daily blogging—my own "wisdom born of pain."

[2020-11-14] Every life you touch - The book Women: The National Geographic Image Collection includes wisdom from many women, including Maya Angelou, who said to Oprah Winfrey: "Your legacy isn't some big grand gesture. It isn't a school with your name on it. Your legacy is every life you touch, everybody you encounter."

[2021-01-30] Every story is unique - This post is filled with stories of women who faced ovarian cancer, including one woman who blogs because it helps her heal and another who put mementos of her cancer journey into a travel truck that she called "The Box."

[2021-03-07] Ovarian cancer awareness - My contribution to International Women's Day 2021 was to promote awareness of ovarian cancer: the frequency of the disease, survival rates, the difficulty in diagnosing the disease, and common symptoms.

[2021-05-12] International Nurses Day - I recalled the many nurses who had supported me: the one who told me I would do well in cancer treatment, the many angels who cared for me after my surgery, and the special few who administered my life-prolonging chemotherapy.

[2021-05-28] Womanhood - In honour of the International Day of Action for Women's Health, I reflected on how I felt facing ovarian cancer in the context of society's views of what it means to be a woman. I looked at three actual and potential losses: reproductive organs, hair and breasts.

[2021-08-07] Random acts of self-kindness - Among other things, this post recalls one woman's random act of kindness, which was to post messages in public spaces such as "You are enough just as you are." The idea for the notes came from a site called Operation Beautiful, whose aim was "ending fat talk one anonymous post-it note at a time."

[2021-10-13] Kindness with a backbone - Contrary to the idea of "positive rudeness," I argue that girls and young women should not be taught that "positive rudeness" is something to be embraced. Have a backbone, yes. Don't allow yourself to be pushed around, yes. Stand up for yourself and remain respectful, yes. But leave the rudeness behind.

[2021-10-27] National Mentoring Day - As Sheryl Sandberg, then Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, wrote in her book Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, women often hold themselves back in their careers. I certainly did at times.

[2021-12-28] Your work is important - In a message especially relevant to women, I suggest that it's OK to take a break from activities that leave you drained, and to focus your efforts on people who appreciate them.

[2022-03-07] Thank a woman - International Women's Day is a wonderful time to recognize the women in our lives—both those who do incredible things and those who do small things with incredible love.

[2022-03-08] International Women's Day speech - A year ago, I shared the many lessons I had learned over the previous year and a half, including "Cancer doesn't define me; it's just part of my life"; "I have a hand in creating my future"; and "The difficult moments in life can soften us, make us kinder and more empathic, and help us to better support others."

[2022-03-27] Breast MRI - This post shares guidelines for breast screening in Ontario and a web link that explains how to find a breast cancer clinic in Canada.

[2022-05-31] Saying no - Female employees find it more difficult to say no to a request at work than their male counterparts. "Women typically are regarded as nurturers and helpers, so saying 'no' runs against the grain of what might be expected of them."

[2022-07-24] Women supporting women - women can support other women in both their personal and professional lives, by—for example—helping to ensure that women's voices are heard, celebrating women's accomplishments, mentoring or sponsoring other women, accomplishing goals together, and taking them along to significant meetings

[2023-02-05] Be a helper - in her Chatelaine article entitled "Lisa LaFlamme Is Just Getting Started," journalist Elizabeth Renzetti asks, "Why be a victim when you can be a helper?"

[2023-03-08] Compendium of posts: women - a compendium of posts that are especially relevant to women—a suggestion from one of the most awesome women I know (my daughter)

[2023-03-26] The Easter Bunny came early - the Easter Bunny who came early is strong, positive, grateful, proactive, and a role model for her little ones, and she's wonderfully sneaky

[2023-04-04] A genuine and trustworthy voice - a story about a woman who called me this evening to do a survey; I agreed only because I liked her voice—finding her genuine and trustworthy

[2023-04-16] Who we are - the difficulty many of us face, particularly girls and women, in being who we are as opposed to who we are expected to be

[2023-04-18] The gift of my company - a poem about a girl who can't win for trying: "They branded her loud, then were shocked by her silence"; perhaps she will grow up to realize that she is neither too loud nor too quiet, neither too fierce nor too weak, neither too bold nor too meek

[2023-06-16] The success of every woman - a post inspired by Serena Williams statement that "The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another. We should raise each other up."

[2024-01-07] Aprons - a post about the humble apron: why our grandmothers and mothers wore them, and why I recently started using one every time I cook or bake

[2024-02-13] Wear Red Canada 2024 - Wear Red Canada is marked every year on February 13 to raise awareness about women’s heart health; heart disease is the number one killer of women worldwide and the leading cause of premature death in women in Canada

[2024-03-07] Women who inspire me - on the eve of International Women's Day, I thought of the qualities I admire in some of the women who inspire me

[2020-11-11] Remembrance Day - the story of Canadian John McCrae, author of the First World War poem "In Flanders Fields"

[2021-03-17] Reflecting on the past - memories of growing up in Ferguson Falls, a predominantly Irish Catholic community in the Ottawa Valley, and of St. Patrick's Church overlooking the village

[2021-04-04] Significant events - inspired by the question "What significant historic events took place during your elementary school days?" I shared both important moments in Canada and things I recalled between 1970 and 1979

[2021-07-01] Canada Day reflection - a reflection about residential schools, drawing from the summary of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada

[2021-09-30] Truth and reconciliation - a podcast that I listened to in honour of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation: the three-part Residential Schools Podcast Series created by Historica Canada relays the experiences of First Nations, Métis and Inuit in residential schools

[2021-11-11] Remembrance Poppy - the story of the remembrance poppy, which was worn in Canada for the first time in 1921

[2022-02-05] Heroes - the thing about heroes is that you have to know about them to look up to them—the candidate pool is 100% limited by your exposure; heroes can be flawed, silent (known to just a few people) and brave

[2022-03-17] 4-H - reflections on my time in 4-H, Canada’s longest-standing rural youth organization, which teaches members agriculture and living skills

[2022-09-30] Truth and Reconciliation 2022 - a reflection on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, focusing on the book When We Were Alone, written by David A. Robertson and illustrated by Julie Flett

[2022-11-11] Remembering Charles Tomkins - the story of Charles "Checker" Marvin Tomkins, a Métis Cree speaker who served in the Second World War as a Cree code talker

[2022-12-11] Workplace technology - a walk down memory lane of the changes in office technology over my career, from the mid-'80s to the early 2020s

[2023-03-17] McEwen's Pancake House - reminiscences about my six years working at McEwen's Pancake House, located in the Ottawa Valley, just a few miles from my home

[2023-04-26] Preserving memories through recipes - a post about preserving memories through recipes, which feeds the soul, just as the food resulting from following those recipes feeds the body

[2023-09-25] Franco-Ontarian Day - a celebratrion of Franco-Ontarian Day, which commemorates the first rising of the Franco-Ontarian flag on September 25, 1975, at the University of Sudbury

[2023-11-10] Remembering Georgina Pope - the story of Georgina Pope, called Canada's Florence Nightingale, who served in both the South African War and the First World War and was appointed the first matron of the Canadian Army Nursing Corps

[2024-02-08] By the Falls Musical Social - a recap of my afternoon at the By the Falls Musical Social and learning some of the history of the Ferguson Falls Community Hall

[2024-03-14] Ferguson Falls School and other reminiscences - the history of the Ferguson Falls School, open from 1825 to 1968, courtesy of Archives Lanark

[2024-03-17] The wink - a funny story my mom told me about her time in a one-room schoolhouse in Clarence Creek, Ontario

[2024-04-11] Music, land and memories - another installment in my By the Falls Musical Social series at the Ferguson Falls Community Hall; the post features information on the farm my mom has owned for 65 years and additional details on the Ferguson Falls School

[2024-04-19] Old friends, older stories - old friends and older stories, shared experiences and shared acquaintances, and appreciation and gratitude for those who came before us

[2024-04-28] History of French-language education in Ontario - a fascinating story about the approach to French and bilingual teaching in Ontario between the 1880s and the 1960s and its impact on my mom's education

[2024-05-05] Family history: Claude Bouchard - preparing a family history is like making a quilt by hand: both contain many parts that take months or years to stitch together but, once assembled, present a spectacular whole that is useful today and will be cherished for years

[2024-05-09] Finding my place in the past - connecting to one's ancestors through old stories and new conversations, through artifacts and family treasures, and through books and history

[2024-05-10] First memories - two of my first memories, which I recalled after listening to the podcast Rosebud, in which host Gyles Brandreth asks his guests: "What is your first memory?"

[2024-05-17] A day in Lanark - a day in Lanark—the village, the township and the county—exploring the past with my mom, including talking to an old classmate, whom I hadn't seen in 45 years, and visiting Archives Lanark

[2024-05-21] Family history: grandparents, parents, siblings - the second in a series of posts based on the book Recording Your Family History by William Fletcher; today's post shares questions about grandparents, parents, siblings and extended family

[2024-05-22] Great-grandfather Adolphe, the Klondike and Tr’ondëk - a reflection on history: my great-grandfather's time as a miner in the Yukon, the Klondike gold rush, and the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives in historical reviews

[2024-05-24] Library and Archives Canada open house - a summary of my visit today to Library and Archives Canada's open house at its Preservation Campus in Gatineau

[2024-05-27] Family history: childhood - the third installment in my series to support you in interviewing an older family member or friend to capture their life history, based on the book Recording Your Family History; today's focus is the interviewee's childhood

[2024-05-30] High school mementos - I've long wanted to write down the story of my Ontario Scholar pin, to explain its meaning to future generations

[2024-06-04] An early Irish immigrant and a French Fille du Roi - the story of possibly the first Irish immigrant to what is now Canada and his French Fille du Roi bride—a fascinating tale in its own right that is all the more interesting because of my personal connection to it

[2024-06-19] Life in the Lumber Camps of McLachlin Brothers - an informative and entertaining portrait of life in a lumber camp some 125 years ago, focusing on lumbering practices in the early 1900s in and around Arnprior and the Ottawa Valley

[2024-07-14] Family history: Sarah Allen - the incredible story of Sarah Allen, my 6th great-grandmother; born in New England in 1692, Sarah was one of 112 people taken captive by French and Indigenous forces during the 1704 raid on Deerfield, Massachusetts

[2024-07-26] Wartime rationing - a post about ration books that were issued in Canada during the Second World War, placing limits on such staples as sugar, eggs, coffee, tea, butter, chocolate and meat

[2024-07-31] First Royals of Europe - a visit to the Canadian Museum of History, particularly to view its First Royals of Europe exhibit

[2024-09-30] Truth and Reconciliation 2024 - on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, reflections on the land on which I live—recently described as "Ottawa, unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation, Ontario"

[2024-11-10] Remembering Leonard Hollington - the story of Private Leonard Hollington, my great-great-uncle, who served in the First World War and was killed in action in France at the age of 22

[2024-11-11] Source of Strength and Soldier's Anthem - a poem about the strength that a few words from home could provide a soldier overseas, and a poem about the hope of a soldier to one day return home to Canada

[2022-07-23] Saturday Synopsis #1 - launch of the series, with this post focusing on zucchini recipes, magic cleaning solution, the Ottawa Trans Library, Sustainable Sundays at Bulk Barn, quotes about kindness and children, and Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill"

[2022-07-30] Saturday Synopsis #2 - learning from others, more home remedies, good news stories, ordinary kindness, and granola scones

[2022-08-06] Saturday Synopsis #3 and second anniversary - two years of Jenesis, two years of marriage, a recipe for sour cream coffee cake, and a quote about the width and depth of our lives

[2022-08-13] Saturday Synopsis #4 - telling stories so that they don't stop in the dark middle, a poem about "The Patience of Ordinary Things," a recipe for Raspberry Crumble Cookies, and the song "Easily" by Bruno Major

[2022-08-20] Saturday Synopsis #5 - story about The Internet's Dad, a quote about leaders who don't listen, a recipe for Raspberry White Chocolate Lemon Muffins with Lemon Crumb Topping, and the song "Summer Breeze"

[2022-08-27] Saturday Synopsis #6 - a story about a young rugby player's pep talk to a friend, quote about boundaries, a recipe for Peanut Butter Zucchini Bread Baked Oatmeal, and the song "September"

[2022-09-03] Saturday Synopsis #7 - story about The Owl Cafe and Meeting Place, a quote from Nelson Mandela about speaking to a person in their own language, a recipe for Cranberry-Pecan Squares, the song "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey

[2022-09-10] Saturday Synopsis #8 - stories about dogs: canine lifeguards, a quote about how dogs serve humans, a video about Storm the Weather Dog, recipes for dog treats, and the "Hold on to memories" by Disturbed

[2022-09-17] Saturday Synopsis #9 - use of miniature horses as therapy animals, a quote and a song about horses, and a video of the wild horses on Nova Scotia's Sable Island

[2022-09-24] Saturday Synopsis #10 - Lauren Small's campaign (#FiftyForFox) to do a 10-km run in each province and raise $50,000 for The Terry Fox Foundation, a quote about not expecting apple juice from oranges, Brazilian music, a recipe for scones, and a photo of piglets from the Carp Fair

[2022-10-01] Saturday Synopsis #11 - a tale by Dr. Bertice Berry of asking an unhoused woman her name, a quote about the positive impact we have on the people we meet, a story of teaching boys on my street to spend their time doing activities that don't involve annoying others, and the first selfie of a selfie

[2022-10-08] Saturday Synopsis #12 - particularly pertinent to lovers of quilts, life, friends, cats, laughter and gluten-free chocolate treats

[2022-10-16] Saturday Synopsis #13 - observations on a blind boy who "sees" a firefighter's uniform; mistakes that keep one humble, the song "Always Loved," cauliflower-crusted quiche, and a bridge.

[2022-10-22] Saturday Synopsis #14 - this week's theme is serendipity—meeting an old friend by chance, quotes on the subject, five songs of that title, a recipe for light wheat rolls, and a brief history of bread and yeast

[2022-10-29] Saturday Synopsis #15 - this week's theme is an indomitable spirit—a determination to overcome obstacles and conquer perceived limitations

[2022-11-05] Saturday Synopsis #16 - another selfie of a selfie, a recipe for a punchy cilantro-garlic sauce, the story of Governor General Mary Simon's coat of arms, and a video, quote and song that speak to the precious gift of family

[2022-11-12] Saturday Synopsis #17 - this week's theme is children—nurturing them, appreciating them, and loving them

[2022-11-19] Saturday Synopsis #18 - this week's theme is preparing for the holidays—it includes an inspiration to write to the amazing people in your life to tell them why they are awesome

[2022-11-26] Saturday Synopsis #19 - this week's theme is enthusiasm—I love expressing it, and I love when one others express it to me

[2022-12-03] Saturday Synopsis #20 - a mix of inspiration, food and music

[2022-12-10] Saturday Synopsis #21 - featuring a fox photo, a video of furry friends, a lentil salad, inspiration for a more peaceful life, and a song about gratitude

[2022-12-17] Saturday Synopsis #22 - this week's theme is appreciating things that are old—from people to music to literature to recipes, with observations on slow lanes, chat benches, a feisty woman, a stubborn puppy, a winter wonderland, and the face of a fourteenth-century poisoner

[2022-12-24] Saturday Synopsis #23: Christmas Eve Edition - a variety of perspectives, featuring entries from my husband, my kids and me

[2022-12-31] Saturday Synopsis #24: New Year's Eve Edition - a look back at some highlights from 2022, informed by a few of my favourite Jenesis posts

[2023-01-07] Saturday Synopsis #25: Guys' Edition - inspired by a reader who told me that he didn't much care for recipes, songs or quotes, I picked a few new categories that might appeal to him and other readers of the male persuasion, such as the history of beer, and tools and technologies

[2023-01-14] Saturday Synopsis #26 - this week's focus is January and winter—a year ago, I was undergoing radiation treatment and two years ago, I finished chemotherapy; life is good

[2023-01-21] Saturday Synopsis #27 - taking inspiration from James Clear's 3-2-1 Thursday newsletter, I share 3 ideas from me, 2 quotes from others, and 1 question for you to ponder

[2023-01-28] Saturday Synopsis #28 - observations on courage, leaning on others and self-care

[2023-02-04] Saturday Synopsis #29 - this week's themes are cancer awareness (today is World Cancer Day), living in the moment and appreciating others

[2023-02-11] Saturday Synopsis #30 - observations on questions and stories, changing after cancer, and looking for the lessons in a difficult situation

[2023-02-18] Saturday Synopsis #31 - observations on overcoming adversity, exploring passions, changing perspectives, finding meaning, being brilliant, and daring greatly

[2023-02-25] Saturday Synopsis #32 - observations on managing your healthcare, sitting with negativity, finding purpose, getting stronger, and resting

[2023-03-04] Saturday Synopsis #33 - observations on spring, names, achievements, and the inherent goodness of humanity

[2023-03-11] Saturday Synopsis #34 - a story about honour, one thing this blog has taught me, and an affirmation that we are all somebody, with inspiration to dare to fly and to believe that we deserve a beautiful life

[2023-03-18] Saturday Synopsis #35 - reflections on art, the value of practice and the many ways in which we can be charitable

[2023-03-25] Saturday Synopsis #36 - the stuff of life written by a grandmother or mother says something about what was important to that person on that day—an extraordinarily warm day, how many turnips they took out of the garden, or the home perm their daughter gave them

[2023-04-01] Saturday Synopsis #37 - observations on a bucket of sunshine, good karma, secrets of happy people, aging and cancer, listening with your eyes, and re-energizing

[2023-04-08] Saturday Synopsis #38 - three new stories with the common theme of the power of stories and connections to get us through difficult moments in life

[2023-04-15] Saturday Synopsis #39 - reflections on the bittersweet nature of life, such as an inherited mutation in my BRCA2 gene that caused my ovarian cancer and put me at significant risk for breast cancer but also opened up a supplemental line of treatment for my ovarian cancer

[2023-04-22] Saturday Synopsis #40 - observations on heartache, productivity, self-acceptance, joy, emotional intelligence and journaling

[2023-04-29] Saturday Synopsis #41 - observations on the potential of meditation, the importance of paying attention to our self-talk, our capacity to influence our futures, the gift of being a human being, and the power of perspective

[2023-05-06] Saturday Synopsis #42 - this week's themes are sunny days, walking, spending time with loved ones, feeling grateful, focusing on what we can control and what we know to be true, and making progress on our goals

[2023-05-13] Saturday Synopsis #43 - encouragement to find something to enjoy in every day—to notice little things that bring you joy, to remember that you are not alone, to see the potential in others (and yourself), to finish reading only those books that truly speak to you, and to simplify your commitments

[2023-05-20] Saturday Synopsis #44 - observations on the value of books, the joy of service, the power of compliments, the courage we sometimes need to ask for something, and a definition of becoming

[2023-05-27] Saturday Synopsis #45 - a story about a free mango I received at the grocery store simply by striking up a conversation with a couple in the self-checkout line along with observations on special moments and taking the first step

[2023-06-03] Saturday Synopsis #46 - observations on burnout, saying no, recognizing opportunities, choosing our response to life's challenges, and seeing how far we've come

[2023-06-10] Saturday Synopsis #47 - observations on the value of sharing stories, the beauty of a smile, and the hope that comes from hearing stories of cancer survivors and thrivers

[2023-06-17] Saturday Synopsis #48 - comments on love, mentoring, friendship, outdoors, safety and the impact of our activities

[2023-06-24] Saturday Synopsis #49 - observations on personal growth, broken window syndrome, cleaning and mental health, incremental improvements, the healing power of nature, and life-changing moments

[2023-07-01] Saturday Synopsis #50 and Happy Canada Day - advice for career and life, surrounding yourself with people trying to get better at the same things as you, and optimism and longevity

[2023-07-09] Saturday Synopsis #51 and recovery day 2 - observations on viewing mundane tasks as a delight, showing empathy in the workplace, getting what you want, identity

[2023-07-15] Saturday Synopsis #52 and recovery day 8 - observations on attention-grabbing CVs, positive influences, needs versus solutions, recognizing how amazing you are, and re-energizing

[2023-07-22] Saturday Synopsis #53 and recovery day 15 - observations on mise en place, knowing yourself, and questions for students

[2023-07-29] Saturday Synopsis #54 and recovery day 22 - my three-year anniversary of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer; observations on transitions, women supporting women, and peace as a priority

[2023-08-05] Knitted knockers, bandages and Saturday Synopsis #55 - information about knitted knockers (homemade prosthetic breasts), my first look at my deflated breast following the removal of an infected implant, and observations on joyfear, selflessness, patience, nature, tidying up, and preparing for this moment

[2023-08-12] Saturday Synopsis #56 - observations on patient activation, the best part of your day, being upbeat, adventures, things will get better, and a strategy for generosity

[2023-08-19] Saturday Synopsis #57 - a reflection from Vincent van Gogh: "the point is nevertheless to revive and have courage, even though things don’t turn out as one first thought"

[2023-08-26] Saturday Synopsis #58 - featuring views on volunteering, blogging, inherited faulty genes, good news, asking for a reference, our care of cell phones compared to our care of ourselves, meditation and fulfillment

[2023-09-02] Saturday Synopsis #59 - observations on the humanity of nurses, the needs of caregivers, the value of making decisions and moving on, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, the practice of saying no, the value of mantras, the importance of getting started, committing to an assignment, organizing digital photos, and collecting stories

[2023-09-09] Saturday Synopsis #60 and World Suicide Prevention Day - observations on World Suicide Prevention Day, ageing, laughter, two words I loved to hear as a manager, the comfort clean, retirement, kindness, compliments, seeing beyond imperfections, moving forward and legacy

[2023-09-16] Saturday Synopsis #61 - observations on rest, Spoon Theory, writing, decisions, milestones, invincible love and self-talk

[2023-09-23] Saturday Synopsis #62 - reflections on listening to the elderly, getting to know colleagues, acknowledging the services of loved ones, celebrating fall, being kind and being brave

[2023-09-30] Saturday Synopsis #63 and Truth and Reconciliation 2023 - observations on influential Indigenous musicians, comments on preserving relationships, remembers Terry Fox, honours the memory of lost loved ones, and acknowledges the challenge of reconciliation

[2023-10-07] Saturday Synopsis #64 - speaks to likeable people, curating your life, capturing stories through photos, patience, influential people

[2023-10-14] Saturday Synopsis #65 - observations on viewing your community through the eyes of a tourist, recognizing awesome things, accepting reality, being kind to your future self, feeling all emotions, and Terry Fox

[2023-10-21] Saturday Synopsis #66 - getting better sleep, the nature of life, doing hard things, confronting cancer, the history of Canada's Department of Health, sharing stories so others can see fragments of themselves, our storehouses of information, taking time, making a habit of learning, and connecting with friends

[2023-10-28] Saturday Synopsis #67 - a few funny stories along with perspectives on identity, grief, family, confidence, career changes, optimism, hope, beautiful people, validation and learning from others

[2023-11-04] Saturday Synopsis #68 - truth, staying connected, positive people, the impact of cancer on the family, mindfulness, mental health, self-care, accepting others and hope

[2023-11-11] Saturday Synopsis #69 - links to Remembrance Day posts from 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, along with entries on focusing on the moment, scheduling white space, taking notes, overcoming writer's block, spontaneity, your job as a manager, what we can and cannot control, and becoming an expert

[2013-11-18] Saturday Synopsis #70 - a story of kindness, a distinction between thoughts and feelings, a comment about legacy, advice on making essential activities enjoyable, encouragement to take care of yourself, a note about the foundation of happiness, and much more

[2023-11-25] Saturday Synopsis #71 - observations on creating a to-don't list, making joy, appreciating others, routines, empathy, fuss-free entertaining, patience, invisible mentors, finding balance, learning and doing what you love

[2023-12-02] Saturday Synopsis #72 - observations on interpreting others' intent, loving yourself, pursuing new paths, retirement, music and identifying your skills plus quotes on happiness, writing, smiling, your uniqueness and your value

[2023-12-09] Saturday Synopsis #73 - observations on using people's names, moving items from your to-do list to your to-day list, grieving, cultivating gratitude, enjoying the present moment, learning from mistakes, accepting help, and being kind

[2023-12-16] Saturday Synopsis #74 - observations on supporting youth, a Box of Sunshine, cancer and positive emotions, working hard but not all the time, positive news, checklists, moving forward, taking a leap, and mantras

[2023-12-23] Saturday Synopsis #75 - observations on self-acceptance, letting go of expectations for a perfect holiday, finding strength and inspiration in others' stories, coping with waiting, finding joy in life, writing, getting in the photo, and acknowledging others' gifts

[2023-12-30] Saturday Synopsis #76 - observations on surviving, self-care, Terry Fox's drive, identity, focusing on activities and people who make us feel good, coping with anger, challenges when loved ones leave after the holidays, living life beyond cancer, getting what we deserve, and creativity

[2024-01-06] Saturday Synopsis #77 - observations on ordinary days, living, Kintsukuroi, what cancer can teach us, kindness, peace of mind, music and memories, and happiness

[2024-01-13] Saturday Synopsis #78 - observations on perseverance, encouragement, hope, love, expectations, respect for service providers, winter, gratitude, family photos, writing, resting and networking

[2024-01-20] Saturday Synopsis #79 - observations on ringing the bell of hope after chemotherapy, remembering that things will get better, making the most of what life serves you, your health, your mission and the people you love, what you are more than, being uncomfortable, sharing your health information with family members, taking compliments, and learning a language

[2024-01-26] Saturday Synopsis #80 - observations on family, comfort, poetry, conversational tone, unexpected acts of kindness, seeing the extraordinary in everyday life, optimism, our irreplaceability with family, self-care, talking with someone who has cancer, and one's inner child

[2024-02-03] Saturday Synopsis #81 - observations on music, stories, virtual campfires, living in the moment, angels, writing through cancer, and art

[2024-02-10] Saturday Synopsis #82 - reflections on 3½ years since I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and observations on making a difference, sharing stories, writing as therapy, recovery from cancer treatment, wisdom, heroes, focusing on what's good, how cancer changed me, learning lessons from difficult situations, helping, love, being present, connecting, and hope

[2024-02-17] Saturday Synopsis #83 - a story of little acts of love from a Jenesis reader in the UK along with observations on friendship, love, meaning, self-care, critics, surviving, resting, listening, and relationships.

[2024-02-24] Saturday Synopsis #84 - observations on finding your passion, managing your healthcare, wintering (as per Katherine May's book of the same name), sitting with negativity, gardening, being boring, appreciating humour and humanity, understanding the impact of cancer on loved ones, taking a leap and using soft words

[2024-03-02] Saturday Synopsis #85 - observations on gardening, spring, career, meaning, purpose, achievement, hope, health and self-love

[2024-03-09] Saturday Synopsis #86 - observations on memories, women, goodness, names, growth, optimism, champions, self-love, belonging, visual communication, and silencing negative voices

[2024-03-16] Saturday Synopsis #87 - observations on art, losing respectfully, storytellers, leadership, practice, improvement, friends, incremental change, and the Committee of Sleep

[2024-03-23] Saturday Synopsis #88 - a random act of chocolate and observations on a country church, psychological safety, charity, random acts of kindness, family time, poetry, helpful kids, 4-H, smartphones, friendships and stereotypes

[2024-03-30] Saturday Synopsis #89 - observations on house hippos, the effect of words, the special powers we each have, listening with your eyes, and the secrets of happy people

[2024-04-06] Saturday Synopsis #90 - observations on gratitude, karma, affirmations, growing, critics, kindness, accomplishments, and more

[2024-04-13] Saturday Synopsis #91 - observations on a change of scenery, heartache, boundaries, genetic testing, weeds, embarrassing stories, fears, self-care, being patient, and serving others

[2024-04-19] Saturday Synopsis #92 - observations on friendship, illness, acceptance, processing emotions, heartache, learning, emotional intelligence, celebrating little victories, gratitude and parenting

[2024-04-27] Saturday Synopsis #93 - observations on joy, librarians, emotional intelligence, books, languishing, flow, mindfulness, meditation, resilience, appreciation, codependence, goals, feedback and values

[2024-05-04] Saturday Synopsis #94 - observations on moments of joy, confidence, the future, cancer survivors, destigmatization of cancer, processing emotions, coaching, respecting children, sunny people, boundaries, hope and community

[2024-05-11] Saturday Synopsis #95 - observations on Mother's Day tea, personal priorities, World Ovarian Cancer Day, gardening, individual potential, health, mental health, finding joy, simple pleasures, grief, passion projects, rejection, bibliotherapy, and a mental Rolodex

[2024-05-18] Saturday Synopsis #96 - observations on books, asking for what we need, vulnerability, gentleness, compliments, nurses, and career

[2024-05-25] Saturday Synopsis #97 - observations on dogs, becoming, gardens, books, ordinary yet special moments, offering feedback, helping, the story of our possessions, talking to kids, empathy, and more

[2024-05-31] Saturday Synopsis #98 - observations on helping others, kindness, womanhood, reciprocity guilt, boundaries, choosing yourself, friendship benches and happy moments with strangers

[2024-06-08] Saturday Synopsis #99 - observations on staying active, taking walking meetings, finding serenity, knowing your health history, sharing stories, seeing opportunities in dark patches, learning from sadness, talking to strangers, supporting a loved one from a distance, coping with stress, and seeing the miraculous in the common

[2024-06-15] Saturday Synopsis #100 - observations on beauty, leaders and followers, love, mentoring, kindness, deafblind awareness month, friendship, moving forward, hearing and validating others, and belonging

[2024-06-22] Saturday Synopsis #101 - observations on curiosity, getting outdoors, giving and taking, tiny improvements, coaching, medical appointments, writing, ruminating, bitterness and love, reading, and joyful movement

[2024-06-29] Saturday Synopsis #102 - observations on languages, nature, kindness, learning, cancer, people-pleasing, optimism, longevity, knowing oneself, helping employees cope with change, strolling and observing, epistolary writing, and making a difference

[2024-07-07] Saturday Synopsis #103: Belated birthday edition - delayed by one day, this Saturday Synopsis offers observations on surviving, getting what you want, gratitude for the loved one's of ovarian cancer patients, trusting the process, Freddie the dog, habits and identity, and a story from Jen's Storybook

[2024-07-13] Saturday Synopsis #104 - observations on healing, family time, needs versus solutions, tips for CVs, free time, estate information, and teamwork

[2024-07-20] Saturday Synopsis #105 - observations on bumps in the road, reputation, ambition, mental health, being present, positive influences, knowing yourself, questions managers can ask employees, genetic testing, choices, and letting go

[2024-07-22] Saturday Synopsis #106 and Shelter Movers - observations on West Side Pride, Shelter Movers, learning from others, being an artist, gardening and nature, the power of touch, leading through influence, having pride in your child, women supporting women, and peace as a priority

[2024-08-03] Saturday Synopsis #107 - a reflection on the Canadian War Museum's exhibition Outside the Lines: Women Artists and War and observations on volunteers, joyfear, experience, selflessness, nature and love

[2024-08-10] Saturday Synopsis #108 - a reflection of our visit to the Merrickville Fair and observations on self-kindness, advice for new leaders, adventures, priorities, mindfulness, little victories, and laughing and healing

[2024-08-17] Saturday Synopsis #109 - observations on patient activation, humour, networking, greeting others, being useful, neighbours, gratitude, learning a language, nurses and friends

[2024-08-25] Saturday Synopsis #110 - observations on resilience, courage, self-care, grief, personal headlines, asking someone for a reference, self-worth, friendship, joy and rest

[2024-08-31] Saturday Synopsis #111 - observations on praising others, being decisive, getting started, the purpose of art, mantras, sharing hardships, and living beyond cancer

[2024-09-07] Saturday Synopsis #112 - observations on giving every assignment your full heart, seeing beyond imperfections, comfort cleaning, having a happy retirement, feeling heard, living, and enjoying daily rituals

[2024-09-14] Saturday Synopsis #113 and 1500 days of Jenesis - a post that marks 1,500 days since I began Jenesis and offers observations on kindness and compliments, laughter, rest, love, illness and energy, love and fear, influence, self-talk, grief and home

[2024-09-28] Saturday Synopsis #114 - observations on friendship, Terry Fox, kindness, grief, optimism, social connection and self-care

[2024-10-05] Butterfly Show and Saturday Synopsis #115 - highlights from the Annual Biology Butterfly Show at Carleton University and observations on getting through difficult moments, finding beauty in life, cultivating patience, influential people, preserving relationships, what's meant to be, and teachers

[2024-10-19] Saturday Synopsis #116 - past posts that would inspire me as I cope with the latest setback on my breast reconstruction journey, offering a different way to frame my current situation

[2024-10-26] Saturday Synopsis #117 - observations on perseverance, meaning, optimism, presence, health, family, perspective, caring for self and others, supporting employees, priorities, talent and passion

[2024-11-02] Saturday Synopsis #118 - observations on poetry, writing, connection, positivity, confidence, worrying, self-care, validation, acceptance and caregiving

[2024-11-09] Saturday Synopsis #119 - observations on spontaneity, cancer, mindfulness, exercise, trust, taking notes, writing, and the good in others

[2024-11-17] Saturday Synopsis #120 - observations on Remembrance Day, legacy, managing people, essential activities, empathy, learning, solitude, sharing gifts and writing

[2024-11-23] Saturday Synopsis #121 - observations on life, time, priorities, generosity, entertaining, parenting, mentors, wishes, learning, vulnerability, language, releasing hurtful words, friendships, and kudos