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Funny things my kids say #27

Funny things my kids say #27

We’ve just come home from the 12-year-old’s elementary school closing ceremony. This was a significant event for ET and his friends, not only because they’re “graduating” from Grade 6, but because they’ll be splitting up into two different junior high schools after seven years together.

Throughout the year, his awesome teacher had their class keep gratitude journals and I was excited to read…

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Seriously?!? I need to rant...

Seriously?!? I need to rant…

I don’t often go on a public rant, but the fact that some people are actually complaining about Thursday night’s Amber Alert in Ontario… it makes me want to simultaneously cry and vomit.

It doesn’t matter if you thought it was too late at night (around 11 pm) or if you were woken up from having the absolute best sleep of your life, this was an alert about a CHILD who’s life was in IMMINENT…

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My 1st letter to the editor!

My 1st letter to the editor!

Today, I did something that I’ve never done before… After reading a newspaper article, I wrote a scathing letter to the editor! Disclaimer: Although I did write the letter, it wasn’t actually scathing, nor even that harsh. (Sorry, I’m Canadian.)

One of the things bouncing all over my social media today during Bell Let’s Talk Day was an opinion piece published in the Globe and Mail on Jan 28th, “P…

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The Holidays - It’s Complicated

The Holidays – It’s Complicated

Written at the request of the OHSW team of the Nova Scotia Health Authority for inclusion in their seasonal publication. I’m fortunate to be a member of an organization that  recognizes mental health as an intrinsic part of overall wellness.

On an office door not far from mine, there’s a whiteboard counting down the number of days until Christmas. I’m sure this excited person simply wants to…

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Too tired to write...

Too tired to write…

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I’m the total opposite of brave!

I’m the total opposite of brave!

Hello to everyone who’s here from the Nova Scotia Health Authority. Thanks for taking the time to click that extra click!

(BTW – I’ve also been asked to give a short talk on Thursday over lunch. The exact location has yet to be confirmed but it will be somewhere at the QEII. If you’re around, please come on by. It would be great to meet you all in person!)

I welcome every opportunity to break…

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Looking back while looking forward...

Looking back while looking forward…

Tomorrow is the start of Mental Illness Awareness Week.  This is an annual national public education campaign designed to help open the eyes of Canadians to the reality of mental illness.

There are a couple of projects that need my focus this weekend, but I didn’t want October to start without something new on this page. (And I’m just going to pretend I’m being cleverly ironic by using an old…

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; My story isn't over yet

; My story isn’t over yet

Wow! It’s been almost a full year since I’ve posted anything here. I know time flies, yada yada… but that’s still very hard to believe. However, even though this neglect embarrasses me deeply, I’m not going to apologize. Here’s why:

1. The Husband says I apologize too much (usually for things that have absolutely nothing to do with me) and I’m working hard to change this behaviour.

2. This…

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#MeToo...

#MeToo…

Tarana Burke, wearing a ‘me too’ T-shirt, addresses the March to End Rape Culture in Philadelphia in 2014. I haven’t posted to social media with a personal #MeToo message before now because I didn’t really see the point. I mean, c’mon! Is it still not obvious to everyone that women everywhere are routinely harassed and assaulted? No? Really? Okay, let’s simplify things and not even talk about…

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Let's keep talking...

Let’s keep talking…

At the end of the evening. Me with Starr Dobson, President & CEO, Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia In honour of Mental Health Awareness week, please take the time to watch these four minutes of an incredible two hour conversation I had with my fellow award recipients. They are all amazing individuals who are working hard to advance the understanding of mental health issues. As much as I’m…

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Just let me say thanks!

Just let me say thanks!

I am here because of peer support . . . it arrived in the nick of time.     -Lt.-Gen. Roméo Dallaire So, I’ve won an award. Its a Let’s Keep Talking Award presented by the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia. There are five categories and I’ve been named the “Outstanding Individual” for the outreach work that I’ve been doing over the past few years with my writing and public speaking about my…

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#BellLetsTalk

Today is Bell Let’s Talk day. This is the day that Bell Media gives 5 cents to various mental health organizations for every tweet, text or post that tags #BellLetsTalk. The problem is I don’t feel like writing about mental health issues today. In fact, I haven’t felt like writing about anything for months… and I haven’t. My last post here was in November and the last time I did any serious work…

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Washington, DC

I’m currently at the American College of Rheumatology meeting, the annual event when the Rheumatologists of the world descend on an unsuspecting U.S. city like a swarm of locusts. This year we are in Washington, a city that was one of my regular tour stops when I worked in professional tennis. Being here this week, in the wake of the American presidential election, I feel very unsettled… like I’m…

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Funny things my kids say #26

Funny things my kids say #26

Yesterday, The Husband and the two boys were taking part in the Hometown Hockey activities that were happening on the Dartmouth side of the city. I had dropped them off earlier in the day, and after the festivities, they took the ferry across the harbour to catch a bus home. Our ferry boats are for foot and bicycle traffic only (pictured above) and aren’t large. ET obviously couldn’t remember the…

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#SickNotWeak

Last month I was delighted to be a guest author on Michael Landsberg’s website #SickNotWeak. For those who aren’t familiar with him, Landsberg is a Canadian celebrity and sports journalist who speaks publicly about his depression. Landsberg began #SickNotWeak as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to redefining mental illness in the public eye.  As he explains, “This is a sickness, not a…

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Funny things my kids say #25

Funny things my kids say #25

Last night, ET was yelling to me from his bed that he was having trouble falling asleep. When I pointed out to him that he had only been in bed for five minutes and that it might take a little longer than that, he said in a very sad voice… “My body is ready to sleep but my brain wants to read some more.” I know what you mean kid… every afternoon at work! Previous: Funny things my kids say #24

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From Digby with love

From Digby with love

I wrote this last night but it didn’t post due to a wifi glitch. I’ve been busy over the last couple of months working on my fiction, which is great, but it means that I’ve neglected the blog. I’m spending tonight alone in a hotel room and I’ve just realized this is the perfect time to write a post. I have a few things on my mind and it has been far too long since I’ve put my thoughts down on…