As the year draws to a close …

I was introduced to Pema Chödrön, the American Tibetan Buddhist nun and teacher, back in 2014 on an Oprah Winfrey show, Super Soul Sunday. I  was instantly enthralled, just loved what she had to say and have been following her ever since, although not religiously (no pun intended).

Last Saturday she showed up in my Facebook newsfeed. She was the subject of a story from a Brain Pickings newsletter.

Brain Pickings, which I’ve been subscribing to for several years, was founded by the writer and MIT Futures of

Now it’s my turn to go under the microscope …

I love watching people and trying to figure out what makes them tick. It’s something I’ve always done. Except when it comes to myself. At least not that deep exploration that really digs way beneath the surface to find that “stuff” we’re all so good at burying.

Until now.

Because that long, wonderful, illuminating conversation I had recently with a friend has made me curious about myself — and

Channeling Marvin Gaye …

Being a city dweller I either walk or take the subway most places. I never think twice about it. But the other day I noticed something new and I have to admit it gave me pause.

It was just a few days after the terrorist attacks in Brussels. The second I entered the subway station I noticed two police

Glory Hallelujah!

Yes, I am happy.  Very happy.  Jumping for joy happy.  Nope, I did not win a lottery.  This is better, actually.  Yeah, better than winning a lottery.  I may actually have talked about this before.  Doesn’t matter.  I’m gonna talk about it again.  It’s different this time anyhow.

For at least the last twenty years I’ve wanted to write a book.  Nothing to do with ego, I have just always thought there was one in me.  God knows I tried.  I gave myself headaches trying to come up with topics.  I’d write a few sentences, maybe a paragraph or two, only to end up ripping the sheet of paper off the pad, crumpling it up in a ball and tossing it.  I even took a book writing course, which I really enjoyed.  Not that

Day 332. Big Reveal

I have been so open, so forthcoming, so willing to share my innermost feelings on this blog, it’s difficult to think of anything you don’t already know about me. But the ‘ask’ in yesterday’s WordPress Daily Prompt was quite clear: “Tell us something most people probably don’t know about you.”

This is going to take some thought.

A girl’s gotta have some secrets, don’t you think? I think life would be awfully boring if we knew everything about each other. So what am I prepared to spill my guts about?

Okay, here’s something:

Crazy as it sounds, I have an almost irrational fear of doctors. Odd, coming from a woman who volunteers at a hospital and loves it. But there you have it. I’ve always thought it would be a cruel joke, and just my luck, if

Day 317. Yes? No?

What to do!  What to do!  Are you a risk taker?  Willing to throw caution to the wind.  Chance it?  Cast your fears aside?  Take a leap of faith?  I only ask because ‘risk’ was the subject of yesterday’s WordPress Daily Prompt.  “What’s the biggest risk you’d like to take — but haven’t been able to?  What would have to happen to make you comfortable taking it?”

Not really an easy question to answer.  There’s all kinds of risks.  Risks you take in your personal life.  Like finally getting over your fear of commitment and getting married.  Risks you take in your professional life.  Like walking away from a big promotion to go back to school to follow your heart and study medicine.

There are the ‘adventurous’ risks you take.  Like deciding to bungee jump.  There are the moral dilemmas we

Day 286. Something’s Fishy

What are you afraid of?  There’s got to be something.  I’m afraid of heights.  So one thing’s for sure.  You will NEVER catch me washing windows for a living.  Or walking a tightrope.  Or bungee jumping.  No siree!  Not even if a gun was pointed at my head.

Now zip lining.  That looks like fun.  It’s something I’d like to try.  Of course I say that with my feet planted firmly on the ground.  Whether I’d ever have the balls to do it is a whole other story.  But I think it would be very cool.

Let’s see.  What else am I afraid of?  Needles used to do it for me.  But I had to have so many different shots when I went to India I got over it.  I wanted to take the trip so badly I overcame my fear.  I’ll bet that’s pretty common.  I think we have the power to talk ourselves into and out of most anything.

When I would have thought I’d be scared, I wasn’t.  The terrorist attacks in Mumbai took place less than two weeks

Day 247. Scary Moment

Did you hear me wailing yesterday morning?  Sorry if I disturbed you.  Or woke you up.  Didn’t realize how loud I was.  My trust in technology is iffy, even on a good. day.  Same with my comfort level.

And for what seemed like a very long time but, was in fact, less then ten minutes, life was not looking good.  No, it was not.  It was looking like it was going to turn out to be a bad day.  A very bad day.

Got up, same as usual, and headed to my computer to write and post my blog.  It was just much earlier than I get up every other day, because I have to be at the hospital at 8:00 a.m.  Tuesday is my volunteer day.  Anyway, everything started out fine.  Turned it on and got started.  Headed straight for my dashboard.  A-ok.

Wrote my post.  Uploaded my image.  Saved my draft.  Comme d’habitude.  Nothing out of the ordinary.

Well, truth be told, I did get a warning just prior to my starting to write my blog.  I should have realized something was amiss.  But I paid it no heed.  Big mistake on my part.

Someone had left a comment on one of my blog posts overnight.  I always respond, so I figured I’d do that first.  My first attempt failed.  Got some message full of gibberish.  So I clicked off and then tried again.  Success.  I do remember, in

Day 245. True Confessions

All right. I’m going to say it out loud. I’ve felt it for a while, now. But I haven’t talked about it. Don’t know why, really. Maybe I just wanted to have it all figured out first. I don’t care about that any more. Okay, here it is.

I’m bored with Toronto.

Bored.

Bored.

Bored.

As cities go, Toronto has been very good to me. I have been successful here. I’ve met great people here. I’ve had a very good life here. My closest friend lives here, the one I’ve known since we were in our early twenties.

But the city bores me.

It didn’t always. But it does now.

That’s why I keep saying I want an adventure. That’s probably why, even though I don’t love my apartment, I haven’t

Day 194. Scared Witless

I can’t take credit for coming up with the idea for today’s story.  I was inspired by a comment made by Cupcake Travels on my post yesterday.  She was referencing a public speaking course she’d taken years ago, to help her overcome her fear of public speaking.

Which reminded me of how much I’ve always dreaded standing up in front of a group — large or small — and speaking.  Or even presenting work.  Which can be very challenging for a writer, working in advertising.  We have to stand up and present our work on a daily basis.

Yikes!!

As a child I was terminally shy.  Over the years I’ve really worked very hard to overcome it.  Some days are better than others, even now.  But most people who know me, would be surprised to hear I’m shy, by nature.  Guess