My mind can be so easily fooled, I rely on its gullibility. My brain shifted from stress to comfort with the change of a single word. My old list of monthly tasks = chores. Weight on my shoulders. Adulting. Responsibility. Burdens. My monthly ritual = soothing. Calm, comforting self-care. Aaaaaaah. I look forward to theContinue reading “Ritual of Reflection”
Author Archives: Karen
Chapter 1
Being accused of murder sure makes it hard to enjoy new-found freedom from an abusive ex. Escape Artist I’m writing a book! Wanna teaser? It’s a mystery so you might have to sit in suspense for awhile … while I write the rest of it, lol. The link to Chapter 1 of Escape Artist, setContinue reading “Chapter 1”
Let’s circle back to buzzwords because they’re holding you back
A dictionary of ways to avoid annoying readers Early in the pandemic, many of my friends laughed when they heard their partners talk in zoom meetings for work. One friend said, “I didn’t know they were bilingual.” It turned out my friend’s partner was fluent in Management Speak. On zoom, they engaged stakeholders in paradigm-shiftingContinue reading “Let’s circle back to buzzwords because they’re holding you back”
Spelling Rules Only a Canadian Can Love
Frustrated by your spell-checker? Learn to laugh at those squiggly red lines under our Canadianisms. Whether you’re a Canadian writer or someone who comes-from-away writing about us, you need to know these spellings and vocabulary unique to canucks (the people, not the hockey team). We start with a combination of British and American spellings. Then we mixContinue reading “Spelling Rules Only a Canadian Can Love”
Focus
I’ve spent years advising people to declutter their life because it will enhance their ability to focus. Clear away the nonsense and you’re left with what really matters, right? I started out this pandemic with heartbreak about a writing and yoga retreat I’d looked forward to for months. As I realized it would need toContinue reading “Focus”
I Need to Explain my Search History
This story has nothing to do with anything, just a twitter thread reminded me of this hilarious saga so I thought I’d share. There’s no lesson or point other than it still makes me laugh years later 😊 My daughter Julia loves animals and always says she can’t live in a house without them. I’mContinue reading “I Need to Explain my Search History”
Dear New York City
My passion for the outdoors, for the truth of nature, is matched by my love for a city where the truth of people is on full display, vivid and syncopated. I was disappointed to cancel my upcoming trip there, but it was a small sadness, an excuse to rebook for a longer visit another time.Continue reading “Dear New York City”
Social Distancing, Yurt Edition
Like many, I was heartbroken to cancel upcoming trips, while also grateful that we got the lead time here in Canada to cancel things before it was too late (hopefully). Because it seemed ideal for the times, we did go on our planned March Break adventure: We stayed in the middle of the forest, inContinue reading “Social Distancing, Yurt Edition”
Ease
In yoga the Sanskrit word sukha is used to talk about the sense of ease. Sukhasana – easy pose – is sitting cross-legged. When I came back to yoga practice after years away, the gentle, kind instructor of our beginner class shocked us one day by saying we wouldn’t start the class lying on our backsContinue reading “Ease”
Self-Care, Self-Soothing and More
Does the term self-care feel a bit icky to you? It’s used so broadly it had no meaning to me and conjured up images of Instagram ads for skin products. The idea behind it makes perfect sense: I care for my children, pets, friends, home … and for myself. But are skin products or havingContinue reading “Self-Care, Self-Soothing and More”