This week we celebrated my mother’s 74th birthday. She is someone who has many friends and no enemies. She taught me to believe in myself beyond reason, always do my best, and never burn bridges. She left Ireland at 18 to train as a nurse in England and then went on to study midwifery in Scotland. When she started that journey she had never seen a telephone and knew very little about the world outside her small village. A story she told me about something that happened years later has reminded me that we can always make a difference.
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Month: March 2017 (Page 1 of 2)
As I prepare for our upcoming trip to Ireland for the World Irish Dance Championships, I can’t help but be inspired by the words of so many Irish writers. They have a way of saying things that make us realize there is a universal heart that beats in all of us. And they remind us of the importance of our dreams. Some of my favourites are…
“But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams beneath your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.”
–William Butler Yeats, “He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven” Continue reading
This weekend we ran a fundraising gala for the 13 kids from our dance school competing next month in the World Irish Dance Championships in Ireland. Family and friends celebrated, watched the kids perform, and danced the night away.
It made me wonder what the kids were thinking about their upcoming journey. Taking the stage with other dancers from around the world in front of nine international judges. The end result of all those nights of practicing, learning steps, stretching, doing drills, and dreaming. Continue reading
Today is Career Day at my children’s elementary school so they are supposed to dress as what they want to be when they grow up. I have a photographer, a lawyer and a chef in the house.
Remember when we were young and the world was our oyster? When anything was possible? Continue reading
I went to see the play The Book of Mormon last night and it truly is a funny musical. The whole theatre audience was laughing throughout.
What I loved about the message though, was the idea that you might think you are the teacher, when you are actually the student. In life. As a parent. In your job. As a friend. Continue reading
For decades I’ve enjoyed watching the March Madness college basketball tournament. There is something about the young players who leave it all on the court. Who play with so much heart it gives you goosebumps. They know this is their chance to shine while the world is watching. Continue reading
Since I was young, I’ve heard the phrase, “the luck of the Irish.” Especially on March 17th for St. Patrick’s Day.
I’ve always felt very lucky in life, but I’ve also agreed with Oprah when she said, “I believe luck is preparation meeting opportunity. If you hadn’t been prepared when the opportunity came along, you wouldn’t have been lucky.” Continue reading
On a cold Saturday in March 1984, five students arrived at a school detention. They each had a label they had been given based on the cliques they belonged to at school. “The Criminal”, “The Brain”, “The Princess”, “The Basket Case” and “The Athlete.” They were The Breakfast Club. Continue reading
Fourteen years ago today I became a mother. When I think of my life, it is split into two acts. Before and after I had children.
Of course things like labour and feeding and sleepless nights and scattered thinking are hard when the baby first arrives. But as they grow it’s the questioning yourself. Did I make the right choice as a parent? Are they ready for the world? Will their heart and goodness be safe on the journey? Will they find their tribe and their passion and their joy? Continue reading
In Jen Sincero’s book You Are A Badass: How To Stop Doubting Your Greatness And Start Living, she talks about making the decision. It could be that you want to get in shape or write a book. It could be that you want to turn your love for making crafts into a business that earns money. It could be that you want to go back to school and train for another career. The thing is, unless you decide that this is the only path to take, you won’t have the gumption to make it happen. If you believe it has to be done, that is the drive that will get you to the gym at the crack of dawn if that’s the only time you can go. Or will make you stare at a blank page every single day and put some words on it. Or will make you walk into the bank and ask for the loan. Or will make you take the courses at night so that your day job can still pay the bills. Continue reading