I had many responses to my last blog post about transitioning to retirement. I was surprised. It seems I am not the only one who has an interest in this topic. Folks also wanted to share their own experiences of retirement. Transitions show up in many more ways than just the big ones like retirement, having children etc. There always seems to be another one coming around the corner. I have been chugging along trying to make sense of things for myself, much as we all do. I have been working part time at a knitting shop which has come continue reading…
The Next Steps
Three months have passed quickly, quicker than one might imagine when there is seemingly more time. One wise person told me that the time is the same, just how one uses it is different. This is of course true. I found myself wishing just a couple days ago that I had more time. Crazy!! I of course still have lots of things that I want to get done and more ideas than I can ever actually accomplish. I am not missing my work as a nurse and yet I am grieving the loss of it. I have spent my life continue reading…
Being in Nature
I had the most amazing opportunity this past weekend to spend time in nature and be with a group of songwriters! We had a time of connection and reflection. I wrote a couple new songs, songs that mean a lot to me. I was struck so much by the fact that the extra supports were so helpful- meals being provided and yoga, hikes and True Nature Writing. The writing really opened things up for me. I got writing about things I had no idea needed to come to the surface and it felt like once this happened there was more continue reading…
Touring and Traveling
I’m sorry this blog is a bit late. I’ve been busy getting ready to go away as those of you who follow me on social media will know. I’ve been getting ready for a tour and then for several other shows around Regina. It’s been so interesting spending time working on my set list. I am trying to find ways to engage with the audience, to let them know that I care about their experience as I also share songs that will open hearts. I’ve also had a great experience this past week re-writing a song that I had written continue reading…
Reconnecting and Touring
I have been busy finalizing things for the ten days that I will be away on tour. I have six shows in that time period and will be visiting friends and family as well. I seem to be able to do this every time I go away on a short tour. I am extremely grateful for the friends that have stepped up to be hosts for a couple house concerts around the Calgary area and for the friends that have offered me a bed as well. It is a very rewarding experience to be reconnecting with folks from my high continue reading…
Be the Unexpected
I have been working on a signature program (keynote address) this last week.This is a program of songs combined with stories that add up to an inspirational message. My business coach told me a while ago that this would be a good idea. I had a few friends over on the weekend to run through my material and they gave me some feedback. I am so grateful for the helpful feedback. The main thing I need to do is to be more specific and focus on the three main things that I want to say. This was helpful to hear continue reading…
Trusting Ourselves and Being Kind
I was fortunate enough, a couple weeks ago, to go and spend a week at one of our provincial parks here in Saskatchewan. Cypress Hills Interprovincial park is close to where I grew up and is a place I often go for inspiration and rest. Before arriving at the park, I wondered if I knew what I was doing? Would I really find inspiration here? I was planning to write and finish some songs. As soon as I arrived and got unpacked I realized that I was right to come, that I did know what I was doing. I remembered continue reading…
February is the month of love
February is the month of love! I think we can view this more broadly than romantic love as love can show up in our lives in many ways. I have been playing different love songs for Wednesdays with Wanda this month and when I played a show in Saskatoon I tried to think about different types of love and love songs. I played some songs about romantic love, the good and bad sides as well as some songs that I love. I had a few lovely moments at the show in Saskatoon. A two year old and his dad come continue reading…
Transitions
I realized a few weeks ago that transitioning out of my life as a nurse was going to be a little more challenging then I thought. I will be retiring July 1st. I have been so tired from my work as a nurse that I had assumed that there would be no issues with this change. Then I realized that I have a lot of pride in what I have done in my nursing life and that I wanted to leave it in a thoughtful way. I have come at this in a couple of ways. Firstly, I went to continue reading…
Happy New Year 2019
Happy New Year! I hope that 2019 has started well for you! I have been thinking about people being whom we don’t want them to be. It’s been a theme this last week when I have been talking to friends. We can’t make people do what we want them to or have them be whom we would like them to be. Perhaps it has come up this last while because people have been hanging out with their families over this holiday season and if there are people we would like to change, it would be those we are closest to. continue reading…
