There is So Much Pain
As a First Responder Mental Health Advocate and former police officer, I feel the need to get this off my chest. It has been such a difficult few weeks for my husband (also a retired police officer) and I. We…
That Awkward Silence
Think back to a conversation where the words didn’t flow easily. Perhaps you were with a family member, friend, or colleague. Maybe you were standing in a group just listening. Do you remember the feeling as silence invaded the space?…
I Am Fed Up
Hello everyone and Happy New Year. Well, I guess I don't have to tell you I haven't posted in quite a while. It has been eleven months to be exact. Like all of you, I have been working my way…
Extraordinary People Living Extraordinary Lives
Two years ago, I was asked to present at the First Responder Suicide Awareness Conference in Calgary, Alberta. The purpose of the conference was to provide a safe space for those of us impacted by Operational Stress Injuries, with hopes…
Mental Health Doesn’t Get Better in Silence
January 28th was “Bell Let’s Talk Day” in Canada. For those of you who don’t live in our country, it is an awareness campaign created by one of our telecommunications companies, Bell Canada, in an effort to raise awareness and…
First Responders & Front-Line Workers
Extraordinary People Living Extraordinary Lives Last year, I was sitting in my living room listening to the radio when the DJ and his co-host started discussing celebrities. They made the comment that, “celebrities are just ordinary people living extraordinary lives”.…
I Am Those Words
As 2019 draws to a close, I can’t help but reflect back on the incredible year I have had. I really pushed myself to step outside my comfort zone. I wanted to test the waters to see where they might…
It’s What They Didn’t Say
We are all impacted, as adults, by events that occurred during our childhood years. We watch, we listen, and we learn. Some messaging is clear and direct, don’t take things that don’t belong to you. Some messages are more subtle,…
Maybe Being Different Isn’t So Bad
I spent my entire young life wanting to fit in. I wished to look like everyone else, have a family like everyone else and be as smart as everyone else. I spent a lot of time thinking about it, as…
New Beginnings
We have all experienced new beginnings. Fresh starts. Starting over. Rebuilding. Remodeling. Reworking. It’s just how we do life…sometimes we are grateful, other times not so much. Sometimes we look for it, sometimes it, finds us. This new beginning, my…