Passion Power

If there was a word to describe my Father that word would be enthusiasm. As a little girl I remember watching him “hold court.” He was always the largest person in the room-because of his attitude and zest for life. The word Can’t is not in my Father’s dictionary. He goes the extra mile in almost everything he does from researching vehicles or vacations to packing the car for our annual holidays up north. Going the extra mile was his model for life. If we ever wanted Dad’s attention which we did all the time we’d ask him the meaning of a word. Dad would stop, pivot and turn all his attention towards us and describe in lengthy detail what the word means. My Father’s name is Warren Diwell and he’s 84 years old. He grew up in foster homes with his 2 younger sisters Barb and Bev. His parents divorced when divorce wasn’t a thing. His father Bernard Diwell soon remarried and purchased a big two storey home, but the stepmother Margaret didn’t want any kids. My Grandmother, Alic...

Many small business owners I’ve come across in my 25 years of experience are scared safe and stuck. They are tired of reaching into their pockets and getting no results. They’ve always done things a certain way and they aren’t going to risk spending money trying anything new for fear they might have to come grovelling back to where they started. I worked inside a company once and you could cut the tension with a knife. Customer’s felt it the minute they walked in the store. It was a toxic environment and frighteningly quiet. The employees were competing against each other and they disrespected the owner. They had their cushy little jobs and felt they were indispensable after 8 and 10 years of employment. I don’t have to tell you what happened next. No sales-no business. The company ran out of money. They went on knowledge and low prices. My lesson here was – that’s not enough. Here are a few do’s and don’ts for running a successful sales organization. DO’s Follow ...

I am the pain in your head, the knot in your stomach, the unspoken grief in your smile. I am your high blood sugar, your elevated blood pressure, your fear of challenge, your lack of trust. I am your hot flashes, your cold hands and feet, your agitation and your fatigue. I am your shortness of breath, your fragile low back, the cramp in you r neck, the despair in your sigh. I am the pressure on your heart, the pain down your arm, your bloated abdomen, your constant hunger. I am where you hurt, the fear that persists, your sadness of dreams unfulfilled. I am your symptoms, the causes of your concern, the signs of imbalance, your condition of dis-ease. You tend to disown me, suppress me, ignore me, inflate me, coddle me, condemn me. I am not coming forth for myself as I am not separate from all that is you. I come to garner your attention, to enjoin your embrace so I can reveal my secrets. I have only your best interests at heart as I seek health and wholeness by simply announ...

Parent’s need to step up to the plate and get in the game and stop being spectators in the lives of their children they so willingly brought into the world. Values must be taught. You don’t just get to have kids and hope for the best. “Treat others the way you wish to be treated”. This golden rule is important to every relationship they will ever have, and it’s taught in the home. As the old saying goes, “The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.” Some parents don’t even try to teach manners or respect or good hygiene. That’s your job. Am I The Only One? Kids seem to able to manipulate and lay around a lot more than we could. A wise man once said to me, “kids that get on the couch stay on the couch.” Kids without discipline and direction don’t go anywhere. Initiate a new rule in your house, no loitering, and put a sign above your couch. “KID FREE Zone”. You might even see some initiative, another important life skill taught in the home. Boundaries make us feel ...

When I read your note about all your feelings and ways in which you beat yourself up I thought it's no wonder she's having a rough time. I agreed with many things you said and believe me your self awareness is pretty good but not as gentle as I would like for my oldest daughter. Acceptance is just sitting quietly and acknowledging what's true. What's true is you're having a wonderful time and there are days when you meltdown. What's true is that you have limiting beliefs about yourself and are ordering shit sandwiches instead of roast beef. You are Gold my dear. Your greatest worry shouldn't be that you are nuisance to someone else. There is no such thing as a 'great' worry. Worries aren't great. This approval seeking is immobilizing you and making you neurotic but don't worry my sweet daughter it happens to the best of us. This universal popularity you so desire with every fiber of your being is.... well.... shall we say a waste of ...

No One Has to Die Alone gets death and dying out of the closet and on to the Dining Room Table. I read Dr. Lani Leary’s book in 2012 when my Aunt Judy was diagnosed with a terminal illness. It’s is one of those books you read and know you are forever changed. This book will empower you to support a loved one at the end of their life. Shortly after my Aunt was diagnosed I really wanted to call her but I really didn’t know how to handle such a delicate conversation. What do I say? What don’t I say? Should I be positive or realistic. Will she want visitors? What do I write on the card and what do I say to my cousin? This was unfamiliar territory I was so vulnerable. I kept asking myself what would I want? I wonder if you will KNOW how to handle this situation if the time comes. Maybe you already have. Dr. Leary has worked for over 30 years as a psychotherapist. She's a Chaplain in the intensive care unit of a hospital, a counselor in 8 hospices across the US and is a ...

Well-behaved women seldom make history ~ Laurel Thatcher Ulrich    This bumper sticker gained wide popularity in the ‘70s and has come around again to invite us all to speak up about sexual stereotypes and discrimination.   I’d say it’s about time if it means a safer and more equal world for our daughters and grand-daughters.   Over the past few decades thanks to responsible parenting, good strong role models and whistleblowers we have experienced many great strides.   This recent movement in Hollywood about breaking the silence offers all women another layer of protection against sexual harassment, misconduct and assault.   I’m excited about that.   There are plenty of good men to celebrate and bad men we need to stop.   Many people still sit on the sidelines, that care, but not enough to uncross their arms and start waving them in the air to show gratitude.   I get that.   We can’t care about everything but for every sexist remark ...