Passion Power

In April of 1994 on the front page of the New York Times there’s an infamous picture of 9 tobacco executives standing in court declaring under oath that Cigarettes Aren’t Addictive. In November of 2017, after successfully delaying for 11 years, the tobacco companies began a court-ordered advertisement campaign admitting the variety of ways they manipulated the public, including that they designed cigarettes to be more addictive and lied about it. Experts found that Big Tobacco companies genetically engineered their tobacco crops to contain two times the amount of nicotine and adjusted their cigarette design so that the nicotine delivered to smokers increased by 14.5 percent. The result of these “innovations” in cigarette design is devastating. The surgeon general found that “today’s cigarette smokers — both men and women — have a much higher risk for lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than smokers in 1964, despite smoking fewer cigarettes. Even though the...

The drop-off was a moment of triumph and pride. It felt like an ending to a very long chapter that went by way too fast. I took advantage of the time that was offered to me and now that it’s over I’m so glad I did. As they settle in I can’t help wondering what they are eating, how are they managing their workload, what’s their overall well-being like? Are they getting enough sleep? I realize that I will no longer understand the full scope of their life the way I once did. It’s hard to let go, but necessary. They say it’s a sad and lonely time for a new empty nester and, that’s not happening. We are relieved. This is a reset button for me and my husband. We get to re-establish ourselves as a couple and embrace the journey the same way we did when parenthood fell upon us many years ago. Our kids new chapter might be called “How to live without Mom doing everything for me” and our chapter is called “Freedom”. It’s quiet, it’s clean and we don’t even have to cook if we don’t want...

The government is very good at sending cash to large numbers of people every single month. Perhaps they might get better at helping people integrate back into the workforce. People will try and figure out a way to increase their household income but if the government takes it back where’s the incentive for working? We’ve grappled with this dysfunctional system for decades. Where do we even begin to encourage more people to step out of these poverty traps. I see job postings everywhere. A friend of mine has a store and can’t find employees. A family member on Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) won’t work because they will deduct from his cheque. People on benefits should be motivated to work. If you are collecting benefits and would like to get yourself a part time job for some extra spending money or to save up for a larger item this initiative should be celebrated but instead the system discourages it by deducting 50% off the amount earned after the first $200. It’s a...

I cherish the memories at the cottage on the Magnetawan River every summer for two or three weeks. The smell of the rain-soaked leaves and the soft blanket of pine underneath my shoes reminds me of the carefree nature I once had as a kid. I feel more like myself at the cottage. A fox sprints on by down the road like he owns it. The front porch is my favourite place to relax. The fountain splashes across the street and the birds sing their happy songs. I don’t care about the shoes at the door or the lists or the laundry. I’d rather pick wild flowers or walk on the beach. The beach is a great way to boost your immune system. The beach is a place where squandering time is accepted, and naps are encouraged by the sound of waves and a gentle breeze. When the lake is glass-like it brings so much peace to your life. A sunset swim is magical. Boredom at the cottage as a kid was an excuse to float on our backs in the river or take the canoe down to get lily pads. Tapped into nature a...

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...