As the years go by, I am continually reminded that the way forward is never a straight line. Getting projects done, learning something new, overcoming an obstacle or achieving a new challenge always involve a few starts and stops, mistakes and redirection.  

The most valuable perspective I’ve learned is to remember that we get to...

Each year, January is the month designated to celebrate mentoring. It’s a curious thing to have one month dedicated to mentoring. Every month is a good month for Mentoring! Perhaps the notion is to raise awareness for this special and influential form of developmental relationship. 

Over the last couple weeks I’ve seen a variety...

^{Originally published 1/25/2011. Most recent update 1/22/2022}

Mentoring is the act of helping someone learn.

Mentoring is one type of supportive relationship in your overall developmental network: the group of people you turn to and rely on for input, advice and ideas to help you along the way. It is a relationship that you have...

• I’m not sure.

• I don’t know

• I’ll wait and see

• I’m not ready yet.

• What if I’m wrong?

• What if I change my mind?

Sound familiar? The sounds of inaction. Being stuck. Immobile. 

We’ve all used these phrases at one time or another and yes, sometimes it is wise to...

^{Photo: Carol Ward with her partner David and her daughters Nicole and Kayla (graduating)} 

Everyone has moments when they want to stop moving forward. On a run, at work, hitting a learning curve with a new skill, after a discouraging turn of events. Sometimes we take these challenges in stride. Other times we feel our resolve drain away...

At the time of this post, the feature photos of me on my website were about five years old. I really liked those photos. They captured the essence of what I wanted to convey - colour, mood, energy. 

But they were five years old. Of course I’ve changed and I want the representation of me to be  accurate. Or, speaking more...

Stacy Eldridge worked in cybersecurity for the FBI for many years, scouring devices for evidence of criminal activity. The job was a great fit for a long time but it was an opportunity she hadn't considered pursuing until a moment of uncertainty shook her out of her comfort zone. 

You Just Need The Next Step 

 While working on her...

“The journey is going to be interesting, no matter what you do. There’s going to be ups and downs and it’s not going to go according to plan, but it is going to be your journey.”

Earlier this year, I attended the virtual 2021 Strike Up Conference celebrating women entrepreneurs who #choosetochallenge. Manjit...

^{Photo credits: Debra Lee, Peter Paradise and Aria Michaels}

"In dance you have to hold your own space, but you have to know what’s going on behind you, beside you, and be graceful about it."

Shirronda Almeida, Director of the Mel King Institute in Boston Massachusetts, came to belly dance through a desire to move her body. Her passion...

"Anything can create a positive ripple if we let it."

Life changed for Laura Beauparlant when she was hit by an impaired driver at 18, but it didn’t stop. The head-on collision shattered Laura’s femur and required 18 pins and a metal plate in her leg, as well as nine surgeries to heal. She was told the effects of the accident on her...