This week we are taking a break from our usual posts to share the first
part of our trip to San Antonio. Thank you for being on this journey with us!

Sometimes our weekly notes/blogs are to share thoughts and ideas to help those we know that are struggling or grieving. Other times we share different parts
of our own journey. Happy times and sad times. We are all in this together!

Yvonne and I arrived in San Antonio today to attend a conference.
We chose to arrive early so we could take some time to see the local sites.

On our first day we visited the Riverwalk. A beautiful walking path along the
river that flows right through the middle of San Antonio. Later we had an
​entire patio to ourselves for dinner overlooking the Riverwalk. It was amazing!

Remember to make the time to enjoy those moments.
Enjoy life, even if it is not the life you thought it might be.
Thank you for sharing this journey with us!


Thank you for being part of our community. 
 To learn more about our new
Get Ready for Grief
online program
click here

Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's TEDx Talk 

Hi everyone, Yvonne Heath here from Love Your Life to Death.
I decided a couple of months ago that I wanted to share some life lessons
learned along the way that have totally changed my life and made my life
more fulfilled. I am more empowered and more resilient and it is something
that I want to share with the world.

Last month I talked about the #IJustShowedUp movement which teaches
people of all ages how to Just Show Up for themselves and others so they are empowered and resilient when grief arrives. We need to know what grief is,
and we need to learn how to Just Show Up for ourselves first and we need to understand what Just Showing Up for others means. What I have learned is
that the smallest gestures of kindness, of acknowledging and allowing
someone’s feelings are truly what has made the difference for people in grief,
crisis or when they are having a bad day.

I have said it (and I will say it again!) When you don’t know what to do
and you don’t know what to say, it is awkward and uncomfortable and you
cannot fix it… the three magic words are Just Show Up.

Truly Just Showing Up is the greatest medicine for your own grief.
You feel so so good showing up for others. When you Just Show Up for them,
they feel supported, they feel acknowledged and validated. You do not need to
be a professional! Just Showing Up can be as simple as a hug, text, call and
email, sitting silently, listening or helping with life’s daily tasks.

I will share this message everywhere I can as I did in my TEDx talk and
in each and every one of my presentations. I hope that you will help to spread
this message. We do not talk about this before grief arrives or we are in crisis.
It is uncomfortable, and it is awkward but you can make a difference or you can make THE difference. Just Show Up. I promise you will get much more in return. 


​If you know someone who needs to hear this message, please share this information with them because together we can do better.

Thank you for being part of our community. 
 To learn more about our new
Get Ready for Grief
online program
click here

Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's TEDx Talk ​

Hi everyone, Yvonne Heath here.
Today is January 2, 2020 and I am so excited about what the New Year is
going to bring. Yesterday I spent some time reflecting on the past year,
the past decade and to me this the start of the new decade. I know some
people think that it is 2021, but for me it starts this year in 2020. I am so incredibly honoured that you are a part of my journey and I am a part of
yours and I continue to be inspired by many stories like the story of the
amaryllis which inspires hope for people with Huntingtons Disease.
I thank every one of you for sharing your stories and inspiring me
along the way and I will continue to do the same.

I know that many of you are starting 2020 full of hope and excitement,
while others have had a very challenging year (or years) and just know that
no matter what you have been through and no matter where your journey has brought you, there is always new possibilities ahead. The past is the past and everyday there new possibilities for a new and better life.

I encourage you to connect with supportive people, connect with me anytime,
​ and in 2020 may you create a life you love and always Love Your Life to Death.



Thank you for being part of our community. 
 To learn more about our new
Get Ready for Grief
online program
click here

Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's TEDx Talk 

Hi everyone, Yvonne here. I am back in the Hunters Bay Radio
studio with my new friend Vanessa Hurley. We have been talking about
household food insecurity in Simcoe County and Muskoka. Vanessa shared
some staggering statistics with me that actually had me choking up on the show.

One in eight (1/8) households in our area struggle to put food on the table every day and about 1500 children go to school hungry every day.

Without knowing anything else, this tells me that we need to do something
because one child going to school hungry is too many, and I love that you
have solutions, resources and people can get information at the health unit
website www.smdhu.org and search for cent$less- no money for food is
cent$less- you can get more information on costs for healthy eating in
our area and more information about household food insecurity and
why it matters and why we should care.

There are so many reasons (besides morally) that no one should be hungry.
When you look for cent$less (very clever) I would encourage everyone
to find out more information. This is our responsibility.
We can make a difference together.

Listen to the show. Share the show. Get information. Together we can create change, and let’s do something about this so that every single person is able
to put food on the table and has dignity and has the self-esteem to say “I can
do this” and does not have to make the choice of rent…or food. Let’s not make people choose. Or even heat or food. Or even choose to feed themselves
or their children. It’s not OK.Listen, share and educate yourself.
Let’s create change together! 

Listen to our Hunters Bay Radio Show
Here

Thank you for being part of our community. 
 To learn more about our new
Get Ready for Grief
online program
click here

Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's TEDx Talk 

Hi everyone, Yvonne here from Love Your Life to Death.
I am doing this blog this week to just say THANK YOU to Sudbury!

Geordie and I traveled to #Sudbury earlier this month and we created a
community event and Sudbury truly Just Showed Up for us. We had over 80 people at our event. Community members, healthcare professionals, people from hospice, Huntington’s Society and lots of friends from High School which meant the absolute world to me. Thank you so much!

We were invited to be on CBC Radio for an interview and an article.
I had the best time connecting with incredible people and we plan to be back
in Sudbury. I wanted to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU Sudbury for
Just Showing Up for us. We WILL be back. Bye for now!

CBC Article

CBC Radio 


Thank you for being part of our community. 
 To learn more about our new
Get Ready for Grief
online program
click here

Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's TEDx Talk 

Hi everyone, Yvonne Heath here from Love Your Life to Death.
On November 30th 2019, it was such an honour to attend a celebration of
life for an incredible person in our community. Reverend S. Derek Shelly.

As I heard his incredible grandchildren speak about what a wonderful Papa
they had, even one of his grandchildren sang, it was such a beautiful and moving experience and also reminding me how grateful I am that Derek was a
significant part of my life. He was a Minister that visited the Hospital and
Hospice comforting people in life grief and death many times. He was also
one of the first people I reached out to when I was writing my book
Love Your Life to Death. Derek is in my book sharing his incredible wisdom
on spirituality and living life to the fullest. At the same time as I writing my
book, he was completing his on spirituality called Dying to Live. It is a story
of guiding people on their journey. I would encourage everyone and anyone
to find and read this book.

I also wanted to express my gratitude to Derek because he had a radio show
called Soul Matters. The first time I was on the radio was on his show.
Ironically James Carroll was there who died a few years ago. It was such a wonderful experience for me. Then on my radio show (I Just Showed Up)
Derek was the second person that I interviewed. But the very most significant thing was this speaking journey that I have been on (sharing my message everywhere!) was that I was terrified to public speak. Derek said to me in June 2014 “Let’s do a speaking event together”. There was 45 people gathered at
Trinity United Church in Huntsville in a back room, and I felt that I was going
to be OK because Derek was going to be with me. Then at the last minute
Derek said “I have to go talk to someone…don’t worry, you will be great!”
I held back my tears, and I spoke to the audience and that was the beginning
of my speaking career.

I am forever grateful to Derek, and this also reminds me that at this time
of year and always there are many people celebrating and grieving.
Let’s always remember that, to be grateful for people who are in our lives
and remember those that are missing them.
We can get through all of this together.



Thank you for being part of our community. 
 To learn more about our new
Get Ready for Grief
online program
click here

Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's TEDx Talk 

Hi everyone, Yvonne here from Love Your Life to Death.
Last month I decided that I wanted to share my “Life Lessons Learned Along
the Way” because in the last 5 years of this journey and with 27 years of nursing,
I have had so many great conversations and learned so much.

Last month I talked about how we do not recognize grief and if we want to
talk about and plan and prepare for grief we will need to know what it is.

This month I would like to talk about the #IJustShowedUp movement!  #IJustShowedUp teaches people of all ages how to Just Show Up for
themselves and others so they are empowered and resilient when grief arrives.
​
So what does that really mean? Let’s start with Just Showing Up for
yourself first. The truth is, we all have value and we all matter and we are
our greatest gift to the world. We also have to remember that we are responsible for our own happiness, coping skills and strategies and the reason we need to
be so diligent about being great self-care givers is because that is the only way
we Just Show Up for others. There are SO many people that are compassionate
and giving, they often put themselves last. Just Showing Up for yourself first
is going to literally change the world.

Imagine if we were all so well prepared to Just Show Up for ourselves
first and be in charge of our own happiness. Ask - Am I happy? If not, what
can I do to change that? The truth is that no one can make you happy. We are
all in charge of our own journey. So when I talk about Just Showing Up for yourself first it, it really means checking in with yourself, every day.
And when you are grieving… every moment.

Just Showing Up for yourself first is the greatest thing you can do, and it is also the greatest way you can lead by example for your families and those you care about. I truly want you to understand what Just Showing Up means at a deep level.

​If you know someone who needs to hear this message, please share this information with them because together we can do better.

Thank you for being part of our community. 
 To learn more about our new
Get Ready for Grief
online program
click here

Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's TEDx Talk 

This week I am in the Hunters Bay Radio Studio with my dear friend Chris Piva.
I am feeling so great now that Chris has taught me about some
new breathing techniques. Chris, tell our viewers what we were
chatting about today:

We spoke about the ability to tap into your parasympathetic nervous
system through breath and it is about intensity and volume.

That’s a great way to summarize it, the other piece we spoke about was Chris and his journey through PTSD after being a Paramedic for many years. You have done so many wonderful things to help yourself move forward and this new breathing technique has been one of the greatest things you have come across.

When I think about myself responding to calls, especially heavy calls where sometimes you would just be frozen in your seat, and I wouldn’t breathe, I
would hold my breath and have tons of anxiety. I would even shake on really serious calls and it was strictly anxiety over flowing my body. If I had this technique, I don’t know what it would have done to my career.

It would have made a big difference, I have no doubt.
There are videos on YouTube about this breathing technique called Wim Hof.
I actually did the breathing technique before the show and to be honest felt a little woozy but then felt AMAZING. How extraordinary. We underestimate the power of breathing. We talk about breathing and taking slow deep breaths but this takes it to a new level. I love it!

Chris is amazing. He hosts one of the peer support groups for Wings of Change in Bracebridge. He actually has three locations, Bracebridge is 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month, Barrie is the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month
and Orillia is the 3rd Wednesday. All meetings are at 6:30pm and you can
google Wings of Change. It is across Canada and is for anyone in any field
that has struggled with PTSD and would like to talk to someone and get peer support. It is a great night and helps get you out of the isolation phase and
stuck in your basement when you might be feeling fearful and don’t have the energy. This is a safe place where it is solution focused, no trauma talk and everyone leaves feeling better than when they walked in the door.

Chris, you are truly amazing and I have included a link to our radio show and I have also included a link to our television show, check out wings of change and we can do this together and we can do it better!

Chris Piva #IJustShowedUp Radio Interview

Chris Piva #RealLifeTalks Television Interview

Thank you for being part of our community. 
 To learn more about our new
Get Ready for Grief
online program
click here

Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's TEDx Talk 

Hi everyone, Yvonne Heath here. I have had an extraordinary
week and so honoured to be part of Steve Foran’s Daily Gratitudes.

Every day I have shared three Daily Gratitudes which has been a wonderful exercise for me. Every day before I go to bed I always (no matter what is going on) find five things to be grateful for. Sometimes it is hot coffee, a shower and
heat in my house if I have had an awful and challenging time in my life
but I have always found something!

But with Steve’s Daily Gratitudes, I had to dig a little deeper and
writing three a day for five days has been very extraordinary and an honour
to share it. Steve wants to have one billion people in the world have a
foundation of gratitude and started Gratitude at Work.

Thank you Steve Foran for everything you do, I encourage everyone to
go to his website www.gratitudeatwork.ca and be one of the billion
people to join the daily gratitudes.

Today I am grateful that I am going to get to go to volleyball, my son
Tanner is playing and Geordie and I are going to clap and cheer! I have our noise makers and my Hoyas t shirt because I am so grateful that I get to do this today.

I would love to hear what you are grateful for, please comment below because gratitude is the key to happiness. Thanks everyone!
Go Hoyas!

What Are You Grateful For?


Thank you for being part of our community. 
 To learn more about our new
Get Ready for Grief
online program
click here

Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's TEDx Talk ​

Hi everyone, Yvonne Heath here with Love Your Life to Death. I am here with
my friend Suzanne Witt-Foley. I have just taken Mental Health First Aid.
I have had Suzanne on my Rogers television show #RealLifeTalks, I have
had Suzanne on my #IJustShowedUp Radio Show and today we are talking
about Mental Health First Aid…And I loved It! It has taken two years for me
to finally take it (Yep… She did it!)

We have just spent two full Saturdays taking this course and I implore
​ and encourage everyone to take this course. It is as valuable as CPR.

Suzanne adds; and not even that, what I talk about often is the fact that most people have their CPR training and when you ask a group of people how many
have actually used it, a lot of the time you will find only a few and yet, it is something that we all keep taking because we know we might be able to save a life. That is truly valuable.

With mental health first aid one in three of us struggle some point in our
lifetime and with so many of us experiencing mental health problems or illness, doesn’t it make sense to learn and support one another? If you take this
training you can use it almost every day!

We learned about anxiety, depression, and psychotic disorders but also
about substance abuse and the opioid crisis. We have a crisis on our hands and
this information is invaluable. (She is a really good instructor too!)

There is Mental Health First Aid Training all around isn’t it? It is offered in 26 countries around the world. I can travel and teach anywhere in Canada.
You can always go on the mental health website or my website to look
for training or also if you have a workplace that would like training
I can come to you.

I encourage every employer and everyone to take Mental Health First Aid,
and I feel so much more empowered. Thank you SO much!
Check it out everyone… Suzane Witt-Foley thank you.
​ Let’s hug it out in a minute! 

To learn more about Suzanne visit her website

Listen to our #IJustShowedUp radio show here

Watch our #RealLifeTalks televison show here

Thank you for being part of our community. 
 To learn more about our new
Get Ready for Grief
online program
click here

Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's TEDx Talk 

Hi everyone! Geordie here from Love Your Life to Death.
I wanted to take a moment and share with you something tonight.
I do not want anyone to feel like they have regrets or to feel guilty if
something happens in their life.

Recently Yvonne and I were at a presentation in Saugeen Shores near
Lake Huron (Port Elgin and Southampton) and we have family there and
also have family buried there. I made a promise that I would go visit the
cemetery because I was not able to make it to the funeral.

However, after our presentations were done, the sun was shining, it was a
beautiful day and Yvonne and I packed up all of our stuff, hopped in the car
and we left. It wasn’t until a little while later that we realized that we did not do the thing we said we were going to do. I was sad about this and I felt guilty.
I then made a promise to myself that this has happened, there is nothing I can
do about it at this point and I promise to do better next time.

What I can do is remember all the good memories that we have had
with my family and I will always remember that. The other thing I can do
because I do not want to continue to feel guilty is keep Just Showing Up for
other people. What I have promised is that I will go out and do something good and Just Show Up for somebody else to help me move through and feel less guilty.

That’s it! Bye for now.

Thank you for being part of our community. 
 To learn more about our new
Get Ready for Grief
online program
click here

Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's TEDx Talk ​

Hi everyone, I am back in the Hunters Bay studio with my new friend
Kelly Jones who is absolutely inspiring and amazing! You have touched
my heart and you are stuck with me forever! We talked about your journey
which has been very challenging to say the least. I encourage everyone to
listen to this radio show (link below and also available as a podcast).

We spoke about Circles Muskoka.
Can you share a little more about what Circles Muskoka is?

Circles Muskoka is an intentional friendship program that helps people
to get out of poverty. Doing with and not doing for is the mentality.
Just Showing Up seems to be the common theme. They connect people who
are struggling and want to change their lives and offer programs.

The first is called getting ahead. This is a 12-15 week program for individuals
in poverty or near poverty, learning new ways to speak and be a part of the community and are invited into circles and matched with allies.
A circle “leader” will be matched with up to 3-4 allies. It is life changing!

Who are allies? Allies are community members. Your Dr. could potentially
become your alley. There are a couple of others here in the studio that we
would love to join us. People in the community that just want to make a
difference but do not know how.

The first step is to walk through the doors, sit down, have a meal and
become friends with someone. You have just changes someone’s life.
 
“You can also learn so much from each other”
It is when you give is when you get so much more back.

I encourage every community member to learn more about Circles Muskoka.
It is an incredible organization. You can learn more through the
YWCA Muskoka website.

November 8th there will be an event called Bridges Out of Poverty
at Faith Baptist Church where you can learn so much more about Circles
and the impact on the community.
 
We can all make a difference, more than writing a cheque.
It is about connection, friendships and making a difference.
I encourage you to attend this event and if not, learn about circles
in your community. There are locations everywhere.

Kelly, thank you so much for all you do and thank you to Circles Muskoka
for Just Showing Up and making a difference!

Listen here to the full radio show with Kelly


Thank you for being part of our community. 
 To learn more about our new
Get Ready for Grief
online program
click here

Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's TEDx Talk 

I have realized that in speaking to the thousands of people that I
have met with, had conversations, podcasts, radio and television shows with, just how much I have learned in the last few years. 

So I have decided that I would like to share my life lessons along the way.
The first one I would like to share is that we do not recognize grief. We as a
society are very ill prepared for grief, and of course my whole mission is for
people to talk about and plan and prepare for grief before it arrives-
but if we do not know what it is… how can we do that?

As I shared in my TEDx talk and in my messaging and presentations,
grief is whatever makes your heart ache. It is our mental, physical emotional response to loss transitions or change. Often that presents itself as someone
that seems confused, distracted, angry or irritable. It isn’t always so obvious
as someone sitting in a corner crying or being very sad.

The next time you see someone who going off on their own and not engaging or angry and not able to focus try and take a step back and  think to yourself…
​ I wonder if they are grieving? Sometimes people just need for you to say

It looks like you are having a hard time right now.
I am here to listen, or just sit here with you

We don’t recognize grief and it can be messy, it can be different for everyone.
That is something that I have learned along the way and wanted to share with you. Something to think about! 




Thank you for being part of our community. 
 To learn more about our new
Get Ready for Grief
online program
click here

Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's TEDx Talk 

​The day's overall objective is to raise awareness of mental health issues around
the world and mobilize efforts in support of mental health. Always remember
that you have value and you matter.  Just Show Up for yourself first.
When someone is struggling and you don't know what to do or say;

Just Show Up!

Yvonne was recently interviewed by Agatha Farmer from the Muskoka Post.
Please take a moment to read and reflect on this important message.

Muskoka Post Article



Thank you for being part of our community. 
 To learn more about our new
Get Ready for Grief
online program
click here

Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's TEDx Talk 

Small acts of kindness can change the world.
I have shared this video with you and have hugged a lot of people today.
What did you do to try and change the world today?

​I love this song and video's powerful message Johnny Reid shares.

Hi everyone, it is September 2019 and September is always a
very meaningful month for me. It is kind of a roller coaster of grief and joy
because I have so many wonderful things to celebrate, commemorate and acknowledge and for me this journey started Sept 16th 1996 when I moved
back home to Huntsville with my son Tyler and was a single parent. I had
no job and wondered what had happened to my life!

Fast forward to Sept 16th 2015 when I launched my book.
Such an incredible moment. I had no idea my life would have come to that
place. Then again, September 16th 2019 we launched our online program
Get Ready for Grief. These are beautiful reminders that you never know
what awaits on the other side of grief. I did not ever foresee my life
becoming this wonderful.

September 10th was world suicide prevention day, September 11th is the day we acknowledge and remember 9/11 the tragic day that of the attacks and watched the twin towers crumble to the ground. So many were paralyzed with fear, disbelief and so many lives were lost and changed forever. But from that comes so many incredible hero’s that rose to do what they could in the wake of the tragedy and continue to Just Show Up and be the change. It is incredible that we still remember the grief and the hero’s that Just Showed Up.

Today is September 25th and I will be speaking at a movie screening
called pain killers talking about the opioid crisis and how we can make a
difference in our community. Such an emotional topic for so many of us
including me. I am honoured to say a few words.

Today I am sharing my link to my Hunters Bay Radio program that I recorded
on September 11th and on that show I commemorated many of my guests
that I consider our local hero’s who share their stories apologetically,being the change and trying to make a difference and positive impact and helping others.

Here is the link to the show and when you see someone in the community
making a difference- say thank you! Thank you to each and every one of you
that Just Show Up, for your courage and making a difference and proof once
again that not all hero’s wear capes!

Hunters Bay Show 


Thank you for being part of our community.
 
 To learn more about our new
Get Ready for Grief
online program
click here

Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's
TEDx Talk 
 

It is the first week of September, 2019, and we’ve just said
goodbye to summer. This is a sad time for those who love the beach,
sun and being off of school and vacation.

Now it’s a transformational time with new beginnings, going back to
school or starting high school, university or college.  There is happiness,
sadness and some challenges. BUT it is an exciting time.
 
For our team at Love Your Life to Death it is a wonderful and exciting time too. It’s been a five year journey and this month we have something very special that we are going to be sharing with you. You’re going to be hearing from us a lot.
We encourage you to be a part of our journey—follow us and share.

When we learn from and support each other, we can create social change.
Our goal is to inspire, empower and create resilience. We can do this together.

We will be celebrating many milestones this month and commemorating significant days. Again, I encourage you to be a part of our journey.
 
We have been grateful to meet so many wonderful people. And we invite many more to  join us. We want to create a huge impact and social change in a very
positive way and that takes many voices.

So stay tuned, stay in touch, feel free to reach out anytime
and be a part of our journey. We are so grateful.  


Thank you for being part of our community.
   Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's
TEDx Talk 

I am in the Hunter’s Bay Radio Studio with an amazing woman, Patti Hanrath.
We had a hard (but good!) conversation as Patti is going through a
very challenging journey. I asked her to share her greatest advice for anyone
going through adversity:

The journey I am currently going through is my husband Joe, at the age of 57,
is well into Alzheimer’s. I never thought we’d be facing this at this time of our life.

The critical message for anybody going through any kind of adversity is
do NOT try to do it alone. Intentionally build your village. Don’t necessarily
think that everybody that’s in your village now is going to continue to show
up for you. Intentionally find the people who are willing to take this
journey with you. And lean on them. Lean on them for everything.
We don’t have to do it alone. And we can’t do it alone.

And come out healthy! Caregiver burnout is so high!

If you are a caregiver or facing adversity, it’s 24/7. Sometimes, so you
can’t do it alone. Build your village. And if the people you thought would
Just Show Up are not, then find different people who can and who will.

Absolutely. It’s critical to have those people there, those who are OK taking
this journey with you. Because not everybody can do that and I understand.
I don’t hold any grudges.

Remember: It might be messy, it’s hard, and it’s not your job to fix it.
Sometimes Just Showing Up is being there and saying, “This is hard.”
Or the great words that I often say, “This really sucks!”
But when it’s difficult and challenging… Just Show Up!

Thank you, Patti, for your words of wisdom and for sharing.
The message is:

Build your Village intentionally.
 Find people who can walk this journey with you.

Thank you for being part of our community.
   Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's
TEDx Talk ​​

Here is a video my friend Sarah Kerr recorded a while ago but did not
share until recently. It's about how grief changes, but doesn’t end.

If you’ve ever wondered about whether you’re stuck in your grief, or just
moving at your own timing, this short teaching offers some ideas to help
you figure that out.

To learn more about Sarah and the wonderful work she does,
you can click here


Thank you for being part of our community.
   Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's
TEDx Talk ​​

Imagine what we could accomplish if we loved and respected each other.
Imagine if there was no comparison and everyone was cheering for each other.

We can start with ourselves. We CAN Just Show Up. Choose to lift others up
and choose to set the example. Kindness, integrity and and compassion can change
the world. Who you are is far more important than what you have. This short video shows us how easy it can be to make a difference in someone else's life by
Just Showing Up.


Thank you for being part of our community.
   Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's
TEDx Talk ​


 (video credit: Fearless Soul)

Here we are in the ROGERStv Studio in Ottawa, ON,
and I overheard a conversation (one of the other guests) and I read one of
their shirts that said, “I’d Rather be Boxing!” so I had to find out more. I spoke with Ray, who is amazing, and I asked, “Why would you rather be boxing?”

Ray: Because it’s a good, healthy lifestyle. It’s made a lot of changes to my life. I’ve been doing this for 2 and ½ years now and I’m 72 years old. You’re never
too old to do this stuff. I used to be a Type 2 diabetic and now, I am not.

So healthier eating, exercise, lifestyle change… Amazing!!
Then I asked the ladies, who started “Boxing4Health 
Becky said it was Christine. I wanted to know how and why:

Christine: I started in May, 2016. Our focus was people with Parkinsons
to start, and then it just grew. Seniors have jumped in too!! It’s the high
intensity of the exercise and it’s so much fun at the same time.

It doesn’t matter how old you are, you can be amazing, be the best
version of yourself. Try boxing! I’d Rather be Boxing, like Ray!!
 
Boxing4 Health—Fitness inspired boxing classes for Seniors
and people with Parkinson’s disease.
A Great way to Just Show Up and help others!

https://www.boxing4health.com
 

Thank you for being part of our community.
   Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's
TEDx Talk ​

I am back in the Hunter’s Bay Radio Studio, joined by the lovely Brittney Hillier.
​We’ve had an important and hard conversation about the opioid crisis.
We talk about those suffering from addictions to get help, their supporters and healthcare professionals. They all need to have support.
We all need help in this crisis.

This is an emergency, a crisis in our communities and it’s time
for change. I asked Brittney what she’d like to share,
something that can help make a difference:

Being aware that this can affect anyone- from someone who has been using substances for a really long time to someone who is trying a drug for the
very first time. It affects all walks of life. The other piece I would like to
highlight is to be kind. The words that we use matter. We want to put
people first. We want to eliminate any stigma that exists.

Those are the most important words. And being kind, if you have an addiction,
if you are battling an addiction… be kind to yourself. Reach out for help, this can affect anyone. I’ve shared many times that we went through it with our son Tyler.

I now carry my Naloxone (narcan) kit with me everywhere I go because I
believe that every life is worth saving. Everyone has value, everyone matters,
not matter what they are struggling with.

Absolutely. And if you don’t have a naloxone kit yet, if you are using
substances or a friend/family member is using substances, please go out and
get trained and get a kit from a health unit or pharmacy and encourages others to do so as well. (Naloxone is a drug administered to counter the effects of an opioid overdose and saves lives)

It’s time for change and every community member can be a part of that change.
We can all make a difference by learning to Just Show Up for ourselves and
Just Show Up for each other. Be a part of the change in this crisis.
Let’s do this, together!

 Listen to my radio interview with Brittney here 


Thank you for being part of our community.
   Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's
TEDx Talk ​

People really want to Just Show Up for others. A great example of this is to
bring food to someone. A new friend of ours Joy Loverde recently shared this blog with us and I encourage you to read and watch the video below.

Nothing binds us better than sharing a meal. Young and old. Rich and poor. Everyone can participate. Join the "Let's Eat Together" movement and together we can change our lonely isolated world one meal at a time...
To read the blog in full and video

 click here
​
Thank you for being part of our community.
   Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's
TEDx Talk ​

Hi everyone, ​I talk a lot about the fact that each and everyday there are
so many people grieving and other people are having the best day of their lives.

Grief and joy, never one or the other, it's a roller coaster. We all have to hang
on through the dips and curves. Lately it seems there is a lot of people grieving in my circle; summertime accidents, sudden losses and supporting loved ones in their dying process are just a few things I have experienced this week.

A lot of sadness. So I am taking today to spend some time in nature,
to reboot and reground so I can Just Show Up for my community.

Please take a moment and watch this short video so you can
Just Show Up for others too!

​
Thank you for being part of our community.
   Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's
TEDx Talk ​

If today was your last day, are you ready?
Are you living each day fully on purpose and with purpose?

If not, why not? What are you waiting for? If today was your last day, would you leave this earth with regrets? If so, what can you do – now – to redress that? 

This week I would like to share with you an insightful blog from Cindy Watson.
She is the Founder of Woman on Purpose. To read the complete blog follow the link below:
 
​https://www.womenonpurpose.ca/live-your-life-by-negotiating-your-death/
​
​
Thank you for being part of our community.
   Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's
TEDx Talk