Hi everyone, I am at the beach in beautiful Port Sydney Ontario.
Yesterday we were here taking pictures of our twins Jadyn and Tanner
as they graduated grade 8.

We are starting this whole new chapter in our lives. In any transition there
is grief and joy. I am over the moon excited for my children to be starting
high school and this new chapter in their lives, but I am also sad to be leaving
this small little country school we have been at for so many years.

Grief and joy happens in all transitions. I also know that it is time to
think about life after high school, we will have an empty nest. We will be
empty-nesters for the first time in 30 years! It is time now for us to
prepare for that part of our journey as well.

So to all the parents who have graduating children and are moving into
a new phase of your life, know that there is grief and joy and celebration.
Let’s get ready for the next phase of your life!
​
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 all loved and respected each other?

Imagine if we didn't compare each other, but worked together to reach a common goal. Start with yourself. Choose to lift others up. Choose to set the example. Choose to Just Show Up.

Be kind and set a wonderful example for others.
Be compassionate and understanding. Integrity is everything.
By Just Showing Up you can make a difference in someone's life.

Please take a moment and watch this short video and
together we can create the change we wish to see in the world.
​
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 ​

​It was June 2014. I was writing my book, and was told that if I wanted
people to know about it, I’d have to become a speaker. But I took a zero
instead of public speaking. I was terrified. What was I going to do?

I gathered my courage and, with Derek Shelly by my side, I was as ready as
I could be, to do my first presentation in front of 50 people. I was anxious,
​but felt much better knowing I wasn’t going to be alone. (Don't judge my hair...)

Five minutes before we were starting, Derek poked his head in and said,
“So sorry, I have to deal with something. You’ll be great”, and he left. I fought
the tears, shook the whole time I flipped the pages of my large flip chart
(what did I know about a power point presentation??) and I did it!

It was in that moment that I realized, I didn’t need to be perfect. It was OK
to be nervous. The terror I felt was in my head. I mean, really, what’s the
worst thing that could happen? People don’t like what you have to say?
I think we can get over that!

Fast forward to March 30th, 2019, I shared my message on the TEDx
stage in Orillia. It was exhilarating and terrifying. But I knew I had an
Idea Worth Sharing—as is the TED Talk mandate. Besides, what’s the worst
that could happen? I suppose I could have fainted, but I didn’t.
I could forget everything, but I didn’t. I was nervous and I did it anyway.
And the feedback has been humbling and wonderful.
​(In case you missed it...)

Five years ago, if you would have told me that I would leave my nursing career, become an author, speaker, change maker, television and radio host who was sharing her message with the world… I would have laughed and laughed then let you know you had mistaken me for someone else!

The moral of the story is: You never know how far you can get and how
much you can grow, until you leap out of your comfort zone.
Let passion and purpose lead the way.
(You can see that I am much more comfortable on stage now...)

As adults, when someone we know is grieving, facing a crisis or having a hard time, we usually know how we should comfort our friends, families and communities.
Sometimes this is difficult to do- Even for us. We all have sad days.

As Love Your Life to Death continues to grow, and with our #IJustShowedUp movement, other people are constantly sharing amazing stories with us! This is
the power in Just Showing Up. We try hard and share many of the heart warming stories and knowledge with you along the way. Here is a great video for you!

This short clip was shared with us, about a veterinarian- Dr. Ross Henderson who takes time to sing and play music for the animals in his care. He spends time with each animal when they are scared, alone, healing or at end of life.

Sometimes we all need to remember that even animals (big and small) have feelings,and can be sad, or happy.
Every creature big and small needs to feel loved.

I encourage you to watch this 2 minute video and afterwards, please
comment below how you (or someone you know)
have JustShowedUp for a furry friend or pet!

If you have a video...
we would LOVE to see that too!
​
Take care, Geordie :)
​
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 Hunters Bay Radio Studio with my new wonderful friend,
Eva Olsson. We recorded our radio interview on a very significant date;
May 15th, 2019. We talked about her journey, which started 75 years ago on
May 15th, 1944;

I was born in Hungary, and that was the day they (the Nazis) liquidated all
the Jewish people—24 000—and we arrived in Auschwitz 4 days later.

Eva is a Holocaust Survivor, most of her family and people she knew did not survive. After 50 years of silence, Eva chose to be the change, be a light,
and share her story for over 20 years.

Silence did not heal me. So for 23 years, I’ve shared. And hopefully, when I
come in, whether it’s a church, the military, an air force base, schools, the
United Nations twice; if I touch one person, then I am a successful human being.

Well I have no doubt that your message has changed many lives, because it
is one of Hope, Healing and Acceptance for Everyone. Because hate does not
heal-it is a sickness- And if you can survive the Holocaust and find peace…

That’s what I say to my young audiences when they ask, “
How come you don’t hate?” I say, “Because hate is a sickness.
And no amount of hate will ever bring back my family. Never.”

But you can be a light in the world, you have that choice. It is a choice.
I encourage you to visit Eva’s website, she has books, an audio book
(I listened to…incredible) and more. Listen to our radio show and reach out
to Eva. If you have the opportunity to hear Eva speak or have her speak to
your school, group or organization, that would be a gift for anyone.

Eva, than you for everything that you do. I look forward to seeing your
journey in the next several years, because Eva is only 94 years young!

An Attitude of Gratitude.  
If Eva can do it, the rest of us certainly can!

From Wikipedia:
*The Holocaust was a genocide in German-occupied Europe between
1941 and 1945 during World War II, in which Nazi Germany, aided by local collaborators, systematically murdered some six million Jews, around two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population.

*The Auschwitz concentration camp was a complex of over 40 concentration
and extermination camps built and operated by Nazi Germany in occupied
Poland during World War II and the Holocaust. Taking into account all the victims
of Nazi persecution, the death toll rises to 17 million.

Listen to Eva's 
Radio Show Here

Learn more about
Eva Olsson
​ 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