Eager to share stories of the people/opportunities that unknowingly helped me stand back up:
Musical Muses, Public Speaking & Inspired Echoes.
The power of music astounds me to this day. It’s so universal, yet so personal.
Merely weeks out of hospital, living back at Moms, I sent the ‘Doug and the Slugs’ band website a message, asking them a contact my Mom (big fan) to wish her a Merry Christmas. This was a gesture of thanks from …read more
I loved playing my guitar – I loved the ability to make music to express emotions to the fly on the wall that listened, and at drunken amateur ‘jam nights’ at home.
The effects of surgery permanently messed with the coordination of my right side- therefore unable to play anymore.
Since collecting dust, the best send off of my beloved guitar was a charitable raffle. Little did I know my guitar kept being donated BACK to me! …read more
Back when was working full time, on a quiet friday afternoon I remember having chuckles with a co-worker while we looked up goofy Guinness World Record holders like ‘hairiest person’ and ‘longest nails’. In no way did I think I’d be helping break one. …read more
Public Speaking wasn’t fun as a kid because it was forced! My experience was told a list of ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ followed by being fed to the wolves of judgement. Oh, and don’t forget to smile and make eye contact. *shivers*. Between getting proper training and stopped caring about being judged while having fun (a perc from ‘standing back up’ from nothing), I’m all about advocacy and hey, even have done a bunch of stand-up and improv!
I don’t know about you, but back in school speaking in front of the class was TERRIFYING! As my time was creeping up it that nervous feeling were more like vultures that butterflies in my belly! Horrible to be forced to do this- no wonder it’s the #1 fear! (yes, apparently, death is #2). What if I told you there’s a trick that makes publicly exciting? No, it’s not picturing everyone in their undies! The secret is …read more
Within the same month as the APO Keynote, I spoke at a book launch about ‘my story’ and in a photo-art book, (“Life Messages” by Laurie Goodman). Little did I know, this would be the start of some incredible inspired echos....read more
I’m an odd bird; I knew my passion at a very young age. After getting my diploma and degree in Gerontology, I had a lengthy career working in Long Term Care in the Programs department for over 10 YEARS, then Documentation and Quality Improvement Management later.
A few years after the BT of 2011, I was asked to present the KEYNOTE SPEECH for my ultimate passion: the Activity Professions of Ontario!! …read more
It’s amazing how one person or experience can have a domino effect on ever more things to happen, isn’t it? The following are only a few examples of the ‘domino effect’. We might not be able to change the big issues in the world, but we CAN help make other people’s lives better.
As I sit here ‘speechless’ trying to find the words to explain the 3 year long ‘Hats For Hope’ initiative, perhaps I’ll start by saying it was inspired by an act of kindness …read more
Probably like you, I am tired of hearing about the COVID pandemic. Truly. I was even fed up while it was happening. It was exhausting listening time and time again what people were and weren’t doing and divisive statements. I wanted to do something to make things better for everyone, but what?!? …read more
2021 the video “Still Melissa”(located on the home page) pulled me back out of water to Stand Back Up again :). Little did I know this video was the boost I needed to continue To help fellow BT Lovelies by sharing all our tips, my story & the personal stories that helped me stand back up. xoxo – Melissa
Copyright 2024 © All rights Reserved. Design by Inspiring to Aspire