Here are my stories of the people and opportunities that unknowingly
helped me Standing Back Up (figuratively and literally).
I’ve grouped them into 3 categories (in yellow): Musical Muses, Public Speaking and Inspired Echo
Musical Muses
I sit here struggling to find the words to express what music is or what it means to me. It’s so deep. Especially now I can’t play my guitar ever again because of…. well…. you know. While volunteering at a music festival a few years ago, I walked around randomly asking “What is music to you?”. Thank you Frank Tuttle for permission to share this. Ditto.
Doug and the Slugs Merely weeks after moving back home, wheelchair bound, I sent my Moms favourite band a message. Little did I know the impact they would have on the next few years …read more
Magical Guitar Raffles I’ll always miss playing my guitar, but this is how I let her go. It took a few attempts. …read more
Guinness World Record Break Speaking of attempts, I was actually involved in helping break a world record! …read more
Public Speaking
Public speaking was horrifying when a kid. Oh, I remember! Being told a lengthy list of what to say a how and not to do or say, orr, umm, uhhhh. Be confident and smile! Then fed to the wolves of judgement! *shivers*
You want me to WHAT?! (Activity Professionals of Ontario) stayed in contact with my professor from the Activity Coordinator diploma I took yeeeeears ago. I spoke about the potential steps they could make in their career and the complex and very important relationship of documentation & funding. …read more.
A Voice Heard (Toastmasters) Now? Oh, that rush of standing at the front of the room, all eyes on you, silence is ironically deafening as you break the silence with your words! What if I told you there’s a trick that makes it exciting? …read more.
An Echo is Born (‘Life Messages’ Book Launch event by L. Goodman) 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.
Inspired Echoes
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.
Sharing My ‘Life Message’ (‘Life Messages’ Book Launch event by L. Goodman) Flattered to be invited in sharing ‘my story’ of adversity in a photo-art book and its launch- unknowing I had to have a 6 week radiation boost ending 4 days before the event .. …read more.
Hats For Hope (Mary’s kind gesture) 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
Lets ‘Just Because’ (‘spreading kindness like a virus) Probably like you, I got tired of hearing about the COVID pandemic. The panic. The vaccinations & opinions. I wanted to do something to make things better for everyone, but what?!? …read more.
‘Still Melissa’ 7,945km Away Like a true echo, the ‘Still Melissa’ video (on homepage) echoed from Ontario Canada allll the way to Zakinthos Greece! …read more.
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