The Importance of Being Important

Glorious – that’s the word I wrote at the end of a two-hour workshop titled, ‘Slow Down, Recharge, Shine Brighter’. The workshop leaders, Sara and Sarah, had provided a beautiful setting and at the beginning of the session handed us each a red rose and a little envelope. For the first half of the workshop…

Let’s take this moment to notice our breathing, to inhale slowly through the nose and exhale fully through the nose. In and out. Continue on this way, noticing your breath, while I tell you a story. This is the story of a person who never in her life knew she mattered. Once upon a time…

Here’s another interesting conversation I recorded about being the most important person in the room. I celebrated my birthday last year at Bhud Sunshine’s Xhale Yoga Retreat Centre in Pai, Chiangmai with a dozen people from around the world. We spent long days doing yoga, practicing meditation, chanting, discussing philosophy and eating vegetarian meals prepared…

Errin and I had been chatting for a while about what it means to be the most important person in the room when she agreed to let me record our conversation. We sat in the lounge of the public library and sipped coffee – that’s why you can hear people chatting around us. Errin spoke…

Sautéed onions, the slowly cooked gently coaxed mouth-watering aroma that fills a room kind, takes me back to grade seven Home-Ec. Mrs. Boyko stands near her desk, every now and then looking up to make sure we’re all stirring conscientiously. Fifteen grade seven girls – four to a stove – taking turns at developing patience.…

We all need somewhere to go where we can come in out of the cold. I’m looking out my living room window at the gray sky and the slush falling in near freezing temperatures. Winter is coming, as it does, right after the short sweet Canadian autumn of dazzling reds oranges and yellows. Barren trees,…