I live in a small town. A kind of town that avoids most maps. It's a character driven place protected by legions of coniferous giants that wander to the tips of the high-reaching mountains before disappearing to the other side. Its modesty commands that it doesn't beckon to... Continue Reading →
A Boy at Christmas
I always get a little sad at the close of the holidays. For me, it's just such a splendid time of year, the world and its surroundings take on new shape, don vast sprawls of beautiful stringing lights, kitchens boast aromatic bliss, and people seem to think about each other just a little bit more... Continue Reading →
A Boy on Christmas
On this, the eve before Christmas, a story comes to mind; it's about a boy. A quiet boy. He tried hard to bother no one, and at times tried harder to blend in. He often felt awkward, weak, unimportant and unwanted. It was like that for him, this boy, for the majority of his younger... Continue Reading →
Jason David Frank — the Green Ranger
"For me, the death of the Green Ranger simply acts as further grounding that heroes are human — thus stresses the importance of kindness, compassion, and humility. Be kind to yourself, to those around you, and to those who challenge you. Have compassion toward yourself even in moments where you feel undeserving, gift compassion to those who cannot gift it to themselves, do this, and there will live a circle of healing and acceptance. Finally, own a sense of humility; understand that you can be wrong and corrected without being invalidated and belittled. Humility lends itself to growth, personal, spiritual and beyond..."
Thankful For Teachers: A personal account of the first day of school
I remember the first day of school. It was always a bittersweet endeavor. I hated that the freedom of long summer nights was over, but I reveled in the joy of reconnecting with my best-friends day over day. My very best friend, Drew, always came to school the same way; head held high, shoulders back,... Continue Reading →
Saying Goodbye: A Night in Calgary
It's 03:30 a.m., and I lay awake in a strange room. Nothing that surrounds me is familiar. The dark that blankets this space feels less like a call to rest, and more that of a void where pained thoughts flourish. It's strange how loud one's mind can be in the dark. It seems to echo... Continue Reading →
The Importance Of Being Grateful For The Present Moment In Time
Four thousand weeks; does that sound like a lot to you? It doesn’t to me. Let’s break it down a bit further — four thousand weeks is equal to seventy-six years, eight months, two weeks, two days, eleven Hours, thirty-three minutes and nineteen Seconds. Sorry, eighteen… seventeen… sixteen… okay, you get the idea. Now, what... Continue Reading →
The Humorous Tale of Dr. Foster: A Paramedic Story
Having been a paramedic for almost fifteen years, I was exposed to all manner of things. Not all of those experiences were of the gross, nasty and vile. Some were outright hilarious — subjective and respectfully speaking — of course. But in the off-chance that you may find this humorous, please allow me to introduce... Continue Reading →
Remembering Colin Wilmot: A Friend Lost to The War in Afghanistan
Coins twinkling like stars rested on the fountain floor beneath the water. Symbols of tossed wishes and hopeful dreams. I too had a wish and a dream, but I held no coins nor any illusion that my plea would ever be answered. It is in fact a wish that I hold through to this day..."
How To Celebrate Father’s Day When You Don’t Have A Father
Not all dad's are created equal...