It’s my birthday …
I’m reflecting back on the year with a sense of surprise and gratitude.
Last week I completed a 4-year journey and graduated with a Fellowship from HPS – Heroic Public Speaking, one of the finest public speaking and performance programs in North America.
The week before, I submitted my chapter for You Can, You Will, Finding hope through grief and mental health journeys, a book I’m co-authoring with dozens of amazing, resilient women, which will be released in May.
The week before that, I submitted my own book, The Wordz We Wear®, to my publishers. It’s scheduled for a fall launch.
I also participated in recording three episodes for a soon-to-launch podcast where a diverse and energetic group of women share our curiosity, creativity, and well-earned wisdom.
And I’m in a group of speakers planning TEDx talks.
People often ask me why I’m doing all this.
You could be retired by now … You could be sitting on a beach … You could be taking it easy …
Yes, I could.
But I’d be bored.
I’m an adventurous introvert.
I need to constantly challenge myself, because I have an innate need to learn and to grow.
When I look back on life, I see a kaleidoscope of curiosity, chaos, conflict, and creativity.
Even when life was dark and upside down, I was learning about who I am.
I know pain.
I’ve had 7 surgeries.
I’ve been in 5 car accidents.
I’ve fallen off a chairlift.
I am resilient.
I’ve learned to walk again five times.
I’ve ensured bullying, bias, isolation.
I’ve survived abusive relationships.
I am adventurous.
I’ve tented in the mountains in winter.
I’ve been to all 7 continents with my family.
I’ve faced a Python on a walking safari.
I take risks.
I’ve lived in 7 cities in 4 provinces.
I’ve changed careers at least 4 times.
I’ve jumped out of a helicopter into the ocean with $5,000 of camera equipment.
I am creative.
I’m a writer, photographer and gardener.
I renovate buildings.
I challenge status quo.
I am intelligent.
I built a career in advertising.
I built a business with my husband.
I won awards.
I don’t sit still.
There’s more to life than sitting in the shadows.
I did that for too many years.
I don’t want to hold back anymore.
I want to continually grow.
My birthday is the first day of Spring …
an auspicious day for new growth.
It falls in March, which includes some aligned days of celebration:
– International Women’s Day
– International Day of Happiness
– World Storytelling Day
– International Day of Colour
– International Day for Achievers
– Earth Hour
I give myself permission to live fully.
The subtitle on my book is How to show up with confidence and live the life you want.
I can’t just SAY those words, I must LIVE them.
I can do more and be more.
Both my mother and grandmother lived into their mid 90s …
I figure I have a third of my life yet to live.
I spent the first third isolating myself …
dealing with my physical handicap and the limiting beliefs that came with it.
The second third has been filled with love and adventure …
thanks to my soul-mate Marcel and my two amazing children.
The next third is about showing up fully.
Giving back. Helping others to come out of the shadows.
It’s time.
I want to help other women find their confidence and step into their best life.
Which means you may hear more from me as I step into all that I can be.
Join me.
I invite you along – not on my journey,
but on your own journey to showing up with confidence and living purposefully.
Living the life you choose …
A life filled with love and happiness.
What can you give yourself permission to do, to create the life you want?
– Vera
Is 2023 your year to show up with confidence? Reply YES to learn how to use Wordz to be seen, heard and recognized for your talent and gifts.
