Shelter: A Place of Safety and Security
A few months ago, we mounted a historical house sign on our home at 7 Ingleside Place in London, a sign that commemorates the names of the original owners and…
My Life Story in Books
(Previously published for Lessons from the Trail subscribers in February 2021) For the past several months, I’ve had difficulty sleeping at night. But (after experimenting with other remedial measures) I’ve…
Emergence: Becoming the Best Version of Yourself
In this anxious season, nature is an instructive force. By watching native plants emerge this spring, I’ve learned about becoming the best version of yourself.
A Loyal Friend
Our dog Kyoto passed away very unexpectedly one month ago. He was a loyal friend. What can we learn from the loyalty of a dog for his family? A loyal friend persists in chosen behaviour over time. Loyalty is faithful presence: paying attention to the people and places right in front of us.
Advancing Toward My Dream
I knew in an instant when I awoke from a dream on New Year’s Day that the assignment I have been given is to invest through my consulting practice in cultivating healthy, engaged non-profit boards “that refuse to treat governance as a necessary evil”.
Hidden in Plain Sight
With the disappearance of races and running events from our calendars for the past several months, and with the deterrent effect of the pandemic on the fraternization associated with our…
Heirs Together of the Grace of Life
Judy and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary a month ago. We passed the day quietly—we did a short run in the morning, drove to Goderich for lunch, sat on…
Passing Over Boulder Beach
Passing over a boulder beach has become for me a metaphor for overcoming obstacles in life, whether it be in career, relationships, physical or emotional health, memories of the past, or just life in general. Like boulder-hopping, the steps we take to get through a hard spot are only temporary landing spots, not destinations in themselves.
Gardening During a Pandemic
When the world seems unpredictable and out-of-control, a garden is not only a physical refuge and a spiritual reservoir, but a sign and a symbol that we will emerge one day into a new future that we can still help create.
Disappointment
I thought I would have been more disappointed than I was. A week ago today was the day I was expecting to run the Boston Marathon. Until, that is, the…