From the Shores of the Ottawa River

Years ago, my social worker friend Dr. Bastien and I drove to a First Nations community in Alberta. Along the way she shared with me stories, a loss of her husband when she was in her twenties, her relationship with her mom. She told her stories like it was possible for me to experience. I was touched, moved, and inspired by her words and bravery.

  So ,I decided to enroll in leadership courses, not just any type of leadership course but with Landmark Education because of its transformational curriculum.  I continued my quest for self-improvement the years since that drive. 

landmark has a huge following  it has transformed people’s lives reconnecting them with family some where all communication was cut off. I witnessed these transformations during the forum.  

The impact on my life having enrolled in several courses with Landmark Education has been extraordinary.  When I first enrolled in landmark I was in university and my relationship with my mom was distant  because I held certain beliefs about her that prevented me from opening my heart to the extraordinary woman she was.  During the forum at one of our breakouts exercises I was encouraged to call someone I had a conflicted relationship with. I called my mom and  restored our relationship in one conversation.  And until her death eight years ago we had a loving and connected relationship. landmark gave me that, and it is priceless.

Indeed, landmark did bring up in me concerns about the organization, and I had to reconcile their practice to requests we bring people to the closing course to see if they would be interested in signing up.  I since changed my perspective on it and instead of seeing it as a sales gimmick I see it as extending a lifeline to people to restore the integrity of their relationship. My late friend Dr. Bastien was until her death a woman who lived in integrity and authenticity.

When she revealed to me, she was dying from inoperable cancer I asked if she was scared to die, she said I’ve had a good life and when I take my last breath it would be with the thought that I appreciated the life I had and, I will whisper thank you,  thank you, thank you.

  In Man Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. He says we must answer the question who are we being?  The answer gives us purpose, particularly if it is in service to others.  If you live into bravery by your action even in the face of fear at personal costs you creates a new possibility for yourself.

In Joseph Campbell’s A Hero’s Journey is about our call to adventure and stepping into our life of self discovery, transformation and growth.

 I Believe in a new possible future by letting go of what is not working in my life and I reach for possibilities I never thought possible.  Move out of my comfort zone, and take risk.

Why do I say my name is authenticity? it is because every day I lean into being authentic. And, if I notice I am not being authentic, I asked the question what is stopping me in this moment?   Doing so I create a space for a new possibility of being.

Beginning today what is your name? Who are you being, how are you showing up in the world? 

• Brave
• Integrity
• Authentic
• Leader
• Compassionate
• Explorer
• Lover
• Teacher
• Healer
• Hero