We’ve all got one.  The friend of the friend of the friend you’ve never met yet somehow your paths eventually cross. Call it fate, destiny, chance or simply coming home. I’ve often pondered out of all the billions of people on the planet why those who are in my life have come to be apart of my journey. The question is often answered with a simple yet profound truth. Each individual has appeared in my life to have an impact on who I am and who it is I am too become. 

I came to know her as the angel on the dance floor. Over a year ago I took a couple of introductory dance classes at the Rhodes Dance Studio. Awkward and clumsy, I shrunk in total defeat.  My two left feet seemed to be cleverly reminding me of why in the past I had made a point of avoiding anything remotely resembling a dance class. The secret fantasy I held onto of gliding across the dance floor with the grace and poise of an adored fan favorite on “Dancing with the Stars” quickly was becoming an editing room cut.

It is time for me to confess, I have been living a big lie. Okay, it’s not actually me living the lie- it is my arms. Over the years there have been many people who have called me out on my dishonesty yet I preferred to act as though it was none of their business. After all it really is all about them – or was it? Slowly I began to reflect on all the signs. The most memorable that I can’t shake from my mind was a book my sister gave me. It was a picture book filled with images of polar bears demonstrating how to hug. I thought it was a joke yet now I see in hindsight the joke was on me. My inability to hug and be hugged was connected to a deeper truth I was running from.

A phone number changed my life. Ten numbers dialed delivered a message that altered my course, more importantly it directed me to who I was too become in this journey we call life. It was a reconnection with the magic of life that surrounds me if I listen closely.

What you do today that takes care of your tomorrow?

Let me ask this question: How many of you are able to program your alarm clock to get you up in the morning or set the VCR to record your favorite TV program? I would say that most of us know how to program our electrical appliances so that our days run smoothly and efficiently. Now let me ask you, how many know how to program your body to run a marathon or, better yet, fuel for daily living?

What is Wellness? The Balanced Life Magazine June 2003

Many people ask me what a Wellness Counsellor does. Wellness can be defined in general terms as achieving balance in one's emotional, mental, physical and spiritual life.

Wellness Educators Needed The Banlanced LIfe Magazine August 2003

Many businesses and organizations are paying increasing attention to the problem of employee stress and burnout.
Here are some Canadian statistics:

Wellness college unique in Canada The Province March 12 2003

Rhodes Career College, currently in it’s eighth year of operation as
A private post-secondary institution is offering a unique and revolutionary program, training individuals in aspects of holistic health and healing. This intensive one year program requires full time attendance and a personal commitment to addressing one's own blocks to wellness, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Self Care Tips for Wellness Counsellors march 2001

One of the most powerful tools to healthy living is learning how to put yourself first. Many of us confuse good self care with selfishness. In the helping field many of us have experienced what we call "burn out". We become exhausted with the seemingly endless demands on our time and energy.

Rhodes Wellness College June 2005

Wouldn't this world be a great place if more people helped each other live happier and more fulfil1ed lives? Rhodes Wel1ness Col1ege is unique in Canada by teaching you how to do exactly that.