Tag: mindfulness

Learning for Life

I am both a public speaker and a writer. But that’s not what it says on my LinkedIn Profile nor my C.V. I have not eked out a living from doing what I love. Not Yet. Practice. Practice. Practice. But I have a group of Grade 12 students to thank for helping me realize who I am.

Photo Credit: Dana Wagner

I’ve not spent much time with high school students aside from shopping trips with my now 21-year old niece. So when I walked into the Toronto Public Library a week ago to deliver a talk about entrepreneurship, all I saw were arms and legs, long limbs everywhere.

They’re so tall. Who are they? Have they come to hear me speak? “No, we’re studying Grade 12 English. Our teacher is just outside the room.” I was concerned that no one would show up for my talk so I persuaded them to stay.

As I clicked through my slides – “The Romance of Entrepreneurship” followed by “The Reality of Entrepreneurship”, I paused and shared the story of the demise of my small business.  I saw their eyes widen as if I had just poured a bucket of ice water over their heads. I had not realized that I’ve become inured to telling my story about the cold, cruel, and crushing reality of losing a livelihood (my livelihood) and that my Grade 12 students, not even 18 years old, were listening.

They said, “You scared us. No one has ever talked to us like this.”

Followed by tenderness, “Are you ok?”

With heartstrings stretched, then snapped, I answered wholeheartedly! “Yes, I’m ok. Don’t worry. Life is grand.”

I later received a text from Justin.L. that day: “Thank you for the inspiration. Despite I’ve always wanted to go in the medical/science field, it opened my eyes to something I’ve never really given a lot of thought to. Thanks!”

I replied, “Thank YOU!”

When you say you want to make a difference, choose your words wisely. Be mindful, be respectful, and be compassionate in the public space and in your space. The responsibility is real and the impact can be more powerful than you’ve ever dreamed. I am both a public speaker and a writer… and a lifelong learner.

#whywespeak #whywewrite #whywelearn

Hashtag Talk #3 – Pause and Reflection

#stillness

#mindfulness

#peace

The quiet calm and #stillness when one is about to wake up in the morning is the best and most creative time of the day for me, the irresistible draw of a clean slate, a new beginning, a start to a brand new day just waiting… like a gift waiting to be unwrapped.

Sometimes we need a gentle reminder that it is a “gift”.   Mine arrived yesterday morning via an email from a former client and mentee from Riyadh.  He’s a smart, young recent grad from Cairo, now working in Riyadh, after landing in Canada in 2014 and was quite joyous to send me a positive career update.

I gave him a quick snapshot of where I’m at and asked him to wish me luck as I was about to give an important presentation in a couple of hours.

And so he wrote:

“You, my dear friend, are one of those people who don’t need luck whatsoever.  I know the wish you wished me back when I came to you (at the settlement services organization), and I’ll wish it for you – “May your stars align and your days be happy!”

#stillness…that make me stop in my tracks.  I don’t know how to describe how I felt  –  maybe a sense of wonder that he remembered… and I had forgotten; a sense of comfort and #peace that his email arrived just when I needed a boost of confidence; or maybe this overwhelming sense of gratitude that I had the opportunity and privilege to help someone so long ago and he, in turn, reached out from afar and helped me? #mindfulness

Thank you, Akram, thank you very much!  Onto a brand new day!

Kyoto Calm
Kyoto Calm