I came across this poem by Hannah Brencher which summed up quite nicely for me the 'unpacking' that occurs in therapy: "We all have a bag. We all pack  differently. Some of us are  travelling light. Some of us are  secret hoarders who've never  parted with a memory in our lives. I think we are all called to  figure out how to carry our bag to the best of our ability, how to unpack it, and how to face the mess. I think part of growing up is learning how to sit down on the floo

What a lovely passage by Morgan Harper Nichols: And in those moments where the sun is setting and the house is quiet and you are weary from the day, may you know that there is grace for you in that space, and no amount of heaviness or loneliness can take that away. And because of that grace, you are free to slow  down. You are free to breathe and rest, no matter the  things not sorted out. There might be some mystery here, and there might be longing, wondering and waiting, bu

A quote that I came upon:  “Education does not take place when you learn something you did not know before. Education is your ability to use what you have learned to be better today than you were yesterday.” -  Iyanla Vanzant  It is in the therapy office that I see examples of  this statement becoming reinforced over and over again. When clients first come to therapy, the first question I ask them is "what is bringing you to counselling?" It is a good way for me to hear from

H. Jackson Brown is an author, best known for his work entitled "Life's Little Instruction Book: 511 Suggestions, Observations, and Reminders on How to Live a Happy and Rewarding Life." Here are 5 quotes by Brown (sourced not inclusively to Life's Little Instruction Book) : “Remember that children, marriages, and flower gardens reflect the kind of care they get.” H. Jackson Brown Jr. “Don't forget, a person's greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated." - H. Jackson Bro

A little poem that caught my attention by Rudy Franciso: Of all the things I could've been, I am so glad to be this. Thank God I didn't actually become who I pretended to be Back when I had no idea who I was.  What a lovely thought about growth and giving ourselves permission to "just be." Sometimes it is the expectations that society places on us that get in the way, other times it is our own reckoning about what it means to be successful, and sometimes the messages we get f

I couldn't help sharing this Maya Angelou quote as well: "We spend precious hours fearing the inevitable. It would be wise to use that time adoring our families, cherishing our friends, and living our lives." - Maya Angelou We fear the inevitable and worry about things that take up our time and energy. We also can fall into the trap of allowing our focus to shift from our goal of living a meaningful life to one in which we strive for success. Sometimes our 'busy-ness' trumps

I came across this quote by Maya Angelou that reflects the importance of trying to live with the notion of today, the present moment - to try and heal from our past and not fret too much about the future: "If you must look back, do so forgivingly. If you must look forward, do so prayerfully. However, the wisest thing you can do is be present in the present....gratefully." - Maya Angelou As a therapist, I do believe in the process of looking back. But it is never about blame,

A recent quote got me thinking: "The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it and join the dance." - Alan W. Watts. Although we have often heard that the only constant is change, we frequently hesitate to welcome it, much less plunge right into it. Perhaps this comes from the element of the unknown as it compromises our level of comfort and safety; perhaps it comes from the transitional element of change. Even good experiences (like weddings an

I came across this lovely poem by Mary Oliver that reminds us how important nature is to our well being: When I Am Among the Trees When I am among the trees, especially the willows and the honey locust, equally the beech, the oaks and the pines, they give off such hints of gladness. I would almost say that they save me, and daily. I am so distant from the hope of myself, in which I have goodness, discernment, and never hurry through the world but walk slowly, and bow often. A

When I read this poem by Erin Hanson, I thought of the grief we often feel through relationship loss: I was the type of person, That held onto things too tight, Unable to release my grip, When it no longer felt right,  And although it gave me blisters, And my fingers would all ache, I always thought that holding on, Was worth the pain it takes, I used to think in losing things, I'd lose part of me too, That slowly I'd become someone, My heart no longer knew, Then one day some

This quote from Victoria Erickson reminds us that reaching our full potential comes from within: “If you inherently long for something, become it first. If you want gardens, become the gardener. If you want love, embody love. If you want mental stimulation, change the conversation. If you want peace, exude calmness. If you want to fill your world with artists, begin to paint. If you want to be valued, respect your own time. If you want to live ecstatically, find the ecstasy w

The last four posts have talked about communication styles and the healthiest position of "I am important and so are you." In other words, our ability to be assertive and to be able to respect both ourselves and others when it comes to our needs, our opinions and our boundaries. Here are three quotes to help us think about assertiveness: The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives - Tony Robbins “When you tolerate disre

Happy New Year to all! I hope that 2026 is good to you and filled with blessings. Here are a few quotes to help remind us that a new year brings about a sense of renewal; a time to welcome what lies ahead. “And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.” —Rainer Maria Rilke, poet “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” - Eleanor Rossevelt “The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written.” —Melody Beattie Ph

The turning of a new year often brings to our awareness goals that we may need to work on; plans for ourselves by way of self-improvement or creating habits that sustain and enhance our emotional goals. The following quotes help to remind us that change can be good; that movement forward is a key to our desire to seek joy and thrive in our daily lives. “Plant seeds every single day that help you know who you are, you know what you're about, and you know what goals you’ve set

Christmas comes and goes in a flurry of gift giving (and receiving), enjoying the sweets of the season, time spent with family. The build up is big, the days are over so quickly - but the spirit of the season remains: "The true beauty of Christmas is revealed when we adore the season, not like some weary adult, but like a bubbly little child." - Michael Bassey Johnson May the spirit of Christmas linger in your homes and in your hearts. :) Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

May the peace of the season be reflected in your soul; may the memories you hold dear visit you during this holiday season. I heard the bells on Christmas day, Their old familiar carols play, And wild and sweet, The words repeat, Of peace on earth, good will to men. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

When we think of Christmas what truly means the most, it often is less about the gifts and more about the connection. This quote reflects that very sentiment: "Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas." - Peg Bracken Photo by Erwan Hesry on Unsplash

For this Christmas season, a favourite quote: A little smile, a word of cheer, A bit of love from someone near, A little gift from one held dear, Best wishes for the coming year, These make a Merry Christmas.  - John Greenleaf Whittier May you all enjoy the peace that this time of year brings. It is often the simplest of blessings that mean the most. Photo by Mariana B. on Unsplash

I came across this lovely poem by Erin Hanson about what we are and what we aren't: Not. You are not your age, Nor the size of clothes you wear, You are not a weight, Or the colour of your hair. You are not your name, Or the dimples in your cheeks. You are all the books you read, And all the words you speak, You are your croaking morning voice, And the smiles you try to hide, You're the sweetness in your laughter, And every tear you've cried. You're the songs you sing so loud

Even with the onset of winter, we can recognize the importance of getting outside. Here are five nature quotes to inspire: "Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." - Ralph Waldo Emerson "When your world moves too fast and you lose yourself in the chaos, introduce yourself to each color of the sunset. Reacquaint yourself with the earth beneath your feet. Thank the air that surrounds you with every breath you take. Find yourself in the appreciation of life." - Christ