Dear Teenage Self, I have been thinking about you a lot lately and I wanted to tell you how happy I am that you got to be you in all your teenaged glory in the 1990’s. I’d feel really stressed for you if you had to...
Jonathan Levitt is a a veteran marketer, who has been at the top of his field for over two decades. He has spent over 25 years helping a diverse list of clients understand their audience, and leverage technology and data to build better products and...
Have you noticed what’s popping up on your social media newsfeeds lately? I’m not talking about your friends’ kid pictures or Donald Trump memes. What I’m referring to is the stream of advertisements for the best concealer to hide your imperfections, the gym that will...
I’m finding myself in a free fall, a downward spiral into the depths of self hate, self doubt and general malaise. I’m working at climbing out of it, but boy, it’s a long way up. It started to take its toll last summer while on vacation...
Dear teenage self- Here’s some friendly advice from an older, wiser 44 year old you. Being popular is very, very overrated. Friends are the family you get to choose, so choose them wisely. Having a handful of good, solid, trustworthy friendships is so much more meaningful then...
I remember when I knew was pregnant for the first time. I had this strange pulling sensation in my uterus, my boobs were beyond PMS-sore and suddenly the smell of my husband’s cologne made my stomach roil. The test confirmed what my body was shouting...
The first time I witnessed my oldest child having a seizure was almost exactly five years after he was diagnosed with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy at the age of 15 years old. I had always felt guilty for not being there when he had a seizure,...
How often do the words crazy, insane or psycho pop up in your everyday vocabulary? Last week, Lisa and I had the opportunity to reflect on the language of mental illness when we participated in a panel discussion for Bell Let’s Talk. The topic was the...
We were two seven year-old girls. Playing gift shop in my bedroom. Placing price tags on EVERYTHING. We were very busy merchandising all my toys, from my Raggedy Ann doll, to my bedroom furniture. It was all for sale, if you were willing to pay...
Nine years ago last night, I was in my father’s hospital room with my mother, my sister and brother waiting for my dad to die. We’d been with him all day in the hospital and I’d gone home to get some sleep, but almost as...
It's not you - it's me"! A line made famous by George Costanza on Seinfeld – is one I can’t wait to repeat - not to my boyfriend, husband or partner – but to my employer. After almost thirty years of participating in cubicle life and such rote robot-like...
Just about one year ago, I’d come back from a lovely family vacation and began an emotional downhill slide that culminated in a psychiatric hospitalization. It was one of the most challenging periods of my life, and while I’m proud that I reached out and...
I’ve been studying dreams for forty-five years. My interest in dream analysis began in my early twenties. At twenty-one, I gave birth to my eldest daughter Tina, who was born with Down Syndrome. Not too long after, I became depressed and was fortunate to end...
“You look so tired….” is a comment that I’ve been getting from people on a pretty consistent basis. It’s a comment that has always bugged me, cause, seriously, what good can come from telling someone they look tired? Perhaps I’m being a tad sensitive, but to...
Having an eating disorder is like living with your worst enemy; it is sharing your mind with a mean, heartless bully. It is a voice that is always there, telling you how ugly, worthless and powerless you are. Food becomes your rival, and the only way...
Last week, professional kickboxer Andrew Tate boldly proclaimed, via Twitter, that depression isn’t a real thing. Among his comments were gems such as, “You will always be depressed if your life is depressing. Change it.” and “Most 'depressed' people are unhappy with their lives, too...
A more flexible work schedule, an abundance of social activities and the expectation of being carefree can put a lot of pressure on people with anxiety. So many of us count down the days until the warmth and relaxation of summer arrives. It’s an exciting time...
The first day of high school can be a flurry of emotions for your kids. New school. New experiences. And new freedom to gain. It’s both exciting and frightening. If you have a teen with first-day jitters at home, here are a few ways you...
When I am not cursing the harsh cold winter days, or the excruciatingly humid summer nights, I am grateful for seasons in Montreal. Changing seasons make me reflect that there is movement in life, nothing is permanent. Like nature’s dog-eared bookmarks, seasons are reminders for me...
Since I was young, I fantasized about what it would mean to be a mom. Not just any mom, but an amazing mom. This dream was always so important to me and despite any detours my life has taken over the years- being a great mom was always at the top of my bucket list.
Have you ever looked in the mirror and not recognized the person staring back at you (either from weight gain, loss or aging skin? You feel like it happened overnight and wonder why no one told you to “get your act together.” This was my...