Do you remember your real first concert? Possibly the one you had to go to accompanied by an adult. Mine was Elton John and my friend and I got to go with her adult cousin, which was super cool at the time.

Do you remember your first unaccompanied concert? The time you got dropped off at the Forum or went with an older friend who was able to drive? It’s crystal clear I’m sure.

The Tragically Hip was becoming my new bible and I got to go. We sat last row and it was the best night ever (more about the Hip later).

Looking back at 2007, I remember a year fraught with physical and emotional pain. My agenda was replete with doctors’ appointments and visits to acupuncturists and nutritionists. I spent most days immobilized on my sofa, willing the excruciating burning in my gut to subside. On other days, I would be gripped by nausea so intense it would make me shake. My face was gaunt, my belly concave, and I dropped fifteen pounds.

Last weekend, Lisa and I had the opportunity to speak at, and participate in, the Maddy K Inspires Retreat in St. Sauveur, Québec. As big believers in communication and authenticity, we were excited to let it all out; to share the stories of our pasts...

I am one of those rare people who get excited about a renovation. I know that it’s messy. I know that life will feel displaced. I know that fighting with your spouse over things you never thought would come between you (like grout color for the mudroom floor) is inevitable. But somehow, I still look forward to it! If you don’t feel the same way that I do, know that you are not alone! Renovations can be very stressful. There are a lot of  to be made in a short time, a lot of money is being spent in a short time and if you aren’t the type of person who can visualize the end result, you’re putting a lot of faith in your professional team.  How many of my clients do you think have the same taste and decor vision as their spouses?  I can tell you that it is very few! They say that opposites attract, and I can attest to that!

The other night, for the first time in almost a decade and half, we watched our wedding video. Aside from the novelty of seeing what a videotape was, my kids were fascinated by seeing their mom as a real-life Cinderella. I always knew that I was a lucky guy, but when I compared the woman next to me on the sofa, to the bride on the screen, I was in awe. Aside from a different hairstyle, my wife has not changed in 17 years.

With fall fully upon us, as parents, we are (hopefully) well past our child’s first-day jitters, and have eased into a smooth transition back to school after the summer holidays. Even with all the effort we put into making our child’s first few weeks back as comfortable and memorable as possible, we may have overlooked asking them a simple – yet essential – question: Are you feeling happy at school?

“Dear Mommy and Daddy, Now I only cry at night. I miss you so much that it hurts inside of me.” That was one of the letters that I sent to my parents during my first summer at sleep-away camp. Clearly I was a homesick camper,...

young joe isaacMy brother came out to me at the height of both of our darknesses. Post-graduation from University, he knew little of his way forward. Still living at home, aimless on the job front, forced to countenance the evil of conversion therapy, certain of his sexuality but afraid to come out, he let me step into his closet so we could walk out together.

Do You Know Liz? I really don't know Liz that well. Although, I feel like I've known her since she was 7 years old. How is this so? Liz's father was my doctor. From the age of 17 until his passing, he was my gynaecologist. More so,...

When Liz Wiener, co-founder of Wise Women Montreal asked me if I’d like to contribute to her blog, I was honored. I asked myself: what would be the best first topic for a mostly female readership? Naturally, I decided on my scrotum. I am going to...

Six years ago at exactly this time, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.
It was a few days before Passover and I will never forget that time. Waiting for the biopsy results was the worst week of my life. Not knowing how bad my cancer was and whether I was going to live to see my 4 children’s futures. It was awful but luckily my diagnosis came and it was early stage Breast Cancer. I had a double mastectomy with reconstruction (hello Angelina Jolie! I was before your time!) and then six weeks of radiation. Today, I am happy to say I am a survivor!

 
Never in my wildest dreams did I think finding a job in my 40s would make me feel as though I just got out of college.
My job for the past 14 years has been being a Mom to my two wonderful kids. Little did I realize that these kids grow up and start having a life of their own, which is great! This is exactly what we want for them but the less they need from me the more I began to wonder what can I do to fill my time?

 I recently went to NYC with my son and my best friend for what I thought was going to be the easiest place to keep the feet moving and the mouth resting!  Not to my surprise, the "TEMPTATIONS" of this  fascinating city hit me at every angle and every corner!  Walking, talking, looking and shopping, there were food temptations beyond belief. From street vendors, to the famous Eataly across from  the unique Flat Iron building, to Soho's Jack's Wife Frieda, to the best Ribs at Daisy May BBQ on West 46th, and finally the outdoor Brooklyn Food Fair, an absolute foodies haven.  After 24 hours I  asked myself...why is this happening to me?

When you look into the mirror, what do you see and how do you feel?

For many, our human conditioning has automatically programmed us to see and feel the worst part of ourselves. Ultimately leading to a very critical and unhappy self-image.