The Bald Leopard

I’ve started and re-started this post about a million times. At first, I wanted to write something positive and up-lifting. My husband has been pacing around the apartment for the last week, on edge at every new announcement. He’s on an impossible roller coaster at the moment, riding the dips between Canada and home. Watching as Canada seems to keep upping their response while the UK seemingly lags behind and holds tight with a ’stiff upper lip’. Concerned about his paren...Continue reading

In the last month I have: -Taken 5 anxiety/depression group classes -Done two EMDR session with my new psychologist -Taken two communication classes... -Volunteered for park run twice -Went to 3 yoga classes -Went aqua jogging once -Hung out at a 2 day work conference -Put in an offer for a house (that got rejected) -Applied for a mortgage -Attempted to figure out our family budget -Went to the doctor and had a physical -Went to the eye doctor to figure out why my contacts were bothering me (spoiler alert: eyelashes) -Attend a workplace stress/bullying workshop -Started a 6 week online peer support class -Started weaning myself off of my anti-depressant and more. And yet, it still doesn’t feel like ‘enough’ WTF is with that?? I can look at this list and be super proud of myself retrospectively. This time last year, I wouldn’t have been able to get 1/8 of that done without having a) a massive load of anxiety all month long and b) calling in sick for at least one set of shiftsprobably two. And yet this whole month I’ve been telling myself ‘but you still haven’t done your blog’ ‘but you still haven’t lost any weight’ ‘but you still haven’t gone to the gym’ ‘but you still haven’t’ Buts are exhausting. And they need to stop. One thing that really resonated with me during my anxiety/depression classes is the need to celebrate little wins. A win is a win, no matter how big or how small. Maybe your win today is that you got out of bed and brushed your teeth on a day off. Maybe you were at work today and you nailed a huge presentation. Me? I submitted my peer support homework a day before it was due, and I’m pretty proud of that. And I’m going to ignore the temptation to look at my to do list and feel bad about myself, because a win is a win, no buts about it. It’s taking time, but I’m slowly learning that I don’t have to be so hard on myself. That no one is expecting me to be perfect. That where I am right now, is where I need to be, and that things take time, changes don’t happen overnight. I’m learning to be kinder to myself and in turn its making me able to be kinder to other people. For the first time in a long time, I can see a glimmer of the person I used to know as ‘me’ and the person that I want ‘me’ to be. It may take a while, but I’m getting there. So, I’m making a pledge to myself to stop saying ‘but’ when it comes to accomplishing things and I hope you do too. Join the self care revolution! NO BUTS ALLOWED!! #nobutsallowed #selflove #recoveryisamarathon #keeptrying #mentalhealth #workinonit #mentalhealthawareness #burnoutrecovery #respiratorytherapist #healthcareworker #selfcarerevolution #awinisawin #progressnotperfection #alopecia #alopeciaawareness #alopeciauniversalis #morethanmyhair #yeg

I first started this blog out of necessity. My hair had just fallen out, people at work kept complimenting me on my new hair cut, and I needed a way to tell the world that no, this wasn’t just a phase. It was the quickest and easiest way to get my story out there, to let people know how I was feeling, and to answer their questions before they even had to ask. I’ve been a little lack lustre on the posts for a couple of years and I think that’s for a few reasons:...Continue reading

Happy New Year everyone!! I’ve made a goal for myself this year to change up my blog a little bit and post more frequently, starting with a big post today! ...And then I stayed out until 3 in the morning, slept until 11 and had another nap this afternoon, so this will have to do for now. Still counts though, right?! I hope you’ve had just as chill of a day as I’ve been lucky to have and that all your New Years dreams come true. I’ll be back for more this weekend

I’m trying to get better at this whole consistency and self improvement thing. Right now I’m consistently good at eating the tasty but not so healthy food and being inconsistent with everything else in my life, and I’m very slowly, but surely learning that it isn’t really getting me anywhere. So, let me introduce you to something that is a hell of a lot more consistent than me. Enter: parkrun...Continue reading

Okay guys, let’s talk. After all, it is Bell’s Let’s Talk day so there’s no time like the present right? The campaign has come under scrutiny over the past couple of years, maybe rightly so, maybe undeservedly, I’m not really sure. What I do know though, is that at least people are talking. But is it enough? Congratulations! We’ve raised awareness that mental health is an issue. Pardon my French but, no shit. Don’t get me wrong, I’m super glad that people are finally s...Continue reading