Wishing you and yours a joyous season and a prosperous New Year!

The moment December hits, we all start thinking about the New Year, but with life the way that we know it and it not being the way most of us thought it'll be, it's easy to get more overwhelmed than usual about the big "22". Don't worry, I'm right there with you. That's why I'm talking about today.

"One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his greatest surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do" - Henry Ford

"You pull me in and I'm a little more brave - it's flawless, really something, it's fearless" - Taylor Swift

Whether you're on the Henry Ford side of the spectrum or the T-Swift, both sound great because we all know that's the greatest achievement we can have - the moment we learn to live fearless.

I think we can all agree that life has gotten really scary and unpredictable, and the topic of life and death is now an unwelcomed but always present dinner conversation. We are reminded daily how fleeting life is. In this episode, I speak about life and death, because why not? We can't escape it. I'm learning that more and more each day, against my own will, and I know I'm not alone in this. You're not alone in this. We're not alone in this.

September is Suicide Prevention Month and we've all been sharing the posts and links to bring awareness and do our part to end the stigma... or are we? Are we really being honest about mental health? Scratch that - are we really being honest about ourselves and mental health? Or are we, even in our advocacy, displaying a front of "having it together" or perfection with "acceptable" flaws? I don't know about you but I am G-U-I-L-T-Y. And it's not about privacy or "airing dirty laundry". Nope. As vocal as I am about mental health and mental health awareness, I too sugarcoat my own struggles out of shame of the stigma. So let's talk about that, shall we?

What are you craving for more of in your life? Are you content? With your successes? With your present situation? Your relationships? Yourself? Or are you always searching and looking for better, greater? Even better, does your search stem from want for growth or lack of movement? Is it motivated by ambition or dissatisfaction? Do you know your why? Is your why good? On this week's podcast, join me as I talk about the why's behind most of our every day actions, even the ones that supposed to be obviously good.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://danellecmd.wordpress.com/2021/08/15/intention-inspiration-or-corruption/

There are still a lot of questions surrounding women and their positions in society, rights, freedoms, challenges, restrictions etc. Some people have these questions because luckily they dwell in a society that is more accommodating than others. Some, unfortunately, are either ignorant because it may not directly affect them or maybe because their lives always followed a certain model and they don't really know anything different. The issue isn't the presence of these questions. It's good when people can ask and there can be discussions and education around the topic. What's wrong is when no one's asking; no one's talking or worse people are too afraid to come out and say they don't know better but they want to for fear of shame or criticism. In this podcast, I share conversations I've been fortunate to have because it allowed me to educate someone and also be educated myself. Women: are we damsels in distress? Or heroines who can use some assistance?... because the greatest battles were won by a team...

Oh the innocence of a child can sometimes be so enviable. Is childlike wonder and bliss still attainable after we're grown and our minds are made aware of all the evils in the world? I hope so... Boy, do I hope so...

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://danellecmd.wordpress.com/2021/07/08/bliss/