Category Archives: Perspective

Shawna’s Elevation talk now available! (Mental illness, suicide, and finding God in the darkness)

It’s Mental Health Week! What better way to kick it off than by sharing my Elevation talk with you. Special thanks to the Elevation crew who made this talk available so quickly! Here’s a snapshot of what you’ll hear in … Continue reading

Posted in Community, Depression, Faith, God, Health is Wealth, Hope, Love, Mental Health, Mental Health Week, Mental Illness, Perspective, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Purpose, Redemption, Suicide, Support | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Just a reminder: Mental illness, suicide, and finding God in the darkness talk tomorrow @ Elevation!

Good morning readers, This is just a friendly reminder that I’ll be speaking at Elevation church tomorrow, at 9:30am in Waterloo.  For directions and more information, please click here. Here’s a snapshot of what I’ll be sharing: My personal story … Continue reading

Posted in Community, Depression, Faith, God, Hope, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Perspective, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Stigmas, Suicide, Support, Trauma | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Shawna’s IGNITE WATERLOO talk! “He died by…” (video)

A 5 minute talk using 20 slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds.  That’s the Ignite Waterloo challenge.  I had the privilege of rising to the occasion at a sold out Ignite Waterloo event this past February.  Since then, a lot … Continue reading

Posted in Coping, Death, Grief, Marriage, Perspective, Spouse, Stigmas, Suicide, Videos, Widow | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Keltie Colleen story – “You know what’s way better than cool? Happy.” (video)

I love this video story of dancer, Keltie Colleen, as produced by TWLOHA (To Write Love On Her Arm.)  The part that grabbed my heart the most was when she was describing her feelings about hate mail she received.  Keltie … Continue reading

Posted in Community, Coping, Gratitude, Inspiration, Perspective, Stigmas, Support, Videos | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

How to cope when not okay / Love:God / HAPPY THOUGHT #55

One of the things that has helped me over these past (almost) two years since Neil died, are “Happy Thoughts.”  The Happy Thought Index was something I started on my blog about a year ago.  I did it to remind … Continue reading

Posted in Coping, God, Gratitude, Happy thought, Hope, Love, Perspective, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Joshua Walters: On being just crazy enough

“Maybe there’s no such thing as crazy, and being diagnosed with a mental illness doesn’t mean you’re crazy.  Maybe it just means you more sensitive to what most people can’t see or feel.  Maybe no one’s really crazy but everyone’s … Continue reading

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Ruby Wax: What’s so funny about mental illness?

“What once made you safe now drives you insane.”  Find out why as comedian Ruby Wax uses her humour to share her story of being institutionalized, and question the prevalent stigma around illness when it affects our most complex organ; … Continue reading

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A DAY ON – Martin Luther King Jr. day, Errol Barrow day, and a call to action for Idle No More

What do Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., past-Prime Minister of Barbados Errol Barrow, and Idle No More have in common? They are all representative of activist movements that changed the course of history, and all have scheduled days of recognition … Continue reading

Posted in Community, Holidays, Idle No More, Movement/Cause, Perspective, Purpose, Support | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Seniors rank highest demographic for suicides in the nation

Who do you think are at the greatest risk for death by suicide in our nation?  Youth, right?  Wrong.  According to the Center for Suicide Prevention seniors are at the greatest risk of dying by suicide.  Really?  Shocking, right? The … Continue reading

Posted in Community, Family, Grandparents, Parents, Perspective, Stigmas, Suicide, Support, Trauma | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

How do you feel when you see injustice in the world?

What one word describes how you feel when you see injustice in the world?  Perhaps hopeful? Sad? Defeated? Determined? Whatever the adjective, share it here.  I want to hear your thoughts. The inspiration below is taken from Isaiah in the … Continue reading

Posted in Faith, God, Hope, Idle No More, Inspiration, Love, Movement/Cause, Perspective | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment