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“An oncology floor is a pretty stressful place, but I’d slide (the colouring sheet) onto the table, and within minutes, the parents would be colouring,” Darby said, “I remember one mother – her child was undergoing brain surgery in the next room – and she couldn’t believe how much (colouring) relaxed her” (Johnson, 2015).

Colleen Darby became the “artist in residence” at the Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo oncology ward after discovering first-hand the calming effects of colouring. Darby had been diagnosed with cancer while pregnant, and one day her young daughter gave her a small break from all… Read More

Have you ever taken part in an auction? It can be quite exhilarating, especially if you really want the auction item. Imagine you are at an auction and have just have discovered the item up for grabs is a live sea turtle. Participants are bidding on the chance to destroy its beautiful, massive shell. Would you be excited to participate? I wasn’t.

It was our first night on Turtle Island – a beautiful island in the South Pacific. My husband and I had joined 11 other vacationing couples for dinner on the beach. Right before dinner, we were told some… Read More

Times are not easy. How do we develop greater resilience to withstand adversity and bounce back from difficult life events?

In a recent interview with Authority Magazine, I shared “Five Things You Can Do To Become More Resilient.” Here they are:

#1: Choose the Right Attitude Daily

Have you ever noticed the happiest and most successful people in life tend to have great attitudes? Each of us must make the decision to choose the right attitude daily. It’s not our circumstances that make us unhappy. It’s our attitude in our circumstances that makes us unhappy. Even in the middle… Read More

Have you ever stopped to listen to the way you talk to yourself?

One day, I was dressed and ready to drive to the studio where I was the host of a TV morning show. Before driving to work I had to take the trash out to the curb for collection. At end of my driveway, I tripped and fell. I hit the pavement so hard that my hands and knees started to bleed.

I went back into the house and began telling myself an entire story about how hard it was being a working mom and how tired I… Read More

Are you letting what other people do determine your attitude? Are you letting things upset you that don’t have to upset you?

The other morning, I was approaching a red light with my right-turn indicator blinking. Suddenly, the man in the car behind me starts honking his horn angrily. I look in my rear-view mirror and I see this guy, furiously waving his arm, motioning for me to make the turn. I hadn’t even had the time to stop at the red light yet and make sure it was safe to proceed through the busy intersection! But, there he was,… Read More

Have you ever noticed the happiest and most successful people in life tend to have great attitudes?

In his book, Make Today Count, John C. Maxwell tells a story about a 92-year-old woman who was moving into a nursing home:

“Since she was legally blind and her husband of 70 years had passed away, the move was her only option. She waited in the lobby of the facility for a long time before finally being told that her room was ready. As she was escorted down the corridor, her attendant described the room, down to the curtains hung… Read More

In his book For One More Day, Mitch Albom writes, “I met a man once who did a lot of mountain climbing. I asked him which was harder, ascending or descending? He said without a doubt descending, because ascending you were so focused on reaching the top, you avoided mistakes. “The backside of a mountain is a fight against human nature,” he said. “You have to care as much about yourself on the way down as you did on the way up.”

This is wise advice to remember – especially now. As the restrictions ease in North America, children… Read More

No matter how much you’ve worried in the past or are worrying right now, you can let go of worry. I know you can because I did!

I was once a chronic worrier. I worried about my weight and my appearance. I worried about making mistakes. I worried about my job, about money, and about being alone. I worried about being loveable, being likeable, and being good enough. You name it and I worried about it.

The strange thing is, I believed that my worry was helping me. Looking back now, I can see how it was “helping” me. Worrying… Read More

Laughter is good for the soul! It causes your body to release endorphins – the body’s natural pain killer – and to reduce the stress hormone, cortisol.

Who in your life makes you laugh the most?

For me, I’d have to say it’s my kids and my sister Dede. Here’s a recent interaction I had with my daughter, Brianna, that had me laughing so hard I was crying.

“Brianna,” I say during a FaceTime call. “The agent Auntie Jan knows just sent me a casting call for a ‘mom/daughter duo’ to virtually ask questions to celebrity ‘mom/daughter duos’. Are you… Read More

Is cancelling beloved holiday gatherings with family and friends weighing on your emotions? How do we reconcile the loss in ourselves and with our children? Worry Management Expert, Denise Marek, helps parents with those difficult conversations on The Morning Show.

1. Talk With Your Kids

Sometimes we think we protect our children by sheltering them from what’s happening. But, kids are smart! They pick up on your stress and when left to imagine what’s wrong, it can cause them to worry. Talk with your kids.

⇒ Start the conversation now. You might not know… Read More