WE CAN DO THIS!

My Story & The Next Chapter

Always curious, always interested in someone's story.

Life, its challenges, and often the worst challenges, turned into a Blessing.

Background

Background business. Retail was a passion for me. Helping people with their personal style / image. Serving people. A joy for me.

Merchandising, marketing, organizing fashion show events, in store launching another season …remembering every moment we share is an experience for all of us. Making it good, memorable, the goal.

Stressful, ever-changing, people in and out, joyous chaos.

Basically shy, chit-chatting with people, co-workers, clients, problem-solving made me genuinely happy.

After many years working with the public, a number I’d like to forget, my core belief is still that people are inherently good. People want to help. They are kind, they want to be kind.

Yes, there were experiences with theft and disappointments. However happy experiences far outweigh negative ones.

Hard to believe but more than once clients returning home phoned to let us know an extra product was put in their bag. How nice is that! That is a big reason why I think people are kind.

I ‘ve always felt we can improve a situation by being kind and trying harder. To do more than expected.

More often than not we both had a better experience and were happy in the end. A win-win.

Facing Pancreatic Cancer

was another one of life’s learning curves. Scary, painful, in mind and body. It took every bit of strength I had. Every day I would pray to find the strength to push on. To hold on to who I am. With pain and stress we all tend to lose ourselves.

It was during that time that I recognized the need for local help. I did not want to become an additional task on the to-do lists of friends and family. Mentally I did not feel comfortable being so needy. I wished I could call a local person and pay them to move a mattress.

Now well, I have the energy to kickstart this concept into place. I cannot be the only person who felt this way. I wanted to solve problems myself. Others must feel the same way. Some say I am crazy to do this. Why take on extra work, take on the expenses? I must follow my heart.

I know there are wonderful people right around the corner. The other day I met Peter and Carol. Their friend told me about all the good things they lend a hand to. Doing good things for others all the time. Its not crazy. It's wonderful crazy. We must support each other. We do not need to be best friends. The goal is to be good neigbours supporting each other when needed.

We Can Do This

a supercharged directory can help us solve issues. I have to build this. I have to try. I am hoping people younger than me will step in and take over at some point. I know there are more crazy people out there that see the world as I see it. I believe they are everywhere. We just have to believe and listen.

My Mantra

“Do More Than Expected.”

My Favourite Quote

“In the midst of winter, I found in me an invincible summer.” – Albert Camus

Projects

Shaver Hospital Healing Garden, St. Catharines: Launched, managed the development, marketing and fund raising for the project.

Thankful to The Shaver Hospital for permitting me to take on the 9-month adventure.

All the wonderful Shaver staff, amazing volunteers and donors, made it a profound experience for me.

So many people out there are doing good everyday.

Every effort, small or large has meaning, and is not forgotten. A smile can make someone’s day.

Kristian French Child Advocacy Centre Garden

Launched and participated in the build of the Child Advocacy Garden on Forester in St Catherines.

My Newfound Passion: We Can Do This

Gardening

Obsessed is the word. Squirrel House Gardens—our labor of love—was a decades-long project. A haven of “organized chaos,” it mirrored the wild beauty of nature. Parting with it broke my heart, but I know it lives on in every visitor it inspired.

Hobby

As a mature person, I am aware of my modern shortcomings. I try to make a real attempt at keeping up with what's current.

My last computer challenge was 2020. Learning how to create an Instagram page was fun. The goal was not for commercial or social use. I wanted to know that I could do what younger people do.