I had a
seemingly
perfect life...
In 2004 when I was 49 years old, I had a seemingly perfect life. I was married with two teenagers, owned a small manufacturing business, and even had a part-time job at the local public school that I loved. Our home, an 1850 century house, was situated in a picturesque location by a river in a quaint town north of Toronto. Outwardly I was living a Martha Stewart-esque lifestyle. The reality of that life was something quite different.
I had a seemingly perfect life.
My husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and just 5 ½ weeks later, he passed away. Our household was dependent upon the income from the business. Immediately after his cancer diagnosis, my husband told me to quit my job and start managing the factory which I continued to do for 5.5 years after his death.
The months and years that followed were a whirlwind of chaos and trauma and the occasional success. I could have handled those difficult years, in so many ways, so much better. I could have been stronger in my opposition to work-related decisions, which I knew instinctively were going against what I knew to be the right path. I could have been a better Mom.
...a whirlwind of chaos and trauma and the occasional success.
In 2010, I relocated to NW Ontario with the kind and caring, Mr. Bill. I obtained my commercial lender credentials and worked at non-profit helping small businesses, eventually becoming the Executive Director. We bought a mobile home in Arizona and tested out semi-retirement.
By 2019, missing my children and warmer climes, Mr. Bill and I moved to SW Ontario where I work doing the same job I loved in NW Ontario.
Having reinvented myself quite a few times, I am ready to embark on another journey of self-discovery.
And I would like to take you with me.
Reinvention often requires us to let go of old identities and rebuild ourselves from the ground up. It is a humbling process and requires us to confront our failings, our vulnerabilities, learn new skills and discover strength and courage that we may not have known existed. I have discovered it is also about fun and living our life “flat out, hair straight back”!!
Reinvention often requires us to let go of old identities and rebuild ourselves from the ground up.
And so I ask myself and I ask you.
Who were you before you grew up and felt weighted down by responsibility? Do you remember the wonder of discovery?
This blog is all about investigating and exploring subjects to satisfy my insatiable curiosity primarily on the subjects of travel, food, lifestyle, fashion, and spirituality.
The key is to offer you my reader, content that not only informs but also entertains and inspires you to embrace a bodacious lifestyle fully. I promise to be my unfiltered, empathetic self.
Let’s get started!
Lovingly,
Donna
My Mission
My mission is to create content that not only informs but also entertains and inspires you to fully embrace…
My Values
To write in a way that makes my readers feel capable and inspired to take on new challenges.
To keep the tone of my blog posts lively and engaging, and focus on the joy and possibilities that life has to offer.
Always maintain an uplifting and optimistic tone, reinforcing the idea that age is just a number and life can be fabulous at any stage.
I am completely unfiltered and my thoughts can offer a fresh perspective and I will not shy away from sharing my personal insights and experiences.
