Life Lesson Blogs

Adversity is a universal experience that shapes our lives in profound ways. It tests our resilience, challenges our beliefs, and ultimately helps us grow. In the poignant narrative of A Rose In November, we find a rich tapestry of experiences that illustrate the journey of overcoming hardship. This blog post delves into the key insights from the story, exploring how the people navigate their struggles and emerge stronger on the other side. Getting Through The Thorns Close-up

Life is a journey filled with twists and turns, and sometimes, we find ourselves lost along the way. In the memoir Where Did i Go?, Francene takes us on a profound exploration of self-discovery, resilience, and the power of human connection. This blog post delves into some of the most inspirational stories from the memoir, highlighting the lessons learned and the strength found in vulnerability. The Journey of Self-Discovery Where Did i Go? is a journey of self-discovery. Fra

The longing for those who are away, is intense, add danger and life is never the same.

Out Of Character, I try to be so sedate, but I am not. Check my expression at the end... that's the mischievous side of me trying to burst out! Will it? Finally? Read on. I am considered a senior citizen and I cannot think of one time in over six decades that I did anything foolish, silly, or just for fun, especially when there was a cost involved. Well I did something out of character. Although I have mixed feelings, I have a smile on my face and a wee knot in my stomach. An

July 22, 2026 Francene Gillis This I made myself, but how would you feel if it were created by Authors Indignant? I am SOOOOO tempted! The desire burns to the tips of my fingers. I could swim in the ocean down below the house, and when I come back, my work would be all done, as in finished. Yes or no? Right or wrong? Big or little? Lie. Can I get away with it? Oh my gosh, there are so many viewpoints on this topic that I may break the internet. Me?—I feel like a student in m

How children are sometimes shaped by adults Grade Primary, Sorrowful Wasn't I? When you feel a child inside of you springing to life, that's how you know you're where you should be. C. JoyBell C. The crux, as children, we have little say, and we cannot control the people raising us. We have to bide our time and do our best to not let the bad dominant our lives. That requires maturity, patience, resilience, a plan or strategy to get involved in school, extracurricular, or spor

I tried to navigate as a shy girl and woman, who without a cause had no self-esteem. Because of a head injury I had to come to terms with a loss of identity, after taking decades to build one; thus, I discovered the part identity and self-worth play in life's unexpected storms and hardships. Through stories and the inspiring words of others I learned to eventually make it through. Read examples of resilience, support, and mindset, and how they can allow the sun to shine again

My Precious Mom, Mary Jessome May 10th is my mom's birthday. Unfortunately she died when I was in my second year at St. Francis Xavier University. I was only nineteen and it was rough after losing two brothers as a young girl. Death lived in the walls, in the furniture, and at the front door. I think death has a way of changing us, inside where the deepest emotions are felt. It wraps its tentacles and hurts to the core thus getting deep into where our spirit lives. For a tim

What progress, you ask, have I made? I have begun to be a friend to myself. — Seneca, philosopher — A New Beginning with Self-Love As I reflect on my journey toward self-acceptance, I've realized the importance of being kind to myself. Many of us struggle with feelings of inadequacy, often silenced by an inner critic. It's crucial to confront these feelings head-on and challenge the narratives we build in our minds. Recently, I have been advocating for my memoir, Where Did

I dedicate this blog to my first powerful woman, Joanne Schmidt. After a severe head injury, she bravely continued to build her business, Galloping Cows. The slogan on her webpage reads "Female Founded, Family Operated." I salute her as an incredible individual who faced the real challenges of post-concussion syndrome. With the support of her husband, she found ways to overcome. I admire her tenacity and courage, and his patience and perseverance. Embracing Technology as We A

This visual simulates what happens to the brain when an injury occurs.

This Is Me ... raw and real in a world where fear of judgement holds us back, held me back for far too long. Don't let self-doubt win!

Wasn't I Cute? What Fear Can Do to a Child I am adding this in retrospect to the heading Where Did i Go? which is odd because I never realized it fit until pondering the launch of my memoir plus and its connection. Where did i go perfectly sums up my life even as a little girl. As witnessed in the first attached picture, I was a mischievous little thing, and I believe outspoken, which sometimes got me in trouble. I enjoyed being playful and making others laugh. See my impish

New book on Concussion Plus Overcoming the worst storms in life, and how not to drown. A Combination of narrative, facts, quotations, visuals, cartoons I was lost, depressed, and wanted to be teaching! Do you know anyone affected by a concussion? This category evolved as a result of a serious fall on February 1, 2016 that took my beloved career as a teacher away from me, left me disabled, and in search of help for months and years, discovering what I did not know. It resulted

Raw, riveting topics Written monthly as my head, body, and pacing allow Topics relevant to 68 years of living and educational & personal experiences, trauma, tragedy, coping, and living, or not. Some of us exist but we do not live, we are walking ghosts clothed in flesh. Upcoming will be blogs on head injuries, war, abuse, humour, confidence, deligence, resiliency, respect, kindness, compassion And Where Did i Go? a memoir plus excerpts and readings Catch glimpses of my story

The Ocean was/is my Best Friend Oh my, retrospect is 20/20, and the older we get the more we realize all that we do not know. Margie (Gillis) macDonell and Philomena (Moran) Gillis Self-esteem, confidence, embarrassment, rejection, ridicule, trauma, tragedy, grief, mistakes, mental struggles, emotional struggles, addictions, the unexpected, how do we even make it into hope, triumph, inspiration, resilience, and fortitude? With help and support from others. That's how. With a