September 6, 2024 • 55 mins
In 2017 Jane Enright suffered an unforeseen traumatic brain injury that left her almost speechless.
Today she is an inspiring and humorous thought leader, award-winning Canadian author, wellness expert, inspirational speaker, and a Director on the Board of Governors, for the Brain Canada Foundation.
Her transformational journey has been chronicled as elevating, extraordinary, moving, and food for the soul.
#mindfulness #author #creator #speaker#collaboration #love #team #community #inspiration #personaldevelopment #business #coglo #connection #networkingmeeting #onlinenetworking #onlinecommunity #onlinebusinessnetworking #networkingevents #businessforgood #adversity #kindness #inspiration #personaldevelopment #love #growth
Today she is an inspiring and humorous thought leader, award-winning Canadian author, wellness expert, inspirational speaker, and a Director on the Board of Governors, for the Brain Canada Foundation.
Her transformational journey has been chronicled as elevating, extraordinary, moving, and food for the soul.
#mindfulness #author #creator #speaker#collaboration #love #team #community #inspiration #personaldevelopment #business #coglo #connection #networkingmeeting #onlinenetworking #onlinecommunity #onlinebusinessnetworking #networkingevents #businessforgood #adversity #kindness #inspiration #personaldevelopment #love #growth
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Hi there.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
My name is Jiell tiny I'm from Collaboration Global.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
And this is our podcast, Being Human Hidden Debts. I'm
going to be interviewing some of our members from Collaboration Global,
and they're going.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
To be sharing with you their extraordinary lives.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Although they would probably believe we're just normal.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Everyday, average humans, but they are extraordinary Like you and me.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
We all have our story to tell. We've all been
through difficult.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Times and we've come out at the other end having
learned an extraordinary amount about ourselves that we can share
with others. So I think you'll find lots of things
that will resonate with where you've been in.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Our journey as world.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
I look forward to seeing you on the other side.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Hello, and welcome to Being Human Hidden Depths, the hot
cast by Collaboration Global. And my name is Jill Tiny.
As is the norm when I get chatting to somebody,
we've kind of started the podcast before we've started the podcast,
so I had to tell Jane to hang on a minute,
let's press record and get this out there for the
(01:16):
rest of the world. So welcome Jane. Lovely to have
you on the podcast today.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Oh it's wonderful to be here. Thank you so much
for the opportunity, and I really am just I'm so
excited to be a part of Collaboration Global, of such
a positive movement for social change and good things pleasure.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Thank you. So you have kind of come with a hop,
skip and a jump into Collaboration Global. Can you tell
me that the first thing that you realized about it
that connected it to you and your heart and why
you wanted to become part of it.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Well, there's a saying that we spend most of our
life finding our tribe, finding people that inspire us and
support us and you know, lift us up and let's
their spirits. And I was introduced to you by a
wonderful woman named Anne Scotland. As you know, it's a
Felt Global clublate collaboration member. And I was just refreshing.
(02:11):
It was just like a breath of fresh air. And
I said to myself, my goodness, I found I found
a happy place here. So I really found I really,
you know, initially I just thought you had me at hello.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Yeah. I love it. I love it. And the fact
that you say you found your happy place, I'm always
referring to you know, what's your happy place? And how
can you find contentment and that kind of as you say,
it's your tribe, isn't it. So thank you for that.
I really appreciate those kind words. That's some. It's a
really good description to for people that have found collaboration Globe.
When they come to a session, it's like, oh, it's
(02:44):
a bit different, isn't it. And it's really they feel
like it's an energetic thing. It just feels right. Yes,
they don't have to justify it to themselves. They just go,
do you know what it feels It feels.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Good, feels good? Yeah, yeah, I go with you if
if it feels good, it feels good, and it does
feel good for sure, exactly, let's.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Go with our guy. Well, listen, talking about going with
our guard I didn't know very much about you before
you became a member, obviously, because you've been introduced by
one of our other members. Normally I get to talk
to people beforehand they come to a meeting, I talk
to them afterwards. We have good chats and all of
a sudden it's like, hey, you remember, Wow, this is good.
So I did a little bit of stalking, you know,
like you do. And not only are you an award
(03:25):
winning author. But your company is my super awesome life
in incorporated. I think, wow, is that arrogance because you
have a super awesome life or is that just what
you're imparting to everybody that you come across.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Oh that's a great question. Well you know what I mean.
I'm here on this journey really through transformation, positive transformation.
There was a time in my life where my life
was not super awesome and I really had to I
really learned a lot about living intentionally and purposefully and
being careful where you into your life, and also the
(04:02):
power of creation that we're not just passive observers in
our life. So when I had my most terrible year
and I started writing about it and trying to help
others make their life easier and more positive and start
fresh and believe in themselves, I thought to myself, you know,
I said to the universe, I said, I don't want heart.
I'm done with hart and sad. I want a super
(04:24):
awesome life. And I thought, what a great name for
a company. So and it's also a name that resonates.
So I hope I come across very sincerely and authentically
and humbly, because like right now, I mean my life
isn't always super awesome every single day, but pretty much
is most of the time. It's because I choose, you know,
I choose happiness. I choose I choose joy, I choose
(04:48):
to see things. I choose to see the glass half
full rather than half empty, and the silver linings in life.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Yeah, yeah, I've said that on this podcast before that.
My nun who died the ripe old age of ninety six,
always used to say her prayers every night. But she
made a good point of saying, always look for the
silver lining when times are tough, because it's always there.
Sometimes you have to look hard for it, but it's
always there. You will find it eventually. So you talk
(05:19):
about so this is in front of me, there's this positive, energized, mindful,
connected person. But obviously you've come from a different place,
so you're not one of these people. They're just on
and happy and just you know, really full of it.
Just annoy people because you can sit there so easily.
(05:41):
I see they're in judgment a lot of times, and
it's like, oh, it's all right for her, she seems
for her, she can do what she Bloomimo likes because
she's got and you make up this story about this
other person that seems to have it all. Yes, So
where have you come from in order to get this
avive of life, this wonderful energy that you are emitting,
(06:03):
which hopefully is coming through the airwaves right now to
people listening and people can see you'll smile if they're
watching on the YouTube channel. But you see this energy
emanating from this powerful positivity. Obviously, I know you don't
have that all the time. There are mornings when you
don't want to get out of it. You know, it's
called life, isn't it. It's just we get off. Yes,
But where have you come from in that place where
(06:24):
you said no more, I'm not going to take this anymore.
What was happening in your life?
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Well, I was sitting. I was I'd come through three
very traumatic events in my life. One was an accident
that I had it. I was sitting in the stands.
I was a spectator at a sporting event and I
got hit in the head, like slammed in the face
with a volleyball. Changed my life forever. I mean, obviously, TBIs.
You know they don't always come out the other end
(06:52):
with a happy ending, and thanithfully mine did. But I
went through a lot of challenges with my speech at
the time. I really had to work very, very diligently
with a speech pathologist and my team to get my
speech back. I had word finding issues, I had speech aphasia.
So if you if you know anybody that has had
a stroke or an injury, or a sports injury or
(07:14):
any kind of head injury, it can be very devastating,
especially if you speak for a living. I mean, I
was on top of my game. I was traveling the world.
I was in the UK, I was in different countries,
you know, facilitating focus groups. I own my own company,
working with my partner, and boom. Life changed in an
instant and then you know that you think that would
(07:35):
be you know enough about six months later, just as
I was getting back to hey, what am I going
to do with my life? And I you know, I've
always been a purposeful person and I am very grateful
person and especially grateful for every day and that's so
important in life, but even more so now. And you know,
(07:55):
I have my partner, my fiancee at the time had
his own accident. He was in a car accident and
he had a catastrophic brain injury.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Ohods, woke up in the.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Hospital and the first words out of his mouth he
said to me, he said, I don't know who anyone
is here. I can't remember who anyone is here. But
you're the nicest and the prettiest.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Oh bless him.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Oh oh yes. And you can imagine imagine someone being
so vulnerable. They don't remember their name, they don't remember
their their life at all. They have no memory of
who they are. Children meeting me, engaged, living together, what
they do for a living. Parents, nothing, And as I
(08:41):
said in Butter Side Up, my book, Butter Side Up,
it was like a zamboni. If I'm Canadian, so I'm
gonna use Canadian references. But in Canada, the zamboni is
the machine that clears the ice and just wipes it clean.
It's just like it was just like, what's the upside
of a race? You know, our life in a moment
was erased. It was like a zamboni on an eye
rang clearing my eyes. Yeah, so you know, and you know,
(09:04):
and then I had another very very tragic incident in
my life with a friend. So you know what, you
can't help. You can't help but be affected by that.
And I just you know, and when people go through trauma,
when they go through difficulties, they often look for a
sense of purpose, a sense of meaning. And I really
(09:25):
thought that the moment, you know, get to get back
to your question for me was I felt like I
was in a principal's office at school. You know, when
you're at school and you're getting you know, reprimanded for
you know, talking out of turn, or you know, not
paying attention or doing something you shouldn't. I said to myself,
I feel like I'm in a principal's office and I'm
getting reprimanded, but I don't know why. And then I said,
(09:46):
you know, I've got to start. I said, I've got
two choices. If I'm going to get myself out of
this and I'm going to get my partner out of this,
butter side up, I've got to think differently about my life.
So that's when my life changed. That's when my life changed.
I mean it all life is, life is change. Life
is changed. But that's when I really started looking at
the power of change, the power of positivity. And as
(10:09):
I say to people, the past is just a chapter,
not the whole book. You know, we've gone through COVID,
we're all in this together. That's what people don't realize that,
you know, the upside. People say, well, what could the
upside of COVID be? Well, the upside is that we
have all experienced this together. Yeah, and we can all
relate to each other if we try a little more.
(10:31):
And there are people like Global Collaboration like you that
are there to say, hey, we're here to support each other.
There's enough abundance for us all. Yes, yes, we like
to compete, but we would really like to compete with
ourselves and we like to be successful, but we want
to do it in a socially ethical way so that
we can help others and leave this planet better than
(10:52):
we found it. So you know, that's the altruistic side.
The practical side is you know, you have to accept
what is rather than what was. So that's that's really interesting.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Yeah. A friend of mine had a series of tragedies.
She first got divorced. Not long after that, her son
died just crossing the road, and then nine months later
her daughter, also crossing the road, had a really nasty
accident and had TBI traumatic brain injury.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
I can relate to that, yes, totally.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
And also about this learning to talk again and learning
to walk again, all these things. But she's been on
a podcast recently Amy the Daughter at saying that she's
had to make some tough life choices. She realizes that
she will she's choosing not to have children, and she
sees that as a positive choice because it would her
mental capacity wouldn't be able to cope with the responsibility
(11:53):
of children, and she wouldn't want to put that on
a partner. So for the moment, what she thirty thirty six,
thirty seven, she's made that decision not to have children.
And it's like, you don't realize what people are going
through until you hear them talking in that really, I mean,
she was so honest and so open about how she's
had to learn to do things again and how she's
(12:14):
had to put things in place in order to make
it okay. So she's you know, spatial awareness when she's
cooking that she loves doing. She has to be so
much more careful, so many little things that she has
to do. But she's very clear, as you've just said,
it's not what was. She can't look back and go, oh,
I can't do that anymore. She looks forward to but
(12:36):
I can do this I'm still able to do that.
And what is what is? It is what it is,
and she's taking from that. And that's what I hear
coming from you, is like, is this switch on your
mind and this mindfulness space of don't talk to yourself
looking down that road, look at what could be, and
(12:57):
find your happiness in that next step forward, going forward?
And that A lot a lot of people they don't
see that even as an option. They're so clouded in
that space. Not so much poor me or victim mentality,
but they just don't have the capacity to go, Okay,
this has happened, Now what can I do about it?
(13:18):
They haven't got that first step on the rung of
the ladder.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Yes, you know what, I'm happy you. I'm happy you
brought that up. And cheers cheers to is there? Sorry?
Is her name? Amy?
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Amy?
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Cheers to Amy for embracing her life and being grateful.
And David steinel Rast I love him. He's he's a
I think he's a minister in Stockholm, Sweden. I'm not
sure where he's from, but I call him often. And
you know, today is a good and grateful day. You know,
(13:51):
I'm grateful. I'm grateful to be talking to you. And
I'm grateful I can talk. I'm grateful for my mobility.
I'm grateful for the clean water that comes out of
the tap, Grateful that I have hot, cold, hot, end
running hot cold and hot running water. I'm grateful. I'm
grateful that I open my eyes. I'm grateful for the sunshine.
And I don't want and I mean that's not all
(14:14):
rainbows and lollipops. That's just bare bones, basic Maslow's hierarchy
of needs. And if you're looking at you know, different philosophers,
it's outside in thinking, like Michael Singer, it's looking outside
in rather than inside out. It takes a little bit
of the sting out of things. It takes a little
bit of the emotionality out of it. It's not that
(14:36):
we shouldn't be sad. I mean, I've had lots of
heart sad days in my life. But it's a conscious
choice to say, Okay, I can park that. I can
park that for a moment, and I can be in
the audience for a moment and say to myself, Okay,
if I was a friend talking to myself, what would
I say, what would I do? What would be the
next step in my life? And that's what I'm all about.
(14:58):
It's those practical, tangible, real time what can I do
now to live joyfully? And I have a saying that
I say every day. I say, the rest of my
life is the best of my life. And it's and
it does. It helps you, and that gratitude helps you
get through the day. It helps you cope because sometimes
it's not easy. I mean, I'll give you an example.
(15:20):
I wouldn't have become an author. I wouldn't I mean
an author if probably all of these things happened to me.
I never I never grew up Jill saying I want
to write a book. I want to do this, I
want to do that. I mean, I love to read.
I read every Nancy Drew book and every you know,
you know book, children's book there probably was. But I
(15:41):
probably wouldn't have met you if all of this other
you know, hard stuff, you know, starting with an S
and ending and a tea happened. But it's not easy. Change.
It's not easy reinventing yourself. It's not easy changing. Change
is not always easy. I know somebody in my life
that's past, Peter Drucker, who you may have heard of,
who is one of the foremost. He was one of
(16:03):
the foremost thinkers and thought leaders on organizational change. And
I had the pleasure to meet him back in the
early nineties and hear him speak, and he said, I said,
you know, can you give me a piece of advice
about change? And he said, Jane, nobody likes a change
except the white baby. And it's true. We're all hardwired
(16:24):
to you know. Oh, I like my coffee this way.
I liked it. I like I like that. And we
need that, We need those sense we need a sense
of belonging. We need to cultivate that in our lives,
whether we're no matter where we are. And that's what
COVID interrupted and interrupted, that ability to have that sense
of belonging. So rather than running on in the mouth,
that's what I'm about. I'm about a sense of belonging
(16:47):
in cultivating a good and grateful life.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Yeah, a sense of belonging. And that's what COVID. You
just illustrated there that COVID stops a lot of things
that we were comfortable with. But in the same breath,
it gave us what we were missing. We realized that
it was connection rather than the stuff that we had.
It wasn't about the fancy holiday, Oh, I can't go
on holiday. It was I can't see my mom and dad,
(17:11):
or I can't see my friend, or I can't hug
my husband because he was away when it was lockdown,
and now we're.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
So for me.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
It was like this massive realization that people lacked hadn't
experienced community. And it wasn't until in the UK at least.
I don't know what you guys did over there, but
every Thursday at eight o'clock, we'd stand on our doorsteps
and applaud the NHS for what they were doing, as
it was a very emotive thing to see on the
news again and again and again. Very emotive thing to
(17:41):
do it because we started off like this and then
the two or three weeks later we've got saucepans and
lids and banging and making as much noise at cheering
and it was incredible.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Yeah, and that's what we did. In Canada, they did
the parts and pans, particularly in Vancouver. But that's that's
what you're doing. You're sharing gratitude.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
I mean, going back to current day, how quickly we
forget what about the riots across the UK and the
damage for people's personal properties, like where's the community there?
Until which enlightened all of us is that there were
real communities that did get out and put a physical
barrier between themselves and where the refugees were, or where
(18:21):
the mosque was or where the synagogue was or whatever,
saying this is community. You stay over there, you go
not fight yourself each other, but you're not going to
come and you're not going to set fire to this
and you're not going to disturb our community. And all
of a sudden, the urgency was back again. It was
a very still going on, but it was a very
emotive time. And we I've always said we have to
(18:45):
take responsibility for all of those kind of things that
are going on, and we have to kind of be
aware that no matter how bad things can get, we've
always got something that we can do about it. And
that's for the individual as well as the family, the
relationships as well as the community. So if you're listening
to this and your life is a bits something something tea,
(19:10):
there will be something that you can do and as
Jane has just said, there will be something in your
life that you can be grateful for and you can
go well, okay, at least I've got that. So have
you got more than one tap in your house that
has water coming out of it? Good for you, that's
a good thing. Most of the people in the world
don't have that.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
No, they don't. They don't.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
You got a toilet that's indoors, Oh, you can go
to on your own toilet and it's private. Not many
people in the world have that either. So there are
so many things that we just have to stop ourselves
and go that's not my divine right to have running water.
That's not my divine right to have privacy while I
go to the toilet. But that's what I've got at
the moment. How lucky am I? How blessed am I?
(19:53):
We were lucky.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
And making the choice to say I do deserve a
good lay and taking the end. And then it's the
action that comes from it. Right it's clearing your mind,
it's getting out of the weeds of overthinking. And right now,
I think there's a lot of anger in the world
because there's been you know, just like you know, it's
(20:15):
like a heart monitor people often say after COVID they
were saying, oh, well, when we get back to normal, Well,
that's like a heart monitor life is not like that.
Just as we ride the waves of change, we are
still riding the waves of the after effects of a
lot of massive global change. Never in the history of
our planet when we want through such rapid, sudden, unexpected change,
(20:39):
now change. That's the thing I like to remind people
of change.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
You know.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Often people when they hear the word change, they think negativity.
They think, oh, unexpected, uninvited, unwelcome. But there's also plan
change too. There's also the change. For example, I'm getting married,
you know, I'm getting married. I'm I'm learning to drive
a car. I'm choosing to go to university. I'm choosing
(21:06):
to start a new business. That's planned, that's planned change,
And those are joyful things. I'm celebrating. I'm celebrating my anniversary.
I'm planning a party, I'm planning a vacation, you know.
And and that's what you know, giving you know, believing
(21:26):
that things can be different, but also giving yourself permission,
giving yourself a permission slip to say I don't have
all the answers right now, but it's okay. It's okay
to say no, it's okay to say that's not for me.
I'm not going to get into that. You know, I'm
not going to into get into that conflict. I'm going
to look for something better like collaboration global. This is
(21:49):
a very positive space, this is a very respectful space.
Can disagree, but it doesn't matter because there's still that
baseline of you deserve to be treated well, you deserve respect,
you deserve kindness. Indeed, that's that's the difference.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
It's really interesting that we had when we used to
do the face to face stuff pre COVID, we had
a meeting once where we let the young people take over.
So there was everything from it was an eighteen month
old baby there all the way through to an eighty
two year old wow, and the children. The children took
over part of the meeting, which was amazing. And there's
(22:30):
one eight year old that gave a brilliant presentation about
what success looks like and he was he was working
the room. You would have been so impressive. I absolutely
loved him. And he was talking about success and what
does it look like? I said, and yes, sir, and
you and then after that then we'll talk to you
over there. And somebody said, what I've always been disappointed
(22:50):
about is I've not been able to do blah blah blah.
And this kid just looked him in the eye and
he went, Yet yet we all went because as adults,
we are so easily doing the downward spiral of oh
dear palming, Oh what can I do? Oh, I'm I'm
rubbish at this, I'm no good at that, self deprecating,
putting ourselves down. And there was an eight year old
(23:12):
boosting us and making us realize that it's never too
late to choose whatever you want to do in the world.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
It's very empowering. It's very empowering. I mean, I did
something really brave, you know, when I was healing, because
I did have to take time to heal, you know,
I cashed in my savings and I said, you know,
I don't know what it's going to happen next, but
I want a superas in life. And my sons had
arranged to live and work in Australia for a year. Yeah,
(23:40):
and I said, after all this had happened and it
was so much, Oh my gosh, what's next? You know,
I said to them, I'd love to visit you, but
I just don't know how this is going to happen.
And one of my sons looked at me and he said,
you know, mom, it's okay, it's just like university. Why
don't you come drop us off? And you know what,
and that's what I did, and I went and I
(24:01):
you know, I traveled with them. We traveled together for
three or four months and I dropped them off and
we visited New Zealand and you know, Fiji and Hawaii
and no, not knowing, I didn't know where the next
dime was going to come from. I really didn't love it.
You know what, good for good for us and we
share and you know what, we built those memories because
(24:23):
I hadn't been able to spend time with them, and
this was before COVID. I hadn't been able to spend
a lot of time with them, and that was that
was hard. That was that was challenging. And I got
that time back, and that's something we can never get back.
I was recently on a podcast and with a wonderful gentleman,
Tony Chapman, and if you ever want an inspiration, check
(24:43):
it out. Tony Chapman Chatter that Matters, and he said,
they're the average human being, and this is being human.
The average human being has approximately two point three billion
seconds of life on Earth.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
God.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
Yeah, I always say, how are you going to spend yours?
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (25:06):
How are you going to spend yours? And look at you?
You're you know what, You're an inspiration, You're you're you're
really you know. But you're bringing people together because it's
not easy. It's not be easy for being in business
for yourself, especially through you know the ways of COVID
and adjustments and changes and corrections. So I applaud you
for creating that sense of belonging and I'm proud. I'm
(25:28):
proud to be here.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
Oh gosh, you can come again. This is a great quodcast.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Well, be got to give credit where credits.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
You haven't played your penny to say any of that. Now,
one of the questions I always ask people, and I'm curious,
and it's a question I've stolen from Simon Sinex. Apologies Simon,
but it works in that by asking somebody what one
of the happiest memories are when they were younger, it
has an influence on their adult life. So I'm wondering,
(25:57):
what would you say when you're about seven or eight,
what was something that you remember? What's a story that
you can share with me about when you were so
happy for whatever reason. It might have been the person
you were playing with, it might be in the activity
you were doing, It might be the place you were
the food you were eating. Can you have a memory
that just you remember being blissfully happy?
Speaker 2 (26:18):
You know I do, and thanks for asking. I went
to a school. I went to a school in Hamilton, Ontario,
and elementary school and it was in older school. It
was built, you know, in the nineteen twenties, and it
had this grand It had this grand sort of meeting
space in the middle, and you know how you go
(26:40):
into an auditorium, but it was really like it was
really like going into a sort of an opera hall
because it had the court, it had the staircases exposed
on the top. It was beautiful architecture. And then it
had this wonderful space that just filled the whole school up.
It was a gathering space and there was always a
(27:02):
school play at that time. Now, I know times have changed,
but we were celebrating Christmas. I celebrate Christmas, and you know,
I obviously am respectful of other religions that don't. Sorry,
my dog just barked there. Oh sorry, you know what
let's pause for a moment. He's barking.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
Share anyway that I were suited out the dog. Now
that's great.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Sorry, okay, So anyway, you're asking me about my happiest moment.
So anyway, you went to a beautiful school, beautiful gathering space.
Always had a holiday celebration. And I understand everybody celebrates
holidays differently, but I celebrate Christmas and that's what we
were celebrating. And I was an angel in the school play.
And it was my first sort of foray into, you know,
(27:51):
being in a school play, you know, because I was
always shy. I was actually a very shy child, a
very shy read a lot kept to myself. And it's
sort of where I sort of came out of my shell.
And I had people there that were excited, you know,
they were excited about the play. They were excited. It
was a sense of belonging. It was new, it was fresh,
fresh ideas, and it was wow, you know, you matter,
(28:15):
and you've got your voice, and we want you to sing.
And I was I was chosen to be sort of
the lead angel and bring the good news. You know,
it's a leg I actually had a speaking part, right,
so I really found my I really found my voice,
you know, I really found my voice, and people respected
(28:36):
me for what I had to say, and I thought,
you know what, this is fun. I'm not a theater person.
I love to go to the theater, but I don't.
I don't. I don't want to be an actress. And
I admire people that can do that. That's not me.
I'm not. You know, I made joke about being the
lead and somebody in my partner's life, you know, Yeah,
it's a tough job.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
It's a tough job.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Alwa, it's a very tough job. I always like being
my too authentic self, but it gave me that opportunity
to have a sense of belonging and have fun and
have fun.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Yeah, exactly exactly. And I know it's very important for
you now to help children to understand about how they
view their life, because it's like, if you knew then
what you know now, what would you want them to
understand and know? What sort of things are you teaching
young people now?
Speaker 2 (29:26):
Oh, thank you for asking. Well, I've got you know,
I've sort of come full circle. I've written books for adults,
which I'm very proud of, but now I'm creating for
children and I love it. I used to be kindergarten
teacher years ago. I worked in an indigenous community here
in Canada, underneath Hudson's Bay, and it was a flying community,
so it was very isolated. There was only five hundred people.
(29:49):
We didn't have running water. Oh kindergarten, so but halfway
there very cold. You know, we have those stereotypes in Canada,
but you know, do you have polar problems with your
garbage and all those things. I was we were still
within the tree line. But I taught kindergarten grade one
and grade four and I loved it, and you know,
(30:10):
I really had to be creative and when you're teaching
little ones, you know, teaching life skills. I was in
a community where, unfortunately, they had been devastated by the
sixties scoop. I don't know if you've heard of that,
where you know, people were taken from children were scooped
up and taken from their homes and would into school.
(30:33):
Very very traumatic, and so there was a lot of
there was a lot of ties broken then. So I
really had my first taste of teaching children about life,
not just about how to read and how to write.
And how to do math, but just about life, how
to be a good friend, you know, how to be kind,
how to stand up for yourself, you know how to
(30:55):
how to how to be calm. And I really had
to be clear and succinct. So I started, you know,
I started, you know, making up little rhymes and you know,
little sayings to help them with that. So going back
to that, now, I've written a new book called Hi,
I'm Share, I Go Everywhere, And it's really about the
(31:17):
superpower of mindfulness. And if I knew, as I really
wish as a child, I knew about the superpower of mindfulness.
And because mindfulness is really the foundation of our lives.
And I don't mean airy fairy, Oh I'm going to
sit and meditate and everything's going to be fine. I
mean really is being fully present with our real self
(31:40):
and the awareness of our surroundings and the practice of
relating to each other. Really it really guides how we
relate to each other, who we choose as our friends,
what we choose as our career, how we react to life,
whether we respond it's responding rather than reacting. And so
(32:01):
that's but in a fun, happy way. So now I've
partnered I've got a partner, business partner in the US
and a friend. Her name is Monica Violet Joy Productions,
and we've created a new channel, a little channel for
children and animated channel. Share goes everywhere. It's on TikTok
and on on Instagram, and it's positive. It's all positive.
(32:26):
It's all about positivity, and it's all about the superpower
of mindfulness and teaching kids in a fun way. So
that's really my passion. That's really not that I don't
like to speak to adults.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
I do, but it's fun sometimes.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
Yeah, but you know, children really like like you know
the little one that you talked about, the eight year
old that say said, yet, you know what children are gifts?
They have so much wisdom and we and we don't
we don't want to. You know, as we go through
adult life and we go through all those experiences, sometimes
we lose that. We lose that that sense of wonder
(33:01):
and that sense of hey, I can do that, I
can do anything. So that's what that's what I'm that's
what I'm talking about. And the researchers at Greater Good
Institute at the University of California, it's really the awareness
about paying attention. So you know you have children, I
have children. Think about when you had your children and
they started asking questions like why is the sky blue? Yeah?
(33:24):
Why is the san yellow?
Speaker 1 (33:26):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (33:27):
Why? Yeah? And you're looking at it. I thought to myself,
Oh shoot, I don't really know. Yeah, they're good questions, questions,
but they notice.
Speaker 1 (33:38):
They notice.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
So I've got a new book coming out just before
the holidays, Tim shared. I go everywhere and I've got
the channel, and it's really about creating positive content for
children in a fun way. So everything rhymes. Everything rhymes.
It's like Doctor Seuss meets Kobe Yamada. Have you heard
of Kobe Yamada. No, I have a fabulous author. He's
in the US, and my books are really for grown
(34:02):
ups and children. Now, so I come full circle and
I'm really going to focus on kids now. I mean,
I've made that choice, and it's fine. You know I'm
going to and you know, who knows where it's going
to go. But again, I feel I feel that it's
a responsibility that we have as adults to children to
(34:22):
give them the best are possible because we can because
we learn through our children too. And a lot of
people forget that a lot of people think, oh I
got to get up and make breakfast through, Oh I
got to do this. Children are a gift. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
Yeah. Absolutely. And the thing is if we don't spend
time giving them space, letting them learn with us for themselves,
rather than being told this is what you have to do,
don't question me. I'm right, you're wrong, like in the
famous Matilda line, isn't it the Rolldold story. Yes, if
we don't give them that opportunity, what are they going
(34:58):
to grow up?
Speaker 2 (34:58):
Like?
Speaker 1 (34:59):
You know, bullies were bullied. You know, if you're going
to hate somebody, that's that energy is going to carry
on into something else. And that's kind of where we
are in the world today. If you look at most
social media channels, you know, somebody was I saw something
the other day. There was a tweet that went out
from two different people, two different celebrities in the UK
more or less saying the same thing bar two or
(35:21):
three words, which was about the communities supporting the mosques
or the synagogues or the hotels that had refugees and
whatever they were doing. And they both said, well, hopefully
we'll get some peace now. You know, It's like in
other words, let's see if we can settle down. One
of them was castigated and the amount of abuse that
(35:43):
came at her for what she'd said, and you look
at the other one, who obviously had a different set
of followers, and it was like, yeah, I agree. Oh,
it's so feels reassured, it feels and it was so
positive and powerful, And I'm like, how can the same
thing create so many different scenarios people's minds. And if
we don't start helping children to articulate what's going on
(36:05):
in their minds and their hearts and also to make
good decisions and good choices in order to support themselves
and those around them, they will They have to know
that they will affect those around them as well. You
can't just be in a grumpy mood and expect the
people around you not to get affected by that. Then,
you know, we have to take that responsibility. As you
(36:26):
are doing and many many others are doing, is to
give them avenues where they can find this stuff out
and learn about it and armor themselves up, not to
be defensive, but so they don't get sucked in and
pulled down, but they don't.
Speaker 2 (36:41):
Get you know, that's an excellent explanation.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
So they don't get.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
Pulled away, they don't get pulled away from the purists
and so who they are. And you know I used
to I used to volunteer in a kindergarten classroom as well.
And again that was my first short story. That's how
I got published medium y, you know, Vocal Medium is
publishing a fun short story about a little boy that
(37:06):
I met, a Dash who wanted to you know, he
wanted to open a flower shop, you know, and we
were on the Fisher Price cash register, you know, pretending
you know, at the good Way at the flower shop,
and you know, he said, you know, I said, okay,
well who's going to be on cash You are me?
And you know, we were sitting there and I said, I said,
(37:28):
you know, Dash, you really seem to like flowers, you know,
and being at the flower shop, because he'd come into
the classroom every day and say, it's a flower shop
open today, you all, bright is a new penny. And
you know again he you know, I just said, you
seem to like it here, you seem to like this,
(37:49):
and he said I do. And I said, have you
ever considered owning your own flower shop? One day and
it was like bingo, Yeah, Like his face lit up
and a light bulb went on and it was the
connection between, Okay, this is something I like. I'm being mindful,
I'm doing something. I'm being present and aware. I can
(38:09):
make discoveries everywhere. I'm rhyming because that's what I do,
and that's what I've tried to do for children and
I I'm Share, I go everywhere and grown ups. It's
a book for children about the superpower of mindfulness, but
also grown ups to teach these life skills in a fun,
happy way. So I tell you a fun story about
Share my dog, you know, with barking. I have a
(38:30):
working dog because of some hearing challenges from my injury.
But she helps me be present and aware. She's very
mindful and I look through her eyes, and that's where
the book it comes from. It's told through the wise
eyes of Share, who goes everywhere, truly, and it's explaining
(38:50):
about mindfulness. So when we are mindful, we are fully
present and aware and we can make discoveries everywhere. And
it talks about what's love, what's being calm? One sentence
really easy, really easy to remember, and you know that's
that's my ga. I discovered my gift through trauma and tragedy.
I discovered my gifts.
Speaker 1 (39:12):
Yes, And how do you know, had that horrific thing
happened to you, Yes, who knows where you would be today?
It would it be a different scenario completely, wouldn't it.
Speaker 2 (39:22):
It may have been I may not have met you.
I may you know, I probably I probably wouldn't have
been writing. I mean, I really enjoyed what I was doing,
but now I know that there's that knowing of I
know this is my purpose, and I just switched it
over to you know, somebody said, would you write a
book for children? And I said, you know what, I'd
(39:44):
really like to do that. And so when I did,
I got the message. You know, that that place in
your heart where it feels good and you know you're
on the right path, you're doing the right thing at
the right time. I thought, Okay, this is for me,
This is for me. And then when I was very
very grateful and lucky and fortunate and blessed to meet
Monica and you know, be connected like a am to
(40:05):
you and we're just you know, we're trying to change
the world and have fun at the same time and
make a living.
Speaker 1 (40:12):
So yeah, that's not a bad thing to do, is it.
And the young children of the world, I mean, you know,
just as a by the by, that's what's going to
happen as well. It's phenomenon. I think there are more
and more people out there now that are realizing that
children need to understand how to be in control of
their emotions. And I mean I've had a couple of
clients have written beautiful books around yoga about the physicality
(40:37):
and the emotional side of things as well. Mindfulness kind
of go has been through a bit of bad press,
I think from some quarters where everyone thinks it's a
bit of fluffy and oh mindfulness, you're supposed to go
off and empty your mind of things and then think
of happy thoughts and it's like, well yes, but no,
and understanding the power of choosing your thoughts, I think, yes,
(41:00):
never be underestimated. People don't think they have a choice.
Oh well, the red mist came up and I couldn't
help myself. I lost my temper. Well you could. You know,
there are other ways around having to go down what
you think is the inevitable route of losing your temper
and then go I don't remember anything, did I get
angry or I don't, I don't remember. No, I'm sorry,
(41:20):
that's I don't buy that.
Speaker 2 (41:23):
It also helps you, you know, if you have any
if you have a health challenge. I mean, there's many
health benefits to it. If you have a health challenge.
It also can help you heal faster. I mean, there's
scientific evidence about that. Because it releases mindfulness, releases a
very important chemical in your brain called serotonin. As serotonin
that's really happy, the happy chemical. And it's also the responding.
(41:46):
It helps you respond rather than react. It helps you
take a moment and sit back and say, you know,
when people are rude or people are angry, it's not you.
I used to blame, you know. I used to have
a lot of self blame, you know, before I started,
you know, being more intentional with my life. And if
somebody was angry with me, I thought, what have I done?
Me too? And then I just said no. I learned
(42:09):
that was one of my lessons that I've learned is no,
that's a reflection of that person. That's a reflection about
their feelings and emotions and their thoughts. It's not it's
not me. And I might say to someone you know,
I'm sorry you feel that way. You know, this is
what I was intending to say to you, you know,
And but I don't blame myself. I'm very you know.
(42:30):
Brene Brown in the United States has wonderful saying vulnerability
is our superpower. And as Canadians who are known for
being very polite, yes, very human and maybe overly so. Right,
it's funny, you know. I I'll apologize to someone, but
I don't. I don't take responsibility for their feelings, emotions.
(42:52):
I don't take responsibility for their actions. And I think
I probably, like many people, used to do that. And
that's what mindful this brings to your life. It's just
it's just that, okay, you know what, you're better equipped
to get through life and all the you know, the
stuff that the nonsense, the grown up nonsense that's out there,
(43:13):
the cast role of nonsense. That's an Australian expression I learned.
That's you know what you are.
Speaker 1 (43:18):
You are a T shirt waiting to happen. Everything you
come out with a logo that I'm like, that's a
good thing.
Speaker 2 (43:24):
Well, that's what I'm going to do.
Speaker 1 (43:30):
There's so many things and I think mindfulness from my
perspective is having learned bits and pieces. You know, you
don't have to go on a week long course to
learn all about it. You can just take bits and
pieces from different wonderful people like yourself that you can
go huh oh, yeah, okay, and then you have it
in your back pocket for those incidences that will still
(43:50):
happen where somebody is up in your face really angry
with you about something, and you can just detach yourself
and in the moment you will get upset, you will
get angry, you will what have I done? You will
think and you want to have a go back. But
by the time you remove yourself and think, okay, let's decompress,
don't take any action, let's think about this, and now
(44:12):
I'm going to deal with it in a state that
is rational, a state that's going to help that person
who just blew up in my face. They're the ones
that need the support. So how am I going to
be able to answer them come back to them in
a dignified way. And I've always said to my kids,
you kill them with kindness. Yeah, you are so kind
(44:33):
to them, your ears will bleed, you know, literally, And
over the years when they've had incidences with you know,
school friends or UNI friends or whatever. I said, Look,
they are not the only friend in the world. That's fine,
but you are so nice them. So my youngest daughter
had an issue with a friend at UNI and went
through the I won't tell you the whole maybe I
(44:54):
will one day tell you the whole story. But the
very first term they had this little contratami I always say,
and it was mortifying for everybody concerned. And at the
end of these three years, she searched out my daughter
and said, I'm so sorry I did that to you.
I really really.
Speaker 2 (45:12):
She was big. That's a very that's a very, very kind,
brave soul.
Speaker 1 (45:18):
Exactly exactly. And Nicola was like she she accepted it,
and she you know, but she said, I had no
animosity to her whatsoever because I'd learned how to let
it go and move on. It was sitting with her
and it wasn't with me, and I had to deal
with up. Yes, I was upset at the time, but
you know, because you're feeling vulnerable in your first term
at new place, aren't you. But she said it was
(45:40):
you know, she I'm never going to be a best friend,
but I don't hold any grudge against her or any
upset towards her, And at least she came over and apologized,
So that's her letting it go as well, which is
a lovely thought that she doesn't.
Speaker 2 (45:53):
That is that, you know, and it is so refreshing.
And those are the types of stories that that are true,
true to light. And I mean my story is true
to life. It's not fabricated. I mean, yes, you know,
as an author, as a writer, now I understand you
make a very you make a very important decision when
you're writing.
Speaker 1 (46:11):
Is this true?
Speaker 2 (46:12):
Is this is this truth? Or is in fact? Or
is this fiction? Or is it based on something that happens?
And that's where the line gets blurred. That's where the
line gets blurred. I think oftentimes between fantasy and reality.
And that's one of the reasons I've written this book
and that I'm collaborating with Monica Violet Joy. We're in
(46:36):
a healthy, fun way, teach in silly way, teaching young
children about the power, superpower of mindfulness. And it's great
to pretend and it's great to imagine, but you can't
get lost in that. You really have to, you know,
face your feelings and it's okay to face your fears
and say, you know that you're upset, That's okay because
(46:59):
that's real life. Yeah, that's okay. But but it's having
the tools to deal with it. Mindfulness gives us all
that superpower of having those tools and resources the outside
and thinking, responding rather than reacting, you know, and just
and arming ourselves, you know, putting on our shields, so
(47:19):
to speak, and helping us helping us think more positively
about ourselves and others because we can be very we
can be our own worst critics sometimes.
Speaker 1 (47:26):
Oh yeah, yeah, you know, you can.
Speaker 2 (47:28):
Be you can be really hard on yourself and that
and that happens, you know, that happens all the time.
And so I'm trying to I'm just trying to give,
you know, grown ups and children the opportunity to have
that super awesome like to create. I believe you don't
just find happiness, you create it. You create those wonderful
memories and you you know, you are what you eat,
(47:50):
you are what you think.
Speaker 1 (47:51):
Yes, yes, and they all have an effect on your
physicality as well as the emotions emotional as well. So, Jane,
if I were to ask you in five years time,
what would you be doing can you have you got
a picture of where you're going with your purpose? Where's
it going to take you? Well?
Speaker 2 (48:10):
I do, I do in a happy way. I see
a happy, bright, healthy, wealthy future. I really, you know,
it's funny again, I'm very honest with people. I really
love what I do and I love creating. But I really,
I really want to make a better living monetarily at
this right. So obviously you know I did all savings exactly.
(48:31):
I want to build up. I want to build on
my successes and the foundation. But I also want to
write a series of children's books. I really do. I
want It's just this is just the beginning, and I
want to. I want to really have the best of
my life, you know, you know, free and clear of
all those self doubts you know that one has in
(48:53):
their mind about did I do the right thing? I
know I've done the right thing, and I want to
make the most of it now. I really want to.
I really want to build on my accesses. I do
have philanthropy. I'm a director volunteer director of Brand Canada,
an organization in Canada that helps people. You know, funds
research for advancements in brain research. You know, I want
to be more philanthropic. I want to support my community.
(49:17):
I want to hopefully in five ten years time, I
have some grandchildren. I want to spend time with them.
I want to spend time with my family, you know.
And I just I just want to be very intentional
and purposeful and focus and spend spend time doing things
that bring me joy and happiness, you know, because if
we just never know, you know, we never know.
Speaker 1 (49:39):
How much time we have and who could ask for more? Really,
that's all we all we ever want. If there's somebody
listening to this podcast and loves the sound of your books,
I might be able to help you. What's sort of
missing in your chain of getting out to the world.
Who are you looking for that might be able to help?
Speaker 2 (49:58):
Thank you for that. Well, there's two parts to being
an author. There's the writing part. There's the creating part.
There's the creator, you know, and I'm not just an author,
I'm a creator. I'm a speaker as well. But there's
also the marketing and distribution part. And and that's where
I really need help. Because you put on one hat
to create, you put on one hat to do, you know.
(50:21):
It's the I call it the business of writing. So
I really want to reach a broader audience. I'd love
to have my books in Ronald McDonald houses and hospitals
and libraries and places where people really, you know, are
really going through, you know, a tough time and need
that lift. You know, not everybody can afford to buy
(50:42):
a book, but in spaces and places where children and
grown ups are and teachers and classrooms, and that's that's really,
that's really what what I need the help with is
in fine in finding the perfect partners to really shine
and also, you know, shine across a world in different languages.
So yes, you're a business coach. I probably need some
(51:05):
help from you.
Speaker 1 (51:06):
You know.
Speaker 2 (51:06):
I've been in business for myself a long time, but
it is you know, publishing and you know, writing and
authoring your own books. It's a whole different kettle of fish.
Speaker 1 (51:16):
I think we all go into business, don't we, thinking
it's going to be easy because you're specialist in this area,
so I can really do that, and then you forget
there's all these other things you're supposed to do in
a business as well. You're like, oh, I don't love it.
I don't want to do that, but it's not my thing,
but it has to get done. So that's why we collaborate.
That's the whole point of bringing good people together with
different skills and different energies and insights into things. So,
(51:39):
I mean, Mattali is going to be if you haven't
already spoken to her as our resident publisher, She's going
to have a wealth of advice for you to distribution
and marketing. But I'm sure there will be others as well.
Anybody that's listening, if somebody can help you in that sphere.
Speaker 2 (51:56):
What's the easiest way to get a hold of you, Jane, Oh,
just I think the a They can go to my
website Jane and Write author dot com. And of course
they can go to my new channel, share goes everywhere
on TikTok and on Instagram and janeanright dot author on
Instagram and LinkedIn Jane and Write Author. But the best
(52:17):
way to reach me and reach out with be Jane
at janean writauthor dot com. And if you visit my website,
people can learn more about me who I am, what
I do, what I'm doing, and I'm also the type
of person like you. It's not just one sided. You know.
Maybe I can help them you know, maybe I can
help them with their journey. And that's what I'm trying
(52:37):
to do with my life is be very purposeful and
insight and inspirational by providing some insight that can help
make your life better and easier and happier and healthier.
So thank you for that.
Speaker 1 (52:50):
That's beautiful. And of course if you come to a
Collaboration Global session then you might see Jane there as well.
So we have a guest session every month. It's always
the last Tuesday of the month, and you're very welcome
to come along to that and meet Jane too. So
that's that Collaboration Global dot org or go on to
event write and search for Collaboration Global and you can
(53:10):
find it there as well their online sessions. So wherever
you are in the world, you are very welcome to
join us for a fabulous conversation about things like mindfulness. Jane,
thank you so much. I mean, we haven't really scratched
the surface of where you've been and what you've done
and where you've come from, but the essence of what
you're about the mindfulness, and I love the fact that
(53:32):
you say mindfulness is the foundation of our lives and
the past is a chapter, not the whole book, and
to have written books as well, but a side up
obviously for the grown ups. And then the other stories
about share for the children. I can't wait to get
my hands on one of those, my grandchildren. And thank
you so much for this time. I really appreciated it.
Speaker 2 (53:54):
Oh, thank you. It's been fun. Global Collaboration is a
fun group. We don't take ourselves too seriously, and that's
and always helpful, always willing to help. And thank you
for creating that, thank you for sharing your gifts. I'm
really excited and thank you for the opportunity to be
on this podcast. And I hope that whoever's listening will
(54:15):
find inspiration. I hope they'll find they'll find a kernel
of wisdom and motivation, a little nudge to keep them
going in the right direction.
Speaker 1 (54:24):
And indeed, if you do, please put a comment on
the whip, on the show notes, or on the YouTube channel.
When all these links go out, we'll put all the
connections on there for you to get in touch with Jane.
But if you've been inspired, or if you've gone through
a similar situation and you're looking for more knowledge and
information about mindfulness, then please do get in touch that
(54:45):
would be fantastic.
Speaker 2 (54:45):
Thank you again, Jane, Thank you so much. Jill have
a wonderful day.
Hi there.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
My name is Jiell tiny I'm from Collaboration Global.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
And this is our podcast, Being Human Hidden Debts. I'm
going to be interviewing some of our members from Collaboration Global,
and they're going.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
To be sharing with you their extraordinary lives.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Although they would probably believe we're just normal.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Everyday, average humans, but they are extraordinary Like you and me.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
We all have our story to tell. We've all been
through difficult.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Times and we've come out at the other end having
learned an extraordinary amount about ourselves that we can share
with others. So I think you'll find lots of things
that will resonate with where you've been in.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Our journey as world.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
I look forward to seeing you on the other side.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Hello, and welcome to Being Human Hidden Depths, the hot
cast by Collaboration Global. And my name is Jill Tiny.
As is the norm when I get chatting to somebody,
we've kind of started the podcast before we've started the podcast,
so I had to tell Jane to hang on a minute,
let's press record and get this out there for the
(01:16):
rest of the world. So welcome Jane. Lovely to have
you on the podcast today.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Oh it's wonderful to be here. Thank you so much
for the opportunity, and I really am just I'm so
excited to be a part of Collaboration Global, of such
a positive movement for social change and good things pleasure.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Thank you. So you have kind of come with a hop,
skip and a jump into Collaboration Global. Can you tell
me that the first thing that you realized about it
that connected it to you and your heart and why
you wanted to become part of it.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Well, there's a saying that we spend most of our
life finding our tribe, finding people that inspire us and
support us and you know, lift us up and let's
their spirits. And I was introduced to you by a
wonderful woman named Anne Scotland. As you know, it's a
Felt Global clublate collaboration member. And I was just refreshing.
(02:11):
It was just like a breath of fresh air. And
I said to myself, my goodness, I found I found
a happy place here. So I really found I really,
you know, initially I just thought you had me at hello.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Yeah. I love it. I love it. And the fact
that you say you found your happy place, I'm always
referring to you know, what's your happy place? And how
can you find contentment and that kind of as you say,
it's your tribe, isn't it. So thank you for that.
I really appreciate those kind words. That's some. It's a
really good description to for people that have found collaboration Globe.
When they come to a session, it's like, oh, it's
(02:44):
a bit different, isn't it. And it's really they feel
like it's an energetic thing. It just feels right. Yes,
they don't have to justify it to themselves. They just go,
do you know what it feels It feels.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Good, feels good? Yeah, yeah, I go with you if
if it feels good, it feels good, and it does
feel good for sure, exactly, let's.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Go with our guy. Well, listen, talking about going with
our guard I didn't know very much about you before
you became a member, obviously, because you've been introduced by
one of our other members. Normally I get to talk
to people beforehand they come to a meeting, I talk
to them afterwards. We have good chats and all of
a sudden it's like, hey, you remember, Wow, this is good.
So I did a little bit of stalking, you know,
like you do. And not only are you an award
(03:25):
winning author. But your company is my super awesome life
in incorporated. I think, wow, is that arrogance because you
have a super awesome life or is that just what
you're imparting to everybody that you come across.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Oh that's a great question. Well you know what I mean.
I'm here on this journey really through transformation, positive transformation.
There was a time in my life where my life
was not super awesome and I really had to I
really learned a lot about living intentionally and purposefully and
being careful where you into your life, and also the
(04:02):
power of creation that we're not just passive observers in
our life. So when I had my most terrible year
and I started writing about it and trying to help
others make their life easier and more positive and start
fresh and believe in themselves, I thought to myself, you know,
I said to the universe, I said, I don't want heart.
I'm done with hart and sad. I want a super
(04:24):
awesome life. And I thought, what a great name for
a company. So and it's also a name that resonates.
So I hope I come across very sincerely and authentically
and humbly, because like right now, I mean my life
isn't always super awesome every single day, but pretty much
is most of the time. It's because I choose, you know,
I choose happiness. I choose I choose joy, I choose
(04:48):
to see things. I choose to see the glass half
full rather than half empty, and the silver linings in life.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Yeah, yeah, I've said that on this podcast before that.
My nun who died the ripe old age of ninety six,
always used to say her prayers every night. But she
made a good point of saying, always look for the
silver lining when times are tough, because it's always there.
Sometimes you have to look hard for it, but it's
always there. You will find it eventually. So you talk
(05:19):
about so this is in front of me, there's this positive, energized, mindful,
connected person. But obviously you've come from a different place,
so you're not one of these people. They're just on
and happy and just you know, really full of it.
Just annoy people because you can sit there so easily.
(05:41):
I see they're in judgment a lot of times, and
it's like, oh, it's all right for her, she seems
for her, she can do what she Bloomimo likes because
she's got and you make up this story about this
other person that seems to have it all. Yes, So
where have you come from in order to get this
avive of life, this wonderful energy that you are emitting,
(06:03):
which hopefully is coming through the airwaves right now to
people listening and people can see you'll smile if they're
watching on the YouTube channel. But you see this energy
emanating from this powerful positivity. Obviously, I know you don't
have that all the time. There are mornings when you
don't want to get out of it. You know, it's
called life, isn't it. It's just we get off. Yes,
But where have you come from in that place where
(06:24):
you said no more, I'm not going to take this anymore.
What was happening in your life?
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Well, I was sitting. I was I'd come through three
very traumatic events in my life. One was an accident
that I had it. I was sitting in the stands.
I was a spectator at a sporting event and I
got hit in the head, like slammed in the face
with a volleyball. Changed my life forever. I mean, obviously, TBIs.
You know they don't always come out the other end
(06:52):
with a happy ending, and thanithfully mine did. But I
went through a lot of challenges with my speech at
the time. I really had to work very, very diligently
with a speech pathologist and my team to get my
speech back. I had word finding issues, I had speech aphasia.
So if you if you know anybody that has had
a stroke or an injury, or a sports injury or
(07:14):
any kind of head injury, it can be very devastating,
especially if you speak for a living. I mean, I
was on top of my game. I was traveling the world.
I was in the UK, I was in different countries,
you know, facilitating focus groups. I own my own company,
working with my partner, and boom. Life changed in an
instant and then you know that you think that would
(07:35):
be you know enough about six months later, just as
I was getting back to hey, what am I going
to do with my life? And I you know, I've
always been a purposeful person and I am very grateful
person and especially grateful for every day and that's so
important in life, but even more so now. And you know,
(07:55):
I have my partner, my fiancee at the time had
his own accident. He was in a car accident and
he had a catastrophic brain injury.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Ohods, woke up in the.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Hospital and the first words out of his mouth he
said to me, he said, I don't know who anyone
is here. I can't remember who anyone is here. But
you're the nicest and the prettiest.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Oh bless him.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Oh oh yes. And you can imagine imagine someone being
so vulnerable. They don't remember their name, they don't remember
their their life at all. They have no memory of
who they are. Children meeting me, engaged, living together, what
they do for a living. Parents, nothing, And as I
(08:41):
said in Butter Side Up, my book, Butter Side Up,
it was like a zamboni. If I'm Canadian, so I'm
gonna use Canadian references. But in Canada, the zamboni is
the machine that clears the ice and just wipes it clean.
It's just like it was just like, what's the upside
of a race? You know, our life in a moment
was erased. It was like a zamboni on an eye
rang clearing my eyes. Yeah, so you know, and you know,
(09:04):
and then I had another very very tragic incident in
my life with a friend. So you know what, you
can't help. You can't help but be affected by that.
And I just you know, and when people go through trauma,
when they go through difficulties, they often look for a
sense of purpose, a sense of meaning. And I really
(09:25):
thought that the moment, you know, get to get back
to your question for me was I felt like I
was in a principal's office at school. You know, when
you're at school and you're getting you know, reprimanded for
you know, talking out of turn, or you know, not
paying attention or doing something you shouldn't. I said to myself,
I feel like I'm in a principal's office and I'm
getting reprimanded, but I don't know why. And then I said,
(09:46):
you know, I've got to start. I said, I've got
two choices. If I'm going to get myself out of
this and I'm going to get my partner out of this,
butter side up, I've got to think differently about my life.
So that's when my life changed. That's when my life changed.
I mean it all life is, life is change. Life
is changed. But that's when I really started looking at
the power of change, the power of positivity. And as
(10:09):
I say to people, the past is just a chapter,
not the whole book. You know, we've gone through COVID,
we're all in this together. That's what people don't realize that,
you know, the upside. People say, well, what could the
upside of COVID be? Well, the upside is that we
have all experienced this together. Yeah, and we can all
relate to each other if we try a little more.
(10:31):
And there are people like Global Collaboration like you that
are there to say, hey, we're here to support each other.
There's enough abundance for us all. Yes, yes, we like
to compete, but we would really like to compete with
ourselves and we like to be successful, but we want
to do it in a socially ethical way so that
we can help others and leave this planet better than
(10:52):
we found it. So you know, that's the altruistic side.
The practical side is you know, you have to accept
what is rather than what was. So that's that's really interesting.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Yeah. A friend of mine had a series of tragedies.
She first got divorced. Not long after that, her son
died just crossing the road, and then nine months later
her daughter, also crossing the road, had a really nasty
accident and had TBI traumatic brain injury.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
I can relate to that, yes, totally.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
And also about this learning to talk again and learning
to walk again, all these things. But she's been on
a podcast recently Amy the Daughter at saying that she's
had to make some tough life choices. She realizes that
she will she's choosing not to have children, and she
sees that as a positive choice because it would her
mental capacity wouldn't be able to cope with the responsibility
(11:53):
of children, and she wouldn't want to put that on
a partner. So for the moment, what she thirty thirty six,
thirty seven, she's made that decision not to have children.
And it's like, you don't realize what people are going
through until you hear them talking in that really, I mean,
she was so honest and so open about how she's
had to learn to do things again and how she's
(12:14):
had to put things in place in order to make
it okay. So she's you know, spatial awareness when she's
cooking that she loves doing. She has to be so
much more careful, so many little things that she has
to do. But she's very clear, as you've just said,
it's not what was. She can't look back and go, oh,
I can't do that anymore. She looks forward to but
(12:36):
I can do this I'm still able to do that.
And what is what is? It is what it is,
and she's taking from that. And that's what I hear
coming from you, is like, is this switch on your
mind and this mindfulness space of don't talk to yourself
looking down that road, look at what could be, and
(12:57):
find your happiness in that next step forward, going forward?
And that A lot a lot of people they don't
see that even as an option. They're so clouded in
that space. Not so much poor me or victim mentality,
but they just don't have the capacity to go, Okay,
this has happened, Now what can I do about it?
(13:18):
They haven't got that first step on the rung of
the ladder.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Yes, you know what, I'm happy you. I'm happy you
brought that up. And cheers cheers to is there? Sorry?
Is her name? Amy?
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Amy?
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Cheers to Amy for embracing her life and being grateful.
And David steinel Rast I love him. He's he's a
I think he's a minister in Stockholm, Sweden. I'm not
sure where he's from, but I call him often. And
you know, today is a good and grateful day. You know,
(13:51):
I'm grateful. I'm grateful to be talking to you. And
I'm grateful I can talk. I'm grateful for my mobility.
I'm grateful for the clean water that comes out of
the tap, Grateful that I have hot, cold, hot, end
running hot cold and hot running water. I'm grateful. I'm
grateful that I open my eyes. I'm grateful for the sunshine.
And I don't want and I mean that's not all
(14:14):
rainbows and lollipops. That's just bare bones, basic Maslow's hierarchy
of needs. And if you're looking at you know, different philosophers,
it's outside in thinking, like Michael Singer, it's looking outside
in rather than inside out. It takes a little bit
of the sting out of things. It takes a little
bit of the emotionality out of it. It's not that
(14:36):
we shouldn't be sad. I mean, I've had lots of
heart sad days in my life. But it's a conscious
choice to say, Okay, I can park that. I can
park that for a moment, and I can be in
the audience for a moment and say to myself, Okay,
if I was a friend talking to myself, what would
I say, what would I do? What would be the
next step in my life? And that's what I'm all about.
(14:58):
It's those practical, tangible, real time what can I do
now to live joyfully? And I have a saying that
I say every day. I say, the rest of my
life is the best of my life. And it's and
it does. It helps you, and that gratitude helps you
get through the day. It helps you cope because sometimes
it's not easy. I mean, I'll give you an example.
(15:20):
I wouldn't have become an author. I wouldn't I mean
an author if probably all of these things happened to me.
I never I never grew up Jill saying I want
to write a book. I want to do this, I
want to do that. I mean, I love to read.
I read every Nancy Drew book and every you know,
you know book, children's book there probably was. But I
(15:41):
probably wouldn't have met you if all of this other
you know, hard stuff, you know, starting with an S
and ending and a tea happened. But it's not easy. Change.
It's not easy reinventing yourself. It's not easy changing. Change
is not always easy. I know somebody in my life
that's past, Peter Drucker, who you may have heard of,
who is one of the foremost. He was one of
(16:03):
the foremost thinkers and thought leaders on organizational change. And
I had the pleasure to meet him back in the
early nineties and hear him speak, and he said, I said,
you know, can you give me a piece of advice
about change? And he said, Jane, nobody likes a change
except the white baby. And it's true. We're all hardwired
(16:24):
to you know. Oh, I like my coffee this way.
I liked it. I like I like that. And we
need that, We need those sense we need a sense
of belonging. We need to cultivate that in our lives,
whether we're no matter where we are. And that's what
COVID interrupted and interrupted, that ability to have that sense
of belonging. So rather than running on in the mouth,
that's what I'm about. I'm about a sense of belonging
(16:47):
in cultivating a good and grateful life.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Yeah, a sense of belonging. And that's what COVID. You
just illustrated there that COVID stops a lot of things
that we were comfortable with. But in the same breath,
it gave us what we were missing. We realized that
it was connection rather than the stuff that we had.
It wasn't about the fancy holiday, Oh, I can't go
on holiday. It was I can't see my mom and dad,
(17:11):
or I can't see my friend, or I can't hug
my husband because he was away when it was lockdown,
and now we're.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
So for me.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
It was like this massive realization that people lacked hadn't
experienced community. And it wasn't until in the UK at least.
I don't know what you guys did over there, but
every Thursday at eight o'clock, we'd stand on our doorsteps
and applaud the NHS for what they were doing, as
it was a very emotive thing to see on the
news again and again and again. Very emotive thing to
(17:41):
do it because we started off like this and then
the two or three weeks later we've got saucepans and
lids and banging and making as much noise at cheering
and it was incredible.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Yeah, and that's what we did. In Canada, they did
the parts and pans, particularly in Vancouver. But that's that's
what you're doing. You're sharing gratitude.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
I mean, going back to current day, how quickly we
forget what about the riots across the UK and the
damage for people's personal properties, like where's the community there?
Until which enlightened all of us is that there were
real communities that did get out and put a physical
barrier between themselves and where the refugees were, or where
(18:21):
the mosque was or where the synagogue was or whatever,
saying this is community. You stay over there, you go
not fight yourself each other, but you're not going to
come and you're not going to set fire to this
and you're not going to disturb our community. And all
of a sudden, the urgency was back again. It was
a very still going on, but it was a very
emotive time. And we I've always said we have to
(18:45):
take responsibility for all of those kind of things that
are going on, and we have to kind of be
aware that no matter how bad things can get, we've
always got something that we can do about it. And
that's for the individual as well as the family, the
relationships as well as the community. So if you're listening
to this and your life is a bits something something tea,
(19:10):
there will be something that you can do and as
Jane has just said, there will be something in your
life that you can be grateful for and you can
go well, okay, at least I've got that. So have
you got more than one tap in your house that
has water coming out of it? Good for you, that's
a good thing. Most of the people in the world
don't have that.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
No, they don't. They don't.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
You got a toilet that's indoors, Oh, you can go
to on your own toilet and it's private. Not many
people in the world have that either. So there are
so many things that we just have to stop ourselves
and go that's not my divine right to have running water.
That's not my divine right to have privacy while I
go to the toilet. But that's what I've got at
the moment. How lucky am I? How blessed am I?
(19:53):
We were lucky.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
And making the choice to say I do deserve a
good lay and taking the end. And then it's the
action that comes from it. Right it's clearing your mind,
it's getting out of the weeds of overthinking. And right now,
I think there's a lot of anger in the world
because there's been you know, just like you know, it's
(20:15):
like a heart monitor people often say after COVID they
were saying, oh, well, when we get back to normal, Well,
that's like a heart monitor life is not like that.
Just as we ride the waves of change, we are
still riding the waves of the after effects of a
lot of massive global change. Never in the history of
our planet when we want through such rapid, sudden, unexpected change,
(20:39):
now change. That's the thing I like to remind people
of change.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
You know.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Often people when they hear the word change, they think negativity.
They think, oh, unexpected, uninvited, unwelcome. But there's also plan
change too. There's also the change. For example, I'm getting married,
you know, I'm getting married. I'm I'm learning to drive
a car. I'm choosing to go to university. I'm choosing
(21:06):
to start a new business. That's planned, that's planned change,
And those are joyful things. I'm celebrating. I'm celebrating my anniversary.
I'm planning a party, I'm planning a vacation, you know.
And and that's what you know, giving you know, believing
(21:26):
that things can be different, but also giving yourself permission,
giving yourself a permission slip to say I don't have
all the answers right now, but it's okay. It's okay
to say no, it's okay to say that's not for me.
I'm not going to get into that. You know, I'm
not going to into get into that conflict. I'm going
to look for something better like collaboration global. This is
(21:49):
a very positive space, this is a very respectful space.
Can disagree, but it doesn't matter because there's still that
baseline of you deserve to be treated well, you deserve respect,
you deserve kindness. Indeed, that's that's the difference.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
It's really interesting that we had when we used to
do the face to face stuff pre COVID, we had
a meeting once where we let the young people take over.
So there was everything from it was an eighteen month
old baby there all the way through to an eighty
two year old wow, and the children. The children took
over part of the meeting, which was amazing. And there's
(22:30):
one eight year old that gave a brilliant presentation about
what success looks like and he was he was working
the room. You would have been so impressive. I absolutely
loved him. And he was talking about success and what
does it look like? I said, and yes, sir, and
you and then after that then we'll talk to you
over there. And somebody said, what I've always been disappointed
(22:50):
about is I've not been able to do blah blah blah.
And this kid just looked him in the eye and
he went, Yet yet we all went because as adults,
we are so easily doing the downward spiral of oh
dear palming, Oh what can I do? Oh, I'm I'm
rubbish at this, I'm no good at that, self deprecating,
putting ourselves down. And there was an eight year old
(23:12):
boosting us and making us realize that it's never too
late to choose whatever you want to do in the world.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
It's very empowering. It's very empowering. I mean, I did
something really brave, you know, when I was healing, because
I did have to take time to heal, you know,
I cashed in my savings and I said, you know,
I don't know what it's going to happen next, but
I want a superas in life. And my sons had
arranged to live and work in Australia for a year. Yeah,
(23:40):
and I said, after all this had happened and it
was so much, Oh my gosh, what's next? You know,
I said to them, I'd love to visit you, but
I just don't know how this is going to happen.
And one of my sons looked at me and he said,
you know, mom, it's okay, it's just like university. Why
don't you come drop us off? And you know what,
and that's what I did, and I went and I
(24:01):
you know, I traveled with them. We traveled together for
three or four months and I dropped them off and
we visited New Zealand and you know, Fiji and Hawaii
and no, not knowing, I didn't know where the next
dime was going to come from. I really didn't love it.
You know what, good for good for us and we
share and you know what, we built those memories because
(24:23):
I hadn't been able to spend time with them, and
this was before COVID. I hadn't been able to spend
a lot of time with them, and that was that
was hard. That was that was challenging. And I got
that time back, and that's something we can never get back.
I was recently on a podcast and with a wonderful gentleman,
Tony Chapman, and if you ever want an inspiration, check
(24:43):
it out. Tony Chapman Chatter that Matters, and he said,
they're the average human being, and this is being human.
The average human being has approximately two point three billion
seconds of life on Earth.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
God.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
Yeah, I always say, how are you going to spend yours?
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (25:06):
How are you going to spend yours? And look at you?
You're you know what, You're an inspiration, You're you're you're
really you know. But you're bringing people together because it's
not easy. It's not be easy for being in business
for yourself, especially through you know the ways of COVID
and adjustments and changes and corrections. So I applaud you
for creating that sense of belonging and I'm proud. I'm
(25:28):
proud to be here.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
Oh gosh, you can come again. This is a great quodcast.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Well, be got to give credit where credits.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
You haven't played your penny to say any of that. Now,
one of the questions I always ask people, and I'm curious,
and it's a question I've stolen from Simon Sinex. Apologies Simon,
but it works in that by asking somebody what one
of the happiest memories are when they were younger, it
has an influence on their adult life. So I'm wondering,
(25:57):
what would you say when you're about seven or eight,
what was something that you remember? What's a story that
you can share with me about when you were so
happy for whatever reason. It might have been the person
you were playing with, it might be in the activity
you were doing, It might be the place you were
the food you were eating. Can you have a memory
that just you remember being blissfully happy?
Speaker 2 (26:18):
You know I do, and thanks for asking. I went
to a school. I went to a school in Hamilton, Ontario,
and elementary school and it was in older school. It
was built, you know, in the nineteen twenties, and it
had this grand It had this grand sort of meeting
space in the middle, and you know how you go
(26:40):
into an auditorium, but it was really like it was
really like going into a sort of an opera hall
because it had the court, it had the staircases exposed
on the top. It was beautiful architecture. And then it
had this wonderful space that just filled the whole school up.
It was a gathering space and there was always a
(27:02):
school play at that time. Now, I know times have changed,
but we were celebrating Christmas. I celebrate Christmas, and you know,
I obviously am respectful of other religions that don't. Sorry,
my dog just barked there. Oh sorry, you know what
let's pause for a moment. He's barking.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
Share anyway that I were suited out the dog. Now
that's great.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Sorry, okay, So anyway, you're asking me about my happiest moment.
So anyway, you went to a beautiful school, beautiful gathering space.
Always had a holiday celebration. And I understand everybody celebrates
holidays differently, but I celebrate Christmas and that's what we
were celebrating. And I was an angel in the school play.
And it was my first sort of foray into, you know,
(27:51):
being in a school play, you know, because I was
always shy. I was actually a very shy child, a
very shy read a lot kept to myself. And it's
sort of where I sort of came out of my shell.
And I had people there that were excited, you know,
they were excited about the play. They were excited. It
was a sense of belonging. It was new, it was fresh,
fresh ideas, and it was wow, you know, you matter,
(28:15):
and you've got your voice, and we want you to sing.
And I was I was chosen to be sort of
the lead angel and bring the good news. You know,
it's a leg I actually had a speaking part, right,
so I really found my I really found my voice,
you know, I really found my voice, and people respected
(28:36):
me for what I had to say, and I thought,
you know what, this is fun. I'm not a theater person.
I love to go to the theater, but I don't.
I don't. I don't want to be an actress. And
I admire people that can do that. That's not me.
I'm not. You know, I made joke about being the
lead and somebody in my partner's life, you know, Yeah,
it's a tough job.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
It's a tough job.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Alwa, it's a very tough job. I always like being
my too authentic self, but it gave me that opportunity
to have a sense of belonging and have fun and
have fun.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Yeah, exactly exactly. And I know it's very important for
you now to help children to understand about how they
view their life, because it's like, if you knew then
what you know now, what would you want them to
understand and know? What sort of things are you teaching
young people now?
Speaker 2 (29:26):
Oh, thank you for asking. Well, I've got you know,
I've sort of come full circle. I've written books for adults,
which I'm very proud of, but now I'm creating for
children and I love it. I used to be kindergarten
teacher years ago. I worked in an indigenous community here
in Canada, underneath Hudson's Bay, and it was a flying community,
so it was very isolated. There was only five hundred people.
(29:49):
We didn't have running water. Oh kindergarten, so but halfway
there very cold. You know, we have those stereotypes in Canada,
but you know, do you have polar problems with your
garbage and all those things. I was we were still
within the tree line. But I taught kindergarten grade one
and grade four and I loved it, and you know,
(30:10):
I really had to be creative and when you're teaching
little ones, you know, teaching life skills. I was in
a community where, unfortunately, they had been devastated by the
sixties scoop. I don't know if you've heard of that,
where you know, people were taken from children were scooped
up and taken from their homes and would into school.
(30:33):
Very very traumatic, and so there was a lot of
there was a lot of ties broken then. So I
really had my first taste of teaching children about life,
not just about how to read and how to write.
And how to do math, but just about life, how
to be a good friend, you know, how to be kind,
how to stand up for yourself, you know how to
(30:55):
how to how to be calm. And I really had
to be clear and succinct. So I started, you know,
I started, you know, making up little rhymes and you know,
little sayings to help them with that. So going back
to that, now, I've written a new book called Hi,
I'm Share, I Go Everywhere, And it's really about the
(31:17):
superpower of mindfulness. And if I knew, as I really
wish as a child, I knew about the superpower of mindfulness.
And because mindfulness is really the foundation of our lives.
And I don't mean airy fairy, Oh I'm going to
sit and meditate and everything's going to be fine. I
mean really is being fully present with our real self
(31:40):
and the awareness of our surroundings and the practice of
relating to each other. Really it really guides how we
relate to each other, who we choose as our friends,
what we choose as our career, how we react to life,
whether we respond it's responding rather than reacting. And so
(32:01):
that's but in a fun, happy way. So now I've
partnered I've got a partner, business partner in the US
and a friend. Her name is Monica Violet Joy Productions,
and we've created a new channel, a little channel for
children and animated channel. Share goes everywhere. It's on TikTok
and on on Instagram, and it's positive. It's all positive.
(32:26):
It's all about positivity, and it's all about the superpower
of mindfulness and teaching kids in a fun way. So
that's really my passion. That's really not that I don't
like to speak to adults.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
I do, but it's fun sometimes.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
Yeah, but you know, children really like like you know
the little one that you talked about, the eight year
old that say said, yet, you know what children are gifts?
They have so much wisdom and we and we don't
we don't want to. You know, as we go through
adult life and we go through all those experiences, sometimes
we lose that. We lose that that sense of wonder
(33:01):
and that sense of hey, I can do that, I
can do anything. So that's what that's what I'm that's
what I'm talking about. And the researchers at Greater Good
Institute at the University of California, it's really the awareness
about paying attention. So you know you have children, I
have children. Think about when you had your children and
they started asking questions like why is the sky blue? Yeah?
(33:24):
Why is the san yellow?
Speaker 1 (33:26):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (33:27):
Why? Yeah? And you're looking at it. I thought to myself,
Oh shoot, I don't really know. Yeah, they're good questions, questions,
but they notice.
Speaker 1 (33:38):
They notice.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
So I've got a new book coming out just before
the holidays, Tim shared. I go everywhere and I've got
the channel, and it's really about creating positive content for
children in a fun way. So everything rhymes. Everything rhymes.
It's like Doctor Seuss meets Kobe Yamada. Have you heard
of Kobe Yamada. No, I have a fabulous author. He's
in the US, and my books are really for grown
(34:02):
ups and children. Now, so I come full circle and
I'm really going to focus on kids now. I mean,
I've made that choice, and it's fine. You know I'm
going to and you know, who knows where it's going
to go. But again, I feel I feel that it's
a responsibility that we have as adults to children to
(34:22):
give them the best are possible because we can because
we learn through our children too. And a lot of
people forget that a lot of people think, oh I
got to get up and make breakfast through, Oh I
got to do this. Children are a gift. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
Yeah. Absolutely. And the thing is if we don't spend
time giving them space, letting them learn with us for themselves,
rather than being told this is what you have to do,
don't question me. I'm right, you're wrong, like in the
famous Matilda line, isn't it the Rolldold story. Yes, if
we don't give them that opportunity, what are they going
(34:58):
to grow up?
Speaker 2 (34:58):
Like?
Speaker 1 (34:59):
You know, bullies were bullied. You know, if you're going
to hate somebody, that's that energy is going to carry
on into something else. And that's kind of where we
are in the world today. If you look at most
social media channels, you know, somebody was I saw something
the other day. There was a tweet that went out
from two different people, two different celebrities in the UK
more or less saying the same thing bar two or
(35:21):
three words, which was about the communities supporting the mosques
or the synagogues or the hotels that had refugees and
whatever they were doing. And they both said, well, hopefully
we'll get some peace now. You know, It's like in
other words, let's see if we can settle down. One
of them was castigated and the amount of abuse that
(35:43):
came at her for what she'd said, and you look
at the other one, who obviously had a different set
of followers, and it was like, yeah, I agree. Oh,
it's so feels reassured, it feels and it was so
positive and powerful, And I'm like, how can the same
thing create so many different scenarios people's minds. And if
we don't start helping children to articulate what's going on
(36:05):
in their minds and their hearts and also to make
good decisions and good choices in order to support themselves
and those around them, they will They have to know
that they will affect those around them as well. You
can't just be in a grumpy mood and expect the
people around you not to get affected by that. Then,
you know, we have to take that responsibility. As you
(36:26):
are doing and many many others are doing, is to
give them avenues where they can find this stuff out
and learn about it and armor themselves up, not to
be defensive, but so they don't get sucked in and
pulled down, but they don't.
Speaker 2 (36:41):
Get you know, that's an excellent explanation.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
So they don't get.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
Pulled away, they don't get pulled away from the purists
and so who they are. And you know I used
to I used to volunteer in a kindergarten classroom as well.
And again that was my first short story. That's how
I got published medium y, you know, Vocal Medium is
publishing a fun short story about a little boy that
(37:06):
I met, a Dash who wanted to you know, he
wanted to open a flower shop, you know, and we
were on the Fisher Price cash register, you know, pretending
you know, at the good Way at the flower shop,
and you know, he said, you know, I said, okay,
well who's going to be on cash You are me?
And you know, we were sitting there and I said, I said,
(37:28):
you know, Dash, you really seem to like flowers, you know,
and being at the flower shop, because he'd come into
the classroom every day and say, it's a flower shop
open today, you all, bright is a new penny. And
you know again he you know, I just said, you
seem to like it here, you seem to like this,
(37:49):
and he said I do. And I said, have you
ever considered owning your own flower shop? One day and
it was like bingo, Yeah, Like his face lit up
and a light bulb went on and it was the
connection between, Okay, this is something I like. I'm being mindful,
I'm doing something. I'm being present and aware. I can
(38:09):
make discoveries everywhere. I'm rhyming because that's what I do,
and that's what I've tried to do for children and
I I'm Share, I go everywhere and grown ups. It's
a book for children about the superpower of mindfulness, but
also grown ups to teach these life skills in a fun,
happy way. So I tell you a fun story about
Share my dog, you know, with barking. I have a
(38:30):
working dog because of some hearing challenges from my injury.
But she helps me be present and aware. She's very
mindful and I look through her eyes, and that's where
the book it comes from. It's told through the wise
eyes of Share, who goes everywhere, truly, and it's explaining
(38:50):
about mindfulness. So when we are mindful, we are fully
present and aware and we can make discoveries everywhere. And
it talks about what's love, what's being calm? One sentence
really easy, really easy to remember, and you know that's
that's my ga. I discovered my gift through trauma and tragedy.
I discovered my gifts.
Speaker 1 (39:12):
Yes, And how do you know, had that horrific thing
happened to you, Yes, who knows where you would be today?
It would it be a different scenario completely, wouldn't it.
Speaker 2 (39:22):
It may have been I may not have met you.
I may you know, I probably I probably wouldn't have
been writing. I mean, I really enjoyed what I was doing,
but now I know that there's that knowing of I
know this is my purpose, and I just switched it
over to you know, somebody said, would you write a
book for children? And I said, you know what, I'd
(39:44):
really like to do that. And so when I did,
I got the message. You know, that that place in
your heart where it feels good and you know you're
on the right path, you're doing the right thing at
the right time. I thought, Okay, this is for me,
This is for me. And then when I was very
very grateful and lucky and fortunate and blessed to meet
Monica and you know, be connected like a am to
(40:05):
you and we're just you know, we're trying to change
the world and have fun at the same time and
make a living.
Speaker 1 (40:12):
So yeah, that's not a bad thing to do, is it.
And the young children of the world, I mean, you know,
just as a by the by, that's what's going to
happen as well. It's phenomenon. I think there are more
and more people out there now that are realizing that
children need to understand how to be in control of
their emotions. And I mean I've had a couple of
clients have written beautiful books around yoga about the physicality
(40:37):
and the emotional side of things as well. Mindfulness kind
of go has been through a bit of bad press,
I think from some quarters where everyone thinks it's a
bit of fluffy and oh mindfulness, you're supposed to go
off and empty your mind of things and then think
of happy thoughts and it's like, well yes, but no,
and understanding the power of choosing your thoughts, I think, yes,
(41:00):
never be underestimated. People don't think they have a choice.
Oh well, the red mist came up and I couldn't
help myself. I lost my temper. Well you could. You know,
there are other ways around having to go down what
you think is the inevitable route of losing your temper
and then go I don't remember anything, did I get
angry or I don't, I don't remember. No, I'm sorry,
(41:20):
that's I don't buy that.
Speaker 2 (41:23):
It also helps you, you know, if you have any
if you have a health challenge. I mean, there's many
health benefits to it. If you have a health challenge.
It also can help you heal faster. I mean, there's
scientific evidence about that. Because it releases mindfulness, releases a
very important chemical in your brain called serotonin. As serotonin
that's really happy, the happy chemical. And it's also the responding.
(41:46):
It helps you respond rather than react. It helps you
take a moment and sit back and say, you know,
when people are rude or people are angry, it's not you.
I used to blame, you know. I used to have
a lot of self blame, you know, before I started,
you know, being more intentional with my life. And if
somebody was angry with me, I thought, what have I done?
Me too? And then I just said no. I learned
(42:09):
that was one of my lessons that I've learned is no,
that's a reflection of that person. That's a reflection about
their feelings and emotions and their thoughts. It's not it's
not me. And I might say to someone you know,
I'm sorry you feel that way. You know, this is
what I was intending to say to you, you know,
And but I don't blame myself. I'm very you know.
(42:30):
Brene Brown in the United States has wonderful saying vulnerability
is our superpower. And as Canadians who are known for
being very polite, yes, very human and maybe overly so. Right,
it's funny, you know. I I'll apologize to someone, but
I don't. I don't take responsibility for their feelings, emotions.
(42:52):
I don't take responsibility for their actions. And I think
I probably, like many people, used to do that. And
that's what mindful this brings to your life. It's just
it's just that, okay, you know what, you're better equipped
to get through life and all the you know, the
stuff that the nonsense, the grown up nonsense that's out there,
(43:13):
the cast role of nonsense. That's an Australian expression I learned.
That's you know what you are.
Speaker 1 (43:18):
You are a T shirt waiting to happen. Everything you
come out with a logo that I'm like, that's a
good thing.
Speaker 2 (43:24):
Well, that's what I'm going to do.
Speaker 1 (43:30):
There's so many things and I think mindfulness from my
perspective is having learned bits and pieces. You know, you
don't have to go on a week long course to
learn all about it. You can just take bits and
pieces from different wonderful people like yourself that you can
go huh oh, yeah, okay, and then you have it
in your back pocket for those incidences that will still
(43:50):
happen where somebody is up in your face really angry
with you about something, and you can just detach yourself
and in the moment you will get upset, you will
get angry, you will what have I done? You will
think and you want to have a go back. But
by the time you remove yourself and think, okay, let's decompress,
don't take any action, let's think about this, and now
(44:12):
I'm going to deal with it in a state that
is rational, a state that's going to help that person
who just blew up in my face. They're the ones
that need the support. So how am I going to
be able to answer them come back to them in
a dignified way. And I've always said to my kids,
you kill them with kindness. Yeah, you are so kind
(44:33):
to them, your ears will bleed, you know, literally, And
over the years when they've had incidences with you know,
school friends or UNI friends or whatever. I said, Look,
they are not the only friend in the world. That's fine,
but you are so nice them. So my youngest daughter
had an issue with a friend at UNI and went
through the I won't tell you the whole maybe I
(44:54):
will one day tell you the whole story. But the
very first term they had this little contratami I always say,
and it was mortifying for everybody concerned. And at the
end of these three years, she searched out my daughter
and said, I'm so sorry I did that to you.
I really really.
Speaker 2 (45:12):
She was big. That's a very that's a very, very kind,
brave soul.
Speaker 1 (45:18):
Exactly exactly. And Nicola was like she she accepted it,
and she you know, but she said, I had no
animosity to her whatsoever because I'd learned how to let
it go and move on. It was sitting with her
and it wasn't with me, and I had to deal
with up. Yes, I was upset at the time, but
you know, because you're feeling vulnerable in your first term
at new place, aren't you. But she said it was
(45:40):
you know, she I'm never going to be a best friend,
but I don't hold any grudge against her or any
upset towards her, And at least she came over and apologized,
So that's her letting it go as well, which is
a lovely thought that she doesn't.
Speaker 2 (45:53):
That is that, you know, and it is so refreshing.
And those are the types of stories that that are true,
true to light. And I mean my story is true
to life. It's not fabricated. I mean, yes, you know,
as an author, as a writer, now I understand you
make a very you make a very important decision when
you're writing.
Speaker 1 (46:11):
Is this true?
Speaker 2 (46:12):
Is this is this truth? Or is in fact? Or
is this fiction? Or is it based on something that happens?
And that's where the line gets blurred. That's where the
line gets blurred. I think oftentimes between fantasy and reality.
And that's one of the reasons I've written this book
and that I'm collaborating with Monica Violet Joy. We're in
(46:36):
a healthy, fun way, teach in silly way, teaching young
children about the power, superpower of mindfulness. And it's great
to pretend and it's great to imagine, but you can't
get lost in that. You really have to, you know,
face your feelings and it's okay to face your fears
and say, you know that you're upset, That's okay because
(46:59):
that's real life. Yeah, that's okay. But but it's having
the tools to deal with it. Mindfulness gives us all
that superpower of having those tools and resources the outside
and thinking, responding rather than reacting, you know, and just
and arming ourselves, you know, putting on our shields, so
(47:19):
to speak, and helping us helping us think more positively
about ourselves and others because we can be very we
can be our own worst critics sometimes.
Speaker 1 (47:26):
Oh yeah, yeah, you know, you can.
Speaker 2 (47:28):
Be you can be really hard on yourself and that
and that happens, you know, that happens all the time.
And so I'm trying to I'm just trying to give,
you know, grown ups and children the opportunity to have
that super awesome like to create. I believe you don't
just find happiness, you create it. You create those wonderful
memories and you you know, you are what you eat,
(47:50):
you are what you think.
Speaker 1 (47:51):
Yes, yes, and they all have an effect on your
physicality as well as the emotions emotional as well. So, Jane,
if I were to ask you in five years time,
what would you be doing can you have you got
a picture of where you're going with your purpose? Where's
it going to take you? Well?
Speaker 2 (48:10):
I do, I do in a happy way. I see
a happy, bright, healthy, wealthy future. I really, you know,
it's funny again, I'm very honest with people. I really
love what I do and I love creating. But I really,
I really want to make a better living monetarily at
this right. So obviously you know I did all savings exactly.
(48:31):
I want to build up. I want to build on
my successes and the foundation. But I also want to
write a series of children's books. I really do. I
want It's just this is just the beginning, and I
want to. I want to really have the best of
my life, you know, you know, free and clear of
all those self doubts you know that one has in
(48:53):
their mind about did I do the right thing? I
know I've done the right thing, and I want to
make the most of it now. I really want to.
I really want to build on my accesses. I do
have philanthropy. I'm a director volunteer director of Brand Canada,
an organization in Canada that helps people. You know, funds
research for advancements in brain research. You know, I want
to be more philanthropic. I want to support my community.
(49:17):
I want to hopefully in five ten years time, I
have some grandchildren. I want to spend time with them.
I want to spend time with my family, you know.
And I just I just want to be very intentional
and purposeful and focus and spend spend time doing things
that bring me joy and happiness, you know, because if
we just never know, you know, we never know.
Speaker 1 (49:39):
How much time we have and who could ask for more? Really,
that's all we all we ever want. If there's somebody
listening to this podcast and loves the sound of your books,
I might be able to help you. What's sort of
missing in your chain of getting out to the world.
Who are you looking for that might be able to help?
Speaker 2 (49:58):
Thank you for that. Well, there's two parts to being
an author. There's the writing part. There's the creating part.
There's the creator, you know, and I'm not just an author,
I'm a creator. I'm a speaker as well. But there's
also the marketing and distribution part. And and that's where
I really need help. Because you put on one hat
to create, you put on one hat to do, you know.
(50:21):
It's the I call it the business of writing. So
I really want to reach a broader audience. I'd love
to have my books in Ronald McDonald houses and hospitals
and libraries and places where people really, you know, are
really going through, you know, a tough time and need
that lift. You know, not everybody can afford to buy
(50:42):
a book, but in spaces and places where children and
grown ups are and teachers and classrooms, and that's that's really,
that's really what what I need the help with is
in fine in finding the perfect partners to really shine
and also, you know, shine across a world in different languages.
So yes, you're a business coach. I probably need some
(51:05):
help from you.
Speaker 1 (51:06):
You know.
Speaker 2 (51:06):
I've been in business for myself a long time, but
it is you know, publishing and you know, writing and
authoring your own books. It's a whole different kettle of fish.
Speaker 1 (51:16):
I think we all go into business, don't we, thinking
it's going to be easy because you're specialist in this area,
so I can really do that, and then you forget
there's all these other things you're supposed to do in
a business as well. You're like, oh, I don't love it.
I don't want to do that, but it's not my thing,
but it has to get done. So that's why we collaborate.
That's the whole point of bringing good people together with
different skills and different energies and insights into things. So,
(51:39):
I mean, Mattali is going to be if you haven't
already spoken to her as our resident publisher, She's going
to have a wealth of advice for you to distribution
and marketing. But I'm sure there will be others as well.
Anybody that's listening, if somebody can help you in that sphere.
Speaker 2 (51:56):
What's the easiest way to get a hold of you, Jane, Oh,
just I think the a They can go to my
website Jane and Write author dot com. And of course
they can go to my new channel, share goes everywhere
on TikTok and on Instagram and janeanright dot author on
Instagram and LinkedIn Jane and Write Author. But the best
(52:17):
way to reach me and reach out with be Jane
at janean writauthor dot com. And if you visit my website,
people can learn more about me who I am, what
I do, what I'm doing, and I'm also the type
of person like you. It's not just one sided. You know.
Maybe I can help them you know, maybe I can
help them with their journey. And that's what I'm trying
(52:37):
to do with my life is be very purposeful and
insight and inspirational by providing some insight that can help
make your life better and easier and happier and healthier.
So thank you for that.
Speaker 1 (52:50):
That's beautiful. And of course if you come to a
Collaboration Global session then you might see Jane there as well.
So we have a guest session every month. It's always
the last Tuesday of the month, and you're very welcome
to come along to that and meet Jane too. So
that's that Collaboration Global dot org or go on to
event write and search for Collaboration Global and you can
(53:10):
find it there as well their online sessions. So wherever
you are in the world, you are very welcome to
join us for a fabulous conversation about things like mindfulness. Jane,
thank you so much. I mean, we haven't really scratched
the surface of where you've been and what you've done
and where you've come from, but the essence of what
you're about the mindfulness, and I love the fact that
(53:32):
you say mindfulness is the foundation of our lives and
the past is a chapter, not the whole book, and
to have written books as well, but a side up
obviously for the grown ups. And then the other stories
about share for the children. I can't wait to get
my hands on one of those, my grandchildren. And thank
you so much for this time. I really appreciated it.
Speaker 2 (53:54):
Oh, thank you. It's been fun. Global Collaboration is a
fun group. We don't take ourselves too seriously, and that's
and always helpful, always willing to help. And thank you
for creating that, thank you for sharing your gifts. I'm
really excited and thank you for the opportunity to be
on this podcast. And I hope that whoever's listening will
(54:15):
find inspiration. I hope they'll find they'll find a kernel
of wisdom and motivation, a little nudge to keep them
going in the right direction.
Speaker 1 (54:24):
And indeed, if you do, please put a comment on
the whip, on the show notes, or on the YouTube channel.
When all these links go out, we'll put all the
connections on there for you to get in touch with Jane.
But if you've been inspired, or if you've gone through
a similar situation and you're looking for more knowledge and
information about mindfulness, then please do get in touch that
(54:45):
would be fantastic.
Speaker 2 (54:45):
Thank you again, Jane, Thank you so much. Jill have
a wonderful day.
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