In a Monthly Nutshell

May had a bit of everything. Joy, challenge, connection, creativity, even some hard goodbyes.

I gave myself a few extra days before writing this one. I needed time to let everything settle, to reflect on the small shifts, the lessons, the connections, and the little wins that didn’t feel big in the moment but ended up meaning a lot.

So here is what stayed with me from May, in a nutshell.

One thing I am proud of.

May 1-3, 2025. Canadian Burn Survivors Community 2025 Conference.

The conference hall was full of people whose lives had been torn apart and stitched back together, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Over two powerful days, we listened to speakers like Aaron Polvatti, Don Schwartz, Cindy Rutter, and Gemma Isaac share their wisdom on mental health and resilience. It was an honour to be invited to join a panel alongside Kyle Hynes and Tolu Amadi, presented by Dr Jeff Sauve.

The theme? Happiness. How do you talk about happiness to people who have nearly lost it all?

At first, it felt impossible. But we spoke from the heart, and that’s what connected us with the audience.

I shared how being gentle with ourselves isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. That bad days don’t cancel out good days, they make them brighter. And when I saw the soft nods and silent agreement in the room, I knew that this was a shared truth.

I’m a proud burn survivor. I’ll treasure the memories and the people I met in those three days. If only I had learned earlier the best way to embrace the people I care about.

Turns out, sometimes the smallest gestures like a simple hug, can stay with you longer than you'd expect.

One thing I learned in May. Always give a heart-to-heart hug.

People often ask why I bother setting up my pop-up at markets. I mean, it’s not like I’m making big sales at a local market. But it’s never really about the sales. It’s always about connections with members of the community.

Like Tommy. A local family guy who saw me at the Mother’s Day Market, smiled wide, and opened his arms for a hug. I met Tommy, his wife Cathy, and their daughters at another market last year. That hug? It stuck with me.

He told me, “The warmest hugs are heart-to-heart. Always lean to your right.”

So next time you hug someone, remember to tilt your head to your right, and give a meaningful heart-to-heart hug! I promise you...

You will feel the connection.

And while heart-to-heart hugs are meaningful, the hug we need most is the one we give ourselves.

In May, I experienced a moment like that and it was strangely freeing.

One pivotal moment

You know that dreaded magnifying mirror you avoid after you hit 45? Imagine staring at that version of yourself for hours. Every wrinkle, every scar, every minor imperfection. It was uncomfortable. But it was also liberating.

To honour Mental Health Week in May, I drew my first self-portrait to support the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital for raising awareness on Mental Health with a performing arts show.

I didn’t draw a perfect face. I drew my face which is far from perfect. But it has a survival story hidden behind the scars and has carried me through every joy and challenge I experienced.

The title is "Where I Met Myself" and is the first portrait of a larger project “You See a Face, I See a Story” that will likely take over a year to complete. My intention is to exhibit this project in May 2026 to raise awareness on face Equality.

No matter what our face has been through, or what story it tells, we are all equal and deserve respect. That reminder showed up in the most unexpected place this May... a provincial arm-wrestling tournament.

One reminder I needed, and maybe you do too.

How do you learn life lessons from a group of sweaty, muscle-packed athletes? Let me tell you.

I’ve come to love these events since my husband took up the sport and became a 6-time world champion! Learn more about his story here.

What amazes me every time at these tournaments, is the sportsmanship. Athletes shake hands when they get to the table, then during the match they sweat, they grit and grind their teeth and when the match is over, win or lose, they shake hands again!

Some athletes even hug and pat each other on the shoulder, silently saying "good job, well done!" That’s not just sportsmanship. That’s respect. Staying humble, always treating others with respect is a life lesson and a good reminder I felt I needed. Respect doesn’t end on the table. It belongs on the road too.

One thing I accomplished in May.

Oh, Canada... and your very different driving rules. After over two decades of driving in Greece, I had to unlearn habits, and retrain my instincts to adjust to Ontario's roads. Driving in Greece, on narrower streets, with heavy traffic, smaller vehicles and less space, feels very different from driving in Ontario.

Since the fatal car accident in 2001 that changed me, respect and safety has been my priority, and although I consider myself a safe driver, I am aware that there is always room for improvement. We can adjust old habits according to new circumstances and still make safety our priority. That applies behind the wheel and far beyond it.

My conclusion from successfully passing my road test on May 29th, is that just because something has become second nature to us, it doesn’t mean it can’t be rewired.

Whether it’s on the road or in life, we do what we can to stay safe. But loss doesn’t always care for preparation. Sometimes it hits out of nowhere, and other times we see it coming, but the ache it leaves behind feels the same.

One thing that hurts.

We lost a dear friend in May. A kind soul. A warrior. A devoted husband. A father to a beautiful 10-year-old boy.

Even knowing it was coming didn’t make it easier.

Saying goodbye always hurts and reminds us that life, and the people we choose to share it with, are precious. And that love doesn't end, it simply lives on in how we show up for each other during this time of grief. Grief lingers in the quiet moments, but so do the memories. And in those memories, the friends we lost are never really gone.

And even in the midst of grief, life keeps moving, offering us moments that ask us to be brave. Sometimes, those moments come disguised as opportunities.

And one more thing... A realization

Have you ever been offered a life-changing opportunity? I believe that life-changing opportunities don't come often in our lives and it takes courage to say "YES" to change. Change isn’t easy. It stirs up fear. That little voice in our head will likely ask “what if it all goes wrong?”

But sometimes, it takes extra courage to hush that voice and listen for the kinder and softer one that whispers,

“Go. You’ve got this.”

A friend’s leap in May reminded me that when we trust the process, we grow. Every new experience brings us closer to where we’re meant to be, with new skills, fresh perspective, and a little more courage. Change isn’t always easy, but when we embrace it, we make space for something better. So when an opportunity arises, say YES to it.

In a monthly nutshell... this was May.

A little messy, a lot meaningful. Moments that stretched me, softened me, and reminded me that growth is progress... you just need to keep showing up.

I’m already a week into June, and let’s just say… it’s off to an interesting start. But I’ll save that story for my next monthly nutshell. Until then, I’d love to hear from you. What lessons did May leave behind in your life?