Author: Margaret Murray

Why podcasts? The pandemic broke my routine, and I had to find new patterns in my daily life. I craved stories and podcasts that provided me with the experience of getting to listen to voices. I wanted a connection with people. I searched for podcasts with familiar voices that offered comfort but meaning, gratitude, knowledge, and escapism from COVID-19 daily news. Also, I discovered that podcasts piqued my interest, made me laugh, and gave me courage, hope, and information. Some podcasts have many episodes and attracted me to return often.

Where did I find resonating podcasts? Somebody can locate podcasts on Spotify, Radio.Com, iHeartmedia, The Current, Apple, and Pandora. Podcasts that reverberated with me were the ones that left me with a joyful experience. My Top Ten are listed below:

1. Unlocking Us: Brene Brown. She is comforting and joyous to listen to as we navigated our way during remote teaching. She provided a distraction for me when schools shuttered in March 2020. We need a human connection, and it takes courage to engage in meaningful conversations.

2. Heather Moyse: Redefining’ Realistic’…I love Heather’s enthusiasm for life and how she continues to inspire me with her life stories and motto, “Believe in the Possibilities.” She is an Islander and is known as Canada’s best ever-all-around female athlete. She is a 4 -time Olympian and 2-time Olympic gold medalist. If we ask ourselves, what determines the direction and story of our lives? Heather says, “It’s our choices.”

3. Michelle Obama. Her podcast featured diving deep into conversations with family, friends and colleagues about our lives’ relationships that make us unique. Her life and everyday issues that resonate with her are compelling. Also, Michelle is grounded firmly with guiding principles and how important it is to give back to one’s community. Michelle defines it as a valid measure of happiness.

4. Jennifer Gonzalez: The Cult of Pedagogy. One of Jennifer’s podcasts struck me with fascination. We teach our students remotely, in-class and online during the disconnected world when we need to connect with our students.

5. Beautiful Writers: author Linda Silverstein brings world-renowned bestselling authors chats on writing, publishing, and creativity. Some guests include Cheryl Strayed, Elizabeth Gilbert, Seth Godin, Tom Hanks, Glennon Doyle, and Dr. Jane Goodall. The rich conversations shared were exhilarating in today’s tumultuous times.

6. The Creative Classroom: John Spencer builds the tone about empowering community when students are lonely and isolated from their friends during the shift toward virtual and hybrid learning.

7. Ali on the Run Show. It’s crucial to discover a community where women redefine strength. I marvel at being empowered to do what I love and be confident in who I am as I persevere on the fitness journey. With our gym closed for more than six months, we continued to run and develop strength exercises at home to stay fit. We walked daily and racked up 2700+kms in nine months.

8. The Passion Project. Little Brown Jug’s Brewery story stuck with me because all it takes is a motivated former Winnipegger to return to his roots and create a passion for craft beer and architectural restoration in the Exchange District.

9. Teachers on Fire with Tim Casey. This educator is from Canada and chats with educators about their teaching experiences and passions. His vision is clear. What are our innovative practices?

10. Chef Michael Smith and Jon Montgomery-what a pair! Michael is known worldwide for his best-selling cookbook and writer now lives and works on Prince Edward Island. He has cooked for 85,000 Olympic athletes at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. This podcast provided me with fond PEI memories of my family’s love for seafood.

Do we wish to pursue happiness or can we define happiness in bits and pieces? I appreciate a fresh cup of coffee prepared by myself Monday to Friday and on weekends we walk to our neighbourhood cafes to grab a coffee to go. It’s imperative these days to support our local small businesses as much as we can.

Before pandemic, I was socially active, spending time with friends and family, and dividing out socializing events on our calendar and eight months has drifted by us and we have had to find other ways to fulfill our desires.

We are walking eight or more kms a day, running outside, reading and watching movies and exploring the nature around where we live in order to feel like a small getaway from screen time.

There is plenty to be grateful for during this unprecedented time of 2020. We are thankful our families are safe and healthy. Also, I am happy that we both have jobs, good food and a warm comfy house to live in.

Some of my best productive happy moments during the past eight months include the following: attended many virtual conferences, read books, listened to podcasts, self-taught how to use Microsoft teams, participated in a writing course and an online book club.

Finding happy moments in our everyday work routine is compelling because it’s obvious to become bogged down with issues that are out of our control. Discovering happiness is letting go of negative vibes, embracing change and having a sense of purpose to become better at what we value in life.

It’s influential to hold on to the moments of happiness and to admire the memories when we feel down. Be resilient and preserve the words, “I’ve got this and I own it.” This is the season when we sing Joy to the World. We all need joy during this pandemic. There was plenty of political turmoil, social unrest, and people losing their loved ones and feeling helpless through all of it.

What will bring you joy today? I will continue to create joy by sending handwritten cards to mom’s friends and ours during this Christmas season. The messages I put into to writing them brings me joy knowing that our friends and families will know that we were thinking of them.

Time to take a deep breath and get super pumped that it’s 2020. No need to change the diet, nor the workout. Why be so critical of ourselves? Begin the year by appreciating who we are and showing gratitude for our accomplishments. Turned sixty in 2019 and this was a major milestone for myself. Am I worried about the future or where the time has gone? Not really. The word “retirement” has been percolating in my mind. Not to worry, my wisdom will be valued and we will have money to pursue our dreams…some travel, volunteer work and continue to embrace regular exercise. Also, it’s a time to do all the things I didn’t have time for when I was teaching. It’s important to be proud of who you are, to laugh a lot, and to set aside ‘me’ time. Age is just a number; seize life and pursue those passions.

I focus on happiness, peacefulness, joy and things that bring me a sense of adventure. I have learned to appreciate myself, to be confident and believe in myself that I can do anything I want to pursue in life. I love being around people so I see myself remaining active and engaged in life. It’s best to keep positive and let happiness control your day. I always take care of myself because this is the best time of our life. For 2020, I am committing to writing for a few minutes on the weekends, practicing mindfulness at yoga once a week, listening to educational podcasts, and reading more insightful books.

I am looking forward to many more positive learning opportunities in this new decade. One of Bryan Adams songs “It’s a brand new day” has become my theme song for the beginning of a new semester. Music at work can be a helpful motivator. Why not create a list of your favourite tunes to work to and this could be your upcoming blog post.

Running is similar to teaching…it’s purposeful, it’s motivating, and it provides happiness. If running is to be meaningful, then you are more likely to stick with it. Several positives come with running, including the desire to get outside and find beauty in the journey. I’m in control of where I want to run, and I get to experience all my senses. I’ve invested eighteen years into running. Being the captain of my ship and feeling inspired by its destination is reassuring. I continuously master new running techniques to improve my pace and heart rate.

Weekly goals are an essential part of being a runner. My belief is to do something to improve your fitness. Running a race gives me a positive vibe and hearing the upbeat crowd keeps inspiring and introducing me to some new running friends. My motto is to stay a healthy strong.

While training in the spring of 2019 for the 10km at the Manitoba Marathon, I asked myself what my goal was. “To finish,” is the usual response; however, I wanted to experience a personal best. I signed up with Nike+Run app for a seven-week moderate training schedule which involved speed work, strength training, and one long run a week. I gradually built up my mileage to 110km over two months and aimed to finish each run stronger than the previous one. Also, tracked my progress after each run. Running at a consistent pace when starting and increasing a bit of speed throughout is challenging. Spicing up my workouts was imperative to avoid boredom.

Each time I lace up to run, I find the energy, stamina, and confidence to continue to challenge myself. The goal is to capture the right moments to use my strength and push forward. Each day I run, I appreciate the scenery and the smell of fresh air. Harmonious passions make life worth living, but an obsessive passion plague the mind (Adam Alter, 22). Always tell yourself you can accomplish anything in life.

To grow as a runner don’t get caught up in all the latest gadgets, apps, nutrition, and training advice. Go out and enjoy the sport by taking a simplistic approach. To get motivated sign up for a race and you’re bound to keep moving.

To achieve my goal, I think like a coach and devise a plan for myself. What works for me is scheduling two runs and three cross-training strengthening sessions a week to challenge different energy systems and to avoid injury and burnout. Start 20 seconds slower than race pace and speed up each mile 10-20 seconds faster than race pace; the key is to build distance.

Enjoy your accomplishments and stay focused on the next step. Just do something to improve your fitness and push past your endurance. Race day is the positive vibe to keep you inspired. Some days it’s fine to run purely for the enjoyment, peace and positive mood it provides.

Run in the zone with a speed that feels light and sustainable for the journey ahead. No matter the result, running is worth it. Years later, I continue to run to be my best self. It’s a chance to pursue my own adventurous path. Getting and staying in shape changes one’s life.

Running should be enjoyable. Not every race needs to be a personal best. It’s so easy to get caught up in training; however, racing should be considered an experience. I love crossing the finish line. It’s exhilarating to hear finishers yell, ” I’ve never felt anything like this.” Whether it’s to get fit or to crush a personal best, devise a plan for yourself. Congratulate yourself for every run accomplished.

Races unites runners from all backgrounds, abilities and disciplines. Running and working out is a core part of my identity. I love the friendships that comes with running a race. The idea of everyone tolling through the strain of the journey towards their personal goals is satisfying. There is inspiration when you see the accomplishments of so many different kinds of people. Older runners still crushing their goals. New people, trying to achieve a different level of fitness and health. Motivation is everywhere. The mental health benefits are tremendous. According to Runner’s World, Jennifer van Allen states, ” researchers found that even a single bout of exercise lifts the mood of someone suffering from depression.” Researchers concluded that physical activity was not only an effective strategy to treating depression it also helps people cope with stress, anxiety, and boosts sleep quality.

Having a purpose behind each run brings consistency and discipline to make running easier and manageable. Goals are an essential part of being a runner. They help us focus, progress, and remain on track with our workouts.

The greatest gift that running has given me is a global community of like-minded people. I can strike up a conversation with just about anybody. We’re all in this together mentality among runners on a starting line. It’s great to be able to celebrate joys and successes together. Take advantage of your running moments.

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Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

Junos 2019 host is our very own Canadian Sarah McLachlan who grew up in Halifax and moved to Vancouver. She pursued music because her childhood really didn’t give her love and at the age of seventeen Sarah played her first gig at the Dalhousie University student union building.

In Vancouver, Sarah recorded many albums and one of her songs is the well known Angel which was written in a time when many musicians were taking their own lives…spend all your time waiting for that second chance and there’s always some reason not to feel good enough. The line that resonates the most for me is “Do something that has purpose…you will find yourself in that.” (McLachlan 2019) Sarah firmly believes that music unites people in an upbeat manner and why not celebrate and focus these moments. We can all express ourselves through music whether it’s discovering our identity, helping us through difficult times, celebrating many occasions or quietly listening to our own playlists.

One might ask, “What songs are on your playlist?” One evening while visiting with our friends at the lake many songs were on his playlist and memories quickly ran through my mind…where was I when this song made the top charts? It’s worth taking a trip back in time and here are a few of my songs that resonate with me:

Life is a highway-Tom Cochrane

Hallelujah- Leonard Cohen

Should I Stay…The Clash

Living on a Prayer – Bon Jovi

Under Pressure – Queen

You needed me – Anne Murray

Dancing in the Dark – Bruce Springsteen

My heart will go on – Céline Dion

Tears are not enough – Northern Lights

Summer of 69 – Bryan Adams

Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

Surfing USA – Beach Boys

Every Step you Take – The Police

Jump – van Halen

Can’t get no satisfaction- Rolling Stones

The list goes on…listening to music is influential and every song paints a picture of where I was during that time. Music is more than listening to a song; it’s something to feel. Music can play on our emotions and it is powerful when many songs brings us together as a community.

Recently, forty-five of my grade ten students penned personal narratives that derived from their life experiences and as a result, a valuable lesson was learned. Narration is an astonishing way to share experiences with others.

Narratives are closely linked to personal events and kids wrote about specific aspects of their lives including childhood memories, school years, family trips, overcoming challenges or a topic of their choice. Topics that mattered the most to them comprised of: the six letter word that changed my life, crazing driving experience, chemistry is stronger than biological, having two families, discovering you’re adopted when applying for a Passport, overcoming test anxiety, your cousin being found after a tragic accident, leaving home to become an international student in Canada, and bonding with siblings while on family trips.

Entertaining the reader and providing a sense of community were purposeful because the stories were planted on their life experiences. They were written in chronological, flashback and reflective methods. By introducing narratives, I learned about my students in unique ways very early in second semester of 2019.

The writing process became a positive experience for my students once they discovered topics that mattered to them.

They read many texts prior to our writing process and dialogued in their writer’s notebooks their connections to the texts. They were able to recall their memories. Student voices became powerful through their final pieces and also they organized their stories through meaningful events which were rich with imagery.

I taught students that everyone has a story worth narrating. Once they penned their introductions and revisions made to their drafts, I discovered that my students were engaged in writing what mattered most to them and their experiences shaped them into the young people they are today.

After I read each of their narratives, I was drawn closer to them as kids who have powerful stories. It’s imperative they are given opportunities to share stories. Sometimes it’s painful to write about our memories and experiences. However, it’s the rich valuable lessons which motivate us to become the individuals we are today. Michelle Obama declares in her latest memoir Becoming, “Your story is what you have, what you will always have and it is something to own.” (Obama 2018) If you can express who you are then you can express what you want. Student voices are worth being heard and the time is now in our everyday classrooms.

Narrative writing freed a path for my students to explore their writing abilities based on their feelings. Also, they took a risk in sharing their personal stories and therefore, I was respectful in recognizing that kids need someone who understands them.

An extraordinary day with our two little nieces presented us with a few stories. First of all while driving in the SUV, Uncle Darryl piped up and said, we are driving to our house to shovel some snow and the oldest niece who is eight quickly responded, “that’s the opposite of what was planned.” Many laughs were shared while driving to the McNally bookstore. As soon as we reached the top stair of the children’s book section all eyes were on the stuffed animals especially the monkeys. Little voices repeating, “Auntie, these ones are for us but we don’t have enough money.” Time was spent browsing for books and Amelia discovered the graphic novel series. Page after page was turned and they both discovered the titles Sisters and Smile.

With $2.50 in Norah’s coat pocket, she quickly asked if she could buy a present for her mom. The girls noticed the red and green Christmas firecrackers and echoed, that’s the gift for mom. This was a moment of teaching kindness. They were proud of themselves and so was I.

Lunch was on us at Prairie Ink. The girls shared a mini cheese pizza with a bowl of fresh fruit. Eyes were on the dessert showcase and they finally decided eggnog and hazelnut filled macaroons would be decadent. However, the server came by and sold the girls on vanilla ice cream sprinkled with Christmas colours. In the meantime, Amelia read several pages from her new book while Norah and I played a few games of X and O. While heading out of the store both girls reminded me that a gift for dad hadn’t been purchased. The dilemma occurred that Norah needed an extra $1.30 to buy the red firecracker. Auntie couldn’t resist the lesson of kindness.

Our last outing was a drive to Fort Whyte Alive Nature Gift Shop to explore the Christmas gifts. Both girls discovered several tree ornaments. Amelia was most interested in a white Christmas ball and Norah was very determined to have the orange frog. Norah reminded everyone that we were to keep a secret from her mom and dad…the firecrackers have to be wrapped. Secretly, she took the bag to her room and begun the wrapping process.

What a wonderful afternoon of sharing and learning with our nieces.

Recently, I connected with my best friend who teaches kindergarten. We both value reading children’s books in our classrooms to teach life lessons. Walking into Kim’s classroom brought moments of joy to my life. The little ones come from diverse backgrounds and to experience their curiosity was breathtaking. They were engaged in many play and learn centres.

I connected with the children and had conversations with them. They were so eager to involve me in their world of authentic language. To experience their sense of wonder about who they are as children was marvellous. One girl took me by the hand and led me through an afternoon of what playing and learning looked like for her and the class. Some children in the classroom have December birthdays and their progression of language development improved immensely since early September.

One boy found a small replica of a little boy at the play centre and discovered that its foot was missing. Kim integrated this idea that we must look after one another. Kindness was observed in this class and to find a friend definitely resonated with me. We listened intently to a beautiful story Under the Same Sky. Regardless of how we look, we want the same thing. The little ones had a natural desire to learn and Kim used methods that inspired rather than curb their enthusiasm. In this class there are many objects, stuff to learn with…book characters and puppets to enhance literacy.

Many learning styles were observed during play and learn. All students were engaged in every activity presented to them. Pacing was important…demonstrating a couple of steps at a time and reading time was no longer than ten minutes. Kim focused on putting the students first and her approach to teaching took on an edge of optimism.

Building connections at an early age about who we are as individuals is pertinent. The learning experience for me was most enjoyable because no one ever stops learning.