Net Positive
Photo Credit: David Schmidt
“Belonging isn’t a poster on the wall” ~ Laura Cote
At the end of last week’s musings blog I promised to share highlights from TEDx Winnipeg 2026: Ingenious. As it is, life happened in a way I hadn’t anticipated, as it’s wont to do sometimes, and I was unable to attend the morning session. I’m going to share the four presentations from the afternoon program that impacted me the most. They cover a diverse range of topics, but what they have in common is their vulnerability, openness, authenticity and courage. I hope, dear reader, that your outcome will be net positive.
Marika Schalla’s talk was about reconnecting with the land and how our relationship with nature is a foundation of our well-being. She spoke of the land as a living thing that teaches us about seasons and cycles and grounding, about life and death and the interconnectedness of it all. With a brave heart, she told us about her journey from suicide to becoming an educator of children with behaviour challenges. She encouraged us to see these resilient little beings not as broken, but as children forced to discover their survivor intelligence through difficult life circumstances. Marika shared some of her own challenges, including poverty and prejudice. I cried big tears of empathy and understanding and I knew I wanted to connect with her in my future.
Laura Cote’s topic was titled Queer Representation in Education. I will admit, with some embarrassment, that at first I was uncomfortable, not sure what to anticipate because of learned negative associations I had with the word queer. But as I listened to her powerful testimony of her own experience of an education without role models or representation, of her struggle to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance, and her call for us all to learn how to hold differences gently, I softened. I recognized how my ignorance had informed my misguided fears and uncertainties. I have always believed schools need to be open safe spaces for children to learn and grow, and I now understand how differences of every kind must be included if public education is to fulfill that goal.
Suzi Friesen talked about slowing down, clarity, healing, and leadership. She petitioned us to look at our habits, patterns, and relationships through reflection. She shared how journaling has been one of her tools to pause, be curious, and to honestly explore her experiences. When Suzi held up her first diary with the little golden lock and key, my heart skipped a beat as I recalled my own neon pink version and my own stacks of journals, now forgotten, lost or burned as a result of my adventures living overseas and forging through my own traumas. Suzi’s stories of her childhood friend who died from cancer and her mother who struggled with mental illness, of the fragility of life and the need to live each precious moment touched my heart. Her charitable initiative, Project 11, inspired me to work harder to make a difference, to be net positive.
Last but not least, Ian Bawa’s presentation on identity, courage, freedom and culture through his journey with filmmaking really spoke to my core experiences as a writer and a daughter. He shared how his father, an immigrant from India, felt so compelled to give his son a better chance for success that he asked him to deny his culture. Ian pretended to be of Spanish-Italian origins. His dad wanted him to be a lawyer, so he went to law school to please him. But in his last year, Ian’s mother died from breast cancer. He was devastated, but his father urged him not to cry, because crying was weak and he needed to be strong. Instead of tears, Ian suffered from panic attacks. He withdrew from law to pursue a career in filmmaking, producing open and vulnerable films based on his own experiences. I was blown away by his courage, to break the chains of the past and discover his true identity as a strong man with a big heart.
I was called to stand in ovation at several junctions over the course of my afternoon as a guest at TEDx Winnipeg. My most tangible and potent take-away is how I want to find my courage to write with open, honest, vulnerability—always. To be brave enough to wear my identity and tell my story without apology. To stand up for myself. To be willing to face the judgement and rejection, knowing that each of us is responsible for our own thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I’m signing up for the TEDx newsletter, and I’m watching for the call-out for next year’s speakers. I have ideas worth spreading and I want my life actions to be net positive.
COMING UP…
Books & Projects:
· In December 2025 I signed a contract with Austin Macauley Publishers for my manuscript, The Trials of Alex Anderson, a character-driven novel that explores the relationship between mental illness and trauma. I am now on the road to publication, with an expected release date near the end of 2026. In February I worked with designers on the cover and its near completion. Last week I received the proofread manuscript for my review. Things are happening! I’ll be posting more updates here on my blog and on social media, so stay tuned for more exciting new developments.
· The Rogue Scorpion is available online at Amazon, Chapters-Indigo, and Barnes & Noble. You can also find it at select Chapters-Indigo and El Hombre de la Mancha bookstores.
Reviews & Interviews:
· You can read, listen, or watch a large selection of reviews and interviews on my website.
Events:
· There are no events currently scheduled in my calendar.
YouTube Channel:
Watch The Rogue Scorpion trailer