X-Ring Day and 39 Years of Love

December 3rd has always held a special place in my heart. At St. Francis Xavier University, it is a day filled with pride, tradition, and connection. It is St. Francis Xavier Day and the beloved X-Ring ceremony, a moment that marks a lifelong bond to the X community.

For me, this day holds an added layer of meaning.

Thirty-nine years ago today, Raymond and I began dating. It was a simple beginning that grew into a commitment that has carried us through almost four decades of life together. We have shared good times and hard times, loss and gain, challenges and celebrations. Through it all, love has remained the centre of our story.

Raymond has stood beside me on every step of living life over cancer. His steadiness, strength, and hope have guided us through the hardest moments and lifted us in the brightest ones.

The photo I am sharing is from our 40th Homecoming Reunion this fall. It was a joyful reminder of how far we have come and the incredible community that shaped our early years.

As we celebrate this special day, I want to wish the very best to all the 2026 X-Ring recipients, along with their parents and families. May your X Ring remind you of the friendships, the learning, and the spirit of the X that will stay with you throughout your life. May it symbolize connection, resilience, and the bright future ahead of you.

Here is to the meaning of this day.Here is to the Class of 2026.

Here is to love, legacy, and the ties that continue to bring us home. Hail and Health

Grounding and New Life

In yoga, we often begin in Child’s Pose, a shape that honours life’s beginning and returns us to the simple truth that everything starts with breath. We enter the world with an inhale. We leave the world with an exhale. And in between, no matter who we are or what we carry, we are united by the common thread of breath.

Grounding is essential in supporting our internal landscape. When we ground close to the earth, we settle our nervous system, soften tension, and connect with a sense of safety and belonging. Just as a tree rises tall because of its deep roots, we too need a foundation that grounds us in moments of uncertainty, change, or growth.

Even at birth, grounding is instinctual. A newborn longs for skin-to-skin contact to feel anchored, held, and connected until they can stand on their own. Grounding through the earth offers adults this same reassurance: you are supported, you are safe, you are held.

Breath deepens this support. As I share in my book, mindful yogic breathing is essential for our lymphatic system and overall well-being. Inhaling through the nose with a double breath and exhaling through the nose or mouth shifts us from the fight-or-flight or freeze response of the sympathetic nervous system into the calm clarity of the parasympathetic nervous system. With each breath, we create space for balance, healing, and presence.

Today’s practice invites you to ground fully into the earth beneath you, to reconnect with your roots, your breath, and your inner landscape. Let the earth steady you. Let your breath guide you home.

Join me, Tavis and Duke as we inhale, exhale, and rise together, grounded, centred, and renewed.

Honouring Our Age and Staying Young at Heart

70 and Aged to Perfection

This week, I had the pleasure of celebrating my friend Gary as he turned 70. Watching him enjoy the moment with friends reminded me that aging is a privilege and that how we grow older is shaped by the choices we make each day.

The phrase by Clint Eastwood, “Don’t let the old man or woman in,” is one of my life mantras. It reminds us that we can acknowledge our age while choosing to stay active, engaged, and curious. Gary is a wonderful example of this. He continues to be active, stay connected, and keep his sense of humour.

Honouring our age means recognizing what we have learned and who we have become. It invites us to appreciate the strength of our years and the wisdom we carry.

To honour our age is to honour:

• the stories and experiences that have shaped us

• the resilience we have built through challenges

• the friendships and family connections that support us

• the laughter lines that reflect a life fully lived

• the courage that keeps us moving forward

We may move more slowly at times, but there is still so much life to be lived. As we enter our senior years, whether we are 60, 70, 80, or beyond, we get to decide how we show up. Do we let the old man or woman in? Or do we choose to keep moving, keep laughing, keep learning, and keep loving?

I choose the latter.

Gary chooses the latter.

And I hope you do too.

Here is to honouring our age, celebrating our resilience, and living with purpose and joy.

What could you do today to ensure that the old man or woman remains outside of you?