Happy 8th Birthday, Tavis - Lessons from our Golden

Yesterday, our beautiful boy Tavis turned eight. What a blessing it is to have him in our family. His presence brings unconditional love, steady comfort, and a daily reminder of what it means to truly be alive.

As I continue to navigate life with stage IV metastatic breast cancer, Tavis has become more than a companion. He has become one of my greatest teachers. In his quiet, joyful way, he continues to offer me lessons I hold close:

1. Unconditional Love

Every morning, Tavis greets me with soft eyes and a wagging tail. No matter how I feel or what the day brings, his love is constant, pure, and uncomplicated.

2. Living in the Present Moment

When we feed Tavis, he dances. Every single time. He is fed three times a day, yet you would think each meal is a five-star feast. His delight reminds me to savour the simple joys we often overlook.

3. Balancing Movement and Rest

Tavis loves to run on the beach, across the fields, and through the farm. His freedom is beautiful to watch. But he also knows the value of rest, curling up by the fireplace, content just to be. He shows me what balance truly looks like.

4. Giving Fully While Asking for Little

Through the highs and lows of this journey, Tavis has been right beside me. He does not ask for much, yet he offers so much in return: comfort, companionship, and a steady presence that grounds me.

5. The Width of Life Matters More Than the Length

The hardest part of loving dogs is knowing their lives are shorter than ours. Every golden I have ever had has taught me the same truth. It is not the number of years that matters, but how wide we make them, how full of joy, love, and memory.

Tavis has walked with me through many chapters, and the greatest gift he continues to bring is the reminder that love is what remains. Love is what carries us. Love is what we take with us.

Happy 8th Birthday, Tavis. Thank you for brightening our days, widening our years, and filling our lives with more love than we ever could have imagined. 🐾💛

Growing in New Knowledge and Understanding, One Step at a Time

New Blogs. New Layout. Same Heart.

Over the past few months, I’ve taken a deep dive into refreshing my website, not just with new photos and a cleaner layout, but by learning the skills to make it responsive, accessible, and welcoming for everyone who visits.

This process has taught me more than I expected. I learned how to design with clarity, how to make each page flow on phones and tablets, and how to create a space that feels calm and supportive. What once felt overwhelming slowly became empowering. With patience and curiosity, I discovered that I can build something meaningful, one step at a time.

I’ve also begun writing a few short blogs each week to reflect on where I am in my journey. These pieces help me process, stay grounded, and connect more authentically with those who walk alongside me. With these new blogs, stay tuned to my Facebook and Instagram pages where I will be sharing each new entry as it is posted.

My hope is that this updated site gives you an easeful, grounded experience as you explore resources, workshops, keynotes, and reflections meant to support you on your path. If someone you care about could benefit from the reflections, tools, or hope offered here, please feel free to share my website or my book with them.

You can visit the updated site at www.livinglifeovercancer.com.

Remembrance Day Yoga

Remembrance Day has always invited us to slow down and look inward. It is a day to remember the courage, sacrifice, and hope carried by those who served. When we step onto our mats with this in mind, our practice becomes more than movement. It becomes an act of quiet gratitude.

In today’s practice, I leaned into themes of remembering and returning. Each breath was a reminder that life is a gift. Each posture became an opportunity to honour the strength and vulnerability our bodies hold. Some shapes asked a lot of us. Others asked only for stillness. Both matter.

A yoga practice on Remembrance Day is not about pushing, striving, or perfecting. It is about listening. It is about noticing where we can soften and where we can stay steady. Most importantly, it is about honouring our bodies. When a posture felt challenging, I invited everyone to pause as needed. Resting is not stepping away from the practice. Resting is the practice. It is a way of acknowledging that our inner selves deserve care and attention.

As we closed, I returned to the theme of gratitude. We carry the stories of those who came before us. We carry the privilege of peace that others fought to protect. And we carry the responsibility to move through our lives with intention, compassion, and love.

May this Remembrance Day remind us to breathe deeply, move gently, and honour ourselves and others with an open heart.

We carry their courage forward each time we choose presence, compassion, and peace. Enjoy the practice.