Shannon's Blog: Minding My Own Business

"Follow your bliss, and the Universe will open doors where there were only walls."  - Joseph Campbell  Summer may be over, but I'm off to camp! Pretend you already knew I've been working on developing a video game for the last 18 months.  If you didn't know, it's probably because there hasn't been a lot to say until now. I'll fill you in below! The exciting news is I - along with a superstar crew of creative Bad Astronauts - have been hand-chosen by the fine folks at Xbox (yes that Xbox) to attend a five-month virtual Game Ca mp, where we'll be building a test version of our game! We start next week.

"She said Tell me are you a Christian, child? And I said Ma'am I am tonight." -Marc Cohn, Walking in Memphis “Do you know the Lord’s prayer?” The question - called out to me by a stranger on the street - catches me off guard.  This guy is vaguely familiar to me. He and his girlfriend sit in a doorway with their stuffed backpacks. I imagine they may be under-housed. Calling out greetings to the passersby.  I had smiled as I'd walked past, returning a friendly wave.  And now, this question from left field: Do I know the Lord's prayer? I cringe inwardly. Is it leading up to a creative request for spare change? Am I about to have my WASP-y ass handed to me? I pause, calculating the risk.

"Nobody can bring you peace but yourself."  Ralph Waldo Emerson A few months ago, back when travel was still in the social lexicon, I pulled off the highway for a quick health break.  Imagine my disappointment when I discovered the available facility wasn't a bathroom at all, but an outhouse. Gross! I have specific protocols for outhouses:  close my eyes, hold my breath, sometimes even plug my ears.  And for the love of all that is good, control that imagination!   Focus only on the task. These are natural instincts when we're uncomfortable.  And although these strategies are perfect for a five-minute pit stop, they aren't productive for long-term coping.

I can't believe it's already May. Since my last blog,  I've reached a number of exciting milestones: I got my business license, launched my new Facebook page , and deposited my first paycheque as an entrepreneur! I'm proud of my progress. But truth be told, this has been a tough winter, and this post is more personal than professional. I spent months feeling like I was fighting the office cold, and generally felt a desire to climb into my bear-cave and hibernate through to Spring. In March, just as the sun came out and the robins began to sing, my pace of life slowed even further. I felt tired, sluggish, and couldn't concentrate. My motivation was non-existent. I assumed I was finally getting the flu. I didn't get the flu. But I spent almost a week at home, sleeping 10-hour nights and topping up with mid-day naps. I startled easily, and could feel my pulse pounding in my belly, sounding alarm bells at imaginary threats. At this point, m

It's that time of year when the world falls in love Every song you hear seems to say   "Merry Christmas, may your New Year dreams come true." - Christmas Waltz by Sammy Cahn & Jule Styne I love the centrepiece laid out on the table above, and the way it brings joy on so many levels: pinecones for texture and growth, pomegranate seeds for colour and zest, sprigs of pine for fragrance, and of course, a lantern to light the path. Add a little Sinatra to round out the senses. Whatever your personal tradition, this is the time of year we find solace amid the darkness, and celebrate the gradual lengthening of the days.  During this time of reflection, I wish you all the warmth and coziness of December.  Wrap yourself in a blanket and curl up by the fire. Take afternoon naps. Bake gingerbread. Keep your loved ones close.  It's the season for comfort. From my home to yours, Merry Christmas! xo Shannon  *** What a year!  This marks my 24th blog

"On the subway, we feel like strangers, but we're all in this together." - Ben Lee, Singer full song here I've been talking to a lot of people and seeing a lot of comments online from people who are lonely. We are finding it harder and harder to make those personal connections that give us that sense of belonging we all seek. I don't have the clinical or sociological expertise to discuss the roots of this problem or its significance on society, but I'm a human, and I've also experienced loneliness - especially through large swaths of my adolescence and young adulthood - so I feel modestly qualified to talk about this. I don't mention any of it to bring you down. I mention it because there's a terrible irony here: If you feel lonely, you're not alone. This is a complex topic, with many strands and solutions that vary by circumstances.  But let's not overlook the simple solutions either - whether you're lonely yourself