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In some of the previous blogs, I’ve written about grit as a trait that can define a family or even a culture. Now, during these times of self-isolating and physical distancing, I’ve started to think about other moments in history where people were forced to face significant changes in their day-to-day routines with little or no notice. How did these people adapt or change? Who came out on top and survived the chaos of the times? As I thought about what I’d learned from some great history teachers, I came up with MANY instances where people were forced to dig deep and find a part of themselves that they likely didn’t even know existed. However, there is one group of gritty gurus that sticks out in my mind a bit more than the others. These people were able to survive and often thrive in times where each day looked totally different than … Read more

As we navigate this planet-wide pandemic, an important question we can consider each day is “What do I have to offer others?” It’s easy to become introspective at times like this but that’s how we end up focusing on our fears, all the things we cannot do and how out-of-control most things are that were in our control only a few weeks, days or even hours ago. With never-ending access to information about all of the things that are beyond our control right now, it can be easy to lose sight of the simple gestures and the choices that are fully in our control. I know that it may sound counterintuitive when we’re bombarded with the terms “self-quarantine”, “social distancing” and “isolation”. However, there are times when the best thing we can do for our friends, family and community isn’t doing something with them directly; it’s keeping them in the … Read more

In a previous blog named GRIT Lit, I promised to explore some of my favourite books and poems that capture all things gritty! So, without further ado, let me introduce you to Steve Kamb. Steve wrote a fantastic book called “Level Up Your Life: How to Unlock Adventure and Happiness by Becoming the Hero of Your Own Story”.  I thought I would share this book today because I’m re-reading it as I work toward one of my impossible goals for 2020.   I can only imagine the confused expression on some of your faces when you see me referencing a book involving video games! While it’s true that the only video game I have EVER played is Tetris, Steve takes great care in making the steps relatable and conquerable. And even though there’s a bit of video game vocabulary, the book’s content resonated with me completely! Steve shares his six-phase model for … Read more