Dixie O.

Meet my sister! We met 20 odd years ago when my dad and her mom started dating. Growing up I was the annoying little sister; always copying, and always wanting the same things- which, to my excitement (and her frustration), our parents accommodated by giving us the same gifts in different colours. Eventually I got a bit less annoying, and we became sisters AND friends! Dixie has always been strong and motivated. She is one of the hardest workers I know, an independent woman, is crafty, beautiful, and goes for what she wants. I have countless memories of lazer tag, summertime bike rides and rollerblading, and not-so-age-appropriate movie marathons (sidenote: American Pie has a much different meaning watching it at 9 years old than watching when you're halfway through your teens). We're much different in many ways, but I couldn't be happier with my very first sister :)

Where are you from and where are you now? 

I was born on a hot summer day, in downtown Toronto. I grew up in the ghettos of Brampton, Ontario. After a prolonged educational and social experiment in London, Ontario, I moved to the bustling metropolis of Copper Cliff, Ontario.

What goals are you working towards and what keeps you motivated? 

My primary goal in life right now is to escape from the crushing student debt I have accumulated during my educational journey. The prospect of a full life, with a large family, a comfortable home and a picturesque property keeps me motivated.

What does confidence mean to you? 

To me, confidence is not relying on anyone else for approval, acceptance or direction. That does not mean one cannot consider other's opinions on these matters, as these varying angles of perception can be helpful in making life decisions.

Where does your confidence come from? 

My confidence is rooted in necessity; I have been and/or felt alone for the majority of my life. As giving up is not an option, I feel I had no other choice but to become strong and independent. This strength has been a double-edged sword; I believe I have become so independent that I alienate others and don't allow anyone close to me. This is something that I need to overcome. As much as my strength has given me, and taken from me, I do cherish it. I don't believe I would have been able to do as much as I have without it. 

What do you love about yourself?

I have a love-hate relationship with my hands; they allow me to create and disassemble things with ease. I have also been able to work with my hands, from installing ceramic tile, to crocheting stuffed dinosaurs, and taking apart a pump to understand how it works. My hands, however, do not know how to relax. Some type of project needs to be on the go, constantly.

What is one of your greatest accomplishments?

I believe one of  my greatest accomplishments was just recently with a severe knee injury. I was told things like 'you're just getting old', and 'you'll have to quit sports and physical activities' by some of the people closest to me; I did not accept this. With lots of physical therapy and following through with stretches and strengthening exercises, I have rebuilt the lost muscles and pushed myself to staying on this road. Arguably, I believe my leg is in the best shape its been in in over 15 years.

Do you find you compare yourself to others often?

I find I compare myself to others more often that i would like. I think about their lives and their accomplishments; all that they have achieved. I find myself jealous in some of these circumstances. I try to remember that we are all on different journeys, taking different routes. I remind myself of all I have done and all that I have and aim for contentedness.

What is something in your life that you have had to overcome, or that you are working to overcome?

I find myself afraid of addiction. Addiction to things I have seen the effects of first-handed. I find each time I encounter such things, I am reminded of those closest to me that have struggled with addictions, some who have overcome this, and some who have not. I am disappointed in myself that I do not have the courage to reach out to those I am concerned for. I hope one day I can overcome my own fear of rejection to help those I love, and my fear of becoming that person.

Our nephew :) 

What always makes you feel better?

When i find myself dizzy with thought, or overwhelmed by something, I can always be lost in a good movie. I can always throw on a good movie, and tune life out for a while, just to take a break. This can help me organize my thoughts and look at my issue from another angle. This doesn't necessarily make me feel better, but it allows me to take a mental break.

Is there anything about yourself- mentally, physically, or emotionally that you would like to improve? 

I would one day like to make myself more emotionally available. I block out those closest to me, convinced I can handle all situations on my own. I want to allow myself to think that even though I could handle it on my own, I don't have to.

Do you feel pressured by societal norms for your life to turn out a certain way?

I don't feel pressured by societal norms to be a certain way or live a certain way. I do what I think is right and necessary, and attempt to keep myself entertained along the way.

Who has helped shape who you are? 

I feel that out of all impacts on my life, my paternal grandmother had the largest. She had the respect of everyone she met, she helped a lot of people through counselling and continues to help me everyday. She is the reason i began studying the environment. I wanted to save the planet, focusing on water - it is the life source we need. 

What is the most important part of a romantic relationship?

I believe the most important part of a romantic relationship is being able to be yourself completely and that person accepting and loving every flaw, every perfection, every detail as you. Having no inhibitions around that person, I think makes that a well-rounded and balanced relationship.

What are three things you are grateful for today?

I am grateful for those who have impacted my life, in positive and negative ways. Without these, I would not be the person I am.

I am grateful for my family - not only my blood relatives, but everyone I have come to know and love.

I am grateful for my sense of humour. I think I would not have the mental capacity to deal with some of the major emotional traumas in my life, and in the world without finding something funny in it. I want people to know that this does not mean that I do not care, its the only way for me to process a situation. 

What book should I read and why?

Read whatever book you want to. If it sucked, don't read it again.

Samantha W.

Sam and I became good friends in grade 9. Though we don't necessarily talk often, and we see each other maybe once a year, nothing feels any different when we are together. Sam comes from an incredible family who has done so much for me; we have created so many memories together. When you meet her family it's easy to see where her positive outlook on life and confidence come from. We went through this inseparable phase in grade 11 and had so many school night sleepovers (which was a big deal). Not to mention the summers I worked for JWPM and we had a ridiculous amount of fun with our other two friends. I have always admired Sam's bubbly personality and contagious laugh, and feel so lucky to have her and her family in my life. 


Where are you from and where are you now? 

I grew up in Midhurst/Horseshoe area and currently reside in Barrie, Ontario (I love it here!).

What goals are you working towards and what keeps you motivated? 

Current goals I am working towards are; building my career and continuing to learn, living a healthier overall lifestyle, and being happy. 

Talking about my goals with those close to me keeps me motivated. I also have little ways of reminding myself to continue with these goals, and I like to envision end results to keep me on track.

What does confidence mean to you? 

I find confidence to be a very positive and attractive quality, but a humble confidence... not arrogant. To me confidence means being comfortable in your own skin and happy with your life. It means not comparing yourself to others and not measuring your happiness or success based on someone else. It is a reflection of your own goals, happiness and values. 

Where does your confidence come from? 

A big part of why I feel I can be confident is attributed to how I was brought up. For me, my parents were incredibly supportive growing up, and they are amazing role models. Their confidence in me to be successful however I wished gave me the confidence to do just that. I find confidence in what makes me happy and surrounding myself with people who love me and support who I am. 

If I am striving to improve something for myself, and experience a small or big success, then I feel confident.

What do you love about yourself?
a) Mentally? 

My practicality and ability to weigh all options in situations of conflict. 

My optimism in life.  

b) Physically?

My body's ability to be athletic and strong when I work at it.

c) Emotionally?

Stability & Strength: Whatever emotion I am feeling, I am able to direct it appropriately and be strong for those who can't.

What is one of your greatest accomplishments?

This is hard..... the word "greatest" is putting pressure on me!

I'm proud to have the job I do... I'm happy and I feel fortunate to have started my career at the age of 23 and continue to learn.

Do you find you compare yourself to others often?

I can definitely think of times when I am comparing aspects of myself to someone else. I find though, it is usually to people I know opposed to "celebrities" or people in the public eye. I tend to compare myself to those I know who are similar in age to me, or close friends of mine because it is a more realistic possibility for me to obtain what they have, or 'look' like them, etc. 

Then I come back down to earth and realize everyone is different and unique in their own way and think about my own positives, and what I would 'wish for' if I was on the outside looking into my own life!


What is something in your life that you have had to overcome, or that you are working to overcome?

This is more of an inner attribute of mine that I am always working at to improve or 'overcome'. I find I can be a little too "practical" at times, thinking just with my head and not with my heart. I like to deal with things without emotion first, to be sure I am outweighing the pros and cons. 

I know that isn't always the best way, and it can hurt my relationships when I do it, so I always try to be more open and use emotion when I do certain things.

What always makes you feel better?

Being with my family - it is one of my comfort zones... and doing something active with my dogs!

Is there anything about yourself- mentally, physically, or emotionally that you would like to improve? 

I would like to improve my overall physical health and well being... I want to be more flexible. Also I'm always trying to be more open with those close to me.

What is one of your insecurities?

Being young in my career and not having the same credentials/knowledge as the more established, senior people in the field.

How do you deal with jealousy? 

I don't find I am a very jealous person, I think it always ends up coming off negative. If I do find myself being jealous, or jealousy is being projected onto me, I just try to make it into a positive. I also think about why jealousy could have been brought on and address it.

Do you feel pressured by societal norms for your life to turn out a certain way?

More often than not, yes! I find society starting to be more open about defining "success", or what needs to be accomplished by a certain age. Still, it can expected of someone my age to be moved out of your parents' home, finishing school/starting your career, getting married, buying a house, and planning for the future. Wow - overwhelming! It isn't the same for my generation, so I try to focus on myself and succeed in what I want to do and get to where I want to be in life.

Who has helped shape who you are? 

My mom and dad, brothers, and a couple close friends. They have all rubbed off on me and helped to mold who I am today.

What is the most important part of a romantic relationship?

Trust and laughter (Fun)! Every one ages/changes... and life throws you curve balls, but I believe if you can fully trust your significant other, and find the happiness and laughter in any moment, you may just make it!

What are three things you are grateful for today? 

The security of my job at the age of 25!

The relationship/closeness I have with my family!

The succulent sitting on my desk!! I won it, it is beautiful and I LOVE plants haha!

(I know this says three things.... but I am actually so grateful for some of my close friends that I know will be in my life forever!)

What book should I read and why?
I haven't read a full book in what feels like forever (shame). But I would recommend some exciting type of fiction novel... because life can be so serious, and reading should be fun! :)

Brittney M.

I first met Brittney back in 2010, a few months after my brother and his then girlfriend (now wife), Sam, started dating. My best friend and I went to a party with Sam and Brittney, then all snuggled into bed together that night. Who would have thought Britt would marry one of my brother's best friends a few years down the road?! Brittney has such a glowing, positive vibe about her. She is full of joy and inspiring words of wisdom; check out her website!

Where are you from and where are you now?
I grew up in Alliston and am now living in Barrie. I haven't moved around lots and am very much a local small town girl. What goals are you working towards and what keeps you motivated? I'm currently working on getting my condominium license. I'm taking 4 online courses at the exact same time. It's challenging but knowing that there's opportunity for me at the end of it is my light at the end of the tunnel. What does confidence mean to you? To me confidence means feeling comfortable in your own skin. Confidence is looking beyond the flawed skin and allowing your heart and soul to pour out. Confidence is walking with your head high not because other people tell you you're beautiful, but because you know your outside matches the beauty that's inside of you. Where does your confidence come from? My confidence probably starts out from my mother. She was always the most encouraging person in my life and no matter how many times I failed or changed my life's direction, she was always there to tell me I'd be fine and make it through. What do you love about yourself?  a) Mentally?
I like that I've always tried to see the best in people. I've trained my brain to see the good. I'm only human and some people test my skills so hard I truly see the bad; but for the most part, I can always find the good!  
b) Physically? I naturally am happy in my own skin. I have many flaws but can look past them enough to be truly blessed with the body I was given. But I really like my back, as weird as that sounds; I feel really sexy in a strapless shirt
 
c) Emotionally? I'm a pretty emotional person. I cry at commercials, songs that come on the radio, and every single wedding speech. I also love pretty big. I would gladly sacrifice anything for people who mean the world to me. I get truly happy by the little things in life- when my puppy poops outside, when my husband messages me just to say hello. I might be an emotional roller coaster but I love experiencing all of life's feels. What is one of your greatest accomplishments? Marrying a man I admire so dearly. Do you find you compare yourself to others often? There's no point in doing so. We are all so different; we have different flaws and accomplishments. Where we lack someone else might prosper but it works both ways. That person that we envy is most likely envying us for something different. What is something in your life that you have had to overcome, or that you are

working to overcome? I am fortunate enough to not have had to experience struggles like some people in the world. Some people grew up without a family that loves them. Some people don't know how they are going to afford their next meal. I've never experienced anything like that., but when I was younger I used to get exhausted easily and even fainted and seizured. I was in the hospital and they did what's called a bleed test. They give your arm a small little slit and watch you bleed while timing it. They can only watch you bleed for 30 minutes until they must stop it. Most people naturally clot in 2-5 minutes, but I hadn't stopped bleeding when the half hour mark came due. It was a learning experience for sure. I have it under control now. But in comparison to most I'm fortunate enough to have never really had to overcome something. What always makes you feel better? Talking things out. Especially to my mother. Is there anything about yourself- mentally, physically, or emotionally that you would like to improve? I would like to be more decisive. It's nearly impossible for me to make decisions!

What is one of your insecurities? I'm insecure about the fact that I'm not in my career. I'm taking courses for something I see being in my life forever but I'm not established in it yet. My husband is one of the hardest working people I know. Because of this he's more than established. He's trusted in his industry. I'm so proud of that man. Sometimes I'm insecure about where I am in my life compared to him. How do you deal with jealousy? I don't think I'm an overly jealous person but if there was someone I were to ever feel threatened by I think the best approach is getting to know them. Understand that person so well that they no longer are a threat. Do you feel pressured by societal norms for your life to turn out a certain way? Of course I do. In this world we live in, who doesn't. Facebook says this person is having a baby, yet you were married first. Instagram shows you someone on a safari yet the closest you've ever been to that was the zoo. It's hard not to compare your life to others, but it's also easy to forget all the wonderful things in your life that other people don't have. When I feel pressure about not being established in my career I remember the fact that I'm my own person. I learn differently and I won't settle for less than what I want. Society has a funny way of only showing us the good yet reality has a funny way of not always being so good. It's important to understand the life people portray online might not always be as glamorous as they present it to be.

Who has helped shape who you are?
Everyone who has ever stepped in my life. People are either lessons or blessings; they come into your life to sharpen you. It's how you decide to shape who you want to become. What is the most important part of a romantic relationship? Trust. You must trust that person almost more than you trust yourself. You must trust that that person will have your back no matter what. That that person honestly wants what is best for you. You have to trust that they want the relationship as bad as you do and trust that if rocky roads come they will fight for your relationship as hard as you will. What are three things you are grateful for today? The memories and family my husband and I have created, formed, and combined. Parents that only wanted the best for me. Chocolate. What book should I read and why? If you ever kept a journal as a child I recommend reading that. It always amazes me when I look back on my life from my own perspective 2,5, 7, even 10 years ago. Sometimes it's easy to feel like you're in a rut and have not progressed. Then you look back on your life and see how much you've grown, changed and adapted. Reading the words you wrote so many years ago is a humbling, powerful and healing thing.

Kendra J.

Kendra and I met in our grade 9 french class. I'm convinced she can become friends with anybody. She's fun, witty, outgoing, and an all around positive person to be around. We became close friends throughout high school and to this day she remains one of my closest people. Though we're often on opposite sides of the world, nothing feels any different when we're together- stuffing our faces with sushi or pizza, or having life talks and uncontrollable laughter with our girlfriends over a bottle of wine. Sometimes she makes my day by posting good songs or uglycute animals on my Facebook. She comes from a wonderful family who have been gracious hosts to many infamous Johnson Keggers :) She's someone who makes me realize how lucky I am to be blessed with such amazing people in my life. 

  

Where are you from and where are you now?

 I am from Canada (born in Fredricton), moved across various parts of Canada but mainly raised in Barrie, ON.  Currently living in Toronto, ON and have been for almost two years now.

What goals are you working towards and what keeps you motivated?  

Currently working towards learning as much as I can about everything! I know that is very vague…but I welcome the opportunity to learn about anything and everything.  Currently, becoming versed in all areas of Hospitality – whether it is how to formulate a menu to what all buttons on the POS of a restaurant do. A lot of things motivate me! I think the people that I interact with day-in and day-out motivate me the most.  Whether it’s a colleague, a friend or my family, they all keep me wanting to strive to be my very best when I see their best qualities shining right back at me.

What does confidence mean to you? 

To me, confidence is the ability to be completely vulnerable, and to be ok with it. You may not be a super model, rocket scientist or professional athlete, but if you can put yourself out there and try doing the things you want, knowing damn well you might fail…well that is confidence.

Where does your confidence come from?

 My confidence comes from my friends and family. It comes from self-accomplishment, taking each hurdle that scares me one leg at a time. But my parents have always told me that I can do anything I want to (cliché, I know), but they were right…they never said I would be good at doing anything I want to, just that I could! When I feel my confidence slipping, I talk to my closest friends. I consider them to be some of the most confident and REAL people that I have ever met.

 What do you love about yourself?
 a) Mentally?
I think I love my wit the most – I got that from my Dad. Wit can be used in so many different situations from connecting with a new person to diffusing an awkward situation. Quick wit and a good sense of humor will win me over any day.

 b) Physically? 

I love my skin. The fact that I tan very quickly is a bonus, but it also tells me everything I need to know about myself. Whether I’m stressed, dehydrated or relaxed. My skin lets me know what I need to do to ensure I am staying healthy.

 c) Emotionally? 

Kenny had a bit of a tough time filling this one in, so I'm doing it for her (with permission!) Kendra is full of empathy. She's a great person to talk to and though she may not know it, she has a way with words. She is understanding, compassionate, and in my opinion she really feels for other people. 

 What is one of your greatest accomplishments?  

Living on my own with a dog…this may sound like a silly accomplishment, but living on my own has given me such a great sense of independence and having a fur baby to care for on my own has definitely increased my responsibilities! Buying my first small toolbox …and using it was a pretty good feeling.

Do you find you compare yourself to others often? 

Every day…at least three times.

What is something in your life that you have had to overcome, or that you are working to overcome? 

I’m working on not taking things so personally. Especially in my industry, I learned very quickly that sometimes people have bad days, and sometimes you get to hear about it…but it might not be directed at you.

What always makes you feel better? 

A long walk home with some Sam Cooke (or Ja Rule depending on my mood) and then cuddles with my dog.

Is there anything about yourself- mentally, physically, or emotionally that you would like to improve? 

 Oh, there’s a lot! Always looking to improve, but no one is perfect. Definitely working on my patience. That is not a quality that I possess…yet…

What is one of your insecurities?  

My feet. It’s a bit of predicament because I don’t like showing my feet, but I can’t stand socks.

 How do you deal with jealousy? 

I normally make jokes about it. The 90:10 rule – all jokes are 90% truthful and 10% false…it’s true.

Do you feel pressured by societal norms for your life to turn out a certain way? 

You mean being single at 25 years old and not owning a home or making six figures? Yea, I guess you can say it crosses my mind every so often.

Who has helped shape who you are? 

My parents - hands down. They’re the best people I know and while we argue sometimes, I couldn’t choose two better role models to shape who to be (or at times who not to be).

What is the most important part of a romantic relationship? 

Conversation and humour. If you can’t communicate or laugh then you’re going to have a pretty boring and lonely relationship.

What are three things you are grateful for today? 

My relationships, my dog and the opportunities that I have been given over the past few years that have led me to where I am now.

 What book should I read and why?  

Mind, Set, Go – Deborah Johnson (Shameless plug ;)), but in all honesty – one of my favourite books has to be A House In The Sky by Amanda Lindhour & Sara Corbett. It shows the true dangers of traveling, but also shows the hope, strength and perseverance that one person can demonstrate.