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- Your Uplift - July 2025
Your Uplift - July 2025
Patricia's Resiliency eNewsletter ❤️🐞
Table of Contents
ONE. On a Personal Note
Hard Stuff
Spunky or Not?
This month, I had the joy of hosting a Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) Alberta Chapter gathering for an afternoon workshop with Lani Jac and Mike Handcock, the president of the Global Speakers Federation.
One of the exercises? Deliver a three-minute pitch to a meeting planner convincing them to hire us for an event. Afterwards, each of us received acknowledgement for our expertise, experience, and unique personalities. And… a challenge.
Mine? Drop the term Spunky Seniorpreneur.
Yes, the phrase that proudly lives on my website, business card, social media profiles, and marketing materials. My intention was to declare, “Yes, I’m older, but I’m still in business and bringing the energy!” At age 78, I thought of myself as a cheerleader for anti-ageism.
But then came the explanation: “At first glance, she’s fun, warm, and insightful… so why explain she’s spunky? It sounds like an apology. We need role models and matriarchs, not qualifiers.”
My reaction? WTF?! (Which of course means Wow, That’s Fascinating!) Most people smile when they see my brilliant phrase!
Then my long-time CAPS friends chimed in: “We always felt it was a little off, Patricia. Now we know why.”
So… have I stripped “Spunky Seniorpreneur” from my brand yet? Not quite. I’m still wrestling with it. What do you think—keep it, tweak it, or toss it? ❤️🐞
Uplifting Stuf
Friends Are Blessings
Years ago, my dear friend Alnoor Damji tracked me down on LinkedIn—and I’ve been grateful ever since! Alnoor is a man of many talents. He speaks seven languages and works LinkedIn magic like nobody else I know. With over 15,000 connections, he shares engaging, insightful posts and uses his expertise to help job seekers land meaningful work.
Alnoor is also a raving extrovert who thrives on connection, laughter, and play. I keep hoping he finds a special someone because, for now, he’s still a bachelor. In the meantime, he spoils us all with his culinary skills. He played chef for the CAPS Alberta social after our workshop, serving salmon so good it could have come from a five-star restaurant.
I love having Alnoor in our kitchen—and in our lives. If you’re on LinkedIn, look him up and enjoy his creative, informative posts. What a blessing he is!
When was the last time you gave a special friend a loving tribute in private or in public?
In meantime, here’s to your continued resilience,
Patricia ❤️🐞
TWO: Patricia’s Helpful Blogs/Articles
Almost every week I hear a client or others talk about a relationship they might end. “She drives me crazy! She talks negatively about her life, on and on.” Should you ditch the, so called, negative people in your life? According to motivational guru, Jim Rohn, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Many people have made social media tweets, posters and posts from this quotation.
Then there is . . CLICK HERE
Many North Americans struggle to live with grief in a healthy way—often denying or minimizing their pain. My counselling therapy clients frequently apologize for crying, assume they’re too emotional, diagnose themselves as depressed, or pretend everything is fine while feeling overwhelmed. Yet, as David Kessler writes in Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief, we can better live with our loss when we allow ourselves to grieve and find meaning after loss.
On a personal note I’ve lived through. . . CLICK HERE
THREE: Resiliency Research
Savour Whatever Uplifts
Alainna Wen PhD, a postdoctoral scholar at the Anxiety and Depression Research Center at the University of California, Los Angeles, wrote: “Our findings suggest that people who have a history of depression spend more time processing negative information, such as sad faces, than positive information, such as happy faces, and that this difference is greater compared to healthy people with no history [of depression].
“Because more negative thinking and mood and less positive thinking and mood are characteristic of depression, this could mean that these individuals are at a greater risk for having another depressive episode.”
So breathe in the sunshine, the rainbow after rain, July flowers, and children at play.
FOUR: Resiliency Video Picks
Nonviolent Communication | Marshall Rosenberg: How Does He Do It? (9.30min)
Quiz: What Type of Friend Are You? Self-test (10.02min)
Not all friendships look the same — some of us are the loyal listeners, others the chaos coordinators, and a few, the ones who vanish and reappear with stories. But have you ever stopped to ask… what kind of friend are you?
Why You Feel Lost in Life: Dr. Gabor Mate’ on Trauma and How to Heal with Mel Robbins (1hr 17min)
Patricia’s Videos
Self-Compassion Based on Kristin Neff’s Book (26min)
Loneliness Epidemic Research by Julianne Holt-Lundstad #short
Becoming a Therapist: Patricia’s Hidden Journey #shorts
4. Women and a Nurturing Leadership Style #short
FIVE: OPPORTUNITY with Patricia
"When we stop playing the drama game, we can start working together."
— Stephen Karpman (A Game Free Life)
The Karpman Drama Triangle is a simple way to understand how people sometimes get stuck in unhelpful roles when they have problems with each other. These roles are called Victim, Rescuer, and Persecutor.
When we know these roles, we can learn how to stop the drama and make better choices.Spot the Roles: Notice when someone is acting like a Victim (feels helpless), a Rescuer (tries to fix everything), or a Persecutor (bossy or blaming).
You will:
Know Why It’s a Problem: These roles keep the fight or drama going instead of solving the real problem.
Be Able to Step Out of the Triangle: Choose to be calm and take responsibility instead of blaming or fixing others.
Help in a Healthy Way: Instead of rescuing, ask, “How can I support you?” so everyone stays strong.
KNow What to Do to Get Out of the Triangle: Be honest (instead of Victim), caring (instead of Rescuer), and firm but kind (instead of Persecutor)
Cost: Free
11 am MT, Saturday, September 27, 2025
Free and Open to the Public. Part of the Microlearning Collective
Register at: https://forms.gle/xj5vtN2HkqDFbq9N7
For more information contact [email protected]
SIX: More Opportunities for Resilience
Presentations — In-Person or Online
Keynotes/Workshops: CLICK HERE.
Presentation Skills: For those who want one-on-one time to develop a speaking business or simply a specific message and how to effectively deliver it. CLICK HERE.
Therapeutic Counselling: Can be delivered online globally and in person in Canada. CLICK HERE.
Publications: Reduced prices are available for quantity orders. To learn more about Patricia’s books CLICK HERE.
Please let me know how I might be of service at 403-830-6919 or [email protected]
Your Spunky Seniorpreneur, Patricia ❤️🐞