Category Archives: community

Day 2 – #SoloRoadTrip: Coffee Chats, Customs, and Alpacas

27 Wednesday Aug 2025

Posted by in Business, community, friendship, SoloRoad, Travel, Uncategorized

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Today kicked off with something I’ve really been missing lately: in-person magic.

☕ Coffee in Calgary – And a Reminder to Show Up

Mirna and I hosted a fun CELS Coffee Chat this morning at The Ampersand in downtown Calgary. It was casual, intimate, and sparked all the right conversations! The turnout was exactly what Mirna and I had hoped for … thoughtful founders, curious ecosystem folks, and lots of energy around what’s next. It reminded me just how important it is to physically show up in-market. There’s something powerful about being face-to-face in the places where your community lives and works.

Even though it was just a casual meetup, the number of people asking “When’s the next one?” made me pause. Maybe it’s time to sprinkle in a few more IRL Canadian moments on the calendar. There’s clearly an appetite for connection. But until then … I’m grateful that Mirna can carry the torch and keep the conversations going!

🚐 On the Road Again – Highway Time and Border Nerves

After that, it was back on the road again. 🎶 A straight shot South from Calgary, through the prairies and into Montana. I didn’t make many stops … just a few gas stations and leg stretches along the way.

As I was approaching the Coutts border crossing, Paul Brandt’s Alberta Bound came on the radio. OMG, tears were choking me up! That song gets me every time, and I guess that could be the point.

And why is it that crossing the border always makes me a little nervous? I still find myself rehearsing if asked ‘anything to declare?’ … I’m ready to answer clearly and succinct … “um, a couple of apples, bananas and of course, a couple extra bottles of alcohol beyond the limit”. I don’t think I will actually say the “of course” part, but for those that know me, you know that of course I over index on alcohol. LOL But I was through in minutes after a stoic, but encouraging “welcome back!”. And like that, I was officially back in the U.S. of A!

As I headed into the U.S. though, I saw this familiar sign which always makes me smile. I know if my Mom were to see it, she’d say “YES, Joanne … “return to Canada!”. Oh how I love how much my Mom has never let up in 26 years on me returning to Canada to live. ♥️ 🏡

🦙 Tonight’s Stay: Alpacas and Solitude

I’m now cozied up at a beautiful alpaca farm in Montana, thanks to the Harvest Hosts app. Trooper is parked, the night is quiet, and it’s shaping up to be a perfectly restful evening — just what I needed. I’ll be reading shortly, reflecting, and soaking in the solitude. There’s something nourishing about being truly alone with your thoughts after a day of #windshieldtime, as my friend Jane calls it.

Aside from more #CarelessPeople audible and scrolling for reactions to the book over a “meal for champions” that consisted of a Costco frozen burrito and a Mike’s Hard Lemonade, that’s all for Day 2! Nothing wildly profound to say, but today felt good. Grounding. Peaceful. And tomorrow, the road calls again. 🚙

But, as I wrap this up I figure that I might as well end the evening with a little night cap … seeing I did successfully bring across this yummy bottle of whiskey into the country. 🥃

#Solo(Return)RoadTrip

30 Monday Aug 2021

Posted by in community, Family, friendship, Love, Travel

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Well the month of August flew by! Before I embark on my #Solo(Return)RoadTrip to 🇺🇸 … I thought I would share some of my highlights!

Celebrating my parents 54th wedding anniversary … and my sister’s um, 30th birthday 🙂

Another 50th birthday celebration with my wonderful high school girlfriends.

We all turn 50 this year and I’m so proud to say that out loud because I think we all look 25! Thanks Tanya, Tracy and Tamara for all of the great times together! It wasn’t easy but we pulled together a few gatherings .. not to mention the few quick beers 🍻 we snuck in from time to time as well!

Since I of course, had time on my hands, I took up golf lessons while I was home. And I went back to the very first place that I picked up a golf club … about 30 years ago. ⛳️ Thanks again, Mike, for introducing me to the game of golf. That, and moving to San Francisco, are two amazing gifts from our time together.

I experienced real progress (1% better is my motto!) after weekly golf lessons. Tannis and Z … I look forward to showing off my new skills at the HMB links! ha ha <grin>

I enjoyed a lot of walks .. some alone, some with friends, and some with a Saint in my back pocket.

I went back to my roots and had not one, but TWO nights of pickles with my family! And I’m so excited that I have a case in the back of my car to enjoy while I’m back in California.

We enjoyed some cool extended family time — we visited my 97 yo great aunt, as well as had an annual Fedeyko WE MEET reunion, virtual again this year but it was so much fun I think Amy and I are going to organize a WE MEET virtually more often. Except next time, we’ll send the link, Uncle D! LOL

Mom and me, of course, enjoyed some wine!! And on some nights, I enjoyed some Whisky! (I couldn’t let my fans down without sharing some of these moments, right?!)

The weather was absolutely drop-dead, gorgeous almost every day I was home. It was weather like I remember it growing up on the farm in High Level. I took advantage of the amazing backdrop + weather for an alternative to my normal office.

AND I got to meet an amazing group of Edmonton women that I’ve been working with over the last year. Thank you Cara, Anjali, Kennedy, Nicole, Noelle and Sabrina for your support, passion and collaboration! I’m excited for all the things we are doing together.

I am taking home a few gifts from my mom. She’s always asking if I would “use this” or “wear that” … and then next thing – poof – it’s mine to enjoy! 🙂 My mom was always so creative with crafts … from ceramics to cross stitch to knitting and painting .. she did it all – and beautifully!! Here is a gift I get to take home with me. Thanks, Mom! LOVE ❤️

I might update this post with additional memories, but as I embark on my #SoloReturnRoadTrip, I wanted to share a glimpse from the last month.

It’s always SO great to come home to 🇨🇦. Thank you to my family, friends and colleagues for making it memorable and fun!

And now … I look forward to the “Positive What If!” that awaits in San Francisco!

Oh and … NW 35 109 17 W5 … Which won’t mean anything to most of my readers right now, but it might show up in a future blog post. 😆

Community

23 Wednesday Oct 2019

Posted by in community, Family, Inspiration, Life's Lessons

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The other day I heard an important distinction between the meaning of community and the definition of a network.

community-services

A network is a group of interconnected people … which I completely relate to because I have personally built a business by building my network.

A community is a feeling of fellowship of others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals.

The distinction between the two got me thinking about what community is … and the community that I have fostered … versus the networks I have built.

And then it dawned on me.  The reason why I have been experiencing a sense of loss and loneliness in my life. It is because I haven’t nurtured enough community, at a time when I think I needed it the most.

There are things we do that help foster community.

Being in a relationship … having a family … a partnership of some kind …

These all lend themselves to shared interests and common goals.

When we have a belief in something, or a strong passion, be it a spiritual belief in God or some passion for say a certain sport or the arts and culture, we have an easier time building connection.  We form relationships where we rely on others and over time, feel confident that no matter what, we are going to be there for each other … be it to pray with … cheer with … create with … or commiserate with.

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Being a solo entrepreneur can make it difficult to build or keep up within a community. We focus most of our time on our company.  We make decisions to prioritize growing the business over, sometimes, almost everything else.  And we can often seclude ourselves from places of deep connectivity citing a lack of time, energy or a whole host of other reasons, valid or not.

But the cost of disconnection can be great.

It’s almost like we find our own little hole and keep digging ourselves towards the opposite direction of community and support, even though I think we realize it’s exactly what we need to thrive.  We need community and that sense of support to keep our heart and soul alive – so it can fuel our imagination, our passions, and yes, ultimately our business.

We all have a lot to offer to a community, in addition to what we will gain from being a part of one.  But like anything else in life, it starts with taking a step forward in the direction we want to go.  And we don’t know what might stick, so we can’t be scared to go down a few paths to find the right one for us.

Be it for a season, a reason, or a lifetime.  Finding a community, or two or five, feels like a good use of our time.

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Special thanks to my new community #MC and my old #creativeNZ match for the inspiration.