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I had forgotten the difference between travelling and vacationing, as it had been 26 years since I ‘went travelling.’ This past July, I was reminded of the joys and struggles of travelling, took away some personal aha moments, and some suggestions for future travellers. I’ll start by saying that I am forever grateful for the opportunities that have been afforded to me to have the luxury of travelling, and while I know that I have worked hard over 3 decades to organize such a

I was 52 years old when I learned this secret and I want you to know about it too. Ever heard the phrase, “there’s no crying in baseball” from the movie A League of Their Own? Well, as a generation X – this phrase rings out all too well. I have been managing stressful situations, recently around caring for my mum. She’s one tough cookie – and is “doing her best kitty!” I am so grateful for a strong woman role model. There is lots to unpack around mommas and daughters, but I’l

Image created by ChatGPT Jun 8-26 The past two weeks have been very challenging for me. I had a bit of health scare, where I originally thought possible heart issue, which turned out to be something else (massive heart burn coupled with a pulled muscle). I had woken up with this strange sensation of feeling like I had something pressing on my esophagus - not the “I-have-a-sore-throat” feeling. I’d had heartburn before, but this felt different. I shared my concerns with my hus

Archibald (Archie) Henry McLean McLaren Today I celebrate, honour, and remember my incredible father, Archie. He was a stout, feisty, Scotsman. He loved my mother, Rose, dearly, until his passing May 19, 2013 – though we all know he hasn’t left her side since then. My father worked hard to provide for my mum when they moved from Scotland to Canada, settling on Vancouver Island. They came here to explore if Canada was right for them, following my mum’s brother Bill, who had se

For all you "FAUXYLADIES" out there!! If you're already a member, stay tuned for the invite for an upcoming session. For those of you interested in becoming a member, please send me an email: msperren@gmail.com. Session anticipated May 21 (evening). I look forward to continuing our great conversations on building out this community by women for women. #Trusttheprocess #Trustyourself #Fauxvember #Fauxyladies

Spring has sprung The grass is riz' I wonder where the birdies is? ~Sometimes credited to E.E. Cummings or Odgen Nash (Image created by ChatGPT) This was a cute little poem my dad used to say, in his Scottish accent, at the beginning of spring. The thought of it, puts a smile on my face. He always had such a joy for life and an appreciation for the simple things, like ice cream with KitKat laying in front of a warm fire, storytelling of cold weather and taking solace in a cav

Have you ever wondered where you’ll end up after making a decision? I had the most interesting experience a few weekends ago. I took a girls trip with 3 friends from elementary school to visit another friend that we met in junior high. We had a BLAST, reminiscing, laughing, crying, discussing everything kids, husbands, jobs, dreams, regrets, health, losses, new life, marriages and more. Conversations that allow you to release things, gain perspective and fill your heart. Now

ChatGPT Generated April 15, 2026 I have had the pleasure of reconnecting with a few strong professional women over this past week. Each of them has had similar yet different experiences through their professional journey. I am amazed at how resilient we all are – but should we have to be? Our mental health is attached to having positive and healthy relationships. Ones that lift you up, not tear you down. So, what is it about the ‘mean girls’ posse that exists in many corporat

Reflecting on my weekend, I think overall I stayed true to ‘my plan.’ What’s the plan? Well, before I answer that, I think it’s important to situate that the plan is in relation to being an alcohol minimalist. An alcohol minimalist is someone who drinks mindfully, prioritizes alcohol-free days, and maintains a peaceful, intentional relationship with alcohol without relying on it to cope or socialize (Co-Pilot). When I began my journey to find a better balance, I stumbled up

Those are words that are usually associated with relaxation but not how my daughter (22) described it. I had this great conversation with her about how I’d made some ‘bad choices’ over the weekend and it left me with those feelings of shame and guilt. She smiled at me and simply said, “Sometimes we need to be kicked, so we can get up and kick back . Doesn’t mean we haven’t made progress.” She is so wise! Thinking back, I don't regret the time I spent, or the money I spent (we

Life can be hard some days. My hard is relative of course. I feel very supported by my friends and family, have a roof over my head, food in the fridge, and clean clothes. My ‘hard’ days look more like, dealing with stressful situations, trying to keep myself regulated, helping my kids navigate their life challenges, trying to support my team members through personal and professional growth, helping my mum with her health needs, managing pet care, exercising, finding time to