Truth Magazine Issue 3

September 2018 

truthconference.ca

FEATURES 

18 

06 

Suicide: How To Help Yourself and 

Others Find Healing 

More and more people are choosing to take their own lives 

because they see death as the only solution to the difficulties 

they face. 

10 

13 

Yoga Passion 

“But I don’t want to do yoga, it’s so boring!”That was my answer 

for so many years when my mom would beg me to do yoga with 

her. I would watch her practicing it every day and just couldn’t 

understand what was so special about it. 

14 

Everlasting Love 

Finding a partner and having a happy marriage cannot be left to 

chance. It is important to plan for the end before the beginning, 

to count the cost up front, and try to anticipate the pitfalls and 

difficulties that will occur along the way. 

19 

20 

Project Trashion 

What is the first thing you look for when purchasing a new shirt? 

Fit? Style? Colour? Many would say a combination of all three. It 

is important in our society to have channels such as fashion to 

express ourselves and our beliefs. 

20 

22 

Your Best You 

The Spirit of Christ is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent 

at all times. He knows you even better than you know yourself 

and can come into your life and re-design it if you ask Him. 

Today, ask Him into your life to transform it and bring you to 

your highest and best—your very best. To Him be all honour, 

glory and praise. 

2 | Truthmagazine

OUR CONTRIBUTORS 

Welcome 

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 

Nadine Miller 

PUBLISHER & EDITOR 

Cheryl-ann Philip 

PRODUCTION & GRAPHIC DESIGN TEAM 

Jessica Chandrathasan 

Krisika Suthanthireswaran 

PROOF READERS 

Cheryl-ann Philip 

Pollyana Darrell 

HAIR STYLIST 

Genesis Hair Studio - Sue Thomas 

CONTRIBUTIONS 

Dr. Monica Hernandez 

Marlene M. MacKenzie 

Lorna (Pat) Chacha 

Priya Srinivasan 

Three years of growth and discovery! Our third publication 

of sharing transformational holistic truths; the outcome: 

positive impact! Real change! Being your “best you”means 

maximizing your talents, managing and minimizing your 

triggers, and recognizing the areas of your life which have the 

potential to blossom, and develop them. Every day is a gift-an 

opportunity to continue building on the existing foundation 

or to do a reset. Being your “best you” is about seed time and 

harvest. Take time to invest in yourself and reap a harvest 

from the legacy you create. 

THE NAKED TRUTH GOSPEL 

Truth Magazine is produced by The Naked Truth Gospel 

(TNTG), a faith-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated 

to promoting wholesome thinking and lifestyles, while 

empowering and equipping individuals with practical 

tools to recalibrate their personal GPS (Guiding Principles for 

Success) through publications, workshops, multimedia shows 

and other events. 

TNTG is the parent of Truth Conference and Real Truth Talk 

Show . 

TRUTH CONFERENCE 

Truth Conference, a wellness weekend getaway offers the 

opportunity to withdraw briefly from life’s treadmill and 

explore practical knowledge and tools for achieving your 

“Plan A,” as coaches share guiding principles for successful 

living. 

REAL TRUTH TALK SHOW 

Coming soon, Real Truth Talk Show is a new Canadian web 

talk series bringing fresh, lively, energetic and meaningful 

conversation with guests from different backgrounds and 

experiences on lifestyle topics. 

Truthmagazine | 3

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Ways to Boost 

Your Mood Immediately 

1 

Sunshine and Nature 

Let the sunshine into your house. Open the shades and 

curtains. Go for a walk in nature. Get fresh air. 

4 

Get Lost on Purpose 

Go somewhere you have never been. Go for a drive 

with no destination in mind. 

2 

Music 

Put on upbeat music to becomeenergized when you’re 

feeling down. 

5 

Hugs 

Ask for a hug. We need human touch to sustain life. 

When we are feeling down, we need even more human 

connection for healing. Pets help with healing too. 

3 

Lavender & Orange 

Both these scents calm the body; they are refreshing 

and provide soothing. 

6 

Small Projects 

Be productive! Find something to do whether it be 

organizing a messy drawer, baking or doing art. 

“Grow through, 

what you go through” 


Suicide: How To Help 

Yourself & Others Find Healing 

More and more people are choosing to take their 

own lives because they see death as the only 

solution to the difficulties they face. 

Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain are recent 

high-profile suicide cases that left the world rattled 

and perturbed yet, every 40 seconds someone 

commits suicide—every 40 seconds someone’s 

world is devastated. 

We have a problem! 

I say “we” have a problem because the rising rate of 

suicide is a judgement on our society. David Foster 

Wallace, discussing suicide, says: 

“The so-called ‘psychotically depressed’ person 

who tries to commit suicide doesn’t do so out of 

‘hopelessness’ or any abstract conviction that life’s 

assets and debits do not square; and surely it is 

not because death suddenly seems appealing. The 

person in whom an invisible agony reaches a certain 

unendurable level will kill themselves the same 

way a trapped person in a burning high-rise, will 

eventually jump from a window. Make no mistake 

about people who leap from burning buildings. 

Their terror of falling from a great height is just 

as great as it would be for you or me…that is, the 

fear of falling remains a constant but the variable 

here is the other terror, the fire’s flames; when the 

flames get close enough, jumping to possible death 

becomes the slightly less terrible of two terrors. 

For the individual, it is the terror of the flames that 

eventually provides impetus to jump. Invariably, 

people down on the sidewalk, looking up, yelling 

‘Don’t!’ and ‘Hang on!’, cannot understand the jump. 

You would have to have personally been trapped 

and felt those flames to really understand a terror 

way beyond falling.” 

Individuals like Bourdain and Spade could not 

escape the “flames” because we, as a society, did 

not provide a way for them to save themselves. 

These flames are different for everyone. It could 

be the conflict of trying to be someone else than 

ourselves; a festering trauma from any stage in our 

lives, or mounting pressure and expectations from 

our lifestyle; it could be loneliness, relationships…it 

could be anything. All of us are vulnerable because 

we face the challenges of daily life. 

The current psychiatric system is supposedly helping 

people but it is in shambles. Psychotropic drugs 

have failed to eradicate mental ill-health; more 

people suffer from mental ill-health than ever 

before. Kate Spade saw some of the best mental 

health professionals in New York for months before 

her death. As psychologist Noel Hunter notes, 

“most people who have committed suicide did so 

after having sought out help.” He also points out, 

“Telling someone they are “ill” for suffering or being 

sad serves to further alienate the individual. It often 

results in the person feeling defective, and puts the 

problem inside the individual instead of recognizing 

how cultural and circumstantial factors are negatively 

impacting them. Studies have demonstrated over 

and over again that a biological illness perspective 

on human suffering leads to decreased empathy, 

increased desire for social distance, and increased 

prejudice and discrimination.” 

As a society, we have to re-examine how we view 

mental health. We have to re-examine the way we 

help people who are going through difficult times. 

We have to stop placing blame squarely on the 

shoulders of the individual who find it difficult to 

escape the flames of their life. 


HELP LINE: 

If you, or anyone you know is struggling with 

suicidal thoughts call Toronto Distress Centre. 

Contact: 

(408) - HELP 

(416)-408-4357 


Suicide: How To Help 

Yourself & Others Find Healing 

WHAT CAN WE DO AS A SOCIETY? 

Love. We cannot survive without love. Love is, according to 

research, the top addiction and scientists show us we are 

wired for love. More people die from the lack of love than 

any other disease. Love thrives in a community. Humanity 

is wired to work and thrive in a community. Love cannot 

be shared, of course, without someone to love. In science, 

and especially quantum physics, “entanglement” is one of 

the most important laws - often referred to as the law of 

relationships. We are entangled humans living in an entangled 

universe; we need each other. When we help other people, 

we heal ourselves. 

Love starts in the family unit. It is important for parents and 

guardians to constantly tell and show their children they are 

loved. Hug them; tell them they are needed, wanted and 

special. Parents and guardians also need to create a safe 

space for their children by assuring them they will not be 

judged or condemned. As a parent of four children, I have 

to constantly work at making sure my children know that 

no matter what, they have my trust and love. I ensure they 

feel safe and not judged—we can talk about anything and 

everything. 

At schools and workplaces teachers and managers should 

be trained to identify the signs of mental ill-health and 

be equipped to provide adequate support for troubled 

individuals. Such support can be a compassionate and 

knowledgeable person who is there to help individuals deal 

with the vagaries of life. 

Churches can also be incredible powerhouses when it 

comes to showing communities what love looks like. In 

addition to regular counseling services, churches should 

create loving, safe and non-judgmental centers or peaceful 

gardens, manned by volunteers who will listen and love 

people who are going through tough times. Unfortunately, 

more and more people feel that the church is a harsh, critical 

and sin-obsessed institution in bed with the current political 

empire. This is a judgment on the current state of Western 

Christianity, which in many ways, does not reflect the love of 

a beautiful and caring God. 

As a clinical practitioner, I have repeatedly experienced 

how communities of love work wonders at transforming the 

mind. I have recorded these in my books, DVDs and online 

programs, including the 21 Day Brain Detox. 

People can be healed—there is indeed much to hope for! 

We have many programs that deal with overcoming toxic 

thinking patterns: training and educating individuals to 

use their mind well, at drleaf.com and at our non-profit, 

the Whole Mind Project. You are more than welcome to 

contact us for more information. 

We are currently working on certified counseling courses 

and an app to train individuals to think and build healthy 

memories, which will be released in October 2018. 

Mental well-being. The association between mental 

“disorders” and violence (including suicide) is an unfair 

association and distorts the discussion; in particular, 

the media’s caricature of individuals with mental issues 

committing acts of violence because there is ‘something 

terribly wrong with their brain’. According to research, those 

battling with mental issues are more often victims than 

perpetrators. 

We desperately need a revolution in mental healthcare. 

The current drug-oriented, biomedical model of diagnosis 

and treatment for non-medical problems and experiences 

is reductionistic and dangerous. While the biomedical model 

is very effective in treating illnesses such as heart disease, 

diabetes, cancer and so on, it is unhelpful and even damaging 

in matters to do with consciousness and the mind, such as 

depression or anxiety. 


The “treatment” of these so-called diseases of the mind is 

predominated by psychotropic drugs, Electroconvulsive 

Therapy (ECT) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation(TMS), 

which statistics or studies have shown to be ineffective, 

destructive, disempowering, and stigmatizing in the long run. 

Calling for a bigger budget for drug-oriented psychiatry really 

“medicalizes misery”, dehumanizes people while ignoring the 

context surrounding why a person chooses to act or speak 

in a certain way. 

Drugging people to control their thoughts, feelings and 

actions is not the answer to societal ills. The good news 

is that there are many alternatives to psychotropic drugs 

and invasive treatments like ECT. Mad in America, an online 

community of mental health professionals, advocates, and 

individuals provides detailed resources on the current 

state of mental health treatment, guides to withdrawal 

and alternatives to drug treatment for mental health 

issues. The contributors at Mad in America, including 

psychiatrist and mental health advocate Dr. Peter Breggin, 

are making incredible strides in changing the way individuals 

and institutions define and treat people suffering from 

the vagaries of life. 

Most importantly, we need to recognize that DMs, Tweets, 

commenting on someone’s Facebook wall, or liking an 

Instagram post is not the same as taking the time to phone 

someone, or paying a visit to check in on a loved one even if 

they seem “fine”. 

You can listen to my podcast on social media and the mind 

for more information. 

“Often times, depression can mute or hinder someone’s 

ability to reach out. So, if you do see someone struggling, 

reach out! If you don’t see someone who used to be 

around, reach out!” (Caissie St.Onge) 

Dr. Caroline Leaf 

If you, or anyone you know is struggling with suicidal 

thoughts call 416-408-4357. 

This is informative not individual medical advice. 

I recently recorded a podcast on dealing with depression 

with Dr. Jason Littleton. You can listen to the full interview 

here: Episode 35(also available on iTunes and Google Play) 

Relationships. Although the technological age has helped 

improve the lives of many, platforms such as social media 

can serve to increase our sense of isolation, and increase 

our desire to seek attention. We now have the world at 

our fingertips, yet, paradoxically, more and more of us live 

solitary, futile lives. We are more connected, literally, yet we 

are more isolated than ever before. 

We should all make an effort to engage less with our phones 

and computers but more with those we love and are part of 

our community. We should limit our time using technology, 

including social media, to certain hours of the day or, certain 

days. The brain thrives in a dynamic and social atmosphere; 

the more we reach out to others, the more we improve our 

own mental and physical health. 


Entrepreneurship And Accounting 

A Growing Complexity 

Business Adviser - Yonin Senouvo 

Managing Partner at Senouvo Consulting Group 

According to the census 1 of December 2015, Canada’s 

economy is essentially made up of very small to medium 

enterprises/businesses (SMEs) which represent respectively 

54.1% (businesses with less than 4 employees) and 43.8% 

(businesses with 5 to 99 employees). While the medium size 

companies (100 to 499 employees) represent 1.8% of the 

total, large companies (over 500 employees) only account 

for 0.3% of the market. 

This overwhelming ratio of small businesses (97.9%) 

raises the inevitable question of their ability to manage 

while focusing on their core business. In fact, many small 

businesses still see accounting and finance as a mere tool 

to help file the year-end administrative paperwork: yes 

“TAXES”. Undoubtedly, tax filing needs to be done however, 

this exercise now requires a departure from the traditional 

view of the accountant as a tax filer. In order to optimize 

the SME’s chances for optimization and healthy growth, 

today’s accountant needs to be a specialist on tax, finance, 

management and systems in order to provide competent 

and relevant advice to SMEs on the everchanging nature of 

their business. 

As a managing partner at Senouvo Consulting Group (SCG), 

I have spent the last 15 years in two of the top global 

accounting and advisory firms, (commonly known as the 

Big 4s) and have learned that business success is measured 

by the ability to learn, and optimize resources. The 2.0 

Accountant provides business clients with benefits beyond 

bookkeeping and tax filing. For example, the Accountant is 

able to advise and caution clients regarding over-investment 

on fixed assets or, if and when cash flow needs to be better 

managed, by delaying vendor payment. 

SCG is a 2.0 accounting firm whose priority is to shoulder the 

management burden of the SME and assist them to provide 

the same quality of services as large corporations. We 

purpose to come alongside small businesses, understanding 

that they are the game changers. We position ourselves as 

advisers helping our clients achieve sustainable growth. 

1 

Key Small Business Statistics - June 2016, Government of Canada 


BMO Nesbitt Burns 

Five Tax Ideas for the 

Remainder of 2018 

Below you will find concepts that could help you save taxes, increase 

your net worth, and position you for financial success in 2018. 

1. Start tax planning now 

Many investors wait until year end before 

thinking about how to reduce their annual 

tax bill. As a result, they often miss out on 

available tax planning opportunities. Tax 

planning should be a year round activity in 

order to maximize the savings opportunities 

available to you. Feel free to email me at 

cameron.murphy@nbpcd.com for a copy 

of our 2018 Personal Tax Calendar, which 

summarizes important tax deadlines and 

provides some tax planning tips for you to 

consider throughout the coming year. 

2. Make your RRSP and TFSA 

contributions 

Making regular Registered Retirement 

Savings Plan (RRSP) contributions is one of 

the best ways to ensure you save enough 

for your retirement. If you’ve already made 

your 2017 RRSP contribution, consider 

making your 2018 RRSP contribution early, 

instead of waiting until 2019, in order to 

maximize the tax deferred compounding 

inside your RRSP. The maximum RRSP contribution 

available for 2018 is $26,230. 

The benefits and flexibility provided by a 

Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) make it 

ideal for saving for multiple financial goals. 

The TFSA contribution limit for 2018 is 

$5,500. Unused contribution room – dating 

back to 2009 when TFSAs were first introduced, 

or the year you turned 18 – carries 

forward and can be used in a future year. 

You may want to consider gifting funds to 

your spouse or common-law partner, or 

adult children to allow them to contribute 

to their own TFSA (subject to their personal 

TFSA contribution limit). Income earned 

within their TFSA will not be attributed back 

to you. 

3. Reduce tax with income-splitting 

Under our tax system, the more you earn, 

the more you pay in income taxes on 

incremental dollars earned. With this in 

mind, it may make sense to spread income 

among family members who are taxed at 

lower marginal rates in order to lower your 

family’s overall tax burden, subject to the 

income attribution rules. Some of the more 

common income-splitting strategies to 

consider include: 

• An interest-bearing loan at the prescribed 

interest rate to family members 

in a lower tax bracket. This strategy is 

particularly attractive because rates are 

currently at historically low levels; 

• Pension income-splitting between 

spouses (or common law partners); 

• Gifts to adult children or other adult 

family members (other than a spouse or 

common-law partner); and 

• Gifts to a minor child – directly or through a 

trust structure – to acquire investments that 

generate only capital gains. 

Let’s connect 

Cameron Murphy, BBA (Hons), CIM 

Investment Advisor 

BMO Nesbitt Burns 

905-681-2829 

cameron.murphy@nbpcd.com 

www.cameronmurphy.ca 


doTerra Word Search 

Essential Oils 

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Enjoy this word search on essential oils that will help you become a better 

you. Remember to look up, down, left, right, forwards and backwards. 

BREATHE 

CLARY CALM 

VETIVER 

ARBORVITAE 

LAVENDAR 

FRANKINCENSE 

EUCALYPTUS 

LEMON 

WHISPER 

PEPPERMINT 

PATCHOULI 

MELALEUCA 

BERGAMOT 

OREGANO 

HELICHRYSUM 

MYRRH 

CYPRESS 


Yoga 

Passion 

How Yoga can Help 

“But I don’t want to do yoga, it’s so boring!” 

That was my answer for so many years when my mom 

would beg me to do yoga with her. I would watch her 

practicing it every day and just couldn’t understand what 

was so special about it. 

But years passed and sometime during highschool, I 

started developing an interest in fitness. I had always 

had the gift of natural flexibility so I thought I’d give yoga 

another shot. I soon realized that heck, I was really good 

at it so I just continued practicing, under the guidance of 

my mom of course (who, was more than thrilled). I slowly 

started to see the real benefits of yoga, including weight 

loss, muscle strengthening and discipline in my fitness. 

Today, yoga is a daily part of my life. Whether it’s to start 

the day or to end the night, it has become one of my 

greatest passions. Yoga is my number one fitness activity 

and is easily the part of my day which I look forward to 

most. People take up yoga for a lot of different reasons – 

meditation, spirituality, muscle toning, restoration…the list 

is endless; but that is what is so beautiful and so unifying 

about it. Whatever stage, level, reason – yoga has a place 

for everyone and will return however much love and effort 

you put into it. 

People always tell me that they’d love to do yoga but are 

not flexible. Like I once did, so many people try it once and 

walk away because they find it too hard and not enjoyable. 

Even I will admit, if I take a break from yoga for whatever 

reason (we all have busy lives with work and school, but 

that is no excuse!), the first time getting my stiff body 

through a yoga session sucks! However I PROMISE YOU, 

it’s just a matter of staying disciplined and keeping at it. 

The ONLY way to get better at it and enjoy is to keep 

doing it, and I promise you, you will see the results! 

Priya Srinivasan 


Everlasting Love 

The desire and the pursuit of such love is leading many single 

adults to attend Plan & Prepare unique 10-Week Relationship 

Seminar and its associated social activities. Plan & Prepare 

was established in 2004 to provide enrichment seminars 

for individuals concerned about building and maintaining a 

healthy relationship. Some of the life changing topics dealt 

with include: 

In Pursuit of Everlasting Love, Overcoming the Fear of 

Rejection, Healing Emotional Wounds, What is Love? Ten 

Most Common Emotional Needs, Sexuality I & II, Dating 

Guidelines, Money in Marriage and Beauty In and Beauty 

Out. 

Throughout the years, we have opened our doors to over 

1,500 people and celebrated over 75 marriages. Although 

most attend these seminars as a single adult, we have seen 

many return to the seminars with their future spouse. Here’s 

what three happily married couples have to say: 

“Plan & Prepare gave us the step-by-step guidance on how 

to move on from past wounds and relationship hang-ups and 

open our hearts to love again unconditionally.” Adriano & Eva 

“Plan & Prepare deepened our understanding of ourselves, 

each other and God’s plan for a successful marriage. The 

topics really helped us to have important and meaningful 

discussions as an engaged couple.” Tyler & Ruth. 

“We are now married with a blended family of three. My 

husband and I did our pre-marital counseling through Plan 

& Prepare which guided us through our courtship.” Richard 

& Karen. 

In addition to our 10-week seminars, many have enjoyed our 

annual elegant Christmas Gala, Singlesfest conference, boat 

cruise, road trips, barbeque, sports activities and many other 

social events. Engaged couples are also enjoying our premarital 

computerized assessment program prior to saying ‘I 

Do!’ 

All single adults (never married, 

dating, engaged, separated or 

divorced) desirous of a lasting 

change in their lives are invited to 

attend our 10-week seminar and 

events. Plan & Prepare assists 

in the preparation of individuals 

spiritually, emotionally, financially 

and physically for whole and 

healthy relationships. 

Marlene M. MacKenzie 

Co-Founder of Plan & Prepare 


“Plan & Prepare 

gave us the 

step-by-step guidance of 

how to move on from past 

wounds and relationship 

hang-ups and open our 

hearts to love again 

unconditionally. ” 

Adriano & Eva. 

In 1997, my ministry with singles began as the Singles Director 

at Kennedy Road Tabernacle Church and five years later, I began 

leading DivorceCare Recovery Groups in Brampton. In 2005, I 

became co-founder of Plan & Prepare, coordinating its unique 

seminars and events. My personal journey of overcoming 

broken relationships, has offered hope to many who experience 

the pain of a broken heart. 

I truly believe that a happy marriage is no accident. The secret to 

success in any endeavor is planning and preparing. Many of us 

are willing to spend years in school receiving an education that 

will prepare us for success in our chosen career or profession. If 

we are so careful about planning for career success, why aren’t 

we just as careful about planning for success in marriage? 

We invite all to attend our fall seminar and become the BEST 

YOU for a life time partner. 

“Finding a partner and having a happy marriage cannot be left to 

chance. It is important to plan for the end before the beginning, 

to count the cost up front, and try to anticipate the pitfalls and 

difficulties that will occur along the way.” Myles Munroe. 

Marlene M. MacKenzie and her husband Tom have been married 

for 19 years and are parents to 14-year old Thomas Jr. She 

has shared her testimony of God’s faithfulness, healing power, 

restoration and forgiveness at singles and women’s conferences and 

to congregations; has hosted ‘Nite Lite’ on CTS and has been heard 

on WDCX and Joy 1250 radio stations. 


Girls Of Destiny 

Programs Empowering Girls 

Regardless of our size, shape, height, colour, ethnicity 

or religion we are all capable of great things. We all 

have this one thing in common-purpose. Purpose is 

like an iceberg; 90% is below the surface and 10% is 

visible. How does one find their purpose or tap into 

their potential? Ask yourself these questions: 

Why was I put on this earth? 

What do I want to do with my life? 

What do I love to do? 

Who do I want to help? 

How can I help? 

The answers to these questions may help us find our 

purpose but if we don’t believe in ourselves we cannot 

pursue our passion and serve others. Kendall Bronk, 

a leading researcher on youth development, submits 

that, “…the development of purpose is intricately 

woven with the development of identity.” 

Let’s face the facts. Some of us struggle with loving 

ourselves, finding our true identity, and connecting 

with others. Everywhere we go we are bombarded with 

the supposed ideal image of beauty and popularity 

which we don’t fit. It is no wonder we find it difficult to 

value and treasure ourselves. 

In a National Population Health Survey conducted by 

Statistics Canada, the indication is that adolescent 

girls tend to have a lower self-concept (a sense of selfworth 

and a feeling of control) than boys. The damaging 

effects of low self-worth make girls more susceptible to 

issues such as teenage pregnancy, depression, obesity 

and various other health issues. A positive self-concept 

on the other hand, is apparently, key to developing 

good mental and physical health. 

Girls of Destiny (GOD) leadership, etiquette, personal 

development summer camp and life skill programs are 

designed to inculcate and bolster positive self-concept 

in adolescent girls age 11-16. Founded in 2003, the 

programs continue to provide great mentorship for 

girls. 

The goal of GOD is to engage the community by 

mentoring and empowering girls as they go through 

their teen years, to build self-esteem, develop social 

graces and radiate beauty from within. GOD helps girls 

appreciate their personality and value their real self. 

Bill Damon, the leading researcher on purpose and 

adolescence at Stanford University, says “The biggest 

problem growing up today is not actually stress, 

it’s meaninglessness. Finding purpose early builds 

confidence and habits of mind that can be practiced. 

Purpose is something young people not only need, but 

want.” 

Young people may not know what their purpose is, 

but the adults in their lives may have a good idea. I 

challenge every adult reading this article to encourage 

a young person to find purpose by enlightening them 

on the strengths you observe they have and how they 

can use them to impact their community and society. 

Girls of Destiny team members believe each girl has 

unique gifts, talents and abilities. Our self-esteem, 

modeling, leadership, etiquette, hair care, makeup, 

cooking, dance, S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, 

Engineering and Math) and community service 

programs give girls the experiences to help discover 

their own sense of purpose which is critical during their 

adolescent years. We inspire girls to be brilliant “Stars 

in the Universe”, destined to influence their world. 

Pat Chacha 

Founder 


tesTimonialS 

“I had so much fun and met many new 

friends. The camp is amazing. We modeled, 

danced, cooked, learned how to create 

mobile Apps and how to set a nice table. The 

volunteers are nice. The banquet was the 

best, live DJ, lots of food.” 

Girls of Destiny 2016 Camper 

“I wish to express my sincere appreciation to you 

and the sponsor for kindly absorbing costs for Girls 

of Destiny Camp for my daughter. I know she totally 

enjoyed it, and expressed genuine interest and gained 

positive learnings from the guests that came in; 

the gym and the catering piece. Your efforts should 

not stop with these young women at camp. I have 

heightened concerns that desperate needs exist for 

us to work with young women within our community 

to endorse their self-worth, value and self-esteem, 

offering guidance and support. 

Thanks again.” 

Lilieth (Mom) 

“I loved Girls of Destiny Camp for exposing us to 

women in business...we were taught self-confidence 

and told that we could do anything, but to have an 

actual woman in front of us to give an account of 

what she has accomplished was amazing. It made my 

goals more attainable in my eyes. Have a blast this 

year!” xo 

Winnie (Alumni) 


Easy Yogourt and 

Granola Breakfast 

Parfaits 

A fast, easy, and light breakfast or 

snack made of granola, yogourt, 

and either fresh fruit, jam, or 

lemon curd. Make it even easier 

with all store-bought ingredients 

INGREDIENTS 

1 cup (100 grams) granola, store-bought or 

homemade 

1 cup (227 grams) yogourt, regular or greek 

1/2 cup-3/4 cup fresh fruit or berries, jam, or lemon 

curd 

DIRECTIONS: 

1. In 2 half-pint jars, glasses, or small bowls, 

alternately layer the granola, yogourt, and fruit, 

berries, or lemon curd. 

2. Serve immediately. 


‘‘FoodRescue.ca makes it easy 

for food businesses to improve 

their environmental footprint by 

donating surplus food to local 

social service organizations that 

provide immediate hunger relief.” 

Food Rescue 

The Truth About Our Food 

Canadians throw away 40% (15 billion pounds) of food 

each year, most of which is perfectly edible. The value of 

this discarded food equates to $31 billion being tossed into 

landfills, resulting in a tremendous amount of greenhouse gases 

entering the atmosphere which is not a sustainable situation for 

our environment. 

At the same time, there are single parents struggling to pay 

bills and feed their kids; seniors living on shrinking incomes, 

and youth unable to make ends meet. Every day we interact 

with these people – neighbours, co-workers, students, or 

retirees – who are experiencing hunger right in our own 

communities. 

MAKING A DIFFERENCE LOCALLY 

A great way to help stop food wastage in your community is 

to volunteer with a local charity or non-profit organization. 

These groups can take advantage of FoodRescue.ca to access 

fresh, nutritious food and you can be a volunteer rescuer! 

Offering 30 minutes a week to pickup a donation from a local 

business and drop it off at a shelter or school, can make all 

the difference to those in need. 

FoodRescue.ca is a free, online tool that gives food 

businesses with any amount of surplus a simple way 

to donate food to any type of local charity at any time. 

Grocery stores, retail outlets, restaurants, cafés, bakeries, 

butchers, caterers, hotels, producers, and growers can 

register to become food donors. Foods like perishable 

dairy, protein, prepared foods, and produce, as well as, any 

fresh, frozen, or shelf-stable items can be picked up by 

‘rescuers’ to ensure this good food gets to those who need 

it most. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP AT HOME 

Reducing the amount of good food that is thrown away is 

everyone’s responsibility. We can all pay more attention to 

what we buy, consume, and put in the bin on garbage day. 

Try planning meals and shopping just for those needs, so that 

there is less spontaneous purchasing and the items bought 

are more likely to be used. Gather any older, limp produce 

items and store them in the freezer for making your own 

soup stock. When you are not sure what to make with excess 

food, search online for new recipes that incorporate those 

ingredients. In this way, we will all do our part to better our 

communities! 

Visit www.foodrescue.ca for more. 



When Trash Meets Fashion 

Project Trashion 

What is the first thing you look for 

when purchasing a new shirt? Fit? Style? 

Colour? Many would say a combination 

of all three. It is important in our society 

to have outlets such as fashion to 

express ourselves and our beliefs. Not 

only does it help to define individual 

people, but also communities and 

cultures. But what we fail to recognize, is 

the impact fast fashion can have on our 

environment and communities. 

In recent years, next to oil, the fashion 

industry has become the second most 

harmful industry to the environment. 

What’s even more crazy is it releases 

more green house emissions than 

aviation and international shipping 

combined. To grow enough cotton to 

produce one pair of jeans requires 6,800 

litres of water. If the pair of jeans are 

dyed, that would require 1,600 different 

types of chemicals and toxins. The 

same pair of jeans also has an impact 

on the lives of individuals in other 

communities. In many cases clothing 

is produced in sweat-shops for very a 

low cost. The jeans that you may have 

purchased for fifty dollars would have 

been made for less that a couple cents. 

Why has this come about? The answer 

is fast fashion. Fast fashion is when large 

retailers mass produce trendy clothing 

at a low cost. These are the clothes that 

you see coming in for one season and 

disappearing the next. 

To put an end to the chaos the fashion 

industry has created, we as consumers 

must make more informed decisions 

when purchasing clothing. Some options 

would be to seek second hand clothing, 

participate in clothing swaps, purchase 

locally produced fashion pieces, adapt 

an minimalist life style, or seek clothing 

created by more sustainable materials. 

Project Trashion is an upcoming exhibition 

that is meant to bring attention to this 

issue through art, media and design. The 

exhibition is comprised of two segments, 

a fashion exhibition and a tradeshow. 

The fashion exhibition showcases works 

of art, such as the dress in the photo 

above, that are made with the help of 

passionate and creative students. The 

tradeshow segment brings together 

various local activists in the sustainable 

fashion community to educate 

attendees on how they can easily make 

changes to a more sustainable future. 

Project Trashion, 

“strives to create a global impact by 

educating, engaging and creating a 

culture of sustainability, starting with 

our community. Our greatest challenges 

not only lie in creating a zero-waste, 

energy efficient and sustainable event, 

but to create a collaborative cooperation 

between established advocators to 

cultivate a sustainable culture in the 

community”. 

What people don’t realize is that 

sustainable fashion exists in the heart 

of our communities. By purchasing from 

your local shops and designers, you are 

supporting local artists and ensuring that 

your fashion piece comes from ethical 

production. The piece to the left, is one 

of many pieces that will be featured at 

Project Trashion. It was designed by an 

artist in the local Greater Toronto Area 

using sustainable materials and methods. 

For more information on this great cause 

and exhibition, check out: 

www.projecttrashion.com 


Your Best You 

Become the best version of yourself 

“The Spirit of Christ is omnipotent, 

omniscient and omnipresent at all 

times. He knows you even better than 

you know yourself and can come into 

your life and re-design it if you ask 

Him. Today, ask Him into your life to 

transform it and bring you to your 

highest and best—your very best. To 

Him be all honour, glory and praise.” 

- Monica Hernandez, Ph.D. 

It has been years my husband and I have wanted to change 

the landscape of our front yard to something more attractive. 

We felt the flower garden was not at its best and brought in 

an expert to re-design the space. And at last, it is being done! 

For days I watched the men at work re-designing the space. 

They removed slabs of concrete, dug up several perennials 

and shrubs, and lay bricks, forming a new design. Already the 

landscape has been changed in a marked way and I can foresee 

how different and beautiful my front yard will look. Clearly, the 

entire exercise reminds me of our personal lives. Sometimes 

we look into our lives and know we are not our very best. Yet, 

we do not know what to do. We do not know how to put the 

various parts of our lives together to experience harmony, and 

a sense of well-being. 

There is something we can do. I know someone who is an 

expert at re-designing lives. This Person sees and knows all 

things, even our most secret thoughts and desires, and can 

re-design our lives into our very best. He knows where all the 

parts of our lives are, and can put them together into a new 

experience. That Person is the Spirit of Christ. 

The Bible says that “if the Spirit of 

him that raised up Jesus from the 

dead dwells in you, he that raised 

up Christ from the dead shall 

also quicken our mortal bodies 

(our worldly tendencies) by his 

Spirit” – Romans 8:9-11, KJV. This 

means the Spirit will raise us out of 

stagnation and spiritual death to 

become our very best, even while 

we yet walk this earth. 

Becoming our best is a process 

under the guidance and direction of the Spirit of Christ, and it 

involves changing our negative thoughts, feelings and attitudes 

and practicing biblical truths we have learned along the way. 

The great thing about it is, we do not have to do it alone. When 

we put learned principles of Truth into action, we grow and the 

Spirit of Christ who raised up Jesus from the dead will help us 

along the way. He will help us change our thinking and feeling: 

our very personalities, if we let him he will give us strength, 

courage, wisdom and understanding as he brings us to be our 

very best. 

Monica Hernandez, Ph.D. 


IMAGINE - DESIGN - CREATE - ACHIEVE 

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an empty lantern 

provides no light 

Self-Growth 

is the fuel that allows 

your light to shine bright

Truth Magazine Issue 3

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