Truth Magazine Issue 4 2019

T
TRUTH MAGAZINE
Live!
ESSENTIAL OIL:
COPAIBA
By Diana Leshuk
CELEBRATE RECOVERY
By Pollyana Darrell
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
IN CANADA TODAY
By Joy Smith
HELPING SYRIAN REFUGEES
By Vivien Fellegi
The Happiness Myth
By Dr. Caroline Leaf
1

FEATURES
LOOK OUT FOR
02
02
The Happiness Myth
When you begin to realize how impressive
your mind is, you will be encouraged to
persevere through challenges and develop a
character of which you can be proud.
Mindfulness
10 Death was my BFF
12 Poem: Resilience
07
15
07
31
Celebrate Recovery
CR is a 12-step Christ-centered program
based on the eight principles of The
Beatitudes in Matthew 5. It is a challenging
and life-changing program designed to
give participants the resources and tools
necessary for life success.
15
Human Trafficking
in Canada
In Canada, the average entry age into this
modern-day slave trade or trafficking is
12-14 years of age. 93% of the trafficked
victims in Canada are born Canadians.
She Lives for Purpose
We spend an enormous amount of time
thinking about our future and our dreams
that we forget to live in the present; we miss
the enjoyment of the present.
Career
18 Beating the Odds:
The Cyntoia Brown Story
23 Single by Choice or Chance
Culture
26 Helping Syrian Refugees
Wellbeing
35 Essential Oil: Copaiba
36 Benefits of Alkaline Water
38 Poem: Life Lessons
39 Zesty Zingy Zingiber Officinale
31

OUR CONTRIBUTORS
Welcome
EDITOR-AT-LARGE
Nadine Miller
PUBLISHER & EDITOR
Cheryl-ann Philip
PRODUCTION & GRAPHIC DESIGN
Francine Grey
PROOF READERS
Pollyana Darrell
Cheryl-ann Philip
HAIR STYLIST
Genesis Hair Studio - Suzette Thomas
PHOTOGRAPHY
Jojo Smith
ARTICLES
Pollyana Darrell
Cameron Murphy
Karlene Millwood
Diana Leshuk
Maresa Cadienhead
Naomi-Nicole Bramer
Joy Smith
Dr. Caroline Leaf
Sandra Hylton
Jackie Porter
Life is fragile. Life is fleeting. It is wonderful to be afforded the
opportunity to choose to live a life that will leave a positive
impact upon someone else.
Oftentimes, we choose to hold on to things and people tightly
for fear of losing what we cherish. I challenge you to loosen
your grip, trust God and live!
Corrie Ten Boon a Dutch holocaust survivor penned these
words:
“Hold everything in your hands lightly, otherwise it hurts when
God pries your fingers open.
Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties
today of its strength.
The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its
donation.”
Jesus the Messiah said, “My purpose is to give them a rich and
satisfying life.” Let’s capitalize and maximize the game of life
and live!
This edition focuses on the many ways people are celebrating
and living a satisfying life.
L-R Nadine Miller and Cheryl-ann Philip
Copyright 2019
1

The
Happiness
Myth
By DR. CAROLINE LEAF

Mindfulness
When you scroll through Instagram, it is evident we are all searching for happiness; a
“happiness” that usually consists of us smiling in front of commodities like money, cars
or even “likes” on a picture. Marketing ads for new products almost always mention
“happiness” as an end goal, whether we are watching an advertisement for a new soda, new holiday
or a new drug. Smiling, happy people stare at us from billboards as we drive to work or walk around
our neighborhood—there is no escaping it; life is all about happiness…right? WRONG!
When it comes to our mental health, our understanding of happiness has overtaken the human
condition. Whereas previous generations saw grief, anxiety and even fear as natural parts of
human existence, for many of us today these (very normal) human emotions are an anathema or
curse. Sadness has almost become like a sin; often we are just told to “suck it up” or “don’t show
it.” Indeed, many people are told there is something wrong with them biologically if they are sad
for more than two months after losing a loved one, or if they are traumatised from a disturbing
experience like war. What then is a “normal” grieving period? What is a “normal” response to
violence and bloodshed?
It is perfectly normal to be sad, unhappy
or stressed at times—we should not be
ashamed of these emotions.
It is perfectly normal to be sad, unhappy or stressed at times—we should not be ashamed of these
emotions. Rather than worrying about what we feel, we should ask ourselves why we feel this
way, or what is the root of the emotion, and how we can work on finding healing. Don’t mask the
unhappiness; try to understand and resolve it. Our mental struggles actually help us build stronger
characters and make us more resilient. Pretending to always be happy, on the other hand, or feeling
guilty for not always being happy, is dangerous and will not help us grow emotionally or mentally.
Part of the issue is that we often don’t know who we are. While many people are given labels
and told there is something intrinsically wrong with their brain because they are sad or unhappy,
others are told that being themselves is not enough to make them happy, and “that is why you
need to buy this product”. It is easy to see how, beneath all these conflicting messages, we don’t
even know how to be satisfied discovering who we are, nor are we comfortable getting to know
ourselves, with all the good and not-so-good bits. Yet we can hardly be “happy” if we don’t even
know our own identity, as I discuss in my book The Perfect You. When we are rooted in a firm sense
of our own belonging, we will find life more bearable, more interesting and more joyful despite
periods of sadness!
Discovering our unique, one-of-a-kind way of thinking is a challenge that can bring out the best of
us. I have found repeatedly in my research, clinical experience and personal life that excitement
rises when we adopt a positive attitude and persist in the face of a difficult task, which includes
getting to know who we are! One of the greatest feelings in life is understanding something or
completing an activity after a mental, and perhaps even physical, struggle. This leads to a sense of
achievement as we rise to the challenge, contributing to our overall sense of pleasure, even if we
are not always “smiling” and “happy” during the process.
3 3

Mindfulness
As a society, we have to redefine
what happiness means and why it is
important. As I discuss in my book
Think, Learn, Succeed, happiness
has more to do with a sense of
inner satisfaction than external
consumption—it is a mindset; a way
of seeing and interacting with the
world. It is not a commodity, nor is it
dependent on our surroundings. It is
not an end goal that we are trying to
reach. It is the joy we have living the
“meaningful, good life,” and revolves
around our ability to choose to focus
on the positive, to connect with others,
and to have meaningful relationships
in a community. Happiness is knowing
where we belong and knowing why
we are alive, regardless of what is
going on in our life. It is not so much a
smile as a state of being that includes
moments of sadness, anger, grief and,
paradoxically, unhappiness.
Ways you can develop your
Happiness Mindset
1. FIND YOUR IDENTITY
When you begin to realize how impressive your mind is, you will be encouraged to persevere through challenges and
develop a character of which you can be proud. You can become the kind of person who, on your death bed, you will
be happy that you lived, and lived well. In my book The Perfect You, I have included the cutting-edge, evidence-based
neuroscientific, neuropsychological, quantum physics and other research, which I used in my clinical practice over the
years to teach people how to find their identity again. I outline in a practical way, the importance of understanding your
identity and how to develop a lifestyle of finding and developing your Perfect You—who you are at your core. The Perfect
You can help you understand the science behind your character; that is, your capacity to think, feel and choose in a way
that aligns with the unique design of your brain. Once you begin to understand who you are, you can improve the way you
process and re-conceptualize the issues of life, your decision-making, your relationships; how you cope at work, school
and at home; your sense of joy and purpose, and ultimately your mental health, which will enable you to function in and
contribute to society.
4

Mindfulness
2. STIMULATE YOUR BRAIN
Getting to the other side of a challenge brings a sense of happiness in the achievement and sets the stage for the next
challenge with the addition of the new skills (aka new neural networks) you have gained from the challenge. Every day,
think of ways you can challenge your brain, such as reading a difficult book for an hour or setting aside time in the day to
learn a new language. For more information on memory building, see my book Think, Learn, Succeed.
3. JOIN A COMMUNITY
It is so important that we make the effort to connect with others in a meaningful and deep way, and get involved in our
community, such as volunteering at a local non-profit, joining a book club or starting your own meet-up group. Indeed, I
cannot emphasize enough the importance of the link between happiness and a community mindset, which I also discuss in
my book Think, Learn, Succeed. Talking to someone about why you are feeling unhappy can help you find healing mentally
and physically and being around others is a great way to feel happy and content in life. Our bodies respond positively when
we become active members in a community. Why? Because, our mesolimbic dopamine system, (linked to addiction), lights
up when we give to others, giving us a deep sense of pleasure. We are essentially hardwired to love and serve others!
It is important to remember unhappiness is a normal part of life, and it does not mean you are a broken machine or have
a disease. True happiness is a process, not a destination. It does not come from getting; rather it is based on giving and
understanding yourself and your unique mind.
5

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Asuccessful life is about resilience; the ability
to return to your original self after being
stretched, bent out of shape or compressed
by the situations and circumstances you face. For
most of us, we lack the necessary tools and resources
needed to make that successful return. I recently
discovered Celebrate Recovery(CR), a program that
continues to assist me with my successful return to
my original position.
For eight years, Pastors Rob and Tania Meikle of
Kingdom House Christian Centre in Brampton have
been conducting Celebrate Recovery. It is one of
the many ways Kingdom House is fulfilling its Vision
Statement, “Transforming lives, fulfilling destinies.”
CR is a 12 step Christ-centred program based on the
eight principles of The Beatitudes in Matthew 5. It is
a challenging and life changing program designed to
give participants the resources and tools necessary
for life success. As a graduate of the program, I can
attest to the non-judgmental environment which
lends to an unburdening of the soul; that allows you
to realise that we all have struggles and we need not
be ashamed or feel guilty. It provides a community
of individuals sharing in each other’s joys, pains and
struggles knowing that someone is praying with, and
for you.
Celebrate
Graduates and current program leaders, Christopher
and Jasmine Soodeen, shared their views of the
program. In Chris’ words, “Celebrate Recovery allows
you to see the real you; totally different from what
others perceive you to be. It creates the opportunity
for you to look deep inside yourself; to see beneath
the surface of your hurts, habits and hang- ups.”
RECOVERY
7 7

Mindfulness
For Jasmine, her CR journey exposed her deep struggles
with trust. “I love Jesus and wanted to serve but it became
impossible because I preferred not to deal with people. I
kept blaming people for the mistakes others made.” She
acknowledges that when she began dealing with the root
causes of the issues, her thinking, perspective, attitude,
behaviour and actions changed and soon she began to see
significant changes in her life and relationships.
The end of the 26-weeks program is more like the beginning
of your recovery journey. Recovery in this context is not a
perfected state; it is on going and so is the celebration; you
continue to celebrate as you recover components, parts and
sometimes bits and pieces of the jigsaw puzzle of your life
with resilience.
By POLLYANA DARRELL
Christopher & Jasmine Soodeen
Celebrate Recovery
Start Date | Monday October 21st at 7pm
Register Online | kingdomhousecc.churchcenter.com
Contact | cr@kingdomhouse.com
Kingdom House Christian Centre | 40 Holtby Ave, Unit 3A, Brampton, ON
8

Mindfulness
Celebrate Recovery
Testimonials
CARL HERMAN
“My life is forever changed because of Celebrate
Recovery. I have learnt to forgive myself and others;
make amends for wrong actions, attitudes, behaviours,
whole hearted confessions and engage in chainbreaking
prayers! John 8:36, “Therefore, if the Son
makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” This has been
my experience as I walked through this program.”
CHANTELLE GRANT
“I struggled with issues of self-worth and identity that
stemmed from rejection and abandonment. Guilt
and condemnation led to bouts of deep depression
and I was diagnosed as manic depressive. Celebrate
Recovery provided me with the opportunity to have a
relationship with Jesus Christ. Romans 8:38, “For I am
convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels
nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any
powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all
creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
SHERRI SANJURJO
“I was a very walled, guarded and emotionally unavailable
individual until I attended Celebrate Recovery. CR was
a healing process of handing over or surrendering my
hurts, habits and hang-ups over to God. It was painful
and uncomfortable at times but was nevertheless
bathed and saturated in love, forgiveness, and grace
from God. Thank God for CR!”
WALDEN MADEIROS
“I came into Celebrate Recovery with the hope of
receiving help with my anger issues and God delivered
me from habits, behaviours and thinking patterns that
had become strongholds. God continues to strip away
areas of my old self while bringing me freedom in my
heart and my mind and allowing me to grow more and
more in the image and likeness of God.”
9

10
DEATH
was myBFF

Mindfulness
At 6 years old, I dreamt I witnessed my own death at
28 years young. For 22 years, this dream replayed
once per month, 12 times per year. There was no
change in the sequence or the ending and so it became the
story of my life. In time and with its regularity, I believed it to
be true and imminent so I prepared for it. It directly shaped
how I lived for 28 years.
Inevitably, I made friends with Death or “Big D” as I nicknamed
him- we became best buds, BFFs really! Our friendship
coloured how I saw things – how I interacted with the world.
My thoughts and the choices were all based on, “What if I
died today?” If we (Death and I) had shared a moment with
someone, I would think, “Let me hug you when I’m leaving
because what if I died tonight?” Death truly distorted the lens
Celebrate Recovery
allowed me to understand
how much my relationship
with death permeated
every area of my life,
imprisoning me.
through which I saw and functioned in the world.
Celebrate Recovery allowed me to understand how much
my relationship with death permeated every area of my life,
imprisoning me. Gradually, I understood all the ways Death
showed up; all the ways I believed it to be my reality and all
the ways I worshiped at its feet. CR allowed me to look at my
life again and learn how to live rather than die.
Recently, an incident occurred that would have been
understood, prior to CR, as a confirmation from my old friend
death however, after having walked through the process of
CR, it is a confirmation of life.
One evening, exhausted, tried, and feeling quite stretched,
I decided to visit my favourite Indian restaurant for some
comfort food before heading home. I would usually order
in advance but for some reason that day I didn’t. I thought
it was late and it shouldn’t take too long; I’ll just go and grab
some food, go home and relax- shed the trials of the day. I got
there, parked my car and reached for my wallet and then I
remembered...oh gosh!!! I have no money!
(Earlier in the week, I had the shocking realization that I had
overspent and there was no money in my account- like literally
nothing. I was now upset, well, more irritated by the lack of
control it indicated.) I’m here at my favourite restaurant; I’m
hungry and without any money. I start mulling this over...ok...I
could put this on credit. It’s been a rough day; I deserve some
good comfort food; I could push it- is my overdraft maxed out?
But there is this strong rising thought: “...No, I have no money.
This is my reality; I need to live in that. Whether I like it or
not, my choices have landed me here and it is the place I find
myself right now. Choose to live in your reality not what you
wish it were.”
CR taught me if I sweep my voice or my truth under the rug or
hold my tongue, that feeling or truth will mutate or evolve just to
find a means of expression - it will find a way to get out into the
light. After what seemed like an eternity, I looked at the time
and it was 10:15 pm. Reluctantly and sadly I drove myself
home without the food.
I arrived home and my Mom says to me, “Did you hear there
was a bombing at your favourite restaurant tonight? The
News says it happened around 10:18pm…” (What??!! I just left
there!!)
Had I gotten the takeout food, by any means necessary, I
would have been right there when the bomb was dropped. In
the face of all that happened how can I question that God’s
hand is over my life and that He has chosen life for me? Praise
God! I made it past my 28th birthday!
I now have the opportunity to tell an unusual story of my life;
of living Sandra who declares the goodness and works of the
Lord in the land of the living.
By SANDRA HYLTON
11

Resilience
The battered Cherokee blazed into the parking lot; rusty, dusty and loud;
Huddled in the back amidst bulky, lumpy baggage, three pretty little girls-
A closer look revealed a wide-eyed infant bundled in a faded car seat;
Her head wrapped in black, the driver loudly and impatiently tooted the horn in the almost
still parking lot- Who is she? Where had she come from and – where is she going? Is the van a
reflection of her life- rusty, dusty, battered and loud?
Full of baggage andbulk
andpeople
dependent on her?
A younger version of herself emerges from Burger King
Dressed in uniform; drinks and greasy paper bag hugged by club-like chubby hands, wriggles
into the front seat.
They chomp; they slurp; they chatter while the baggage in the back salivate and mutter-
Who is she? Where has she come from and-
Where is she going? It’s a hot, humid Sunday afternoon!!! –
Maybe she was on the job- a caregiver for children? Or-
Maybe doing a good deed for a friend-
Maybe running her own errands and taking a break to grab a bite-
The ruckus coming from the back causes her to scream and choke on her coke.
She sputters; becomes pink in the face; turns and slaps the one closest to her
- an audible hush ensues-
Who is she? Where did she come from and where is she going?
I would like to meet her- hear her story- listen to how she manages with the almost-broken
down van and the rambunctious imps in the back - the working teenager in uniform?
Is that all there is to her life?
Perhaps she will spin an incredible yarn of the van being someone else’s;
- she is helping out her single-mother daughter with her kids-
Perhaps she will tell me her daughter needed to go away for some most needed R & R;
it wasn’t by choice.

Her hands and mouth wiped clean of the grease,
the teenage re-enters the joint and emerges yet again
with smaller but still greasy portions for the subdued ones in the back.
Break’s over!!!
The battered van blares out into the congested street again-Who is she? Where did she come
from and- where is she going?
She is from a generation of subdued and subjugated, whipped women,-
Pushed down and
– pushed aside and
- pushed away;
Never celebrated; never told or shown her worth so-
Just maybe the van is a reflection of her life?
She has carried so many others for a long time- her siblings,
her children, her own parents, her husband, her friends
while she does her best to survive;
no consistent maintenance here only necessary, minimum repairs;
no time for body work or winterisingthe
loudness of the exhaust lost in the din and humdrum of life
just another one needing overhauling.
Don’t you dare judge her.
There is more to her than you see or understand
‘cause under the hood, that sputtering engine is roaring to fulfill destiny.
If you knew her you would know that - despite awful and sometimes abusive relationships, her
capacity to love and nurture and care for others did not wane
If you knew her you would know her persistence, 0bstacles and opposition pushed her to
hone and carve and fine-tune her character.
If you only knew her, you would know that her resilience has hoisted her higher than she has ever
fallen andwhat
sounds like a cacophony to you is her symphony of lifeliving
out loud -full of love and laughter.
By POLLYANA DARRELL
13

Mindfulness
IN CANADA TODAY
William Wilberforce once said, “You may choose to
look the other way, but you can never again say you
did not know.” How true!
There is an estimated 30 million people enslaved through
sexual exploitation and forced labor in the world today. The
sex trade brings in a global value of $32 billion. The U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services states, “After
drug dealing, trafficking of humans is tied with arms dealing
as the second-largest criminal industry in the world.” This is
the modern-day slave trade and it happens in cities, towns
and rural areas all across Canada every single day. To this end,
Bill C-268 and Bill C-310 of the Canadian Criminal Code have
seen some significant amendments through the tireless and
relentless work of MP Joy Smith (Kildonan, St. Paul Riding,
Manitoba.)
The amended section of Bill C-268, Section 279.01dictates a
new mandatory five-year sentence as penalty for those who
commit the offence of Child Trafficking(persons under the age
of 18 years). Secondly, Bill C-310amended the Criminal Code
to add the current Trafficking in Persons offences to the list of
offences which, if committed outside of Canada by Canadians
or permanent residents, could be prosecuted in Canada. This
second amendment enhances the definition of exploitation in
the Trafficking in Persons offence(Section 279.04).Individuals
are convicted of human trafficking offences where forcible
confinement, sexual assault, procuring and conspiracy are
elements in the cases.
In Canada, the average entry age into this modern-day slave
trade or trafficking is 12-14 years of age. 93% of the trafficked
victims in Canada are born Canadians. Slavery occurs when
one person completely controls another person(s), using
violence or the threat of violence, to maintain control, exploits
them economically and they cannot walk away.
Victims of trafficking are obtained by location and method.
The locations where traffickers target their victims can be in
a social situation, in a public place, in a residence or a shelter,
in a bar or a club, or at a sports event. The methods they use
are romantic overtures, force or abduction, fake job offers,
or acting as a benefactor. The traffickers target their victims,
gain their trust initially and then groom them to be trafficked
and make money for them. After they have control over them,
the threats and brutality become an everyday occurrence.
This is an example of what happens every day. A group of girls
attended summer sports events at their local community
center. Three cute guys showed up and began to show a great
15

Mindfulness
deal of interest in them. The girls were 14 and 15 years old.
The guys were three and four years older. They engaged with
the girls in their sports and in conversation. Unaware to the
girls, their grooming had begun. Soon they were telling these
young girls how beautiful they were. It was not long before
the guys were asking them out on dates and persuading
them to lie to their parents about where they were going.
The girls were coached to say they were going to a friend’s
house for sleepovers, when in actual fact they were going to
parties with their new boyfriends. The (traffickers)boyfriends
It all changed one night when their “boyfriends” demanded
they be paid back for the gifts, and the fancy dinners at
high-end restaurants. The girls initially said no, but after the
beatings and the threats, they complied with the traffickers’
wishes.
It did not end well. One girl jumped off a bridge to end her
life one cold December day right before Christmas. She could
not stand how her parents rejected her, or how she lost her
school friends, or the horrors she lived everyday at the hands
Human traffickers target the youth because they
are easy to persuade; easy to intimidate and scare.
did things to them they had never experienced before. They
told them things they had never heard before, and with the
showering of gifts, gold chains and fancy restaurants,the girls
thought they had met the men of their dreams.
of her traffickers. By the grace of God she lived, but she broke
every bone in her body when she landed on the ice. She spent
a year in hospital learning how to walk again. Today, she still
suffers from the physical and mental pain of her ordeal. The
other girls disappeared and have not
been found to this day.
Traffickers make between $260,000-
$280,000 per victim per year. That is
why they engage in this horrible crime
against our youth. Human traffickers
target the youth because they are
easy to persuade; easy to intimidate
and scare. They earn them a lot of
money, very fast. Many young girls (and
boys) develop a Stockholm syndrome,
much like abused women do with
their abusive spouses. Often,all the
trafficked victim’s support systems
are gone...their parents, and their
friends. Young survivors take years
making up for their lost education, and
recovering from the addictions they
inevitably acquired to cover up the
pain. Often survivors’ families suffer
greatly by blaming themselves because
their daughter or their son got caught
up in this horrific life style. Parents,
grandparents, siblings, friends, or the
victims should never blame themselves.
16

Mindfulness
The blame lies solely on the shoulders of the predators alone.
I know one human trafficker who “educated” others on how
to become a successful trafficker. One of his methods was to
drive his new recruits past school grounds and say, ”See those
kids? Don’t look at them as kids. Look at them as ATMs.”
Parents and teachers should be aware of the signals that
suggest a young person is being groomed. If the youth talks
about expensive restaurants that she is being taken to or,
has/carrying two cell phones or,suddenly begins to wear
expensive gold chains or designer clothes they cannot afford;
if she often has unexplained cuts and bruises and explains
them away. These are some signs that the youth is being
groomed. No school-aged young man can afford to take his
girlfriend to expensive restaurants. McDonald’s,Tim Hortons,
Starbucks, or some other reasonable coffee house is usually
on the menu. Expensive restaurants are not affordable for
them. Fancy expensive gold chains and new designer clothes
are also far too expensive for the average young guy to
purchase for his girlfriend, yet traffickers do it all the time.
Education is our greatest weapon against this horrific crime.
My education on this issue started in Parliament. It has
resulted in my passion and commitment to make a difference
in our key legislations to further combat human trafficking
and protect the victims. Canadians must become acutely
aware that human trafficking happens on Canadian soil every
day.
I credit the survivors for working with me and telling their
stories. I give God the glory, because it is not possible to pass
laws in a minority government. I’ve seen many miracles. Only
God can do these miracles, all we have to do is be willing to
obey His call.
Joy Smith, B.Ed M.Ed
Former Member of Parliament
Founder and President
The Joy Smith Foundation Inc.
www.joysmithfoundation.com
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T: (905) 890-0474
bennettlaw.ca
17 17

Career
BEATING THE ODDS
The Cyntoia Brown Story
18
“Y
es. [I cut my hair because] I don’t wanna be pretty anymore. Beauty attracts
trouble and it’s just not worth it.”
This is the voice of a woman resigned to her fate; the hand that life dealt her through a
flawed justice system. At age sixteen, Cyntoia Brown was sentenced to life in prison for
killing Johnny Allen, a 43-year-old man who solicited and hired her for sex. Brown was
tried as an adult and given a harsh sentence that would have her serve 51 years before
being eligible for parole.
What led Cyntoia Brown to this place at such a young age? Cyntoia’s life was fraught
with trouble even while she was in the womb. Her mother would consume dangerous
amounts of liquor every day, which experts testified had an effect on Cyntoia’s cognitive
abilities. She was given up for adoption at six months and experienced abuse from her
adopted father. As a result, she ran away and ended up on the streets where she met
Cut Throat, a 23-year-old man with whom she started a sexual relationship and who
subsequently forced her into prostitution.

Career
“He would explain to me that some people were born whores
and that I was one, and I was a slut, and nobody’d want me but
him, and the best thing I could do was just learn to be a good
whore,” Brown explained.
When we read stories like these, it may affect us emotionally
for a moment but, unless or until we’ve had similar
experiences we’ll never truly understand the depth of the
emotions of the victims. Cyntoia Brown found herself in a
place of hopelessness and despair. The systems that had
been setup to protect her victimized her instead and left her
with nowhere to turn and with limited options. She lost her
identity, self-worth, value, and significance and preferred to
become invisible. She didn’t want to be noticed and resorted
to hiding in plain sight. Not everyone will understand. Not
everyone can relate.
I can.
identity. I never really had one before so I thought now would
be a good time to get one.”
Her situation seemed very cut and dried but often times God
is hidden in the details. The true essence of resilience is finding
an opportunity in the direst of circumstances and using it
to rise above the situation. Not only did Cyntoia embark on
discovering and defining herself, but she also completed her
high school education and successfully pursued an associate’s
and a bachelor’s degree while in prison.
God’s plans for our lives are much different than man’s. He
chooses things that seem powerless to shame those who are
powerful. (1 Corinthians 1:27b).
God always has someone positioned as our destiny connector
who shows up when all hope seems lost. Just ask Joseph. After
being abused and sold into slavery by his jealous brothers,
When victims of abuse are further victimized
by those who should be protecting them it causes
devastating consequences in their lives.
My own struggles with the after effects of sexual molestation
and emotional abuse once led me to a similar place. It was a
dark period in my life which was reflected in the color and
style of clothes that I chose to wear back then. Like Cyntoia,
I felt that my beauty was a curse and resorted to covering
myself in extremely baggy, black clothes. Every day. When I
got the courage to tell my mother about the molestation she
called me a liar and vowed never to speak to me again. To her
credit, she apologized and asked for my forgiveness a few
months before she died in 2011.
When victims of abuse are further victimized by those who
should be protecting them it causes devastating consequences
in their lives. They lose their sense of identity, are often
haunted by the guilt and shame of being manipulated and
controlled, and some may even struggle with post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD).
In her own words, Brown confessed that she had no sense of
identity. She said, “I decided that while I’m in here I’d find an
Joseph later found himself incarcerated because of a vicious
lie from a conniving woman.
While imprisoned, he met two men, one of whom promised
to entreat Pharaoh on his behalf. When it seemed like he’d
been forgotten, the moment that suddenly altered his destiny
forever, arrived. The doors opened and he was brought to
Pharaoh who promoted him to his place of power, purpose
and prominence.
Dan Birman, a professor from the University of South
Carolina, is one of Cyntoia’s true advocates and a destiny
connector of sorts. His documentary, Me Facing Life:
Cyntoia’s Story, was pivotal in shedding light on her case. The
documentary, compounded with the attention of several
A-list celebrities, put pressure on Tennessee’s governor, Bill
Haslam to overturn the verdict against Cyntoia. It worked.
After careful deliberation, Tennessee changed its law to forbid
harsh sentences for victims of the sex trade. In addition, the
19

Joie de Vivre
Nadine Miller and
Cheryl-ann Philip seized
the moment, enjoying a
beautiful day at Lakeview
Park in Oshawa, Ontario.

Section
21

Career
Continued from page 19
Law Society was pushed to clarify its ruling when sentencing
victims convicted of first-degree murder, and finally as his
last act before leaving office, the governor granted Cyntoia
clemency.
“The Lord has held my hand this whole time and I would never
have made it without Him,” Brown wrote in response to the
decision, adding that she is committed to living the rest of her
life helping others.
Already she has emerged as a leader among the inmates
by using her life experiences as a platform to mentor other
women in the prison and plans to continue mentoring after
her release. She no longer wants to hide behind the veil of
obscurity. She has harnessed the power within and turned her
pain into purpose. With God’s help and that of a few distant,
yet good friends, she has beaten the odds and emerged
victorious. The doors have now been opened for Cyntoia-
From limited options to limitless possibilities.
From an identity crisis to having a sense of purpose. From
powerless to powerful.
After 15 years of a life sentence, Cyntoia was released under
supervision in August and I’m sure the best is yet to come.
By KARLENE MILLWOOD
22

SINGLE BY CHOICE OR CHANCE
A Man Is Not A Plan And
Other Hard Truths
Charlotte is a single woman who likes the finer things in
life. She loves dining at nice restaurants and drinking
fine wine. She loves the arts. She loves to travel.
Charlotte also enjoys her career as a Television producer. It
has provided her with a very comfortable lifestyle.
Time is running out for Charlotte. Even though she is 57,
Charlotte admits she has never felt comfortable making
decisions around her finances. It has created a lot of anxiety
for her over the years. Charlotte could never figure out if she
was doing the right things with her money and consequently,
did not save very much.Should she put money in a TFSA, or
RSP? Should she pay off debts or save? She is also afraid to
lose money investing in the markets. Charlotte doesn’t know
where to start. It was easier to just not deal with it. She
decided she would spend time pursuing her many interests
instead. Charlotte knows she has not saved much for her
future and now as she approaches her 58th birthday, she
is starting to wonder if she will ever be in a position to slow
down anytime soon.
Samantha 46, is a married woman, who met her husband
Barry in university. She fell in love with Barry soon after they
met. It just felt right. Barry wanted to start a family as soon as
he finished school. Shortly after, he asked her to marry him.
He promised to take care of her. She wanted to be his wife,
start a family and create a home life for them. For many years
Barry kept his promise and took very good care of Samantha.
23

Career
Then one day, he broke his promise and left Samantha and
their two kids to fend for themselves after squandering the
family’s assets.
Why Financial Resilience?
It is becoming increasingly urgent for women to become more
engaged with their finances especially since women outlive
men by four years and are two times more likely to end up in
poverty at retirement. Women are also marrying and having
children later, yet we are still earning less than men. The
truth is, we can no longer afford what ignoring our finances is
costing us. The women in this story are vulnerable - and they
know it. They have not embraced financial resilience. Although
Charlotte earns her own money, her lack of knowledge
around money has made her bury her head in the sand. She
has avoided having a money conversation with herself, and
has no idea if she will be able to maintain the lifestyle she has
worked so hard to create. Samantha on the other hand, never
thought she would have to face taking care of herself and two
children, on her own. Without a source of income, Samantha
decided to move in with her parents. She is now going back to
school to finally finish her nursing degree.
How can women like Charlotte become more
financially resilient?
1. Ask for referrals and find a trusted advisor who can help
you to “know your numbers”.
2. Advocate for yourself. Have an honest conversation with
yourself about your financial worries.
3. Commit to learning more about money through books and
seminars.
By JACKIE PORTER
This quick, practical read, focused on various aspects of later life
stages for single women, has enough common sense advice to
benefit single men too.
— Mark Venning, Change Rangers
If you are over 45, single by choice or chance, living in Canada
today and are examining the options for your future, this book is
for you. The path you take depends on your preparedness, from
where you will live to how best to cope with aging parents and how
you will address your own financial future.
This book will assist you in designing a life plan that
encompasses not only financial goals but also your other life
priorities—such as career, relationship and other personal goals.
Read on to find your own path to a happy, healthy and financially
stable longer life.
Jill O’Donnell, BA, RN, has been a trailblazer and trendsetter in
the field of eldercare management in Canada since 1981. She is the
Director of Jill Cares, a division of SPARK DIRECT HEALTH. Jill
is co-author of The Canadian Retirement Guide and The Retirement
Guide (USA) and a memoir, Searching for Robert.Finding Andrew.
She is a well-known presenter at international, national, regional
and local conferences on aging.
Jackie Porter, BA, CFP is a financial advisor, helping families,
businesses and professionals for over 19 years. She is a featured
speaker and advocate for numerous corporate, non-profit and
charitable organizations.
INSOMNIAC PRESS
Canada $19.95 • U.K. £16.95 • U.S.A. $19.95
Cover design by Mike O’Connor • Cover image by iStockphoto.com
O’Donnell & Porter
SINGLE BY CHOICE OR CHANCE
INSOMNIAC PRESS
To help (Canadian women over 45) plan for a fulfilling life on their own,
authors Jill O’Donnell and Jackie Porter give advice on how to age
gracefully. The book is full of suggestions, tips and ideas, delivered in a
friendly, non-judgemental way.
— Ellen Roseman, personal finance writer and continuing education
instructor.
SINGLE BY CHOICE
OR CHANCE
The smart woman's guide
to living longer, better
Jill O’Donnell & Jackie Porter
24

Helping Syrian Refugees
BAYAN KHATIB FINDS HER TRUE CALLING
Syrian Canadian Foundation Executive Director Bayan
Khatib knows what it’s like to feel utterly lost.
When Khatib was a baby, her father, a Syrian political prisoner,
escaped and fled to the United States of America with her
mother, leaving her behind with grandparents. By the time
they reclaimed her, the couple had three more children.
Khatib’s brother, jealous of the new arrival, wanted her to
know that she wasn’t welcome.
Shortly after reuniting with her family in Denver, seven-yearold
Khatib followed her brother into an elevator. Having grown
up in Syria, Khatib had never encountered one before. Her
brother pressed the up button and darted out. When Khatib
arrived at the top floor, she was completely disoriented,
and cried until a resident took her back downstairs. “That
exacerbated the sense of not belonging,” she says. “Even my
brother (didn’t) want me.”
Her parents couldn’t help. Her father, tormented by memories
of torture, was “difficult,” while her depressed mother had
little to give. “I felt really neglected,” says Khatib. The once
exuberant girl withdrew into herself and barely opened her
mouth.
An Arabic memoir, Just Five Minutes: Nine Years in the Prisons
of Syria written by a Syrian political prisoner (who had been
confined to the same prison as Khatib’s father), shook her
26

Culture
to the core; it galvanized her into activism. “It was my first
time being exposed to details of the insane human rights
violations in Syria, that had affected my family,” says Khatib.
The professional writing student spent the next five years
translating the book painstakingly into English, to widen its
reach.
When the revolution against the tyrant Assad erupted in
2011, Khatib became the media relations person for the
Syrian opposition. “That was when I had to come out of my
shell,” she says.
But it wasn’t until the Syrian refugees arrived in Canada that
Khatib found her true calling. In December 2015, she entered
the Toronto Plaza Hotel (where many were housed initially) to
a scene of utter mayhem. Mothers clutching babies without
diapers huddled anxiously in the lobby, while barefooted
children ran around them, squealing. Khatib understood what
they were going through. “I remember ... this new confusing
world, you don’t know how to fit in,” she says.
“It was my first time being
exposed to details of the
insane human rights
violations in Syria, that had
affected my family”
Since the settlement agencies were overwhelmed, Khatib
rallied the Syrian-Canadian community for volunteers to
connect the newcomers with Arabic-speaking doctors,
housing, and ESL tutoring. The Syrian Canadian Foundation
(SCF), co-founded by Khatib, also focuses on empowerment
by offering Syrian refugees mental health education, women’s
wellness programs, and networking dinners with potential
employers.
The organization has more recently developed arts-based
initiatives to foster self-expression. Khatib organized a
creative writing group since writing has always been cathartic
for her. “It’s like therapy–you put the pieces together and
suddenly your thoughts make sense,” she says. Students
Bayan Khatib
read their stories aloud during workshops, and receive
constructive feedback. “The first step to healing is ... to feel
heard,” she says.
The SCF has also run theatre-based approaches for refugees
exploring integration issues and taught youth photography
through Flash Forward Photo Voice to help them document
their adjustment to emigration through photos, which will be
showcased at an upcoming exhibit.
While Khatib’s organization supports the most vulnerable
refugees, it also champions extraordinary newcomers, like
Syrian wheelchair Table Tennis champion Dema Dahouk.
Khatib raised over $10,000 to fund Dahouk’s participation
in tournaments and to hire her an elite coach. Dahouk
has already won two tournaments and is on the path to
qualifying for the Paralympics. “It’s important for Canada to
see ...examples of refugees ....contributing back to Canadian
society,” says Khatib.
Khatib gets back as much as she gives. Her work with refugees
helped her understand her own parents’ struggles and come
to grips with her past. “I learned so much about my family just
from watching the newcomers.”
Witnessing her organization grow from a handful of
volunteers into a professional enterprise which has served
over a thousand clients, has also boosted her confidence.
“Seeing it come to life makes me feel that it’s possible to...
achieve whatever I put my mind to,” says Khatib.
First published in canadianimmigrant.ca [Author: Vivien Fellegi]
27

BMO Nesbitt Burns
Five Tax Ideas for the
Remainder of 2019
Below you will find concepts that could help you save taxes, increase
your net worth, and position you for financial success in 2019.
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 2019 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 2018 RRSP contribution, consider
making your 2019 RRSP contribution early,
instead of waiting until 2020, in order to
maximize the tax deferred compounding
inside your RRSP. The maximum RRSP contribution
available for 2019 is $26,500.
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 2019 is
$6,000. 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

BMO Nesbitt Burns – Five Tax Ideas for the Remainder of 2018 continued...
4. Reduce the amount of withholding tax from
your paycheque
While many consider an income tax refund to be a windfall
of sorts, a refund means you’ve given the government a
tax-free loan during the year. A tax refund usually occurs
because the income taxes that are withheld by your
employer exceed your actual tax liability. Income
tax withholding rates are an estimate of the taxes you
will owe for the year if your only income source
is the one upon which the taxes are being
calculated. Withholding rates do not take into
consideration all income tax deductions
and credits such as RRSP contributions,
deductible support payments or
charitable donations. This can result
in an overpayment of tax during the
year and provide a refund when you
file your tax return. If you would like
your employer to reduce the amount
of withholding taxes from your
earnings, you can make a request,
in writing, to your Regional Taxation
Services Office of the Canada Revenue
Agency (CRA) and/or Revenu Québec (RQ).
You will need to include documentation to
support your request, such as RRSP contribution
receipts or a written court order for support payments. If
approved by the CRA and/or RQ, your employer will receive
a letter of authorization to reduce the withholding taxes on
your employment income. The reduced withholding taxes
mean you will improve your cash flow during the year by
increasing your net take home pay, instead of receiving a
lump-sum tax refund the following year when you file your
tax return.
5. Make your charitable giving tax efficient
The benefits of making a charitable donation are countless,
from helping those in need to the personal satisfaction
you feel when giving something back to a cause you feel
passionate about. However, with proper planning, you can
also reduce your income tax liability and maximize the
value of your donation. A donation of qualifying publiclytraded
securities may be preferred over a cash donation of
equal value, particularly in cases where you have already
decided to dispose of the securities. A charitable tax receipt
equal to the fair market value of securities donated to
a charity will reduce your taxes through a donation tax
credit. For donations made after 2015 that exceed $200,
calculation of the federal charitable donation tax credit will
allow higher income donors to claim a federal tax credit at
a rate of 33% (versus 29%), but only on the portion
of donations made from income that is subject to
the new 33% top marginal tax rate that came
into effect on January 1, 2016
When combined with the provincial
donation tax credit, the tax savings can
approximate 50 per cent of the value
of the donation (depending on your
province of residence). A donation of
securities is considered a disposition
for tax purposes; however, because of
the tax incentives provided on a donation
of qualifying appreciated publicly-traded
securities to charity, the capital gain inclusion
rate is nil instead of the normal 50 per cent
that would otherwise apply. You should also consider
combining all charitable donations for you and your spouse
and claim these on one income tax return for maximum tax
savings.
If you’d like to be more strategic with your charitable giving,
consider establishing a donor advised fund (BMO has a
Charitable Giving Program if you are interested). You can
make a charitable contribution to your donor advised fund
and obtain the tax savings benefits today, while having
the flexibility to make disbursements to your designated
charitable beneficiaries over time; ensuring a legacy of
giving long into the future. A variety of assets are accepted
for contribution in order to establish your donor advised
fund, or when making additional contributions, including
publicly-traded securities.
1 Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/registered-plans-administrators/pspa/mp-rrsp-dpsp-tfsa-limits-ympe.html
2 Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/frequently-asked-questions-individuals/adjustment-personal-income-tax-benefit-amounts.html
3 On a related note, be aware that new tax proposals were introduced in July 2017 that seek to limit income splitting with certain adult family members involving private companies. Revised tax proposals were later
released in December 2017. For more information, please ask your BMO financial professional for a copy of our publication, Tax Proposals Affecting Private Corporations: “Income Sprinkling” Draft Legislation Revised.
4 It is an opportune time now to consider this strategy in order to lock-in the current prescribed rate which is set at 1% until March 31, 2018 as it may increase later in 2018 with the rising interest rate environment.
5 Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/charities-giving/giving-charity-information-donors/claiming-charitable-tax-credits/amended-legislation-charitable-donationtax-credit.html
This publication is for informational purposes only and is not and should not be construed as professional advice to any individual. Individuals should contact their BMO representative for professional advice regarding
their personal circumstances and/or financial position. The information contained in this publication is based on material believed to be reliable, but BMO Wealth Management cannot guarantee the information is
accurate or complete. The comments included in this publication are not intended to be a definitive analysis of tax applicability or trust and estates law. The comments contained herein are general in nature and
professional advice regarding an individual’s particular tax position should be obtained in respect of any person’s specific circumstances. ®”BMO (M-bar roundel symbol)” is a registered trade-mark of Bank of Montreal,
used under licence. BMO Wealth Management is a brand name that refers to Bank of Montreal and certain of its affiliates in providing wealth management products and services. Not all products and services are offered
by all legal entities within BMO Wealth Management. ® “BMO Nesbitt Burns” is a registered trade-mark of BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of Montreal. If you are
already a client of BMO Nesbitt Burns, please contact your Investment Advisor for more information.

SHE LIVES FOR
PURPOSE
“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”
Sun streamed into the laughter-filled room
reflecting the mood and demeanour of the
women and girls in their gym garb as they
awaited the beginning of a fitness session. I was pumped
but apprehensive. I have always wanted to become
involved in Zumba because of the dance component
it brings to fitness. Admittedly, after 10 mins, I became
painfully aware of muscles and tendons and perhaps bones
that I forgot existed. I was so impressed with the simplicity but
thoroughness of the workout and the fun she brought to the
session I wanted to hear her story. Here is an excerpt from my
conversation with Aleshia “goal crusher” Ali, Zumba Group Fitness
Instructor.
How would you describe your philosophy of life? How does
this manifest itself daily?
My life’s philosophy is to try and live a life to impact someone’s life with
positivity each day. This can be something as simple as putting a smile on
someone’s face, or donating or listening to a friend or even a stranger’s
problem. Group fitness allows me to do so. I impact people’s lives by
helping them unleash their potential which will hopefully allow them to
leave with a smile and a sense of accomplishment. I feel like I was truly put
in this world to help bring joy and laughter to other people.
31

Wellbeing
How did you decide what you wanted to do with
your life?
While pursuing my undergraduate degree in Health Studies
and Gerontology I came to understand that those living with
chronic disease and mental illness faired better when they
were physically active. Physical activity is also key to aging
healthy, recovering from acute illnesses, and for one’s overall
health and wellbeing. As a result, I decided to pursue my
own journey in fitness and health. After graduation, I studied
to become a fitness professional. I am a certified Personal
Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor.
I feel amazing about my work because teaching others, helping
them achieve their fitness goals, being healthy and strong
while having fun is truly my passion. I love every minute of it,
and one day I hope to establish my fitness studio.
much of a difference it makes when you compliment and
encourage people; just being more positive promotes a sense
of community. Noticing your students or people in general
and giving credence to their improvement, instil so much
confidence in themselves. As an Instructor, you definitely
have to be to your class what you bring to your class and what
you want from your class.
What is your motto regarding life? Any favourite
sayings/quotes about life?
My favourite quote comes from a character in a Harry Potter
novel, ‘It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.’ I
am a Harry Potter nerd and I am very much a dreamer! This
quote reminds me to put action to my dreams because so
often we don’t do that. We spend an enormous amount of
time thinking about our future and our dreams that we forget
“I came to understand that those living with chronic
disease and mental illness faired better when
they were physically active.”
Tell me about your journey with Zumba.
The requirements of the program I studied at Humber College
included teaching Group Fitness as well as a fitness practical
exam. I designed my class to be more dance fitness based
with soca music (my favourite genre). My professor really
encouraged me to pursue teaching. She said I was made for it.
I started out teaching Muscle Resistance Classes, and would
take Zumba classes with my mentor, who also encouraged me
to take my Zumba instructor course and apprentice with her.
I did just that, and once I started teaching I was hooked. I’ve
taught Zumba to seniors, youth, and adults. I love to shake
and shimmy with my class.
Life lessons from Zumba
Zumba is a whole world by itself and can become cultish (she
laughs). I have learnt from those sometimes catty, cruel and
yes, divas that becoming fit and healthy does not change
your bad attitude. Most people who come to my classes tell
me that they have become more confident and have so much
fun. The most important thing I have learnt though, is how
to live in the present; we miss the enjoyment of the present.
Secondly, we wish things could change; our lives, situations
and we fantasize about our dreams and future but we do
nothing to change it to what we dream about. I have learnt
to write down my ideas, my dreams; that way I can actually
action them and eventually end up doing something about
them; maybe not all at once but they get worked on. In that
way, we put action to our dreams while living and enjoying the
present.
Describe a person who has had a profound impact
on your life and why?
Three women were significant in that way in my life. My
amazing Fitness Instructor, Winne. She fused so much
energy into her class and I wanted to absorb as much
information from her as possible. Leah Gavarkovs, another
Group Fitness Instructor, encouraged me to become a
group fitness instructor. Her praise, and her attention to my
form and execution in class really helped me become a very
polished instructor. Lastly, Jennifer Kane was definitely a
32

Wellbeing
huge influence. She encouraged me to pursue my Zumba
certification and groomed me as a fitness instructor, and as
a people leader. Her mentorship allowed me to successfully
gain a full- time job supervising the Fitness Centre at Cassie
Campbell Community Center.
Have you changed your view of life over time? How
so and why?
(She chuckles) I really haven’t lived that long to say I have
changed much. For one thing though, I have changed my views
about myself. Truth be told, I really did not like myself because
I was not who and what I saw on TV and in magazines. I looked
different even from the rest of my family. I began a journey
to change how I felt about myself and my life because those
feelings were leading me down a path of self-destruction. The
change did not happen overnight but today, I know I value
myself a lot more than before and it shows by the life I live and
how I treat myself. I am beautiful, strong, comfortable in my
own skin, curls and all and I know my self worth. I know there
is still a lot of life to live and lot of tough times too but my
journey has definitely given me tools to successfully deal with
whatever comes my way. It is clear my view of life has changed
from when I was a teenager and will no doubt change when I
become a Mom or get married or any of those exciting things
but I look forward to that because “the only thing constant in
life is change.
If you could write a message to your future children
or generation about life and put it in a time capsule,
for them to read 20 years from now, what would
that message be?
I would tell them I love them and everything will be alright.
Clearly, we all go through life’s challenges and need to always
know that it will get better; we will get through it. I would
encourage them to be kind to people; we need to pay forward
kindness because what we put out in the universe comes back
to us.
Aleshia Ali can be reached for consultation for group fitness
sessions at leeshletics@gmail.com or on Instagram @leeshletics
By POLLYANA DARRELL
33

CINNAMON
CLARY SAGE
WILD ORANGE
LAVENDER
GINGER
MARJORAM
BASIL
PEPPERMINT
FRANKINCENSE
FENNEL
GERANIUM
CASSIA
MELALEUCA
ROSE
LIME
LEMON
OREGANO
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34

Wellbeing
Essential Oil:Copaiba
The Copaiba is a large towering tree that grows in
tropical rainforests of South America. For hundreds of
years, traditional healers in northern Brazil have used
copaiba trees for their health benefits. Copaiba oil is steam
distilled from the resin of the tree.
Copaiba has become one of doTERRA’s most popular essential
oils for good reason. BCP (Beta-caryophyllene) found in
Copaiba interacts directly with the CB2 receptors(organ
or cell.)CB2 receptors improve immune health, reduce
inflammation, and pain and supports the health of the
cardiovascular, nervous, digestive, immune, and respiratory
systems.
Copaiba oil contains a significant amount of BCP–typically
around 55-60%, while CBD oil usually contains between 2
and 30%.
Other advantages to choosing Copaiba over CBD(cannabidiol
is a chemical compound in marijuana with a variety of uses. It
is a remedy for headaches, migraines; relieves muscle cramps
and joint pain)oil, it’s half the cost of CBD with no prescription
needed and is 100% legal so no worries for plane travel and
border crossing.
(doTerra is a Latin derivative meaning “Gift of the Earth”.
The Company was established in 2008 with the mission to
produce and share therapeutic-grade essential oils.)
www.doTerra.com
www.CDB.medicines.org
By DIANA LESHUK
Independent Product Consultant, doTerra
CBD vs COPAIBA
• ISOLATED molecule
• INDIRECT receptor activation
(Cascade)
• INCONSISTENT dosage
• LIMITED science
• REGULATORY challenge
• CBD 5–35%
CONCENTRATION
• COMPLETE plant chemistry
• DIRECT receptor activation
• REASONABLE dosing
• More than 1000 PUBLISHED
STUDIES
• BCP almost 60%
CONCENTRATION
• Does not contain
PSYCHOACTIVE
CANNABINOIDS
35

WELLBEING
BENEFITS OF
ALKALINE WATER

Wellbeing
Summer 2013 was a very busy year for our family of
three. We were engaged in high intensity training,
coaching and managing our business. Additionally, we
soon learned that we had a new baby on the way. After many
challenges to fit our family and lifestyle into our little car,
we decided to get an upgrade. It was then that we were first
introduced to the idea of anti-aging, antioxidant, alkaline water
by one of our former coaches, 3x Canadian Olympian and
captain of the Canadian Olympic Team in Barcelona, Freddie
Williams. He shared with us his own personal experience
with the water. His wife had used the water in her bout
with cancer. He shared with us cancer research which was
done by Dr. Otto Warburg, the German Scientist and Nobel
peace prize winner who in the early 1900s discovered that
no sickness or disease can thrive in an alkaline environment.
Sicknesses and diseases in the body are caused by acidity. We
were excited to learn more about alkaline water and ventured
out on our own research efforts. We learned that it the micro
“Immediately after drinking the
alkaline water, we noticed its
lighter, sweeter taste.”
of ours complained he had been experiencing acid reflux
problems for many years, we wondered if the alkaline water
might help. Acid reflux is an overabundance of stomach acid
that frequently escapes the stomach, making its way back up
through the stomach into the esophagus where it burns like a
caldron in your throat. Ultimately, it can destroy the stomach
lining and esophagus. If it’s ever happened to you, you
understand the discomfort firsthand. The idea that alkalinity
neutralizes acidity was appealing to our colleague, who asked
to try the water. We gave him some of our water. Within
hours he called with a sigh of relief.(I don’t mean to gross you
out, but, it was dramatic). He described making a couple of
trips to the bathroom and reported that his stool was black,
nothing like he’d ever seen before. Afterwards he felt superb.
The acid had completely cleared his system. He was finally
freed from years of discomfort. Additionally, he’d all but given
up on trying to have another baby. He was surprised to find a
‘little bun in the oven.”His longtime girlfriend with whom he
tried for years to have a baby, was expecting. He swears by
the alkaline water that it was the reason for the season, at his
age, in his early fifties. Who’s to say? “Who feels it knows it!”
By MARESA CADIENHEAD-RYAN
Ionization Technology Consultant;
Speaker, Writer & former world leading
High Jumper
clusters, antioxidants and alkalinity make the water effective
in hydrating the body, given that proper hydration is very
important when engaging in high intensity training. It didn’t
take long before we decided on an upgrade for our health
rather than our car and decided to invest in the gold standard
of alkaline water system; not just for ourselves but for our
children. We followed the old adage, “prevention is better
than cure.”
Immediately after drinking the alkaline water, we noticed
its lighter, sweeter taste, as compared to regular water. In
addition, we could literally feel it moving through our bodies.
It’s human nature to tell far and wide whenever you find
something good;it’s hard keeping it to yourself. Overtime,
we experimented with the alkaline water in our training and
noticed that our cardio exercises were easier. Our long run
recovery times were quicker than usual resulting in our doing
more and going longer. We couldn’t help sharing what we
learned with our friends and neighbours. When a colleague
37

wellbeing
Life Lessons
What I want to teach the next generation;
The generation where we place our hope,
Are the things that life taught me.
First, life is not fair;
It is not equal.
There will always be partiality and biases-
Biases that will follow you wherever you go
Whatever you do
Because some people believe not everyone is born equal
And their views will affect your views -
If you let them.
Life is not fair
But it doesn’t have to bring you down.
When life presents challenges,
And obstacles and handicaps,
It is giving you a chance to rise above it
Use challenges as ways to better yourself
And obstacles as stepping stones
Use handicaps to prove to the world you have more to offer
Because once we see challenges as opportunities
Instead of restrictions,
We focus and work on ourselves
Not others;
If we use obstacles as a means to get ahead,
Those opposed to us will have nothing to use against us
And when we accept our handicaps, we show the world
Nothing can hold us down.
Life is not fair;
It is full of challenges and obstacles
But if we learn to live fair and just
And put in effort where it is due
We might just teach the rest of the world
How good life can be.
By NAOMI-NICOLE BRAMER

WELLBEING
Zesty Zingy Zingiber
OFFICINALE
Commonly known as ginger, this spice has brought relief to millions over the centuries as
the treatment for multitudinous aliments, making the case for its Ancient Indian namevishwabhesaj
- which means, “universal medicine.”
Recently, I was encountering some digestive issues along with a tinge of diarrhea and nausea
and wanting to tackle the diarrhea first, I thought I’d use a hot caffeine-free, milk-free beverage. I
remembered, as a little girl, my mom would serve ginger tea intermittently whenever she thought
we needed some”bush” tea to “clean or purge us.” So, I decided to get some ginger and administered
the tea as per instruction-1 packet to 8 ozs. water. The next day, I had 3 cups of ginger tea and
voila, diarrhea was gone, nausea went ‘poof’ and my digestion improved. This was so noticeable
that I decided to continue using the ginger to aid my digestion issues. Sure enough, the rest of the
week, I had no issues with indigestion (which is regular) and then, I came up on this book in the
office, “Ginger: Common Spice and Wonder Drug” by Paul Schulick and decided to read it. Here
are some fascinating facts being touted about ginger.
Current scientific and ethnomedical literature support the empirical findings that ginger has a
wide range of benefits for the digestive system. Among other things, its properties aid in digestion
especially of protein, produce anti-diarrheal activity, support probiotic and liver protection
and have anti-emetic(vomiting) capabilities. In addition, ginger’s enzyme actions and digestive
stimulation synergize with its anti-ulcer benefits to reduce gastric volume which in turn relieves
39

Wellbeing
balance critical enzymes reduces physiological
active substances that produce inflammation.
A1989 trial revealed that consumption of fresh
or powdered ginger by rheumatic patients for
three months, reduced swelling and stiffness
and was better for pain relief. It is reported that
6 out of the 7 patients in the trial, even after
5-10 years of conventional treatment,they had
been continuously afflicted with some degree of
inflammation, swelling and morning stiffness. In
the second trial, (56 patients with various forms
of arthritis; 28-rhumatoid, 18 osteoarthritis, and
10 with muscular discomfort), again using fresh
or powdered ginger, it was concluded, “more than
three-quarters experienced to varying degrees,
relief from pain and swelling. All patients with
muscular discomfort experienced relief in pain.”
(K.C.Srivastava; pg 34). According to Public Citizen
Health Research Group (April 1993, Vol.9; No.4),
during the 21/2 years study, no side effects were
reported while conventional arthritic treatment
on the elderly alone, resulted in 3,300 inducedulcer
deaths.
constipation and aids in the excretion of small gall stones as
found by Japanese researchers.
Secondly, ginger reduces fever for the same reason aspirin
does. It does so by impeding the activity of fever-causing
enzymes and suppressing the production of particular
inflammatory substances. Like aspirin, it assuages fevers by
aiding your body to return to its core internal temperature
or thermo regulation. It is also believed to relieve chills and
warms the body all with no side-effects.
Historical literature and herbal formulation from India, China
and more recently, the Middle East and Cuba all hail ginger
as an aphrodisiac. One 14th century sex manual purported,
“A man who prepared himself for love with ginger and honey
would give much pleasure to the woman...”(Ginger, pg. 25).
In China, ginger has always been known as an agent to
boost appetite, bring balance to hormones and circulation
improvement. In Tibet, its reputation is for improving the vital
energies of the lethargic and Persian historians claim ginger
has brain-cleaning properties.
In Denmark, two clinical trials revealed ginger reversed
many arthritic symptoms without side effects. Its ability to
Pathogenic species of particular bacteria like E.Coli and
salmonella are significantly impacted by ginger, “Ginger
unquestionably inhibits pathogenic species of bacteria like
E.Coli and salmonella while stimulating growth of potentially
beneficial species useful in the control of diarrhea and
constipation(Paediatrics, 1991; Jul; 88(1):90-7).
Clinical findings reveal that ginger’s properties can eliminate
parasitic worms found in human intestines. This is one reason
why ginger is traditionally eaten with sushi. (There has been
a marked increase in parasitic worm, Arisakis,infection which
is principally contracted through the consumption of raw fish
or sushi.)When used in an in vitro study, ginger and 2 of its
constituents resulted in more than 90% of the larvae to die in
four hours and completely decimated within 16 hours.
All quotations and information are culled from Ginger:
Common Spice and Wonder Drug by Paul Schulick.
By POLLYANA DARRELL
40

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3 Things You Can’t
Recover in Life:
the moment
after it’s missed
the word
after it’s said
the time
after it’s wasted