Writers Unblocked Magazine Volume 1/ Number 1

VOL. 1/ NO. 1 

WRITERS 

UNBLOCKED

INTRODUCTION 

It all started as a series of in-person and later online rendezvous for the 

Writing Circle, where members were gently encouraged to bring pen to 

paper and share in the common joys of writing. The endeavour has since 

organically evolved into inspiring one another, celebrating publishing 

successes, sharing best practices and aspirations, and setting 

achievable goals. 

‘Writers Unblocked’ is a testimony to an array of writing styles, allowing 

contributors and readers the freedom to engage and dabble in their 

choice of literary work. This specially curated inaugural publication 

features the diverse and distinct flavours from our members’ writing 

desks, be it poetry, fiction, narration, musings and more. We are 

delighted to share our first collaborative foray and hope you will enjoy it 

as much as we have in compiling it! 

We are grateful to the Centennial Libraries leadership for their initial 

and on-going support of the Writer’s Circle that has led to where we are 

today. A special and heartfelt thank you to Gosha Trzaski, who has been 

the administrative cornerstone of this effort. Gosha’s support, counsel, 

suggestions and efforts have been invaluable in bringing this publication 

to reality. Without her assistance, this would remain an aspiration.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

Centennial College is proud to be a part of a rich history of education in 

this province and in this city. We acknowledge that we are on the treaty 

lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and 

pay tribute to their legacy and the legacy of all First Peoples of Canada, 

as we strengthen ties with the communities we serve and build the 

future through learning and through our graduates. Today the traditional 

meeting place of Toronto is still home to many Indigenous People 

from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity 

to work in the communities that have grown in the treaty lands of the 

Mississaugas. We acknowledge that we are all treaty people and accept 

our responsibility to honour all our relations.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

A Message from Jane Burpee 1 

Lessons Learned by Alice Hsiung 2 

Ornaments by Cathy Schlender 6 

The Constant Gardening by Chris Jackman 9 

Poems by Delois G. Kemboi 12 

No One Said You Had to Do it Alone by Joanne Dominico 13 

The Face Next Door by Lana Findlay (Durst) 16 

Poems by May Walkowiak 17 

Poems by Philip Alalibo 21 

And So It Goes... by Shakira Ahmad 24 

Life is a Journey – 8 Reasons to Travel Post Pandemic by Shirley Merith 25 

Finding Your Chi by Sowmya Kishore 28 

Copyright Information 32 

Thank You 33

When Centennial College Libraries launched the 

Writing Circle initiative for college faculty and staff 

back in 2019, I had no clear idea where we would 

go. The concept was initially inspired by my former 

life as a tenured librarian at the University of Guelph. 

At Guelph University I participated in a highly 

successful faculty writing retreat. At the time, the 

experience had been positive and transformational; 

I found community and managed to get a manuscript 

ready for publication. 

A message from 

Jane Burpee 

Director 

Libraries and Learning Centres 

I shared my vision at the first Centennial College 

Writing Circle meeting: Libraries would offer 

dedicated time and space to faculty and staff to 

work on their personal writing projects - together. 

Each attendee would use a block of time to write 

individually and the rest of the time would be to 

come together to share, talk and build community. 

I envisioned building a community in which 

Centennial writers would support each other, discuss 

writing passions, and benefit from invited speakers 

discussing topics related to writing and publishing. 

While my own commitments took over and I slipped 

away from these Friday afternoon delights, the group 

passionately stayed together. They kept writing and 

learning. When the pandemic hit, the Writing Circles 

pivoted to Zoom and the group continued to meet 

and reach their writing goals. Proud of each other’s 

work, they looked for a vehicle to highlight the 

outcomes of their creative journey. 

I am delighted to introduce the inaugural issue 

of Writers Unblocked. The contributions of the 

members of the Writing Circle capture the beauty 

of who they are as writers, demonstrating their 

creativity and diversity as Centennial authors. 

It has been a joy to read each submission and 

I hope you enjoy reading Writers Unblocked. 

VOL. 1 / NO. 1 • WRITERS UNBLOCKED 

1

LESSONS LEARNED 

BY ALICE HSIUNG, Coordinator Career Services | Career Services and Co-operative Education 

I NEVER THOUGHT I’D BE DOING THIS, 

sharing with others lessons learned from 

trying to get my first novel published the 

traditional way. As a career coach at 

Centennial, my passion for fiction writing, 

over the years, has become almost like a 

part-time job. After sending out over 60 query 

letters, having been rejected more than 

20 times, and waiting for a potential “yes” 

from one of three interested literary agents, 

here I am writing my debut blog after being 

inspired by a guest speaker at a recent 

Writing Circle meeting. I hope my reflections 

will shed some light on the writing and 

publishing process for you. 

GETTING STARTED 

I know it’s tempting to just start writing 

when the inspiration hits, which for me often 

comes from a dream, but what I’ve learned 

is that mapping out the characters and plot 

of your novel first will save you so much time, 

headaches, and money later. Here are a few 

tips to know before you start writing. 

Read comparable novels 

It’s essential to read others’ published work 

to improve your writing skills, for inspiration, 

and to avoid copying others’ ideas. Also, 

when pitching your manuscript to agents, 

they will ask you to name books that are 

similar to yours so you always want to be 

prepared. 

Live your life 

We can only write about what we know. So, 

get out there and try new experiences; they’re 

inspiration and research for your novel. 

Research your genre 

Find out what the expected length, typical 

tropes, target audience, book cover styles, 

etc. for your genre and subgenre are to meet 

industry standards. 

Create profiles of your main characters 

Jot down their names, physical attributes, 

personality traits, interests, quirks, strengths, 

and weaknesses, etc. You’ll probably 

change these many times and that’s ok, but 

this will ensure that your protagonists are 

3-dimensional and relatable. 

Map out the plot 

just like writing an essay in high school 

English class, roughly plan out the beginning, 

conflicts, and ending of your book. This will 

make your writing process smoother and 

more efficient. 

Get feedback 

this is a big lesson learned for me. Don’t wait 

till you finish the entire manuscript before 

asking your beta readers to read your book. 

Run your novel’s premise, concepts, plot, 

and main characters by three-five people 

before committing to writing. You’ll get 

different perspectives and suggestions that 

you’ve never thought of before. Incorporating 

beta readers’ ideas into your novel early 

will enhance the quality of your project and 

increase the chances of getting a “yes” from 

an agent. 

2 WRITERS UNBLOCKED • VOL. 1 / NO. 1

WRITING AND REVISING 

Now, my favourite part about being a budding 

author, actually putting words on paper, or 

laptop, begins! My family would attest to 

how crazy I am, waking up in the middle of 

the night or before sunrise on weekends to 

write. Somehow, my brain is most creative 

and active when my environment is peaceful 

and quiet, which is when my family is asleep. 

Here are a few tips once you start putting 

words to the page or screen. 

Set a regular writing routine 

I know that inspiration can come at any 

time and anywhere, but try to stick to a 

weekly writing schedule. Know your optimal 

writing time and remember to take breaks. 

Otherwise, you’d lose the momentum or 

forget where you left off, and end up wasting 

time refreshing your memory or deleting 

redundant parts in your manuscript. 

Use the right format 

Follow standard guidelines (e.g. APA) to 

format your manuscript. 

Revise, revise, revise 

I’ve learned that editing can feel like it’s 

never ending and is way harder than writing 

the novel. Download lists of commonly used 

verbs to “show” not “tell” and have them 

readily available. Read books, watch videos, 

and tune into webinars or online courses to 

improve your writing and grammar skills. 

Get feedback 

consider showing one chapter of your novel 

at a time, rather than waiting till the whole 

book is done, to your beta readers. Take your 

friends and family’s feedback seriously and 

don’t get defensive. Presenting a complete 

and polished manuscript to your editor will 

save you money and time from having to 

make revisions that could have been avoided 

early in the process. 

GETTING PUBLISHED 

Congratulations, you’ve finished writing and 

editing your manuscript! You’re now ready 

to share it with the world. This next step 

takes a long time and you need to prepare 

yourself, here are some tips to prepare for 

the publishing process. 

Get an editor 

Find a professional who is familiar with 

your genre to critique your manuscript, and 

perhaps your query letter, synopsis, and 

pitch as well. Editorial fees are not cheap, 

so consider hiring a recent grad from a 

publishing program. 

Find a literary agent 

Use reputable websites like Query Tracker 

or Agent Query to make a list of reputable 

agents accepting queries. Take your time 

to research the agents’ wish list and 

preferences on their websites or social 

media. 

Follow instructions 

Read each agent’s submission guidelines 

carefully to make sure you provide the correct 

information and documents the way they 

want (e.g. email versus online form). 

Stay motivated 

Once you start sending out queries, the 

waiting game begins. Let’s face it, rejection 

hurts. Agents have rejected me, from two 

hours to a month after I sent my submission, 

to never responding at all. During this 

emotional rollercoaster time, you can keep 

yourself busy by reading other books in your 

genre, and doing things that you love to stay 

sane. Maybe even start plotting your next 

project! 


3


Be organized 

Use an Excel spreadsheet to keep track 

of who and when you’ve submitted your 

queries. When or if you receive constructive 

feedback from agents that have rejected your 

manuscript, rework your manuscript using 

this feedback. 

Create an online presence 

Agents want to sell books. Nowadays, it’s 

pretty much imperative that you have a 

website and social media channels for your 

fans to engage with you and learn about you. 

Agents like it when you already have online 

followers. This can be Instagram, Twitter, 

and Facebook for some examples. 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

Becoming a novelist was a childhood fantasy 

of mine for the longest time, and now it 

might become a reality. I can’t believe how 

far I’ve come from years of writing fiction 

as a hobby to trying to get my first novel 

published. And what an incredible journey 

it’s been. I’ve learned so much, met some 

wonderful professionals in the industry, 

as well as mingled with fellow authors 

through Centennial College’s Writing Circle. 

In my full-time job as a career coach, I see 

many parallels between the job search 

and publishing process. The query letter is 

basically the cover letter. Authors should 

research literary agents and publishing 

agencies the way job seekers research 

employers to confirm their legitimacy and 

the culture fit. Network with like-minded 

people and industry professionals, while 

diversifying the types of agencies you submit 

your queries to or your job search strategies. 

Lastly, hang in there, it could take months 

for a positive response from an agent or 

employer. With lots of hard work and some 

good luck, you will get published or hired. 

As I continue to wait to hear from the rest 

of the literary agents, I am trying to stay 

optimistic that my one “yes” will come. 

If not, I will not 

give up; I will 

self-publish 

my novel. 

ALICE HSIUNG 


5

ORNAMENTS 

BY CATHY SCHLENDER, Manager, Corporate Communications | Marketing and Communications 

THE ENTRANCE TO BRIGHAM MANOR 

is brightly decorated for the holidays. 

In the parlor off the main lobby, a brightly-lit, 

decorated pine tree is displayed in the corner. 

Carols play quietly in the background as a 

crackling gas-fuelled fireplace illuminates 

ornaments on the tree. 

George’s eyes drift to the small red 

sleigh hanging from one of the boughs, 

smiling as he remembers a recent trip to 

Toboggan Mound – at least that’s what the 

neighbourhood called the giant hill they visit 

every winter. 

“Daddy,” his eldest daughter suggests, “Why 

don’t you get on the front this time and we’ll 

get on behind you?” 

“Okay,” George agrees, climbing onto the 

toboggan. His young children don’t realize 

that he heard them conspire moments 

earlier and knew what they were planning. 

He can still hear their shrieks of laughter 

as they pushed him down the hill without 

joining him on the toboggan. George smiles, 

remembering how it gave his children such 

a thrill to think they got one over on good old 

dad. 

George turns his head and another ornament 

catches his attention. A golden, porcelain 

Christmas cookie with white wavy lines for 

icing and coloured dots for sprinkles. Just like 

his mother used to make. George remembers 

the neighbour, Mr. Skinner, who would drop 

into his parent’s home uninvited and – as far 

as his English mother was concerned – quite 

unwelcome. Mother liked everyone – almost. 

George thinks Mr. Skinner is possibly the 

world’s most socially awkward person. 

Mr. Skinner made a habit of timing his visit 

when George Sr. was just sitting down to 

have his afternoon tea – there was certainly 

nothing wrong with his internal clock, George 

remembers! Mr. Skinner would knock once, 

walk straight through to the kitchen at the 

back of the house, take a cup from the shelf 

and pour himself a cup of tea, all without 

asking. This one day, Mr. Skinner grabbed 

a Christmas cookie from father’s plate, took 

a bite and contemplatively looked at the 

cookie. 

“Betty,” he called out to George’s mother. He 

took another bite as she entered the kitchen, 

a slightly pained look on her face. He holds 

the cookie up to her. “Did you make these?” 

he asks. 

“Why, yes I did,” mother replies in her lovely 

east London accent. 

“They’re not very good, are they?” 

He said it just like that. George is certain 

mother was mortified as she stood there, only 

blinking rapidly. Then George and his sister, 

Annie, scampered from the room, desperately 

suppressing giggles. Maybe mother’s cookies 

were an acquired taste, but George could 

really go for one right now. 


“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas” is 

playing in the background. George sings 

along for a moment, then stops as he sees 

one of his favourite ornaments - the train 

engine. It reminds him that he hasn’t yet set 

up his train set with the Christmas village. 

There was something about trains that 

George loved. He recalls the family farm in 

Newmarket, a rural community with a oneroom 

schoolhouse. He remembers how, 

as a child, he would run through the fields 

with his dog, Buster, feeling so free yet full 

of curiosity. He stopped whenever he heard 

the train whistle, musing about the exciting 

ventures of the train passengers. 

“One day,” he tells Buster, “we’ll move to the 

city with its tall buildings, automobiles and 

electric street lights! There’s a museum and 

the YMCA too, Buster!” 

They eventually move to the city, where 

George meets Richard, who is dating Annie. 

While they are slow to become friends, 

Richard will eventually marry George’s sister 

and the two men become best friends. 

They share a passion for trains, spending 

hours at the railway tracks by Lake Ontario, 

watching the trains as they travel east and 

on to Ottawa and Montreal. Though neither 

smoked, they lit cigars and talked about 

combustible engines and the future of trains, 

rehashing stories from train and science 

periodicals. Best friends are like that. 

George is singing again, this time to the 

carol “Sleigh Ride.” The jingling bells from 

the horse sled take him back once more to 

the farm. While his father was not much of 

a farmer, he loved the animals, and George 

Sr. loved to tell the story about the day the 

family’s horse stopped pulling the plow in the 

field. No matter how much George Sr. yelled, 

that horse just refused to move, and he was 

determined to drag the stubborn animal if he 

had to. Walking up to grab the horse’s reins, 

George Sr. saw baby Annie, sitting playing in 

the horse’s pathway. She’d wandered away 

from the house without George’s mother 

noticing. That horse saved Anne’s life. 

That was the worst part of leaving the farm. 

They had to sell the horse. He feels a tear 

running down his cheek, and suddenly feels 

foolish. Who cries about a horse? George’s 

soft blue eyes scan the tree for the horse 

ornament, but he cannot find it. He bought 

it years ago because it looked like the horse 

that saved his family from tragedy. 

“Hey,” he says out loud. “What’s the big 

idea? Who took the horse off the tree?” He 

looks over his shoulder, expecting to see 

one of the children smiling mischievously. 

But they’re not there. Instead, a woman is 

sitting in a blue chair startled by his outburst. 

“What are you looking at?” George asks. He’s 

embarrassed because he doesn’t remember 

who she is. He has never been good at 

faces or names. But this woman is not at all 

familiar. 

“Where is everybody?” he calls out. “Quit 

clowning around. I’m serious!” George is 

becoming frustrated. A joke is one thing, but 

to hide the horse is going too far. And who is 

this lady? 

“Oh George,” a lady in a blue cotton shirt 

and pants rushes over to him. She wears a 

name tag that reads ‘Denise’. “How about 

some coffee and cookies?” George has never 

turned down coffee and cookies. 

Denise takes George to a small table in the 

bright coffee lounge where several residents 

are watching an annual Christmas romance 

on the large-screened TV. A man in a gold 

sweater enters the room and greets George 


7

in a large booming voice. This angers the 

little man with the ponytail and denim 

shirt, who has been intently watching the 

television. 

“Damn you, I’m missing the end of the story!” 

The man with the ponytail is surprisingly 

quick as he gets up from his chair to confront 

the man with the gold sweater. One day, 

Denise thinks, those two are really going to 

get into it. Then the manager will have to 

decide which family will have to find a new 

residence. 

The male nurse Kelvin steps in and the 

dispute is quickly resolved. Denise puts a 

cup of coffee on the table in front of George 

and returns a moment later with two cookies 

wrapped in a bright Christmas napkin. 

George smiles 

to himself. 

I haven’t 

thought about 

that for years, 

he mused. 

George looks at the cookies. “Thank you, 

Denise.” He takes a bite. “Well, they’re not 

mothers but I guess I finished all the cookies 

she brought me the other day.” 

She smiles and pats his shoulder. “Merry 

Christmas, George.” Seeing he is settled, 

Denise returns to the medicine cart to 

resume dispensing the afternoon doses to 

the residents at Brigham Manor. 

George hears children laughing and looks up 

at the TV screen. Boys and girls in woollen 

caps, mittens and puffy coats are gliding 

down hills on sleds. It reminds him of when 

he would take the children to their favourite 

hill each winter. What was the name of that 

place? He thinks for a moment. Toboggan 

Mound, that’s it! He remembers the day 

George let his children believe they’d tricked 

him into going down the hill on the toboggan 

alone. He remembers feeling a bit silly, but it 

made them laugh so much thinking they had 

outwitted their dad. 

CATHY SCHLENDER 


THE CONSTANT 

GARDENING 

BY CHRIS JACKMAN, Chair, Arts and Design | School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design 

UNLIKE MY WIFE, I am a live-and-let-live 

gardener; the kind of gardener who doesn’t 

like to garden. Yard maintenance was an 

unfortunate side effect of purchasing our first 

home in this little corner of Scarborough. 

So when we first saw a patch of white flowers 

peeking out of our humble flower bed two 

years ago, I was sanguine. “They look nice! 

I know we didn’t plant it, but why not leave 

it there?” Survival of the fittest, bloom what 

may. 

My partner disagreed, but she respected 

my apathy, smouldering only slightly. I opted 

to put our kid to bed while she pulled them 

up one by one. Not a trace remained in the 

morning, and we granted ourselves the luxury 

of forgetting. 

We did not know that these were onions 

in our yard. Wild onions, whose blossoms 

flourish mid-spring. Wild onions, who sprout 

in silky green chives from tiny bulbs in the 

earth. Wild onions, whose stalks release 

easily and whose bulbs spread like infection. 

Wild onions with the tenacity of death itself. 

The onions became a problem in the summer 

2020. They were no longer confined to a 

little patch, having made homes across the 

front yard with one or two little sorties in 

the back. I dutifully chipped in this time - 

the first months of lockdown were frenetic 

days for the acquisition of new talents - but 

I didn’t share the rancor of my sweet wife. 

These onions had become the hot coal of 

a Melvinesque obsession. On family walks 

she’d side-eye the neighbours’ yards and 

randomly break our stride with a cry of, 

“There! THERE! They have them too!” She 

would stoop to analyze their arrangement, 

trying to divine some secret of their spread, 

but always stood up dissatisfied. She’d even 

glare at them as we walked away, as though 

suspecting they might pick up their skirts 

and follow us home. I thought she was going 

slightly crazy, but it was the middle of 2020 

and lockdown was wearing on us all, so who 

was I to judge? 

Speaking of psychoses, I have come to 

entertain a highly specific conspiracy theory: 

the Illuminati earmarked my family for 

psychological warfare. A true garden plot. 

Some nefarious bureaucrat was asked how 

he would break us, and he responded with 

the naked audacity of “Onions.” Did he even 

slow down before throwing the bulbs out of 

his car window? Did he get promoted? 

2020 was the year we got proper trowels and 

kneepads, but these munitions were spent 

in a scattershot counter-offensive. Would 

vinegar work? Baking soda? And oops, a 

volcano. We didn’t even know what we were 

looking for at the time, memorably hacking 

away the wiry shoots of a young bush that 

was soon “transplanted” to a yard bag on 

the curb. We were also distracted by our 

son, now home from junior kindergarten and 

uncommonly fond of running towards traffic. 


9

We paid a dear price for our naivete in March 

2021 when the onions returned in force, 

blanketing a third of our yard and three 

quarters of the garden in dense thatches 

that choked and shaded everything in sight. 

Reinforcements were in order, but when we 

called for a quote on what it would cost to 

get rid of it all, the landscaper just shook 

his head. “I can try to take them away, but 

frankly, it’s contaminated. There is nothing 

I can do to keep them from coming back.” 

I would have thrown in the towel – the trowel? 

– except for my singular wife, who dedicated 

herself to the finer points of soil pH, bulb 

removal, and growth prevention over the 

course of sleepless weeks. I remember her 

face lit by a laptop screen, grimacing over 

YouTube videos and gardening forums until 

she had united every conceivable technique 

into one monolithic, scorched-earth strategy: 

1) dig up the bulb; 2) remove the surrounding 

soil; 3) scourge the hole with concentrated 

vinegar; 4) fill and amend with peat moss 

and black earth; 5) cover in eight layers 

of newspaper; 6) cover the newspapers in 

a layer of mulch; 7) repeat; 8) repeat; 10) 

repeat. 

As for me, I learned the importance of 

learning to hate what your partner hates. 

Hate bound us together when our backs were 

tired and our nerves were raw. Hate was the 

fuel that sustained us through weekends of 

digging and weeknights at the garden centre, 

through dumpster rentals and wheelbarrow 

returns, through lifting and bending and 

credit card spending. That same hate drove 

me to trade the spade for the shovel, opening 

a 5-foot crater in our front yard that the 

roots of our maple traversed like tightrope, 

hauling up a cluster of bulbs so massive that 

I actively hid it from my wife. “I’m glad you 

didn’t have to see that.” 

I also learned that hate can breed a 

generational feud. One day my son (then 5) 

disassembled his tee-ball stand to make a 

sword and shield, then pivoted to me on our 

front lawn. “Dad. You will be the Evil Onion, 

and I will defeat you!” 

Please bear in mind that he hadn’t been 

able to see his friends for ages, and I was 

his primary playmate at this time. What could 

I say except “Ok!” 

“Now, where do you come from?” He was 

worldbuilding. 

“Evil Onion Land?” I was reaching for easy 

answers. 

“Well I come from Hero Land!” Nothing wrong 

with easy answers. “And I will protect the 

Garden Centre of Hero Land!” 

Yes, the fabled Garden Centre of Hero Land, 

which must be of tremendous societal 

importance considering how many he’d been 

dragged to. I questioned my parental fitness 

as he transformed his sword into a vuvuzela, 

buzzing Yellow Submarine into my ear until 

I crumpled to the ground in defeat, which 

was how so many of these games went at 

the time. And he danced above me, striking 

brave poses of triumph over the wicked onion 

in a microcosmic re-birth of early ceremonial 

drama. 

Through the grind of April, we scoured every 

speck of dirt within half a foot of any sighting, 

plumbing down to the sand and hucking all 

that soil into a lime green dumpster blocking 

my driveway until, at last, we turned the tide. 

By this time, the image of onion bulbs had 

been seared into my retina, appearing every 

time I closed my eyes. I stalked the yard, 

scrutinizing every remaining blade of grass, 

and when I did spot the odd straggler or 


late riser it was with the grim satisfaction of 

a sniper in the urban wasteland seeing the 

muzzle-flash of a hidden enemy. Then I’d aim 

and… bang. 

But with destruction comes renewal. And 

as the low and level dirt stretched far away, 

we even began to consider repopulating the 

yard with plants of our choosing. We picked 

up creeping vines from the local florist, 

plundered ferns from a vacant lot, seeded 

the lawn with clover, and split hosta after 

hosta to fill the voids. Our neighbours had 

wisely kept their distance from our mania, 

but now pitched in their spare geraniums 

and lily of the valley too. A garden slowly 

coalesced before us, and day by day our 

minds cleared. Over time, we didn’t even 

scan for imperfections as we walked the 

neighbourhood; we looked for the beautiful 

possibilities of every bush and blossom. 

“I’m pretty sure 

it’s some kind 

of onion.” 

This brings me to a Saturday in early June 

when we lingered at a flowerbed in Glen 

Stewart Park, a small riot of color in the 

green expanse. 

Our son (now 6) was racing around the lawn 

while my partner held my hand, directing my 

gaze to ask, “What do you think of those tall 

ones with the purple flower? Do you think 

we could pick up a few to put near the maple 

tree?” And I smiled, calmly acquiescing to her 

vision. “Sure thing, it’s really nice. What kind 

of plant is that?” 

She had a moment of hesitation, and in that 

moment, I knew exactly what kind of plant it 

was. My smile decayed, my eyes widened, 

and I released her hand. I heard a low and 

distant alarm in the back of my animal 

brain. Then I slowly turned to her, scoring 

a trench across her profile as she looked 

fixedly ahead. And with an air of undeserved 

consideration, she finally told me: 

CHRIS JACKMAN 


11

BY DELOIS G. KEMBOI, Part-time Instructor | School of Advancement 

ONLY BELIEVE 

Only believe and it will be done 

The battle you’re fighting 

Has already been won. 

Keep seeking and asking 

And knocking you’ll find, 

The trial was only 

To make you refined. 

I SMILE – SEASONS 

Not because I’m smiling, things are alright 

I’ve learned to smile, during the day and the nighttime. 

You see seasons are times, that change back and forth 

They don’t last forever. They come and go. 

It’s difficult to know, when the up will be down 

Or when the bad will do a 180, and turn right around. 

Regardless the season, know this one thing is true: 

There’s Someone very special, always looking out for you. 

DELOIS G. KEMBOI 


NO ONE SAID YOU 

HAD TO DO IT ALONE: 

How to Get the Support You Need to Succeed. 

BY JOANNE DOMINICO, Learning Strategist | Libraries and Learning Centres 

WHEN I REFLECT BACK ON THIS PAST 

pandemic-filled year, I am pleased to see 

that despite the many challenges, I have 

managed to make some really great progress 

in several areas of my life. I have managed 

to create a routine that includes working out 

more consistently, drinking more water, and 

regular meditation and journaling. These 

are all things I had been wanting to do for 

years, but could never seem to find the time/ 

energy/motivation for. And when I think 

about what contributed to these successes, 

I realize that a lot had to do with the support 

I received from others. 

When I was younger I used to think that 

being independent was a goal to strive 

towards. That there would come a time when 

I would know everything and be totally selfsufficient 

and wouldn’t need to rely on others 

for help. Now that I am working, I see that 

those thoughts couldn’t have been more 

wrong. I ask for help ALL THE TIME. I ask 

my colleagues, my manager, my family, my 

friends, and my spouse. 

At the end of 2019, I joined a Mastermind 

group with three other ladies. We meet onetwo 

times per week and share our wins and 

lessons; we set goals and hold each other 

accountable. I am amazed at the level of 

support this group provides and honestly 

it has been a key factor in maintaining my 

mental and physical health during this 

pandemic. 

According to Deputy General Counsel of 

Detroit, Portis, 2020, “Research has shown 

that having a strong support system has 

many positive benefits, such as higher 

levels of well-being, better coping skills, and 

a longer and healthier life. Studies have 

also shown that social support can reduce 

depression and anxiety.” 

We need support now more than ever as 

we continue to navigate through these 

challenging times. Having a support system 

can make a huge difference. We truly need 

each other in order to survive and thrive. 

If you think you could benefit from some 

support, here are some options to consider: 

1) THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT! 

It seems that there are countless apps for 

pretty much anything these days. If you are 

interested in tracking your habits or your 

progress, try downloading an app to do it 

for you. Habit tracking apps can work well 

because seeing that you have completed a 

task or have kept a streak going, can activate 

the reward centres in your brain, making it 

much more likely that you will want to repeat 

the behaviour again in the future. Some of 

my favorite habit tracking apps are; Habitica, 

Habitify, Strides, and Coach.me. 


13

2) YOUR PARTNER, A CLOSE 

FRIEND, OR A FAMILY MEMBER 

Having an accountability partner - I call it an 

“accountabil-a-buddy,” can sometimes be 

the missing link between knowing what you 

want to accomplish and then taking action 

to actually get things done. When you rely on 

your own willpower, you may often fall short 

because it’s so easy to talk yourself out of 

doing things, especially if your brain deems 

something as undesirable. But knowing that 

someone is holding you accountable can 

make a HUGE difference and can often be 

the small change that leads to big results. 

A great example is setting a goal to go for a 

walk every morning and then sending a video 

to your friend as proof that you actually went! 

3) A MASTERMIND GROUP 

OR AN ONLINE COMMUNITY 

Being a part of a group with like-minded 

individuals can inspire and motivate you. 

Sharing your struggles with your group 

can help you to gain valuable insight and 

the support you need to push through 

challenging obstacles. The structure of these 

groups can also lead to positive results as 

the frequent scheduled check-in sessions 

can allow you to measure and monitor your 

progress. 

4) A MENTOR OR A COACH 

Learning from someone who has already 

done what you would like to do can be a 

game changer for some. Often tasks can 

seem daunting because we tend to focus on 

the overall result and can have a hard time 

determining where to begin. A mentor or a 

coach can help you to break down your goals 

into smaller, actionable tasks which can 

make it much easier for you to take the steps 

needed to reach the outcome you desire. 

5) A PROFESSIONAL 

Working with a therapist can be extremely 

beneficial, especially if you feel that you are 

experiencing emotional or mental health 

concerns. A therapist can help you with many 

things, including how to better understand why 

you are struggling, and strategies to cope with 

life’s many challenges. 


From this point 

forward, try to be 

open to seeking 

and receiving 

the help that you 

need, whenever 

you may need it 

on your journey to 

becoming the best 

version of you. 

AS A LEARNING STRATEGIST 

I often tell this to the students I work with - at 

the end of the day, your report card or transcript 

is not going to say how many times you seeked 

help, it is only going to say your grades… So, 

don’t hesitate to seek the support you need to 

be successful. I feel that this same principle can 

be applied to anyone, regardless of their stage 

in life. There is no “life report card”. No one is 

keeping track of how many times you ask for 

help. Oftentimes there are many people who 

actually want to help you, so, find your go-to 

people, seek out new resources, and believe 

that others genuinely want to see you shine. 

JOANNE DOMINICO 


15

THE FACE 

NEXT DOOR 

BY LANA FINDLAY (DURST), Part-time Instructor | The Business School 

They had lived on the same street for ten years now 

in a small, but quaint looking suburb. 

The box houses were lined neatly in rows, 

each with a front lawn, garden, and white picket fence. 

They could walk to the corner store for milk, 

and to the post office for their mail. 

Mr. White took out his garbage every Monday morning at eight - 

the same time as Mr. Green next door. 

Mr. White smoked a cigarette at the curb those mornings 

and Mr. Green waited for the bus. 

They stood side by side, 

each Monday morning, 

not saying “hello”, or “it looks like rain”. 

They were men, 

not feeling a need 

to be friendly; 

neighbours, 

not finding it strange 

to be strangers. 

LANA FINDLAY (DURST) 


BUSY 

BY MAY WALKOWIAK, Faculty | School of Advancement 

What does it mean to be busy? 

Am I busy now while I am writing? 

We keep ourselves busy not to be bored, 

not to think, 

so we busy ourselves. 

We have a busy life. 

Business people 

DOING BUSINESS 

The essence of a good work. 

Making money 

The line is busy. 

Someone is talking. 

Let us check this link: 

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/busy 

Busy as a beaver. 

“Hard-working, able to do many projects at once,” 

Busy as a bee. 

The original meaning of the word busy 

Implied anxiousness, be anxious. 

Busybody 

Is this what our postmodern capitalism wants us to be? 

Making business the main virtue, 

And being busy the only accepted lifestyle? 

MAY WALKOWIAK 


17

ANOTHER DAY 

IN PARADISE 

I am listening for instructions from the universe 

how to live well this present moment. 

Wrapping myself around morning, 

afternoon, evening, 

passing minutes, seconds, 

looking for answers 

and bursting into now 

in front of you, my readers - 

guide me, show me! 

How to live well in the present? 

Finally, the answer arrives. 

Look inside and around me for a while. 

Hear my breath. 

Breath-in. Breath-out. Be calm. 

Then look again, listen, smell, taste, touch. 

Enjoy, feel, and later share. 

Give back in any possible 

way that only you can choose. 

So much for my mind to process, but perhaps 

this is what living well might look like. 

BIRDS AND 

THE FUTURE 

OF THE PLANET 


PANDEMIC 

Being scared 

makes me sick. 

Being sick 

makes me scared. 

It is like living in a vicious circle. 

I cannot stop thinking. 

My mind returns to the same moment 

of helplessness. 

Where can I go from there? 

Where to? 

The only hope is it will go away. 

I need to give myself time. 

I need to accept hope as an option to heal. 

Be positive. 

Accept. 

Enjoy. 

Act. 

CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS 

They bring awareness, 

an awareness of being alive 

even more 

Being alive in the right place 

at the right moment 

feeling and understanding what matters 

What are these crucial conversations? 

They start when you don’t want to acknowledge basic 

truths about you, life, others, the universe. 

You think you know everything, 

but still, you make mistakes and don’t know why you 

are not happy and don’t know all the answers. 

Letting go, listening, 

hearing possible answers, 

trusting your primordial gut 

then everything, even for a moment, 

becomes crystal clear. 

Birds sing the same in Honduras, Mexico, Canada, Poland, 

especially in the morning or 

like now 

before the rain. 

They assure us the nature is still there. 

Birds can find leaves and trees to hide, 

the worms to eat, 

places to sing, 

audience to admire them. 

We are their audience. 

We are still here able to breathe polluted air of big cities. 

Do all birds eat worms? 

I need to check that on the internet. 

However, Google will not be able to tell me for sure 

how long the planet will last, 

with birds, leaves, and trees, and us polluting everything. 

I wonder. 


19


STANDING ON 

MT. KILIMANJARO 

BY PHILIP ALALIBO, Professor | School of Advancement 

At this hour of no moral recompense 

Of soured inhibitions 

And gross reflection 

I stand on these unprecedented heights 

On this immutable monument of truth and 

succour 

Of strength and audacity 

That serves as a grim reminder of what was 

and what will 

To proclaim the sovereignty of a forgotten 

earth 

Battered by the insatiable thirst for 

hegemony. 

From the glitzy coast of Cape Town 

To the Pyramids of Egypt 

From the tip of the Atlantic Ocean 

To the ebbing of the Indian Ocean, 

From the arid plains of Burkina Faso 

To the gold fields of Ghana, 

From Ivory Coast, Tanzania and Zambia 

To the bursting seams of Nigeria, Ethiopia 

and Kenya 

To the hinterlands of Uganda, Malawi, Congo 

To the desiccated domains of the upper 

plains 

I mean, Morocco, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, 

The continent shall rise. 

Even the eagle shall be awed at its 

preposterous apices. 

It shall rise to its full potential 

Like this mountain of 19,340 feet 

I say, 

The ‘Dark Continent’ shall awe all mortality 

And become the connoisseur of world 

commerce The veritable bride of many 

suitors. 

From the crested coast of the Great Walled 

China 

To the simmering coastal breeze of Indian 

Goa 

From the Everglades in the southern fringes 

of the Americas 

To the underbellies of the great rift of 

Australia 

From the frozen walls of icy Siberia 

To the phenomenal vegetation of the 

daunting 

Amazon, Without ambivalence, incongruity 

nor inaptness Africa, shall rise. 

On this mountain of absolute heights, 

Of incredulous mass, 

I stand with this unassailable proclamation 

That Africa, shall rise. 

It shall rise, 

To triumph over the dreary firmaments 

It shall overcome the stigma of poverty 

The endemic of maladies 

The reputation of venality 

The notion of parasitical actuality 


21

MANDELA, FROM QUNU 

TO QUNU (1918-2013) 

BY PHILIP ALALIBO, Professor | School of Advancement 

Born in Qunu 

In the obscure fringes of the 

black continent, Dining on the earth’s 

surface 

With its filthy rudiments to bear 

A herdsman without indemnity. 

You stood aright 

At the feet of death 

Of harm and demagoguery 

Taller than Iroko tree 

And Uhuru, the highest peak of Mt. 

Kilimanjaro. 

You were a man of freedom 

Of honour and truth 

Your legacy, tranquil 

Accepted by your ancestors 

Even your tormentors. 

You saw no victor 

No vanquished 

But dignity entrenched 

Humanity restored 

Equality in place. 

While others accepted the pleas of the forces 

of oppression The lure of worldly appellations 

You were driven by ideology 

By principle 

An exemplar in a fraudulent world of oil 

politics, 

gold and money. 

With your sights on the confluence of the 

oceans 

Even in the face of life incarceration 

With death as your alibi 

You accepted the loss of freedom 

At Robin Island 

Or was it Truth Island? 

Wasting, suffering, dreaming, moping 

All with hope for your people of Eastern Cape 

The Bantus, Zulus, Xhosas, Boers 

I mean, Africa 

South, East, West, North and points in 

between. 

Your inner being made of gilt 

Exquisite, splendid, altruistic 

You weren’t bound to silence 

You weren’t bound to complacency 

You weren’t bound to nonchalance 

You weren’t bound to trivialities 

That engulfed your contemporaries, 

But to truth, the axiomatic truth of 

humanity I mean, a great truth. 

On that day, the gates of prison flung open 

We watched as you walked gallantly, 

Taller than your hair 

In your magnificence 

To the halls of forgiveness 

Of the birds that whispered jargon into your 

ears. 


You took the oath as president 

Of a nation that persecuted you 

The irony so evident 

Reckoned by monarchs, presidents and 

power brokers. 

The world expected 

A tit for tat 

A robust campaign for revenge. 

No! No! No! 

“Revenge is for the small minded” 

You had no vengeance 

But reconciliation 

You had no fear 

But hope 

No greed 

But generosity 

No prejudice 

But love. 

Now, gone with the wind of justice 

On a sleepy Harmattan day in December 

In the thirteenth year of the new century 

To the satisfaction of the ancient bones 

We reminiscence 

Yes, 

We ruminate 

Yes, 

We adulate 

Yes, 

Madiba, 

What an inspiration 

What a legacy 

What a privilege 

What a life. 

You have come full cycle, 

Mandela, 

From Qunu to Qunu. 

Credits: A Sahara Voice: Poems from the Heart of Africa (2017) by Philip Alalibo 


23

AND SO IT GOES... 

BY SHAKIRA AHMAD, Pathways and Agreements Support Officer | Pathways and Agreements 

Earth and Air 

Fire and Water 

In unweave 

The atoms to slaughter 

East, West, North, South 

Touch my voice 

Obliterate my mouth 

Stretch me thin 

So far, so wide 

Impossible in being 

Enveloped inside 

See through touch 

Smell with sound 

Taste the feeling 

Perception unbound 

Push and pull 

Motion and still 

Dark and light 

All with nothing 

Compelled fight 

Perennial dichotomy 

Unable to halt 

Ever ultimate 

End to start 

A collective entropy 

Dictate from the start 

All of creation 

Rendered a part 

All heretofore reality 

As before 

Compelled to 

Forever. More. 

SHAKIRA AHMAD 


LIFE IS A JOURNEY: 

8 Reasons to Travel Post Pandemic 

BY SHIRLEY MERITH, Faculty | School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts 

If there is one thing that this pandemic has taught us it is that 

“Time moves forward regardless of the circumstances.” 

Who would have thought that an entire world 

of travellers would be crippled by the Covid-19 

pandemic? Many hotels, resorts, restaurants 

and cruise lines were dormant for months on 

end. Airlines were flying at minimum capacity, 

and car rental companies had their lots full 

of unrented vehicles gathering dust. Theme 

parks and casinos were virtually closed and 

convention spaces were empty. Let’s not leave 

out all of the businesses that support them, 

such as travel agents, food and beverage 

suppliers, cleaners, tour operators, etc, who 

also suffered great losses. 

While parts of the world are still in transition, 

most, if not all, borders have fully opened up 

again. Businesses are starting to get back to 

what they do best and people who love to travel 

can have their bags packed as soon as possible 

ready to explore again. Depending, of course, 

on the destination’s covid entry requirements. 

While visiting family and close friends is of the 

utmost importance post-pandemic I created a 

list for some other reasons that will hopefully 

pique your interest and convince you to take a 

well-deserved getaway. 

This list is in no particular order. 

1. BUCKET LIST 

A bucket list doesn’t have to be anything off 

the beaten track or something unique that 

you would like to do. It could be as simple as 

going to the tourist places in your city, state or 

country. So maybe your list includes taking the 

time to explore where you live and what it has 

to offer. However, for others, a bucket list might 

include places far away and the further the 

better. 

For those wide-eyed dreamers, here are some 

ideas you might want to consider for your 

bucket list. Floating in the dead sea in Israel or 

Jordan, taking a tour of the Vatican in Vatican 

City, seeing the great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, 

enjoying a food and wine tour in Tuscany, Italy, 

or going shopping at the Grand Bazaar in 

Istanbul, Turkey. A bucket list is just that, places 

or things that you would like to see or do before 

you die. You may not get the opportunity to 

complete them all, but it sure would be nice to 

be able to achieve most of them. 


25

2. TRAVEL REWARD POINTS 

If you collect travel reward points from different 

establishments or credit cards, why not use them. 

This could help you to cross some great places off 

your bucket list. Reward points can allow you to 

travel for what you would consider to be free, or at 

a reduced cost. Even though in reality you spent 

money in order to obtain them in the first place. 

The pandemic initially took away the ability to use 

them, however, a good idea is to redeem them as 

soon as possible, because without you knowing 

the points might suddenly disappear, or the rules 

to redeem the points will change making it more 

difficult to travel. 

3. RELAXING VACATION 

Working from home, although ideal for some, 

meant being stuck staring at a screen all day, or 

attending many online meetings. Throw in dealing 

with other family members also working or studying 

in the same environment and all you can think 

about is getting away from everything. Thousands 

of people have virtually put themselves on a postpandemic 

vacation, just waiting for it to become 

a reality. If you are one of them, then a week-long 

vacation is a must. If you want to relax and unwind, 

you might want to try destinations such as Jamaica, 

St Martin, St Lucia or Las Cabos Mexico just to 

name a few. All of these locations have many 

wonderful hotels that can provide you with the 

tranquility you need. 

4. EXTRA MONEY IN THE BANK 

The earlier pandemic stay-at-home order had left 

people with more money in the bank than usual. 

If homeownership seemed a long way off, many 

might want to use some of that saved up cash and 

travel. If you are like most, you’ve spent lots of time 

on the internet and many amazing places have 

popped up. Or you have seen social media travel 

pictures that have left you envious. For those of you 

who want to lighten the weight in your wallets, try 

doing something different. Take a Northern coast 

tour in Croatia, tour Machu Picchu in Peru, visit the 

Great Barrier Reef in Australia or take a self-driving 

tour through Costa Rica. These might cost a bit 

more than you want to spend, but so what after all 

you only live once. 

5. RETIREMENT 

You have worked most of your life and have decided 

to retire. Maybe the pandemic pushed you to think 

about what you truly want to do with your life. Now 

you have nothing but leisure time at hand. The kids 

are grown and gone, the family home is sold and 

travelling while you can is paramount. Deciding 

where to go can depend on how far you want to 

travel from home. Going halfway around the world 

might not seem as exciting anymore, therefore 

short but unique trips might just do the trick. Try 

visiting Las Vegas, Nevada and see some of the 

wonderful themed hotels, while strolling down 

the strip. Enjoy the dazzling sights and sounds of 

Bourbon Street in New Orleans or consider learning 

to swim with the dolphins in the beautiful waters of 

Bimini, Bahamas. 

6. TIMESHARE 

For those who own timeshare property, this 

is a major reason to be travelling. Regardless 

of the pandemic, many owners still had to 

pay maintenance fees for the upkeep of their 

properties. While the timeshare may have been 

empty for months on end, owners would want to 

be sure that when they were ready to return, the 

property would still be in good condition. It can be a 

safe bet that the first trip owners would be taking is 

to check out their timeshare property. This however 

might be a problem if the block of time scheduled 

to use property has passed, and you have to wait 

for another year to partake in this experience. 

7. TRAVEL CREDIT VOUCHERS 

Many people have credit vouchers with different 

airlines, hotels, car rental companies and cruise 

lines that they need to use. For the longest time, 

these organizations were not offering refunds to 

people who pre-booked for a trip, all they were 

offering were travel vouchers. Travellers who were 

planning on doing a lot of touring prior to the 

pandemic may even have several credit vouchers 

with different companies that they’re still planning 

on using. For others, a voucher is of no use to them 

if they do not want to travel again, or worse, travel 

again with that company. Many of these vouchers 

are non-transferable, so if you don’t use them, 

you may lose the value of them. Do not let it go to 

waste, book a trip and take advantage of what you 

have already paid for. 


Egyptian Sphinx and Great Pyramid of Giza picture by Shirley Merith 

8. SEE WHAT’S CHANGED 

Most travellers have a favourite place that they like 

to visit. In fact, this place could be referred to as 

their “home away from home.” Going back to visit 

old friends they enjoy spending time with is exciting. 

Additionally, they want to see if the pandemic has 

caused things to change. In reality, even though 

some processes and procedures might be somewhat 

different, what they remember and love most about 

the place would likely still be the same. 

In summary, no matter how you plan on exploring, 

whether it is by plane, train, automobile, bus or boat, 

relish in knowing that there is no time like the present 

to see the world. One never knows when the next 

pandemic is going to happen and slow the world down 

again. So why wait, get ahead of it and see the world 

in all its glory. Just pick a destination and travel. 

SHIRLEY MERITH 


27

FINDING YOUR CHI 

And the superpower of true events 

BY SOWMYA KISHORE, Faculty | Centre for Faculty Development and Teaching Innovation 

“RAPHAEL’S JUST UBER COOL,” 

my son mumbled as he gawked 

in amazement. 

I had to follow his eyes to the 

television screen to join the 

conversation lest someone 

mistook us for being in an 

art gallery paying homage to 

Renaissance artists. 

“And tell me why again?” I probed, 

making small talk as I finally found 

the missing sock of the pair that 

was driving me crazy since last 

week’s laundry run. 

“Well, look at the way he works 

his sai and you’ll know. I want one 

of those.” He said, emphatically. 

My first reaction was to look up 

what a ‘sai’ was, which turned 

out to be a traditional martial 

arts weapon with prongs used for 

jabbing, trapping and blocking. 

Almost instantly, I was already 

thinking of ways to tone down 

this inexplicable fetish for 

weapon wielding animated 

entertainment that had 

clearly infiltrated our living 

room and my son’s mind. 

I had learned early on 

that reverse psychology 

often helps alleviate 

milder forms of parental angst 

and so, in my well-meaning way, 

I innocently inquired. 

“…and how are you going to get 

one of those, you think?” 

“Advanced weapons, karate!” 

He replied swiftly. Not a bat of the 

eyelid, no hesitation, the words 

were one clean stab, just like the 

sai. I took a deep breath. Little did 

I know this was the beginning of 

a journey that would find its way 

from the streets of Okinawa to 

Kanata. 

To say the Teenage Mutant Ninja 

Turtles were inspiration for him 

to step foot in the local dojo, 

was an understatement, for 

in his impressionable mind, 

he was a manga character 

himself, a Naruto spin off, 

if you ask me. 


That side spoke to his interest 

in Japanese art and animé, 

the Avengers and all things 

awesome. 

These were subject areas I had to consciously and consistently keep 

up with and absorb new vocabulary on, as the toddler became a 

pre-teen, even if, to pretend an informed dialogue from time to time. 

Ah, the joys of being a parent! In some ways, it also meant piggybacking 

on the imaginative mind of a child compared to a fatigued adult who 

somehow forgot to or didn’t find the energy or reason to dream brazenly. 

It’s why when I saw a pattern of my son being in “situations” at school and 

his teachers saying how fraught he seemed coming back to class from 

each recess, something didn’t quite seem right. 

“What do you mean those kids did this to you? Why can’t you put 

your foot down and be more resolved? You let others walk all 

over you and you end up feeling so helpless? Don’t you 

know how to use what you’ve learned?” I demanded an 

answer from the puny figure standing in front of me, 

who I thought was maybe wondering the same thing 

himself. 

“Karate is for self-defense 

mom, not to attack someone 

with,” he responded all 

knowingly. “Agreed,” I jumped 

in. “And your Sensei also told 

you it’s a way of life… and he 

said if you want to be stronger, 

you’ll have to live it each day.” 

If there was one thing he 

loved most, it was being 

at the dojo. The long hours, 

relentless practice sessions and 

single-minded dedication that 

was instilled early on also came with 

workshops dedicated to anti bullying, self 

defense, and similar all-round training 


29

that I’d say every single one of us needs in 

the world we live in. He adored his Sensei, 

who seemed equally invested in his star 

pupil. Not before long, the apprentice had 

climbed the ranks to become one of the 

youngest black belts at his dojo. With that 

incredible accomplishment came a sense 

of humility, confidence and respect, that 

is taught in martial arts. These were all 

incredible life skills that helped a scrawny 

fourth grader blossom into someone 

you couldn’t easily mess with anymore. 

Unwittingly flinging someone across the 

hallway over a casual game of tag or being 

reminded to restrain and not use force when 

playing with his younger siblings became all 

too common. It took a while to recognize and 

gradually control the consciously acquired 

strength. 

“But he stole our candy!” complained the 

grieving hero. 

“So, you risked yourself by confronting him all 

alone, and then came to your senses when 

he brandished a knife! Do you realize how 

lucky you got...?” he continued. As a parent, 

I was just glad someone else was giving my 

son a sermon for a change. At a human level, 

my heart went out to the protagonist of the 

perennial live wire whom I lived with, who 

I knew only too closely and saw day in and 

out, cheering unabashedly. I felt his pangs 

of being wrist slapped when willing to take 

a firm stand and he could hear my silent 

applause in return. It wasn’t always about 

saving the day somehow. 

The calls from school about my son being 

at the receiving end had long ceased, but 

deep inside, there was still a masked ninja 

patiently lurking in the shadows longing to 

unleash his superpower. This was a kid who 

didn’t just adore Spider-Man growing up, he 

literally flung himself on walls believing he’d 

stick to them one day if only he tried harder. 

The conviction was far stronger than any 

metaphysical hurdle. So, when being picked 

up one afternoon after skateboarding with 

friends at the park, he coolly, but cautiously, 

recounted what had transpired earlier. I tried 

not to gasp or glare, but continued to focus 

on the road as the story unfolded. Why my 

kids choose to ask or tell me the strangest of 

things when I am at the wheel, remains an 

enigma to date. As calm as I could pretend 

to be, I was relieved he was safe. We also 

agreed that he would share the experience 

with his Sensei to get a wiser perspective 

on what might have been. 

“You chased that other kid for what again?” 

demanded his Sensei in earnest. 

SOWMYA KISHORE 


Deep down it was about knowing 

yourself; when to push but more 

importantly, how to pull back. 

It meant tuning in to your own 

energy, finding your chi. And we 

were all just beginning to learn 

this somehow, slowly but surely. 


31

COPYRIGHT 

INFORMATION 

Except where otherwise noted within the work, Writers Unblocked (2022) 

by Centennial Libraries-Writing Circle, Shakira Ahmad, Philip Alalibo, 

Joanne Dominico, Lana Findlay, Alice Hsiung, Chris Jackman, 

Delois G. Kemboi, Sowmya Kishore, Shirley Merith, Cathy Schlender, 

May Walkowiak is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 

Non-Commercial Share-Alike License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). 

You can read about the terms of the license here: 

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ 

Any content not licensed under a Creative Commons open license should 

be assumed to be All Rights Reserved and may require permission from 

the copyright owner for further uses. Material included in this text that is 

not be covered by an open license: 

– The Constant Gardening by Chris Jackman 

– Ornaments by Cathy Schlender 


THANK YOU FOR READING 

WRITERS UNBLOCKED! 

We hope you enjoyed the first issue of Writers Unblocked, the Libraries 

and Learning Centres’ Writing Circle publication. The Writing Circle 

welcomes you to join us in our monthly meetings. 

For details, please contact Gosha at gtrzaski@centennialcollege.ca 

and take a look at this brief introductory video. 

For this edition, we would like to extend a special thank you to all authors 

for their contributions to this issue of Writers Unblocked. 

A sincere thank you to Shannon Attard, a student from the School of 

Communications, Media, Arts and Design (SCMAD) Professional Writing 

Post – Graduate Certificate Program, for helping with the copy editing of 

our publication. 

We look forward to seeing you with our next issue. 

Sincerely, 

Writing Circle Group

WRITERS 

UNBLOCKED 

VOL. 1/ NO. 1 

D12_01_JAN22

Writers Unblocked Magazine Volume 1/ Number 1

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