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Summer 2015 ANNIVERSARY EDITION
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34 7. From The Desk of Shelley ...by Shelley Jarrett 16. The Sisters Behind and in Front of CIBWE...by Rose Cathy Handy 20. One in a Hundred: A Black Woman to Watch ...by Andrew Terry Pasieka 34. It’s All in the Mind...by Andrew Terry Pasieka 38. Reflections on the MARTYS...by Shelley Jarrett
8 8. Report on the 2nd Annual Spirit-Preneur Conference ...by Shelley Jarrett 15. Beauty With Barbara...by Barbara Onwumere 37. Inspirational Corner...by Josephine Casey 46. A Look At Mental Illness/Pt. 2...by Shelley Jarrett 49. Health Watch...by Michelle Smith
22. A Day in the Life...by Sheralyn L. Roman 32. Caribbean Businss Expo Makes It’s Debut ...by Andrew Terry Pasieka 40. Red Carpet Dynamo...by Andrew Terry Pasieka
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12. Hollywood Comes To Square One...by Andrew Terry Pasieka 26. Two Women, Two Stories...by Shelley Jarrett
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SPRING 2014
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HOLIDAY 2014 WINTER 2015
SPRING 2014
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BUSINESS
Report on the Spirit-Preneu r Conference
Founder & Publisher Shelley Jarrett Editor-in-Chief Andrew Terry Pasieka
e: ch u ur s-Hin ur eat Dayli ing G F JaneWedd
Creative Director/Layout Sheri L. Lake Photographer Lubin Tasevski Staff Reporters Caroline Dinnall
FRONT COVER Hair: Cloré Beauty Supply Makeup: Neveen Dominic Photographer: Nathalie G. Atanda — at Redwood Studio Layout: Sheri Lake
Contributors Shelley Jarrett Andrew Terry Pasieka Barbara Onwumere Josephine Casey Michelle Smith Sheralyn Roman Nathalie Atanda (photos) Publicity LIM Media Group Inc. Website www.sjimagecreations.com www.smjmag.com Contact publisher@smjmag.com SMJ Magazine is a division of Seventh House Publishing Arts. Summer Issue 2015 No. 8 ANNIVERSARY EDITION
MICHELLE SMITH is a caring proactive
After challenging careers in both Human Resources
nurse and a Registered member of the
and as an Educator, SHERALYN ROMAN began
College of Nurses Of Ontario since 2002. Her
writing freelance and is now a member of the
program as Health Care Facilitator aims to
Editorial staff at SNAPd Newspaper Group. Owner
empower all individuals regardless of age, to
and Principal partner at “Writing Right For You”
fully access their health and social benefits.
Sheralyn is a Communications Strategist - working
Information, education and assist groups
together with entrepreneurs to maximize profit and
is provided in the community as a way to intervene to resolve
build better business profiles through effective use of the written word. “If
issues and produce results. Health care and social advocacy is a
you’re at a loss for words, we can help you find them!” She is a busy mother
way to increase the overall literacy of all individuals involved. JA
of two children now entering the dreaded teen years. She spends her free
Nursing We Care Inc is a not-for-profit community division of J.A.
time volunteering for several local non-profit organizations.
Smith Consulting and Nursing Services. Its mission is to focus on community wellness.
Summer 2015 ANNIVERSARY EDITION
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Summer JUNE 20152015 ANNIVERSARY ANNIVERSARY ISSUE EDITION
Youtube
SMJ MAGAZINE
The last time I wrote you, we were just heading into a long harsh winter. SMJ Magazine had our own winter storms. We had to take stock, pull back and focus on re-branding. Some of this re-branding was necessary because we realized SMJ had to change in order to grow. Change is good, change is healthy, change is progressive. And now, as of June 2015, we are on the cusp of multimedia expansion. SMJ Magazine was launched June 21st, 2013 at the Emporium Art Gallery, a beautiful venue in Port Credit. We started out very small with only 20 pages. Today, Issue No. 8 more than twice that size. As I reflect on my original inspiration to start a publication, I had no idea this little magazine would take us to where we are today. With this current issue, SMJ Magazine will no longer be completely free. You can still view each new issue online at no charge or you can purchase a print edition for $4.99 directly from us when we are at one of the many GTA community events we attend. Visit: www. smjmag.com to find out our schedule in the upcoming weeks and months. You can also purchase the print version from the website using PayPal and your credit card, and have it mailed to you. However, for past issues, SMJ will be trying to stay green. You can still purchase back issues for $4.99 in person or by mail, but it has not been and will continue not to be a top priority for us to keep back issues in stock. Through our upgraded website, you can now create your own virtual library of past issues by downloading a copy for a nominal charge of $2.99. The future looks bright as we enter into our third year of publication. To this point, the year 2015 has been a whirlwind. So many achievements have been garnered for both the magazine and myself. We received two nominations at the annual 21st MARTY awards, hosted by the Mississauga Arts Council. Besides my story on the award night, look for MARTY pictures in SMJ’s ‘Around the
Town.’ And then there was an unexpected honor bestowed upon me. I was selected as one of the 100 Black Women to Watch by the Canada International Black Women Event. I will be interviewed by the editor-in-chief about my impressions of the day’s events. It felt good to be writing about my 2nd annual Spirit-Preneur networking conference hand-in-hand with celebrating the 2nd year magazine anniversary. My goal as a publisher has always been to represent other brands, for example shoes, fashion, makeup, hair, jewelry etc . Collaborations and partnerships have been my vehicle to move quickly in the marketplace and gain a platform. Our stories on the Caribbean Business Expo and Arabica reflect just that. SMJ welcomes two new contributors to the team, image writer Sheralyn Roman and health writer Michelle Smith. Media is a platform that allows people to tell stories of themselves or their business, and how they are using their gifts and talents. I am pleased and I am privileged, for the first time ever, to be reporting on the headline story for this issue. It was an honor to sit down with Neveen Dominic. This fascinating lady is from South Sudan, migrated to Canada as a refugee, and is now CEO and founder of her own cosmetic line. This special project was made possible through Nathalie Atanda and the young, diverse and innovative team at Redwood Photography and Video Studio located in Brampton. Their passion, creativity, and tailored approach to videotaping my interview with Neveen, preceded by our photo shoot for the front cover and the story, made for a most enjoyable afternoon. It is experiences like the ones I have shared with you in the above paragraphs which gives me reason to say: “Surround yourself with people who will encourage you and take you to higher places.”
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When God gives you a vision, he will send you the right people at the right time to execute the plan. In my mind, Spirit-Preneur 2015 was a huge SUCCESS!!
Report on the 2nd Annual
Networking When God gives you a vision, he will send you the right people at the right time to execute the plan. In my mind, Spirit-Preneur 2015 was a huge SUCCESS!! I was anticipating success, but sometimes in the planning and preparation reality doesn’t match vision. This year everything seemed to go so well, so smooth. I had started with the planning much sooner, so the promotion was out there. The initial response was excellent, because information was everywhere on social media and elsewhere. I had learned from some of the trials and errors from the previous year. I knew clearly what I wanted to achieve this time around.
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By Shelley Jarrett
Women’s Conference One challenge I still faced was that many of the initial respondents delayed in making a commitment to the conference. Nonetheless I carried on, undaunted. I knew we had a great program lined up. I needn’t have worried.
Saturday April 18th was beautiful, sunny spring day. We ‘built it’ and ‘they came.’ One of the most important goals of the conference was that at the end of the day, some lives would be changed in a positive way. As women , when we share our
experiences, no matter what they are, it can really help others. Too often we think we are the only ones going through stuff; that is, until you hear someone else tell their story. We women find out that many of us go through the exact same thing or something similar. Throughout the day, those in attendance were making important connections and building new friendships. My sponsors and small business partners were all invited to get a sit down interview with the Lizy T. Radio show that was on hand to capture reactions of the day.
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There were food demonstrations, door prizes, games, on the spot testimonials, and so on. A special “THANK YOU” to all speakers who were very diverse in nature. Susie Beghin is an entrepreneur who owns two businesses involving young children. Pastor Lady Rachel Caprietta works alongside her husband at Bethel Kingdom Ministries in Scarborough but feels the calling to renew the spirit and mind of women at conferences all over the GTA. Nellie Balandowich has been a pastor but after taking a special ministerial program she has traveled and spoken on revival, bringing with her gifts of seer and prophecy. Sandra Ward-Cooper is a returning author and speaker from our first conference who previewed the second part of her autobiography, what she referred to as “a wrenching tale of inner survival” in an almost ‘Cinderallalike’ syndrome, only to come out of it finding inner peace, but more so, finding forgiveness for all those who mistreated her.
The small business women vendor showcase was busy with people shopping, exchanging ideas, and making purchases at various stages of the conference. To all attendees, my heartfelt thanks for believing me in and for your effortless support and also entrusting your time. MY INCREDIBLE TEAM was indispensable in making this conference successful. First of all, to my husband Andrew Terry Pasieka,for keeping things in check. Then to my co-host Barbara Chambers, my social media coordinator for the day Andria Thompson, and LizyT.com for all the on the spot interviews...I am
truly humbled and thankful, could not have pulled this off so well without your assistance. And last but not least, my sponsors, donors to the event, and vendors. You complimented and completed the day. I know lives were changed, especially for one lady named Joy who traveled from the USA to attend. Today, people are still talking about how good it was and how women really connected. This is what I was called to do: to mentor, empower, inspire. Plans are already underway for next year. We would like to formally invite and include men and tackle wider topics. We may be planning for a ‘night and next day’ conference instead. Please do not miss it and remember the challenge mentioned at the end of this year’s conference: bring two friends next year, one on either arm!!
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THIS CONFERENCE WILL IGNITE YOUR PASSION AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE THE STEPS TO BECOME A SPIRIT-PRENEUR!
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We are all born to be winners. We come with special gifts and talents. By recognizing what they are and using them to our utmost, we can fulfill our purpose here on earth. Tapping into the essence of who we are as individuals will allow us that ultimate satisfaction. We are first and foremost flesh beings with a mind that governs how we communicate with our human body. The decisions we make and the actions we take are based on factual information that we are presented with. People who can do this at a high level and under constant pressure or deadlines are usually among the most successful in their particular field of endeavor. However, we are also spirit beings with a soul and a conscience. The definition of entrepreneur is a person who organizes and manages their own business, assuming all the risk for the sake of the profit. Men and women that can combine a maximum level of organization with maximum efficiency of management, while taking on the highest allowable risk, will wind up making the greatest profit, and in that context are the most successful entrepreneurs. However, we can rise to greater heights than where our ‘flesh beings’ can take us by incorporating our ‘spirit beings’ supernaturally. When we listen to our conscience, or that ‘still, small voice within,’ we make decisions and take actions, based not on our body functions or thoughts in our mind, but on revelations in our spirit. We become ‘SPIRIT-PRENEURS’ by superimposing our spirit beings over our flesh beings, and allow the risk to be assumed by THE prophet, Jesus Christ. We align our two beings in a harmonious union. As SPIRIT-PRENEURS, we can find true joy and live fulfilled lives. The most successful entrepreneurs all too often experience this to a limited extent. Our hope is that this conference will ignite your passion and encourage you to take the steps to become a SPIRIT-PRENEUR!
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comes to Photos and Story by Andrew Terry Pasieka
Hollywood is not just the geographic epicenter of the movie industry. It is a way of thinking. It is being glittery posh while displaying entitled panache. Hollywood is a lifestyle, all its own. So then it should come as no surprise that anyone or anything undergoing a style makeover befitting arts and fashion will undoubtedly embrace Hollywood in one way or another. Such it is with Ontario’s largest mall in Canada’s sixth largest city. Mississauga’s Square One is in the midst of an eye-opening expansion that will reach 1.8 million square feet of enclosed retail space, and cost $237 million by the time the work is completed in the spring of 2016. Culminating this expansion will be the opening of two ‘superstar stores,’ Quebec’s La Maison Simons, and a flagship Holt Renfrew. While General Manager Greg Taylor is overseeing the nuts and bolts transition of the mall, Marketing Director Toni Holley is handling the subtleties that come with top-of-theline re-branding. It involves strategies of attracting a new
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primary target market: well educated women at the top or rising to the top of their professions, and between ages 25 and 45. “At Square One, we have made it our mandate to provide our customers with innovative and unique fashion-forward offerings.” The creation of this fashion experience for Square One shoppers has included programs such as the SQ1 Social Media Takeover. Ms. Holley explained the rationale behind the strategy. “The SQ1 Social Media Takeover was a way for Square One to position itself as a global fashion authority. We wanted to provide our social media followers with a unique, first-of-its-kind, global fashion experience through the takeovers. By creating a multi-channel campaign that took place for the duration of Fashion Month that involved the participation of notable style influencers, we were able to provide a behind-thevelvet-rope look at some of the world’s most exclusive fashion events.
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Our social media takeovers included partnerships with: - Fashion photographer Sophie Elgort (daughter of legendary Vogue photographer Arthur Elgort) for New York Fashion Week - Bazaar.com online fashion features editor Kerry Pieri for London Fashion Week - Fashion philanthropist, fashion personality, brand director for Mantella Corporation Sylvia Mantella for Milan Fashion Week - Vogue contributing photographer Hanneli Mustaparta for Paris Fashion Week - Co-founder of The Coveteur and fashion designer for her eponymous fashion line Erin Kleinberg for Toronto Fashion Week.” The most recent strategy was the creation of a ‘pop-up’ boutique, dedicated to showcasing Canadian design talent, and seeing how this cross-section of innovative domestic fashion would attract and engage the new primary target market. SQ1 Concept15 was opened from May 27th to June 20th. Ms. Holley outlined the advantages in creating this type of store, and was effusive in its praise.
“SQ1 Concept provided a fashion experience that was both innovative and unique to Square One and it generated a sense of excitement. It was dedicated to showcasing Canadian designers who have had both national and international success. Designers for the concept store included Alan Anderson, Beaufille, Christopher Bates, ela, Erin Kleinberg, Greta Constantine, John & Jenn, LINE Knitwear, Outclass, Sid Neigum and Stephan Caras. Nowhere else in the Canada could you find such a carefully selected and beautifully eclectic mix of Canadian fashion, all curated by internationally renowned stylist Leslie Fremar, who has styled celebrities for events such as the Cannes Film Festival, the MET Gala, the Oscars and many, many more. ”
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The inclusion of Canadian born and Hollywood super stylist Leslie Fremar as the concept store curator was certainly a boon for Square One. She first got in the know working at VOGUE as Anna Wintour’s assistant, then under Tonne Goodman, and assisted in photo shoots when VOGUE started using celebs on the covers in 2003. She has been in the top two of HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’s Top 25 Most Powerful Stylists for four consecutive years, finishing first in 2013. She has dressed Charlize Theron, Julianna Moore, Reese Witherspoon, and Scarlett Johansson. ELLE, MARIE CLAIRE, and VANITY FAIR are among her editorial clients, and she has worked on ad campaigns for AVON, GIVENCHY, HUGO BOSS, and REVELON. You could say Hollywood indeed came to Square One. Fremar said the project at Square One was “a special opportunity to work with some of Canada’s best fashion talent while sharing my knowledge of the industry.” She also realized her unique advantage by being able to come back to Canada having made good. ”I am lucky to be in a place in my career where I am able only to take jobs I am really passionate about and that I can really focus on.” Two of the designers featured at SQ1 Concept, Outclass and LINE Knitwear, already have deals with two major clients that will be opening in the spring of 2016, La Maison Simons and Holt Renfew respectively. Toni Holley was asked what happens to the other designers after the boutique closes. Her answer certainly emphasized that
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none of the designers would be suffering. “All of the designers features at SQ1 Concept are successful in their own right. Many of them already have national and international appeal: ela, for example, is carried in Saks Fifth Avenue, Holt Renfrew and ShopBop; Erin Kleinberg, whose debut collection sold to over 80 top-tier retailers around the globe, sells at Neiman Marcus and Barney’s New York, and also has a robust e commerce presence. Fifteen year-old brand LINE Knitwear is a favorite of Selena Gomez, Jessica Alba and Reese Witherspoon and is available at Bergdorf Goodman and Intermix to name a few. We were able to provide Square One shoppers the opportunity to not only become familiar these top designers in a beautiful, gallery-like setting, but also to give them a flavor of what is to come with the arrival of Holt Renfrew and La Maison Simons in 2016.” Ms. Holley revealed what Square One aficionados could look forward to later on this year. “Square One will be very active during the Toronto International Film Festival and will be releasing details shortly. We will also be releasing a high-fashion advertising campaign featuring an internationally recognized model in the lead up to the opening of Holt Renfrew and La Maison Simons in the spring of 2016.” TIFF, eh? It appears Hollywood will be coming back to Square One!
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BeautySecrets by Barbara Onwumere
Welcome to Summer! Summer is here, so let’s enjoy the fashion, fun and fabulous times that summer brings. Introduce some bright, fun colors into your hair, make-up, and wardrobe, to add to the excitement and celebration of summer. Bring a splash of color to your hair with some brightly colored clip-on hair extensions. It’s fast, easy and temporary and something that anyone can do! For a longer lasting look, ask your hair stylist about a bright color in temporary, semi-permanent, or demi-permanent hair color. Make the most of your existing highlights by going a shade or two lighter. Don’t be shy! Feel free to choose light and bright! Change your make-up to bright summer shades. Choose bright colors for your eyes and lips. Don’t forget to use plenty of mascara to pump up your eyelashes and complete your overall fresh summer look. Choose bright, colorful clothing and accessories to go with your fabulous summer look. Mix or match colors in your sandals, bangles, earrings, scarves, purses, and so on. The options are as wide as your desire to utilize your warm weather wardrobe, or shop to add to it. In other words, limitless!
The summer is short, so have fun!
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THE SISTERS BEHIND AN The Sisters Behind THE SISTERS BEHIND AN If I simply was trying to create another black award show, albeit only for women, then the question ‘why launch Canada International Black Women Event?’ seems reasonable. But I was focused on a very different set of parameters in creating this experience.
Ed. Note: Rose Cathy Handy is a woman who brings a calm, soft spoken presence to a meeting, and a pleasant face that always seems ready to break out into a smile. Hardly the persona of a woman determined to bring attention to the achievements of Canadian black women at home and abroad, from everyday to groundbreaking. She, however, is one half of a unique sisterly bond, one that goes beyond the grave. They are the reason that, elsewhere in this issue, the Publisher of SMJ Magazine is the subject of a story on being one of the one hundred Canadian black women to watch at the inaugural Canada International Black Women Event.
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ND IN FRONT OF CIBWE and in Front of CIBWE ND IN FRONT OF CIBWE By Rose Cathy Handy
It all began when I immigrated to Canada at the end of 1993 and in 1994. The recession had hit Ontario pretty hard and many people were unemployed and relying on government assistance. Somehow black women, especially young black women, became the face of what was deemed wrong with the economy or why it was so difficult to bounce back. Black women with two or more children living on social assistance and not working were constantly talked about. The stigma was that black women were a burden to the economy. I was one of those women. Fast forward fifteen years later. I traveled back to Cameroon in 2010 for the funeral of my beloved little sister Esther Handy. Hundreds of people came, giving testimony after testimony, I learned how she spent her short life helping HIV positive women give birth with dignity. I learned how much she used her little salary of less than $100 per month to feed, clothe or pay for the education of abandoned children, orphans: mainly the children from these HIV positive
mothers. I came back to Canada highly afflicted by the fact that I didn’t know my own sister. I was haunted by the question: what more could I have done if only I knew?
It dawned on me soon after that a way to honor the life of my sister would be to give back something to the women of Cameroon on funds raised by the women of Canada. But it wasn’t until I examined my own evolution in Canada that I realized what I could do. I had raised myself to become CEO of H.E.R Consulting & Services Inc., offering extensive expertise in development, empowerment and career building. Indeed, in 2011, I published my book entitled “Going from Homeless to CEO: the no excuse Handbook.” Highlights of my life story were showcased on TVO, CTV, the Toronto Star, and RDI-Radio Canada. I also became President of Bilingual Link which has been responsible for helping over 30,000 bilingual candidates find work and improve their lives through publications, job fairs, web career site, seminars and training. Then I thought: has anybody bothered all these years to check whatever happened to the female black immigrant in Canada? Especially given that this one who twenty years ago didn’t know what would happen to her or how
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she was going to feed her children, is now living her own dreams. Wouldn’t it be great if we found out at a bigger stage what these black women have become? We know them, we see them, we benefit from them every day. They are doctors, nurses, managers, politicians, lawyers, ministers, public servants, advocates, entrepreneurs, business owners, engineers, great professional and accomplished leaders everywhere. I simply thought: wouldn’t it be great to have one day where we can showcase all these women, highlight their stories, share their achievements and reverse the narrative? They have a huge impact on corporations, communities, and families. They deserve this day. Then I found out that there are 30,000 more black women than there are black men in Canada. How much impact could we have on each other socially, corporately, and emotionally if we could celebrate each other and support each other in a grand scope, even reaching internationally, because we have come from all over the world. Then I realized this is how I could connect with my sister, because this celebration could also be a fund-raising event. And that is how I came up with Canada International Black Women Event, or CIBWE. Okay, Okay, I am not the new Mother Teresa of Canada Black Women…I’m just trying to do my little part. If it helps, then I’ll have a big smile. (Ed. Note: The smile that comes so easy to her.) Rose Cathy Handy has been a coach, a mentor and a role model to a great number of women, immigrants, leaders and entrepreneurs locally and around the world. Visit her at: www.rosecathy.com
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One
IN A HUNDRED:
A Black Woman to Watch
By Andrew Terry Pasieka
(Ed. Note: SMJ Magazine has had occasion to publish two stories on the Publisher and myself as a couple in our past two Holiday issues. This is the first time that one of us has been interviewed by the other, and it was most appropriate that she was the subject and I was the writer.) ***** It was early morning in a spacious residence near the Mississauga/Brampton city limits. The wife was on the computer in the main floor office. The husband was writing in the upstairs office. All of a sudden she received an email. Shelley Jarrett had been selected as one of 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada. If that wasn’t enough, she was asked to join one of the special panels which comprised only 28 of the women. Shelley was to present her views on “Making it in the Media.”
Now that was quite a wake-up call!! Her initial reaction? “Wow! What an honor! I immediately thought of all the hard work and dedication I had put in starting my image consulting company in 2012 and then SMJ Magazine in 2013, and how it was now paying off. I was overjoyed but also overwhelmed, knowing that now I had a responsibility to do more.” She was now being watched.
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Actually, Shelley Jarrett started being watched back in the summer of 2013, when the inaugural issue of SJ Magazine (it was changed to SMJ for Issue No. 2) was just going into publication. She was picked as one of fourteen Women of Excellence at the inaugural Canada Glass Awards. (The 3rd annual awards is coming up later this fall.) When asked to look back on that first honor and compare it to this latest one, Shelley answers that the Glass Award was a recognition which she used as a “platform I needed to gain credibility about my consulting business.” The 100 Black Women to Watch was a validation of that platform. By further comparison, the two nominations for herself and the magazine for Mississauga’s MARTY Awards put her on a different stage, literally and figuratively, than the other two. They were ‘business’ honors; Shelley felt like ‘an artist’ at the MARTYS. She used words like ‘regional,’ ‘national,’ and the media buzz word ‘mainstream.’ She realized her creative abilities in the companies she had founded were being appreciated artistically, and her business skill set had undergone a transition. How did it leave her? “I was truly humbled.”
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Was she able to gain some perspective on the ‘being nominated’ portion of this process parade than the actual winning? “It added prestige to my work and put me on a new level.” What has it added to Shelley the person? “I mentioned the added responsibility earlier. It can weigh on you. But balanced against that, it has given me more energy and drive, and with that, more momentum.” Getting philosophical for a moment, it occurred to this writer that the business-women-cum-artist might now have a different view of success and what it takes to be successful. Her answer was not Socratic; still, her version of ‘the Thinker.’
“I am first a daughter, sister, mother, and wife before I am a business woman. Any impression I can make in the arts is due to the creative juices that come alive as I expand and diversify my brand. To me, success is about being open-minded and allowing the Spirit of God to work in me and through me. My mind cannot be at rest for too long. That and being a vessel to affect change is the basis for my inspirations.” Shelley tempers this uplifting personal philosophy by commenting on the sobering times in which we live and try to succeed, with an underlying strength that typifies her determination.
“Don’t worry about the times. Focus on your destiny and what you feel you were called to do. If you do, you are probably realizing your passion, and realizing that with success comes sacrifice. The question I would ask is, ‘do you know the limits you would go, what you would be willing to give up, to achieve success?’ Working smart is essential. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Know when to lead and when to delegate.” And then, of course, one has to know (and like) oneself intimately. “I am very focused and goaloriented. I am not ashamed to use some of my associates as mentors, to take what they are doing to motivate me. I take the business of making money and my companies seriously. But with my close friends I am still just Shelley.” Whew! Heavy stuff. To lighten things up in closing, what can SMJ readers expect from Shelley Jarrett over the second half of 2015? “Oh, so much in the works, in various stages of planning. I will just mention two words for now, and let everyone meditate on that. SMJ LIVE!” I just happen to know it is the latest Shelley inspiration. After all, I live with the woman!
To learn more about Shelley Jarrett, Founder & Publisher of SMJ Magazine, go to www.shelleyjarrett.com
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A n i y a D . . . e f i ht e L In Conversation with Daniel Lewis By Sheralyn Roman
This is a story of tragedy and triumph, told over tea. We first met Daniel Lewis several years ago at a community event where he was offering free samples of his product. More recently we spent some time with him at “T BY Daniel” located near the beautiful Rose Theatre in Brampton. Our conversation revealed an inspiring, spirited and entrepreneurial young man imbued with enough personality and pizzazz to fill a tea emporium! Fittingly, Daniel shared his story as I enjoyed a cup of special reserved “Lion Chai” in the quaint and comfortable lounge of his new shop.
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In 2009 Daniel was the victim of an attack, suffering multiple stab wounds and critical injuries as a result. It was a seminal turning point in his young life. During a lengthy recovery process, he realized that life is short. He had an opportunity to have an impact on others in a positive way rather than what he had just experienced. It meant taking charge of ones’ own destiny. Despite being overwhelmed with health concerns, Daniel chose to harness the power of his own positive aura while also listening to the sage advice of his Dad, who said, “You need to just sit down, think about it all, relax and have a cup of tea.” With that, the concept of T BY Daniel was born. Having been gravely wounded, and literally relying on the restorative properties of a good cup of tea while he recuperated, Daniel recognized the importance of good health, both in his own life and in others. Concurrently, the marketplace was experiencing a rise in the availability of looseleaf teas, and many health experts began encouraging people to enjoy tea for its potential heath benefits. With passion and a vision (and a little help from his friends) Daniel became the “go to” tea guy in the Brampton/Caledon area. Daniel got fully immersed into the tea world, finding out the source of every tea he offers, their ingredients and potential benefits too. He took to the road with his message that tea not only
tastes great but offers a wealth of potential health benefits: full of antioxidants, potential energy boosters and acting as an aid to digestion. In the beginning, Daniel went to school craft shows, golf tournaments, farmers markets, eventually launching a successful online business. Ultimately, his vision (and that of his lovely wife Renata) remained to open a storefront location where his beloved and now iconic bow tie (Daniel’s signature) would be featured on everything from the tins of tea, to the cups on which he writes something personal about every visitor. Each cup is as unique as the person drinking it. Mine for example, read “Word Diva” meant to be indicative of what I do for a living. At the shop, Daniel, wife Renata, and their knowledgeable staff, help educate customers on the benefits of drinking tea vs. coffee. As a business person, Daniel knows the value of customer service and quite simply, is attentive to every detail. Each customer who walks through his doors are greeted enthusiastically and Daniel solicits questions of them in a manner that suggests he genuinely cares. This reflects the overall vision of Daniel and Renata in that they “strive to make people feel as special, important and as valued as they should be.” They aim to break people’s views out of traditional stereotypes associated with tea. Daniel’s marketing strategy, pervasive use of his signature bowtie and his enthusiastic, well-
meaning and positive attitude in making connections with his customers all contribute to the overall experience of feeling at home and well cared for at T BY Daniel. Daniel credits family, starting with wife Renata (whom he has known since the age of 8!), as having played a significant role in the success he enjoys today. From the very beginning his parents supported him, and without their strength and nurturing during a his health crisis, he would be a very different person. Additionally, Daniel and his wife say that faith has played a significant role in their lives, and that without their faith in God there would be no T BY Daniel. Between this faith in God and having a supportive and “loving family that is as passionate as we are,” success has truly been a team effort.
T BY Daniel has plans for the future. They include continuing to work hard, “do the best that we can each day” and to “impact as many people as we can, in any small way,” as they savor their “cuppa” tea.
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TWO WOMEN: TWO STORIES By Shelley Jarrett
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Pub. Note: As one of five pieces written for this issue, I had an intimate studio sit down on May 14 with the lovely Neveen Dominic while she was in the GTA on other business. She was poised, confident, mature and very natural. I felt we were kindred spirits and soul sisters from the start. We connected on a high level and in an amazing way in our exclusive interview.
SMJ: You are a mother, a community leader, and an entrepreneur. Your profession is all about working intimately with your clients. Can you tell me how/when did you got started in the business?
ND: This has been a working progress since 2008, after my graduation in Business Administration My passion is about branding. I enjoy working with women and people in general, building selfesteem and confidence. Beauty has always been my passion, as the owner of Africanna Salon Beauty supplies in the past. My cosmetics line was launched November 2014 and continues to be a working progress. Balancing full-time family responsibilities, fulltime school, running the business, and being active in various community initiatives is a continuous journey.
SJ: We are more similar than we are different, yet we were born on two separate continents (Africa and South America). I am a mother, community leader, and entrepreneur as well. We both came to Canada as young women by way of England. When I was a young girl, I remember saying I wanted to be involved in Business Administration. SMJ: Your job is to make women look beautiful every time they go out. How you look is important. Are you always conscious of taking the extra time to look good? Could that be a blessing or a curse?
ND: Absolutely! The key is to look your best. I think the key thing is that you are already beautiful to start with, makeup does not necessary make you beautiful. Makeup is a fun thing, you have tools
and colors that makes you enhance your beauty to give you a natural look. I want to provide for my client unique and different color lipsticks. My brand has makeup, accessories, and we also have skincare. SJ: I also work with women to help them dress for success and look their best. It is a key in building their confidence and self-esteem; to know they are already beautiful. SMJ: Were there any mentors, models that you sought out as you were getting established?
ND: As I meet wonderful people such as yourself. I consider you a mentor, someone I would love to contact and say “What do you think about this?” or “Who can you connect me with”. I really appreciate my mentors and cannot do anything without them.
SJ: Women are rising to the forefront more than ever, resulting in more opportunities for mentorship. Mentors are a key component to my growth as a woman and a business woman. If you are coachable and open to advice, you eventually can coach and advise. SMJ: When was the moment you felt you made it?
ND: I wouldn’t say I “made it.” I would say I have defined my beginning and defined my direction. I have barely even begun so I am excited and hopeful for the future, because the future looks very bright and I am optimist about all the things I will accomplish. I would have to say I have just started...It’s not a sprint, it’s definitely a journey. SJ: I feel I have just scratched the surface. I am thankful for each day of my life. I want to be a vessel used by God to change lives. After all, to help one another is why we are here.
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SMJ: I know that family is important to you. Can you tell me about your family upbringing, how you were encouraged to develop and how that helped you prepare for who you are today?
ND: I am originally from south Sudan. I was born in Juba, spent some of my childhood in the capital, Khartoum and in Egypt. The biggest conflict in Sudan was about tribalism and religion. There was war in the South and my family moved to the North where it was safer. The conflict continued over the years between the North, the West and the South. This led to social and economic conflicts and eventually to the separation of the country which is known today as Sudan and South Sudan. I grew up in the north. I came to Canada as a refugee when I was 16 years old in 1996.
I am big on family; I cannot do anything without my family. I was raised with my siblings. The idea of family I incorporate in every setting I can. It goes beyond family; it goes into everything community. That’s why I am always involved in community initiatives. I was raised to rely on my neighbors and community leaders. Like the saying, it takes a community to raise a child.
I have always had tight relationships with my neighbors and even now; they still keep in touch. I am currently working on a south Sudan project. I need to do something to make an impact on my community. I look at myself today as a product of my community. One of those children that grew up and became somebody. I want to empower the brothers and sisters back in my country. I want to definitely be that person. I want to hear them say “thank you” for investing in people who have the same potential drive and charisma I had. SJ: Family is so important to me as an emotional and moral grounding. My mother is a strength of spiritual support for me. I have learned so much from her that I can transfer to my children.
I was born in Guyana, South America, and moved to England for a decade at the age of eight. My mother has been my rock over the years, from South America to the U.K., and then in Canada, first in Montreal, and now in Mississauga.
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SMJ: I see you have a beautiful daughter, and she models on some of your wedding photos for your cosmetic line. How old are your children? How are you passing on your people skills to them?
ND: I have three children. My daughter is amazing; I actually see a lot of myself in her. She has taken on a lot of initiative in her school. She is excited about her recycling projects. She ran for student election this year. She works with her brother, who is more of an introvert (working behind the scene) I train my children to work as a team regardless. The spirit of entrepreneurship is important we teach to our children at a very young age.
SJ: I have twin boys. I can see one of the boys will follow in my footsteps as an entrepreneur, for now, he enjoys working with youths. SMJ: You are still a young woman. Are there any worlds left to conquer? What is next on your horizon?
ND: I think the sky is the limit for sure. There is so much anyone can do. The projects I am working on are about empowering people. Women being a minority or being my target market, or my target group, are my focus. But I realize it’s not just the women, it’s the whole family, and it’s the father, who works so hard to provide for his children, who also seeks guidance and direction. They cannot do it by themselves. So it’s the total family, the total community. There is a lot more for me to do. I am excited about collaborating with other people and other projects. I encourage people to make an impact. It does not always have to be global or national or even regional. It could be just impacting a friend, a family member, a brother, a sister in your local area. When people see that their good work has a multiplying effect in different communities, this is what makes the world a better place. SJ: For myself, hosting a TV show, writing a book, world travel are next on my list of worlds to conquer. But the crux of all that I do remains and always will be to empower women. To learn more about Neveen Dominic and her cosmetic line, visit: www.neveendominiccosmetics.com
To learn more about Shelley Jarrett and her various ventures, visit: www.shelleyjarrett.com
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CARIBBEAN BUSINESS EXPO MAKES ITS DEBUT By Andrew Terry Pasieka
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It’s never easy starting from the ground up, without a blueprint or a manual. But Trish and Grant Browning had already built up some momentum in an operation over nine years. So it was when Carib 101 spawned the Caribbean Business Expo earlier this past spring in Mississauga, that it really didn’t feel like a new venture but an extension of the current one. Trish’s talents in sales and marketing plus Grant’s skills in graphic design and web design meshed perfectly into an unbeatable combination for their first business, an outlet for Caribbean online advertising. The reason the Business Expo came together so well, according to Trish, “was the assets we brought to the table.” Grant added that there was a demand from the Caribbean community to come together as business owners and entrepreneurs under one roof. They were fortunate that budget challenges were kept to a minimum because of the reservoir of funds they could draw on from their online advertising and newspaper businesses.
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Married ten years this August, Trish and Grant met at a bar where she was working part time, and he was a part-time owner. When they launched the online advertising business, they found they were limited in their ability to improve on their initial success, because in the words of Trish, many of their clients wanted “to feel and touch something.” The newspaper was soon born. One of their main strengths as co-owners is that they are a married couple. More and more it seems to be a formula for success in today’s world of entrepreneurial ship. Trish feels their advantage stems from the fact they are “accountable to each other” for more than the businesses they share. Their mutual accountability in life naturally extends to business. As Grant says, “having 100% trust is definitely an advantage.” Trish explains further. “At six o’clock I’m not going to say well, that’s it, I’m going home. I am not going to clock out. I have a responsibility to my partner who is also my husband, and ultimately, my family, to be successful…” “If it takes sacrificing a family function because we have a deadline to make, then we have to do it. We have a moral obligation to do things that regular partners would not.” That is why characterizing the success of the Business Expo start with the couple. The need for a business expo in the Caribbean community grew out of several years of small networking events that never brought out “a substantial amount of people together,” according to Grant. So when Trish and Grant were able to attract almost sixty vendors in April to a convention center location in Mississauga, comments ranged from ‘wow, you really thought of everything’ to ‘I really like the set-up’ to the popular ‘I can’t believe how busy I am!’ Some of the younger vendors have paid them the ultimate compliment in saying they have used Trish and Grant as role models on how to properly set up and run a business. Says Trish, humbled by the accolades, “our true accomplishment of what we have done is really starting to hit me.” Emails of thanks started coming in almost immediately after the Expo closed. To date, 90% of the vendors said they would return in 2016. According to Grant, this means a bigger venue is required for next year. Future plans include purchasing an office for the businesses which would allow for newspaper expansion. They want to improve on their exposure to mainstream media. “We’re just getting started,”sums up Grant. Figuratively, not literally. In the words of a late great TV comedy series, Trish and Grant Browning “are movin’ on up!!”
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We were intrigued by the comment, and curious enough to do something this writer has done more than a few times before: read two books at the same time!! Afterward, we felt confident in having a fresh perspective on both Hill and Akpoveta when we met Yvonne at a local coffee house to find out more. She was wearing a dark black tunic, looking very theatrical and laid back as we talked.
IT’S ALL IN THE MIND By: Andrew Terry Pasieka There is a baby boomer turning 55 this year. It was published in 1960. Alright, not born, so not a real person. Still, Napoleon Hill’s seminal book, entitled Think And Grow Rich, gave rise to the phenomena called entrepreneurship, and cut a swath of influence over the next generation or two. Financial and motivational gurus such as Brian Tracey and Anthony Robbins undoubtedly gave it more than a passing nod in their springboard to success. The book took on a personality all its own, similar to a person of importance. Then last year, a late 30s year-old change consultant, certified leadership coach, and public speaker, of Nigerian background by way of England for a decade, added to the library of works. Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta wrote a booklet called Change Your Mindset, with kudos given to the Hill classic. This is what she said: “My big ‘aha’ moment came when I read Napoleon Hill’s Think And Grow Rich, which I had put off reading for many years due to my preconceived mindset regarding what I thought it would be about.”
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Akpoveta had first been inspired by Hill through his quotes, but never read his book for the longest time, because she thought it was simply about how to become rich. Upon finally picking it up, she discovered it was as much about the means (‘think’) as it was about the ends (‘grow rich’). Her comments were upbeat. “There were so many things in the book that I resonated with. I’m a very goal-driven person, and my business is all about helping people achieve their goals. It was very self-motivating.” Her favorite quote by Hill was the following: “Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a deep pulsating need, which transcends everything.” So for Yvonne, her ’aha’ moment was a realization of self-discovery; that a lot of what she was doing was exactly what she should be doing. Hill’s book made her sit back and rationalize how she had been able to navigate through life to that point.
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That was when she first start thinking she might have something to pass on to readers as well. She was also able to see how her father provided a nurturing influence while growing up, and how this was a major building block to her development. His limits for her were gentle and unpretentious. Yvonne knew how she wanted to approach life from early on, and being the middle child of three, despite being surrounded by two brothers, she had a father whose attitude was ‘she can do it, she can do it.’ Early on she knew she wanted to focus on mindset, to come to a place where it should be broken down and simplified for greater understanding. “I wanted my book to be something you needed to read before the self-help book.”
She had a father whose attitude was ‘she can do it, she can do it.’ Our time is up, but as we gather our things to leave, Yvonne asks if I could provide a quick review of the booklet. And so we end this story with that review. We hope reading the booklet may inspire you to take your story to greater heights. “Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta’s Change Your Mindset is partially an inspiration from and a literal ‘rethinking’ of Napoleon Hill’s Think And Grow Rich. It does so in a light-hearted and engaging style, constantly challenging and coaxing her readers to write about how they relate to each of 21 principles that are discussed. She uses a quasi workbook formula, in that Akpoveta encourages every reader to write their own comments on each chapter, and in a sense wind up writing their own version of the booklet. In this way the author cleverly makes use of one of her other career hats to acquire a new title: that of a literary life coach.”
The inspiration to actually start the booklet came after a workshop Yvonne led in which she came up with the first twelve principles covering mindset. She came up with the other nine principles in short order. She wanted her readers to think about the 21 principles and how they relate to each: things such as desire, clarity, blame, fear. As one section of each chapter states, she wanted them to ‘stop, dig deep, and reflect.’ Besides the book, Akpoveta has written poetry and has dabbled in fiction. She wrote the first chapter of a novel about nine years ago, but never re-started it since. She is going to re-start the novel later this year.
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Sheri L. Lake (647) 272-3624 i_dezign@outlook.com
SHELLEY JARRETT AWARD WINNING IMAGE/STYLE CONSULTANT, MENTOR, SPEAKER & PUBLISHER
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Inspirational Corner Summer Inspiration
By Josephine Casey (Author of Life’s Poetry)
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Reflections on the
By Shelley Jarrett
MARTYS
I am usually the calm one in my family. Andrew tends to be more emotional. I call it ‘getting hyper.’ Well, the day I got the call that SMJ Magazine and I as its Publisher were nominated for not one but two MARTYS I was the hyper one. No, really ‘What?!?’ Emerging literary arts and emerging media arts. Excuse me, Andrew isn’t the only artist in this household!! I was asked to submit some published writings, which I did. Myself and the aforementioned editor-in-chief had gone to the MARTYS in previous years 2011 and 2012 because of our love for the arts, but this year was to be completely different! Now a publisher of a twice nominated magazine, an award winning image/lifestyle consultant and public figure.....all this has come about very quickly. I now have people looking up to me as a role model, a mentor, an advocate... . I am left to wonder, what does this all mean? As I prepared for the night of the award, I felt very proud of what I had accomplished so far with my vision. I had rehearsed the acceptance speech many times, making sure I would not forget anyone, or those who got me there. As I saw my name and profile in the event
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program, and also on the big screen, I felt honored. To be recognized in that way, to be sitting in the VIP area at the front of Hammerson Hall; really I could not ask for more. I was humbled in realizing that we have been able to provide a platform as powerful as media to so many people. To allow people to tell their stories, promote their businesses and display their gifts and talents. Well, I did not win either award. But at the end of the night, I still felt like a winner. And now, a month later, I want to give that acceptance speech. To God, my Creator, my Heavenly Father, who is the ultimate breath I breathe. To my editor-in-chief Andrew Terry Pasieka and my loving husband. You know what you do. To our chief photographer Lubin Tasevski for delivering great pictures every time, being a awesome friend and colleague. To my creative/art director Sheri Lake for her graphic skills. To my social media management company LIM Media Group and my personal social media liaison, Andria Thompson, for ‘keeping me out there.’ To all others I neglected to mention: thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
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t e p d r e a e Th R C
By Andrew Terry Pasieka
We writers can get so hung up on words sometimes. So it was with the name Arabica, a Ladies Night Out Gala held this past May 8th at the Dreams Convention Centre in Brampton. Was this ‘exotic-sounding’ word a subliminal reference to Arabia and Africa?
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i s ia yru Sad ugan ya C eena am L n i l: R t: M nyn ode rtis y Sa 1)M eup a Zari b l k aha ni Ma hing: t i Ch ia uga m d Clo mL m a i a S S n : a y l n ode Mee y San l 2) M eup: Zari b ni aliwa k : a wa M hing anj eti Dh P t r o Cl ha Pre elry’s l: Se air: w ode and h am Je M e s ) p a 3 u w e and S k Yol haney Ma hing: a i s C t a ast r: Ray hed Clo i c : An del nd ha ly Clin o 4) M eup a Sinful k Ma hing: t Clo
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head of Red Carpet Events, Jatinder Claire, straightened us out matter-of-factly. “Every event we have, we give it a name. So it was just a name we themed the event for, and that is all it was.”
In the best tradition of a Paul McCartney lyric, the word just sounded good! Red Carpet Events started out with a private affair held last December, involving several of Jatinder’s friends, primarily from the fashion industry. This second event, Arabica, was not only an expansion of the
first networking event, but a way for women just getting back into business or just starting a business, to gain exposure in the public and to develop a market. There were eight designers who took part, most of whom were working out of their home. Jatinder organized the fashion show at the event and photo shoots after the event, as a way for the ladies to combine forces, not only for economies of scale, but to bring complimentary businesses like clothing, hair, make-up, and jewelry together. Jatinder Claire is more than just a fashion show and photo shoot. Much more.
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7 h psc Klu aney e l l h e yC ani ept l: D r: Ra onc ode & hai leez C M 5) eup Shar ood ia k ckw Sad Ma hing: Bla eena t a o i l C ad ir: M r l: N a u ode and h LaFle M ) t p al 6 n u a e S k aliw on Ma hing: hill eti Dh D t Clo min ir: Pre a l: A a ode and h Khann M 7) eup Anu k : i dhi ia Ma hing gan Son Sad t ita eena am Lu Clo k i yn l: N : M ode hair y San l 8) M eup& Zari b iwa k bla i Dhal Ma hing: a P t t gan r: Pree Clo i : Ga del nd ha lsi o 9) M eup a Dil Ka o k Ma hing: ago t ia S b a Clo :R ger Sin 10)
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Claire started out in business with a skin clinic. She moved to Canada from the United Kingdom twenty-four years ago and took an esthetics course, once she was settled, to prepare herself for this first business.
It was her intention to slow down or take a temporary break in order to have a family, but she encountered a far greater challenge than two or three combined days of labor. She was forced to close her business, because in the time that it to have three healthy children, it took five pregnancies and six births. Jatinder had two miscarriages, and lost a third child at six months. The past pain is one of the main reasons she finds satisfaction mentoring young women. Coming out of that pain, Jatinder worked for other people while raising her children. But there was a ‘method to her madness.’
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“I took courses once a week, so by the time I re-opened my skin clinic, I was also able to offer laser hair removal. I was able to do this from home on weekends when my husband was home.” Her next business came out of necessity. “I just wanted to get out of the house for a bit, and I wound up doing a floral design course.” At the same time she took up wedding planning, and then combined the two as her second business. She has found this combination of businesses to work well, and finds flower decorating to be especially ‘calming.’
Jatinder operates all her businesses in Mississauga, and primarily by word of mouth. She is not a social media person, and admits to not even have business cards for her skin/laser clinic, now a combined nine years old! What lies ahead for Jatinder Claire? She wants to expand Red Carpet Events in terms of team leadership, plans for an online magazine featuring fashion & design, skin & beauty, jewelry & photography, etc. She also wants to launch pageant nights for both youth and adults. Right now she is only thinking of runway events. Daunting? Jatinder is not adverse to admit, “it’s a bit of a hurdle right now, it’s a bit overwhelming.” It may sound like a woman who is not as sure of herself as she would like to be, but Jatinder Claire has faced bigger career and life obstacles before, and conquered them. Don’t bet that she can’t do it again.
The latest combination of businesses are event planning and tenting, a way for her to provide a variation of networking in the form of a ‘clubbing’ alternative.
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A Positive Look At
Mental illness: 5 Part Series by Shelley Jarrett
Part Two:
BIPOLAR
There has been a lot of talk in the public recently about mental illness. So SMJ Magazine wanted to address some of these issues. My goal in the first article in our December 2014 Holiday /Winter Issue was to look at what causes depression and some preventative methods. This time we look at bipolar disease. This past May was mental Illness awareness month. Information was everywhere, but I wanted SMJ Magazine’s readers to know more about this disease and how they can address it in a positive way. As the saying goes, “knowledge is power.”The first symptoms of mental health problems are often experienced in the teenage years, and research shows that nearly 60% of young people (under age 25) with a mental illness say they have experienced the impact of the stigma that comes with mental illness. Therefore, the MHCC “Mental Health Commission of Canada.” has made it clear that the mental health of Canadian youth must become a priority for the entire country. In fact, this can affect anyone at any age, any time.
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WHAT IS BIPOLAR? Bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive illness, is a serious mood disorder characterized by wide swings in mood, energy and activity levels. Though most patients with bipolar disorder experience depressions as a part of their illness, a manic, hypo-manic, or mixed-manic episode is required to make the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. A manic episode is characterized by an uncharacteristically elevated or irritable mood accompanied by disturbances of behavior including: • • • • • •
Rapid and non-interrupt-able speech (pressured speech) Racing thoughts Restlessness Distraction Decreased need for sleep Elevated self-esteem and unrealistic assessment of one’s capacities • Increased maniac goal-directed behaviors (e.g., new projects) • Excessive engagement in pleasurable activities that are likely to have negative consequences (spending, gambling, substance use, sexual promiscuity)
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DID YOU KNOW? Everyday, approximately 11 Canadians die by suicide; 70% of all mental illnesses have their onset in childhood or adolescence; 1 in 5 Canadians will experience mental illness or addiction in their lifetime; 2 out of 3 will suffer in silence. WHAT CAUSES BIPOLAR? Bipolar disorder affects about 1 in every 100 people. There is a tendency for bipolar disorder to run in families. Children with a parent or sibling who has bipolar disorder are four to six times more likely to develop the illness, compared with children who do not have a family history of bipolar disorder. However, overall most children with a family history of bipolar disorder will not develop the illness. Painful life experiences play a similarly powerful role in the development of bipolar disorder. Early loss and/or trauma, in particular, predispose children to the development of bipolar disorder. Children who have lost their mother before the age of five are particularly vulnerable, with a fourfold increase in bipolar diagnosis. From a psycho-dynamic perspective, patients with bipolar disorder are frequently seen as struggling with issues of grief and loss.
COMMON BEHAVIOURS TO LOOK FOR IN FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, AND COLLEAGUES 1. Mood Swings Type: Manic & Depressive 2. Euphoria Type: Manic 3. Rapid Speech Type: Manic 4. Racing Thoughts Type: Manic 5. Irritation Type: Manic & Depressive 6. Increased Physical Activity Type: Manic 7. Careless Use of Drugs/Alcohol Type: Manic 8. Decreased Need for Sleep Type: Manic 9. Missed Work Type: Manic & Depressive 10. Fatigue Type: Depressive 11. Chronic Pain with No Known Cause Type: Depressive 12. Sadness/Hopelessness Type: Depressive 13. Suicidal Thoughts Type: Depressive
TREATMENT Medications are an important part of the treatment of most people with bipolar disorder, and especially of those with more severe forms of the illness. Common treatments include mood stabilizers (Lithium, Depakote, Tegretol, Lamictal, Trileptal, and others) and atypical neuroleptics (Risperdal, Zyprexa, Seroquel, Geodon, Abilify, and others). Often, patients with bipolar disorder may require combinations of medications (polypharmacy) to adequately control symptoms of mania or depression. Sometimes antidepressants are added in order to help manage the depressive phase of the illness, but this is controversial, as evidence suggests that, for the average patient with bipolar disorder, antidepressants are likely to destabilize mood and exacerbate mood swings and manias. Natural treatments such as high dose fish oil (ω-3 fatty acids) may also help improve and stabilize moods.
Mental health is the key to our well-being. It involves how we feel, think and act and interact with others. It is about living well and feeling capable despite daily challenges. Diet, exercise, good nutrition, community involvement, family support is all keys to healthy living. It is also about having the faith to understand that life, no matter how traumatic it gets, is worth living. Sources of information: Statistics and Source: Canadian Mental Health Association David Mintz, MD, team leader and staff psychiatrist at the Austen Riggs Center Mental illness is the leading cause of disability and premature death in Canada 70% of mental health problems and illnesses have their onset during childhood or adolescence $51,000,000,000 estimated cost per year of mental illness to the Canadian economy Disclaimer: We realize that we have only touched on the issues of this disease. But SMJ Magazine wants to allow people to see the warning signs and to stay on the sunny side of life. (The Publisher)
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HEALTH
WATCH By By Michelle Michelle Smith Smith
Healthy living includes attaining the knowledge necessary to maintain a new lifestyle. Being a nurse in a large multicultural urban area such as the Greater Toronto Area, I see people receiving inadequate care due to lack of understanding. I want to share some health care information to help increase your total potential of staying fit. When a doctor comes into your waiting room, and asks you what is wrong, they interrupt patients after only 18 seconds on average. Given this fact, patients who seek to maximize their health care must learn how to speak so that doctors will listen. There are three communication skills that, when applied to a doctor’s visit, can increase odds that your physician will hear, and help solve the problem. Prepare what you will say. Know what you would like to achieve. Formulate collaborative questions. The first step in effective communication is to prepare your message. Successful
preparation for a doctor visit requires identifying your primary health concern, symptoms relevant to this concern, and the length frequency intensity of each symptom. Stick to the facts, keep focused on what you believe to be relevant data, and keep your explanation short. Bearing in mind that you have limited time during your medical appointments, you will feel less rushed if you prepare your questions before your appointment. Doctors know a lot about a lot of things, but they don’t always know everything about you or what is best for you. Asking questions is key to good communication with your doctor. Your health depends on good communication. If you don’t ask questions, your doctor may think you do not need or want more information. Asking questions helps your doctor know what is important to you, such as your most important health care concerns. It also lets your doctor know when something he or she says is unclear. Give your doctor and health care team important information about you. Your Family History will be your guide to attaining the best care.
Your diagnosis is what your doctor thinks is your health problem. Most times your doctor will make the diagnosis based on what you say are your symptoms and the results of a physical exam, lab tests, and other medical tests. Asking questions and providing information to your doctor and other care providers can improve your care. Talking with your doctor builds trust and leads to better results, quality, safety, and satisfaction. Understanding your health problem can help you make decisions about what you would like to do about it. Also, if you know how the health problem may affect your life and activities and what may happen if the condition gets worse, you will be able to handle the problem better. Stay Connected Click any of the Links below to find us. http://janursing.blogspot. ca/2015/05/why-askingright-questions-is-important. html#sthash.9LimxJJW. dpufwww.janursingservices.com Advocacy is The Heart And Soul Of Nursing
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