What’s the Point?

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I’ve been invited to be a Panelist at the Canadian Chiropractor Business and Professional Growth Forum at McMaster University in June.  The panel discussion will be surrounding Social Media and its role as a business tool.  I was asked to participate primarily because of my blog, but I must admit, I feel like a bit of an impostor.

An impostor, because the primary purpose of my blog is not business-building.  Far from it- in fact, it has very much become a hobby, a passion, a creative outlet.  I would be writing this blog whether I was a waitress, a scientist, or a stay-at-home-mom.  I look forward to clicking ‘publish’ every Tuesday morning, and I have a notepad on my bedside table for when ideas wake me up at night.  Certainly it has helped to grow my business, as perhaps it’s made my name come to mind (and to Google) when people think of ‘Burlington’ and ‘chiropractor’, but that’s been a bonus effect rather than the ultimate goal.

I’ve always loved to write, and this blog began nearly two years ago when I was starting my six-month maternity leave with my daughter.  I had been considering my own website, and a blog seemed like a nice way to personalize it and keep it current.  The feedback I received was encouraging, and to my surprise, my readership grew quickly.  A year into it, Momstown asked me to be a Guest Blogger for their National site, and my ‘Letter to My Husband‘ and ‘I Hope you Always‘ posts became #1 and #3 respectively on their 2013 most-read list.  DR.WOROBEC.COM now averages about 2000 readers/month; some posts have hit hot buttons (‘I am a Chiropractor‘) and some have fallen flat (‘6:00 AM‘), but I can genuinely tell you that I’ve been proud of each one.  My writing fills the creative gap in my life that I didn’t even know was missing.

So, like I said initially, I feel like an impostor at the upcoming forum.  But maybe that’s a good kind of panelist to be.  Authentic.  Genuine.  Honest.  I’m what-you-see-is-what-you-get.  Perhaps that’s the point.

Cdn Chiro conf

For interest’s sake:

  • ‘Break the Silence‘ was my most personal post and the only one I’ve questioned publishing.
  • ‘Gifts and Gifts and Gifts, Oh My!’ is my favourite post.
  • ‘The Blogs of 2013‘ was the most fun to write.
  • Most reads in one day: 3190 (‘I am a Chiropractor‘) on Sept 27/2013.
  • I get nasty, rude comments on a post every few months, but I need to ‘approve’ each comment before it’s posted on the site, so you never see them.
  • My husband is my editor.
  • 319 people receive weekly blog post updates by email.  Join them by clicking ‘Follow’ at the bottom of this site.

I Cried When I Saw Hayley

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The obvious choice for a blog topic this week is the Olympics.  With every blogger in cyberspace writing about the athlete’s behind-the-scenes, or medal counts, or the Canadian Olympic program development, I need to admit to something: I cried when I saw Hayley Wickenheiser carrying the flag as Team Canada entered Olympic Stadium. 

Now I am emotional by nature, “dramatic” some may say, and that trait has only increased with age.  Somehow that moment, those images, really grabbed hold of me and choked me up.  I was sitting with my two young children, having lunch and watching the Opening Ceremonies.  February 7th was circled on our calendar with great anticipation, and I had already told my kids about Olympic competition and showed them where Russia was on the map (“Mom, Russia is the biggest country and Canada is the second biggest, I saw it on Grandpa’s map already” said my five-year-old.  Ahem, well excuse me.).  So when the Parade of Athletes began, we already had our Canadian flags ready to go.  And then Hayley walked in waving the red and white.

What is it about the power of sport that brings out such emotion?  Is it the memories of spending childhood Winters in the arena and Summers at the golf course?  Is it the feelings of teamwork, sportsmanship, and togetherness that I’ve felt throughout my life in all aspects of sport?  Is it the fact that I’ve found my spouse, my career, and my passions all directly or indirectly through sport?

Maybe it’s all of those things.   Maybe it’s none.  Maybe it’s just good ol’ Canadian pride.  Whatever it is, it makes me cry.  Don’t sit next to me to watch the Closing Ceremonies.  I’ll be even worse.

GO CANADA GO!

hayley opening ceremonies

***You can see the influence of sport happening early in our house here,
as evidenced by my 1-year-old’s lunch-covered ramblings.***

What Happens in Vegas…

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I am going to Las Vegas this weekend.  To see Britney Spears.  Yes, I’m serious.

britney pic

I have been a Britney fan for a long time, albeit sometimes embarrassingly so.  “Hit Me Baby One More Time” was released in Oct/1998, at a time when I was in Second Year at the University of Calgary; I was young and impressionable, seeking independence and searching for my future, as most post-secondary students are.  Britney could be heard everywhere I was, from residence dorms to nightclubs to track practice.  Music has a way of becoming the soundtrack of memories, and many of my 20-something moments had a Britney song playing in the background.

But the best part, far better than any Britney show, is that I am meeting my two best friends there.  These girls are like my sisters; they are my confidantes, my this-is-who-I-am-and-you-know-me-so-well companions.  It’s going to be a short trip, only 48-hours from arrival to departure, jam-packed with dinners out, casinos, lounging poolside, shopping, and laughter.  Oh so much laughter.

You see, yearly girls trips for the three of us have been an almost-annual tradition for 15 years.  From Summer roadtrips to Vancouver to weekends in Edmonton to reunions at a small-town farm, these affectionately-named ASS Tours (Ashley/Sarah/Shannon) have been a constant in our lives, as our cities have changed and our families have grown.  Our 2011 meet-up was in New York City.  I will never forget it.  I will never forget it because I was broken when I arrived and pieced together when I left.  I had just suffered a devastating miscarriage and I left for NYC the day after my surgery.  And as the three of us walked through Central Park and sobbed and hugged and comforted and shared, I felt myself start to heal.  Piece by piece, they put me back together.  They helped me put myself back together.  As they have countless other times.  They’re those kind of friends.

My husband teases me about this girls trip.  He pokes fun at the teeny-bopper in me and smiles about my excitement.  But I can assure you, Britney’s audience will be full of 30-something mothers, just like us, singing along with nostalgia in their voices and dancing with happiness in their hearts… side by side with friends.