: About Me

Personally Speaking:

When I talk about having goals, committing to them, and achieving real results, I know, from personal experience, how to make things happen.

I did not have a very happy childhood, although no one at the time knew that. I grew up with my parents and brother in what is known today as a very dysfunctional family. I will not embarrass my family members by providing details. Suffice it to say that, throughout my early teens thoughts of suicide and a fear of the future lived with me daily. I created the habit of presenting a face to the outside world that came out of the fantasy world of my imagination about what happiness would look like for me.

While living in a fantasy world has the potential to be dangerous and avoid reality, I never wanted to live there. Instead, I wanted my real life to imitate my fantasies. I hated being so unhappy all the time. I knew I could not live that way forever, and vowed to change my attitudes and my life.

I used my negative childhood experiences as a model for what I did NOT want in my future. At the time, I didn't realize that I was employing a powerful tool for defining goals - if you can't identify what you do want, then list all the things you don't and start from there.

I used my imaginary happy world to start defining what I did want in my future. So, by combining the two, I was able to create the vision, goals and values that have guided me throughout the rest of my personal life. I committed myself to attaining those ideals. I have managed, through the help of friends, professionals, self improvement books and supporters, to reach my goals and achieve a happy, fulfilling, exciting lifestyle.

By initiating honest, effective communication, I have also come to understand some reasons behind my childhood experiences, and to forgive. Without that pain, I would never have learned the lessons that formed the "me" I am today. By letting go of all the hatred and anger I had felt for so long, the time that I spent with my father before his death was emotional, but precious, and I was thankful to have had them.

Today, I am proud and happy to say that my husband Paul and I have been happily, wonderfully married since 1970. We have a loving, caring, honest, respectful, supportive, fun relationship. Our two adult children - 34 year old daughter and 31 year old son and their spouses great friends with one another and with us. They are all happy and have successful careers. I was my daughter's matron of honour at their wedding. Our daughter's 2 sons are gifts of joy. We love being grandparents.

My mom and I have developed a very close, special relationship. When my father died, we renovated our home just outside Toronto, Ontario, Canada, for her to live with us in her own apartment. She is an active grandmother and great grandmother, and is an integral part of all of our lives. Paul and I have a Harlequin Great Dane named Ripley and an Olde English Sheepdog named Emma, who provide us with lots of laughter.

We are a close family, and spend a lot of time together. I think it's because we share mutual values. We encourage one another to take risks, give ourselves permission to make mistakes and are committed to take learning from things that go wrong. We do not judge one another, regardless of our personal feelings. When asked, we provide our thoughts, and we offer unconditional love and support as long as there is no danger to self or others.

I am a firm believer in the Universal Law of Attraction. I believe that what you focus on you manifest and that a positive, prosperity and possiblity, and values-driven mindset attracts all of the resources one needs to live a positive, prosperous, values-driven life.

My hobbies include reading, auto racing, travelling in our RV and spending as much time as possible with our grandchildren. My husband and I are actively involved in organizing and working at auto races at Mosport in the summer, and racing our ice race cars (we each have one)on an ice track in Minden in the winter. At any time, we love to hop in the RV and travel across Canada and the US, visiting with friends and making new ones, especially if our family and/or friends come along with us.

Professionally Speaking:

In my career, more than 20 years was spent entirely in the not-for-profit sector, the last 12 of them working as an Executive Director for two different agencies. I have diplomas in: Business Administration; the Administration of Volunteers; Radio and Television Broadcasting; Crisis and Suicide (Theory, Prevention and Intervention); and Lifecoaching from Coach Training Alliance

Trainer Experiences:
Training has always been a passion for me.
I have received training certifications and have provided training sessions to volunteers, staff and trainers in numerous not-for-profit organizations: the YWCA of Canada; the International Laubach Literacy Organization; the United Way of Canada's Volunteer Leadership Development Programs; The Ministry of Health's National Strategic Planning Program for Health Agencies; Distress Centres of Durham Region and Ontario; Durham Community Bereavement Services; and Coach Training Alliance.

I have facilitated workshops, seminars and strategic planning sessions, and been a frequent guest speaker/ keynote speaker for conferences, Annual General Meetings and meetings of organizations in Canada and the United States. Currently, I teach Life Coach Certification Courses to new Coaches who want to certify and build successful Coaching businesses.

Author:
Writing is another of my passions. I have authored training manuals, policies and procedures,ebooks and a hard-copy book, articles, ezines, and a newspaper column.

Some titles of manuals include: "Effective Communication, Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention"; "Training the Trainers"; "Policies, Procedures, and Ethics" - all funded by Distress Centre Durham and distributed throughout provincial Distress Centres of Ontario.

In addition,"The Impact of the Absence of an Administrator of Volunteers in Not-For-Profit Agencies" was co-researched and co-authored with Carolyn Smith - and was funded by PAVR-O (Provincial Administrators of Volunteer Resources of Ontario), published on-line and utilized as an advocacy resource by Volunteer Canada and American counterparts.

"The Effective Management of Volunteer Programs" was funded through a combination provincial and federal government grant, published and distributed to adult literacy programs throughout the province of Ontario.

My column, "Ask Coach Nan" was published in Metroland Durham community newspapers for two years. My book is entitled "Do It Yourself Relationship Repair Guide",and I have written numerous articles on the subject of Relationships, Family, and Active Listening/ Effective Communication.

Community Service has also played an important part of my professional and personal life.

I strongly believe that our communities are greatly enhanced by the efforts and contributions of individuals who commit to donating their time, skills and resources for the benefit of others.

For over 35 years, I have worked voluntarily in the service of others: on front lines with charitable agencies' clients; in the Boardrooms as Director and/or Officer; as trainer of agencies' board members; as fundraising/events organizer; as advocate to various levels of government; as a founding member of two organizations; and as rescuer of some ailing organizations.

Awards and Recognition (in business and community):
Recipient:
- Canadian Literacy Award, for contributions to adult literacy (from the Canadian federal government, in the International Year of Literacy)

- Administrator of Volunteers of the Year, for excellence in management of volunteer resources (from the Ontario Administrators of Volunteer Association)

- Special Recognition Award, for unique contributions and as a founding member,to making the Volunteer Resource Centre for Durham Region a reality (from the VRC)

- Integrity Award - in recognition of administrative excellence (from Distress Centre of Durham Region)

- Nan Einarson Leadership Award - a community award, established in 2000, to be presented annually in my name, to a staff member in the Durham Region who has demonstrated excellence in leadership and strong support for volunteerism throughout the prior year

Nominations:
- Toronto Sun Newspaper's "Women on the Move" award

- Two-time nominee for YWCA's "Women of Distinction" award

My passion is ...

my family - hubby, kids & their spouses, grandchildren; motor sports & racing

I know too much about ...

nothing - I always want to continue learning

My parents always told me ...

don't have boys in the house when we're not home - the neighbours will see and they will tell!

My childhood ambition ...

to be a teacher

My favorite memory ...

the trip to Luperon Beach, DR, which our 2 kids gave us as a surprise Christmas gift

Why I write ...

I've had so much life experience I want to share what I know with others

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

Reading: Michael Crichton; Watching: American Idol: Listen to: Top 40's music

My first job ...

Postal Promotions - stuffing envelopes with coupons & mailing out newspapers

My best moment ...

Being on Ellen DeGeneris' & Megan Mullaley's shows with my mom & daughter

My inspiration ...

My husband Paul

Society & Lifestyle > Personal Morals & Values Why people can't change

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Why people can't change There are a number of factors which can contribute to a person's inability to change. Many believe they cannot change, and their negative mindsets keep them trapped in that belief. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Others fear change - "better the devil you know than the one you don't". Even though an individual's life may be filled with misery, heartache and negativity, it is what they know - it is their "comfort zone", and the fear of the unknown keeps them in that place. Still others resist change because their values systems need review. Personal values sys...

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