Here’s what you said
Canadians are discovering whether the lessons we learned will stick – and, perhaps, give us new models for a happier relationship with ourselves
April 14, 2023
SAMANTHA EDWARDS AND ALISHA SAWHNEY
The pandemic threw into question everything we thought we knew, from office culture to citizens’ trust in the government. It forced a change in how we lived: milestones were marked without loved ones, our isolation separated us from friends and family, and future planning became unfathomable when so much was uncertain.
But the past three years also offered people the opportunity to rethink their values and priorities, break old habits and start new ones. Embracing change feels like a worthy antidote to years of tragedy, sadness and grief. Now, in the return to “normal,” Canadians are discovering whether the lessons we learned will stick – and, perhaps, give us new models for a happier relationship with ourselves.
The Globe reached out to readers to ask them to reflect on this “great reset.” After reading through dozens of responses, some broad trends leaped out.
Some readers told us about how the pandemic pushed them to make a large move they had always dreamed about. Others realized the value in separating work and life, and switched jobs to find that balance. And in the absence of commutes, many Canadians learned that our days can be shaped instead by community – and that maybe that’s a better way to live. The conventional approach to work led us to widespread dissatisfaction and seemingly ubiquitous burnout even before the pandemic.
Overwhelmingly, our readers told us the last few years allowed them to reconnect to the natural world. While living in quarantine has offered some – mostly the privileged among us – a rare opportunity to reflect on our lives, these reader insights offer a glimpse into the big and small ways some Canadians are reimagining life on the other side.
I learned
Kimberly Schols couldn’t visit with her granddaughter, so she sent this photo of herself hugging a photo of her granddaughter.
“The pandemic brought me home to myself. It was a forced confrontation. A protest initially. A ‘This can’t be.’ Locked down and locked up. Away. But slowly the away changed to silence and the silence changed to listen. The sounds, new and soft, an opening. I wrote. I painted. I meditated. I walked. I read. I thought. I prayed. I found a meaning I had lost. A comfort with myself in this crazy but wonderful world” – Kimberly Schols, 68, Oakville, Ont.
WORK-LIFE BALANCE
“I decided to leave the management stream of work, and become a contractor, making less money but enjoying my life more.”
— Marie MacDonald, 61, Gatineau, Que.
“I learned that there was more to life than work, and that the ‘things’ I used to value in life before really weren’t that important. And that if I had to work, it needed to be in a job with a respectful culture that prioritized work and family. I decided to leave the management stream of work, and become a contractor, making less money but enjoying my life more.” – Marie MacDonald, 61, Gatineau, Que.
“I learned, after a lifetime mostly on my own, that remaining in closer touch with my siblings was a true priority for me. It was something we’d all become careless about doing. In the depths of lockdown, we began Zooming weekly at a set time, to update, to contact, to see, to hear each other. We’ve kept doing it every week, even as the pandemic receded. I feel that we are more unified and more aware of each other in so many ways since we began doing this. It was the greatest blessing the pandemic brought into my life.” – Ken Stephen, 68, Woodstock, Ont.
RELATIONSHIPS
“I learned, after a lifetime mostly on my own, that remaining in closer touch with my siblings was a true priority for me.”
— Ken Stephen, 68, Woodstock, Ont.
“I learned to embrace nature. Go to the woods and breathe in the fresh air. Listen to the quiet trickle of the streams or the roaring sound of waterfalls. We are amazed at how beautiful and yet how dangerous nature can be. Viruses are a part of nature. They were here long before our species and will be here long after. You can only be amazed and fear how a simple thing can greatly impact many things, including ourselves.” – Melissa Cooney, 35, Thomasburg, Ont.
Melissa Cooney out in nature.
PARENTING
“Less is more when it comes to parenting. Small kids don’t need 30 people at their birthday party and elaborate balloon arches.”
— Leslie-Ann Kroeker, 34, Saskatoon, Sask.
“I learned less is more when it comes to parenting. Small kids don’t need 30 people at their birthday party and elaborate balloon arches. They don’t need to be inundated with activities, events and places to go. A two-year-old flourishes on the playground and not always in an ‘attempted’ organized soccer practice. It was only by the forceful elimination of these things did I start to see the value in ‘just being a kid.’ – Leslie-Ann Kroeker, 34, Saskatoon, Sask.
Leslie-Ann Kroeker on a walk with her children in March, 2020.
“I learned how to stay safe in these times, and how easily it can hit you hard. We were living on our boat prior to the COVID pandemic, where we found living alone together was all we really needed to be happy. Having built our boat, building a sauna during the pandemic seemed just natural for us, plus now we have a beautiful sauna we use regularly. I can be happy without food shopping as often.” – David Coe, 81, Gabriola Island, B.C.
David Coe sent this photo of the first day going out to eat at a restaurant after a long stretch of dining at home.
I was most surprised by
“I was most surprised by my resilience and stamina. During COVID-19, I walked the Camino de Santiago, virtually. The Camino de Santiago is 778 kilometres, and I walked 20,000 steps a day in downtown Toronto, using my Fitbit to track my walks. I walked through ravines, neighbourhoods, parks and along the waterfront. During the pandemic I also wrote and launched a new book on the mental, spiritual and physical joys of walking.” – Susan Sommers, 78, Toronto
WORK-LIFE BALANCE
“I was most surprised by how much better my life is since I became a self-employed nurse.”
— Angela Switzer, 46, Winnipeg, Man.
”I was most surprised by how much better my life is since I became a self-employed nurse. I previously worked in one of the main emergency departments in Winnipeg. I now have the freedom to take time off when I need or want to. I have the freedom to make a very good wage while also living my dream to travel. I have the freedom to support my patients while on shift without being so exhausted that I am a risk to their health. I can’t see myself going back.” – Angela Switzer, 46, Winnipeg
Angela Switzer became a self-employed nurse.
“My desire to reconnect with my faith. Pandemic-related stressors, including the loss of my primary income due to the film industry’s shutdown, contributed to feelings of hopelessness, depression and despair. By revisiting my Christian faith, after two decades of being away from the church, I felt inner peace and hope. I needed to reframe my thoughts to get through the many challenges I faced during the pandemic and the Scripture was a tool to help me do this.” – Melissa Pettit, 43, Abbotsford, B.C.
SPIRITUALITY
“I was most surprised by my desire to reconnect with my faith.”
— Melissa Pettit, 43, Abbotsford, B.C.
“I was most surprised by how changing our focus from retrofitting our living space to moving to a retirement community has opened up amazing opportunities and quality relationships. In our retirement community we can walk a few blocks to the pharmacy, medical lab, pool and sauna, and a hall where we attend musical performances. ” – Laurie Ball, 70, Guelph, Ont.
I changed
“I once measured change in small, local, personal units like birthdays, stock market fluctuations, and federal elections. The pandemic altered those units of change. The units are now bigger. Now my units of change are global pre- and post-pandemic, pre- and current war. Life, once perceived as infinite and stable, must now be treated as finite and unpredictable.” – Rob Young, 74, Toronto
Emilie and Mike Fantuz in their live/work studio.
“Amid the pandemic, there was a silver lining – the gift of time. With this gift, I was able to re-evaluate my priorities and focus on my passion for art. Together with my husband, who is also an artist, we made the bold decision to move from Langley, B.C., to Vancouver to a live/work artist studio, where we could create bigger paintings and fully immerse ourselves in our art. Our shared passion for art and our ability to work alongside each other has been invaluable, and it has brought us closer together.” – Emilie Fantuz, 34, Vancouver
RELATIONSHIPS
“I am prioritizing the people who are genuine and aim to have a real relationship with me that is transparent and compassionate.”
— Kessandra Costales, 27, Toronto, Ont.
“I changed who I keep in my life and who I spend time with. I am prioritizing the people who are genuine and aim to have a real relationship with me that is transparent and compassionate. I won’t tolerate cruelty or ignorance, or force relationships that have been unequal and can’t be balanced.” – Kessandra Costales, 27, Toronto
The Author Show
Join Linda Thompson, Host of The Authors Show and Susan Sommers in this inspiring, engaging podcast interview. Susan shares her passion for walking, her walking journey, her walk races (including two 7 ½ hour Marathons), and the inspiration for her new book and audiobook, The Magic of Walking: Your Guide to a Balanced, Purposeful Life.
SUSAN SOMMERS IS FEATURED SPEAKER AT EXCITING ATHLETA STORE EVENT IN YORKDALE, TORONTO ON MARCH 25, 2022
Author and walking expert Susan Sommers, Athleta, and Arbonne collaborated to offer an exciting in-store book launch and Keynote presentation for her latest book, The Magic of Walking: Your Guide to a Balanced, Purposeful Life at the beautiful new Athleta store for women and girls in the Yorkdale mall. Susan spoke about her own walking journey; provided tips for a healthy mindset for physical, mental ,and spiritual health; and highlighted post-COVID-19 travel and walking trends. Personal trainer Joanne Fontana led the guests on a mall walk using some of the practices from the new book.
The following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of “The Magic of Walking: Your Guide to a Balanced, Purposeful Life” by Susan Sommers.
Michelle Fred 19 September, 2021
4 out of 4 stars
She achieves this by debunking common walking myths and providing research-based techniques, tools, strategies, and information to help her readers better their physical and mental health through walking. Furthermore, she outlines the various types of walking and their immense benefits . Her teaching is designed to accommodate walking in any weather, time, place and at any stage in life.
The author structured the book into parts. The last part features questionnaires, exercises, and steps on creating a personal fitness action plan with self-assessment tools and a physical activity contract for accountability. It’s like a blueprint for getting the most value out of the previous parts. In addition, the author recommends keeping a fitness journal to track one’s progress and mood.
I admire Susan’s love and commitment to an active and healthy lifestyle. Her passion and desire to help others improve their physical, spiritual, and mental health through walking shines through the book’s pages. Her enthusiasm and energy are infectious. She is so inspiring; I can’t believe she completed a full 42km walking marathon at sixty-three. It’s no wonder her work has earned her international recognition and an award for her contribution to the community.
I learned a lot from the book, but I have a quibble about its structure. Though it’s a minor issue, I noticed forward-pointing arrows with page numbers at the end of some chapters and subtopics. I suppose they convey further information on said topics, but I found them distracting. A sentence stating that more would be discussed on said topics later would have sufficed. Constantly meandering from one page to another to read additional information affect s reading flow and comprehension.
Despite my complaint, I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. The author did an excellent job. The personal pictures and stories she shared are beautiful and encouraging. She gave enough information to help her readers make informed walking decisions . Also, I spotted no errors in her work.
I would recommend it to everyone interested in walking or an easy and enjoyable way to stay active. Both amateurs and seasoned walkers would learn a tip or two from the book to improve the quality of their walking and better enjoy their walking time.
Book Review: The Magic of Walking
Your Guide to a Balanced, purposeful life
Instructive, inspiring, and so doable!
Title: The Magic of Walking—Your Guide to a Balanced, Purposeful Life
Author: Susan Sommers
Length: 178 Pages (Print)
My new book, The Magic of Walking: Your Guide to a Balanced, Purposeful Life, is part memoir of my life-long walking journey and part evidence-based tools and strategies for walking for physical, mental, and spiritual health for all ages and stages of life. To deal with the stress and anxiety of COVID-19, I registered to walk the 778 kilometre el Camino de Santiago, virtually, in June, 2020. I walked 15,000 steps a day in downtown Toronto for four months -through neighbourhoods, ravines, trails, and waterfront — and received my gorgeous medal one month before my 76th birthday.
The Magic of Walking: Your Guide to a Balanced, Purposeful Life was written after I completed the virtual el Camino de Santiago and includes my memoir and photographs of my walking journey, from overweight, unathletic child to walking two, 7 ½ hour Marathons and 33 other races after the age of 60. It includes 30 “”steps”” to walking for physical activity; mental clarity and emotional strength; and spiritual strength and to connect with nature. The book also provides evidence-based tools from the University of Toronto, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education and the Art of Living Foundation; real-life lessons and stories to keep your mind, body, and spirit strong; and journaling, photography, and Vision Board ideas. I am the co-author of two other successful books on health and fitness: Power Source for Women: Proven Fitness Strategies, Tools, and Success Stories for Women 45+ (2010) and Love Your Body…Embrace Your Life! (2016). (Source)
Review
Balance and Purpose are two things that I have never associated with walking. But after reading Susan Sommer’s book, I’m in the process of rethinking that point.
As a guide, this book is exceptionally structured. You could, of course, read it from front to back, but it lends itself to a person like me who picks areas that interest them to read first. A comprehensive table of contents makes that super easy.
The author also uses linking arrows throughout the book that point readers to additional information that is like a workbook section. These references make it easy to find lists of practical resources, steps, and exercises to accomplish specific tasks or goals.
I appreciated the part about writing a journal to track goals, achievements, etc. That resonated with me because I like to create junk journals and that would make a perfect walking journal.
Another one of my favorite sections is the one on Myths about walking. There are five of them and I laughed when I read them because I’ve heard them all.
I think the best part of this book is the assessment tools and strategies that the author covers. So many times, guide books tell us how to prepare and what to do, but fail to show us how to assess our efforts. Author Susan Sommers doesn’t make this mistake.
Besides the tools, she includes quizzes and exercises. One interesting area included in this section is one concerning ‘Self Talk’. We’re all familiar with our own mental notations where we negatively outline our limitations, mistakes, and lack of motivation. However, Susan Sommers shows us how to turn this natural trait into a positive force, switching our ‘Self Talk’ from the negative to the positive.
The Author
You might be wondering if the author practices what she writes about. Here is a small snippet from her bio that will answer that question.
Susan Sommers is an award-winning health and fitness expert and author with a compelling story. She has completed two 7 1/2 hour Marathons and 35 walk races since the age of 59. In June, 2020, Susan registered for the 778 kilometer Camino de Santiago trail, virtually, and walking 15,000 steps a day, received her medal in October, 2020. (Source)
Walking is good for runners because it helps you stretch after a run. It builds endurance and promotes exercise that’s not quite the pounding of running. It also is a good bridge to running after an injury and a great way to get steps.
I am a walk-marathoner who is married to a Boston Marathoner. We both entered our first races in our late 50s and early 60s and are now in our 70s. While I completed two 7 ½ hour walk marathons and 33 other races since then, my husband Peter completed two Boston Marathons, eight other Marathons, and a total of one hundred races.
From June, 2020 to October, 2020, during COVID-19, Peter walked with me in downtown Toronto—20,000 steps a day for 4 months—to complete the el Camino 778 kilometre walk virtually. I wrote a book entitled The Magic of Walking, Your Guide to a Balanced Purposeful Life, and this is why I think walking is good for iRun Nation.
Walking Brings You Closer to Nature in a Slow, Deliberate Way
Walking gives you the chance to interact with your environment: you can go into a ravine, forest, or beach and do some “forest bathing.” This means using your five senses and feeling alert and alive.
Walking Helps You Focus on Your Mental Health
Walking reduces depression and anxiety and boosts your mood. Brisk walking improves your brain health. Regular walking improves cognition and stimulates more healthy blood flow to the brain.
Walking Connects You With Others (including Pets) in a Powerful, Purposeful Way
Walking is also a great way to introduce children and grandchildren to fitness and to bond with them. Start by signing up for a 5k walk-race with family members and make it a long-standing tradition.
Walking is good for runners because it helps you stretch after a run. It builds endurance and promotes exercise that’s not quite the pounding of running. It also is a good bridge to running after an injury and a great way to get steps.
I am a walk-marathoner who is married to a Boston Marathoner. We both entered our first races in our late 50s and early 60s and are now in our 70s. While I completed two 7 ½ hour walk marathons and 33 other races since then, my husband Peter completed two Boston Marathons, eight other Marathons, and a total of one hundred races.
From June, 2020 to October, 2020, during COVID-19, Peter walked with me in downtown Toronto—20,000 steps a day for 4 months—to complete the el Camino 778 kilometre walk virtually. I wrote a book entitled The Magic of Walking, Your Guide to a Balanced Purposeful Life, and this is why I think walking is good for iRun Nation.
Walking Brings You Closer to Nature in a Slow, Deliberate Way
Walking gives you the chance to interact with your environment: you can go into a ravine, forest, or beach and do some “forest bathing.” This means using your five senses and feeling alert and alive.
Walking Helps You Focus on Your Mental Health
Walking reduces depression and anxiety and boosts your mood. Brisk walking improves your brain health. Regular walking improves cognition and stimulates more healthy blood flow to the brain.
Walking Connects You With Others (including Pets) in a Powerful, Purposeful Way
Walking is also a great way to introduce children and grandchildren to fitness and to bond with them. Start by signing up for a 5k walk-race with family members and make it a long-standing tradition.
Walking Can Be Sustained As You Age
Many runners continue to enter races as walkers throughout their lives. Walking reduces arthritis-related pain, and walking five to six miles a week can even prevent arthritis from forming in the first place. Walking protects the joints—especially the knees and hips, which are most susceptible to osteoarthritis.
I know you love to run, and that’s terrific. But all I’m saying is: give walking a chance.
Susan Sommers is an award-winning health and fitness expert. She co-authored Power Source for Women: Proven Strategies, Tools, and Success Stories for Women 45+ and Love Your Body…Embrace Your Life. Her latest book, The Magic of Walking: Your Guide to a Balanced, Purposeful Life, was launched through Women’s College Hospital’s Run for Women in 2021. Susan launched her company, Power Source for Women (www.powersourceforwomen.com) in 2019 to inspire, educate, coach, and mentor women of all ages to make a lifelong commitment to their health, fitness, and spirituality.
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The Magic of Walking
YOUR GUIDE TO A BALANCED, PURPOSEFUL LIFE
Susan Sommers got serious about fitness in her late fifties and went on to complete two marathons and ten half-marathons. She is an author and expert in marketing who has spoken at universities and conferences, Lululemon Athletica and Running Room retail outlets, and fitness retreats.
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Susan Sommers
Founder of Power Source For Women, coach, and mentor.
PODCASTS
Magical Midlife with Lindsay de Swart, Walking Your Way to Health, Happiness, and Focus
Magical Midlife with Lindsay de Swart, Walking Your Way to Health, Happiness, and Focu
THE MAGIC OF WALKING
BY ANNE DAY
Is walking El Camino on your bucket list? It was for Susan Sommers, and during COVID she discovered that you can actually do the walk online.
Now whether this is in person or vitual, this is no walk for slouches. In total it’s 778 kilometers and Sommers planned to walk 15,000 steps a day. She started in June, 2020 and finished in October, 2020. Impressive.
And even more impressive is the fact that she completed this at age 75. Makes you feel like a couch potato doesn’t it? Sommers actually started walking and taking part in races and marathons at 59 and has been leading groups since.
Based in Toronto she used her walking time to explore different parts of the city, taking photos as she went along. “I knew I was a walker, she shares, “but I learnt that I am a photographer too.” She started to be more attentive to her surroundings and noticed more as she walked, getting more and more in tune with nature.
She also became more motivated as she read Sonia Choquette’s book Walking Home: A Pilgrimage from Humbled to Healed. “I’d come home after my walk, and delve into the book to capture what it would be like to do the walk in person.” As she e-travelled El Camino, she received postcards from the organizers to show her what she would have seen, depending on where she was on her journey.
The project also propelled her to write another book about walking. She already has two under her belt, and the focus of this book – The Magic of Walking: Your Guide to a Balanced, Purposeful Life is to provide useful information for walkers and inspire you to lace up your shoes and get going.
The book is jam-packed with tips, like did you know there are ten different types of walking? Sommers even includes how to go walking when you have a walker. Growing up with an older brother who had polio as a child, she’s aware of the challenges facing people using a walker. She also provides lists and links to other walking groups, locations and the “equipment” you need as you set off.
Her advice for someone starting out is to find a walking group or at minimum a walking buddy as that way you get to socialize, motivate each other to walk further, and it becomes way more fun.
Much is written, including my own blogs, about how hard COVID has been on us, physically and mentally, but Sommers shows that you can turn things around and have something good come out of a tough situation.
“With the continued stress of the pandemic, walking is an ideal way for women to care for their health.” Said Sommers. “I wrote this book to provide a variety of strategies and tools for all types of walking at every age and stage of life, for physical fitness, mental clarity and spiritual strength.”
If any of you want to walk El Camino virtually, go to https://theconqueror.events and you will find other walks of interest too – the Grand Canyon or the Cabot Trail.
Sommers’ book is available at Caversham Book Sellers and the e-book version is available through Amazon.com
ARTICLE BY ANNIE
Hello,
This summer definitely feels sweeter than ever. I had my first patio lunch last week and I could not stop smiling.
However, there is a tendency to treat summer like a “Permission to Let Go of Everything Time”. And that, my lovely friend, would be a really big missed opportunity.
By all means, get off the path, smell the roses, discover trails and read for hours in your chaise lounge.
But no need to throw all your good habits out the window.
Consistency of small habits makes a much bigger impact in the end.
Can you have cocktails on the dock while still drinking plenty of water?
Can you add movement every day regardless of where you are?
Can you eat mindfully while still treating yourself?
Yes, yes and yes.
Do not confuse slowing down with stopping.
Get rid of the all or nothing attitude. It will never serve you. Instead, embrace slowing down, spending as much time outside as possible, hugging your loved ones and feeling that joy.
Let’s stay strong while slowing down…. Because mindset is a practice – not an absolute.
To your health,
Annie
xox
PS: Book reco! Grab a copy of The Magic of Walking by Susan Sommers. I loved that book for many reasons – Susan has completed 30+ races since she turned 59 no less! – but because it will inspire and give you all the tools to start your own walking journey. It is definitely never too late.
For more information and media inquiries please contact:
Susan Sommers
416 303 4025
francefontanahart@gmail.com
The Magic of Walking: Your Guide to a Balanced, Purposeful Life
This book is part memoir and part walking strategies and tools. Author Susan Sommers takes us on an incredible journey that started in June, 2020, when she decided to virtually walk the 778 kilometre el Camino de Santiago during the COVID-19 pandemic.
My book is now for sale online through Amazon internationally.
