“While we have the gift of life, it seems to me the only tragedy is to allow part of us to die – whether it is our spirit, our creativity or our glorious uniqueness.”
– Gilda Radner
Here’s what I know for sure.
Creativity isn’t just for artists. It’s not reserved for people with fancy degrees or Pinterest-perfect studios or the kind of free time the rest of us only dream about. Creativity is for you. Right now. In the middle of your actual, complicated, beautiful, sometimes-terrible life.
It’s the way you solve a problem nobody else could crack. The way you rearrange a room until it finally feels right. The way you find the words for something you’ve never been able to say out loud before. The way you pick up a sledgehammer after the worst year of your life and just… start swinging.
That’s creativity. And you already have it.
Somewhere along the way, most of us got talked out of it. We got busy, got practical, got told to stop daydreaming and focus. We learned to keep our weird ideas to ourselves, to colour inside the lines, to not take up too much space with our imagination.
I call hogwash.
So what’s stopping you?
If I had to guess — and I’m pretty good at guessing — I’d say it’s fear.
Am I right?
Of course I am. Because I’ve been there. I kept my creativity safely hidden in the closet for years, afraid of being laughed at, afraid of being too much, afraid of being that person who tries things and fails in front of everyone.
But here’s what I learned: I cannot be truly happy unless I’m actively using my creative voice. And for me, that shows up in a lot of different ways. I write novels. I rip down walls and rebuild them. I garden. I chainsaw things that need chainsawing. I colour my hair — a lot. I problem-solve for fun.
None of that is remarkable on its own. But together? It’s my life. My actual, authentic, fully-lived life.
And I want that for you too.
This is what we do here.
We tell honest stories. We talk about the scary stuff — grief, loss, fear, the things that knock you flat. We talk about showing up anyway. We celebrate creativity in all its forms, including the kind that involves power tools and a healthy disregard for what the neighbours think.
We also laugh. A lot. Because life is heavy enough without taking ourselves too seriously.
I’m Trish. Writer, storyteller, educator, renovator, dancer, professional aunt, and person who talks to chipmunks. This is my corner of the internet — come in, pull up a chair, and stay a while.
And if you’re looking for your people? You just found them.
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by,
and that has made all the difference.”
– Robert Frost
Join Me on The Back Porch
Some conversations are too good for social media. The Back Porch is where the real ones happen — the ones that need a little more room to breathe.
When you join, you’ll get new posts from Reflections delivered straight to your inbox, first word on new books and projects from Authority Ed and Blue Eyed Press, and the occasional behind-the-scenes look at what’s brewing. No spam. No noise. Just good conversation over something warm.
The door’s open. Pull up a chair.
Read Chapter One Free
Ghost – The Rick Watkinson Story
A sixteen-year-old boy. One night.
No way back…
Ghost – The Rick Watkinson Story is true crime at its most human. Download Chapter One free and find out if it’s the book for you.
Read Chapter One Free
Songs About Life
Alex knows what she wants out of life. She’s just not entirely sure how to get there.
Songs About Life is funny, warm, and completely honest. Download Chapter One free and meet her for yourself.
What Can I Say About Trish?
Working with Trish changed a lot more for me than just school. When I first met her, I was pretty lost and didn’t have much confidence in my creativity or what I could do with my life. Somehow she was able to get things out of me that no one else could — honestly, not even me.
Trish didn’t just teach — she pushed me, encouraged me, and helped me see things about myself that I didn’t even realize were there yet. She’s also incredibly funny, which made the whole process a lot less intimidating. I actually looked forward to our sessions because I knew I’d learn something, but we’d also laugh a lot.
One of the biggest things she helped me discover was my creativity. Because of that encouragement, I started taking photography seriously, and it’s now something I’m really passionate about. Looking back, she wasn’t just helping me with school — she was mentoring me and teaching me life lessons that I still carry with me today. I’m really grateful for the role she played in helping me figure out who I am and what I’m capable of. I will forever be grateful and hold her in my heart.
Word on the Street
“The humour in her posts makes me giggle all the time! Makes a bad day, good!”
~ C.I.
“Trish is creative and innovative. Passionate and compassionate. She’s committed to excellence in everything she does and every person she meets.”
~ A.P.
“Trish is bright and full of positive energy. Smiling and always a joy to be around.”
~ C.M.
“Trish has such positive and boundless energy and excels at motivating others!”
~ Y.P.
“Her number one superpower is that she is able to make anyone smile or laugh. For me, that is the most important thing.”
~ E.P.
“Her ability to make people smile is infectious. I admire her determination to follow her dreams and caring for others in a very genuine way.”
~ D.L.
“Her superpowers? Her loyalty, strength and the ability to put things into perspective!”
~ L.J.
“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt