Hi, I’m Yvonne…
…an extroverted introvert with ADHD (and probably a touch of OCD), who over-shares and has experienced divorce, a miscarriage, a remarriage to a much younger man and having twins at 40. I’m a proud mother of three amazing children, with one who struggles with addiction. Phew.
This is just my life, a journey filled with detours, turns and many bumps in the road. All of this has led me to become a Compassionate Disrupter who simply will not accept “that’s just the way it is.”
My Story
For 27 years, I worked as a nurse in over ten hospitals across the USA and Canada, from intensive care and emergency, to chemotherapy, palliative care and hospice. I witnessed many challenging things that will stay with me forever, but there was something I didn’t see.
An openness to talk about, plan for and prepare for grief and end of life. People were avoiding the difficult conversations they needed to have, and it caused so much suffering. I was hurting too, watching how we all struggled in our silos, pretending we were fine when we weren’t.
My dream in this world is for anyone who is experiencing any kind of grief, transitions, crisis or trauma to never feel alone. So, I made a choice. In 2015, at age 50, I left my nursing career and blazed a completely new trail. My purpose? To bring heart and humour to the challenging conversations we're all avoiding. I help compassionate professionals and communities learn to grieve, support others and have "The Talk" about end of life—long before it arrives—so we can diffuse the fear.
We don't need PhDs to love and help each other. We just need to stop avoiding the hard stuff and start showing up. And if you want to Just Show Up for others, you have to Show Up for Yourself First. The very best version of you—your real, vulnerable, imperfect best self—is your greatest gift to the world.
Learn With Me
Ready to start having the real conversations? I offer keynotes, workshops, training and online programs to help with life's hardest moments. Whether you're a healthcare professional, community leader or someone who simply wants to learn more skills, let’s do this together.
Vision
We are Making the Difference by Transforming and Sustaining Social Change where:
Everyone is willing and able to Just Show Up—to support and care for themselves and others…No. Matter. What.
Everyone contributes and creates Caring Compassionate Communities who take action in their home, neighbourhood, school, workplace. Wherever they stand.
Mission
Through Connection, Collaboration and Ongoing Support, we learn and teach all Compassionate Community Members how to: Normalize Conversations, Prepare for and Navigate Grief, Transitions and End of Life—Before. During. Always.
Be Proactive, Practice and Teach by Example
Just Show Up in every situation with Heart, Humour and Humanness.
People of all ages become #IJustShowedUp Champions for their Compassionate Communities.
