For all of us, what has happened in the town of Tumbler Ridge, B.C. is the worst of the worst. As I post and write I feel I can’t look away from the enormous sadness and grief that has fallen not only on this small town but everyone across our country and around the world who hears about it. May every possible ounce of blessings, grace, love, compassion and kindness be sent to this suffering community. And to every single person on this planet who is waking up to an unimaginable tragedy.
Posted by: Ms. Daryl Wood | February 13, 2026
An Unimaginable Tragedy
Posted in Grief | Tags: compassion, Grief, loss, tragedy
Posted by: Ms. Daryl Wood | February 13, 2026
Fragile. Handle With Care. This Side Up
What if we all came with labels the way our packages arrive? What if no one ever had to guess what is going on with us or how to greet us because we had clearly marked messages right up front.
Yesterday a beautiful flower arrangement arrived from my daughter and son-in-law. All these messages pasted on the box told me exactly what to expect and how to handle the package. I followed the instructions and unwrapped a lovely display of bright coloured flowers. Since I was all bundled up on my way out for a walk when I discovered the box at the door, I might have given it a toss onto the indoor bench and not paid much attention to how I moved it. But of course, the labels were easy to see and I knew what to do.
Imagine meeting someone and the first thing you notice is a “Fragile” sign. Or maybe “Handle With Care”? Or any other possible message that alerted you to a difficult state of mind? I wonder how many times we greet someone casually and move along not knowing what is happening in their world. And we don’t always need to or want to. But sometimes we do.
Sometimes if we look deliberately we can tell from someone’s eyes or facial features what might be going on with them. Some of us can tell ‘energetically’ that something is ‘off’. It’s not just that rushing through our days keeps us from recognizing something in others. Walking through life, most of us interact with lots of people on a daily basis. Some we know. Some we don’t. Sometimes we want to engage and sometimes we don’t.
And it’s not all gloom and doom. What if we saw someone coming down the grocery aisle with a big “Happy and Content” sign hanging around their neck. I’m smiling just thinking about it. I am imaging having a box of cards on lanyards at the door that I can put on when I leave the house so that people will know what I’m feeling that day. Sometimes when I greet the friendly staff at my grocery store they don’t know who is showing up – the sad, grieving Daryl, or the bouncy, excitable Daryl. I’m pretty quick to let them know so we can still have a hug to share whatever it is.
Since we all carry ‘signs’ of what we are feeling and knowing that most are pretty subtle it boils down to one plain truth. Just be kind. Be kind enough to laugh out loud, grin from ear to ear, listen with enthusiasm. Be kind enough to share a tear, stand still for as long as it takes, listen with compassion. Labels or not, we can all make the world a better place with kindness.
Posted in Conscious Thought, consciousness, Inspiration, New perspectives | Tags: awareness, consciousness, Inspiration, intention, kindness, wisdom
Posted by: Ms. Daryl Wood | February 11, 2026
You Can’t Live Without Hope
Listening to a radio program I heard the voice of a young woman waiting on the edge of life for confirmation that her travel documents are in order and she can leave her country to pursue the education she longs for. She has met the high standards of scholarship and now she must wait. And must is the key word here. She has followed through on every possible avenue so there is nothing more she can do. It’s out of her hands. When asked how she keeps going she says “You can’t live without hope.”
You can’t live without hope. Take a minute and think about that. You can’t live without hope. How often do we even consider that somewhere in our lives is a measure of hope no matter what we are experiencing. When our day is disrupted with conflicting relationships, difficult physical challenges, and the horrific news that lands on days like today, where is hope? Where is hope that ‘things’ will get better or not any worse? When we feel like we have “lost all hope” is that really true? Is there some sliver of hope that lives within each of us that we forget when our world – personally and globally – says there is no hope?
Well, I would have doubted that hope lived in me many times in the past two years but something has shifted. I have always been immensely grateful for the life I had with Doug and for all the people who have circled around me to support me. Lately I have been sensing that my history of a deep, loving relationship and the subsequent kindnesses extended to me have been keeping the flame of hope alive even when I passed through my darkest hours of grief and was certain there was no hope. And maybe that’s what we are all doing; keeping a flame of hope alive within ourselves and maybe in others.
So how do we do this? Today I got up and followed a recently developed routine of morning activities. Nothing sensational, just what I do in sequence to make sure some little things get done before I launch into my day. And in the mundane pace of eye drops, making tea, thawing wild blueberries etc. I realized that I do these things because there is a little hope inside of me that this will give me the foundation for my day, that these small steps will provide some structure that keeps me moving along for the greater opportunities that might lie ahead. I didn’t have a mental conversation about hoping this helps. I just did it automatically because at some point in time I believed, I hoped, this would start my day in a positive, self-affirming way.
Hope is so often connected with bigger dreams and aspirations and I love that. I have started a conversation with my heart daughter about a trip in 2027. I am hoping it happens and it gives me hope to think that in the future we will be doing something extraordinary together. And there is also hope that by eating my healthy breakfast, choosing appropriate clothes for the chilly weather, double checking my grocery list, that I will be prepared for the day ahead.
Each day we are given the chance to nurture hope within ourselves and you can’t live without hope. Mostly we might be doing this in subtle, unconscious ways and that’s great. Maybe taking a pause to see just how much hope lives within us we can embrace how hope gives our lives a rich and beautiful soft place to land.
Posted by: Ms. Daryl Wood | February 7, 2026
Grief in Tobermory: Yes, It’s a Thing
The following essay was published in the Bruce Peninsula Press in January 2026
Having lived here full time for 26 years I’ve witnessed my share of grief. The loss of community leaders, neighbours, children, elders and lots of people who live on only in our memories. Until my beloved Doug Dailey died, I didn’t understand how losing my person could profoundly change my life and who I am. It’s been two long years and more therapy, counselling, consoling and coaching than I could have imagined.
And through it all, has been my community. Someone once commented that no one north of Lion’s Head has NOT seen me cry in public. That’s who I have always been. Very transparent which can be a blessing and a curse.
And that’s where grieving in Tobermory comes up. On a phone call with a friend who has visited me, he said I lived in the perfect place to grieve. I think I’ve known that from the beginning of this journey, but we decided to go a little deeper to see what that really means.
From my perspective, there is something so sacred about the ruralness and simplicity of this area that invites quieter reflection. And that’s not always what a grieving person needs. I can only speak from what the experience has been like for me as a widow. I know lots of widows up here and I have been humbled by the realization that I rarely said the ‘right’ thing or did the ‘right’ thing when I encountered them. And what I will say is that I did the best I could and that’s what is so special about the people of Tobermory. They do the best they can and they keep doing it which is evidenced by two years of continuing to take time to cry or laugh with me.
But it’s more than what people give me. It’s also about the weight of the earth, the sound of the wind, the steadiness of the escarpment rock, the resilience of the battered trees, the constant changing flow of the water. We sit here between two large lakes that are continuously on the move. Some days the sun makes them shimmer with hopeful anticipation. Other days the wind blows the waves inland reminding us all of our vulnerability. The message is clear – nothing stays the same; change is inevitable. And change is what grieving widows deal with every day.
I watched the lake rise and fall without recognizing that it was a metaphor for my life in this new situation. As I look around me now, I see how it has sustained itself in spite of droughts and storms. In the same way, the cedars that are so prominent on this tiny tip of the peninsula are shedding and sheltering from the natural changes around them. And maybe we are too.
Maybe we are more influenced by nature than we realize. Maybe we are finding ways to sustain ourselves, move and flow, hold steady, start over and whatever else we need to do to not just survive but to thrive.
I didn’t think any of this was possible when Doug slipped away. Now I can’t help but see that what draws so many people to visit Tobermory is also what can support and hold us in place when we are grieving. It is the land that is steeped in culture, history and fierce survival that is the perfect place to grieve. It is the people who are honest, caring and deliberate in their love of community.
It would be too simplistic to point out the lack of support resources when we may not have accessed what is offered to us by the very environment that we have chosen to live in. And this is where gratitude becomes a bridge to healing. When we can accept and be with our despair, we might also be able to stand in the beauty and holiness of the land we call home. The land we call Tobermory where grief lives and sometimes, finds a way to give us hope.
Posted in Conscious Thought, consciousness, Grief, Inspiration, New perspectives, Personal Growth, Sustainability, Wellness | Tags: awareness, community, consciousness, Grief, healing, Inspiration, life, living with grief, loss, love, meaningful life, mental-health, Personal Growth, Personal Responsibility, support, truth, wisdom
Posted by: Ms. Daryl Wood | February 4, 2026
A Meaningful Life
Yesterday I heard a grief counsellor say that maybe it’s too much to try and imagine or plan a meaningful life. Maybe the best we can do when we are grieving is to plan a meaningful month, or week, or day. And sometimes, for me, that’s planning a meaningful moment. Moment by moment. It occurs to me that these meaningful moments, days and weeks are the essence of a meaningful life. Collectively, they may ultimately define what a meaningful life is for me and for those who move slowly through the process of healing and growth.
I wonder if this is good advice for everyone. Perhaps a reminder to live fully in the moment because it’s really all we have. I recently had a quick casual conversation with a local legendary doctor who has just passed his 85th birthday. We were talking about changes in our lives when he snapped his fingers and said “And things can change just like that”. I wanted to stand quietly right there in the energy of the moment and let that sink in.
For all of us, ‘just like that’, happens in subtle ways in our lives and mostly goes unnoticed. Except when we can’t miss it. When it is something big and loud. And then what? Well, then our values and beliefs, our character, our intention, our impulses leap forward to direct us to the next steps. And when we are solid, or at least very well informed, in how we handle life’s ups and downs we may discover that what we do next creates, or in some cases diminishes, a meaningful life. And who wants to be standing on the sidelines of their life wondering what happened?
If we allow ourselves the time and space to understand what a meaningful life means to us, not what others say but really ourselves, then we have somewhere to go when we need direction. A friend recently shared with me that ‘you can’t see your reflection in running water, only still’. And still water is the container where we can see what a meaningful life means for us.
Sometimes people think it is a luxury to be able to ponder such thoughts and yes, for many, their lives are consumed with survival. I get that and I’m humbled by the privilege of being able to set aside time for introspection. But that’s what I have right now and it could all change ‘just like that’. So in the meantime, those of us who have the gift of this opportunity can build the foundation of a meaningful life by knowing for sure what that means to each of us, in our own words, in our own way.
May you see with absolute clarity in the days ahead.
Posted by: Ms. Daryl Wood | February 2, 2026
Letting Go. Again.
I could write a whole book on this but I’ll start with this:
I wonder if we realize how often we hold onto someone or something that no longer serves us or aligns with who we are. I mean who we are really, not the who we are that we might have lived with or presented to the world for years. How long can we hold onto places, activities and the people who populated our life in the past if they don’t fit anymore? And what is necessary to let go of in order to be honest with ourselves as we shift into the life we are living now?
And what if that means letting go of relationships that have been very special or have filled our world with excitement, opportunity and comfort? Is there a sense of betrayal? Are we less grateful? Is there guilt? And what if we have little or no choice because someone else has rejected us? In the wake of grief, the very idea of letting go of people is very painful. What I notice for me is that even when people have done something or are doing something that reveals a fundamental disconnect I sometimes cling because I’m afraid of being alone or having no one to reach out to. And I don’t want to be seen (I have no idea who is watching and rating my behaviour) as ungrateful or judgemental. I mean, really?
A quote I return to is “Rejection is spirit’s protection.” Rejection isn’t just about someone distancing themselves or ghosting me, it’s also when situations I was counting on or looking forward to don’t work out. It’s the turn of events that break my heart or make me anxious. Then the worry comes in and a long list of fear based internal questions about my worth and worthiness. I have the tools to deal with this and I do it. The challenge is when I am getting all the signals and not realizing that I am being given a gift. A gift that this relationship or situation is not in my best interest so perhaps it would serve me to step away, to retreat and ask myself what I’m getting from it that keeps me tethered to something that doesn’t help me heal and grow. And worse yet, how is this taking up space in my life that could be filled with something more meaningful?
If I am to believe what I taught for decades (and I do believe it at a cellular level) then there are lots of quotes to guide me:
- “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” Maya Angelou
- “Once you become aware of what stands in your way and become willing to release it, you signal the universe that you are ready to manifest the life you were meant to live.” Chérie Carter-Scott
- “The space for what you want is already filled with what you settled for instead.” Richard Bach
So on this frosty February morning I am nudging myself to let the messages be heard. Rather than reading between the lines or making assumptions I see that I have been getting very clear signals from Spirit, The Universe, God, Creator, all the time. It’s time to let go. With that comes trusting that what is meant for me will show up. After all, I am maybe too well known for saying that the Law of Attraction is always at work whether you believe it or not. As long as I hold onto, and that includes investing in, relationships and situations that are not for my highest good then I might have more of those in my life. No thanks. I am on the crest of rebuilding and letting go might be more liberating than I ever imagined.
Posted by: Ms. Daryl Wood | January 22, 2026
Something To Look Forward To
Throughout my grief journey I’ve heard many times that it is important to have something to look forward to. The premise is that it turns my attention to the future and not the past, gives me something else to focus on instead of my grief and also stimulates some joy and excitement. All these things are true and there have been times when it worked very well. The anticipation of my train trip from Toronto to Halifax in September 2024 was definitely a good example of the impact on my whole being of having something to look forward to.
But today I was journalling about some options I have for an upcoming weekend that, so far, will be a break from wintry weather conditions. I noticed that I was feeling hopeful and eager to make plans that would be exciting and fulfilling. Then new ideas started forming and then the inevitable anxiety. Uh oh. Which to choose? What do I really want to do? Will that be a good fit? Which is more important? What’s the easiest way to make this happen? Now, what started out as something to look forward to, was becoming something to worry about. And I have been excessively good at worrying these past two years. My retreat women are all rolling their eyes because I used to say that worrying was a waste of good energy and that ‘if worrying would help, I’ll come over and worry with you’.
As I sat with these feelings I thought about how we sometimes put pressure on ourselves to have something to look forward to. Suddenly, I feel like the only person (and I’m not) who doesn’t have a trip, or event or outing planned. Suddenly, I feel like the only person (and I’m not) who is sitting on the sidelines of life (which I’m not). As a coach, I spent so many years supporting people who were creating something to look forward to. Today, it doesn’t feel right. What does it say about me if I don’t have something to look forward to? What does it mean about me if I have no plans other than to bring in wood for the woodstove and go to the post office? What am I saying about myself if I haven’t set up something that is bigger than my daily life so I can get excited and focus on the future? How will I feel when others are engaged in things I might like to do or that they tell me all about their adventures? And the worst anxiety is whether or not I am running out of time to do something so I better get planning.
Maybe it says that for now, I’m content in the present moment, burrowing down in the winter snow and enjoying the little somethings in my life. And aren’t little somethings just as real and special and meaningful as big somethings? And what about my faith that things always work out. This morning I may not feel like making plans or even thinking about making plans. That could and most likely will change. Something will happen either externally with replies from friends and family or something inside of me might shift and I’ll know what feels right.
This blog might not have been about having something to look forward to at all. It might have just been about trusting my inner wisdom, staying in the present moment and knowing I’ll be guided to whatever something it is that I can look forward to.
Posted by: Ms. Daryl Wood | January 20, 2026
Never Take For Granted The Power of Touch
Shovelling snow in a blizzard and stocking up the woodstove are poignant reminders of my sweet Doug. These were his jobs although I definitely worked alongside him. And it is alongside him that is hardest to live without today.
Doug and I were very affectionate with each other. We held hands … a lot … and he had huge hands. He used to tease me about how small my hands were and how lost they were in his big mitts. We held hands when we walked. We held hands watching tv. We sometimes we held hands when we slept.
We cuddled a lot. I curled up against him on the couch, sat close to him when we travelled, stood in an embrace looking at the lake and snuggled up on the outdoor swing. We just loved being physical.
And there is so much more to touch than I ever realized. A friend in the grocery store tapped my arm when they said hello. Another friend gave me a hug in the parking lot. Someone else took my arm as we slipped together on the icy road. And sometimes, people just brush up against me when we pass in an aisle. All these moments of touch feel so good because I’ll never have Doug put his arms around me again of wrap his big hands around my little ones.
If you take anything away from this message today, please know that touch is comforting, healing and meaningful for whoever you encounter along the way. Some people don’t like to be touched so of course you would want to be respectful. And there are people in my life who I don’t want touching me. But let’s not make assumptions and let’s not lose an opportunity to give others the warmth of physical contact. It’s impossible not to miss what is gone when suddenly it disappears out of your life.
I spent ten days with family and friends over the holidays and was hugged and held and touched a lot. Now as the blizzard has set in and I hunker down with books, and crafts and writing I feel the empty space where touch was the expression of a deep love. Who needs a hug or a soft touch in your life today?
Posted in Conscious Thought, Grief, New perspectives, Personal Growth, Uncategorized | Tags: awareness, Grief, human contact, living with grief, Personal Growth, touch, truth
Posted by: Ms. Daryl Wood | January 5, 2026
For The Sake of What?
Well, here we are. We did it again. We got through another holiday season. For some it is a relief that the busyness is over. For others there are hearts filled with beautiful memories. And for all of us, January 2026 is here and our attention is turned to the next chapter of our lives. It can be daunting to take that big breath and face forward. Some of us will keep our heads down and do what’s next – following through, finishing, starting over and searching for a fit. Some of us will be content to do what we’ve always done to sustain balance and to rest in the ease of familiarity. Some of us will pause and wonder why we are still doing what we have been doing and ask ‘for the sake of what’.
It’s hard to ask that question. It pushes us to be more intentional and deliberate about what we say we’ll do and what we actually do. It calls us to account for the way we live our life and whether or not we are being authentic, living consciously. If it doesn’t matter or isn’t that important we can shrug it off and conclude that we are doing the best we can (which we always are) and that’s good enough. And if we don’t ask the question it doesn’t mean we aren’t being real. It just means that right now isn’t the time for us to go deeper into our life’s journey.
And for those who do pause and ask ‘for the sake of what’, the universe will answer in resounding ways. I have no doubt that the quiet introspection that comes with meditation, prayer, mindfulness is always available for those with the courage and willingness to learn and grow. I say courage because I’m not always happy with the guidance that comes from asking for wisdom. Sometimes I am reminded that a choice I’ve kept making is not serving me whether it’s a physical habit or an often heard dialogue. To interrupt a pattern that doesn’t nurture our soul is to welcome and acknowledge that we are not flying through this lifetime like a kite on a windy day. It says we are playing a role in how our lives unfold and whether or not we find peace, joy, love and acceptance in the midst of discomfort.
And there will always be discomfort. At least that’s what I’ve noticed these two years and two months. Discomfort in extremes is inevitable so to look at what exacerbates that for each of us is the courageous work. Once we know ‘for the sake of what’ we can’t not know it. All we can do then is trust ourselves to follow through or spend our lives hiding from our own truth. We get to decide. Every day.
So it is that I am starting the year in turmoil. After an exceptional holiday time that brought so much love and support and exceeded my minimal expectations, I am wondering how I keep the momentum going. Each action I take, each thought I hold onto, each memory I recount, all beg ‘for the sake of what’. And as I begin another day in the immensely beautiful, quiet solitude of a Tobermory winter on Lake Huron I am asking this question. It is uncomfortable and so necessary if I am to continue to find a meaningful path forward.
If it feels right, perhaps you will softly ask yourself ‘for the sake of what’ when you go about your day. Not to scold or punish and not even to challenge, just to simply notice. Noticing is the greatest gift you can give yourself of the journey of self-discovery. May it bring peace and love into your heart. In the end, that’s all that really matters.
Posted by: Ms. Daryl Wood | December 17, 2025
Today Could Be The Day
Today could be the day that you change someone’s life. Consciously or unconsciously.
Today could be the day you pause to listen to someone who needs to be heard.
Today could be the day you show kindness to someone who is heavy with frustration.
Today could be the day you wait for someone who is struggling to accomplish a simple task.
Today could be the day you accept someone who doesn’t know how their actions impact others.
Today could be the day you don’t say what pops into your head for the sake of peace.
Today could be the day you inspire someone to believe in themselves.
Today could be the day you give someone the space they need to process their experience.
Today could be the day you forgive, you let go, you remember, you share, you say yes, you tell the truth, you say no, you build, you create, you wonder, you allow, you hope.
Today could be the day you take a few extra quiet breaths to connect with the wise inner part of you that has always known that no matter what, you are here, on purpose, to live and love no matter what.
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