I sometimes introduce myself as YodaNinja. "Yoda on the outside, Ninja on the inside." Outside, I seem calm and composed. When I speak (or write), what I say can be profound, perplexing... or both. But my inner world is another story. Deep inside of me is a Ninja battleground where thoughts, emotions, ideas, and utter randomness all fight for my attention. Every once in a while, they actually cooperate and I have to say, I'm deadly. But then they go at it again... and "Everybody is Kung Fu fighting." I'm a dad, a husband and a guy whose mind has a mind of it's own. My recovery from my addiction to numbing myself (with pretty much anything I can get my hands on) is a lifelong journey. I live with depression, anxiety and adhd... and sometimes they don't get along very well with my family, or with the rest of my life. Professionaly, I make my living as a Counselling Therapist in Edmonton, Canada. I teach on addiction and psychopathology at City University, and I have a small counselling practice where I use superheroes and other geeky stuff to help people make peace with their own personal YodaNinja. This blog is part of my healing and writing keeps me grounded. I hope that something I have written may add a little bit to your journey. Keep it Real
A reader recently posted this question to me, “I was curious to know how you center yourself and clear your thoughts prior to writing. I’ve had a hard time clearing my mind in getting my thoughts out. I truly do take pleasure in writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes … More Be the Bulb: The Writer You are Meant to Be
I have a new clock, an Atomic Clock. It is a big deal to me because it is so advanced that it uses a radio to set itself. Other than replacing the battery, my clock never needs me. It does its job perfectly without needing any assistance from me. Each night when I am enjoying Magical Dreamland, my Atomic … More How GMO’s have actually improved my life
This is the seventh article on the Quiet Leader. To keep up with the latest Quiet Leader articles, join the Quiet Leadership Facebook Page here or add your name to the email list by clicking the FOLLOW button on the top right. Please “Like” the article and share it with other Introverts and those who … More The Quiet Leader: Why Superman is a terrible leader
Thank you for reading my blog! If you like what you see, leave a comment. I would also appreciate you nominating me for the Positive Writer Blog Contest (Just click the link and type smswaby.wordpress.com. Or even better, include the browser link for one of my posts that you enjoyed). Honestly, I don’t think my … More Positive Writer Blog Nomination
“We learn who we are by reflecting on our past, by knowing and interpreting the story of our life.” Gordon T Smith When I was in High School I learned about Leprosy, in church. I tell you, it was an eye opener. In it’s heyday, leprosy was like eBola only there were no doctors … More Quiet Leaders: The Silent Superpower
Limits are behind all loss… our culture routinely interprets losses as alien invasions that interrupt our “normal” lives. Peter Scazzero People like me more when I say Yes. When I give my kids what they want, they tell me that I am the Best Dad in the World. That does not last long. The sun … More The Bilingual Brain: What really happens when we hear NO!
This post is number five in a series on Quiet Leadership. You can join the Quiet Leadership Facebook Page here or add your name to the email list by clicking the FOLLOW button on the right. Please “Like” the article and share it. Get ready to become part of the Quiet Revolution. Check other articles in … More The Quiet Leader: The DSM 5 and My Near Diagnosis Experience
“Wise men say, only fools rush in…” Elvis Presley Our world hates Slow. Think about how you respond to slow drivers or to slow, congested traffic? Slow grocery store lines? Waiting of any kind? Or any Government process? How long does it take until you are cursing the “Idiot” who is responsible for making you … More The Quiet Leader: Seat Work
When was quitting the best decision you could make? Why does society have such a negative view of quitting? Isn’t quitting another word for change? This summer I wrote an article about Quitting Time. It is an inspirational article that will change the world. Or it just may add a little humor to your day… and remember, more … More Quit your way to the top
This post is the third in a series on Quiet Leadership. Check out the Quiet Leadership Manifesto and The Quiet Leader: The Imposter Syndrome. I will be adding more articles to this topic, so I recommend that you add your name to the email list, “Like” the article and get ready to become part of … More Quiet Leader: The Top Ten Reasons Listening is Better than Speaking
Getting High on Recovery 