I didn’t really know what I was going to do, exactly. But my plan was to be wildly successful,  have a brilliant career, travel the world and [...]]]> 20 years ago this month, my dad asked me to leave the family nest. I was 16, I was full of fire and ambition and I had a plan.

I didn’t really know what I was going to do, exactly. But my plan was to be wildly successful,  have a brilliant career, travel the world and have a really, really big house. I was convinced that these “things” would make me deliriously happy. So I studied hard, got my diploma and racked up  a ton of student debt.

Then I worked hard and lived large and racked up some consumer debt. I was happy, sort of… but not really. Ten years ago, I woke up and decided I wouldn’t be a slave to this lifestyle anymore.

So I quit it all and my debt and I went in search of a different path. I rejected money and vowed to find inner peace through voluntary simplicity and service to my fellow man.  I would be lying if I told you it’s been easy. I’ve walked through the desert and weathered many storms that shook me to the core. But I’m stronger and wiser because of it and that alone makes everything worthwhile.

Next week, I’ll be making the final payment on my student debt. In all, that little piece of paper cost me thirty thousand dollars. I feel as though thirty thousand pounds are being lifted off my shoulders. You have no idea how free I feel. As an added bonus, my husband and I are also very close to eliminating all of our debt as well.  Needless to say, we are very, very pleased. I’m actually quite thankful for the lessons learned but I’m eager to end this chapter and begin a new one.

So what’s my plan now?  I plan to let go of the past and not anticipate the future. I want to enjoy life, one moment at a time. Because moments like these

make me profoundly happy. The rest is either unimportant or will work itself out.

As I take my evening walk tonight, I’ll have a special thought for all of you who are paying off your student loans or consumer debt. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and you will get there! Good luck!

If you enjoyed reading this, please pass it on. Warm thanks.

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I live in an idyllic little village nestled in a quiet valley in the heart of the Laurentians.

4000 souls have made this corner of paradise their home.  I call this [...]]]> I am constantly amazed by the generosity of people. Seems like there is a kind and generous person around every corner in my community.

I live in an idyllic little village nestled in a quiet valley in the heart of the Laurentians.

4000 souls have made this corner of paradise their home.  I call this place paradise because in many ways, it truly is. There are no wars or conflicts here. We have a vast, dense forest to play in. Rivers, lakes and mountains galore, fresh air, open spaces and endless possibilities. People here are athletic and creative and positive and peaceful.

On main street, you’ll find a few restaurants, cafes and shops, a grocery store,  post-office and a video store.  But the real heart of our village is our school. Every morning, our usually quiet streets, become alive with children and school buses and car pooling families. It’s quite a sight to see.  My husband and I left the city and moved here because of this school. Our kids get to enjoy nature as part of their curriculum. Biking, snowshoeing, skiing, skating, sailing, rock-climbing, you name it, they do it at this school.  Plus, we are a “green” school so we take part in composting and recycling activities as well. This is exactly the kind of positive learning environment we wanted for our son.

I started volunteering at school on day one. It was just something I had to do. I was so thrilled to be a part of this community that I wanted to give something back. Of course, there is nothing more important to me than to be present for my son and to make sure he has everything he needs as he starts out on his life path. So I signed up for all the parent committees and volunteered for everything under the sun. Except checking for head lice. I’ve always had very long thick hair and my mother programmed me to avoid lice like the plague.  So I stay away from that task… but I make up for it in other areas.

Around Christmas time last year, I was invited into Loïk’s  kindergarten class for a pajama party day. He was thrilled to bits and so was I. I had a wonderful time crafting and telling stories and just having fun with a bunch of happy, cheery 5 year olds.  Not only was it a great opportunity for me to get to know the teacher and my son’s classmates better. It also gave me a better understanding of our schools needs.

To be honest with you, I was a little surprised by what I discovered. The teacher had taken great care in making the classroom comfortable and inviting but as I looked around, I realized that almost everything in the room was pretty dated. Old books and toys, an old, somewhat broken chair in the reading corner, faded paint on the wall, an annoying tick and hum coming from the ventilation system… I decided then and there that I would help in any way I could.

Don’t get me wrong, the classroom was very nice and clean and the kids had everything they needed … it doesn’t compare in any way to a school in a third world country but nonetheless, there certainly was room for improvement.

I asked the teacher what I could bring in to help her out. She was thankful and somewhat overwhelmed by my offer. The school’s budget is tight and her classroom budget is even tighter and she told me she often has to dig into her own pocket if she wants to offer a little bonus material to her students.

So I came home and went through my sons books and toys.  I was able to put together 2 large plastic containers full of material to donate to her classroom.

Then I started to think that I could help out the other teachers as well.  I started by finding out what their needs are and then started asking around to other families.  I was timid at first but I still managed to bring in quite a few big ticket items as well as a number of books and educational toys.

This year, I was asked to be President of our school’s Foundation. It makes me responsible for our school breakfast program as well as all fund raising activities at school. It’s a huge undertaking but luckily I’ve assembled a team of dedicated people who want to help. We serve about 80 healthy breakfasts a day to kids who are hungry when they get to school in the morning, no questions asked.

Needless to say, it’s been a really busy year for me. But what stands out the most for me is the kindness and generosity of the people in my community. It seems as though all I have to do is ask in order to receive. It has been a very humbling and life changing experience.

My heart goes out, in gratitude, to the families who donate their time on school activities and donate books and skates and bikes so we can maintain our free sports programs.

Heartfelt thanks to my elderly volunteers who come to school to serve breakfast with a smile. Heartfelt thanks to the local businesses who donate the money that allows us to buy the milk and fruit and a warm thank you to the local restaurant who makes a healthy bread for us to serve each day.

Our school has lots of needs. Our teachers need our support and our kids need to know that their education matters to all of us.  I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the task at hand. But I take a deep breath and remember that there are helping hands around every corner and that together, we can make the world a better place for our kids.

I’d like to expand our efforts and find a school from a developing country that we could sponsor… Then I take another deep breath and remind myself that I’ll get there, one step at a time.

This is the drawing I made and included in our thank you letter. I hope they like it.

Do you volunteer at your local school? I’d love to hear your stories.

If you enjoyed reading this, please pass it on. Warm thanks.

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