My goodness a lot can happen in a month. I am really excited to share with you about the adventures that Bullying Ends Here has been on over the last 30 days.

It was on October 23rd that I worked until 6am. Having just finished a 13 hour shift, I have never had more energy. I knew that I was about to embark on a three week tour that would be starting off in Ottawa with the Dominion Lending Centres crew that I had met in Whistler. Although I was physically exhausted, I was so excited to reconnect with my new friends.

Here I was, arriving at the Ottawa airport just going about my business and heading to get my rental car, when at the bottom of the escalator, I see three beautiful faces holding signs welcoming me to the city. I have never been welcomed at an airport before and this was overwhelming and unexpected. The journey had officially begun. For 48 hours, I was escorted all around the city while visiting with such incredible friends. It was like we had known each other for years. Needless to say, much happened that I could never write about on here :-). On the Saturday night, I was invited to attend the Kaleidoscope of Hope Gala with Jamie’s family. It’s always so good to see them again. We have a bond that is really tough to explain but so important. It was a fabulous night full of inspiration and hope.

Leaving Ottawa after 48 hours, I was then off to Kenora, Ontario for three days of presentations. I spoke at several schools (public and Catholic) and presented to a couple thousand new friends. After doing three presentations and two interviews on my final day in Kenora, it was then time for a five hour drive to Thunder Bay where I met with more of our DLC colleagues.

Nathan Lawrence and his incredible team had put two days together full of presentations and interviews. I presented the Bullying Ends Here program five times during those two days and again reached several thousand people.

It was then time to leave Ontario and head off to Nova Scotia where the tour then continued in Halifax. Over the course of the next week, I would speak seven times at five schools, doing several interviews and again reaching many thousands. By this time, my emails were filling up fast as the connection was being made with those that heard the presentation. I think I was averaging about 100 emails per day. This on top of the two presentations, interviews and travel each day. So rewarding!

Lastly, I headed off to New Brunswick where I began the final leg. During this time, I presented 6 times to almost 10,000 youth.

All in all, I presented 26 times to almost 20,000 youth. I was so humbled to have been invited to so many new communities and be welcomed with open arms everywhere I went. I know that I will be back to them all as there are many more to reach.

The emails are always the most inspirational, and heartbreaking. It always pains me to hear how youth truly feel alone – they feel like they have no one to talk to. I am so proud of them when they can share such personal stories. You can hear their pain in the email. They know that they can trust me and many commit to continuing on, knowing that you can still achieve your dreams. They use my own story to know that things will get better and the importance of speaking up. They are doing exactly what I should have done so long ago…reaching out.

Needless to say, the program is continuing to grow and help to save lives.

Upon my return to Alberta, I was awarded with the ‘Inspiration Award’ presented by the Government of Alberta. What a wonderful feeling to be recognized for the efforts to help others. I was truly humbled and inspired to do even more.

Breakfast Television in Calgary then had me live on their morning program to talk about the successes of the program. I am becoming a master of speaking really fast as I have so much I want to get in, with only a few minutes to do so!

I am now back in Calgary and working away while having a full slate of local presentations on days off. As much as I love being on the road and doing the program, I also miss working and responding to emergency calls very much. I am lucky to be in a position where I can live my dream on a daily basis while complimenting it with the Bullying Ends Here program. Oh, I am also very excited to tell you that I have a new edition to the book that should be released within the next few weeks. I did a ‘soft launch’ of the original book a few months ago but felt that it needed some more. I really opened up and shared much more feeling and emotion. Can you believe that even with the soft launch, the book is now officially on the Best Sellers list for Amazon. Once the new edition is ready, I suspect the book will be even more successful. It should also be noted that every cent from the sale of the book goes to the charity since I refuse to accept any monies for it.

Next week the program will be in Northern Saskatchewan, which will be exciting. Coming up will be visits to Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario. Just so much to look forward to but it’s important to enjoy every moment by living in the NOW.

As always, I am here to message through the website www.bullyingendshere.ca. Thanks for reading and I look forward to updating you with next month’s journey.

Courtesy of Tad Milmine – Founder, Bullying Ends Here