YNSTP - BlogYNSTP - Bloghttps://www.yournextsteptopossibility.com/blogsFri, 17 Apr 2026 18:21:00 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Special BEE Hive Cozies for Winter]]>https://www.yournextsteptopossibility.com/blogs/post/special-bee-hive-cozies-for-winterHoney bees do not sleep in the winter. They cluster together in a ball, eating honey and shiver their flight muscles to generate heat. 'Winter bees' a ]]>

Special Bee Hive Cozies for Winter

Honey bees do not sleep in the winter. They cluster together in a ball, eating honey and shiver their flight muscles to generate heat. 'Winter bees' are laid in the fall. They are fed a special diet that doesn't have much pollen protein. This pollen-scarce diet lets the winter bees develop extra large 'fat bodies'. This helps regulate their metabolism, producint an amazing substance that enhances their imune system and causes them to live longer - six months instead of six weeks. 


To help protect the bees against the cold, BEE Keepers will wrap the hives with a black insulated BEE Cozy that gives thermal protection to the hive and can absorb heat from the sun. The roof of each hive is also insulated to the warm air that the bees create from shivering their flight wings does not condense on the inner cover and drip down on the bees. They have small upper and lower entrances so air can circulate and prevent the buildup of moisutre. When snow covers the hives, it creates extra insulation. The heat from the hives melts the snow around it and create an air space. 

From Geesbees


Check out our BEE Your Possibility online meetings the second Wednesday of the month. Come buzz with us. 


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]]>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 14:14:16 -0500<![CDATA[Where do BEEs go in the Winter]]>https://www.yournextsteptopossibility.com/blogs/post/bee-your-possibilities2

Where do BEEs go in the Winter


Honeybees stop flying when the weather gets cold. They cluster inside their hive, where they generate heat by shivering the muscles used for flying. They survive on stored honey. Their shivering together keeps the temperature at the centre of the hive at around 27 degrees celsius. Workers rotate from the outside to the inside of the cluster ensuring no bees get cold. 


Bumblebees: typically they nest in small colonies. In autumn the worker bees and drone bees die off leaving a new, young bumblebee queen. She finds a place to hibernate underground and establishes a new colony in the spring. 

Wasps: most wasps die off in the winter, while mated queens will hibernate. They shelter in closed off places, hiding in crevices. Many of the queens will die due to predatory spiders, or from starvation. If the winter is warm, or mild, the queens come out of hibernation early.

Carpenter Bees hibernate in tunnels they drill into old wood. They hide out in these tunnels over the winter. They come out in the spring and mate. The mated females will find a new place to nest and begin drilling into wood. They lay their eggs and the next generation will emerge as adults in the summer. 

Trulynolen.ca  and Plantura.garden

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]]>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 19:38:27 -0500<![CDATA[Yellow Jackets are Not Bees. They are Wasps]]>https://www.yournextsteptopossibility.com/blogs/post/yellow-jackets-are-wasps-not-beesIt is in the late days of August and the warm days of September that our outdoor meals are disrupted by hungry yellow jackets. " It's a BEE !" & ]]>

The Difference Between Yellow Jackets and Bees

It is in the late days of August and the warm days of September that our outdoor meals are disrupted by hungry yellow jackets. "It's aBEE!" people shout out in terror. They are the same colours as bees and yet they are not bees. They are wasps. 


These wasps have been multiplying since spring and they are hungry, looking for protein and sweets to feed on. So they come instantly to your picnic table to feed on your hambergers or hot dogs, or salads, or whatever you are eating or drinking.  They love mustard. And they love sweets as well. 


As a rule, in my experience, if you don't sip one from your can of pop, or munch one when you bite your hot dog, they will not harm you if they have access to food.  They are very persistent in their quest to eat something. And that's where the challenge comes. When we panic and start waving our arms around to encourage them to take off, we create a danger zone. They are aggravated by the fear hormones so instead of simply trying to eat your food, they become aggressive and that's when they sting. 


A difference between bees and wasps is that bees don't want to eat your food and they don't want to sting you. Bees have a barbed stinger. When they sting, they  lose their stinger and they die. Yellow jackets do not have a barbed stinger and they can sting you over and over again. And that's just what they do when they are frightened or angered. And when they are angered or threatened they emit pheromones that call more yellow jackets to help them.


So what do we do in yellow jacket season to protect ourselves from their moodiness? At our home we have two of those paper imitation wasp nests. They have served us well in the past. Although, one day, this August, one of those yellow jackets was persistent in trying to share my peanut butter and honey toast. I took the sticky plate and a crust of bread out from under the gazebo tent. With no food it left me alone.


In the past I have taken a mustard covered bun and put it on another table, and they left us alone. A recent article in the Grimsby Lincoln News tells us that a Crystal Beach restaurant lines the walls around the restaurant with cups that have orange juice in them and they entice the yellow jackets away from the food of the patrons.


Another thing to think about is staying calm and don't swing your arms about in panic. If you are calm, they stay calm. As a tour guide at a winery during vintage season, taking tours out to the crushers, swarms of yellow jackets would come to check us, well me, out. As I gave my spiel, I would calmly move my arms to keep the little critters away from my face and never got stung in 13 harvests. 


As much as the yellow jacket wasps annoy us in late summer, they are still beneficial pollinators that actually trap other iritating insects to feed their young. So, while I recommend you be aware of the danger of yellow jackets, I suggest that you offer them some food away from where you are eating, or use wasp traps or even cups of orange juice to keep their attention from your lunch. And most of all, please stay calm to keep them from becoming aggressive. 


Enjoy the rest of your summer. 

]]>Mon, 08 Sep 2025 19:25:07 -0400<![CDATA[BEEing Possible in September 2024]]>https://www.yournextsteptopossibility.com/blogs/post/beeing-possible-in-september-2024BEEs are so important for our existence. They pollinate the plants that provide us with a major amount of the food we eat.  I was pleasantly surpr ]]>

BEEing Possible in September 2024

BEEs are so important for our existence. They pollinate the plants that provide us with a major amount of the food we eat. 

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that in September Georgian Bay Township hosted a Honey Bee Festival. The even is to educate people about the importance of bees and why they need to be taken care of. It sounds like it was a fun event. 

Honey BEE on my Hostas

This summer I was surprised to find this honey bee on one of my hosta plants. In the past, I've enjoyed watching some very busy bumble bees flit from hosta to hosta. The honey bees and other bees would gather pollen in the oregano patch or the mint flowers. Sadly, this summer, there was no oregano. I loved watching her gather pollen from the long stamens of the hosta. I don't know if you can see that she has a quite full pollen pouch on her left hind leg. 

Hive Rules

Our BEE Your Possibilities monthly meetings run on Hive Rules similar to the ones found on bee signs. I was surprised to receive a T-shirt displaying the Hive rules of

BEE Kind; BEE Honest; BEE Respectful; BEE Positive; BEE Grateful; and most importantly, BEElieve in Yourself.

Other accepted behaviours at our meetings include BEE:

Friendly and fun; Open and receptive to new ideas; Caring, sharing, supporting and encouraging; 

Holding Possibility conversations that focus on solutions more than on problems or challenges using Productive Possibility language. 

One of the best things about BEE Your Possibilities is the positivity, the kindness and the sharing of our members. I am grateful for each and everyone of our BEES. Together we create possibilities.


Consider visiting us the second Wednesday of the month and see what is possibile for you.


"Our treasure lies in the beehive of knowledge. We are perpetually on the way thither,

being by nature winged insects and honey gatherers of the mind."

Neitzsche

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]]>Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:03:49 -0500<![CDATA[Self-Care Includes Your Inner You]]>https://www.yournextsteptopossibility.com/blogs/post/self-care-includes-your-inner-youWhat is Self-Care? Self-care is taking care of you! It involves  anything you do to take care of you physically, mentally and spiritually.  And ]]>

Caring for Your Inner You

What is Self-Care?

Self-care is taking care of you! It involves anything you do to take care of you physically, mentally and spiritually. 

And no, that is not being selfish - it is caring for yourself, which is how you care for others.  In order to be the best you can be for others, you need to be at your best.


In these days of technology and instant access to information people are expected to always be working, and available - to always be productive.

Sadly, this busyness is counterproductive. There is a cost to trading self-care for productivity. That cost includes, fatigue, overwhelm, burnout, depression, anxiety, and resentment. 


A discussion with women at a a recent women's group turned to how they are so busy that at times they go into overwhelm. 

"What do you do when you find yourself in overwhelm?" I asked. 

One woman told us, "I know about self-care. I take time to bath, rest, eat well, and even exercise. And still I feel overwhelmed." 


What came to mind is that in our busyness what often gets missed is our mental and spiritual self care. This is our inner self. We have to take time for certain aspects of self-care like physical, and even social - and we do. Sadly, it is our inner self that is the one area that is out of sight and out of mind. It may even be the most important aspect. 


The busyness of two jobs, two children, and a partner caused my own burnout and depression. I was one of those women who didn't really know what I wanted from life. And I did not speak up because I did not want to make waves. I felt that I had very few rights. My biggest problem was that I felt like I was never good enough. I did not feel that I deserved to be spoken to with respect. and I never gave myself permission to feel what I was feeling, to express what I was feeling. Nor did I give myself permission to stand up for what I believed or wanted. Depression is a lack of expression. Burnout is mental, physical and emotional exhaustion.


These are things that started my quest for what I want in my life and in my future. I want to look forward to the possibilities in my future. These break downs are what lead me to finding ways to increase self-confidence and self-esteem. And wanting that for others as well is what led me to Life Coaching.


I find that clients often need to be given permission to feel what they are feeling. From personal experience, one holds in their emotions, be it sadness, resentment, even anger, because they fear the results of expressing themselves - afraid their emotions will be dismissed, or any resentment and anger will be turned back onto them.  "Shake it off! You can't feel that way! You are imagining things!" Sound familiar What else?


Emotions are an integral part of who we are and they must be acknowledged and dealt with or they will have a negative affect on us. Many women, even today, were raised to take care of others, to put themselves last. That's not working for them because the continual productivity and caring for others is draining their mental and physical selves.


As women, we need to care for ourselves so we can care for our loved ones, our jobs and careers, and our friends and family.  That's why I started my Dare to Dream Retreats and that's why you need to consider attending Dare to Dream Encore November 29 to December 1st. The doors are closing soon. 


Don't miss this opportunity. Book you spot today!


Dare to Dream today!
]]>Fri, 22 Nov 2024 15:59:27 -0500<![CDATA[Dare to Dream Encore - Self-Discovery]]>https://www.yournextsteptopossibility.com/blogs/post/dare-to-dream-encore-self-discovery You deserve this! It is a weekend journey for you to resurrect the dreams and desires buried while you  got ]]>

Dare to Dream Encore
​A Self-Discovery Retreat for You to Know You

You deserve this!

It is a weekend journey for you to resurrect the dreams and desires buried while you 

got your education, raised your children, started your business, and or cared for others.


It is for women who are ready to look at their lives with new perspectives and 

give themselves permission to dream new possibilities - for themselves. 

Is this you? 

Are you ready to get to know you and what you want?

Are you ready to empower yourself with clarity and direction that will 

guide your next steps and create the future you want to step into? 


Let me share with you the experiences of other women who dared to dream at one, and even two, of the previous Dare to Dream retreats.


The first retreat was a year ago, at the end of October. It was an overnight retreat at Jericho House, Wainfleet. The benefits received were huge! At the end of this mini retreat, every one of the women said the same thing, "When's the next one?"  The participants got so much value out of our short time together, they asked for a longer retreat in nice weather so they could go out into the forest. We still keep in touch. We met for lunch in Hamilton in February, halfway between where we all live. We reconnected to share successes and progress after sharing Dare to Dream - Again - the first retreat. And, they were still asking, "When's the next retreat?"


The next retreat was scheduled for June 2024. We were so pumped from the results of the first retreat that we were asked to be on a Transformed Infinitely podcast by Jeff Walters called,  Charmaine – Dare to Dream 2.0  Please give it a listen to hear how Dare to Dream Retreats can benefit you. 


Three from the first group signed up immediately for Dare 2 Dream 2. This weekend was a full Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. It was the same program with a bit more powerful information and lots of time outdoors exploring the forest paths. This retreat included different people yet again, the benefits were huge ending with takeaways and appreciations. The smiles on the faces of these women were brilliant as they shared how much they enjoyed the event and the benefits they received.


One takeaway from a second time attendee was that the first retreat was great and this one was better. "It was Magical," she exclaimed. Others commented on how safe they felt learning and sharing with each other. They told of the clarity and direction they now have. They learned how valuable their self-care is and how important they are to themselves. They enjoyed the comfort and peaceful atmosphere of Jericho House and how they enjoyed the food. They have definitely re-kindled their hope and belief in themselves. They are already dreaming their possibilities into reality! And, they were asking, again, "When's the next one?"


The next one is happening at the end of this month, November 29 to December 1. Check it out at Dare to Dream Encore Retreat. It will be another powerful retreat for those who attend. Women from the first, and second retreats have already registered.  What a wonderful pre-Christmas gift for yourself, or a friend.  The reaction to Dare to Dream retreats was so positive and uplifting, I have to share it with as many people as I can. 


Don't miss it. I want you to have the opportunity to step into this possibility and to share it with other women ready to get to know themselves better. Do yourself a favour and check Dare to Dream Encore Retreat out and register today to ensure your room is reserved. 


Register Today
]]>Tue, 12 Nov 2024 13:13:36 -0500<![CDATA[BEEs are Effective Networkers]]>https://www.yournextsteptopossibility.com/blogs/post/bee-your-possibilities1

BEE Networking Strategies

The behaviours of BEEs in their colonies can offer insights into effective networking strategies for people. Below are six behaviours observed in honey bee colonies that can work for you.

1. Collaboration and Cooperation: Just as bees work together to forage for food, defend the hive, and care for the brood, networkers can collaborate and cooperate with others to achieve common goals. By forming alliances, sharing resources, and supporting each other, networkers can amplify their impact and achieve greater success.

2. Communication and Information Sharing: Bees communicate vital information about food sources, nest sites, and threats through intricate dance language and pheromones. Similarly, effective networkers communicate openly and transparently with their connections, sharing insights, opportunities, and resources that can benefit others in their network.

3. Support and Mentorship: Worker bees care for the developing larvae and the queen bee, providing nourishment, protection, and guidance as needed. Likewise, networkers can offer support, mentorship, and guidance to their peers and colleagues, helping them navigate challenges, overcome obstacles, and achieve their goals.

4. Adaptability and Flexibility: Bees exhibit swarm behaviour, where they adapt and relocate to new nest sites when conditions become unfavorable. Similarly, networkers must be adaptable and flexible, willing to adjust their strategies, goals, and approaches in response to changing circumstances and opportunities in the networking landscape.

5. Resource Sharing and Reciprocity: Bees share resources within the colony, ensuring that all members have access to food, shelter, and support. Similarly, networkers can engage in reciprocity by sharing knowledge, contacts, and opportunities with their connections, fostering a culture of generosity and mutual benefit within their network.

6. Collective Decision-Making: Bees make collective decisions, such as when to swarm or where to forage, through consensus-building and information sharing. Similarly, networkers can engage in collaborative decision-making processes, seeking input from their peers and stakeholders to inform strategic decisions and actions that benefit the entire network.

By emulating the behaviours observed in bee colonies, networkers can cultivate stronger, more resilient, and more effective networks that facilitate collaboration, communication, and mutual support among members.While there may not be a specific quote about networkers emulating bee colony behaviours, we can craft one to capture the essence:


"Effective networkers are like bees in a hive, collaborating, communicating, and supporting each other to achieve collective success. Just as bees work together for the greater good of the colony, networkers build relationships, share resources, and foster a culture of reciprocity, helping each other achieve their individual successes together."
]]>Mon, 12 Aug 2024 11:50:00 -0400<![CDATA[BEE Your Possibilities]]>https://www.yournextsteptopossibility.com/blogs/post/bee-your-possibilitiesExplanation of what BEE Your Possibilities is and does]]>

BEEing Possible

BEE Your Possibilities started out as BEE the Buzz Niagara, started by Carolyn Shannon of Empowerment Starts Here. It met the second Wednesday of the month at meeting room in St. Catharines in a restaurant or event space. That's where I started networking.  The people were wonderful. The information shared was valuable.

I looked forward to the monthly meetings.  When COVID hit, Carolyn took BEE Niagara on line. It was still a great meeting online.  Thank you Carolyn.


And then, Carolyn decided to retirre BEE the Buzz Niagara. When she announced it, at the end of 2020, I found myself asking if she would mind if I took over the time and date slot that she had been using. Her response shocked me. She said something like, "That would be great! And I know what you can call it. Call it, "BEE Your Possibilities." And that was how BEE Your Possibilities was founded. Our January meeting is the 12th meeting of our 3rd year. Again, thank you Carolyn.


What is different about the two groups is not a lot. Carolyn met live 10 months of the year with 2 special meetings. This BEE meets monthly, online. Our meetings are formatted on what I call, mastermind light. It is structured like a mastermind without the indepth accountability and commitments of a speific mastermind. 


We start with introductions - relationship building - about who you are, what your business does and how members can help you. 

The Education segment has a business related lesson that includes interactive discussion. Then, our

Business Building session has a member discuss their business more in-depth, again to let others know what the business does, how it serves its clients and how our membership can help each other. 

To Empower each other, each meeting has a Business Challenge session, were a member can register to go into discussion about solving a business challenge and brainstorming solutions for the member to select from, take away and try, and report back to the next meeting with results or feedback.


Why are we based on Bees? Bees work as a group, a team. That's what our group is about. Helping each other step into their possibilities as they

Build their business; Educate each other; and Empower each other. 


We meet monthly, the second Wednesday of the month, for two hours. The meetings are interactive, positive, and focused on solutions and possibility. Surprisingly, even meetings that we thought would be shorter, fill the complete 2 hours.


Want to buzz about your business? Register for our next meeting. 


]]>Mon, 08 Jan 2024 14:55:23 -0500<![CDATA[Step Out of What You are Stuck In!]]>https://www.yournextsteptopossibility.com/blogs/post/step-out-of-what-you-are-stuck-inAre you stuck in "What Is?" Ways to step out of what is keeping you stuck]]>

Do you ever get caught up in "What is!"?

"What is" is what is happening in your life at the moment. It could be the weather: raining, snowing, too hot, too cold. It could be your job: your boss, co-worker, the work, the pay. It could be your relationship or your life. It could be politics, neighbours, other people, other countries. It could be any one of many other things that you have no control over. Some, or all of these things are happening all the time.

I was so stuck in “What Is,” I found it impossible to see “What Could Be.” It took me a long time to realize what I was doing with these things that happen all the time. And it still happens on occasion, although I am able to catch myself sooner. 

Sometimes I get so caught up in what is, I get angry, frustrated, hurt, sad, depressed. And when I do, I react with those emotions, yelling, crying, banging, and withdrawing. I don’t like the way things are. I hate it! I want things to be the way I want them to be. I don’t want them to be the way they are. Have you ever felt that way? So what do I do about it? What do you do about those things?

I used to hold myself stuck in that misery by witching (with a B), moaning, and whining about what is and how I wish it were different. I would witch to anyone who would listen, and some who had to listen. I would bring it with me in the car, cursing the situation, take it home with me, bring it to family and social gatherings. At the time, I thought, “If I didn’t have this crappy life to witch about, I’d have nothing to say.”

I was constantly asking “Why?” Why does it have to rain? Why did that happen to me? Why doesn’t he treat me better. Heck, I even used to threaten the weather: “It’d better be nice for MY event or else. 

What the heck did I think I was going to do about it if it didn’t meet MY expectations? Well, I’d get mad, or sad, or frustrated and I would curse, cry, and be downright miserable to myself and everyone else. Sound familiar?

What were the results MY reactions were having? Did they change anything? Did it stop snowing last Christmas so my family could visit? Did my reactions change anything when COVID put us into lockdown? No!

Does witching and whining, anger, or tears, your being in a bad mood do anything to change “What is”? No! The only thing it does is hold you stuck in those useless and destructive emotions. 

Step One: Learn to notice how you are feeling. Many times our emotions are conditioned reactions. They are how we were taught to react to “what is”. This often includes impotent anger, helpless tears, frustration, or checking out. Notice what you are feeling and how you are reacting.

Step Two: Notice what you are saying to yourself. Is what you are telling yourself making you feel better, or worse? Is feeling this way changing “what is”, or affecting “what is” in anyway? Could you choose to feel differently about this?

Note: There are times when you have to feel those feelings, to feel their effect on you, or to work through them, be they anger, sadness, or grief. Please do not push your feelings away. Marisa Peer, Therapist, shared a quote from, I believe a psychiatrist, that said something like, “A feeling must be felt until it no longer needs to be felt.” Feel what you are feeling, but don’t stay stuck in it.

At times, I have to work through my feelings of anger and a great way for me to do so is with angry cleaning. It dissipates the anger and the house gets cleaned. Sometimes, you may need to step away from a situation for a time to feel what you are feeling until you have regained some control. This is true for sadness and tears. You may have to step away to let the tears fall so you can gain control and see things differently. Feelings must be felt. 

Acknowledge it, feel it, where do you feel it in your body, ask it, “How does this emotion serve me?” I find journaling to be a powerful way to answer that question. I write through the feeling until I find myself beginning to see what I can do to change the way I feel.

Step Three: Give yourself permission to look for something to be happy about. I discovered, after many years, that all that witching, whining and moaning had become a habit that was actually creating more and more misery.

I chose to stop fighting what is. I started with winter. It was a battle I could not win. I bought myself some snow pants so I stay warm when I have to be out in it for long. I enjoy playing in the snow with the grandchildren, or visiting a barn with a friend, or sitting in a patch of sunshine on a cold day. I even enjoy walking on a cold winter morning.

I chose to stop fighting the rain and I bought an umbrella. I chose to stop witching about my relationship and start working on it by speaking up about what I want. I learned to be grateful for the people in my life who had passed on by cherishing the good memories and experiences, and lessons.

Stop fighting “what is” and start looking for ways to change it, if you can, or accept it, if you can’t. It will make a great difference to how you feel about your life.

You can choose to find a spark of happiness that, with time and practice, you can fan into a flame that will have you feeling better about yourself, about life, and about your tomorrows. You will begin to find solutions to what's bothering you and you can help yourself begin to enjoy “what is”.

One of the most important things I learned, a long time ago, from my grandchildren is to look for, and share good things. At bedtime, I would ask them to tell me three good things from the day – something good to sleep on – and one good thing for tomorrow to look forward to. When we start looking for the good that is in our life, we find it.

Which feels better: Looking at the good, or witching and whining about “what is” wrong with life? When you feel better you see a brighter future. You see possibility where you used to see impossibility. That allows you to take your next step into making a better life for yourself and those around you. Isn’t it time to Step Out of “What is”?
]]>Tue, 02 Jan 2024 16:52:00 -0500