September 19 – Going to WE Day Toronto

4 hours until the plane takes off towards Toronto.  I decided not to sleep because it would have been too hard to get up to catch a plane that early.  So here I sit filling my time.  Writing isn’t the thing that I most like to do at 2 a.m. but here I am.  I use to love plane rides.  It was always exciting to sit by the window and see the world go by.  But now I prefer the aisle seat.  I think it’s because it’s closer to the aisle and the washroom.  And when you are on a 5 hour flight, that is so important.

Don’t ask me why I chose the 6 a.m. flight.  I don’t think I really did.  I gave my options and someone else booked them.  Oh well, just means that we land in Toronto early than 7 pm dinner time.  It will give us time to orient ourselves and look around the city before it gets dark.  I just realized that it has only been a month since I was last there.  Not even.

Received the itinerary for Me to We Day Toronto today via email.  12,000 attendees. That’s pretty huge.  Everything is scripted to the minute of course.   We have one minute on stage.  There will be someone from the Fifth Estate show there to capture me on video.  Day in the life of …  What I can’t wait for is to hear the speakers that will be presenting on Friday.  Those are definitely once in a life time opportunities.  Click and see the line-up of presenters and performers.  WOW!!!

I think the next month will be exceptionally busy for some reason.  There are conferences coming up.  Meetings regarding safe communities and of course, the planning for October 10th.  I am so glad that it is also World Mental Health Day.  It gives two reasons to make sure that October 10th is successful.  There are many places Lighting Up Purple and many people who will be thinking and wearing purple. That is what this is about.  I know that purple isn’t the colour of Mental Health or anti-bullying.  But it does raise the conscious awareness when asked – Why is it purple you are focussing on?  What is Purple Day?  What does Purple have to do with Mental health?  What are you lighting up?

The goal is increase awareness and discussion and I hope that this is happening.  I spoke last night at an event called UBC Dialogues.  The discussion focussed around ‘Can We Stop Bullies?’ and centred around bullying, mental health and changes that could be made through different avenues.  As I worried about not having anything to say, I think the discussion could have continued longer.  The questions from the audience were interesting and diverse.   It’s that ‘HMMM’ moment.  If people had ‘AHA’s’, that is a good thing too.

I hope that the woman who came up to speak with me, who had the 7 year old child will contact me somehow.  She was emotional and upset about something.  She told me she was a parent.  A parent who cared about the future that her children will grow up in.   If  you are out there, email me at amandatoddlegacy@gmail.com 

Time to finish packing.

Dear Amanda – you have inspired a nation and beyond to speak up.  As I flipped through photos of you today, I saw your beauty and strength come out of your pictures.  Your eyes were glowing and sparkly.  I wish that you had been able to see how you could motivate the future in real life.

Love you always, Mom  xoxo    (Light Up Purple is for you and all those with you amongst the stars!!)