When I first came across Ian Fennelly’s artwork, I wasn’t entirely sure what to make of it. (https://www.urbansketchcourse.com/) The buildings leaned at improbable angles. Perspective bent and stretched. Ink lines wobbled rather than marched neatly across the page. Colours drifted far beyond where reality said they should be. A stone wall might suddenly bloom withContinueContinue reading “Learning to Loosen Up: My Experience with Ian Fennelly’s Urban Sketching Course”
Author Archives: Shelley C. Taylor
Grief and the mundane
James (a fictional name) sat across from me, quietly weeping over the death of his 16-year-old cat. James had raised his furry companion since the kitten was only a week old. He bottle-fed the little ball of fur, rubbed its belly to help it defecate, as a mother cat would, and kept it warm againstContinueContinue reading “Grief and the mundane”
Beyond-the-Self Engagement: Rethinking What Makes Life Meaningful
For a long time, I thought I understood what gave life meaning. Or perhaps more accurately, I thought I understood what should give life meaning. Like many people in North America, I unconsciously absorbed the idea that meaning was supposed to come from visible things: career, achievement, contribution, relationships, family, impact. Meaning was something youContinueContinue reading “Beyond-the-Self Engagement: Rethinking What Makes Life Meaningful”
Borrowing Momentum: A Small Experiment with Motivation, ADHD, and Writing
I want to be a writer. More accurately, I want to write. But getting myself to actually sit down and do it is another story entirely. Most mornings follow the same pattern. My dogs wake me up far too early — usually around 6 a.m. I feed them, then feed the wildlife (chipmunks, squirrels, mallardContinueContinue reading “Borrowing Momentum: A Small Experiment with Motivation, ADHD, and Writing”
ACT Therapy and Neurodivergence: Same Therapy, Different Translation
I recently came across a professional workshop focused on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and neurodivergence. At first, I was disappointed that I could not attend. But after reading through the outline more carefully, I realised something interesting: much of what was being presented was not necessarily a brand-new therapeutic technique, but rather research andContinueContinue reading “ACT Therapy and Neurodivergence: Same Therapy, Different Translation”
ADHD and Routine vs Ritual
A lot of people with ADHD struggle with discipline. We struggle with routine. And if I’m being completely honest, I struggle with both — even when I know, intellectually, that practice matters. At a very basic level, I fight against routine. And yet, at the same time, I know something uncomfortable is true: I’m notContinueContinue reading “ADHD and Routine vs Ritual”
Being Contacted After a Scam — and Why I’m Paying Attention
This morning, I received a brief phone call that immediately felt… off. The connection was poor, the accent was thick, and the message was hard to follow. What I eventually gathered was that the caller claimed to be from a company that helps people recover money lost in investment scams — specifically cryptocurrency scams. HeContinueContinue reading “Being Contacted After a Scam — and Why I’m Paying Attention”
From Gemmology to Psychotherapy: A Story About Two Very Different Careers… That Turned Out Not So Different After All
If you had met me in my twenties, you would never have guessed I’d end up as a psychotherapist. At the time, I was far more interested in diamonds than diagnoses, inclusions than intrusive thoughts, and refraction patterns than reframing exercises.For 15 years, I lived and breathed gemmology.I even taught at the Gemological Institute ofContinueContinue reading “From Gemmology to Psychotherapy: A Story About Two Very Different Careers… That Turned Out Not So Different After All”
A Warning About Smart Reserve Holdings and Alpha Trend Capital – Updated
I feel compelled to share my experience with Smart Reserve Holdings and Alpha Trend Capital, because I believe others deserve to be warned before engaging with these companies. On Aug 6, 2025, I saw an advertisement on Associated Press (APNews.com) of a Canadian talking about his experience with AI Trading through Alpha Trend Capital. WhenContinueContinue reading “A Warning About Smart Reserve Holdings and Alpha Trend Capital – Updated”
A Rant: Rejection Sensitivity, ADHD, and the Temptation to Overstate
Several years ago, I hosted a small dinner party—just three guests, good wine, delicious food, and stimulating conversation. As the evening wore on, the talk turned to communal gardening. The guests became increasingly animated about the idea of building a shared garden, something they could tend together and enjoy the fruits of, quite literally. IContinueContinue reading “A Rant: Rejection Sensitivity, ADHD, and the Temptation to Overstate”
A Taylor'd Life 