Helping artists through coaching and big picture planning, to get clarity on the next best steps, so they can be confident, breathe easy and build a sustainable, successful career.
[Silent Book Club ~ Ottawa Chapter] "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose..."
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The winds of change are forever blowing. And, Reader, I don't do well with change. The expression, "plus ça change..." has often been an underlying thought in my mind when things change and I am not ready for it. Though I've learned that this idiom is considered pessimistic, I used to think that it simply meant what a famous Greek philosopher said: “the only constant in life is change.”* I would murmur that French phrase quietly to remind myself that clinging to the way things are is not only pointless, it can also be unhealthy. It helps me to navigate change that feels overwhelming... and sometimes seems preventable. The same old Greek dude also said, “You cannot step twice into the same river, for fresh waters are ever flowing in upon you.”* Now this I understand. We have a cottage on an old logging river and standing in its strong current, feeling the sometimes dangerous undertow, drives home the reality of that saying. The blow dealt by lockdowns that started in 2020, suffered by restaurants and breweries, by theatres, stores and concert halls, meant many were forced to close. Change like that was prevalent and merciless. Other venues are still hanging on six years later albeit tenuously... and some are only now succumbing to the effects of the shutdowns that may have kept our health safe, but left many businesses and individuals afloat. Reader, when we invite you and other sbc613 members to meetups (gathering in restaurants or breweries and the like) you'll hear us ask, "if your means permit please support the venue by ordering something off the menu." We do this because all of our venues welcome us at no cost. So... like holding onto a water-worn log, let's do our best to hold onto each other, supporting those who support what we do. Just this past week, we learned that our Bells Corners meetup location has had to make the no doubt extremely difficult decision to close its doors within days of my writing this. In navigating this change and in knowing that “everything changes, everything moves,”** we will be finding another area venue to meet at. Through all this, I also realise that although hanging on might sometimes mean resisting change... other times it simply means helping each other survive. Warm wishes, · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · 🌸Spring 2026 Book Swap!🌸 Saturday, March 21, 2026 ~ 2pm to 4pm Beyond the Pale Brewing Company Come swap out your old reads and welcome in some new ones at SBC613's Spring 2026 Book Swap! A minimum of 2 books for swapping is required, but please bring as many as you wish! Books will be sorted in genres between 1:30-2pm with the swap starting at 2pm. 🌸 · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · MARCH 2026 EVENTS 📆 Rather than a list of meetups, perhaps you'd prefer a calendar page. 📝 All meetups are available for signup here. ⭐ = NEW!
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · How does a reading meetup work?
Make your experience fit your vibe
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · Silent Book Club ~ Ottawa Chapter If you received this email from a friend and would like to subscribe, please click here. |
little acorn creative coaching
Helping artists through coaching and big picture planning, to get clarity on the next best steps, so they can be confident, breathe easy and build a sustainable, successful career.
February 2026 Carlingwood Branch - Ottawa Public Library (ph.cr.) Hello Reader, February is coming in... what do they say? In like a lion... hm. Well I think, if the weather remains lion-ish 🦁 for a few more days, moving into March in several weeks should be smooth and lamb-ish 🐑 don't you? I hear cheering for all the snow we are getting however, from the hardy folks who skate, ski and phat bike (mostly from my dear darling husband who lovessss this snowy weather). But the cold temperatures...
January 2026 photo cr.: Liana S Welcome, Reader, to the turning of 2025 to 2026 and to all of you who are newly joining, welcome to our little corner of the Internet. And to everyone... we are truly grateful that you are here. Happy New Year! As part of my own journey into the new year this week, I am participating in a writing workshop and one of the first questions was, "When you hear the word 'Winter', what comes to mind?" I paused a moment and wrote... Cold. When I think of Winter,...
December 2025 (redux) I may have been unclear, Reader... When providing the list of meetups for December in my last note to you, the formatting was a bit wonky. This may have caused some confusion. Here's hoping the list below, with its repaired formatting, clears things up. Thanks for your patience with the extra email. 'Hope to see you at one of this month's meetups! Warm wishes,~ nicole · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · NOVEMBER 2025 EVENTS 📆 Rather than a list of meetups, perhaps you'd prefer a...