I mentioned the other day that I wanted to start a regular weekly post about people I know that I think are inspirations. I don’t have a set criteria. They’re just people who may be friends or who have influenced me, but they are all people I know in real life, and for the next little while, all Fredericton related stories.

The first in my story is my dear friend Barbara J Gill. I’ve known Barb for a couple of years now and consider her one of my angels who watch over me. I consider her story an inspiration because she’s someone I admire. Barb just recently published two books. Her primary book Soul Gifts: The World’s Self Help Book is a book that explores life through Barb’s eyes and experiences. You can’t help but grow as you read it, knowing that Barb and others have grown along the way. She struggled as a single mother, struggled with Cancer, as a palliative care nurse, a successful events plannning business, a writer, a poet. Barb has worn many hats over the years, but the one that she truly embraces is her caring for everyone. Barb has brought me warm home cooked meals when she knew I was working all the time. She reminds me with her voice of experience about the risk of working too much and burn out. I watch her follow her path in life and know that I have learned so much from her. We are all fortunate that she has shared so much with us in her book. She covers a broad range of topics that on their own wouldn’t seem related, but she ties them all together under the umbrella of humanity. Agent orange, Native American philosophy, American and Canadian politics, cancer, music, art, WWII, spiritualism, mystique, evil, alternative health, poetry and more. It’s not a book read lightly, but one that makes you look carefully at your own life and for Barb to share the vulnerable aspects in her life through the book is a gift to all of us.

Her other book Soul Rubbing Exercises: A Personal Vision Quest is the companion book to Soul Gifts and is for those who enjoy self-exploration. All part of growth. It encourages you to look at yourself and your life and see how the connection to all is made.

Barb’s poetry is scattered throughout the book as vignettes of life and reflection. Some of the stories/poetry evoke a strong emotion, dark, others are light and fill of wistfullness.

July’s Child

Desperate woman
birthing rejection.

Child left to be found
in a campground washroom.

“Mother Mother
where are you

the basins are slimy
with soap
you’ve left me
bloody and hungry
like the blue-bloated slug
on the floor scrubbed with lye

Mother Mother
are you dying too?”

Midnight Mating on the Salmon River

Screeches
reached moonlight
spotlight loons skirting
the black river’s ballroom,
skimming the surface
like a flat stone skips;

I watched
water and wings
dance duet.

And like many talented people with multiple gifts, she is also an artist. Much of her artwork inspired by her experiences, such as cancer. She references them in Soul Gifts, but you can see a sampling of her artwork and photos related to the book at flickr.

Barb’s official launch for her books is this weekend at Hopewell Cape as part of the Chocolate River Poetry Festival, Augst 26th and 27th at 1:00 pm at the High Tide Cafe, in Hopewell Cape Provincial Park. Having just recently camped there, I know it’s a beautiful spot and can’t think of a better place for poets, writers, readers, fans and everyone alike to gather.

When we take responsibility for our choices, and consciously work towards balance, life improves. - Barbara J. Gill

Thank you Barb for all you have given me and are now giving to everyone, and yes, you can drop off a home cooked meal to my doorstep any time;)