You’re 15, you’re married, you’re moving – Tahani’s story

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Doris Belland

Airplane flying off for blogLet me ask you a question: What would you do if you came home from school at 15 years of age only to be told by your family that you just got married and you were going to move to Canada with your new husband within a few months, without your family?clip_image001 Continue reading →

Posted in Divorce, Divorcees, Expectations, Immigrants, Income, Protection, Real Estate, Success, Taking action, Work | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The importance of girl time

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Doris Belland

So far I have interviewed a few dozen women for this blog and while they have all had differentDSC00664 experiences of loss or divorce, there is a common thread to their lists of advice for women. In short, they recommend that you spend more time with your girlfriends and nurture those friendships. Continue reading →

Posted in Divorcees, Doris's story, Girlfriends, Widows | 4 Comments

Thank you Universe, give me more

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Doris Belland

Thank youWhen someone wants to do something nice for you or give you something, do you ever find yourself arguing with them or politely turning them down? Do you ever say, “No, it’s OK, I’m fine. Thanks anyway.” If you have ever done that, this message is for you. Continue reading →

Posted in Doris's story, Expectations, Gratitude, Tools | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Where does your money trail lead?

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Doris Belland

coin question markI recently shot a video for a company that asked for my Top 5 Tips for Women and I want to share some of that content with you today. I have many suggestions when it comes to helping women protect themselves and ensure a financially secure future. Today I’m going to share the #1 Tip that I think will make a big difference in your life. This is the single most important thing that I have learned through the process of becoming a widow, surviving a financial crisis and rebuilding my life. Continue reading →

Posted in Doris's story, Expectations, Income, Protection, Stay-at-home moms, Sudden death, Taking action, Widows, Work | Leave a comment

What do you say and do when someone dies?

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Doris Belland

coffinOn Wednesday, February 27th my friend Shawn Holmesdale died at the age of 39. His death was sudden and completely unexpected. Everyone who knew him is in shock, none more so than his wife, my good friend Ruthanne. Several people have reached out to me for advice on what to do. They’ve likely done so because I’ve been through this awful process and I know what it’s like to face the death of a husband. Continue reading →

Posted in Doris's story, Widows | 8 Comments

Bring on Wonder Woman

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Doris Belland

I have to plead scope creep for this post. It has nothing to do with lessons that I’ve learned Wonder-woman_thumb.jpgthrough business and the loss of my first husband but it does have everything to do with helping women set themselves up for success in any area of their lives. For that reason, it is a natural extension of the purpose of my blog and my book.

So what does Wonder Woman have to do with ensuring success? Seriously, which self-respecting woman would be caught dead in that outfit? Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Expectations, Success, Taking action, Wonder Woman | Leave a comment

Do you know his passwords?

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Doris Belland

Username and passwordI recently spent some time with a few friends who wanted to pick my brain about my blog. They have been reading my posts and thinking about their own lives. We ended up asking a few uncomfortable questions. There were sombre looks when I asked if they knew their husbands’ passwords. The short answer is no. If something were to happen to their spouse, they wouldn’t have the faintest idea how to get into his files or even know what to look for. Continue reading →

Posted in Organizational tools, Passwords, Taking action, Tools | 1 Comment

What if it does happen to you?

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Doris Belland

When I began my blog on March 31st, 2012, one of my biggest goals was to help women better protect themselves against possible tragedy and financial difficulties. Last year I wrote seventeen blog posts that were viewed by roughly 1,100 people in thirty-five countries according to Google Analytics, and while that seems interesting I wonder if I’m really achieving my purpose. If you were one of those people reading my blog, let me ask you a question: Have you taken any action to look at your own situation and make changes for the better? Continue reading →

Posted in Illness, Taking action, Widows | Leave a comment

A replacement husband for Christmas

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Doris Belland

Pop quiz for women:

1. What are the names of the following screw drivers:screwdrivers-1

  1. Masters and Johnson
  2. Calvin and Hobbes
  3. Robertson and Phillips
  4. Rogers and Hammerstein Continue reading →
Posted in Doris's story, Repairs, Tools | 5 Comments

The cost of signing without verifying

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Doris Belland

You can never tell what lies beneath a person’s exterior. My friend Diana is a great example of that. I’ve known her for years and while I can’t quite remember how we connected, I can tell you that from the very beginning it felt like we’d known each other for years. Simply put, she is positive, engaging, grounded and very strong. To be around her is to experience laughter and animated conversation. You’d never guess what she’s been through. Continue reading →

Posted in Divorcees, Infidelity | Leave a comment