No One Gets to Define Your Worth
Reflections by Mikael Wagner I recently watched the story of Sarah Rector, an 11-year-old Black girl born in 1902 in Oklahoma, to Creek Nation's parents. She was entitled to a land allotment under federal treaties. Her life changed forever when oil was discovered on land many believed had little value. As I watched her struggle against greed, racism, and people determined to take what was rightfully hers, I felt tears running down my face. It wasn't simply because of what hap
4 days ago4 min read
Distrust in the Media: How Did We Get Here?
Reflections by Mikael Wagner There was a time when many people trusted the evening news, their local newspaper, or a handful of journalists to help them understand what was happening in the world. Today, trust in the media has become deeply fractured. Some people believe the media hides the truth. Others believe it has become too political, too corporate, or too focused on ratings and outrage. Still others struggle to know what sources can be trusted at all. As a young man wo
Jun 175 min read
How Seniors Are Being Scammed Everyday
Although we may not notice, a quiet crime is happening every day in our communities and with our older family members. Many years ago, while living in America, I travelled across the country conducting Senior Scam trainings and workshops helping families understand the risks facing older adults. It made me think a lot about my mother. Like many seniors, she was trusting, generous, and believed that most people generally meant well. At first, that trust made her vulnerable. Bu
Jun 210 min read
Jealousy: The Emotion No One Admits
Over the years, I have often wondered why jealousy has such power over people. Throughout my life I have never understood it or felt it in many of my relationships. I have watched relationships quietly unravel, friendships slowly drift apart, and trust disappeared, not always because someone lied, cheated, or betrayed another person, but because fear, insecurity, and suspicion quietly took over. What fascinates me most is that many people who struggle with jealousy rarely rec
May 186 min read
When Stupidity Becomes the Norm
There was a time when I believed most people were paying attention. Not to everything, but enough to ask questions, to pause before reacting, to think just a little deeper before forming an opinion. Lately, I’m not so sure. It's not that people have suddenly become less intelligent. That would be too easy and probably not true. What I’m seeing feels different, more subtle and more widespread, like a kind of quiet shift. Reacting has replaced thinking. Where noise has replaced
May 64 min read
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is one of the most difficult realities to talk about and one of the most misunderstood. From the outside, people often ask the same questions: Why does it happen? Why do people stay? Why doesn’t someone just leave? But the truth is, it rarely begins the way people imagine. It doesn’t start with violence. It starts quietly with control, with words, with small shifts that are easy to dismiss. And over time, those small moments build into something much harder
Apr 234 min read
Travel: Risks, Power, & Uncertainties
There was a time when travel felt simple. You packed your bags, made your way to the airport, and focused on the destination ahead. Delays were frustrating, security lines were inconvenient, and lost luggage could ruin your mood, but those were manageable problems. They were part of the journey. Lately, though, something feels different. It’s harder to explain, but easy to feel. A tension in the air. A heightened awareness of who is watching, who is in control, and how quickl
Apr 84 min read
