About Me

I am a 52-year-old woman who writes under an assumed name, Barbara Crawford.

I do this not to hide myself from my readers, but to protect others that may not support or appreciate authenticity and the sharing of my personal journey of being. 

I aim to share from my own perspective and not that of others. In doing so, I will not deny the journey of others. In fact, one of the most important lessons I have come to appreciate is that each one of us experiences circumstances as uniquely interpreted events. Our truth may evolve with new information as we look back through the layers of new perspectives. We may change truths as we progress along our distinct journey, or remain constant to the end. No matter which, our truths are something we possess, navigate, and hold complete autonomy over.

I have spent much of my life feeling less than enough; first as a daughter, sibling, a friend, a wife, an employee - the most painful of all was feeling like I was not good enough as mother. I struggled with loss and grief, the mental health of my first husband, a lifelong struggle with ADHD, life threatening illnesses of those I hold dear, divorce, a second marriage, and a crisis of purpose and identity.

Serving the Canadian Health System for three decades has afforded me the opportunity to observe and learn about the human experience through a tapestry of unique experiences. In 2023, I made the important decision to take a step back from the career that has, for all intents and purposes, defined my life and who I have been for 30 plus years. This decision was not an easy one, but one that I needed to make. The health system needs new ideas and new energy and so do I. I still have much to offer the health system and the world.

I have dreamed of sharing my perspectives for more than 10 years, and this step back from my healthcare career is in part is allowing me to achieve this goal. I hope that sharing my life stories, reflections, perspectives, and experiences will not only help me to find the right bend in the road, but also help others.

I hope that you will join me on this quest for meaning through authenticity with humility, humour, and a healthy dose of “don’t take yourself too seriously!”