about val

Hello and welcome!

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I'm Val, just your average multi-faceted complex human! Dreamer, thinker, extra-miler, reader and writer. 

I've always worked hard and tried to please other people... until that stopped working and I had to ask myself why. I've always been a cheery class-clown type... until that stopped working and I had to ask myself why. I had high expectations for the type of mom I would be, and then learned that parenting is a heck of a lot harder than it looks! Nothing really worked anymore. I'm well educated and yet, around midlife I had a major realization: I don't really know anything. 

One underlying question I've been wondering about for years is: if I have all the ingredients for a happy life, how come I don't feel more joyful?  More importantly: what can I do about it?

I'm a person who's always been asked for advice. And I loved giving it too, until one day I realized I couldn't meaningfully explain to our kids the difference between confidence and courage, or how to "be grateful", or how to get themselves out of a funk. If I don't actually know, how am I supposed to teach them?

I figured I'd better hit the books and learn some things that will actually serve me as an adult. 

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I've had to start my life over in a lot of ways, and this blog is about that journey.

Whatever I learn, I share. I want to give you things (ideas, concepts, strategies) that you can use right now.

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My journey toward better understanding happiness (and making it stick) have made me a huge reader and broadened my horizons. I've delved into neuroscience, psychology, mindfulness, gratitude, spirituality, mindset, family dynamics, fulfilment, self-care, relationships, parenting, self-actualization, personal development and mental health in general. These are the topics that are addressed on this site and on our instagram.

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My goals with this happiness project are simple: 

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• Keep teaching and inspiring myself

• Keep teaching and inspiring those around me 

• Get certified as a Life Coach so I can reach even more people

My day job is running the marketing consulting boutique over at vallonergan.com, where I empower women who are starting their second act develop their business vision and their unique voice, and then overcome tech overwhelm to create their online presence. I'm a mom of 2 who works from home, and write from that context.

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My hope is that you find some inspiration here, and share what you've learned with those around you.

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Increasingly happily,

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Val Lonergan

Montreal, Canada

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