Being Mary

Send us Fan Mail🍋 When Life Gives You Lemons…Recently, I lost a collection of files I really wish I still had.Was it life-threatening? No.Was it disappointing? Absolutely.We’re allowed to feel frustrated when something goes wrong. Acceptance doesn’t mean pretending the loss didn’t matter—it means recognizing when it has already taken enough of our time, energy, and peace of mind.Today on Being Mary, I’m talking about spilled milk, sour lemons, impulsive decisions, and learning to carry the lesson instead of the loss.And the moral of the story?Sometimes…shit happens. Back it up. 🤷‍♀️😂🎙️ Watch or listen today, and tell me: Have you ever had to accept something you couldn’t fix and simply move forward?Support the showwww.beingmary.cahttps://www.facebook.com/beingmaryvdbhttps://www.instagram.com/beingmaryvdb/https://www.youtube.com/@BeingMaryVDBhttps://www.tiktok.com/@maryvdb

Send us Fan MailWe often think the meaning behind something has to be there from the very beginning.Sometimes... it isn't.Sometimes life gives it meaning later.Years ago, I chose a tattoo simply because I liked cats. There wasn't a profound reason behind it.After refreshing it a few weeks ago, something unexpected happened.For the first time, I understood what it really represented.Strength.Softness.And the beautiful balance between the two.This week's episode is about much more than a tattoo. It's about how life slowly shapes us into the people we're becoming.I hope you'll take a few minutes to listen.❤️ MarySupport the showwww.beingmary.cahttps://www.facebook.com/beingmaryvdbhttps://www.instagram.com/beingmaryvdb/https://www.youtube.com/@BeingMaryVDBhttps://www.tiktok.com/@maryvdb

Send us Fan MailSome places never really leave us.This week I'm taking a walk through St. Marys, Ontario — the town where I grew up, attended high school, raised my daughters, and spent many years building a life and making memories.There's something special about returning to the places that helped shape us. The streets may change, businesses may come and go, but the feeling of home often remains.I'm also stopping by Betty's Bookshelf, a wonderful independent bookstore that supports local authors and now carries my memoir, Being Mary. Seeing my book on a shelf in the town where so much of my story began is both humbling and meaningful.Come along as I revisit a hometown that will always hold a special place in my heart.🎙️ Listen now wherever you get your podcasts or visit beingmary.ca#BeingMary #StMarysOntario #ComingHome #SmallTownLife #LocalAuthors #BettysBookshelf #OntarioStoriesSupport the showwww.beingmary.cahttps://www.facebook.com/beingmaryvdbhttps://www.instagram.com/beingmaryvdb/https://www.youtube.com/@BeingMaryVDBhttps://www.tiktok.com/@maryvdb

Send us Fan MailOne year ago, I nervously recorded my very first podcast episode with no real plan… just a head full of thoughts and a feeling that maybe I needed to start talking them out loud.Honestly, I never imagined where this little podcast journey would lead.This week’s episode is a reflection on the past year of Being Mary — the conversations, the laughter, the tears, the unexpected connections, and all the beautiful moments in between.And truly… the biggest thing I want to say is thank you. 💛Thank you for listening. Thank you for walking alongside me. And thank you for reminding me that none of us are alone in the things we carry.“Well… look at us. We made it a year.” 😊🎙️ Still Becoming — One Year of Being MarySupport the showwww.beingmary.cahttps://www.facebook.com/beingmaryvdbhttps://www.instagram.com/beingmaryvdb/https://www.youtube.com/@BeingMaryVDBhttps://www.tiktok.com/@maryvdb

Send us Fan MailRetirement. Such a simple word for such a life-changing decision.This week on Being Mary, I’m talking about the emotions, fears, possibilities, and questions that often come with this next chapter of life.Because retirement isn’t just about finances… it’s also about identity, purpose, meaning, and asking yourself: “What kind of life do I want now?”If you’re approaching retirement — or know someone who is — this conversation is for you. 💛🎙️ New episode: The Retirement DilemmaSupport the showwww.beingmary.cahttps://www.facebook.com/beingmaryvdbhttps://www.instagram.com/beingmaryvdb/https://www.youtube.com/@BeingMaryVDBhttps://www.tiktok.com/@maryvdb

Send us Fan MailNEW PODCAST EPISODE: The Freedom to Be OurselvesAs I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized freedom means more than where we live. Sometimes freedom is quieter than that.The freedom to speak honestly. To grow. To change. To become more fully ourselves.Today on Being Mary, I’m reflecting on Canada, womanhood, aging, and gratitude for the ability to keep becoming — at every stage of life.Happy Canada Day ❤️Support the showwww.beingmary.cahttps://www.facebook.com/beingmaryvdbhttps://www.instagram.com/beingmaryvdb/https://www.youtube.com/@BeingMaryVDBhttps://www.tiktok.com/@maryvdb

Send us Fan MailThis week on Being Mary, I’m joined by Maggie Whitcroft for a thoughtful conversation about emotional healing, nervous system regulation, energy work, and what it means to reconnect with yourself after difficult seasons in life.I’ll be honest — this was something very new to me, and part of this episode is simply allowing myself to stay curious and open to learning.Whether this world feels familiar to you or completely outside your comfort zone, I think there’s something meaningful in hearing how different women find their way back to themselves.Because healing doesn’t always look the same. And maybe it’s okay not to have everything figured out.💛🎧 Listen now on Being Mary.Support the showwww.beingmary.cahttps://www.facebook.com/beingmaryvdbhttps://www.instagram.com/beingmaryvdb/https://www.youtube.com/@BeingMaryVDBhttps://www.tiktok.com/@maryvdb

Send us Fan MailLearning isn’t just for young people.In fact, continuing to learn may be one of the best things we can do for our brains as we age.In today’s episode of Being Mary, we’re talking about curiosity, creativity, rest, and the small ways we can continue expanding our minds.Because this stage of life isn’t about shrinking.It’s about becoming.🎙️ Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.“This is Being Mary… and the best chapters are still ahead.”Support the showwww.beingmary.cahttps://www.facebook.com/beingmaryvdbhttps://www.instagram.com/beingmaryvdb/https://www.youtube.com/@BeingMaryVDBhttps://www.tiktok.com/@maryvdb

Send us Fan MailWe spend a lot of time talking about taking care of our bodies as we age.But what about our brain?In today’s episode of Being Mary, we’re talking about everyday mind fitness — simple things you can do to keep your brain active and engaged.Not complicated things.Just small shifts like:• puzzles • changing routines • social connection • movement • curiosityBecause if we’re doing squats for our knees…we can do a few mental squats too.🎙️ Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.This is Being Mary… and the best chapters are still ahead.Support the showwww.beingmary.cahttps://www.facebook.com/beingmaryvdbhttps://www.instagram.com/beingmaryvdb/https://www.youtube.com/@BeingMaryVDBhttps://www.tiktok.com/@maryvdb

Send us Fan MailSometimes the people we remember most… are the ones we barely knew.A quick conversation in a grocery store. A shared laugh in passing. A moment of unexpected connection.In this episode, I’m sharing a couple of simple, everyday encounters that stayed with me — not because they were extraordinary, but because they were human.Because even the briefest connection can remind us that we’re not invisible.🎧 Strangers Who Stay With Us Now streaming wherever you listen to your podcasts.Support the showwww.beingmary.cahttps://www.facebook.com/beingmaryvdbhttps://www.instagram.com/beingmaryvdb/https://www.youtube.com/@BeingMaryVDBhttps://www.tiktok.com/@maryvdb

Send us Fan MailSome days, the smallest conversations are the ones that matter most.A quick chat at the grocery store. A smile at the checkout. A kind word when someone least expects it.In this episode, I’m reflecting on how these simple moments of connection can shift a day — for someone else… and sometimes for ourselves too.Because maybe it’s not about changing the world… maybe it’s just about showing up in it.🎧 The Smallest Conversations Matter Now streaming wherever you listen to your podcasts.Support the showwww.beingmary.cahttps://www.facebook.com/beingmaryvdbhttps://www.instagram.com/beingmaryvdb/https://www.youtube.com/@BeingMaryVDBhttps://www.tiktok.com/@maryvdb

Send us Fan MailMotherhood… didn’t look the way I expected.And if I’m being honest… I don’t think I fully understood my own mom until much later.This episode is a reflection on that— on love, hindsight, and how motherhood changes over time.And a quiet question I’ve been sitting with:What does Mother’s Day look like when your daughters are mothers too?🎧 Listen nowSupport the showwww.beingmary.cahttps://www.facebook.com/beingmaryvdbhttps://www.instagram.com/beingmaryvdb/https://www.youtube.com/@BeingMaryVDBhttps://www.tiktok.com/@maryvdb

Send us Fan MailIf someone asked you today, “What do you do?” what would you say?Not the title you once had. Not the role you’ve always played. But the truth of who you are now.This week on Being Mary, I’m talking about elevator speeches — and why that simple question can feel so complicated as we grow older.Maybe your answer has changed. Maybe it’s still changing. And maybe that’s exactly the point.🎧 If Someone Asked… What Would You Say? Now streaming wherever you listen to podcasts.I’d love to hear your elevator speech — or the one you wish you could say. 💛Support the showwww.beingmary.cahttps://www.facebook.com/beingmaryvdbhttps://www.instagram.com/beingmaryvdb/https://www.youtube.com/@BeingMaryVDBhttps://www.tiktok.com/@maryvdb