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Continue reading →: One Month Into Retirement at 42After more than 23 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, I’m beginning my transition to retirement at 42. One month in, I’ve discovered that retirement isn’t about doing less—it’s about choosing what matters most: community, faith, friendships, service, and building a meaningful next chapter.
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Continue reading →: For the teenager sitting in the pew.What happens when the place that taught you about God’s love becomes the place where you question whether you belong? A personal reflection on growing up at Beulah Camp, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, and why the Gospel calls us to welcome rather than wound.
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Continue reading →: Strength is not the same as silence.There is a part of my retirement story that isn’t about rank, achievements, or years served. It’s about learning that asking for help is a sign of strength.
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Continue reading →: The Mud MatteredAfter twenty-three years in uniform, I reflected on leadership, mentorship, and the adventures people remember long after the lesson plans have been forgotten.
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Continue reading →: From Condemnation to Acceptance: My Journey Through Faith and PrideI grew up believing that being gay was a sin. This Pride Month, I’m sharing my journey from fear and rejection to acceptance, belonging, and discovering there was room for me within faith.
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Continue reading →: The Facebook “Like” That Revealed More Than IntendedA social media “like” can sometimes carry more emotional weight than people realize. Seeing support for banning Pride flags in schools made me reflect on why those symbols matter so deeply to many LGBTQ people. This isn’t really about politics or ideology to me. It’s about belonging, visibility, and helping…
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Continue reading →: It’s time for me to stand downI have been proud to serve Canada as an army officer in the Cadet Instructors Cadre for the past 23 years. It has been a privilege to have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of thousands of youth—both directly and through leadership and administrative roles. I am deeply grateful…
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Continue reading →: Studio RenovationLast week, I gave the studio a makeover, again, to transform it from the super-functional office space that it was, into a much warmer, cozier place to work but also to relax and breathe.
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Continue reading →: A Quick Visit to Niagara Falls and TorontoIn my 41 years of existence, I’ve have the privilege of being able to visit and explore places all over Canada, and elsewhere in the world. I’ve seen many incredible sights, I’ve explore places only visited by a few, and I’ve experienced things that have created incredible lifelong memories. Surprisingly,…
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Continue reading →: Abandoned Boardwalks of the Mud Lake Nature TrailsToday, I explored a fascinating abandoned hiking trail not too far from home. The Mud Lake Nature Trail in Quispamsis, New Brunswick is a forgotten path through woods and wetlands. Once a community nature trail, it now sits quietly abandoned, slowly being reclaimed by the forest. The highlight of the…
I’m Daniel Mark.
Welcome to my blog.
This blog breaks rules. It doesn’t focus on just one theme and I don’t post to it on a consistent schedule. That’s OK. It’s my blog. Not yours.
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