CHARLENE SANJENKO

December 15, Love Letter 15 of 25. WHO IS SHE? SHE. My friend, mentor, and landlady, Anne. She shares her home with us. SHE. Provided space for healing, learning, and growing to happen. In a vortex of positive energy amongst oceanside nature. SHE. Called me many years ago, “My suite is available….” Her home feels […]

December 14, Love Letter 14 of 25. WHO IS SHE? SHE. My (former) competitive coach, Des. She was someone who I knew of before I knew Her. SHE. Encapsulated strength, class, consistency, and discipline. I wanted more of Her in my life, even if it meant hard work. SHE. Rep after rep, set after set, […]

December 13, Love Letter 13 of 25. WHO IS SHE? SHE. My mentor, Mich. She landed in my life to hold my hand in the professional world. SHE. The epitome of grace, poise, and powHER to this 20-something. We walked together through a corporate merger. SHE. Never once making me feel inadequate or less than. […]

December 12, Love Letter 12 of 25. WHO IS SHE? SHE. My best friend, Em. We’ve travelled the full spectrum of emotions and experiences in 25 years. SHE. My first Big City ‘adult friend’, and I haven’t let her go since. We met in a spa. My esthetician with healing hands, my Angel. SHE. Looks […]

December 11, Love Letter 11 of 25. WHO IS SHE? SHE. Believed in my potential. A head-hunter in the mid-’90s. SHE. Saw beyond my streaked blond hair and Caribbean suntan. She took the time to SEE this 20-something energizer bunny. SHE. Listened with more than her ears. Opening doors to access my future path. SHE. […]

December 10, Love Letter 10 of 25. WHO IS SHE? SHE. A stranger on a cruise ship. But not really a stranger. SHE. Befriended a homesick Canadian in the middle of the Caribbean Ocean. She took time to talk, share, listen, and just be a friend. SHE. With a gorgeous smile and warm brown eyes. […]

December 9, Love Letter 9 of 25. WHO IS SHE? SHE. The mother of my first true love. “Little Fraggle” quickly became my third mom. Lucky, I know. SHE. Tiny in stature, mighty in spirit. She taught me to stand up for myself and not take ‘sh*t from anyone’. SHE. Loved to laugh, watch movies, […]

December 8, Love Letter 8 of 25. WHO IS SHE? SHE. Walked in and took my breath away. Entered the gym to enter my life. SHE. Waist-length blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes, and a golden Hawaiian tan. To this almost 20-year-old, She was the epitome of feminine energy. SHE. Jack Johnson. Up-do’s. Volos. And day-old […]

December 7, Love Letter 7 of 25. WHO IS SHE? SHE. She is three. Three sisters. SHE. The Braid before I was old enough to understand. To understand that we’re stronger together than apart. SHE. Modelled harmony and happiness. With childhood memories of music, laughter, and silliness. SHE. Modelled confidence, care, and curiosity to a […]

December 6, Love Letter 6 of 25. WHO IS SHE? SHE. She called me, Angel. She saw my shine and encouraged it more brightly. SHE. An uninhibited goddess on the ivories. Her gift as a pianist gave us a transformative experience of life through her music. SHE. Believed in me and my gifts. “Beau-ti-ful, beau-ti-ful, […]