Ann Marie Mackey Life & Leadership Transformation

09/10/2026

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day.

Life has hit me with more than a few 2x4s over the years.

There has been more than one time in my life when the pain became so great that I thought about ending it.

One of those times was in the early months after my beautiful son, John-Michael, died. One very dark night in the middle of a breakdown, I had a breakthrough. I had a profound sense that something greater was happening. That I was being broken open. That the chains that bound me were being broken and the masks, facades and expectations I had carried for so long were going to be stripped away. So many of the things I thought defined me but were actually holding me hostage were going to be released. Words do not suffice. 💞

Like a caterpillar entering the darkness of the cocoon, I couldn't possibly see what was on the other side but somehow I knew in my heart I was being transformed into a truer, more whole version of myself.

That transformation didn't happen magically.

Healing has been a deliberate choice I've made over and over again‼️

I believe in progress, not perfection and one step at a time we will find our way forward.

I've reached for all kinds of support over the years, traditional and alternative, and gradually built a toolbox that supported my mind, body and spirit.

During another particularly dark period, I remember having an insight that changed something in me. I thought about my son and if he had been suffering in any way, I would have moved heaven and earth to help him. I would have found the time, money, right people and resources. Whatever it took.

And suddenly I realized:

I needed to be willing to do the same for myself. 💚

I needed to give myself the love, compassion and support I would have given him.

This belief has been part of my way forward ever since.

For me, healing required more than thinking or talking my way through what had happened. I needed integrated support that helped me physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Over time, that integrated approach became an important part of both my own healing and my understanding of what can help people find their way through difficult things.

So, on World Su***de Prevention Day, I'm sharing a little more of my story for one reason:

To offer hope and a reminder that there is a way forward and you don't have to figure it all out alone.

There are many kinds of support: private, community, spiritual, traditional, alternative and complementary approaches. People who love you. People you haven't even met yet who have devoted their lives to helping others through their darkest hours.

Sometimes the next step isn't knowing how you're going to fix your whole life. Sometimes it's simply allowing someone to help you take the next one.

And sometimes we need to be willing to move heaven and earth for ourselves. ❤️‍🩹

🌿 If you or someone you know is thinking about su***de in Canada, call or text 9-8-8 anytime, 24/7. If there is immediate danger, call 9-1-1.

God bless. ❤️

***dePreventionDay

09/09/2026

Some of the smartest, most capable people I know have one habit that can work against them when life gets complicated.
They try to figure everything out themselves.

I'm guilty of this too. 😏
When things got challenging, I worked harder, pushed through, kept going and distracted myself in creative ways.
I tried to fake it until I made it. Except sometimes I wasn't making it.
I was suffering in silence. 🤐

Looking back, the cost of carrying so much alone was much higher than I understood at the time. 💔

What's interesting is that professionally, I knew better.
After decades working across complex projects, one of the basic principles I learned was don't reinvent the wheel. We capture lessons learned, bring in expertise, collaborate, seek objective perspectives to make better decisions and avoid preventable mistakes.

Professionally, that's not weakness.
That's wisdom.

Yet in our own lives, we can forget that approach.
We convince ourselves we should know the answer or we should be able to handle it. That asking for help somehow makes us less capable or weak.
Sometimes we even shame ourselves for not having it all figured out. 😞

I've since learned differently…

We don't know what we don't know and that's okay.
When we're inside a difficult situation, we're not always in the best position to see it clearly. Pressure, fear, grief, relationships and exhaustion can all affect our perspective and make wise decision-making much harder.

Sometimes the wisest thing we can do is get out of our own way and let someone experienced help. I wish I'd learned that sooner and asked for help when the warning signs first appeared. ‼️

I think the school of life is always trying to get our attention.
First a whisper.
Then a nudge.
Then something a little louder.
And if we're especially stubborn, occasionally a 2x4. 😊

I've taken a few of those square in the face. 🤕
They taught me lessons I would never have chosen but I don't intend to waste them.

Today, I help people and organizations navigate important decisions, challenges and transitions, get clear about what's really going on and find a wise way forward.

I bring what I've learned through decades of strategic leadership, therapeutic training and lived experience. 🥰
✅ Sometimes the work is strategic.
✅ Sometimes it's deeply personal.
✅ Often it's both because our personal and professional lives don't stay conveniently in separate boxes.

What's happening at home can walk straight into work with us.
What's happening at work can sit down at the dinner table.

✨ You don't need to wait for the 2x4 or figure it out alone.
As someone said to me during a consultation today, “It's okay to not be okay.”

🌿 If something in your life or leadership is whispering that it's time to pay attention, I hope you listen.

I'd be glad to have a conversation if you could use an experienced, objective person beside you to help you figure it out.

💚 Book a complimentary consultation:
https://calendly.com/annmarie.../complimentary-consultation

Learn more: https://annmariemackey.com

09/04/2026

🍂 With school starting this coming week, I've been thinking a lot about young people and how much difference one trusted adult can sometimes make.

Someone outside their immediate world who will take them seriously and be in their corner.

💜 Listen without judgment.

❤️ Tell them the truth without bullsh*tting them.

🧡 Help them think through what's really going on.

💛 Challenge them when they need challenging.

💚 Hold them accountable without shaming them.

💙 Remind them that where they've been doesn't have to determine where they're going.

Recently, I've had the privilege of spending time with a couple of young clients navigating some complicated seasons of life. The connection has come easily. The conversations have been real.

We've talked about what’s happening in their lives, choices, accountability, boundaries, relationships, mindfulness, responsibility and what comes next. The feedback I've received from their families about the changes they're seeing has been incredibly encouraging.

I believe there's real value in the rather unconventional combination of lived experience, professional experience and therapeutic training I bring to supporting young people as they find their footing. I recognize the need because I remember being one of those young people. 🦋

My teenage years weren't exactly a straight, tidy road. I made choices that could have taken my life in a very different direction. Becoming pregnant at 18 changed everything. I knew I had a choice to make and I chose to turn my back on the direction my life was heading and focus on giving my baby a good one. That baby was my son, John-Michael. Years later, I would learn in the most devastating way possible just how fragile a young life can be when John-Michael died from a tragic accident at 18.

Those experiences have given me a deep understanding of both sides of this complicated time in life: the young person who wants independence and believes they have all the time in the world and the adult who knows just how much the choices we make can matter.

These experiences are part of why I've always had such a soft spot for young people trying to find their footing. 💞

They're old enough to want independence but young enough to sometimes believe they're invincible. They're figuring out who they are, who they want to become, which voices to listen to and which choices might change the course of their lives.

🍁🍂 So as another school year begins, I'm putting this thought into the world with love:

🌿 If there's an older teen or young adult in your life who is struggling, standing at a crossroads, making choices that concern you or simply trying to find their footing, having another trusted adult in their corner may be exactly the kind of support they need.

Young people aren't supposed to have it all figured out. They're going to make mistakes, test boundaries and sometimes make choices that scare the hell out of us. They're young. That's part of growing up.

What can make an enormous difference is having trusted, objective adults in their corner who believe in them, mentor them, tell them the truth, hold them accountable and help them find their way.

I personally know what a difference that can make. When I was that 18-year-old teenager at a crossroads, there were adults who mentored me and made a lasting difference in my life. I will forever be grateful for the kindhearted, loving teachers at The Murphy Centre who believed in me, encouraged me and, perhaps most importantly, treated me with respect. They saw more in me than the choices I was making or the circumstances I was living in at the time.

I have never forgotten that. 🙏

💖 They say it takes a village to raise a child. I think sometimes it takes just one experienced person in that village to help a young person see themselves and their future differently.

I believe this is part of how I can pay some of that love forward. 💝
✨ If there’s an older teen or young adult in your life who you think could benefit from having another trusted adult in their corner, you’re welcome to reach out to me privately. We can have a confidential conversation about what’s going on and whether I may be the right person to help. Book time with me here:

https://calendly.com/annmarie_mackey/complimentary-consultation

Warmly,

Ann Marie

https://annmariemackey.com

09/03/2026

09/02/2026

August 22 would have been my son John-Michael’s 35th birthday. 💚

Thirty-five. A milestone birthday.

John-Michael had a big spirit. He was gregarious, funny, kindhearted, persistent and full of life. So this year, I wanted to honour his birthday in a way that felt true to him and true to me. 🕊

I headed to Western Newfoundland and immersed myself in the beauty and magic of Gros Morne National Park.

On his birthday, I hiked the Tablelands Off-Trail Loop, 13 kilometres with 587 metres of elevation gain. The Tablelands are one of the geological wonders of Gros Morne National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where rock from the Earth’s mantle has been pushed to the surface.

It was challenging, spectacular and one of those experiences I know I’ll carry with me.

Near the top, above the snow, I stopped for lunch in memory of my beautiful boy. I got as close to the heavens as I could get. ❤️

There are many things in life we don't get to choose. I certainly didn't choose to lose my only child at 18 years old.

One of the most important things life has taught me is that even when we cannot control what happens to us, we still have choices about how we respond, how we care for ourselves, what we make of what has happened and how we move forward.

That doesn't mean bypassing grief, pain or difficulty. And it doesn't mean doing more, pushing through or taking action.

🌿 I've learned that moving forward requires an integrated approach. Sometimes the wisest thing we can do is slow down and quiet the noise long enough to hear and honour what we truly need, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

Sometimes it’s grieving.

Sometimes it’s resting.

Sometimes it’s making a difficult decision.

Sometimes it’s changing direction.

Sometimes it’s accepting what we cannot change.

And sometimes it means climbing a bloody mountain. 😊

I've spent much of my life helping people and organizations figure out what to do when the way forward isn't obvious.

☑ Today, I help people and organizations navigate important decisions, challenges and transitions, get clear about what's really going on and figure out the way forward.

I believe the right way forward is deeply personal. What one person or organization needs may be very different from what another needs. It depends on the situation we're facing and what matters most.

Sometimes the work is strategic.

Sometimes it's deeply personal.

Sometimes it's a combination.

Often, life and leadership don't separate quite as neatly as we'd like them to.

🌿 If you're navigating an important decision, transition or challenge and could use an experienced, objective person beside you to help you figure it out, I'd be glad to have a conversation.

🌠 This fall, I have availability for a small number of private clients and organizational engagements.

Warmly,

Ann Marie

https://annmariemackey.com

08/19/2026

For the past several months, I've been doing something unexpectedly difficult.

I've been trying to answer a question I thought would be much simpler.

What is my work really about?

The answer didn't come through another certification, framework or strategy.

It was found by looking back at my whole story.

At a twenty-five-year corporate career helping organizations navigate complexity and change.

At the profound loss that reshaped my life forever.

At the many years I spent rebuilding, healing, learning and trying to understand what helps us find our way forward when life doesn't go according to plan.

And then something became clear.

I spent years believing I had to choose between two seemingly different paths.

One focused on strategy, leadership and organizational change.

The other focused on healing, resilience and human transformation.

Eventually, I realized I didn't.

➡ Very few people have spent decades helping organizations navigate complexity and change while also immersing themselves in the study of healing, personal growth and human transformation.

💖 That rare and powerful integration has become one of my greatest strengths.

My work has always been about the same thing:

✨ I've spent a lifetime helping things come back into alignment.

☑️ Helping people and organizations cut through complexity, see clearly, reconnect with what matters most and move forward with confidence.

Whether I was helping organizations improve systems or helping individuals navigate life's most difficult decisions, transitions and challenges, the underlying work was remarkably similar.

The language is finally clearer.

The mission is clearer.

And perhaps, so am I.

- My corporate career taught me strategy.

- My therapeutic training taught me to see the whole person.

- Life taught me discernment.

🌿 Together, they shape how I guide clients through life's most important decisions, transitions and challenges.

I've just published a new About page that shares more of my story, what shaped this work and the philosophy that guides it today.

If you've ever wondered who I am, what led me here or why this work means so much to me, I'd be honoured if you'd take a look.

After all my experiences, I believe sometimes the way forward begins by coming home to ourselves.

And sometimes, we need a trusted hand to help us find our way there.

Warmly,

Ann Marie ❤️

Trusted guidance for life and leadership.

08/12/2026

For a long time, I hid behind my corporate credentials.
My PMP, ISO, Six Sigma, the list goes on.
The promotions.
The achievements.
The next goal.

I thought efficiency and financial success were what mattered most… or at least, that’s where most of my attention went.

From the outside, I looked capable, successful and highly functioning.
But on the inside, I was silently suffocating.

I was carrying far more than most people knew.

I was living life on society's terms, as I understood them. Achievement brought rewards, opportunities and experiences I'm grateful for but the satisfaction was temporary. I was paying a hefty price in my health, relationships and life I didn't fully recognize at the time.

In retrospect, and with self-compassion, I didn't know what I didn't know.
So, I kept soldiering on the best way I knew how.

I was fiercely independent.
Resourceful.
Determined.
And overwhelmed.

I had reached for help at times but when the support I found didn't have the depth or experience I needed I retreated back into what I knew best, figuring it out myself.

Looking back, one of my greatest mistakes was letting shame rule me and believing I had to carry so much alone.

Then life broke me open in the most devastating way possible.

I entered the darkest night of my soul and, by the grace of God, began the long journey of learning to listen to and trust my own heart.

I spent a long winter of my life rebuilding from the inside out.
This time I reached out, sought guidance and didn’t stop till I found meaningful support. I became willing to learn from people who could help me heal, grow and find my footing again.

Over many years, I came to understand that I couldn't heal one part of my life, the grief of losing my son, in isolation. I needed to care for my whole self, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

That realization led me to gather an eclectic toolbox of knowledge, practices, education, therapeutic training and lived experience.

The darkest time in my life gave me one of the greatest gifts of my life. The opportunity to heal and find my way back to my true self. 💚

Through it all, I developed discernment.
I learned to listen deeply to my soul, recognize what I needed and make choices aligned with what truly mattered.

I learned to become still.
To trust myself.
To let go of what no longer belonged.
To make choices aligned with who I was and the life I wanted to live.

Finding my way back wasn't about becoming someone new.
It was about gaining clarity to return home to who I already was.

I'm still, and always will be, a work in progress. I think we all are.

But one thing I know for sure, strength isn't found in carrying everything alone.

Sometimes strength is knowing when it's time to reach for a hand.

This journey didn't just change my life.
It has saved it.
And today, it profoundly shapes the work I do.

I help people who are carrying more than they show gain clarity, reconnect with themselves and return to what truly matters.

Not simply because I've studied it.
Because I've lived it too. ❤️

Sometimes the way forward begins by coming home to ourselves.

And sometimes, we need a trusted hand to help us find our way there. 🌿

https://annmariemackey.com

08/07/2026

Many people grow up learning to put everyone else’s needs ahead of their own.

For some, that pattern continues well into adulthood and quietly affects relationships, work, boundaries and even their sense of self.

One resource I’ve found incredibly valuable is Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families (ACA). Check it out:
https://adultchildren.org

Whether or not alcohol was part of your upbringing, many people discover themselves in the patterns ACA describes.

I hope it helps someone who needs it today.

If this resonates with you, my inbox is always open.

With love,

Ann Marie ❤️

"Is ACA for me": https://adultchildren.org/welcome-path/
"The Problem Statement": https://adultchildren.org/problem/
“The Laundry List”: https://adultchildren.org/laundry-list/
“The Solution” Statement: https://adultchildren.org/solution/
“The Promise” Statement: https://adultchildren.org/promises/
The Daily Reader: https://adultchildren.org/strengthening-my-recovery. You can sign up to get the free daily readings emailed to you here: this webpage
Find a Meeting (online or in-person): https://adultchildren.org/meeting-search/.

08/05/2026

I’ve things belonging to John-Michael, my late son, that I’ve had a hard time parting with…

And, I’ve had a knowing in my heart not to put pressure on myself, that everything has its right time… this includes his bed. Obviously a very personal item.

I’ve attempted to sell or give it away in the past but, long story shorter, in retrospect my heart wasn’t ready and that’s okay. 🕊️

I bought John-Michael a beautiful handmade solid wood bedroom suite when we moved to Calgary to help him feel at home… That bed witnessed many important moments in our lives, both beautiful and heartbreaking.

I moved it back home to Newfoundland with me where it was used for many years. Later I attempted to use the bookshelf headboard as a shelf in my office. However, the energy felt heavy to me.

Over time I realized I was carrying more than furniture for long enough and finally the time had come for me to set down more of this weight I’ve been carrying. ❤️‍🩹

Listening to my heart the past few days, I posted the bed and mattress for sale Sunday evening and by Monday evening the bed was gone. A sweet young lady came with her Mom to buy the bedframe and it just felt right. I’m grateful knowing it’s gone to a lovely young person who will enjoy it. Yesterday morning the mattress found a new home too.

I went out in our hottub and immediately a butterfly flew by and rested on a rock in front of me for the longest time.

My boy is always with me and I feel he’s happy that his Mom knew the time was finally right to let go a little more. 🦋

Some things can’t be rushed. I've learned that when I listen to my heart and trust God's timing, life has a way of unfolding as it's meant to. ❤️🕊️

07/29/2026

Most of us have been taught to solve problems by working harder.
Push through.
Think longer.
Gather more information.
Do more.

Sometimes that's what's required.
Often, it isn't. 🦋

Some of life's most important decisions aren't difficult because we lack intelligence or information.

They're difficult because we're carrying too much pressure, too many competing priorities and too much mental noise to see the situation clearly. 🌿

I've found that clarity rarely comes from thinking harder.

It comes from creating the space to step back, gain perspective and discern what truly matters. 🕊

Once that happens, the next step often becomes surprisingly clear.

That's true whether you're leading an organization, navigating a career transition, facing a difficult personal decision or simply trying to find your footing in a demanding season of life.

Sometimes the greatest gift we can give ourselves isn't trying harder.

It's enough space to see clearly. 💚💝

My hope for you this week is simple:

Don't rush to find another answer.

Create a little space for yourself.

Step back.

Become still.

Listen deeply.

Sometimes the next right step has been there all along, quietly waiting to be heard. 💚

https://annmariemackey.com