column – Alexis Marie Chute

Distracted Humans Article, Edmonton Woman Magazine

September 22, 2015/0 Comments/in Creative Writing Update, Edmonton Woman Magazine Column, Reflections, Social Change /by Alexis Marie Chute

I’m proud to share my latest article for Edmonton Woman Magazine:

Alexis Marie Uncensored: Distracted Humans

In the article, I reflect on the distracted driving law in Edmonton. For me, writing this article was a great reminder to stay focused on the road – BUT there is also a more profound message to be gleaned. I don’t believe the law will make much of a difference, and here is why: We live in a distracted culture.

People find it hard to focus.
We multitask too frequently.
Sleep is fractured.
Technology allows us to stay connected 24/7.
We can check our status updates and news feeds in just a few swipes and clicks.

How many times have you had someone you were speaking with check their phone at the same time? Or look like they are not really listening but already planning their response? These are some of my pet peeves.

We are distracted humans.

When I reflect on this situation, I love to find the good. What is the cure for distraction? Focus of course!

Personally, I have found mindfulness an important practice in the pursuit of focus. Mindfulness is a type of meditation that encourages one to be present, in the moment, experiencing what is happening.

Mindfulness helps me to be in touch with my body, sensing what I need. Mindfulness keeps me focused on what is important in my life.

Have you ever tried mindfulness meditation?

Edmonton Woman Magazine cover, Sep/Oct 2015

Here is my Edmonton Woman article called “Riding High.”

Edmonton Woman article on “Motherhood.”

The Cottage Days of Summer

August 23, 2015/0 Comments/in Creative Writing Update, Edmonton Woman Magazine Column, Reading List /by Alexis Marie Chute

Where has the summer gone? I always feel this way as September nears. Do you as well? When the weather was just warming this season, I wrote an article called Cottage Days for the Edmonton Senior and Calgary Senior Newspapers. In the article I interviewed two energetic women about their experiences owning a cottage and hosting friends and family over the summer. I have been a guest of both women and know they are examples worthy to be followed.

Image from Edmonton Woman Magazine website.

Image from Cottage Days article, Edmonton Woman Magazine website.

Please click on the link here to read Cottage Days.

This summer my family spent some time in a “cottage” of our own. It was a wood-walled A-frame cabin with a sink and toilet and a place to sleep. It was cozy… and when I say that, I mean small – but that is what I loved about it. We only hung out in there at bed time as we read our books and snuggled into sleeping bags.

There is something magical about cottage days, escaping it all and reducing the needs to a humble few.

Have you ever vacationed at a cottage? What was your experience like?

Thanks for reading!

New Column in Edmonton Woman Magazine: ALEXIS MARIE UNCENSORED

April 22, 2015/0 Comments/in Blogging, Creative Writing Update, Edmonton Woman Magazine Column, Social Change, The Writing Life /by Alexis Marie Chute

I am very pleased to announce that I have been asked to write a column for Edmonton Woman Magazine. My first article for them will be published in their May/June issue.

The column’s title: ALEXIS MARIE UNCENSORED

Oh boy, this is going to be fun!

I will be writing about all kinds of topics from sex (ooh la la), marriage, parenting, careers, feminine identity, and exercise. If you have a topic you want unearthed, or at least picked at and prodded with curiosity, comment here or pop me an email at info@alexismariechute.com.

The uncensored quality of my column will stem from the honest approach I take in my writing. There will be no sugar coating the facts. No extreme polite, politically correct nonsense. Yes, I am a Canadian so my manners will remain intact. Still, I ardently believe we all are hungry for the meat of life, those things that really matter – delivered with all the garnishing of course. That is what my column will be: a tasty, hardy mental treat. Now that’s a mouthful! (And I’m getting hungry…)

I will post here when my articles are live (in print and online). Stay tuned!

Check out Edmonton Woman Magazine by clicking here.