Pearl Lara Slotar

Walking for coffee

I used to live like this — in survival mode. Waking up already behind, carrying yesterday on my shoulders, holding my breath waiting for something to go wrong. Just existing, not really living. And honestly? It sucked. That’s why this photo means so much to me. Walking together. Standing together. Stronger together. Today, I walk. One step. One foot forward. Because I know how heavy life can feel, and I know how hard it is to fight for a little bit of peace. But I also know what happens when we walk side by side — it gets lighter. It gets easier. It gets possible. I don’t want a perfect life. None of us do. We just want a break from survival mode. And if my steps can help someone else find calm, then every kilometre is worth it. And I can’t finish this without saying THANK YOU. 💛 Thank you to the people who sponsored me. 💛 Thank you to the people who walked beside me. 💛 And most of all, thank you to the people who love and support me every single day. In October I am walking for the #blackdoginstitute one foot forward. I love walking to a destination and today I walked to my cousins amazing coffee shop Cafe 218 on James Street Amanda Goldberg Salkow Ramon Salkow. And now I have to walk home 😀😀😀 We don’t have to do this alone. We’re stronger together. ❤️ 😘 Share

My husband ❤️ once said to me — no, he actually pleaded with me —“lara, i want to live with you, not look after you.”

Sean ❤️ once said to me — no, he actually pleaded with me — “Lara, I want to live with you, not look after you.”💕 Those words have never left me. They’ve been the quiet drumbeat behind every step I’ve taken on this journey. Because this hasn’t just been about me; it’s been just as much for him as it has been for me. There was a time when I couldn’t even walk to the front door and back. Getting off a chair felt like I needed a crane. Walking up stairs? An impossibility. Fitting into an average seat? A challenge. I snored like a freight train, my self-image was shattered, my self-esteem was fractured, and my confidence to walk into a room of people… well, it was nowhere to be found. I wasn’t living a healthy life, and honestly, I wasn’t really living at all. Fast forward to now — and at 57, I feel fit, alive, and genuinely happy. How? Step by step, with support from a PLEx (lived experience) counsellor who changed everything for me. And this October, I’m walking for mental health. Not just because walking keeps me well, but because I want to share the journey. It’s not just about raising money (although I’d love you to sponsor me 🙋‍♀️). It’s not just about getting fit (though that’s a great side-effect). It’s about connection. It’s about friendship. It’s about mindfulness. It’s about sharing experiences that remind us we’re not alone in this world. So I’d love for you to walk with me. Let’s walk and talk, share stories, laugh until our cheeks hurt, cry if we need to, and leave the path feeling enriched, fulfilled, and just a little bit lighter. If I can come from where I was — to where I am now — then anything is possible. This journey started with a plea from Sean ❤️, but today it’s an invitation to you. Come join me. ❤️ Share