Earlier this month, one of my favourite wellness moments didn’t happen at a spa or on a beach somewhere in the world.
It happened at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa listening to Fran Lebowitz.
I had the opportunity to hear Alan Neal of CBC’s All in a Day interview Fran before meeting the great dame herself afterwards, having my book signed, and even asking her opinion on a couple of matters.
What struck me most wasn’t just her legendary wit — though she’s absolutely the kind of person who can make an entire theatre laugh with a single sentence and then make you think about it for the rest of the night.
What stayed with me was her fierce defence of books, history, curiosity, and independent thought.
In a world increasingly dominated by endless scrolling, AI conversations, quick takes, and surface-level opinions, Fran spoke passionately about the importance of reading deeply, understanding history, and actually thinking for yourself. She lamented how many people no longer truly know history — or worse, no longer care to learn it.
Oddly enough, it felt deeply relevant to wellness.
Because true wellness isn’t just massages and green juice.
It’s intellectual wellness.
Emotional wellness.
Cultural wellness.
Remaining curious.
Remaining engaged.
Continuing to learn.
Protecting your ability to think critically and independently.
And in classic Fran fashion, the evening also included hilarious observations about why plumbers may ultimately matter more than AI (“even the Artemis capsule had plumbing problems”), surprise at overhearing that Canadians currently aren’t serving bourbon in some places, and reflections on Canada-U.S. relations.
The entire night was a reminder that some of the healthiest things we can do for ourselves are to read more, think more deeply, travel more thoughtfully, and spend time around people who challenge us intellectually.
A very good night in Ottawa. ✨📚