Author and Inspirational Speaker: Lynda Fishman, MSW, RSW
Everyone is faced with life-shattering events at some point in their lives – death, illness, divorce, loss of a job. None of us is ever free from bad circumstances, tough conditions and difficult challenges. That’s life. But whatever life throws at us, the way we CHOOSE to react is up to us. No matter what we are faced with, we always have choices. And we make choices.
As people, our power lies in how we respond to everything we are faced with, whether it’s a personal crisis or tragedy, a business challenge, or just everyday life. People faced with a crisis or tragedy don’t know what to expect. Other than family members and friends, the most credible support comes from survivors of tragedy. Lynda Fishman is a survivor of an unspeakable tragedy. In 1970, when she was 13 years old, her mother and two younger sisters were killed in an Air Canada plane crash. The plane was flying from Montreal bound for Los Angeles, with a stopover in Toronto. The cause of the crash was pilot error. All 109 people on board were killed. Her father was 44 years old, and the overwhelming loss understandably traumatized him. So really, she lost her dad that day too.
About Repairing Rainbows
Over forty years later, Lynda tells her story about how she dealt with, and continues to deal with that horrific personal tragedy, and the choices she made along the way – the choice to live and to seeing the value in learning and growing from life’s most difficult challenges.
Lynda’s book, Repairing Rainbows A True Story of Family, Tragedy and Choices is a much sought-after book, in its third printing, and it is having a profound effect by providing people with hope and inspiration. The power of Repairing Rainbows is that it makes people re-think, re-discover, and re-focus.
Repairing Rainbows is loaded with strategies, guidance and reassurance, teaching people that while at times life makes no sense, there is always a path to take back into the world to truly live.
Speaking Opportunities
Lynda has tremendous experience addressing audiences through media interviews and live speaking engagements, be it to a small intimate group or a room filled with thousands. Her talk addresses the life lessons and advice that come from well earned experience of horrific tragedy and the journey she took back to life.
Under the umbrella of her three P’s – POSITIVITY, PERSISTENCE and PATIENCE – Lynda talks about eight key strategies for people who want to CHOOSE LIFE over sadness, bitterness or feeling defeated – for people who want to choose to bounce back when life has knocked them down – for people who want to choose happiness and success.
There is no recipe or template to follow that will determine the course of any tragedy and the effect it has on one’s life. But the toughest decision a person has to make is whether or not they are choosing life. Whether you respond to a crisis with hope, is a choice. It’s a choice about whether you want to live or die.
Life is precious and must be cherished. In the end, it is all going to be about how much you smiled, how much you laughed, and how much you enjoyed your life.
For further information, or to book Lynda for your next event, please email lynda@repairingrainbows.com
Testimonials
Humber River Hospital Foundation | Annual You+ Women’s Event | 600 attendees
The audience was captivated from start to finish as Lynda took the time to share intimate details of her story and was truly engaging to the audience. The message that Lynda shared was that no challenge or hurdle was too big to overcome, and the women in the audience certainly left feeling that way.
The feedback that we received about our keynote speaker was positive with an overall consensus that they were re-invigorated and ready to take on life’s challenges. Lynda was also accommodating and very easy to work with.
Financial Services Commission of Ontario | Divisional Meeting | 200 Attendees
You spoke on the subject of Positivity, Patience and Persistence which anchored the theme of our meeting on Empowering the Workplace Culture.
Your personal story of hope, making choices and willfully taking control to lead a happy life is a message that helps place everything that surrounds us in perspective. We have received feedback from staff immediately following the meeting that they too have shared their appreciation of your message.
I applaud your courage and strength, and appreciate your efforts in empowering people to take control even during dire times.
Janssen Pharmaceuticals | 50 Attendees
In light of all of us living through a worldwide pandemic at this time, we wanted to end our meetings with the acknowledgement that this is a challenging time and provide information on how to build resilience until we can once again feel a sense of normalcy.
Your session was very well received and for many, it was their favourite session of the meeting. Your ability to share your own journey and your learnings and translate that into your “8 Happiness Inducing Choices” allowed the team to feel that they had some guidance on how to move forward while we still have a great deal of uncertainty ahead of us.
We appreciate the time you put into preparing and delivering such a meaningful session for our team at Janssen.
The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute | Annual National Jewish Retreat | 1,000 Attendees
None of those individuals lucky enough to be in attendance has ever been the same. Each and every one has been affected in an immeasurably uplifting manner.
I have recommended Lynda to countless businesses and organizations of all kinds. Lynda’s message resonates with every human being because she is so authentic. Her message is a testament to the embodiment of the resilience of the human spirit, and one of sincere hope and triumph.
American Women’s Club | Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon | 100 Attendees
Lynda was extremely engaging and has a very positive message. The club members were very impressed and gave her a standing ovation, which is quite rare!
12th Annual At Our Table Event | Fundraising Event in Support of Women’s Health Initiatives | 200 Attendees
Lynda presented an inspirational and engaging talk, which captivated our guests. She is an eloquent speaker who injects humour and passion into her speaking. She has an innate ability to captivate her audience and to turn the details of an unspeakable tragedy into a message of courage, strength and hope.
The feedback from our guests was overwhelmingly positive! Even those who had heard Lynda speak previously mentioned that they thoroughly enjoyed her speech and were able to walk away with something new.
Lynda was happy to work within our guidelines for timing and she expertly tied her discussion into the theme of our event.
Ezer Mizion Canada | 300 Attendees
Throughout my years of planning and attending countless events, listening to equally as many speakers, I can genuinely say that Lynda’s story and her telling of it had the most profound effect on me and all in the room. She inspires through her messages of hope, love and living a positive life – and in these times of worldwide tragedies, it is Lynda’s delivery of life lessons that can see us through it.
Winnipeg Jewish Child and Family Service | Can We Talk about . . . Grief, Loss and Moving Forward | 270 Attendees
Although the topic of grief is a difficult one to broach, your demeanor, your presentation style, your sense of humour and your ease in presenting this difficult topic made everyone in the audience relax and take in each word you spoke.
Two months later, people still come up to me to tell me that they loved the presentation, that you were a fantastic speaker, and they would love to hear more from you.
Jewish Federation of Ottawa | Campaign Dinner | 300 Attendees
Lynda was sincere and passionate in her message to the audience that a person can choose to get back on the path of joy and happiness again, no matter what happens in their life. At the same time, she spoke with humour and lightheartedness that allowed everyone in the audience to be comfortable and thoroughly engaged throughout her talk.
Lynda was well prepared, and before the presentation she ensured with the organizers that all logistics were in place.
As Chair of the event, I was told by numerous participants that Lynda was by far the best speaker we had brought in over the ten years the event has been held.
Bereaved Jewish Families of Ontario | 300 Attendees
Lynda is thought provoking and delivers a powerful message of courage and hope.
Lynda has excellent communication skills, is articulate and so well spoken. She speaks from the heart and is full of passion with every word she utters.
Everyone walked out of the room thanking Lynda for sharing her story and her eight coping strategies and choices.
I have no doubt that where ever, to whom ever, every person will benefit greatly by having the opportunity to meet and hear Lynda speak.
Chabad Center For Jewish Life | Keynote Speaker at events in Toronto, Vaughan, Markham, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Washington, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, Australia
Lynda captivates her audience with emotion and sincerity, while providing a powerful, motivational speech which makes you feel like you can conquer anything you put your mind to.
Through her incredible talk, Lynda teaches her audiences that happiness is a choice.
Lynda’s story and messages have stayed with me, helping me with every day struggles and life’s unpredictable curve balls.
Lynda keeps the attention and focus of her audience throughout her talk, leaving everyone feeling uplifted, powerful and ready to face life with a new perspective and positive attitude.
Lynda should be sharing this story of love, loss, hope, triumph and success to as may people as possible.