Keeping perspective when subjected to a daily barrage of media about numbers of people contracting COVID-19 and numbers of people who die is not easy. My husband and I both fall into high-risk categories for a serious and, possibly fatal episode if we should contract the virus, because of our age. Though not frail, my […]
Enjoying Retirement
Mistakes and Bad Decisions — Understanding the Difference
All of us make mistakes; all of us also make bad decisions. Do we understand the difference? If I take a wrong turn when driving or miss an exit, it’s a mistake. When I decide to stay up late watching multi episodes of a Netflix show and then have difficulty getting up in time for […]
Conventional Wisdom vs Facts
What’s the difference between conventional wisdom and fact? Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish one from the other. Conventional Wisdom Defined Conventional wisdom is defined as a generally accepted theory or belief; an accepted truth that is undisputed. It’s sometimes called commonplace knowledge. Conventional wisdom helps us to see patterns and make decisions based on information […]
Keeping Promises to Yourself
What’s your track record on keeping promises to yourself? Most of us work hard to keep the promises we make. Solemn promises such as wedding vows or professional oaths, or commitments to professional standards of conduct are high-level promises — to ourselves and to others. Our word becomes a commitment. When I make a promise […]
Psychological Fitness
How much time and effort should one devote to psychological fitness? Many of us pay attention to physical fitness, especially after the December holidays. January is the time of year when people typically start new exercise programs or go back to the gym after a couple of weeks away. Sadly, most of us give little […]
Disasters in our World and The Weight of a Snowflake
In the short two and weeks since the dawn of 2020, I am shocked by the daily news of disasters in our world. Rising tensions between the US and Iran have involved murder, and missile strikes. The shooting down of a civilian aircraft that killed all 176 people on board shocked Canadians as 138 passengers, […]
Nurture Creativity As You Grow Older
It was surprising to read that creativity studies in adults conducted by psychologists at the University of California Berkley showed that creativity tends to decline with age. Their research found that older adults showed fewer creative thought processes than children. https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/114/30/7892.full.pdf This study supports the idea that older people aren’t creative. Society generally regards elders as […]
Understanding the Science of Happiness
In the past few days, almost everyone who I’ve met wished me a ‘Happy New Year’. These wishes reinforce the truism that people generally seek happiness for themselves and for others. Bookstores, bloggers, and podcasts offer countless self-help ideas to improve happiness. We’re urged to drink more water, get enough sleep, practise mindfulness, exercise regularly, […]
Year-End Assessment
With two days left before 2019 closes and a new decade begins, I’ve been working on my year-end assessment. The year-end assessment helps me to identify areas in my life that need changing. It also helps to point the direction for plans and aspirations in 2020 and beyond. The year-end assessment provides an ideal time […]
Holiday Countdown
With just two days — count them — until Christmas, it’s time for a serious holiday countdown. A quick Google search indicates that I can download an app that will give a second-by-second/minute-by-minute/ hour-by-hour countdown complete with music. I didn’t download this as I’m not feeling as frantic as in previous years when I juggled […]
