Today Canada legalizes the recreational use of cannabis. Many Canadians see legalization as an important social change while others see this as a national disaster. Ending the prohibition of cannabis aka marijuana has been discussed for decades. There is a history of stigmatization stemming from the prohibition in the 1920s and 30s when it was […]
Enjoying Retirement
Soul Destroying Effects of Social Media
While driving to the gym one morning last week I listened to a CBC interview with a tech expert from the UK who advocated getting off social media. The interviewer noted that social media has been characterized as ‘soul destroying’. Jaren Lanier is a scientist at Microsoft. His book, Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media […]
Clutter Creep after Down-sizing
Two years after moving and clearing 25 plus years of clutter before down-sizing and selling our ‘too big’ house, I’m noticing clutter creep. It’s subtle but the signs are undeniable. ‘Stuff’ is coming back. Closets, drawers, and shelves that were uncluttered after unpacking and settling into our new house are filling up. Is it the birthday […]
September Transitions — Taking Stock
Similar to the beginning of a new year in January, a transition happens every September. September is a time of renewal. It’s a milestone month — an excellent time to take stock of goals and priorities. It’s also an excellent time to get moving on abandoned projects that were deemed as priorities for 2018. The […]
Relationships That Matter
Last week, I entertained two groups of women whose relationships with me matter. They took time from their lives to drive to our cottage for a social occasion where we shared an afternoon and evening of food, wine, laughter, and conversation. One group consists of the women in one of the book clubs to which I belong. […]
Embracing JOMO
During this summer, I’ve focused on embracing JOMO. In case you are wondering, JOMO is the short form for ‘Joy of Missing Out’. It usually means leaving behind the devotion to social media — ignoring tweets, messages, emails, and other distractions that rob us from living in the moment and appreciating what is happening right […]
Summer Cottage Rituals
This summer marks 34 years of cottaging at Lake Huron in the small town of Grand Bend. During these 34 years, we’ve developed many cottage rituals and habits. There are rituals for every season of the year, but the summer cottage rituals have special meaning. Summer is the season when we spend most of our […]
Retirement Without Regrets
In June 2010, I retired. It’s been eight years of a retirement without regrets! When the hoopla of many retirement celebrations, parties and lunches ended I packed up my office. I felt nostalgic during the last elevator ride to the parking garage, but in my heart, I knew it was the right decision. I closed […]
Thoughts on Moving — Two Years Later
Last week marked the two-year anniversary of the move from our house in Markham that was our home for 26 years. It was a big step to sell and relocate to a smaller SouthWestern Ontario city. Moving was our choice. We down-sized to a somewhat smaller house, got rid of surplus things, and began a new […]
Age Changes Life’s Perspective
Have you noticed that age changes your perspective on life? The ‘stuff’ of daily living matters less. There are fewer worries. It’s easier to ignore things that, in the past, might have led to anxiety, frustration, or anger. Negative events, though troubling, are more easily taken in stride. Thinking focuses on the present rather than dwelling […]
